“Culture is not a territory to be won or lost, but a resource we are called to steward with care. Culture is a garden to be cultivated.” - Makoto Fujimura One of my favorite pastors is Dr. Bryan Chapell, former President of Covenant Seminary who now works as the Stated Clerk for the PCA. Last week, someone in my Twitter feed posted a summary of Dr. Chapell's video call with pastors around the country regarding the need to bridge generational divides within local churches. The summary was juicy enough to entice me to watch the entire 70 min video -- I already love his preaching -- and was glad I did as it helped to put some puzzle pieces together as to why older and younger Christians can see things so differently, despite agreeing on core doctrines of faith. About 35 minutes in, he offered insight into the differences and commonalities between pastors over 50 and pastors under 40, generally speaking. Those over 50 grew up in what was perceived as a majority Christia
For the past month or so, I've been seeing a steady stream of commentary from my conservative loved ones that they're looking for the Rapture to occur at any time. I wasn't seeing this earlier this year or last year or really in any recent years, but there's been a definite uptick in sentiments to this effect in the post-election chaos of misinformation and unmerited court challenges that failed to move any judicial court to overturn the election results. When our favored politician/party loses power and we find ourselves thinking the end in near, we need to take an honest look at where our functional security lies. What about the millions who have been suffering under brutal, totalitarian regimes or widespread famine and war in their countries -- conditions that white evangelicals in America have no real experience with? Being the most powerful of empires today, why do we assume that God's plan in closing out this age centers around America? What does this say a