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
Greatness, Resolutions, and Principled Mediocrity
We know that self-seeking and domineering are bad, so we assume that mediocrity is good. But self-discipline makes you a Pharisee the same way whitewash makes you a tomb.
Being Worldly Without Caring
Christians are supposed to be worldly. Wordly not in the sense of indiscriminately consuming all that pop culture produces, nor blowing with the wind of prevailing notions of morality or spirituality. Rather, Christians are called to be “worldly” because whatever we eat or drink, or whatever menial we do, is to be done for the … Continue reading Being Worldly Without Caring
Your Imagination Is Sacred
Dragons. Elves. Rocket ships. Those are the sorts of things that come to mind when we hear the word “imagination.” Stories, myths, and child’s play are all the stuff of imagination. And as we grow older, we lose our sense of imagination—or at least, our imaginations turn rather drab. Instead we fantasize about the weekend, … Continue reading Your Imagination Is Sacred
Sin Doesn’t Keep Its Promises
Imagine witnessing the devastating plagues against Egypt, walking through the splitting of the Red Sea, looking on as the sea fell on the Egyptian soldiers, seeing the Ten Commandments engraved by the finger of God, and deciding in the end, “I don’t trust the God of Israel.” Why would God’s people make such a foolish … Continue reading Sin Doesn’t Keep Its Promises
This Is Your Sign From God
Do you want a "sign from God"? We all do, at times. We hope for some mysterious guiding voice from Heaven, some weird convergences of coincidences, or some other phenomenon to give us a divine nudge in the right direction. Is that wrong? Only if we let it keep us from obeying what God has clearly … Continue reading This Is Your Sign From God
Befriending the Cross
Are you an “enemy of the cross?” "No, I love Christianity," you may reply. But as the Apostle Paul defined it, an enemy of the cross isn't necessarily the same thing as an enemy of Christianity, at least as far as public appearances are concerned. Radical Islam and militant atheism would both be candidates. But in Philippians … Continue reading Befriending the Cross
One Thing American Christians Won’t Do
There was a big problem in Malachi’s day. The people had stone cold hearts. The Levites—the priests, unique men called to represent the entire nation before God—was asleep at the wheel, mistreating their wives and withholding tithes. Worst of all, they were questioning God—not humbly or sincerely, but as if to challenge him. The people … Continue reading One Thing American Christians Won’t Do
Slaughtering Self-Pity
Self-pity is suffocating. It is necessary and biblical to mourn over one’s circumstances or sins. But self-pity is of a different nature; it renders you unable to serve others, hope, or pray earnestly. It stems from faithlessness and introspection. It’s a stubbornness of heart, head, and hands. We’d do ourselves well to admit that most … Continue reading Slaughtering Self-Pity
The Idolatry of Nostalgia
It’s all around us, though each of us experiences it through different means. For some, it’s an old photo album sprawled across a coffee table, childhood summers by the poolside, or cherished family meals before life got complicated. For others, it’s the way their church used to be, how edifying their small group was before … Continue reading The Idolatry of Nostalgia
