In terms of giving insight into the current battles raging within the PC (USA) and the exodus of evangelical churches, the report is quite helpful. Consider the following statement: “only followers of Jesus Christ can be saved.” Among pastors, 45% disagreed or strongly disagreed. 41% agreed or strongly agreed. Among our clergy, there is a... Continue Reading

“When our child asks, “Daddy, does God want to save me?” the last thing you do is go to God’s Private Book, and say, “Well, I don’t know honey, because I don’t know if you are one of the elect.” Put that book down. That’s God’s Private Book. You have no right to it and there’s no... Continue Reading

“Our church service begins at 10:30 a.m. At 10:20, we turn the lights down and begin the prelude. This is the signal for our people to begin preparing for worship. By contrast, God gave Israel two days to prepare. He required them to be consecrated and to wash their clothes. These preparations were appropriate for... Continue Reading

“We do look around and see a lot of people being tentative in saying anything about this issue. A lot of people are trying to stay out of it, from megachurches to Christian organizations to relatives at holidays and Christmas. We don’t want to bring it up. But also it’s extremely difficult to answer this... Continue Reading

“Let none despise this prayer; it is matchless, and if we must have forms of prayer, let us have this first, foremost, and chief; but let none think that Christ would tie his disciples to the constant and only use of this. Let us rather draw near to the throne of the heavenly grace with... Continue Reading

“There are many words and concepts in Scripture that are completely foreign to the average 10th grader. And yet, I know many wonderful adults who have been raised in the church and openly say that they can’t get through a popular level book on theology. It does make me wonder if they can get through their... Continue Reading

“Merritt’s piece highlights why everyone should be rooting for Hobby Lobby before the Supreme Court.  If the alternative is having their consciences broken by the heels of the government, then the US environment is really no better than China.  Merritt’s critique (ironically) highlights whats at stake here:  do we want a US government that is... Continue Reading

Often, we feel more guilty about not doing enough crafts (reading, sports, _____) with our children than we do about shouting at them when we’re running late. Is that because omitting crafts is a sin? No: mercifully, Scripture says nothing about popsicle sticks and glue. We feel guilty because the other mom does crafts with... Continue Reading

Aloneness was not good in Eden, and the same is true in the church. A genderless church is as unthinkable as a genderless Eden as we seek to obey the gospel mandate to multiply by making disciples. Titus 2 makes this commission gender-specific when older women are told to disciple younger women to be life-givers in... Continue Reading

An authority over us may choose a less wise course of action, but not necessarily a sinful one. Perhaps a wife truly believes that a certain schooling choice is the best option for their children or would like to attend a more biblically based church, but her husband disagrees. Perhaps a church makes what some... Continue Reading