Christians are fascinated and enthralled with the transcendent glory of God’s grace and love. But they are equally captivated, with a slightly different effect, by his holiness and justice and purity.   A Habitual Attitude There is no holiness or Christian life that does not have repentance at its core. Repentance is not merely one... Continue Reading

Ultimately, evangelism is less about the method one uses and more about the message one proclaims. Evangelism, remember, is the proclamation of the gospel—telling the story, announcing the news. Some fear that they don’t know enough to evangelize. I say, “Tell them what you do know.”   Many Christians go their entire lives without being... Continue Reading

When you’re in the fire it isn’t really the time to interpret. You just hang on for dear life and unashamedly cling to the goodness of God. You won’t be giving an account about how well you interpreted God’s actions. But we will be held to account for how we clung to Jesus even when... Continue Reading

She had been sent to the abbey as a baby, she said, to be raised by her aunt, the abbess. When she turned twelve, she was forced to take the veil, in spite of her repeated protests. With time, her wisdom and abilities promoted her to the role of abbess, but her sentiments never changed.... Continue Reading

Although William Perkins wrote over 400 years ago, he offers us wisdom in an era that sustains polemics, controversy, and discernment blogging. By listening to this great divine, we can discern three contemporary rules for engaging in theological polemics.    William Perkins (1558–1602) grew up in the aftermath of the Council of Trent, becoming a... Continue Reading

Those of us who don’t enjoy conflict come up with a bevy of rationalizations to avoid the difficult conversation we know deep down we ought to have. Maybe we’ll make it worse. We might hurt someone’s feelings. It might “change the relationship,” so to speak. Or we just don’t want someone to get angry with... Continue Reading

The truth of the gospel—the benefits of Christ’s substitutionary life and death on our behalf are received by faith alone—regularly poured into our minds and hearts, will guard us from deadening legalism and subsequent spiritual dryness.   If you have been a Christian for any amount of time, you know that spiritual passion, sight, and... Continue Reading

This way of adjudicating doctrines is a poison pill. It removes authority from the word of God and gives the reader the authority to scrutinize the Bible’s truthfulness based on whether or not it hurts people’s feelings. This is no way to read the Bible.   When Matthew Vines’ book God and the Gay Christian... Continue Reading

This is a general template to follow as you determine the changes you desire to make and how they should be chosen and done. Whatever you do, choose battles wisely as if you will be at that church ten years or more. That will give you a different perspective and will help you be patient.... Continue Reading

Why mention the tree and not the cross? To speak of the tree recalled the curse of death for breaking God’s Law, and all deserve this curse because everyone has broken God’s Law (cf. Deut 21:22–23; 27:26). But Christ did not sin and did not deserve the tree. He deserved life for perfectly obeying the... Continue Reading