If I can borrow lines from Pope Leo’s exhortation to embrace migrants, to today’s clerical elites, by and large, Catholic traditionalists “only represent a problem to be solved,” and are not “brothers and sisters to be welcomed, respected and loved.” Alas, if only they loved the Koran, and not the Tridentine mass! This is where... Continue Reading

“How am I using the technology in my life?” And, “How should Christians approach the use of technology?” “What are the benefits, drawbacks, and in what ways might technology adversely affect the Christian life and the church?”.   I can remember sitting at the airport gate awaiting the call to board my flight. As I... Continue Reading

The pastor’s home, as they say, is his first congregation. His home life is his primary ministry and a test of his qualifications for leading the church. To “succeed” in ministry and fail at home is to fail.   In most professions, one’s personal life remains private. But pastoring is different. It’s more than a... Continue Reading

Christian shepherds must only feed the LORD’s sheep the food that they themselves have received from the Chief Shepherd – the Word of the LORD Jesus Christ himself. All of this is reinforced by one of the most magnificent declarations of what it means to be a Christian teacher in all of the Bible.  ... Continue Reading

Contemporary worship music has grown into a big business—CD sales, downloads, merchandise, and high-ticket concerts where celebrity worship leaders draw crowds like pop stars.   I recently wrote about decisions regarding what songs we should sing. I originally focused on decisions about lyrics but then was asked about how we respond to questionable sources, what... Continue Reading

If complex illness is like a long investigation, the church should be the quiet task force that keeps showing up, praying, cooking, driving, contributing, and hoping when hope feels heavy. We cannot promise outcomes. But we can embody the presence of the One who can, the crucified and risen Lord who knows our frame, remembers... Continue Reading

Bestowing titles not found in the church order, especially when they are suspiciously adjacent or similar to the actual PCA officer titles, can be deceptive, unwise, unhelpful, and may undermine good order. Still, the lack of fixed definitions, standards, or processes for these non-standard, non-officer titles makes ruling on them a subjective matter. Who leads... Continue Reading

The project was led by Michael Foster, a former PCA pastor. The report uncovers “evidence gathered from publicly available websites, live streams, and church documents” that demonstrates that a non-negligible portion of the PCA (7.3% by their estimates) publicly list women in official and titled leadership roles that, according to Foster and his coauthors, “function... Continue Reading

Now wait a minute, you’re thinking. The pastor is also there for the children. Yes. Indubitably. The pastor is called by God. He is given the keys to unleash the free gifts of Christ and His Kingdom on everyone, including kids. But is that what we see in the children’s message? I’ve mostly observed poor... Continue Reading

Presbyterianism has contributed positively to global missions, revivalism, theological research and writing, and social concern for the poor, neglected, and marginalized. Its focus on doctrinal fidelity, confessional identity, and reverent worship has made it a marvelous home for millions of believers around the world.   It might seem strange—and even boring—to name a Christian denomination... Continue Reading