When “Take Responsibility” Becomes “Why Should I…?”

What I want to focus on is that very often exhortations for other believers to "take responsibility" for their church experience aren't our way of honestly trying to work out a difficult situation or to solve a problem together. Rather, too often, that question is a sly version of "Why should I...?" [Click title to read more.]

We Need To Rediscover The Meaning of Fellowship

I suspect that much of our current definition of fellowship - and, if I dare say it, of "doing life together" - coincides little with the concept of fellowship that the ancient church shared. [Click title to read more.]

An Apology To Catholics, Or, A Meditation On Denominational Divisions

Frankly, any of us who consider ourselves members of x denomination - and even those of who do not - differentiate ourselves from other denominations and other believers in terms of interpretation, doctrine, and practice. We ought to get along better. [Click title to read more.]

Let’s Be Okay With Disagreement. The Bible Says We Can.

Arguments among Christians are particularly fraught because behind them always lurks the specter of salvation, of eternity, of Christ. Losing an argument feels like you are doing it "wrong," which can be frightening; no one wants to invoke God's wrath or feel like a "lesser" Christian or believe that they are blind to a truth in God's word. [Click title to read more.]

How To Avoid The Trap of People-Pleasing

I suspect that a lot of Christians struggle with people-pleasing in general, since we often delude ourselves that many characteristics of people-pleasing are godly ones. The truth is, though, sometimes a preoccupation with people-pleasing can actually inhibit our spiritual growth. [Click title to read more.]

It’s Not Our Job To Monitor The Ministry of Others

It's easy to criticize what other believers are doing based on what we think they should be doing. The disciples felt they knew best who ought and ought not to be about Jesus' work and how and in what way - and sometimes, so do we. [Click title to read more.]