The Church: Don't Give Up on God's Plan

I tire of the incessant church-bashing and endless tales of people disillusioned with their churches. Yes, Christians can be jerks, and we’ve all had rough times in churches, largely because they consist of people too much like us: sinner-jerks in need of grace and truth and growth.

The problem is, Jesus calls the church his bride. He died for her, and says that ultimately the gates of hell won’t prevail against her. So if you give up on the church, you give up on God’s plan.

What is the darkest or most difficult experience you have had to date?

A couple of weeks ago, we asked my blog readers to submit questions for me to answer. Here’s my answer to another one of them.

The specific question asked was, “What is the darkest or most difficult experience you have had to date that you are willing to share?”

"A Call to Anguish" from David Wilkerson

As a young Christian, forty years ago, I read David Wilkerson’s The Cross and the Switchblade and Run, Baby, Run, written by Nicky Cruz, a New York City gang warlord who David had led to the Lord. Both books had a profound influence on me. After Wilkerson died in a car crash April 27, I listened to a seven-minute excerpt from his message "A Call to Anguish."

Patriotism and the Church?

I realize this will not be well-received by people on both sides of this issue (which may be partly why I like it), but Kevin DeYoung’s thoughts on patriotism and church capture almost perfectly my own. That doesn’t make them right, but it does mean that I’m going to highly recommend you read this whole article.

C. S. Lewis on Gambling and Church Attendance

I have been rereading C. S. Lewis’s God in the Dock, a collection of his essays. Actually, I’ve been listening to the audio, sent to me by the wonderful folks at christianaudio.com. I love it. I am a big fan of audio.

Writing Letters to the Suffering

The following moved me deeply. We asked permission to post it. It speaks for itself. My thanks to John Knight, John Piper and Desiring God.

Pastors, Help Your People: The Ministry of a Letter in Suffering
by John Knight

Pastors, Here's a Scenario

You're a pastor and ‘the call’ comes. One of your families have welcomed a child into the world – and that child is significantly disabled. They are crushed.

Chinese Persecution: Still a Tragic Reality

For the ten years since I wrote Safely Home, I’ve been regularly asked, “Isn’t persecution of Chinese Christians a thing of the past?” Yes, there are some good developments, including more Christian books being printed in China. I’m grateful for that. But despite the improvements in some areas, where persecution isn’t as bad as it once was, there are still many Chinese Christians who are persecuted.

Is it Accurate and Loving to Point Out that Mormonism is not Biblical Christianity?

The presidential candidacies of Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman have raised again the “Mormon question.” A pastor’s comment about Mormonism being a cult generated a tornado of media reaction.

What's encouraging and discouraging about the Evangelical Church in America today?

In this 8-1/2 minute video from last year's Clarus Conference, my friend Wayne Grudem and I share about what is encouraging and what is discouraging about the American church.

The Elements in True Reformation

In his excellent (though unlikely titled) book Hot Tub Religion, J. I. Packer asks “What would a work of divine reformation in our churches today look like?” Great question, and I loved the six answers Packer—one of my all- time favorite people—offers.