Posts from March 2017
What if I don’t want to sing?
“Let’s be honest. Even the most stably enthusiastic in our gatherings have had Sundays when we wished our hearts burned more brightly. We experience an inner struggle in these moments. On the one hand, we know that we should sing because we’re at church. On the other, it’s good to be authentic and real, so it feels like a lie to sing when we don’t feel like it. Is it better to be honest and silent than an audible hypocrite?”…
What Christianity in China is Really Like
Interested in a one-stop article explaining the complexities and contradictions involved in describing the legality of the Christian church in China? Our article this week will help give you a balanced perspective. Read more…
The Shack
I don’t know if you’ve read The Shack. I haven’t, although many people have noted concerns with the views of God it expresses. With a movie of the book just having been released, I thought it would be helpful to post a review of another book by the same author which has also just been released. The book makes it clear that the concerns that have been raised about The Shack aren’t misunderstandings of the authors intent, but very deliberate…
The two things we must say about the transgender debate
“And let’s make sure we aren’t constantly in full-on culture warrior mode. We should empathise with those who genuinely feel threatened, scared, or all alone. Standing up for the truth doesn’t mean we have to say everything we think in every situation. It’s okay to be tactful, respectful, and even keep our mouths shut at times. Charging ahead with zeal is not an excuse for trampling over people.” Read more…
Grace-Paced Living in a Burnout Culture
“Although no two burnouts are the same, as I’ve counselled increasing numbers of Christians through burnout, I’ve noticed that most of them have one thing in common: there’s a deficit of grace. It’s not that they don’t believe in grace. Many of them are well-grounded in “the doctrines of grace.” Many of them are pastors and preach grace powerfully every week. The “five solas” and the “five points” are their theological meat and drink. Yet grace is missing in five…