Three Important Differences Between Flattery and Encouragement
Flattery puffs up, but encouragement pumps up. The difference between them has everything to do with the quality of what’s inside both the speaker and the listener.
Some people avoid encouraging others verbally, in fear of sounding like they’re flatterers. Other people flatter, thinking they’re encouraging, then wonder why people around them are proud and self-centred when it comes time to return the favour. Those in need of encouragement resort to soliciting mere compliments, but it doesn’t seem to help their discouragement.... Continue Reading
The One Person Who Can’t be Themselves in Our Culture
In this age when everyone is allowed to be themselves to the fullest extent imaginable, there’s one person who constantly doesn’t get that opportunity: Jesus.
For the progressives, Jesus is only about love and acceptance, ironically enough given that they often do not accept His teachings on topics like morality, sexuality, hell and Jesus being the only way for salvation. For the fundamentalists, Jesus is exclusively focused on truth, even though they may ignore the truthfulness of His showing grace,... Continue Reading
The Missing Word in Our Modern Gospel
Tthe gospel is more than positive self-talk, and the gospel Jesus and the apostles preached was more than a warm, “don’t let anybody tell you you’re not special” bear hug.
If there is a one-sentence summary of Jesus’s preaching, Mark gives it at the beginning of his Gospel: “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14-15). ... Continue Reading
The Many Faces of Legalism
Some forms of legalism are more obvious than others, but there are at least five types of legalism to note
Christians must, in fact, do something to be sanctified. However, to make sanctification all about a list of good deeds and disciplines is to undermine the work of the Holy Spirit in a legalistic attempt at holiness. God’s love for me does not wax and wane based on my daily performance, the strength of my... Continue Reading
Personal Gospel Mercy
Is it true that if the church becomes involved too deeply in social issues or mercy ministry, the gospel will be lost?
Certainly the last century has shown that mainline churches became derailed as influences such as liberal theology, the social gospel, liberation theology, and feminism sent them careening off course. Yet the answer is not for the church to retreat from social matters and set themselves up as theological fortresses that remain unmoved by the affliction... Continue Reading
My Protestant Oscar Predictions
The usual carnival of corruption will be on full display. And it will be attractive, because it is physically beautiful.
Christians need to see the beauty that flows from life lived in accordance with the gospel, and we need to use the language of beauty again and again to emphasize it. We should not allow what is morally vile to monopolize the language of beauty. In a world where taste is truth, the church’s task... Continue Reading
How Psalm 73 Speaks to the Christian Experience
A goal for all of us is to be able to say: “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides you.”
We want to be able to say, “Nothing in this life is as good as that taste of belonging to the Lord.” Once we’ve tasted it, we realize that nothing else ever compares. Asaph understood that perspective. It went from his head into his heart because he looked at God. There’s such a lesson in... Continue Reading
Repenting of Confirmation Bias Christianity
Confirmation bias: The tendency to interpret new evidence as confirmation of one’s existing beliefs or theories.
Examine yourself. Knowing and acknowledging we have this problem is necessary before we can even address it. The problem with confirmation bias is that our biases are embedded, they are presumed, felt as “natural.” So we aren’t typically conscious that we’re doing these things. Paul tells Timothy to “keep a close watch on yourself” (1 Tim.... Continue Reading
An Open Letter to the Suffering Christian
Suffering must be walked through one step at a time. Be honest. Don’t take any shortcuts.
But when it comes time to say something, I might say this: Jesus is a most sympathetic friend, fellow sufferer, and Savior. He has walked a hard road. He has felt his own anguish and crushing pain (Isaiah 53). He understands. He is compassionate toward you. By the comfort of his presence and sympathy, he... Continue Reading
Why Do Christians Still Die?
Why do Christians have to die? Why can't they just live and then go to heaven without passing through the experience of death?
Believers do not have to die, as Christ has purchased deliverance from physical death and the redemption of our bodies. But, in most cases, the Lord has chosen to delay or postpone the application of these benefits until the final resurrection….The Heidelberg Catechism asks the same question: “Since Christ has died for us, why do... Continue Reading