I'm the sort of person who apologizes even without having done anything wrong, just to smooth over an argument; I hesitate before taking a stance that might cause conflict. And yet the more I study, the more I realize that Christian disagreement both with believers and nonbelievers can be a beautiful, productive thing: we just have to learn the skill and then hone it over time. [Click title to read more.]
Tag: church
Why The Church Must Make An Effort To Value Solitude With God
It's true that the Christian life is not always meant to be a solo affair. Teachers, pastors, fellow believers, even small groups: all of those things are a part of our faith community, and they can help us and grow us. But in elevating these, I fear that we dismiss what I perceive to be the fundamental necessity of individual solitude with God. [Click title to read more.]
Cliff Notes: The Lost Art of Bible Study In The Church (Part 3)
In the first post in this series I spent some time discussing the dangers of Bible-lite, that phenomenon when Christians substitute secondhand study of God's word for actual Bible study. In the second, I talked about some of the consequences of Bible-lite. Today, however, I'll be putting on my professor hat to offer some solutions to the problem. If you struggle with studying the Bible (or even with wanting to study the Bible!), there is both help and hope. [Click title to read more].
7 Things Seekers Want To See On Your Church Website
My husband and I have recently started church-hunting. As a part of that process, we - like so many others of our generation - turned to the Internet first. We used Google maps to identify the churches nearby, and then to narrow down the prospects we started visiting websites: some good, some bad, some incomprehensible. In light of that, I thought it might be useful to offer up a list of things I, and most seekers (believers or otherwise), might be searching for when we find your church on the web. [Click title to read more.]
The Cult of the Pastor
The danger...is when devotion to a pastor supersedes devotion to a church.
Faith Marked By Culture
My approach to God's word and to His grace has been influenced by the world around me - and the same is true for those who live in other countries and cultures. [Click title to read more].
It’s Okay For Us To Be Wrong
We want to have the "right" answers all the time. We want to look like we know what we're doing. We hate the idea of "looking bad" in front of the world. We like to focus on the positive. But we're human. [Click title to read more.]
Breaking Up With A Church
It's easy to go in idealistic and hopeful, to be attracted by a church's best qualities and to ignore what might be potential problems down the road. A shiny exterior seduces and attracts, and churches these days market themselves like candidates on The Bachelor. [Click title to read more.]
Roundtable Discussion: Have You Ever Switched Denominations?
Let's gather around and share some thoughts and ideas - I'd love to hear your comments and opinions on switching denominations.
One Reason Children Raised In The Church Leave It Behind
Few young Christians are prepared in a rigorous, individual way, to continue to choose Christianity for themselves beyond the walls of their church or an "inherited" faith. Not many have the tools to, as the Bible puts it, "work out" their salvation - to go beyond the commitment of a moment to the commitment of a lifetime. [Click title to read more.]
Samaritan's Song 