We were not saved because we were good or special; God's grace is not something we conferred upon ourselves. Acting as though being a "sinner saved by grace" is a personal credit to us is like a beggar acting as though it's a noble act for him to nod his head "yes" when someone offers to drop food into his shaking hands. [Click title to read more.]
Tag: church
The Slow Fade of Consistent, Independent Bible Study
If believers lose the desire among themselves for consistent, individual, and independent Bible study, we've lost the core of our entire Christian walk: the foundation of our understanding of God, of Christ, of the Holy Spirit, and of what He expects and desires of us. [Click title to read more.]
Carry The Sense Of Unity Forward: Grieving For Emanuel AME Church
I pray for the congregation at Emanuel AME Church and those near and dear to them; still, I am shamed that a time of tragedy is what prompts me to pray and to remember the larger Christian family that exists beyond the borders of my community. [Click title to read more.]
Please Don’t Make Me Shake Hands: A Christian’s Plea
If we're not careful, the exhortation to "welcome each other" on Sunday mornings results in a slew of awkward hugs and handshakes, a few cheerful "good morning"s, and conversations between people who already know each other and want to catch up on the weekend. [Click title to read more.]
Don’t Say “I’ll Pray For You” (Unless You’re Willing To Follow Up)
Prayer can't become a believer's band-aid. It can't become that thing we do so that we don't have to do anything else. In the times that it's possible to do more than shoot a wish skyward, we are obligated to do so - for those to whom much is given, much is required. Follow up. Give. Care. Our role in grace-giving does not end the moment the words leave our lips. Love does not stop at the foot of the throne. [Click title to read more.]
An Introvert’s Confession Pt. 2: How To Fix The Problems In Church “Small Groups”
Small groups propose to be different from "Sunday School" in that they are about experiencing life together, about Christians banding together in tiny tribes to work with and love each other. And if that is so, then small group life needs to extend beyond the once-a-week commitment many are willing to give to it - either that, or we need to stop pretending it's something more noble or life-enhancing than a once-a-week-study. [Click title to read more.]
The Duggar Dilemma: When Christians Do Awful Things
If, as believers, we are unable to extend the same grace to non-believers who disagree with us as we are to Josh Duggar, then we have failed. If we are so concerned about the church looking bad, or people having a bad impression of Christians, that we are unable to step back from an awful thing and say with the rest of the world, "This is terrible," then we have failed. Our job is not to protect our own. [Click title to read more.]
An Introvert’s Confession: I Don’t Like The “Small Groups” Church Trend
In theory, at least, small groups are meant to resemble the New Testament churches. The problem, however, is that small groups have the potential to fall short of that ideal: to place an emphasis on fellowship rather than study, to cultivate shallow relationships that masquerade as serious ones, and to alienate introverted believers who prefer one-on-one time or dedicated study to group discussions and open sharing. [Click title to read more]
A Confession To Previous Generations Within The Church
The things that you grew up with, that you treasured, that influenced you spiritually and helped guide you to God and helped you in His ways? I haven't always valued them like you have. I haven't always been respectful of them. And I'm sorry. [Click title to read more.]
Why The Church Should Be A Bad Business
The danger in this is that - if we're not careful - the loving and serving that the church is supposed to be doing can get submerged beneath a corporate outlook. The Message becomes a logo. Outreach becomes a business wherein believers supply love in exchange for attendance, salvations, and baptisms, and are tempted to move on when they see no signs of a harvest.
Samaritan's Song 