The Happiness of Obedience
Obedience to the gospel is obedience to Christ and to God
It is vital to note that obedience to the Creator is owed by mankind, both by the demands of God’s very nature and by man’s nature itself as creature. And it is the demands of God’s nature which the Osteens seek to throw off, and to convince us that we should throw off under the... Continue Reading
Creating A Hospice Ministry For Churches
The death of a church does not have to be the end of its ministry
Part of the key is to remember that we should not see the death of a church as a failure. Even the churches in the New Testament died and were restarted (or, were not, in some places). Why not make the death of your church a strategic decision rather than an unfortunate accident? It... Continue Reading
Poll: Church Leaders Predict Repression Over Objections To Gay Coupling
The culture war is not "somewhere out there" anymore, it’s at the door
“The future is uncertain on how the legal system will single out Christians for their beliefs or force them into situations that violate their conscience, but recent precedent doesn’t provide much encouragement. And it’s not just the legal climate that ought to concern Christians. Cultural forces are at work to remove even reasonable and orthodox... Continue Reading
If Only You Knew What I Know
Maybe what we need is need fewer books, and more friendships, fewer abstract principles and more applied ones
“What makes 12-step programs so effective despite vague or even antagonistic notions of God? To large degree, it is the fellowship of addicts or alcoholics, who walk together, and battle together, against a common enemy. They develop transformative friendships based not on doing fun things together or sharing common amusements, but on the growth and... Continue Reading
Have You Lost That Lovin’ Feeling?
When was the last time we said, “Oh, how I wish I had the intimacy and tenderness I once had when I first came to Christ?”
“When was the last time we looked around us and said, “Oh how I wish I had the sweet communion that my friend seems to have with God?” When was the last time we looked within and said, “Oh, I am so cold, crusty, stale, stagnant, dry and lifeless?” When was the last time you... Continue Reading
Biblically Faithful
Parachurch ministries exist to come alongside and serve the local church, but if they ever try to replace the church, they should close their doors
“Every Christian has been affected, in some measure, by a parachurch ministry, whether directly or indirectly. Still, many questions remain about the relationship between the church and the parachurch: Are parachurch ministries biblical? Should we support them? What is their appropriate role in serving the church? What kind of work should parachurch ministries undertake?” I... Continue Reading
Not The Smallest Letter
Not even in the slightest respect will the Old Testament Law remain unfulfilled
“Jesus undoubtedly believed that God had authored the Old Testament Scriptures and that they were so infallible that sooner would the cosmos be dissolved than they would be proven false. Christ himself believed that the whole of the Old Testament originated with God and was revealed by him. If we ever question whether a verse... Continue Reading
The Evangelical Roots of the Benedict Option
Briefly stated, the Benedict Option is the idea that Christians should selectively withdraw from mainstream American culture in order to live a life of simple Christian piety and virtue
“Yet what makes L’Abri so interesting as a model for the Benedict Option is its openness, a value not inimical to the Benedict approach but one certainly not often discussed by its proponents. L’Abri is a place where literally anyone can come and join the life of the community. During my time there I roomed... Continue Reading
Rape and Rotherham
Don’t expect tomorrow’s predators to look like yesterday’s
“In a somewhat similar way, what happened in Rotherham was rooted both in left-wing multiculturalism and in much more old-fashioned prejudices about race and sex and class. The local bureaucracy was, indeed, too fearful of being labeled “racist,” too unwilling, as a former member of Parliament put it, to “rock the multicultural community boat.” But... Continue Reading
What Was So Different About Christians Compared To The Surrounding Greco-Roman Culture?
The trait that separated Christians from the pagan culture: their sexual ethic.
While it was not unusual for Roman citizens to have multiple sexual partners, homosexual encounters, and engagement with temple prostitutes, Christians stood out precisely because of their refusal to engage in these practices. For instance, Tertullian goes to great lengths to defend the legitimacy of Christianity by pointing out how Christians are generous and share... Continue Reading