These virtues that make Barnabas a good man are not natural, but rather supernatural. On first thought you might say, “Well, these are outside my reach since I cannot do them.” This would be the prideful way to think. Barnabas knew (because of what is said about him) that he is not much on his... Continue Reading

“We’ve been trying to solve spiritual problems with political solutions. We’ve petitioned Presidents and Governors more than we’ve petitioned the King of Kings. We’ve tried to change people’s laws, but forgotten about their hearts.We’ve also failed to testify positively and persuasively about our lives and families.”   In an open letter to conservative evangelicals at The Daily Beast,... Continue Reading

In this letter of love to his Galatian friends, Paul is forced to kick it up a notch. As an apostolic prophet, he is called by God to safeguard the Gospel, and sometimes this requires him to offend both friend and foe. So on this issue, Paul has debated orthodox Pharisees, ecumenical Judaizers, and dear friends such as Barnabas and Peter.... Continue Reading

We who are called saints, who have been adopted of the Father and loved with an everlasting love, who have been and are being remade have much to give thanks for. We in turn, despite all this, have much to repent for. But in all we have much to rejoice over, for He who has... Continue Reading

“When we were united to Christ, a transaction and transition of monumental proportions took place. It would be a tragedy if we did not catch a glimpse of the grandeur of what this means — it is nothing less than union and communion with the Son of God in our flesh.”   To contemplate all the... Continue Reading

“Some things are complicated, however, evangelism is not one of them. Be intentional and available and follow these steps: open you mouth, use the Bible, tell people the gospel. Then watch out…people might get saved! And you might become a crazy evangelist!”   “It’s not that complicated.” How many times have you said this to... Continue Reading

“Pray they will weep over the sin and failures of God’s people. In my experience, the best shepherds are those who genuinely grieve the spiritual brokenness of the people they lead. Like Nehemiah when he heard about the damaged walls of Jerusalem, they are themselves broken when they see the results of spiritual decline.”  ... Continue Reading

“There’s no question that the Reformed Kirk embraced the practice of congregational psalm-singing in worship. In this, as is many aspects of worship, the Kirk took its lead from Geneva. There is, however, a difference between singing psalms and singing only psalms in worship, and I’m not sure there’s much historical support for the notion... Continue Reading

“A college environment that featured a competing, traditional moral voice, that treated sexual assault not as a party foul but an actual crime, and that demanded real work from students – that would be counter-revolutionary. And it just might mean fewer destroyed lives. Obviously, there’s much more to say about reform (and this is only a blog... Continue Reading

Everything hangs on that crucial element of consent.  But when the culture exhorts and excites everyone to engage in sex, it seems grossly naïve to believe that many people—mostly men—will not act upon their desires without regard to that weak reed of consent.  Relying on consent in the face of such magnified desire is like... Continue Reading