Joseph Boot

Because sexuality is a universal human phenomenon, we should expect a corresponding abundance of ideas, beliefs, and assumptions about it. And we should not be surprised to observe that the Bible has a good deal to say, both prescriptively and descriptively, about human sexuality and all its related subjects - marriage, children, masculinity, femininity, trans ideology, rules for lawful and unlawful sexual relationships, and much more. This collection of essays from pastors, scholars, and cultural theologians seeks to apply biblical principles to the sexual attitudes and assumptions of contemporary western culture, demonstrating that our present sexual confusion has broader and deeper religious roots.

For several generations, Christians have bought into a worldview that radically separates the realms of natural and supernatural. But this is not a biblical way of seeing the world, and such a view leads to unwanted, unorthodox, and even pagan conclusions: locating the root of sin in the physical, created world; a belief in the supremacy of human reason; an empirical, value-neutral science, and more. Over against such a position, faithful apologetics recognizes a confrontation between religious worldviews, between opposing philosophies of life that put human understanding (reason) and the various tools of the sciences to different uses, cutting in different directions. Biblically founded Christian apologetics will lay bare this antithesis, pointing people to Christ alone as the one in whom all things find their origin, meaning and resolution. At the heart of our existence, all of life is a continuous response to the Word of God.

The discussion of government actually has to begin with a discussion of worship. It is a question of authority, and involves foundational ideas about what is good, right and just. These ideas are shaped by religious commitments and presuppositions.The Bible recognizes no artificial disconnect between personal and public convictions. Rather, all of life is religion, and it is meant to be a life of love and service to God and neighbor.That is the excitement and thrill of the kingdom of God. We are called to a task and we are to do everything with all our might and to the glory of God. We can only offer an alternative to pagan secularism if we live out and teach a gospel culture that conforms to the Word of God.If we want to breach the wall of the secular pagan lie, we must recover a full-orbed gospel that shatters all false dualisms and that reclaims all of creation for the glory of God.

The apostle Peter wrote that God's people need to always be ready to make a defense "to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." Christians have responded in several ways to this "apologetic mandate," but what is the most biblically faithful approach? How do we present the Christian story in a culture that denies any overarching story or purpose to the world as we know it? The answer lies in first correctly identifying the nature of the hope that is in us; this hope is grounded in the historical work of Jesus Christ, and in his present reign as Lord and King over all the earth and over every area of human activity.

The fullness and vigour of Christianity has been in decline in the life of the West, the application of gospel truths often limited to personal evangelism and our personal prayer life. But this is a radically narrow view of the Christian mission. In the biblical narrative we see a vision for the mission of God's people that is nothing less than the faithful worship of God in every area of life and culture - in our laws, educational institutions, politics, and arts, to name just a few.

How do we understand and articulate the biblical basis for the pro-life position? How should we respond to the killing of unborn children? The biblical and historical answer to such questions lies in drawing attention to the idolatry which gave rise to our present culture's obsession with death, and demonstrating that life is something rooted in the nature of God, that can only be given or taken on God's authority. This short book is intended to equip Christians with a biblical foundation for why and how to speak up for life, and minister to the vulnerable souls who are considering abortion with compassionate understanding.

How should we think about Christian apologetics in a society where people are encouraged to discover, determine, and live their own truth? In this short book, Joe Boot explains that Christ-centred gospel witness is about getting to the heart of a person, for the root of unbelief is a heart condition, not a lack of evidence or convincing arguments. Sin has a profound impact on the heart and human understanding. Dr Boot considers some of the prevailing worldviews in the West today, demonstrating that their foundational problem is a refusal to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and King. As we think about and engage in witnessing to the gospel of the Kingdom, the heart and its attachment to cherished lies must be taken into account.