Grooming the Next Generation Did Gillette Miss a Spot?
The best a man can get: gentleness and strength, holy compassion and holy aggression.
While men who brutalize and manipulate represent one form of perversion (the kind companies now put their dollars into supporting), men who sit passive, complacent, spiritually and emotionally frail, represent another. So also do men who rebel against their sex by acting like women. And too many classrooms that celebrate this perversion act as accomplices... Continue Reading
10 Ways to Abuse Scripture in 2019
When people use bible verses out of context.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. Philippians 4:13. All things folks. You name it, you can do it. It’s a shame none of the apostles – not least Paul – thought of this while they were being beaten, flogged, imprisoned, stoned and the rest. Could have saved a lot of hassle if they... Continue Reading
Far as the Curse Is Found
It seems to me that Christmas is exactly the right time to think about death.
We sing that this world was “in sin and error pining, till he appeared,” and we’re caught up in the wonder that Life itself, in the person of Jesus, entered into this world of sin and death. His coming brought with it the “thrill of hope” that causes this weary world to rejoice. But what... Continue Reading
A Prayer for My Children, Growing Up in Troubled Times
Lord, I pray that You would help us all, as a family, to love You with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength.
Lord, my children are growing up in a world that hates You. They are bombarded every day with ideas that run counter to Your word. Father, please give them clear minds so that they can see what is true. Give them tender hearts so that Your Spirit can mold them into true Christ-followers who don’t... Continue Reading
The Sacred Trust of Pastors and Christian Leaders: Accountability and Consequences for Sexual Abuse
The evangelical landscape is littered with the carcasses of lives and ministries decimated by sexual sin.
Ministry is not just a task. It is a sacred trust between the under-shepherd and the flock that has been entrusted to him by God. To misuse and violate that trust to achieve sexual conquest, or even emotional dependence, is a particularly deplorable behavior. Every time a Christian leader’s sexual sin is passed off as... Continue Reading
Telling the Old Story in a World that Craves the New
With the ebb and flow of a rapidly changing culture, we might be pressured to come to the Bible with the same expectations.
We may start to wonder if we are equipped to face the challenges of our day—even when we know Scripture is unchangeably and immovably true—as if it’s outmoded or archaic. We come to a quiet time and search for undiscovered angles, to the point of blurring the meaning. We might even start doubting that Scripture really can speak... Continue Reading
Half Free
Like many of us in life, we get a feel for what’s going on, but we never really engage in our lives.
Yes, Jesus does forgive us for our sins. Yes, Jesus does cleanse us from all unrighteousness, but there’s more. The reason Jesus does all of this is so we can be of useful service to Him and His kingdom. You have heard it before – we are saved FROM and we are saved FOR. Most of us never get... Continue Reading
New Harvard Research Says U.S. Christianity Is Not Shrinking, But Growing Stronger
Is churchgoing and religious adherence really in ‘widespread decline’ so much so that conservative believers should suffer ‘growing anxiety’? Absolutely not.
New research published late last year by scholars at Harvard University and Indiana University Bloomington is just the latest to reveal the myth. This research questioned the “secularization thesis,” which holds that the United States is following most advanced industrial nations in the death of their once vibrant faith culture. Churches becoming mere landmarks, dance halls, boutique... Continue Reading
The ‘Family Roles’ Model: Reflections on 1 Thessalonians 2
According to Paul, even men can be like spiritual mothers to the Lord’s people—and on account of that verse I allowed my Mother’s Day exhortation to remain gender neutral.
1 Thessalonians 2 is a fascinating chapter for helping us think through what ministry should look like, because in the space of just a few verses Paul compares himself to a father, a mother, and a child. He employs all three of these ‘family roles’ as part of his description of faithful ministry, thus suggesting... Continue Reading
Would Jesus Bake the Cake?
If Jesus was a baker, and He was asked to make a cake for a same-sex ceremony, would He do it? Various actors, journalists, and political pundits are sure that He would.
The artists object to the MESSAGE being sent, not the person. They have routinely served gay people. But they do not want to endorse a message that is sinful or violates their religious convictions. These merchants (bakers, florists, photographers) were often targeted by gay couples who knew they could find services at a dozen other... Continue Reading