Defining the word ambition

Back in the days of “what do you want to be when you grow up,” I declared myself a future missionary. I don’t know why I thought traveling would be a good idea since a twenty-minute car ride felt like a long journey to me. But I mentioned the idea excitedly to my parents, describing the places I would travel and the things I would share with others.

Read more

On Death

The most convenient way to be philosophical, or to at least pretend to be philosophical among other people, is to talk about the subject of death. It is a subject of such ordinariness, yet such unfamiliarity. Everybody is, minimally, witness to several deaths. Even a two year old child in his mother’s arms and chest would see how maple leaves withered outside the glass window by the chill wind of late autumn. Meanwhile, no one among us that is alive has acquaintance with death himself. It is a thing so foreign to us, yet so common in daily conversations and thoughts.

Read more

Should We Even Care About Orthodoxy?

Going to Covenant has taught me a lot about doctrine and the importance of leaning on scripture to inform my view of God, life, and faithful living. My whole life, I’ve viewed Christianity as counter-cultural and have never been shocked by the objections to my faith that often come in the media, at my place of work, and on secular college campuses. However, what has been more of a surprise to me is how different Christain denominations and Christain colleges have theological views that significantly challenge conservative theological thought and question whether Christian tradition has taken a correct stance on a myriad of doctrinal issues.

Read more

Would Jesus wear a mask?

In the latest edition of the Bagpipe, an article was printed entitled “Jesus Would Wear a Mask.” I’ve decided to respond to the article for a couple of reasons. First, because my immediate reaction when I saw the title was to protest in anger and frustration before reading the author’s argument – a reaction which I think is wrong and all too common. When I decided to read the article anyway, I found that it was actually well-written and convicting – even edifying.

Read more

For God and Country; In Proud Defense of the 2nd Amendment

“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” These words are found in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution, and find their justification in the God given right to life and freedom as acknowledged in the Declaration of Independence. The right to life is a right held by each individual created by God and with that right comes the ability (and the duty) to protect life.

Read more

What is “the sacred?"

What is “the sacred?” What is it that our culture, or any human culture for that matter, holds sacred? What is it that we, as counter-cultural followers of Christ, should hold sacred? How must we decide whether a cultural artifact is “sacred” or simply “important?” In my three years here at Covenant, my idea of what Christians should hold as sacred has been challenged by both the courses and community we have. What follows is an attempt both to think through our ideas of the sacred and to spark discussion amongst fellow Christians.

Read more

A Renewed Idea of Embarrassment

We often underestimate the power of embarrassment. This strange and frustrating emotion usually accompanies events or mistakes that we would rather not talk about. I’m sure it’s happened to everyone: we trip over something, we drop a dish in the Great Hall, we start singing a verse of a song a little too early in church, and instantly, we are plunged into an awkward shame.

Read more

Jesus Would Wear A Mask

Following the prevalence of the new Omicron variant on the land of the free and brave, the lower death rate of Omicron, and the depressing report that even vaccinated and infected individuals may be infected by the new variant again, there is a growing number among us that start to take their masks off and enjoy the liberty that the nation has granted them.

Read more

A Reflection on Advent

Growing up, Advent was a major tradition in my family near Christmas. We’d light candles, sing hymns, and read Scripture together. Advent is a unique season because it allows us to look forward to Christ’s second coming as we look back at his birth. Lately, as I’ve observed and fallen in love with the community at Covenant, this time of waiting has become all the more precious.

Read more

Jewish History is Our History

According to Sydney Teagarden, ‘23, as Christians, Jewish history is our history too. This is why her family has been part of the Messianic movement for about fifteen years. Teagarden describes Messianic Judaism as “ a movement of believers in Yeshua (Christ) who want to celebrate God’s salvific history leading up to Christ.” This is also why Teagarden has decided to share some of her experience with Jewish feast days on campus, giving Covenant students a chance to enter into this wider story of redemptive history.

Read more