I suppose that most who quote this verse could not tell you where it found. It is very popularly held that by these words Jesus intended to say, “No one is qualified to make moral judgments.” A closer reading of the verse, in its context, shows us that such an interpretation of Jesus’ words is... Continue Reading

This movement has been afoot in earnest now for at least 20 years, maybe longer, and our culture is no better now than it was when the movement began. We have lost the culture wars. We have lost our way. We have been so busy trying to change the culture, that the culture has changed... Continue Reading

Women are valuable to the work of the church. As confessionally reformed churches, through our ministers and elders, we have stood on the New Testament principle of male leadership. But have we also stood on the principle which acknowledges the valuable role that women play in work of the church? Have we thanked the women... Continue Reading

If you are at least open to the possibility that your remarks were wrong in substance and not just in style then I ask you to consider the following recommendations: 1. Take down the offending sermon from the church’s website. If you truly believe your words were offensive as your tweet indicated then I assume... Continue Reading

“The color-blind theory refers to racial neutrality. According to this view, the color of one’s skin does not matter because we live in a post-racial society—that is, a society that has moved beyond race. Further, the theory urges that humans need to look beyond skin color, because treating people equally and ignoring their race will... Continue Reading

CR’s stated purpose is “to encourage fellowship and to celebrate God’s healing power in our lives as we work our way along the road to recovery” (21). Further, Warren claims that CR is “more effective in helping people change than anything else I’ve seen or heard of.”   Enslaving behaviors are as old, and common... Continue Reading

What if we do live lives of holiness, reverence, and fear? Is our name magnified? Are we lifted up in glory? Peter says that the result of this is that God is glorified. “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on... Continue Reading

“Evangelism no longer means that the job of Christians is to secure formal affiliations, shore up denominational identities, and expand Christian hegemony in Western culture. Evangelism is less and less about programming and institutions, more about relationships and authenticity.”   When Craig Ellis was growing up, he picked up the sort of adventure book meant... Continue Reading

I’m also able to stop trying to be the sin police. The Holy Spirit is responsible for convicting of sin and righteousness, not me. I don’t need to address every sin I see in my girls. I don’t need to be the crouching tiger, ready to pounce on any hidden dragon of sin I see... Continue Reading

Just because we follow Jesus doesn’t mean we will never struggle with sinful desires.  True Christians struggle with anger, pride, hatred, doubt, unbelief, same-sex attraction, lustful desires, love of the world, and so forth.  In this life, that’s how it is.  However, this shouldn’t cause us to despair or give up, as Luther notes.  It... Continue Reading