Every now and then, much like a bad Disney animated sequel planning committee, the Left overplays its hand pushes a narrative so hard and far that it breaks under its own weight.
Whatever Happened to Mercy Ministry?
The so-called culture war is largely a battle over the dictionary. Control the language, control the conversation. Bible-believing Christians know that words have meanings. We are shaped in our spiritual lives, after all, by a Book—by texts. Given this reality, it is alarming how quickly buzzwords fall in and out of vogue in the evangelical … Continue reading Whatever Happened to Mercy Ministry?
Three Ways Our Adoption Enriched Our Understanding of the Gospel
Last Friday, after two and a half years as foster parents, my wife and I finally adopted our five-year-old son. Surrounded in the courtroom by loved ones, fellow church members, and case workers, we felt the weight of paperwork and legalities dissolve away, replaced by peace in our veins and tears in our eyes as … Continue reading Three Ways Our Adoption Enriched Our Understanding of the Gospel
My Take on the Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel
Prolegomena Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; … Continue reading My Take on the Statement on Social Justice and the Gospel
Why Your Joy Depends on God’s Hate
We live in an unfortunate cultural moment where only the small things matter, yet the big things don’t. We fastidiously strain out the gnats by burning Nikes and boycotting burgers while swallowing the camel stampede of national infanticide, sexual immorality in every direction, and materialistic hedonism as the driving impulse of life. Within evangelicalism, this … Continue reading Why Your Joy Depends on God’s Hate
Two Ways to Live in a ‘Post-Truth’ World
Well, it’s Wednesday, and the radical left, the Christian right, and every political permutation in the middle can finally all agree about something. Unfortunately, it’s the germane observation that no one can agree about anything. “Post-truth politics” now has its own Wikipedia entry. Some blame the way we’ve taught history for the breakdown—others blame the … Continue reading Two Ways to Live in a ‘Post-Truth’ World
Holy Ambition, Part Two
A few months ago, I wrote on the fact that we as evangelicals tend to baptize mediocrity in the water of false humility. By contrast, God calls us to a kind of Christ-exalting, cross-carrying striving for excellence and achievement for God’s glory and the good of others. Since this is a lesson worth learning more … Continue reading Holy Ambition, Part Two
When Surrender Is Sweet
If you would, indulge me in a test of your knee-jerk reflexes. What rises in you when you read the command submit? Hostility? Ambivalence? Don’t decide too quick; sometimes surrender is sweet.
Glut Yourself on Grace
When I boot up in the morning, my default operating system is works-righteousness. Not that I consciously believe that my good deeds can merit eternal life for me—but when left to myself, my natural mode is to believe I have to bring something to the table in order for God to reciprocate. Having firmly established … Continue reading Glut Yourself on Grace
Satan Really Walked Into That One
There is often a bit of irony that strikes when the wicked twist Scriptures for their own purposes. Like the God-hating, do-anything-I-want playboy who ventures down to the tattoo parlor to get “only God can judge me” emblazoned on his chest—to which any preacher of repentance might reply, “That’s exactly the point, young man”—when unbelievers … Continue reading Satan Really Walked Into That One
