Posts by Sharon Beekmann Blog

The prophet Isaiah saw God on his throne and heard the seraph with six wings cry out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah cried, “Woe is me!” (Isa 6:3,5). God’s holiness exposed Isaiah’s sin and his desperate need for forgiveness. God graciously sent the six-winged seraph to…

In his Letters and Papers From Prison, Deitrick Bonhoeffer wrestled with how Germany, one of the most civilized, enlightened nations in the world, had succumbed to Nazism. He concluded that God had been pushed out of a world that had “come of age.” The God of Scripture had become the One people called on when…

Artificial Intelligence has entered our culture at lightning speed. It’s on our smart phones and computers and used in industries throughout the world. Occasionally, unusual things occur. Dr. Doug Groothuis, author and professor of philosophy at Cornerstone University, emailed to ask if I thought a demon could occupy and manipulate Artificial Intelligence. I replied that…

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!(2 Co 5:17) God works deep within us to be the people we sensed we could be–the one he knew and chose before the creation of the world (Eph 1:4). It’s simply profound, and yet everything about God inspires…

John L Nevius was a Presbyterian missionary in China from the mid to late 1800s. In one village he met Mr. Kwo who was controlled by a demon. The demon first appeared to Mr. Kwo in a dream and then took over the man’s life. Mr. Kwo became violent, irrational, and generally not himself. He…

I lived in Wisconsin as a girl, and on exceptionally cold winter nights, thick frost covered the inside of my bedroom window. I carved stick figures with a spoon, and moonlight filtering through tree branches created a host of dancing figures on the wall behind me. During a powerful gust, the figures disappeared altogether and…

In this blog I continue the discussion of mysticism, the spiritual disciplines, and Reformed faith. I introduce Antony, the father of the monastic movement, critique the teachings of Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, share my experiences with meditation before Christ saved me, and present the key elements of biblical faith. Christians who adhere to Foster’s teachings…

I am not the first to address the influences of Roman Catholic mysticism, Eastern religions, and the New Age on evangelical churches. Bloggers and writers have cautioned evangelical Christians about blurring theological boundaries and adopting practices incompatible with Reformed faith.[i] Read along as I wade into these deep waters. Mysticism Mystics believe they can communicate directly…

Fueled with religious zeal, Saul witnessed the stoning of Stephen and uttered murderous threats against the Apostles. He traveled to Damascus to round up the people of the Way and send them to Jerusalem to stand trial (Ac 9:1“2). Jesus stopped him. Lights flashed and Saul fell to the ground. The Hand of God blinded…