The Wisdom of Both/And

“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...

  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...

The world is watching. They take note who we speak up for, what things make us angry, what we praise, justify or stay silent about. They are taking particular interest in our in-fighting. "The Church is not to be found at the “center” of a left/right political world. The Church is to be a species of its own kind, confounding left, right, and middle, and finding its identity from the “center” of God’s life." - Rich Villodas Looking at 1 Corinthians 1:11-13, 30-31 with an eye to politics and the division seen within the Church (as the world goes, so do we): My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.  One of you says, "I follow Trump"; another, "I follow Biden"; another, "I follow Bernie"; still another, "I follow Christ".  Is Christ divided? Was Trump crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Biden? It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for...

  “Truthful lips will be established forever, but a lying tongue is only for a moment.” Prov. 12:19 We who follow Jesus and believe his words from Genesis to Revelation can be assured of two things: He is truth and His words are trustworthy. He cannot lie. Likewise, we who are representatives of Him here on earth are to hold fast to that which is true, speak truthfully to each other, and use right judgement in discerning good from evil. “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” - Luke 8:17 Truth endures over time and more importantly, in eternity. Lies, while they may deceive for a season, eventually self-implode, making themselves known by their inevitable self-destruction. Truth is true whether we believe it or not – the effect that truth has on our hearts has no bearing on its objective truthfulness. Depending on the state of our hearts, truth may be received with gladness and humility or rejected in...

  Today, the US hit a milestone of 300,000 deaths officially attributed to COVID-19. In less than four weeks, 50,000 people have died in this current surge of infections. As the leading cause of death in 2020 it has left a lot of heartbroken families struggling with loss of breadwinners, caregivers and loved ones.  Lord, have mercy.   In the midst of this sobering news, the mass vaccination campaign has begun. I am grateful for the scientists who have worked hard to provide a measure of protection for those most vulnerable to serious or deadly infection.  I've found it hard at times to pray extemporaneously during the weariness of the past 10 months as the coronavirus has ravaged the world and radically changed our daily lives. I've found the following prayer  a helpful template when words fail me: A Liturgy During a Pandemic   O Lord our God, accept the fervent prayers of your people as we cry out to you; in the multitude of your mercies, look with compass...

  If there's one person I wish my conservative evangelical loved ones would listen to (instead of cable news talking heads) is David French . He is conservative in his politics, loves Jesus, cares about truthfulness and is a voice of decency and reason. He points us toward a deeper love of God/neighbor and the truth.  For example: "There is a dramatic difference between: 1) verifying, then reporting;   2) dumping, then demanding others disprove The first practice is journalism.  The second practice is partisanship -- or perhaps profiteering." And this: "I'm noticing a trend from a certain brand of right-wing pundit: 1. Tweet out claim of vote fraud to "seek answers." 2. Don't tweet the answer. 3. Condemn "media" for not empathizing with Americans who distrust the election outcome. Bad faith from start to finish." David cares for the Church enough to expose her idols, which is why today  he published these words to his brothers and sis...

Hallelujah!  For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth! Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world is become The kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ And He shall reign for ever and ever! Reading Fleming Rutledge's sermons on Advent this season, I'm reminded daily that the best antidote to the sadness and anger of reading the daily news is reflecting on the "once and future" coming of King Jesus. "Advent begins in the dark", waiting for a promise to be fulfilled. It's apocalyptic in its focus. After 400 years of silence, John the Baptist heralds the beginning of the age to come, "Prepare the way of the Lord!" The present evil age— in which all creation is enslaved to sin and death —is to be invaded by the King of the age to come. Christ came to reclaim territory occupied by the enemy, redeeming a multi-ethnic people held in sin's captivity.  It marks a turning point in history, not unlike D-Day as the turning point of WW2, though the final victory ...