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Jesus saves, unless you’re an Episcopalian?
One of the more bizarre sermons I’ve found lately comes from the presiding bishop of the Episcopalian church, which is the presiding church for Anglicans in the United States. This may a good example of why there is a shift in that loyalty and more Anglican movements are popping up in North America. The full text needs to be read,…
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Careful, Your Inner Zealot is Showing
Scot McKnight has a good word regarding “evangelicals” and “zealotry.” We need to be mindful of what is GOOD and JUST, and not allow our own quest for “being right” get in the way of true freedom in Christ. But, overall, our zeal should be for Christ and his Kingdom and not our own particular agendas, no matter our particular…
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Our World at Boiling Point
From Aurora, CO to Milwaukee, WI to College Station, TX to Louisiana today, there is always evidence that we are a world coming apart. It’s always been that way. It’s the world, after all. As believers, is it possible to have a different type of conversation? Is it possible to engage in some sort of civil discourse that can tackle…
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The Anointing and Sin
1 John almost seems to be a mystical letter. There are bold, brash statements about “knowing the anointing” and “not needing any teacher,” plus the whole thing of not sinning anymore. 1-3 John are such short books and make such outlandish statements, it’s almost too easy to skim right over them. Not sin? REALLY? Part of what we miss is…
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Why Election Seasons Should Be Tough
This summer has been one of the most enriching as a pastor that I can remember. Our church has been on a journey to read through the entire New Testament this summer. The main goal was to read each book of the New Testament as a book. Get the overall view without trying to dissect things verse by verse first. For…
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The Challenge of Heaven
Surprised by Hope is full of surprises for me. It is an incredibly tough book to digest and process. I love NT Wright, and one reason I love his work is he takes me to the mental and spiritual mat time and time again. We need things in our lives that challenge us. Someone saw my “Minnesota Public Radio” sticker…
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The Path to Holiness
We want “holiness” is a few easy steps. Holiness might be “possible” in a few steps, but they aren’t easy. Our affections have to be turned. Holiness comes when our affections are on Christ and not our own agendas. Our vision is full of Christ, and rid of this world’s agenda. We need the taste of the Kingdom in our…
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A Faith So Precious
Meditating on 1 Peter 1 I continue to be in awe of the precious faith delivered to us as believers. It simply calls for a response! Why… oh why… do we not respond? We have a faith so precious is simply given by the Father because of his great mercy. It is so precious it never fades. My body wastes before my eyes…
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Avoiding Bumper Sticker Christianity
I really wish to avoid any bumper sticker thinking of any kind. I know it’s not possible. We develop almost all of our political stances off of headlines attached to stories we don’t read, or bumper stickers we see and think, “Yeah… that makes sense.” That’s too bad, but it is what it is. We need to avoid it as…
Tag: Theology
