Young, Restless, Foolish
I now approach evangelical debates with a little more grace and familial language
“There is a caricature of young Reformed guys as being hard to get along with and angry. I agree. But it’s not because they’re Reformed. It’s because they are young, mere infants in the faith. It’s not true of every young Christian, but it seems to be particularly true of zealous, academically minded men.” In 1997... Continue Reading
Why Religion Will Dominate The 21st Century
The 20th century was the high point of secularization, while the next will be dominated by religion
“Wherever you look, religion is mutating, thriving, growing. Southeast Asia is as fiercely religious as ever. Same with India. Africa — this century’s next superpower — is the most religious continent on the planet. In America, disaffiliation is changing the face of American religion, but at the same time, higher proportions of people today than... Continue Reading
10 Hidden Traps That Trip Pastors Up
If a person is not loyal to you, they will cause you more harm than good — end of story
“Some leaders seem to have an endless supply of energy, enthusiasm, and passion. Even these super-leaders have to take time to feed themselves. If you fail to do this, you will find yourself depleted and weak. Take the time to do something for yourself—those you lead will be glad, and you will be more effective.”... Continue Reading
The Withering Of The Episcopal Church
It would be difficult to overstate the decline in the Episcopal Church in comparison to what it once was
“Permit me to offer my observations about why the Episcopal churches have hollowed out. They are not the result of a scientific survey, but my hunch is that they will ring true with many Episcopalians with traditional views. My observations are based on experiences I had while attending talent shows with a friend at an... Continue Reading
Evangelical Protestants Are The Biggest Winners When People Change Faiths
Why do evangelicals wind up ahead of other Christian sects in this model?
“They’re better at holding on to the people born into their tradition (65 percent retention compared to 59 percent for Catholics and 45 percent for Mainline Protestants), and they’re a stronger attractor for people leaving other faiths. According to Pew’s data on conversion rates, 10 percent of people raised Catholic wind up as evangelicals. Just... Continue Reading
How Is Baptism A Sign And Seal?
Baptism is the sign of initiation into the visible new covenant community
“Baptism is a divinely-instituted sign and seal. As has been mentioned, our Lord did a great number of things which has not instituted for our perpetual use and observance but baptism is instituted for perpetual use and observance until he returns. It is a sign of the washing away of our sins and it is... Continue Reading
5 Steps to Becoming the Most Relevant Pastor Ever
If you follow these carefully researched principles of relevance, you will soon become the most relevant pastor on the block.
Ah , relevance. That holy grail of pastoral ministry. The relevant pastor is up on the latest movies, in on the latest trends, and speaks the language of the streets. He brings life to every party and puts a smile on every face. People can relate to a relevant pastor…because he’s relevant. See how that... Continue Reading
Continuing Down this Path, Complementarians Lose
Egalitarians are not the only ones who deny a hierarchy in the immanent Trinity.
A hierarchy in the immanent Trinity will always lead to inequality. It is more than a difference in roles. It is about the nature or essence of God. I can’t help but conclude that their argument is the biblical, trinitarian equivalent of “separate, but equal.” No matter their intention, the result is the same. It’s not... Continue Reading
Marine Court-Martialed For Refusing To Remove Bible Verse
A United States Marine was convicted at a court-martial for refusing to remove a Bible verse on her computer
“This is a very scary time when you are not allowed to have a very small printed Bible verse in your own personal workspace because it might offend other Marines,” Sasser told me. “Our Marines are trained to deal with some of the most hostile people on the planet. I don’t think they are afraid... Continue Reading
Why Friendships Can Be So Hard
Making and keeping real, authentic, see-me-as-I-really-am, sacrificial, and honest friendship is hard.
Friendship is like any relationship; it takes hard work. It also takes intentionality. It takes a willingness to forgive and overlook offenses. It takes time and effort. Friendship isn’t always equally balanced. Sometimes we might have to work harder than the other person for a while. We might have to take the first step and... Continue Reading