Higher Calling, Lower Wages: The Vanishing of the Middle-Class Clergy
As full-time pastors become a thing of the past, more and more seminary grads are taking on secular jobs to supplement their incomes
“Working multiple jobs is nothing new to pastors of small, rural congregations. But many of those pastors never went to seminary and never expected to have a full-time ministerial job in the first place. What’s new is the across-the-board increase in bi-vocational ministry in Protestant denominations both large and small, which has effectively shut down... Continue Reading
Really? You’re Going to Die on THAT Hill?
Before I die on a hill, I’m now committed to making sure it’s my hill, too
“And it turns out that there are fewer hills to siege and die on than I thought. I thought there were few to begin with, but now I’m convinced there are fewer than the few I initially thought. And some of the hills worth dying on already have much better soldiers attacking them. So I’ve... Continue Reading
What Is The Role Of Prayer In A Christian’s Life?
Prayer is a duty, and as we perform that duty, one thing is changed for sure - us
“When the disciples said to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray,” they saw a connection between the power of Jesus and the impact of his ministry and the time he spent in prayer. Obviously, the Son of God felt that prayer was a very valuable enterprise because he gave himself to it so deeply and... Continue Reading
Church of The New York Times Keeps Preaching Its Own Faith
The New York Times continues its efforts to highlight religious institutions with doctrines that are unacceptable to the newsroom’s theologians and, perhaps, the U.S. Department of Justice
“So what happens when Times leaders decide that it is no longer necessary to apply the rules of journalism to religion, culture and morality? What happens when the leaders of this powerful newsroom decide that, in ways both open and subtile, that they can attack religious believers whose doctrines they reject? Simply stated, many traditional... Continue Reading
Why Pastors Who Take Walks Are More Creative
All of our sitting is actually hindering our creativity
A recent Stanford University study found that the simple act of walking improved a person’s creative thinking ability by 60%. Someone who is walking, or has recently sat down after walking, is 60% more creative than a person who has been sitting. Another interesting note is that it didn’t matter if a person walked indoors... Continue Reading
Rebuttal Witnesses And a Lawyers Rebuke
Update on recent litigation in the Episcopal church
“The fireworks which later erupted occurred during national church lawyer Mary Kostel’s cross examination of Diocesan Chancellor Wade Logan. The issue came during his testimony concerning Title IV Discipline charges placed against Bishop Lawrence and how the national church violated its own policies. In presenting the objection Ms. Kostel violated the judges warning and instructions... Continue Reading
Pray for ISIS
Setting aside politics, anger, outrage and instead looking to God in faith, I must pray. Yet how should I pray?
As I have read the news, I have been angry at Islamic radicals and at our incompetent president and his weak foreign policy. I have been saddened by the loss of culture and concerned for the well-being of my Christian brothers and sisters, many of whom have fled their homes and sought refuge in Kurdish... Continue Reading
Are Christians “Intolerant Haters”? The Charges are Not New
Truth be told, this is not the first time Christians have received such labels. Indeed, they were given to Christians from the very beginning.
In sum, the stories of Pliny and Nero are both encouraging and frightening at the same time. They are frightening because they sound eerily similar to the kind of language and accusations being used today against Christians. But, instead of Christians being asked to pay homage to the Roman gods to prove their acceptability, they... Continue Reading
5 Things Forgiveness Doesn’t Mean
Forgiving others is clearly commanded by God, and deep down most believers want to, but it isn’t always easy, and lots of questions arise.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean end of discussion. How many of us husbands have said to our wives “I said I was sorry. So why do we have to keep talking about it?” Even when we forgive, it can be really important for the one sinned against to share how the offender hurt or affected them. We need... Continue Reading
Bring Back the Holy Kiss
With touch in our culture so often either co-opted by sexualization or horrifically corrupted by abuse, the right expression of physical affection in the Christian church is difficult to figure out.
The holy kiss is not subject to personal choice and individual preference. Touch in the church is not offered to someone we especially like as a sign that he or she has been singled out for intimate attention. The holy kiss is not exclusive. In contrast to the man in James 2:2-4 who tells the rich man to... Continue Reading