No church is perfect but a prepared church will respond better when these difficult problems come. Though many will volunteer to help out in an immediate crisis, it is the long term needs that strain the resources of the church and reveal its weaknesses. To keep love constant is a challenge but Christ calls us to... Continue Reading

ON The Challenges: “There’s been a shift in the cultural environment, particularly related to gender issues and sexuality. In response to this, we have an opportunity to maintain an open-door policy and share the Gospel graciously, but also to be clear that the Gospel takes a different stance on these issues than the rest of... Continue Reading

For better or worse, many students will pass through the classrooms of Christian schools around the world.  I’m so proud of many of the students who have been in one of my classes or schools in the past as they have become leaders of influence as adults.  I doubt that many thought Paul Walker would... Continue Reading

We all recognize that that first act of repentance is only the beginning. We recognize that sins must be mortified. We recognize that there is the problem of indwelling sin in the life of the believer. But I suspect that we don’t often attach repentance to these things. In part, this may be because we... Continue Reading

Scudder worries here that many churches attempt to help the poor but they operate out a poor theology of poverty and a poor understanding of economics. This type of ignorance can put churches in positions where they are enabling poverty or, even worse, hurting those they intend to help.  Scudder also worries that “pastors in... Continue Reading

“The clergy housing allowance isn’t a government establishment of religion, but just the reverse,” ERLC President Russell D. Moore said. “The allowance is neutral to all religions. Without it, clergy in small congregations of all sorts would be penalized and harmed. We will continue to fight to protect the housing allowance, because we believe clergy... Continue Reading

We do not need more movements, more conferences, and more celebrities. We do not need the next big thing. What we need are more churches committed to the way disciples have been made since the Apostles planted a church in Jerusalem two thousand years ago: the slow-going, unspectacular, ordinary ministry of Word and sacrament, where... Continue Reading

University President Loren Swartzendruber announced on Nov. 18 that the school would embark on a six-month “listening period” where students, faculty and staff would be asked to share input with the administration on whether the institution should reverse its ban. During the period, “faculty will not be penalized for violating the policy, meaning some professors... Continue Reading

When asked to provide reasons for their children’s doubts, lack of church involvement or rejection of the Christian faith, respondents cited unrealistic social expectations (28 percent) and negative experiences in church (18 percent) as the primary reasons.   Are pastors’ kids prodigals? A new Barna Group survey uncovered ambiguous results. Senior pastors with children at... Continue Reading

In our attempt to help the poor at our church we were communicating that we, the upper-middle class church people, were better. In giving gifts to their children we were reminding their fathers of their lack. After all, whose responsibility was it to buy gifts for those children? Our church members felt “so good” and... Continue Reading