One of the most compelling things about the Bible is how un-compelling its lead characters are. Their lives were universally messy - filled with setbacks, regret, hurts, fears, and strained relationships.
Why is this compelling? Because messy lives are universally relatable,
Christian philanthropy accounted for 70% of all American philanthropy in 2022 at $300 billion total. Christians also out-gave the U.S. Government in addressing global poverty.
- Barna
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Whatever folks might say or think, the church remains a seismic value-add to the world.
I am no expert, so I have a question. What good reason is there for assault weapons to be available for purchase? I can think of exactly zero good reasons, and many very bad ones.
Christian politics:
• Carefully read the 4 Gospels, Romans, and James.
• Pray and dine with people whose politics differ from yours.
• Name 1-2 weaknesses of your own party.
• Name 1-2 strengths of the other party.
• Vote your conscience.
• Fight evil.
• Advance good.
A little girl stood up in front of her church to quote 23rd Psalm, saying, “The Lord is my shepherd. That’s all I want.“
Sometimes the misquotes are the truest quotes, especially when they come from children…yes?
In a time like now, Christian neighboring looks less like fearful self-preservation and more like servanthood toward the elderly, those with HIV, autoimmune disease, or no healthcare, fatigued and under-resourced healthcare workers, etc.
Wash hands, for sure.
Then, wash feet.
Church health > Church growth
Local ministry > Christian celebrity
Godly character > Mad skills
Personal touch > Mega reach
Pastor’s heart > Ministry brand
Strong souls > Filled seats
Formed disciples > Fickle crowds
Love > “Success”
Kind > Cool
Humble > Awesome
HOW TO BECOME GREAT:
• Read the Bible daily for 25 years.
• Pick one church and stay there.
• Apologize when wrong.
• Forgive when wronged.
• Have friendships that cost you.
• Talk less.
• Listen more.
• Don’t steal time at work.
• Be the same at home as in public.
Affluence is a breeding ground for anxiety and depression. Why? Because it creates the illusion of being able to purchase comfort and control. Eventually, this deceit is exposed. In a fallen world, not even money can secure for us the world that we long for.
What would it look like for a woman with a crisis pregnancy to see the local church, not the local clinic, as her trusted source for love, non-judgment, practical support, wise counsel, and much-needed encouragement?
Advice to young pastors, per 2 Cor 11: If you preach the whole Bible and the whole Christ the whole time, you will get sucker punched regularly from the right and the left, no matter your context.
Do it anyway.
Younger generations are suspicious of biblical ethics. Older generations, of biblical justice. Jesus says you must have both if you are going to follow him. Word AND Deed. Grace AND Truth. Love AND Law. Ethics AND Justice. "You must repent" AND "Remember the poor.
People don’t reject the Bible because it contradicts itself; they reject the Bible because it contradicts them. Following Jesus and following Scripture are inseparable endeavors.
Feel guilty falling asleep while praying? How do you feel when a child nods off in your lap? And how much more must your Heavenly Father feel about you when this happens? There. Feel better? You should!
Bonhoeffer, you guys...
“Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community.”
Almost everyone you meet is insecure, overwhelmed, and under-encouraged.
Consider taking time off from telling people how disappointed you are in them. Everyone knows already that they fall short.
Instead, show some compassion and be kind. People are starved for this.
Advice to young pastors, per 2 Cor 11: If you preach the whole Bible and the whole Christ the whole time, you will get sucker punched regularly from the right and the left, no matter your context.
Do it anyway.
It is my firm belief that in 2020, the Christian witness will stand or fall based on our collective, public loyalty. If our loyalty is to a political party, we will sink. If our loyalty is to Jesus and neighbor (including enemy) love, our witness can be revived.
What will it be?
FOR 2021:
GOSPEL CULTURE: "We do not condemn you. Therefore, break free from your sin." (Kindness leading to repentance)
CANCEL CULTURE: "We do condemn you. Therefore, live in irrecoverable shame and be dead to us." (Contempt leading to heart assassination)
GOSPEL > CANCEL
Each one is of infinite worth:
Unborn lives
Black lives
Elderly lives
Disabled lives
Impoverished lives
Marginalized lives
When our politics say "Yeah but..." to any of these, we prefer some at the expense of others. This is Darwinian not Christian. Jesus won't do "Yeah but..."
I sometimes do things I wish I hadn't. Yesterday, I made a poorly timed remark about Gov. Cuomo's abortion record. He is fighting around the clock for other lives right now, which deserves appreciation/support, not a badly-timed "gotcha" remark. I regret this and apologize.
GOSPEL CULTURE: "We do not condemn you. Therefore, break free from your sin." (Kindness leading to repentance)
CANCEL CULTURE: "We condemn you totally. Therefore, live in unrecoverable shame and be dead to us." (Contempt leading to heart assassination)
GOSPEL > CANCEL
If our sex and marriage ethic upholds the biblical guardrails of a male/female covenant union, but does not also provide lasting solutions to loneliness among single, divorced, widowed, and same-sex attracted persons, then it falls short of being a fully Christian ethic.
To say that "The church is in decline" is to speak from a decidedly American, Caucasian, and Mainline grid. A few facts:
1. Globally, the church is growing faster than ever.
2. U.S. churches that elevate Scripture are growing.
3. U.S. nonwhite churches are growing.
Taliban having its way again. More genocide in Myanmar. Decimating earthquake in Haiti. Covid resurgence dividing communities and messing up the equilibrium.
Now is a time for tears.
And redemptive anger.
And pleading prayer.
Come, Lord Jesus.
If you have an American flag in your church sanctuary, be sure the rest of the world is represented also. Jesus, hailing from the Middle East, is a global Savior.
Friends, please pray for Tim Keller as he contends with some serious health complications. Pray also for Kathy, their three sons, and their grandchildren, for the Lord’s comfort and care.
Dear Christian Twitter,
The works of the flesh are *still* enmity, strife, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions.
The fruit of the Spirit is *still* love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
After over 20 years of pastoral ministry, I have never met a person who fell in love with Jesus because a Christian scolded them about their ethics or moral choices. Have you?
#JesusOutsideTheLines
Because Christians have been treated with such kindness, such grace, and such gentleness by Christ, we ought as a result to be the most difficult people in the world to offend.
Moralistic Pharisee:
I disregard you because you aren’t as virtuous, well-behaved, and doctrinaire as I am.
Grace Pharisee:
I disregard you because you aren’t as kind, accepting, and inclusive as I am.
I’m guilty every day of both.
I need Jesus in EVERY way.
How about you?
Feel guilty falling asleep while praying? How do you feel when a child nods off in your lap? And how much more must your Heavenly Father feel about you when this happens? There. Feel better? You should!
If it is easier for people to guess what your politics are than it is for them to guess what your religion is, it is quite possible that politics has become your religion.
If our sex and marriage ethic upholds the biblical guardrails of a male/female covenant union, but does not also provide lasting solutions to loneliness among single, divorced, widowed, and same-sex attracted persons, then it falls short of being a fully Christian ethic.
Christians in the West must understand that the relative ease of our experience is unusual. Every time we open our Bibles, it is good to remember that almost every word was written by someone who had been tortured, enslaved, imprisoned, exiled, or some combination thereof.
Have you ever met a person who says they fell in love with Jesus because a religious person or group of religious people scolded them for their morals, their ethics, and their lifestyle choices? In all my years, I have yet to meet a man, woman, or child with such a story.
HOW TO APOLOGIZE
• express sorrow (I’m sorry)
• own guilt (I was wrong)
• name specific wrongs (I did X)
• name impact (I hurt u)
• no IFs (sorry if I)
• don’t blameshift/defend (but u)
• no passive voice (sorry u were offended)
• make amends (what can I do)
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@dukekwondc
Yesterday I received an unexpected, two-page letter from a friend. In it, he detailed 10 things he loves about me. I am one of many whom he did this for.
He could have added 1,000 legitimate criticisms, but didn’t.
In today’s outrage culture, this is true power.
Membership in a local church means joining your imperfect self to many other imperfect selves to form an imperfect community that, through Jesus, embarks on a journey toward a better future . . . together.
Y’all ever seen that movie called A Beautiful Mind? Well. Here is a sample of Tim Keller’s sermon notes. Next level genius undergirded by faith and humility is what turns a skilled orator into a world class preacher.
Great advice from a pastor who is about 15 years ahead of me:
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“When you stand up to preach, never forget how many people in the room are overwhelmed, under-encouraged, and fighting hidden battles. When it’s time to convict, only do so with kindness.”
After over 20 years of pastoral ministry, I have never met a person who fell in love with Jesus because a Christian scolded them about their ethics or moral choices. Have you?