Church

God is the Creator and lover of human diversity. Christ is glorified not simply by the total number who worship Him, but because this number represents every race, nation and language. This excerpt from my novel Dominion depicts the beautiful diversity of Heaven.

This is an excellent blog from Brett McCracken on the problems with the church seeking to win the culture by conforming to it.

Many Christians and even some pastors have told me, “It’s cruel to bring up the subject of abortion.” But by talking about abortion in our churches—with grace and truth—we will prevent abortions and offer forgiveness and healing to women and men who are suffering in silence. Isn’t that an act of kindness both to unborn children and their parents?

I recently shared on  my blog a message that I recorded for my home church on Romans 14, called When Christians Disagree About Beliefs and Actions. The following article from Kevin DeYoung is perfectly consistent with the primary v. secondary or first level/second level/third-level approach I talk about in my message.

The church has never had more issues to divide us and make us outraged at each other. There’s a pandemic of accusation and blame, and the result is Christians publicly attacking and berating each other, then remaining unrepentant for doing so. We have an unswerving certainty that we are right about everything, even secondary issues.

So many who no longer believe in Jesus cite reasons that relate to church and Christianity and lack of love and credible answers. It makes me weep not just for those who are walking away, but also for the many who aren’t talking about it but lost their faith years ago.

I have sometimes envisioned what it will mean for every tribe, nation, and language to gather together and sing the praises of Jesus, as is depicted in Revelation 5:9 and 7:9. I’m sure we’ll learn a lot of great new hymns and songs once we’re with Jesus, most of which we’ve never heard. But I feel nearly certain that one of those songs we’ll sing forever from this life is “Amazing Grace.”

I recently watched part of an interview that Keith Getty did where he challenges pastors, worship leaders, and parents to think carefully about what songs we’re giving our children to sing. What he has to say is great and important.

Don’t let the Coronavirus or anything else distract you from the promises of God, or rob you of living the life God has given you. Live for Jesus in the midst of this, and you may come out on the other side, as we do so many of the trials of our lives, saying, “God, you taught me more and drew me closer to you through this crisis than any other time of my life.”