I came across a video recently in my social media feed of a preacher making a claim that the church should be about entertainment. Is that true? Let's unpack it. Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church, in Grapevine, Texas, sparked controversy in a recent sermon. Young drove onto the stage in an expensive car. Specifically he drove a Rolls-Royce, which typically costs around $200,000 to $600,000. (It's possible he may have rented the car, which can also be pretty expensive.) The

We love hearing stories about God's grace working powerfully upon a human heart. Specifically, I mean that we love hearing testimonies of dramatic life change. We love radical salvation stories: God's powerful grace, sinners pursued and saved, and sin left behind for holiness. These things are good. I rejoice in God when I hear stories such as these! But—I'm afraid that sometimes we lift these radical stories up so high that it can cause a sad, troubling effect. Many ask them

We Americans are pragmatic people. In many ways, pragmatism was built into the fabric of our society due to necessity. When people moved to North America about four hundred years ago, they had to figure out how to survive. They needed to grow food, build homes, develop businesses, and build a society. There were many immediate needs. Learning needed to produce something. As time went by, pragmatism developed into a philosophical movement. According to Merriam-Webster, pragmat

Type of Doctrine: Tertiary " . . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . ." -Romans 3:23 ESV Why Does It Matter? You might hear the message in teaching, preaching, music, or casual conversation: Every sin is the same to God. It is often meant as an encouragement. But is this message true? Are all sins the same to God? This article will explore two views and cover some key Scriptures. Though aspects of the doctrine of sin are undoubtedly primary or seconda

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." -Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV throughout) Christian leaders should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. That statement shouldn't be controversial. However, in our day, sometimes it is—or at least it can be controversial to expect a Christian leader to embody the fruit of the Spirit consistently, even if imperfectly at times. Here

We Need Wisdom What do we need at work? Wisdom. How about in marriage and in parenting? Wisdom. What do you and I need as we approach the various challenges in our lives? Wisdom. What do we need in financial management, in time management, in leadership, in reading books, in choosing the words we speak, in relationships, and in every other aspect of life? Wisdom. What is wisdom? How do we get it? Wisdom is a theme that shows up from the beginning to the end of Scripture. Most

Type of Doctrine: Typically Tertiary "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." -Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV Why Does It Matter? Some pastors and Christian teachers emphasize the true biblical teaching that we shouldn't waste our lives, but it is often applied in a way that leads to chaotic, busy lives. On the other end, some past

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” -Colossians 3:1-2 ESV Last week I found out that one of my seminary professors, Lee Eclov, had passed away. I was shocked. The same day he had commented on a friend's post on Facebook, and I happened to see it. It seemed so sudden. When I heard the sad news, a flood of his pastor

“It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” -Romans 4:24a-25 (ESV throughout; emphasis mine) In Romans 3, Paul claims that no one is righteous (Rom. 3:10). Everyone has sinned . Everyone has fallen short . There is no human being that has lived righteously . C. S. Lewis has said, “Christ takes it for granted that men are bad. Until we really feel this assump

Well, I turned 40 this week. This birthday feels like a milestone, and, if I’m being honest, I’ve been processing it with some difficulty. I wouldn’t call it a midlife crisis, exactly, but there has definitely been some wrestling with the question: “What do I have to show for my life if it is, indeed, halfway over?” I’ve always loved and identified with the quote from the movie You’ve Got Mail about leading a “small life . . . well, valuable but small.”[1] I have always bee

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.” -Psalm 139:7-10 ESV Some moments, as a Christian, are powerful . We sense that God is with us. By the Spirit, we can discern his presence in the room. It feels like God i

"The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." -Zephaniah 3:17 ESV A few weeks ago the Puritan John Owen blew me away as he was talking about God's love which rests because he is satisfied with us. (I will give the full quote later.) He was commenting on Zephaniah 3:17, which is a powerful verse demonstrating God's joyful love for his people. Bef

Why do we push past God-ordained limits? Many of us live what appears to be a limitless life (though no one can truly live in a limitless manner!). We try to do too much in an hour, day, week, year, and lifetime. We willingly take on unnecessary debt and live beyond our financial limits. We often stack so much on our schedules that we can't rest. Why? It seems like churches would challenge us on this practice. It seems like they would call us back to sanity. It seems like the

(For a foundation on this topic, if you haven't already read them, I would recommend starting with the following two articles before reading this one: " Narcissism & the Church " and " Narcissism & the Church | Checking for Red Flags ".) If you find yourself in a narcissistic church, how do you respond? Here are a few thoughts. First , God will use this difficult time . He uses everything, working it together for your good and his glory (Rom. 8:28). I know it can be difficult

A narcissistic church leader is toxic . A narcissistic system is toxic . A narcissistic church is toxic . Sadly, many people within these environments will end up wounded. Surely, it grieves the heart of God to see people injured by the very people who are representing him. Surely, it grieves the heart of God to see people injured by the very people who are representing him. Some may suspect that they are in a narcissistic church in environment with a narcissistic church lead

If you've experienced the bite from a narcissist, then you know firsthand that it can be painful and disorienting. For many of you, sadly, you have experienced this in the church, which can make this bite spiritually disorienting and confusing. And, for those of you who have experienced the bite of a narcissistic pastor or spiritual leader, you have likely gone through profound and prolonged periods of confusion, denial, wrestling, pain, and have found yourself in need of hea

Type of Doctrine: Tertiary "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." -Colossians 3:23-24 ESV Why Does It Matter? Is Christian music for exaltation, edification, or evangelism? What about two of these? Perhaps all of them? Disagreements abound when a favorite Christian artist that was mostly edifying believers shifts to an evangelistic emphasis

What is plagiarism? Plagiarism, at its core, means to use someone's idea without credit. According to Merriam-Webster , to plagiarize means "to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own : use (another's production) without crediting the source."[1] What is the history of plagiarism? The English word "plagiarize" likely dates back to the 1600s.[2] However, the term comes from French, Greek, and Latin influences dating centuries before.[3] Ideas which are

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28 ESV This morning I was reading a picture book with my youngest. It was one that I hadn’t read before. When we got to the middle of the story, one of the main characters and his sled dogs fell over a cliff. The next page moved along with the storyline without telling us what happened to the man and his dogs. The stress I felt in that mome

You've probably heard the Christmas song, "Angels We Have Heard on High." It is based on Luke 2. But have we really heard the nuances of what this text is teaching? Now, let me be clear: I’m not questioning if the angels actually sang. I’m not questioning whether the shepherds really heard the angels. I’m not questioning whether God heard the angels (obviously!). I am not even questioning if we have comprehended the basic ideas. Instead, I’m questioning whether we have fully