Christianity is moving to the margins of American life, and Christians are heading into cultural exile. The question is: How will we survive? The answer is: as Paul did in the first century. First and foremost, we need the simple proclamation of God’s Word in church week by week, reminding us of our identity in... Continue Reading

What does all of this mean? It is but the latest assault on religious liberty in the name of sexual liberty. Nevermind that religious liberty is the first freedom mentioned in the Bill of Rights. There are people who are willing to use whatever means necessary to force religious institutions to conform to the new... Continue Reading

Admitting the total depravity of human nature, and the wondrous power of divine grace, permits societies that seek approximate order, liberty and justice without overweening, dictatorial ambition. Such societies respect conscience and human dignity, which sees each person as sacred not because we’re good but because we’re created in the image of and loved by... Continue Reading

Whatever our views on this important issue – and I think this topic requires a great deal more thought than I am able to give in a blog post – it seems to me that this is an area that requires greater theological reflection in our present thinking on “calling.” Not only pastors, but also... Continue Reading

As I’ve been arguing for a while, we are experiencing some unintended consequences from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. We can see these consequences in Sen. Schumer’s remarks. By going into business, by forming a corporation, according to the senator, one’s property is no longer his. It is no longer private. This is part... Continue Reading

This recognition that God’s delight in the works of his people is not, as some might think, a recipe for pride, but rather a tremendous (and much needed) encouragement to those of us who are laboring in ministry.  Truth be told, ministry can be difficult.  Our efforts can seem futile.  We often find ourselves spent... Continue Reading

The Protestant reformers (from whom we have learned much about Scripture) understood two things often lost on moderns. First, they understood that the liturgy (the set forms of corporate worship), media, instruments and vehicles of worship are never neutral, and so exceeding care must be given to the “law of unintended consequences.” Often the medium... Continue Reading

Today, there are thousands of definitions of happiness, maybe millions, and they can’t all be right. If we don’t know what true happiness is, we won’t know where or how to look. If we’re looking for something that doesn’t exist, we ain’t gonna find it! Lots of happiness-hunters are chasing a shadow.   The US... Continue Reading

I realize that being the son of a pastor can at times be tough, but so can being the son of pharmaceutical salesmen who travels every week, or the daughter of a high school football coach after a losing season. I had a great dad who overcame the challenges of ministry to make me feel... Continue Reading

Put more colloquially, following Jesus is weird. It is counter-cultural. It is foreign and foul to unbelieving senses. Accusations about believers’ judgment, emotional balance, and failure to love others will surely come—and maybe in droves. Such unpleasantries are only for starters. Some brothers and sisters around the world discover that “outside the gate” means “inside... Continue Reading