Articles

by
Roger Smalling, D.Min

A collection of articles on biblical theology, apologetics, Christian living, and leadership. These writings are designed to strengthen faith, clarify doctrine, and equip believers to live and defend the gospel.

NEW!

• WHY DOES GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? A Pastoral Response  A friend wrote that his life was falling apart. He had lost his job, was losing his house and developed a life-threatening illness. He asked why God was doing these things since he had been obedient to the Lord. Below is a reply. Happily, he as since recovered from all these. Word, PDF

* MANY PATHS TO GOD? A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE  A celebrity on YouTube vehemently attacked Christianity with the view that Christians are too narrow to speak of one way to God.” She was expressing invective, not looking for answers. Assaults on the Bible teaching that Christ is the only way to God have increased in our day. This essay exposes hidden assumptions behind such attacks, to help the unbeliever see his need of one capable Savior. Word, PDF

* HOW TO DEVELOP YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS IN MINISTRY  A page of practical advice on how to develop a ministry gift God has given you. Word, PDF

* SHOULD CHRISTIANS SEE SECULAR PSYCHOLOGISTS FOR COUNSELING? Radical differences exist between Christianity and many secular psychologists. Such incompatibilities may cause negative consequences if a believer is careless about the counsel given. Word, PDF

* WHY DOES GOD SEEM CRUEL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT? Divine judgments in the Old Testament may seem excessively severe. Why? Word, PDF

*  IS CATHOLICISM TRULY CHRISTIAN? It depends on how we define it. The answer is not easy. Word, PDF

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* CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS FOR KIDS Twelve questions to inoculate your kids against post-modern relativism and brainwashing. Word, PDF
* LOGICAL PROBLEMS IN ARMINIAN THEOLOGY Refutes four of the most common logic errors on which Arminian theology is based. Word, PDF
* WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH ABOUT BAPTISM? Meaning, Mode and Infant Baptism. What is the biblical mode of baptism, and who has the right to it? Word, PDF
* BIBLE OUTLINE INSERTS Paste these doctrine outlines into your Bible for handy reference. Word, PDF
* BANG FOR BUCK: Should We Support Missionaries or Nationals? Supporting Nationals Instead of Missionaries? Is it more efficient to support missionaries or nationals?  Word, PDF
* PCA BOOK OF CHURCH ORDER EXAM QUESTIONS AND STUDY GUIDE   Questions on the Presbyterian Book of Church Order to prepare candidates for ordination.  Word, PDF     
* WHAT DO CHRISTIANS OWE THE POOR? This article shows shows how liberal Christians confuse the difference between equality and equity, charity and social justice. Freedom of conscience is at the heart of the question.  Word, PDF
* IS FORMAL CHURCH MEMBERSHIP BIBLICAL? Some hold that the only requirement for church membership should be baptism and a profession of faith. A church membership list may not even be necessary. Is this biblical? Word, PDF
* WHAT WILL JUDGMENT BE LIKE FOR CHRISTIANS? Dread or joy? Rewards only or a review of failings? Here is a balanced and biblical perspective. Word, PDF
* A CHRISTIAN VIEW OF SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM IN LATIN AMERICA  Word  PDF
*ORDINATION OF WOMEN TO THE OFFICE OF DEACONESS: A Reformed Perspective Does the Bible permit women to hold this office? Word, PDF
* HOW CAN GOD BE HOLY AND DECREE EVIL EXISTS?  How can God decree that evil should exist and yet be holy. Word, PDF

* ON THE DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN TEACHING AND RULING ELDERS  (Does the Bible teach one office or two? Word, PDF
* EFFECTUAL CALL: Irresistible Grace and God’s Sovereign Calling Word, PDF
* FREE WILL: What is a will? What does “free” mean? Word, PDF
* HOW TO GROW IN FAITH Genuine faith has a lot of counterfeits. How do we tell the difference? Word, PDF
* DOES FOREKNOWLEDGE EXPLAIN ELECTION?  Does God elect people because he foresees they will believe? This common notion is refuted here. Word, PDF
* WHAT IS GRACE? Word, PDF
* HOW TO BE GUIDED BY GOD Finding God’s will becomes easier if we know what is the foundation. Word, PDF

* GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY AND THE PROBLEM OF EVIL  Provides Christians with sound philosophical answers to show why this question is irrational. Word, PDF
* HOW TO EVALUATE SPIRITUAL GIFTS Biblical criteria for revealing whether or not a spiritual gift manifestation is legitimate. Word, PDF
* HOW TO WRITE STUDY GUIDES A 12-page article describing the techniques Dr. Smalling uses to write his study guides. Helpful for teachers who want to improve their writing style and lesson preparation. Word, PDF

* HEALING: Faith vs Medicine Is it a lack of faith to go to a doctor? Is physical healing in the atonement? Is there are difference between healing ministry in the days of Jesus and now? Word, PDF
* JOYFULLY JUSTIFIED: An 8-page guide on justification by faith. Ideal for group studies and Sunday school.  Word, PDF
* WHAT IS LOGIC? The absolute nature of truth and reality  What is the basis of logic? Is it really a valid criterion for the evaluation of truth? Word, PDF
* LOGIC AND CHRISTIANITY  Why logic is an absolute, how it differs from reason, and why it is the only criteria for validation of truth, including the authority of the Bible. Word,  PDF
* MENTORING FOR LEADERSHIP Three chapters from Smalling’s book Christian Leadership compare biblical versus modern evangelical concepts in leadership training. Gives criteria for choosing trainees, along with practical tips and pitfalls. Word, PDF
*  MUSIC IN WORSHIP: Traditional hymns or contemporary songs? Which is “right”? Word, PDF
* ON EVANGELICAL-CATHOLIC ECUMENISM In a teaching seminar, the speaker declared we should unite with and help any Christian movement where the Holy Spirit seems to be moving, including Catholicism. Is this right? Word, PDF
* WOMEN’S ORDINATION: Creation Order or Cultural Tradition? Is it discriminatory to deny ordination of women to ecclesiastical offices? This essay shows the intent is protective, not discriminatory, with other reasons why such ordinations are unbiblical. Word, PDF
* PROVIDENCE: What Is It? Word, PDF
*  SHOULD CHURCHES SING ONLY PSALMS? A reformed reflection on psalmody. Does the Bible indicate we must sing Psalms only during worship? The answer may not be a simple yes or no. Word, PDF
* DOES GOD REQUIRE PERFECT OBEDIENCE? In James 2 we read we are guilty of breaking all of God’s commands if we break one of them. Is this fair? Word, PDF
* CAN A CHRISTIAN LOSE SALVATION? The Doctrine of Preservation Explained Word, PDF
* QUIT CALLING YOURSELF A SINNER At least not all the time. After all, you have a new identity in Christ. Word, PDF  
* RELATIVISM AND TRUTH  Is truth relative to the individual? This essay shows why it is not. Word, PDF
* LOGIC AND CHRISTIANITY: RELATIVISM IN THE CHURCH The notion that truth is a matter of personal perspective permeates our entire culture. How does this poison affect the church and what can we do about it? Word, PDF
* RULING ELDER EXAM  An exam for ruling elder candidates in the Presbyterian Church in America. Word, PDF

* WHAT IS SANCTIFICATION? Is this where we put our security of salvation? Word, PDF
* GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY AND CHRISTIAN SUFFERING If we cannot resolve the old dilemma of a good God who allows suffering, can we trust Him anyway? Word, PDF
* SHADOW EATERS: Legalism and Christian Freedom in Reformed Theology Legalism can afflict any movement. How has it impacted the reformed? Word, PDF

*CHRISTIAN WIFE WITH AN UNBELIEVING HUSBAND: How can a Christian wife live with an unsaved husband? How can she win him? Does God require her to submit to abuse? Word, PDF

* WHAT DO CHRISTIANS OWE THE POOR?  Some evangelical teachers  say Christians owe a debt to the poor of the world, especially Americans. This article refutes and exposes this as a revised form of the unbiblical social gospel. Word, PDF
* WHAT IS A WEAK CHRISTIAN? In a Bible study on Romans 14, a lively discussion occurred on how to live out our freedom in Christ in the presence of weaker believers. What is a weaker believer, after all? Word, PDF  
* WHY I AM NOT MISSIONAL: A Critique of the Missional Church Movement. Commitment to missions is one thing. When a fad-word describing it has roots in liberalism with seeds of serious error, we need to take a closer look at it. Word, PDF
* CAN WOMEN TEACH IN THE CHURCH?  A Reformed Perspective. When is it appropriate for women to teach in the church? Word, PDF
* WOLVES IN THE CHURCH: How Biblical Leaders Protect the Flock. Recognizing and dealing with them. Cults or other problematic people try to bother the people in your church. What are their characteristics? Word, PDF
* WHAT IS TOTAL DEPRAVITY?  Word, PDF
* YOGA: Is it okay for Christians to practice it? That is  doubtful as Dr. Smalling explains. Word, PDF

* WHAT IS THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? Word, PDF

ON LEADERSHIP
(Taken from our Leadership Manuals.)

* THE CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY OF LEADERSHIP: Suffering, Parity, and Service. How many Christian philosophies of leadership are there? Only one. Christ outlines it in Matthew 20. Word, PDF
* INTEGRITY, THE FOUNDATION OF CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP With this virtue, we can dispense with most management techniques. Word, PDF
* THE DANGERS OF HIERARCHY IN CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS If we build Christian organizations on the model of corporate business America, what kind of moral and spiritual effects can we expect? Word, PDF
* MENTORING The heart and meaning of mentoring for leadership. The last three chapters of Roger Smalling’s book on Christian Leadership. Word, PDF
* BIBLICAL RIGHTS OF CHRISTIAN MINISTERS: Relationships Among Christian Leaders. We often talk about the duties of ministers. What about their rights? Are there rules in the way they treat one another? PDF
*  CREATIVE THINKING Any kind of serious thinking is hard. Thinking creatively is harder. What are the barriers to it and how can it work in Christian leadership? Word, PDF 
* BIBLICAL VISION FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS: Planning the Dream. Without vision, the term “leader” is hollow. It merits defining. Word, PDF

NOTE: The documents above are free. However, they cost to have them translated into other languages.
We welcome contributions to the Vision R.E.A.L translation fund.