Why God? He Gets Our Act Together
“Why God?” So many are asking this question. One great reason to accept Him: He helps us to get our act together. In his book The Imperfect Disciple, Jared Wilson writes that now, nearly 40 years later, he often feels like his trembling, 6-year-old self, when the notes of the church organ thundered as he […]
Doing the Work, After Jesus Saves Us
I was with a bunch of Christians recently, who were in agreement that the point of Christianity is to get people saved — so they don’t go to hell. I agree that our choosing to accept Christ as Lord and Savior is the most important decision we’ll ever make, because of its eternal implications. But […]
Jesus Died for Me … So Why Do I Still Feel Guilt?
I remember years ago when I tuned into a message by a Christian speaker who was addressing guilt… He asked the audience a simple question: “How many of you have trouble dealing with your past?” There was a pause. He continued. “You know why? It’s because you don’t believe it’s been dealt with already.” He […]
If God is Love, Does Our Sin Matter?
If we view God as “always loving,” can we be nonchalant about sin? MercyMe, a great contemporary Christian band, is known for penning a number of songs about God’s grace covering sin. “Smile like you just got away with something,” croons the band. “Why? ‘Cause you just got away with something. Ever since, ever since […]
Objective Truth: Christian Response to Postmodernism
Does objective truth still hold value? “If you are anything like me,” says noted Christian author and speaker Lisa Bevere, “you want to love the broken people around you.” But so often Christians are told they’re being judgmental and hateful if they don’t accept the false version of love that accepts everything — no matter […]
Was Jesus Really Without Sin?
Scripture Says Jesus Was Without Sin All of the Bible‘s New Testament books, which were composed less than seventy years after Jesus’ death, have one consistent message: that Jesus lived without sin. We’re told this in the four Gospels, in reports of speeches by early Christian leaders in the books of Acts, in epistles written by […]
The Bible: Just a Rule Book of “Thou Shalt Nots”?
A lot of people get hung up on what they see as the Bible’s negativity. The Bible gets a bum rap for being “negative,” for being a bunch of rules one has to follow, if God is to be good to us. God’s Word definitely contains “Thou shalt nots,” but God’s intention is not to limit our human experience. […]
Holding on to the Truth
Josh, I remember meeting you in a parking garage in Orlando during the 2012 YPS conference. I was on staff at Global Youth Ministry at the time and you walked up to the group I was in. I had seen you before and you looked familiar to me, but I didn’t know why. You began […]
The Puritans Viewed Sex Correctly
The Puritans Liked Sex! In the last two blog posts of our cultural tolerance series, we looked at why God designed sex to be part of marriage. We talked about the sacredness of sex, and the emotional, physical, and psychological damage we do to ourselves by engaging in sex outside of marriage. But let’s back up […]
If God is So Loving, Why Can’t He Be More Tolerant of Sin?
The reality is that God is merciful, but that isn’t quite the same as being tolerant. There is a reason God can’t stand sin. You see, his core nature is holy and pure. (See Deuteronomy 32:4, Isaiah 54:5, and Revelation 4:8.) So a holy God cannot be in relationship with sin in any manner. He […]
What Causes People to Sin Today?
From infancy, it appears, we struggle for control to get what we want, when we want it, and in the way we want it. This independent drive to be in charge lies behind every struggle for power, every prejudice, every conflict, and every abuse of relationship since the dawn of time. But where does this […]
