Sorry, I Can’t Promise It Will Be Any Different
Most people are not looking to move churches because of a genuine gospel issue, but tend rather to have a fringe issue writ large.
I know what I like to believe about our church, but if it’s not an objective doctrinal issue (that your old church denies and we affirm or vice versa) it is a subjective matter. ‘My last minister wasn’t very pastoral’ is hard because, much as I’d love to believe our church would be better, fact is... Continue Reading
Who Defines Success?
What vocation has to do with being a woman.
Women are caught in the tug of war between two views. Both sides seem fully convinced they’re right, and there’s no middle ground. Women are made to choose their priority: career or family. It’s interesting to me, as a mom of boys, that men don’t have to make a similar choice. My sons, for example,... Continue Reading
The Puritans’ Passion for Doctrinal Purity
Rich doctrine, doctrine that reflected the depth and beauty of the gospel, was essential if the church was going to survive difficult times.
Reflecting Paul’s warning in Ephesians 4:14, the Puritans knew that if men and women remained immature in their knowledge of Christ, they would be “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning…” The Puritans understood what Paul taught—that sound doctrine was the antidote the world... Continue Reading
4 Reflections after Listening to 18 Hours of Sermons in America’s Biggest Churches
The point of this project is to provide a snapshot of what a large percentage of American church-goers might hear when they darken the doors of a church building on Sunday morning.
As I listened, I found several common threads (click here for the complete notes from every sermon). These threads will make up most this article—a state of American preaching, if you will. Most of it will be negative. But first: what positive feedback would I give these sermons? What’s the preaching like in America’s biggest churches? That’s the... Continue Reading
The Grieving of the (Non) Gathering of God’s People
There is something about our nature that seeks rhythm and regular structures in our lives.
I’ve been involved in church life all my life. Being born into a pastors family means church is part of my life and lifestyle of my weekly rhythms–as it is for many Christians around the world. And it is in this time of uncertainty and alleviated stress where we seek the rhythms of familiarity. ... Continue Reading
Corona Cannot Prevail Against Her
We are not the church in the coronavirus age. We may be enduring a global pandemic, but we do so as the church in the church age.
Wherever else human heads may be turning, the angelic and demonic hosts are watching the church. God is channeling his work in the world through his church. And not just one channel among others. The church is the only channel mentioned here. Epidemiologists and economists have their part to play, but the main thing happening in... Continue Reading
Pastors, There’s Never Been a Better Time to Pick up the Phone
There are many competing priorities right now. But now is a great time to pick up the phone.
It is a sombre reality that this virus present a serious health challenge to older people and people with health conditions that make them more vulnerable. This is an opportunity to minister to these people and ensure their souls are ready for eternity. A number of years ago, an older Christian man took on... Continue Reading
Police Raid Church’s Drive-In Service, Issue $500 Tickets to Entire Congregation
Police in Greenville, Mississippi raided the parking lot of Temple Baptist Church during a drive-in prayer service and issued $500 fines to everyone in attendance
The pastor said as many as 25 cars were in the parking lot for the service and everyone was ticketed. Video shows police officers disrupting the service by knocking on the doors of every car. Church members were ordered to turn over their driver’s licenses. They were then issued a fine and a court summons.... Continue Reading
Pastoral Letter on Worshiping in a Pandemic
“A Pastoral Letter: to all the saints who are feeling guilty and may be tempted to take unbiblical measures to assuage their spiritual hunger and self-imposed guilt.”
During these strange and sad days when we are under the dark cloud of this pandemic, let us not pummel ourselves and riddle ourselves with false guilt and false grace. This pandemic is God’s providence for us. He knows well our limitations and restrictions. He has given all we need for these days, namely His... Continue Reading
New York Times Ignores The Evidence To Slander Christians As Coronavirus Deniers
Katherine Stewart couldn’t be bothered to find out, as a good journalist would, what the Cornwall Alliance or plenty of other conservative, evangelical Christians think about the coronavirus. Slander sufficed.
Stewart’s hit piece uses all the standard tools of yellow journalism: caricature, guilt by association, hasty generalization, cherry-picking evidence, ignoring contrary evidence, and more. For instance, she quotes three pastors as examples of “many of [Trump’s] evangelical allies.” One, on March 15, “urged his congregants to show up for worship in person.” “Stop denying science!! … There... Continue Reading
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