Our obligation to protect the reputations of others is not limited to those who agree with us or who are not guilty of sin.  It extends to all people; it extends especially to other believers.  In the most extreme situations in which church discipline is involved, the reputation of the guilty party should still be... Continue Reading

There was a time when polite society required Americans to pretend to sympathize with historic Judeo-Christian ethical norms, even as they defied them privately. That time is past. The truth is that Christians who understand and believe Christian ethical norms are a diminishing lot. We might wish that the postmillennialists were right but all the... Continue Reading

[Editor’s note: This notice is the continuation of the dispute between GraceLife Church in Alberta, Canada, and Alberta Health Services about the advisability of the church holding worship services without getting clearance from Health Services during the COVID-19 mandated restrictions and shutdown. Read a news account of this story: Canadian Church Fenced Off by Authorities for... Continue Reading

I still believe that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and a determination to resist the siren songs of the partisan slogans on both sides of a culture war divide, Christian unity can be maintained even among those with sharp partisan differences… The Stone-Campbellites failed to look beyond the partisanship a century and a... Continue Reading

You may come to church and say, “I’m not so sure that I’m like other people here.” Then I would respond, “That is exactly why you are needed there.” God created you as a one-of-a-kind. He redeems what he created. What He has placed in believers by creation, He has now redeemed for the good... Continue Reading

We want you to be our minister. We don’t care about your accent, where you grew up, from what seminary you graduated, whether you like football or ride a motorcycle. We are anxious to hear you preach God’s Word, and happy to be enlightened, encouraged, challenged and convicted. We want to be brought into the... Continue Reading

God calls us to focus on what He has placed in front of us in our personal lives, families, and the church. If we are not neglecting these, and we have time left over, we are called to care about the needs of the community. However, we should never reverse the order. As Paul told... Continue Reading

Certainly, 2020 has been different, Smith said. The pandemic affected more people for a longer period of time. And it’s not over yet. “Here’s what we know about trauma: the hard part comes later on,” Treat said. “If this season has been traumatic, the worst part is going to come out in the next couple... Continue Reading

Discernment in how to achieve numerical growth is necessary.  And ACNA’s approach so far reminds me of a town so eager to grow that it invites a large bar and outdoor music venue and hastily locates it in the middle of a residential neighborhood, impelling the residents to move away.  The new misplaced venue may... Continue Reading

If you lack purpose, it’s difficult to find common goals and the bonding that takes place in achieving those goals together. If you lack clarity of structure, roles and processes, then your team doesn’t know what to expect and therefore can’t trust decisions. If you lack leadership development, your team may not feel valued and... Continue Reading