Reflections on the loving kindness of the Triune God
My generation of Christians love rationalistic debates. And one favorite debating point is the question of salvation: among professing believers who is truly saved? Whenever that question is raised claims and counterclaims fly: “You don’t have any right to judge us!” Or, “You’re bending the Bible to build your view!” And again, “Our faith offers …
Read More Truly SavedThe residents of Jerusalem during King Josiah’s reign (640-609 BC) experienced a revival that came with a rediscovery of God’s previously ignored and misplaced Word. Zephaniah, a prophet, warned that enjoying the memory of a revival is not the same as living in response to God. The problem? The people of his day were ready …
Read More Spiritual ComplacencyAn email came last week that reported a conversation between a friend—call him Tom—and his unnamed colleague who told him, with emotion, that “the feelings are not to be trusted!” This confrontation of Tom’s “heresy” (his friend’s term) came because of Tom’s claim that underlying affections define all our thinking and choosing: we always do …
Read More Never trust your feelings!Years ago I met each week with five or six Christian men from two regional theological schools. In evangelical parlance it was an accountability group—a meeting that called for mutual reports on how we were doing in our self-designated ambitions to be holy and faithful men. Any reports of moral defeat or felt vulnerabilities in …
Read More Accountability GroupsPsalm 34 is attributed to David as his response to God after he played the madman before the king of Gath. One distich in the Psalm caught my attention in a new way: “My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.” I take it that David was aligning …
Read More Humility as a hearing aidI recently reflected on some of the main spiritual pathways found among evangelicals today. Let me identify three broad sectors and offer a brief commentary on each. It’s still a preliminary work of reflection and readers are invited to look over my shoulder to offer comments. For the full post please go to our Cor …
Read More Current Options in SpiritualitySolomon made a mess of things. God loved him and gave him unique privileges. As David’s favored son Solomon was made the head of an eternal kingdom. He became God’s inaugural temple-builder—what his father sought but had been denied. God appeared to Solomon twice and gave him special gifts of wisdom and wealth. Yet Solomon …
Read More Solomon’s HeritageOn Saturday I was privileged to enjoy a delightful orchestra concert in Cardiff. Huw Gareth Williams was conducting the Highfields Symphony Orchestra. It was especially enjoyable because Huw (sounds like Hue) has been part of our Cor Deo fellowship for the past months so it was an investment of heart for me as a listener. …
Read More Conducting LifeWe all rely on myths that offer rational and emotional support for our values, especially those values that are impossible to justify. I embrace a myth, for instance, that my little bit of walking in a day is enough to satisfy my need for healthy exercise. A recent contact with my doctor put that one …
Read More Myths & NobilityIn most relational settings we are free either to give or to take—to be consumers or to be resources. Whatever we do is a litmus of our standing with Christ—a conspicuous signal of real faith over against a mere profession. In Christ we regularly prefer giving over taking because our hearts have been reoriented by …
Read More Give or Take?