Articles
Articles from Sola 5 Pastors
Devoted to Prayer: A Call to Relational, Dependent, and Purposeful Communion with God
I have developed an unhealthy philosophy—I suspect from my father—that if I can’t do something alone, it can’t be done. My wife once asked me to move a bed-sized couch from the back porch to the bottom of our garden where we were having a bonfire. Rather than asking...
Seeing Clearly: A Christian Approach to Judgement and Discernment
In today’s cultural climate, few biblical phrases are quoted as frequently or misunderstood as profoundly as “Judge not, that you be not judged” (Matthew 7:1). Often used to deflect criticism or moral discernment, these words of Jesus are cited to shut down any...
Is God Angry with the World?
How do you think people in your town, city, or country would respond to a poll asking if God is angry at the world? Some might look at the suffering, injustice, and corruption around them and conclude that, if there is a God, he is either angry or, at the very least,...
A Refreshing Church: What a Refreshing Church Is, Does, Is Not, and Requires
If you had to pick any church named in the New Testament and label it as a refreshing church, which would it be? Perhaps the church in Smyrna or Philadelphia? What about Philippi? Antioch? Any number of churches might come to mind, but would Corinth be among those?...
Towards Contextualising the Rich and the Poor: Relativity and Responsibility (Part 1)
In the practice of biblical exegesis, pastors, scholars, and laypeople alike often encounter challenging texts, which, if misunderstood, can lead to interpretative fallacies, even when there is a sincere desire to remain faithful to the truths of Scripture. The Bible,...
There is something about knowledge and Knowledge (Part 2)
Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God....
Learning to Rest: The Practical Application
Having previously established a theological foundation for a Christian understanding of rest, we must now ask how we should apply to doctrine to our daily living. We will do this by observing some implications of rest, noting some hindrances to rest, examining some...
Learning to Rest: The Theological Foundation
The doctrine of rest, or ceasing from work, is deeply embedded in the Bible, more deeply than we may believe at face value. Frankly, it is an overlooked theme in biblical theology, and therefore it rarely features in theological discussions, except when it comes to...
Remembering Nico van der Walt
I am not really qualified to write a biography on the life of this remarkable man, but I do wish to make a start, hoping that someone qualified will be stimulated to pick up the pen and give us an authoritative biographical sketch on the life and times of Nico van der...