When I worked as a leader at the center of national pro-life ministry for six years, I couldn’t talk openly about the dangers of Christian nationalism without being canceled. This meant that, if I still wanted to tell the truth and steer folks in healthy directions, I had to find creative ways to do so. Without naming Christian Nationalism or … Read More
Mantua Creek’s Core Values
The folks above are my friends and the people I’m blessed to pastor in this season. This week I finished writing our church plant’s core values and I thought you’d find some of our priorities thought-provoking, challenging, or encouraging: To all who are weary and need rest,To all who mourn and long for comfort,To all who feel worthless and wonder … Read More
Pursue God’s Perfect Heart, Not Moral Flawlessness
There are certain brands of fundamentalism that encourage men and women to be morally flawless based on a literal and surface reading of Matt. 5:48: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (ESV) As I said last week, I think verses like this—especially in red letters—are one of the reasons passages like Eccl.7:16 are not taken … Read More
Four Boards That Need to Stay Nailed Together
“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.” Acts 2:41, NLT I was reminded in a Zoom call led by Thabiti Anyawhile this week that in the verse above God gives pastors four boards that need to stay nailed together: Gospel preaching- “what Peter said” The cultivation of new converts- … Read More
Reaching Those Who’ve Been Hurt by the Church, Part 3 of 3
***Part 1 made the “awareness” case. Part 2 and this week give the other nine of ten essentials for reaching those who’ve been hurt or disillusioned by the Church. For a full version of this article see here. 7) Humility: As Jesus said, “Without me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5), and it’s at this point we should also enlist … Read More
Choosing Dancing Over Depression
“Life is a gift. We must celebrate it. We have to dance to show God we are grateful to be alive.” Rosie played by Scarlett Johansson in Jojo Rabbit Well, we’re over a month in on this crazy Coronavirus rollercoaster. Just three weeks ago, in the midst of trying to launch a book, I was struggling like many of you … Read More