“Have I settled for now at my job?” Are all my eggs (self-worth, happiness, feelings of success) in the “now” basket? When we forget the future, we may begin to compete in an unhealthy way with co-workers, forgetting that our worth isn’t at stake in how well we succeed on the job. If work goes... Continue Reading

Certainly I am not the only one concerned by these conversations. Have we become this soft? I am trying to imagine previous generations of Christians complaining about their feelings being hurt. I am not trying to be glib, nor am I seeking to mock anyone. But I am genuinely concerned about the softening of our... Continue Reading

I am an opponent of gay marriage, but we here in the “sanctity of marriage” camp are tragically too afraid to approach the thing that is destroying marriage faster than anything else ever could. Gay marriage removes from marriage its procreative characteristic, but rampant divorce takes away its permanent characteristic. It makes no sense to concentrate all of... Continue Reading

The blessings of ministry far outweigh the realities below; however, ministry is definitely not easy. Don’t waste your time and money going to seminary or college for pastoral training if you are not prepared for the negative aspects of ministry mentioned below. Furthermore, always remember that God has called you to love His church, not merely His mature church, but His immature church as... Continue Reading

Soon after, I watched Ben-Hur (the one with Charleton Heston) and basically expected to see Gladiator again. I was shocked by how liberally Gladiator borrowed from Ben-Hur, and so I thought I could predict the film’s formulaic ending, but was again disturbed when I realized this was a film that dwelt on the brokenness of its protagonist and dissatisfaction with the revenge that... Continue Reading

These tensions are real. However, this isn’t because Christianity is schizophrenic. These are good and necessary tensions; and they shouldn’t lead to discouragement, despair, hopelessness, or depression. If you are experiencing these tensions of the Christian life, there is a reason: you are a pilgrim on the way. In fact, you are only a sojourner... Continue Reading

Pastor Tchividjian emphasizes the parable as a condemning, first use of the Law kind of story. I think this is a legitimate understanding of the story, and he’s right to point to the kind of righteousness that would be required to be justified: perfect righteousness. Only Jesus has that, and in that sense it is... Continue Reading

Of course, these Reformed distinctives have been disturbing to Lutherans.  Reformed attempts to frame justification in association with union with Christ have been viewed with great suspicion as an incipient compromise of the gratuity of justification by faith, and the Reformed emphasis on covenant has also been seen as involving an inappropriate mixture of law... Continue Reading

The same LORD who knighted Moses on Horeb was about to kill him at the Motel 6. The only thing that saved the savior, was the quick worship of his wife, Zipporah. Obediently, she did what her husband should have done years ago. She circumcised her son, saved her husband’s life, and let Moses know... Continue Reading

This is good advice for those of us who use the expression “God opened (or closed) the door.”  When choosing to speak this way, let us keep an eye on our deceitful hearts which are all too quick to hijack an otherwise fine expression for self-centered or self-acquitting reasons.   We’ve all heard someone say... Continue Reading