A Call for Sympathy
"Give me the friend who, though poor in gold and silver, has always ready a sympathizing heart.”
Ryle, a great theologian with much “proper and correct counsel” he could give, is onto something. How we need genuine sympathy to open hearts and draw out our better feelings. How we need to suffer with that we might better discuss with. How we need to suffer with that we might better counsel with. How we... Continue Reading
Arrogance
The answer is not to hold on to your anger through pride, but to release it through humbling yourself before God.
Submit yourselves to God, draw near to God and He will draw near to you. I promise you that His desire will be for you to be reconciled to your true brothers and sisters in Christ. Go to them and seek forgiveness. You may say, “Yeah, but he said!” or “Yeah, but she said!” So... Continue Reading
Groaning, Waiting, Hoping
How to live in a fallen, fragile world.
When “the creation was subjected to futility,” the one who subjected it did so “in hope” (Romans 8:20). What hope? The hope “that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). The futility infecting creation is not... Continue Reading
Beware the Idol of “Normal”
That there is no true security except that which is in Christ. And that true hope is found in God alone.
For in the wake of the disease and the shut down that accompanied it, we have been forced to confront all the sources of security and safety that we have held for ourselves. These idols – idols of our financial system, our jobs, our government institutions, our entertainment and comfort, our personal control and power... Continue Reading
The Surprising Transformation of the Disciples of Jesus
An encounter with the resurrected Jesus will transform disciples and prepare them for a joyful mission.
When Jesus visited the disciples, he didn’t only give them instruction and fellowship, he gave them a purpose for the future. When explaining the Scriptures, Jesus said “it is written” that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). And the disciples were not... Continue Reading
The Mark of an Educated Mind
Schooling underpinned by critical thinking is the bedrock of civilisation. It could save us from today’s infantilised discourse.
At a time when so many are lamenting the degradation of public discourse, a conversation about how best to incorporate critical thinking into our schools is long overdue. Our civilisation might just depend on it. Many years ago I gave a talk at the London Metropolitan Archives in which I outlined my reasons for... Continue Reading
The Cure for a Lack of Fruit in Our Christian Lives
True believers demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, and this fruit is observable and measurable.
Bearing fruit, something that Jesus identifies as keeping His commandments (15:10), is intimately related to abiding in Him. It is in the sphere of abiding in Christ and not apart from it that fruit emerges. The Westminster Confession of Faith insists that Christians may be “certainly assured that they are in the state of... Continue Reading
Spurgeon’s Vision for Women’s Ministry
Spurgeon believed that God called many women to serve Christ in large and inspiring ways.
Though Spurgeon would not support the idea of women serving in pastoral ministry or preaching to the gathered congregation, he nonetheless valued the role of women in the spreading of the gospel. He also believed it was entirely appropriate for women to teach other women in the church. Thus, Spurgeon sought to promote and resource... Continue Reading
Dear Police Officers
I’m grateful you protected my mom when I was too young to protect her. I’m grateful you returned me home safely when I was lost.
The whole world appears to be scrutinizing your every move. Some of us are judging you fairly. And some of us are judging you unfairly. But if you’re reading this, I hope you’ll submit and entrust yourselves to God. He is the only person who judges justly. I was a five-minute walk from home... Continue Reading
Nikole Hannah-Jones’ Hatred For America Is The Basis Of The 1619 Project
Hannah-Jones’ words matter. They are the same words that may well emanate from our children’s lips if we do not take our institutions back.
In some ways, Hannah-Jones and her 1619 Project are not radical. Like-minded radicals have controlled our formative institutions for years, particularly in schools, indoctrinating generations of children in an anti-American milieu that casts the United States as racist, imperialist, and oppressive. How would you feel if the person teaching your children American history argued... Continue Reading