Our faith is not built on creativity or consensus, but on divine revelation. When pastors and elders resist the temptation to accommodate unbiblical desires, whether in worship, leadership, ethics, or mission, they are modeling what it means to stand under the authority of God’s Word. Over time, that faithfulness forms a people who are not... Continue Reading

The multicultural American experiment is done. The city-to-city era of church planting is living on borrowed time. The church “for the life of the city” is a slogan that proved presumptive. Churchly emphasis on artistic engagement is even worse, and has proven a costly three decade case study in mission drift.   The brilliant, late... Continue Reading

Euplus was an early Christian deacon who was martyred in Catania in 304 CE by Governor Calvisianus. While this might seem like just another martyrdom, we are told that he went to his death with a Gospel book hung around his neck—clearly a miniature codex. For Euplus, the miniature codex was proof that he was... Continue Reading

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