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
How to Know if You’re Good Enough
Our culture can smell a Pharisee from miles away. No one likes hypocrites—especially the religious type. But that’s just one flavor of hypocrisy. What’s at the root of hypocrisy? It's trying to behave righteously without being righteous. The dirty secret of the Bible is that righteousness is a gift from God, not an achievement of ours. In … Continue reading How to Know if You’re Good Enough
Unhindered (A Poem for Harvest)
As autumn arrives, many of us are in need of impetus to carry on in our own harvesting efforts. Does Reformed theology help or hurt in that regard? God's perfect self-fulfillment outside of us, His total delight in the Son, and His pouring out of His Spirit to redeem us dead sinners all scandalously combine to … Continue reading Unhindered (A Poem for Harvest)
Hopsin’s Ill Soul
“I lost faith.” That is the declaration of hip-hop artist Hopsin, minus a few expletives. In his latest track, “Ill Mind of Hopsin Seven,” the rapper levels a frenzy of accusations against God and most would call “the Christian life.” Whether the song is worth listening to is up to you, but what makes this … Continue reading Hopsin’s Ill Soul
