Sneaky Squids And Sola Scriptura
Either Scripture is the final, magisterial authority for the Christian faith and the Christian life (Sola Scriptura) or it is not
When I saw Chris Rosebrough tweet something about a “sneaky squid spirit doctrine” I thought it must be something from The Onion or the Babylon Bee. It is not. It is the latest thing from the world of charismatic continuing prophecy. The author and podcaster behind this new revelation is Jennifer LeClaire and she has published an article in Charisma Magazine,... Continue Reading
Waiting on the Lord
Waiting is one of the most emotionally tortuous things we go through in life
The waiting is good also because of what happens in our heart while we wait. As we rest in who God is, remembering His word and His works, our faith is renewed. We see our dependence and need for Him in new ways. We realize our own insufficiencies, sins, and weaknesses and see the ways... Continue Reading
Are You Aiding and Abetting Apathy?
Apathy in the Christian life has become common for contemporary evangelicals.
There is no indication, anywhere, that either personal or communal apathy is even close to acceptable. In fact, apathy with the Bible is what we are supposed to be on the lookout for! We mustn’t miss this central tenet of our calling as Christian people (Heb. 3:13; 5:11-14). If you are involved in a local church and... Continue Reading
Jamie Smith’s Bait and Switch
Smith still thinks civil religion is salvageable.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Matt 10:34-35) I was afraid that neo-Calvinism’s refusal... Continue Reading
Advance! Advance in Favor
Just as Jesus advanced in the favor of God and man, so can you. So should you.
While the first priority of every Christian must be securing the favor of God, we also do well to pursue the favor of man. The two are often connected, as Solomon declared, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7). In general, the... Continue Reading
“I walked away from Alice, the love of my life”: same sex attraction and the cost of discipleship
Obedience to God’s word truly offers a quality of life that far exceeds the cost of commitment.
The angels may well have been rejoicing in heaven at the moment of my conversion, but joy was far from me. I knew that what I was doing was right, but I cried tears of sorrow knowing, at least in part, the immediate cost of taking up the cross of obedient discipleship. I walked away from Alice,... Continue Reading
Giving and Receiving Commendation
We are all guilty of having given unjust praise to men and having received unjust praise from men.
Like its counterpart, criticism, commendation interacts with pride and is easily misstated or misapplied. Thankfully, we are not left to our own reasoning capacity to sift through all of the attendant difficulties. As with every other important part of our lives, Scripture has much to teach us about how to give and receive commendation. ... Continue Reading
Why We Don’t Need to Fear the Moment of Our Death
"Only when you are free from the fear of death are you really free.”
The Lord Himself will be with us during our deaths. He has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Nothing, not even death, can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). God promises that all who know Him will experience acceptance into His holy, loving, and gracious arms. Years ago, I interviewed... Continue Reading
Unhealthy Forgiveness: Why We Should Not Forgive Misinterpretations
There are times when forgiving only reinforces our pride or blindness.
Think through these situations for a moment: A husband feels hurt because his wife “disrespected him” when she asked a question about a decision he was making but genuinely didn’t understand (and he did not adequately explain). A wife feels hurt when her husband “failed to pursue her” when his plans for their anniversary did... Continue Reading
3 Things to Remember When You’re Feeling Anxious
It's not, "Don't be afraid, you lousy so-and-so." It's "Don't be afraid, I'm with you."
So first we’re able to normalize the experience, then we hear a tender promise at the heart of the solution, and then we’re given very specific guidelines about how to go forward. The whole thing is summarized very well in Philippians 4. It starts out by saying, The Lord is near—there’s the promise. Don’t be anxious about... Continue Reading