Augustine’s ‘The City of God’ and Why It Matters Today
God’s kingdom is a kingdom which shall indeed prevail.
Augustine provides a model for how Christians ought to think of all of world history in explicitly Christian and biblical categories. As Christians raise children and attempt to think about the world we live in on God’s terms—and not ours—Augustine offers a model for making sense of the world in explicitly biblical categories. That is,... Continue Reading
How the 1960s Transformed America’s Faith and Accelerated its Moral Decline
The “social justice” drift of the past sixty years has only left empty pews, often with a few gray-haired individuals scattered across an increasingly cavernous sanctuary.
The abandonment of biblical truth in churches since the 1960s has not only led to a hemorrhaging of members but also increasing numbers of youth who have become alienated from the faith. Because these churches are no longer salt and light in their communities, they have become increasingly irrelevant. By conforming to the culture, rather... Continue Reading
An Excellent New John and Betty Stam Biography
The Stams were a young American missionary couple martyred by Communist rebels in China in December 1934.
Readers will also find the work to be of easily manageable length. The main body of the book, not including the helpful addendum materials at the end, is just 137 pages. If you’ve never read a book about the Stams, this would be a great place to start. Even if you have read other books about... Continue Reading
The Things that are Above
Book Review: Khaled Anatolios’s new book Feasts for the Kingdom offers a masterclass on how to keep our minds focused on the eternal.
Anatolios’s commentary on the effect of Christ’s work on death itself is, on its own, worth the price of the book: “We who have been raised up with Christ and made alive together with Christ know that death is no longer our master but our servant, who has been commissioned to lead us to the... Continue Reading
Book Review: Church Membership by Jonathan Landry Cruse (Blessings of the Faith series)
Cruse carefully deals with four particular facets of church membership, relying on Scripture first, and then the Reformed confessions and other Reformed theologians.
If you are not a member of a church, Jonathan Landry Cruse makes an extremely compelling argument to become one. If you are a member, it will fill you with further joy as you consider the beauty of belonging to God’s people. “It is all about Christ! We belong to the church because we belong to Him, and... Continue Reading
Fresh Insight into the Life of the Prince of Preachers
Review: ‘Spurgeon: A Life’ by Alex DiPrima
In Spurgeon: A Life, Alex DiPrima provides an updated and accessible biography of the Prince of Preachers. Few of Spurgeon’s many biographies accurately portray his life or reflect the scholarly precision his legacy warrants. This new portrayal serves the church because it “makes some improvements over previous accounts of his life and also takes into view... Continue Reading
4 Must-Read Books for Grieving Christians
Finding answers and hope amidst the doubts and questions of grief.
These four books were a lifeline of much needed comfort, wisdom, and encouragement for me, and it is my hope they will be the same for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling to hold on to their faith amid devastating grief. When my son died in 2006, it was hard—even painful—for... Continue Reading
The Scandalous Forgiveness of Sinners
Christ knows the depth of depravity that lives inside of us. He dwelt in it, yet never sinned, for 33 years.
Though free for them, for you, for me, forgiveness was anything but free. Someone had to pay that cost, but it never could be me— Too full of my own impurity, I could never forgive to this immense degree. But Jesus can, and He did, and He does. And for those who believe, it’s still... Continue Reading
Is God Disappointed with Me?
Book Review: "Peace over Perfection," by Faith Chang
For those who have dealt with manifestations of Christian perfectionism, Chang has done a beautiful thing. In reading her personal experiences, her reflections on the writing of others, and her rich meditations on God’s character from his word, you will be deeply encouraged by how you are both loved and delighted in by your God. ... Continue Reading
The Church in an AI Future
Christians must know their purpose to steer a world dominated by AI.
The promises of AI are indeed amazing. The labor- and time-saving potential will save humanity hours of mindless tasks, and we’ve not even begun to realize the potential for medicine, among other things. However, potentials are not actuals, and history is full of unintended (and intended) applications and consequences of technology. The only way forward... Continue Reading