4 Traits of Healthy Church Membership
“How ought we conduct ourselves in the house of God?”
The first step in developing healthy church membership is finding rest for our weary souls in the One who is building the church (Matt. 11:28-29). After lauding contentment, Paul urges believers to consider the appearing of our Lord Jesus (1 Tim. 6:14). With reference to deep struggles Paul speaks of the exceeding abundance of God’s... Continue Reading
Aborting in the Name of Jesus
Dr. Parker says he aborts unborn children because Jesus wants him to
Parker says his “come to Jesus” moment, persuading him of the “call” to abortion, happened when he heard a sermon by Martin Luther King Jr. on Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan. By performing abortion, Parker sees himself as the Samaritan, caring for the beaten neighbor on the side of the road. It is... Continue Reading
Christians Killed in Nigeria Through June Already at 91% of 2013’s Full-Year Total
Boko Haram, the Islamist extremist group in Nigeria, and other groups have killed 1,631 Christians in Nigeria in the first six months of 2014
Boko Haram seeks to impose sharia law throughout Nigeria, and is responsible for the increase in Christian deaths in the first six months of this year. Those deaths were accompanied by an increase in the total number of people (of all faiths) killed, which stands at 4,099 – 975 more than the total number of... Continue Reading
Advice To Young Scholars
Although it is natural and good to desire affirmation, do not fall in love with applause
If anything can immunize us against the temptation to love applause above truth, it is prayer. We all need that immune system strengthener. Even those of us who think we are strong, who flatter ourselves with the thought that we are invulnerable to the lure of approval, are weak. Advice to young scholars and,... Continue Reading
Defining Social Justice
Today nearly any issue of justice in society, real or imagined, falls under the umbrella of social justice.
While I cannot settle the many debates over the subject here, I hope to offer a more nuanced view, grounded in the history of modern Christian social thought and action that might have broader appeal, even to those conservatives who are otherwise repelled by the phrase. It is my goal to argue that a definition... Continue Reading
Fifty Shades of Grey: Harmless Fun or Spiritual Warfare?
Instead of being simply a harmless escape, erotica, or “mommy porn” as it has been named, represents a battlefront in the war between good and evil.
Erotica is dangerous because it is a type of fantasy that manipulates moral and relational laws. “Right and wrong get morphed into a morally grey universe that becomes impossible to untwist (26).” And this this redefining of morality is no accident … . Erotic fantasy is unreal, deceptive, and it makes you want more. But... Continue Reading
What’s Wrong with the “Wrong Side of History” Argument?
As Christians we ought to fear being on the wrong side of the holy, catholic church more than fear being on the wrong side of Whig notions of progress and enlightenment.
It has become one of the most common refrains. When Vladimir Putin acts like an international bully, geopolitical leaders are quickly dismissive of his thuggish behavior as being on the “wrong side of history.” Closer to home, when Christians and other religious conservatives maintain that marriage is between a man and a woman, you can... Continue Reading
What Do We Expect from our Pastors? What Do our Pastors Expect of Us?
Both pastors and their churches would benefit from a regular and prayerful pondering of Philippians 2:1-11
I am not currently serving as a church pastor. Instead, my flock is 230+ hormonal teenagers and 25 teachers and staff in the Upper School at Whitefield Academy. Being away from a church pastorate gives me some freedom to talk openly about the unrealistic expectations we Christians place on our pastors and also to be... Continue Reading
“But The Bible Was Written By Men!”
Often times we hear objections from non-believers that we cannot trust the Bible because it was written by men.
I know my case here will not change the mind of the skeptic, atheist and spiritual ne’er do well. But hopefully my brothers and sisters in the LORD will be encouraged and know that the Bible we have been given was not done so in a vacuum, but given to us through time from God,... Continue Reading
Before You Consider Homeschool
If homeschool is something you’ve tossed around in your mind, I want you to consider a few things before you decide to homeschool.
One of the greatest misconceptions about homeschool is that homeschooling isolates children from other children their age and that they never learn how to socialize with others. I could write an entire article on why that’s not true but for the sake of brevity, here’s the truth: there is so much for homeschoolers to do... Continue Reading