“Christianity moved from being centered in Christian nations to being centered in non-Christian nations. Christendom, that remarkable condition of churches supporting states and states supporting Christianity, died. The idea of Christian privilege in society was all but killed. And yet the religion seemed stronger than ever at the end of the twentieth century.”   “The... Continue Reading

“In his last sermon (you can listen to the whole thing here), he encourages his congregation to consider Christ and the Gospel. He seems to be a pretty humorous guy, with a low view of himself and a high view of Jesus. But one thing he said in his last sermon stuck out to me.”  ... Continue Reading

“Some disagreement about Dad’s dignity represents the clash of three different notions of the source of dignity. The first holds that dignity flows from individual capabilities, in particular those that uphold autonomy or are a source of self-worth. The second holds that dignity rests in membership in human communities.”   Last December, I wrote in... Continue Reading

“The Westminster Directory for the Publick Worship of God supplies some very practical direction at just this point.  It says that if any are hindered from being present from the beginning of worship they ought to come in and compose themselves to join with the assembly in that ordinance of God which is then in... Continue Reading

“Jesus fell asleep right in the middle of a scary trial for His disciples. At first reading, this feels callous on His part. Or oblivious. Or passive-aggressive. I’ve experienced people who have mocked others for not understanding a future outcome or used their ignorance against them to humiliate them. But we know that is not... Continue Reading

“God brought my friend to Louisville as a refugee, and we were able to share the hope of Jesus with him. God works in many ways to lead people to saving faith, but this is the way he chose to work in my friend’s life and in mine. I do not believe our story is... Continue Reading

“The Christian life is one that was similar in so many ways to the mores of Greco-Roman society, but in certain key areas—notably with regard to the treatment of children and sexual expression—it bore witness to a completely different ethic.”   It was during the last quarter of the second century in the eastern Mediterranean, possibly... Continue Reading

“St George’s, White’s church in Baghdad, once had a congregation of more than 6,000 and a school, a clinic and a food bank. This great community has been more than decimated by Isis. ‘They killed over 1,000 of my congregation,’ he says. ‘Can you believe that? And now the others have fled, too.’”   Canon... Continue Reading

Our first thought about God tends to dominate our lives and living more than any other. I would guess that very few Christians first think of God as “Father” when the word “God” is uttered. How rarely are we astonished by the fact that, in Jesus Christ, we are able to call God our Father.... Continue Reading

“Machen’s concern for history, however, is broader than just the biblical story and its importance for doctrine.  Because he held to a high view of the church as an institution, and of her offices, officers and confessions, history was inevitably of vital importance to the particularities of Christian belief and practice in the present.”  ... Continue Reading