Do you point to your resume of service for the kingdom to persuade God to answer your petition? Do you sometimes think that God is more favorably disposed toward you if you’ve achieved a certain level of obedience? Or if you’ve been “good” (in whatever way you’re defining “good”)? Or perhaps it’s even more subtle:... Continue Reading

Countercultural Christianity is also not defined by embracing brokenness, “authenticity,” doubt, and skepticism. These things are as pervasive and acceptable (even celebrated) in American suburbia as are iPhones and ESPN. Nor is countercultural Christianity defined by spiritual mysticism, liberal (or conservative) activism, LGBT-inclusion or worship that sounds like Coldplay. Whatever else you think of such... Continue Reading

Here is the mystery of deity incarnate. The wonder of it expands our minds and stretches our spirits: the Word who was face-to-face with God in the glory of eternity (John 17:5, 24) came to be face-to-face with us in this world, marked by temporality, changeability, and the shame of sin. Infinite and finite, eternal and... Continue Reading

Over the last forty years the conservative and confessional Reformed churches (the two groups are not always identical) have been afflicted with a series of movements which reflect what I call the Quest for Illegitimate Certainty (QIRC—on this see Recovering the Reformed Confession). Among these movements have been the theonomic and Christian Reconstruction movements, the Federal Vision movement, and the... Continue Reading

Throughout church history, this message has consistently fallen under attack. Those who have boldly proclaimed the biblical gospel of grace (cf. Acts 20:24)—the depravity of man, the sovereignty of God in salvation, and the victory of Christ at the cross; in short, the doctrines of grace—have been forced to confront false gospels. One man who modeled... Continue Reading

I have no interest in advocating for a mushy middle way. An insincere, “bless-your-heart” niceness helps no one.  Papering over the cracks where real differences lie is dangerous. Cracks often reveal a problem at the foundation. If the house is to stand secure, we must not ignore the warning signs. So, I have no desire... Continue Reading

Jesus says the gate is narrow. The word narrow here is often used with a family of words to characterize suffering and opposition. Jesus is giving a realistic understanding of Christian discipleship; the way is grueling. Indeed, he says the way is hard. What is hard, exactly?   How would you describe a false prophet?... Continue Reading

The program, called “Deep Equity,” is offered by Corwin Press, a subsidiary of SAGE.  According to its website, the program was developed by Gary Howard, a self-proclaimed civil rights activist with experience in “social justice, equity, education, and diversity.”   A social justice schooling program meant to train teachers in eliminating racial disparities between students also instructs them how... Continue Reading

We can see what nonsinful anger looks like when we consider God. God is slow to anger (Ex. 34:6), but there are plenty of examples in Scripture where He vents His anger. Romans 1:18 tells us that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the... Continue Reading

Just get us into a conversation, or a debate, about that topic, and we could go on for hours. We sometimes think that others ought to have the same amount of passion and desire to spend the same amount of time and resources to do things the same way that we do. And we might... Continue Reading