Relevant wrote an article last week where they interviewed Judah and Chelsea Smith about online church. In 2018, the Smith’s launched Churchome, as an online form of church which Relevant describes as “a new kind […]
Category: Culture
Advice to anyone considering seminary
Four years ago today, I graduated seminary with my Master of Divinity degree. I picked a highly academic seminary where I was blessed to study under world class professors. But as I reflect this year, […]
When we want the savior but not the Lord: the great disciple mistake
Our society likes to emphasize God’s love and forget that he is also just and that he has wrath towards sin. We like the easy message. We like the easy gospel of “yeah you’re not perfect but neither is anyone else and God is a God of love and he forgives you.”
We make faith about a vague ascent with Christ, a loose agreement, hearing “you can be forgiven,” and then saying “sure, I’ll have that,” like it’s someone asking if you want to share an order of mozzarella sticks at a restaurant.
But the danger of an easy gospel is losing sight of Jesus and his call to discipleship, his call to live life in the light of what he has done.
Couldn’t God just forgive us? Why was the cross necessary?
A person might look at the crucifixion, look at what the Lord did on the cross, and wonder “Why was that the only way? Why was that necessary? Couldn’t God simply forgive us?”
No.
This is an idea I’ve heard from Tim Keller before, and it’s an important idea on having a theology of forgiveness.
Coronavirus concerns cause sweeping cancellations
Things are getting real. Tonight, President Trump announced the suspension of incoming flights from Europe and the NBA suspended the season. Earlier today, the NCAA announced that the tournament is going to be played without spectators (although at this point, I would not be shocked if they end up cancelling it). Tom Hanks has it. More and more colleges are extending spring breaks or switching to online formats for courses.
This is all going to get worse. Few weeks ago, everything was golden in Italy. Now the country is shut down. I’m not saying that exact thing is going to happen in America. But more and more people are going to get sick, are going to die, and life will be increasingly disrupted.
Coronavirus, fear, and theology
Coronavirus continues to spread, causing fear and uncertainty with global markets. There have been people who have blamed the media for sensationalizing the virus and who point to the hundreds of thousands of people who die from the flu every year. There are people who blame China. People who blame President Trump for how he’s handling coronavirus in America. People stealing surgical masks from hospitals. You’ve had major events such as SXSW cancelled. We’ve seen universities close classrooms and shifted lectures to online formats. We’ve seen totalitarian steps taken within China to try to contain the virus (which some experts believe may have been successful). You have Italy quarantine its whole country.
It’s a mess.
James MacDonald starting home church network less than a year after being fired from mega church
A year ago, James MacDonald was fired from Harvest Bible Chapel, a megachurch located primarily around Chicago, which he had founded more than 30 years ago. MacDonald’s dismissal came after Chicago radio host Mancow Muller played explosive […]
