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A La Carte (September 17)

thursday

It’s not the most exciting day ever for Kindle deals, though there are at least a few to look at.

(Yesterday on the blog: The Local Church Was Made To Serve The Christian, Not The Christian The Local Church)

2 Reasons Bully Pastors Rise Up in the Church

Yikes! “our definition of a leader now is—strong personality, quick witted, forceful, domineering, able to win the day in a discussion or argument, can cast vision and collect people. I’m going to say this: no wonder we’ve produced a culture of ministry bullies who mistreat people.”

Theological Primer: Religion

Kevin DeYoung continues to work through his theological primer (and announces that it will soon become a book). This entry is on “religion” and I’m glad to see he addresses the way the word is so often used in a disparaging sense today.

Losing Discernment

This is true and important. “If we are not growing in our faith and knowledge of the word or, in other words, if we are not maturing in the faith, then there are consequences. There will be certain teaching from Scripture that is helpful and beneficial that we will not be able to understand and apply. Spiritual immaturity squelches our powers of discernment.”

Now We Can’t Even Watch Football

Melissa says, “I miss the days when Christian people could be compelled to refrain from doing something based on their own personal convictions, without imposing their convictions on everyone else as if they are gospel truth for the entire world.”

Privilege, Oppression, Intersectionality and the Church

Andrew Wilson has written an extensive post on privilege, oppression, intersectionality, and so on, and makes a number of good points along the way. “The terminology is slippery, confusing and hotly contested (section I). Things are moving so fast that it is hard to keep up (section II). In some cases we are being asked to accept ludicrous ideas that are self-evidently false. We may therefore be tempted to ignore it, especially since it is mostly concentrated in cities, universities, journalism and antisocial media (at least for the moment), although on balance it is important that we don’t.” (See also Denny Burk’s Is “Systemic Racism” a Useful Category for Christians to Use?) (Update: for those wondering, I enjoyed most of Wilson’s article, but would disagree with a few points, especially related to his use of “sexual minorities” and some related themes. Still, I thought it was worth including, especially for its early paragraphs.)

From Protest to Praise

Kristin writes about her protests and how God views them.

The Science of Male and Female

“Being a man or a woman shouldn’t be a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, hidden inside an enigma. No, if ‘biblical manhood and womanhood’ is going to genuinely persuade people today, Christians have to show that it’s normal. Not normal judged by the changing standards of society, of course, but normal in the sense that it makes sense of the way the world actually is. Biblical sexuality is normal because it’s just how God made the world. Biblical sexuality is natural.”

Flashback: They Call It “The Rock”

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of spending some time in Newfoundland—Canada’s easternmost province (and the easternmost point of North America). It was a joy to be there and to explore some of what the Lord is accomplishing through his people.

It is vital that you believe and admit that you have no power whatsoever to change your child.

—Paul David Tripp

  • Francis

    Did Francis Prove To Be “The Humble Pope?”

    Francis’ time as pope has come to an end and already many are attempting to define his legacy. Was he a reformer? Was he a progressive? Was he an apostate? Perspectives are wildly varied with some honoring him as the greatest pope of modern times and some dishonoring him as a disgrace to the office.

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    A La Carte (April 23)

    A La Carte: How to begin a conversation with a dechurched friend / Machen was right / The truth of Christ’s resurrection / When grief becomes sin / Nope to the media’s ideal for a new pope / Book sale / and more.

  • A La Carte Collection cover image

    A La Carte (April 22)

    A La Carte: Pope Francis / Yes, Jesus was crucified with nails / The mystery of “the call” / Just a little bit / The last of the four / John outran Peter / Kindle deals / and more.

  • Will You Be a Pillar?

    How do we lead in a culture shaped by performance, individualism, and platform? Platforms to Pillars by cultural commentator Mark Sayers offers a biblical alternative to the platform mentality that dominates our society. Drawing from the ancient world, Sayers challenges Christians to become pillars—people who provide strength and support for others, who live with character…

  • The Tallest Trees

    The Winds Blow Hardest Against the Tallest Trees

    Through the weekend had many questions about Christian leaders who fall. And I expressed that just as the winds blow hardest against the tallest trees, so temptations may press hardest against the leaders who rise the highest. Just as floods press against shallow roots, so seductive desires rise up against those whose fall would bring…

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    A La Carte (April 21)

    A La Carte: Toxic servant leadership / Taking our stress to the Lord / The problem with habits / Is it wrong for Christians to choose cremation? / Why does your church meet in a house? / Big book and Kindle deals / and more.