How does sin work? It deceives our minds. Like a phobia, sin is delusional, not based on reality, God’s reality, namely that people are creatures of his who owe him allegiance because he made them. The phobia of sin causes us to fear God in all the wrong ways and run from him. The delusion... Continue Reading

When Rand Paul said it makes no sense for the Democratic Party to support the killing of a seven-pound unborn baby while we have one- and two-pound babies born prematurely who can survive outside the womb, he was merely doing what most reporters won’t. He was pushing abortion rights activism to its logical extreme.  ... Continue Reading

Some in the conservative Christian community have already spoken out that women should not be fighting in the MMA at all. I disagree. But it should be fair. Women should at least be assured that their opponents are actually women. And the truth comes out on the mats. You just can’t pretend you are something... Continue Reading

“Although public opinion has been moving rapidly in favor of same sex marriage, a recent AP-GfK poll found that most Americans thought it was even more important to protect religious liberties when they conflict with gay marriage. Indeed, there should be room to accomplish both.”   Perhaps you have missed it amid all the heated... Continue Reading

“Potential members should understand what membership means before they make a commitment to the congregation. Churches without a membership class are essentially inviting members to join with no expectations. Little zeal toward the church – mediocrity, that is – is often the result.”   I suspect this post may offend someone, but that’s not my... Continue Reading

Among LifeWay’s findings: About half of Americans view denominational names favorably, while the other half feel either negatively or indifferently. “It would depend on who you’re trying to reach,” said Scott McConnell, vice president of LifeWay Research. “But some denominational groups have as much ‘brand equity’ as nondenominational churches, which have been growing the fastest.”... Continue Reading

“Most Protestant senior pastors (66 percent) seldom speak to their congregation about mental illness, according to a study by LifeWay Research. That includes almost half (49 percent) who rarely (39 percent) or never (10 percent), speak about mental illness. About 1 in 6 pastors (16 percent) speak about mental illness once a year.”   In... Continue Reading

“I know that Christian communities are often not the places where we can “come out ” – to be transparent, to acknowledge the things with which we struggle. That is something that needs to be fixed in the Christian church. But when we “come out” it is not that we are to be “proud of... Continue Reading

“When I mention historic hymns, maybe you cringe as you recall a “worship war” in your local church. Maybe you’re eager to only sing the old hymns. Or maybe you wonder why it is important at all. My aim is not to renew local church disputes or bolster mere sentimentality, but to commend something else... Continue Reading

“Religion is a helpful word we use to describe our Christian faith, which encompasses every aspect of our Christian lives, rooted in and flowing out of our spiritually regenerated new hearts and minds, and founded on the relationship that God has established with us by uniting us to Christ.”   I have heard people say... Continue Reading