“Confidence on the basis of body image relates to intimacy in a very special way. If we are ever rejected, we want the confidence to say, “They are wrong for rejecting me.” We search for self-confidence so that we can temper our experience of rejection.”   “If I could look like that guy who played... Continue Reading

“If liberal religion is so in sync with Western secular culture, why isn’t it more popular? First, it offers an echo rather than a distinctive voice. Second, it doesn’t demand very much beyond self-acceptance. Third, it lacks permanence, pegging belief on the trends of last week, always trying to keep up.”   Liberal religion will... Continue Reading

“In order to present Luther’s vision of the Christian life within its proper context, Trueman arranges the progression of chapters so that the reader gains an understanding of broad themes in Luther’s theology before turning to the particular topics traditionally associated with sanctified living.”   It is not immediately obvious to many Christians that Martin... Continue Reading

“The videos, which claim Planned Parenthood profits from selling fetal tissue, caused public outrage and launched nationwide rallies. As many as seven states, including Texas, have planned hearings or investigations into Planned Parenthood.”   For years, a group of pro-life activists and politicians have waged a fierce political and brand war with the Planned Parenthood... Continue Reading

“Hymnals are intended to be a collective statement of faith for the denomination or group that adopts it. The theological content of our singing is certainly stronger when we have a primary resource that’s been examined, vetted, and solidified on that basis.”   A year ago yesterday I wrote a post about hymnals. A lot of people read... Continue Reading

“Sometimes, people who have been hurt badly in the past resort to patterns of forgiving everyone, or forgiving no one — both in a desperate attempt to find safe intimacy. Even if you haven’t been hurt badly, it’s okay (actually, it’s wise) to take time to detox from the hurt of the relationship.”   Vulnerability... Continue Reading

“When death comes knocking, we’re tempted to suppress the pain. We numb the pain with drugs, sex, entertainment, and alcohol. But when the smoke clears and the buzz fades, the fact remains that we’ve lost someone we dearly care about, and we can’t escape this sobering reality.”   For a while, I’ve dreaded the inevitable... Continue Reading

“Brooding, which is known among cognitive scientists as morbid rumination, is a mental state familiar to most of us, in which we can’t seem to stop chewing over the ways in which things are wrong with ourselves and our lives. This broken ­record fretting is not healthy or helpful.”   Coleridge said something along the lines of how sentimentality... Continue Reading

“In the New Testament, there is–by way of good and necessary consequence–the example of parents having their children in the gathered assembly. The Epistles were written by the Apostles to churches to be read before the entire congregation. In the epistle to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul directly addresses the children in the congregation.”   At... Continue Reading

“According to missional authors, in order for worship to be authentic for believers and understandable for unbelievers, churches must evaluate their cultural context and contextualize worship to that culture. Since the West is post-Christendom culturally, churches must avoid allowing their worship to be shaped by forms nurtured during Christendom and instead shape their worship according to the... Continue Reading