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Building on Rock: The Law of Christ and the Role of Works in the Christian Life (Part 1)
Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these…
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Beyond Success and Power: Walking by the Spirit and Doing God’s Will
On that day many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?” Then I will announce to them, “I never knew you! Depart from Me, you who work lawlessness*.” (Matthew 7:21-23) It’s clear from Jesus’ words that people…
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Beyond “Lord, Lord”: Where Reformations Go Wrong and How We Can Enter the Kingdom
Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord!” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your…
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Fruit, Sheep, and False Prophets: A Primer on Learning to Discern
Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad…
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Enter Through the Narrow Gate: The Hidden Way into the Kingdom
Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14) In 1678, an English Puritan named John Bunyan wrote…
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The Golden Rule and the Glory of Being Good
Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12) Next to “Do not judge” I’m sure this is the most famous verse in the Bible. It’s been incorporated so fully into our culture as the “Golden Rule” that I don’t think…
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Is God Good?: The Challenge of Faith in a World at War
What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to…
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“Hope Is What Allows Me to Be Here”: Suffering with Christ in Mosul, Iraq
We live in an era when many are suffering. Suffering raises questions, demands interpretation, whether it’s the suffering of war, of natural disaster, of hatred, of personal tragedy. Of every possible interpretation of human suffering, I cling to this truth: that Christ promises to share in it, to be with us in it. This is…
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[Still] Weeping with Those Who Weep: A Response to Charlottesville
I know, I know. Charlottesville isn’t the headline anymore. There’s been a hurricane. There have been more reasons to weep. More things to heal from. But open displays of hate mean something different from what hurricanes mean. I worry that we will try to sweep it all under the carpet (again) too quickly. Charlottesville happened…
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Seeking and Finding: The Reason to Look, Ask, and Knock Is to Find
For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:8) In Buddhist philosophy, desire is the cause of all pain. Since all is ultimately illusion, desire is futile. It is a meaningless yearning after nothing, and so it hurts us. To…