In response to the article I wrote Monday, a reader from Australia commented that the only churches near her were five Hillsong churches. My heart broke for her, causing me to pray that the Lord will open up something that allows her to enjoy fellowship opportunities and to serve the body of Christ. I ask each of you to join me in praying for her.
As I read her comment, my mind went back to 2014. John and I had just Continue reading
Towards the end of last week, I began seeing conversations on Twitter about Jackie Hill Perry partnering with false teachers who represent the Word Of Faith and New Apostolic Reformation branch of evangelicalism. Someone tagged me, supposing I had researched Ms. Perry and could therefore dispense information on her. As flattered as I was by the vote of confidence, I had to admit that I’m not all that educated on the woman.
I’d had minimal exposure to her. Certainly, I rejoiced that the Lord had taken her out of lesbianism. In this day of many evangelicals compromising with LBGTQ rhetoric, Ms. Perry was definitely refreshing! How desperately the Church needed people to testify that God can (and does) deliver men and women from the sin of homosexuality!
Yet something about Jackie Hill Perry just didn’t seem right to me. When I saw her in Continue reading
I’ve written several articles warning against seeing discernment merely as the identification of false teachers. When we limit our definition of discernment to that one function, we run the risk of degenerating into gossips and scandal-mongers. I could easily write several more articles explaining why a single focus on exposing false teachers dishonors the Lord.
In standing against this truncated understanding of discernment, however, I’m keenly aware that Christians can go to the opposite extreme of never mentioning false teachers. They insist that knowing Scripture well will protect a person from falling prey to doctrinal error.
In many respects, I agree with their position. In fact, just last evening I Continue reading
Arguably the biggest problem with social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter is the insulation from face-to-face communication. It always has been easier to say things in writing rather than speaking to someone in person; I get that. Twice, I received romantic rejections from men who wrote letters because they lacked the courage to face me. Writing puts us in control by shielding us from the reactions of others.
As a complication, social media provides a layer of anonymity. We may not have ever met that person we fight with on Twitter, and we may never meet her. So we don’t feel all that bothered if we end up Continue reading
There’s blood in the water, folks, and bloggers have been circling like sharks. All of us (including yours truly) know that controversy sells, and we can’t wait to boost our stats by picking apart the latest celebrity to defect.
Sometimes the blog posts serve a purpose. For instance, earlier this week I reported on Beth Moore’s compromising remarks about same sex attractions. I made an effort to move the conversation beyond Beth Moore to examine ways both homosexuals and heterosexuals excuse sexual and romantic lusts, and thankfully many of my readers got my point. Some, however, fixated on Mrs. Moore. Their comments (especially on Twitter) revealed that they Continue reading
A week ago, Beth Moore made a comment during her TBN program, Staying Afloat on the Fellow Ship — Part 4, that subtly offers a clue that she leans toward the idea of homosexual attractions being morally neutral unless they result in sexual activity. I don’t choose to put the actual video in this article (lest it distract you from my main point), but you can watch it here, beginning at the 15.27 mark.
Elizabeth Prata wrote an excellent analysis of the clip in her essay yesterday, which I will also feature on this week’s Saturday Sampler. Elizabeth decoded Moore’s handy Social Justice buzz words to help clarify that Moore indeed Continue reading
As John and I exited Boston’s Prudential Tower Wednesday, we started down Boylston Street toward the Public Garden. Just outside the door, I noticed a saxophone player. Now, it’s not really unusual to find musicians scattered throughout the city, especially in areas that have a high amount of foot traffic. Most of the time, I pass by them enjoying the music momentarily. They’re part of Boston’s charm.
This particular saxophone player intrigued me because the first five notes he played sounded just like the first five notes of the hymn, My Hope Is In The Lord. I strained to hear whether or not he was actually playing the hymn, but I couldn’t quite tell. I rather doubt it.
Since then, I’ve been thinking about the hymn, and about where I place my hope. Certainly, this world offers little hope as it gleefully plummets toward its endorsement of sin at breakneck speeds. Christians who refuse to acquiesce to the demands of the liberal culture must expect increasing levels of pushback and eventual persecution. Even denominations that, a mere three years ago could be counted on to stand on the bedrock of Scripture have begun bowing to the world’s corrupt values.
We can’t hope in anything or anybody!
But we can hope in the Lord. And maybe our crumbling society reminds us to keep our hope fixed decidedly on Him. When we recall His sacrifice for us at Calvary, we can rest confident in His faithfulness toward us. Against the darkness, we can sing cheerfully that our hope is in the Lord.
