Writing is drudgery. Flannery O'Connor, an incredibly gifted author, once said, "Writing is like giving birth to a piano sideways." Making this point might seem like a peculiar way to begin an article called The Pleasures of Writing, but agony is part of what leads to enjoyment. The fact that writing is not easy is … Continue reading The Pleasures of Writing
Merely going through the motions is unacceptable in the Christian life. This truth is a key part of what Paul tells Titus when he says, “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure (Titus 1:15).” This statement presents such a severe dichotomy that it should leave our … Continue reading A Ritualistic Heart is an Impure Heart
Is God bound by logic? This question seems to pose a conundrum for the Christian. If we say “yes,” then we have seemed to have made God subject to something, which would mean he is no longer God. If he must obey something, then whatever he must obey would by necessity be greater than he. … Continue reading Is God Bound by Logic?
Some Christian doctrines are weightier than others. When discussing Christian theology, many of us have heard the helpful quote attributed to Augustine, "In the essentials, unity, in the non-essentials liberty, and in all things charity." There is much to be learned from this quote, but did you know that many Bible teachers identify four different … Continue reading 4 Categories of Doctrinal Weight in Christian Theology
He sat in church while the pastor delivered eternal truths but could not stay awake. Soul-saving exhortation was coming at him, but he was busy catching his head every time he nodded off. It wasn’t that he had had a busy week or even stayed up too late the night before; it was that he … Continue reading Stay Awake
We are consumers at heart. Many people today believe that life's goal is to strive for abundance so they can consume abundantly. The underlying assumption is that this is the way to happiness. However, possessing contentment is better than possessing anything you believe will make you happy. It is common to think, "If I only … Continue reading 4 Reasons Possessions Do Not Lead to Contentment
Those who teach that works must be added to faith as a condition for salvation can never tell you when you have done enough. This fact alone exposes why you will never find assurance of salvation in their systems. The problems with believing our right standing before God is a result of Christ’s work, plus … Continue reading The Pitfalls of Faith Plus Works
Everything short of hell is mercy. This one truth should change the way we view our hardships and frustrations, no matter how terrible they may be. If we, as sinners, are not facing the wrath of the infinitely Holy God at this moment, our life is better than we deserve. That is true for every … Continue reading Everything Short of Hell is Mercy
In the parable of the tenants, the temptation faced by the workers is still faced by many churches today. The tenants wanted the vineyard for themselves. They wanted complete control of what did not belong to them. They desired to build their own kingdom, not someone else’s. They had been working the vineyard for years … Continue reading A Warning to Churches from the Parable of the Tenants
Last night, I woke up thinking about something I had witnessed long ago that had disturbed my young faith. The years have stolen most of the details of that night from my memory, but the impactful aspect of the event still lingers. It was one of those moments when the simplicity of youth is confronted … Continue reading A Disturbance at the County Fair
The Fight of Faith 