Always Reforming

Having been raised in a Reformed Presbyterian microdenomination, my first impulse is to separate over secondary and even tertiary issues.  To put it another way, we made everything a primary issue.  I have spent the last 15 years of my life trying to retrain my instincts, which is why I heartily embraced the ecumenical attitude of the ACNA six years ago.  We agree on the fundamentals, but we can agree to disagree on secondary issues.   But... Where is the line?  How much latitude is too much?  What do we do when people insist that primary issues aren't primary issues?  Where do discipline and accountability come in, especially when a bishop is involved? The Anglican world has been on fire for the last few weeks.  A bishop was found guilty after a tumultuous trial.  Another bishop has come under fire for associating with a TEC bishop.  Meanwhile, debates have raged online over what Anglicans really believe about the Eucharist and ...

One of the great ecclesiological debates of our day is regarding the validity of holy orders.  Whom do Roman Catholics recognize?  What about the insular, ethnically-focused Eastern Orthodox?  How do Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans, and other Protestants interact with clergy outside of their tradition?  Anglicans, who purport to be Catholic and to hold the Apostolic Episcopate, seem to spend an inordinate amount of time talking about this.  It certainly is an important issue as it relates to questions about full vs impaired communion, the validity of the sacraments, and how denominations work together on the mission field.  Ultimately, it is a key subset to the broader question of authority, which is the pressing issue of the Church in our era. My goal today is not to answer (or even address) this question.  My assertion, instead, is that the discussion is altogether misguided.  To say it another way, if you are debating the validity of one den...

He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30) Oh, that my heart would own these words! These words of the Baptist ought...must...be the resolution of every Christian.  The decisions we make, the paths we take, and that which we forsake must all flow from a desire to glorify Christ.  "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor 10:31)  This is the guiding ethic of the Christian life.   He must increase .  This is the easy part of the verse.  Exalting Christ sounds good.  We like to praise, to worship, to tell others about Jesus.  He must increase?  Amen! But... I must decrease .  This is the painful part.  This is the part that is so radically counter to both our culture and our natural inclinations.  Humility--how demeaning!  Submission--how passe!  Subservience--how repulsive! I must decrease .  The second part is indispensable to the first.  We cannot serve Go...

People create conspiracy theories to make sense of the reality they experience. COVID is the perfect example. It was difficult to believe that the "powers that be" were really that foolish or naive, so certainly something more insidious was afoot! The shadow government was depopulating the world intentionally through a man-made virus and the subsequent "miracle" vaccine! Now, stranger conspiracy theories have been proven true, but the reality is probably much less orchestrated or exciting. What the human brain has trouble fathoming is that someone could be this calloused. Evil--that we get. Calloused, unconcerned, heartless--that we struggle to comprehend. Faced with the opportunity for fame and fortune, Fauci chose to downplay and/or outright lie about the dangers of the vaccine. He went on TV and told America it was safe and effective. He was the darling of the media and celebrities, who demeaned and slandered anyone who posed legitimate questions. Gover...

Parents, Your kids don't need a bunch of stuff.  They don't need all of the experiences their friends have.   Heaven knows they don't need more entertainment! They need you. Mom and Dad, they need you both . They need your time, your attention, your presence.   They need your big hugs and your kisses on the top of their heads. They need to know that they're more important than whatever is on your phone at any given moment. They need to know that they're part of something bigger--a family, a community. They need your friendship and your discipline.   They need you to show them how to live, how to align priorities properly. They need to see you work, yes, but also play.  And rest. And read. And exercise. And, most importantly, they need to see you worship God.   Every "yes" is a "no."  

For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.  (Romans 6:14) Christian, you have been freed.  Through the Person and Work of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, you have been set free from the guilt and corruption of sin.  The Fall has been reversed.   The guilt of sin no longer has dominion over you.  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1).  No one, not even the accuser, can bring an accusation against God's elect (Rom 8:33).  Satan has no right to your body or your soul.  Resist him; he will flee (James 4:7).  The power of sin no longer has dominion over you.  "For one who has died has been set free from sin," Paul says (Rom 6:7).  "So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom 6:11).  We have been given the gift of true freedom--not freedom from restraint, but freedom from slavery to sin.  W...