What Is Discernment?
Discernment is learning to think God’s thoughts after Him, practically and spiritually
Most of us doubtless want to distance ourselves from what might be regarded as “the lunatic fringe” of contemporary Christianity. We are on our guard against being led astray by false teachers. But there is more to discernment than this. True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the... Continue Reading
Why I’m Thankful for Christian Music
I’m grateful for artists who continue to put pen to paper, who compose the notes and give us a way to sing about the God we love.
This headline seems a bit redundant. After all, I’m a Christian and, of course, I’d love Christian music. But this is not always the case. In fact if you listen to a lot of the conversations young Christians are having today, you’d find that Christian music is a kind of punching bag. It’s fashionable for... Continue Reading
Should a Pastor Be Discouraged About His Small Church?
Encouragement for pastors of small churches
Pastors, regardless the pressures you face in your congregation to “produce the numbers,” focus on caring for souls. Be faithful to evangelize, preach the gospel every week, pray for conversions, but make sure your primary focus is on caring for souls. When we stand before God to give an account for the souls of our... Continue Reading
Jesus Takes Worry Seriously – And Gives Us Powerful Truth To Fight It
So don’t worry, trust your heavenly Father who cares for you.
Tomorrow is going to happen one way or another anyway, and we can’t do a thing about it. So focus on today. Seek the kingdom today. Have faith; don’t be of little faith. Have faith that God who provides for sparrows and clothes wild flowers with splendor will be far more lavish with you as... Continue Reading
Did Jesus Forbid All Divorce?
How do we view these Gospel passages on divorce? David Instone-Brewer has a helpful solution: by understanding them in light of their Jewish context.
Is every instance of divorce sinful in God’s sight? Did Jesus forbid all divorce? Does God hate all divorce? The answer to each of these questions is the same: No. God himself “divorced” Israel for her spiritual adultery. Also, I mentioned last week that a good translation of Malachi 2:16 is “If one hates and... Continue Reading
Firestone Did What Governments Have Not: Stopped Ebola In Its Tracks
When it comes to Ebola, the rubber met the road at the Firestone rubber plantation in Harbel, Liberia
Dr. Flannery of the CDC says a key reason for Firestone’s success is the close monitoring of people who have potentially been exposed to the virus — and the moving of anyone who has had contact with an Ebola patient into voluntary quarantine. The classic slogan for Firestone tires was “where the rubber meets... Continue Reading
The Failure of Worldview Education in Christian Colleges
A truly comprehensive biblical worldview is one that joins head and heart, body and soul
We suffer from the bane of modern, Western thought: that it is permissible to believe something without doing it and remain consistent. What we must regain in our schools of Bible and theology is a truly comprehensive biblical worldview—one that joins head and heart, body and soul. Then, and only then, will we teach and live a... Continue Reading
The Mercy of Sickness before Death
What cancer patients need more than anything is to take responsibility for their disease
How could it possibly be merciful of God to reduce you to the hyperawareness, every second of your waking life, that death is relentlessly approaching? Even if it is a knowledge that most other men and women do not have, regardless of what they may like to say, is it knowledge worth having? Just... Continue Reading
4 Trends in Christianity That Could Scare You
While the church in America is not dying, there are some challenges and changes to be considered.
It is beginning to cost something to be a Christian in America—not as much as in many places in the world or in much of history, but more than it used to. And, as living for Christ costs more in our culture, it will mean more in our context. Churches that are preaching the Gospel... Continue Reading
The Judgment Seat of Christ: The Rude Awakening
Apart from Christ there is no salvation
It does not matter how religious a person was, or how devout, how sincere in whatever beliefs they held, how magnanimous they were toward their fellow man, how much the helped our economy, our culture, our country, if they are found outside of Christ, they will be under His condemnation. They will immediately see that... Continue Reading