At the beginning of his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote, “As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy” (2 Tim. 1:4 ESV). We’re not told what caused Timothy’s tears. Was he sorrowful about being parted from his friend and mentor Paul? Was he […]
In the Face of Faith Read More »
The book of Ecclesiastes seems to be very apropos for this season in our world. Several verses have stood out to me in my recent reading: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die… a time to weep, and
This week I’ve been listening to the audio book of The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected, by Nik Ripken, about the stories of believers in other countries who are regularly persecuted for their faith. One person in particular urged, “Don’t give up in freedom what we have not given up under
“But you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day” (Joshua 23:8 ESV). In this age of uncertainty and anxiety due to the coronavirus, what you are clinging to? News coverage? Cleaning supplies? Family members? Or to the Lord your God, the maker of heaven and earth? He’s
Where’s Your Hope? Read More »
Last fall Christianity Today published an article called “Here Come the Skinny Cows.” The authors present several cautions as well as valuable reminders as they look at trends in the church and culture. However, I admit I struggle with their concluding assessment, “To position our churches for long-term sustainability we must avoid unnecessary fears and
In 1951 Richard Niebuhr published Christ and Culture, a book that has influenced theological conversations for generations now. You can read a brief summary and critique here and here. Though I don’t plan to address his specific categories of the ways Christians tend to relate to the culture, he does provide food for thought. Every
Christ and Culture Read More »