I think sometimes that "inviting someone to church" is so encouraged and so ideal precisely because we don't think it takes a lot of effort. You invite someone and boom! You're done. Except that you're not. [Click title to read more.]
Category: church
On That Whole “Don’t Criticize The Pastor” Thing
The key is to understand what "criticism" really means before we tell people not to do it to the pastor. Because when we simply toss out "don't criticize the pastor" as some unquestioning edict without thinking through the nuances of what it actually means, we create a space where corruption, sin, darkness, false knowledge, and destruction can grow unchecked. [Click title to read more.]
Five Fundamentals For Deep Church Friendships
Over time, I've learned that there are five factors that determine the structure of godly friendships. Where one or more of these is absent, acquaintance-ships tend to reign over anything much deeper. [Click title to read more.]
Ask Hard Questions, And Learn From The Silences
Awkward silences are always going to be endemic to church activities that involve question-asking. It'll happen sooner or later. The trick, I think, is not to ignore that silence or what it might portend. [Click title to read more.]
The Significance of the Letter
The breaking-down of difference simply to celebrate a shared Christian mission, or to work together, is I think much rarer than it used to be. [Click title to read more.]
Marking The Seasons of the Christian Life: A Meditation on Ash Wednesday
For me, the turning of the seasons in Christian life functions the same way the turning of the natural seasons do: it's a reminder to shift focus, to regather my thoughts, to start anew. [Click title to read more.]
Inherited Christianity
One of the subtle scourges of belief is what I call "inherited" Christianity: when people claim Christianity not because they've ever really developed a relationship with Christ or taken steps forward to walk with Him, but because they've always sort of been at church and thus assume that's just what it means to be a Christian, or because since their family is so committed and Christian they assume they naturally are, too. [Click title to read more.]
The Honest Believer Is A Precious Gift
The Christian life is good. It is full of blessings and joy, and it is the privilege of walking alongside God and speaking to Him as a friend. It is also full, at times, of unanswered questions, hurts that seem as though they might not heal, bewildering events, and circumstances that we have no idea how to plan for. Bless the believers who acknowledge this. [Click title to read more.]
My Frustrating Relationship With the Altar
Time at the altar is sometimes necessary, and very valuable. I wish there was more of it. [Click title to read more.]
The Problem of Christian Float
I call it Christian float: when believers can float into a church and even do all the "right" things in it (become a member, "plug in" to small groups or activities, participate in ministry) and somehow never end up fundamentally connected to anyone in the congregation. When they can show up faithfully and then leave the church after a day, a month, or after two years and find the reaction is exactly the same: indifference or ignorance. [Click title to read more.]
Samaritan's Song 