Recently I was in a nosedive. Too many things seemed too hard. But God always provides something to help me pull up. This time it was the following prayer from Valley of Vision. It reminded me of the hard but helpful truth that my challenges aren’t random. They’re appointed by God, if for no other reason than’ to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the… Read More »He Gave You That Cross
As we sang (or prepared to sing) our carols, evil men were shooting Jewish people. Christians love Jewish people. Christianity and anti-Semitism (seeing ‘Jews’ as a problem) are completely incompatible. The Christian attitude toward Jews is in Romans 9.4-5; 10.1-4: They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from… Read More »Jewish Suffering, Support and Salvation
We’ve had two Sundays when instead of the usual sermon, we had three short talks from church members. Both times multiple people asked afterward: ‘Why were all the speakers men?’ That question wouldn’t have been so front-of-mind twenty or even ten years ago. So what has brought us here? Has it been serious study of God’s word? Or are we blowing with the winds of culture? Our culture’s not always… Read More »Identity and Complementarianism
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Corinthians 7.10 Some people talk as though ‘guilt’ is a bad thing. But if someone steals your wallet, wouldn’t you like them to feel guilt? That might motivate them to return it or at least not repeat the crime in future. Guilt is like a warning light on your car dashboard. Is that… Read More »Guilt, Grace and Godliness
A basic meaning of the New Testament word ‘forgive’ is ‘release’ or ‘cancel’, as with a debt. Hence the ESV of the Lord’s Prayer says: ‘forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.’ To ‘forgive’ a debt means promising that you won’t ‘call it in’. But that doesn’t mean pretending the wrong never happened. Cancelling a debt doesn’t mean you have to lend again. Hence Jesus highlights… Read More »Three Rs of Forgiveness