Lacking class?

I wrote about the evangelical reaction to this book early last week. Dave Williams offers his review of the book itself here.

Why we worry when choosing a bible translation

‘By far the most common question I get asked about Bible translation is What’s the best one? What I’ve noticed is that, very often, the question comes with a hint of worry—worry that, depending on my answer, the person may discover they’ve been using a second-best translation. And when it’s God’s word we’re reading, no one wants to settle for second best! The anxiety is understandable. But can anything be done about it? Are those without knowledge of Greek and Hebrew simply doomed to always second-guess their translation choice? How much should we worry that we’ve picked the wrong translation?’

10 ways to fracture your church

‘This is only a sample. Often you will find that it is a combination of these causes that finally lead to the fragmentation. To arrest a possible breakup, you need to talk about the threat before the root of bitterness grows. Deal with it quickly. Like cancer, it must be handled as soon as it is discovered because any delay only allows the cancer to grow. As the apostle Paul said to Titus, “As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned” (Titus 3:10–11). Splits are painful. They are like a marriage divorce. They leave trauma in their wake. Occasionally there will be a just cause, but often the fragmentation is a fruit of sin which by its very nature is disruptive. Do not be the cause of such a fracture.’

Are Christian parents too protective of their children?

I think so. And Michael Kruger thinks so too. He explains why what we often consider to be protection can actually be spiritually damaging to our children in the long run.

Is modern postmillenialism confessional?

This one considers modern postmillenialism from a presbyterian perspective and argues that it falls foul of the Westminster Confession of Faith (and, if you’re a Baptist, the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith). I think there is something in it and it is worth considering.

When young kids ask questions about LGBT+ adults that they know

I don’t think this one is helpful only for young kids (or even just kids). I think it offers us really helpful categories to have these conversations in ways that synthesise God’s prescribed mode of living, God’s love for all people and how and why we can love people even when they do not seek to follow God: ‘Someone who doesn’t have Jesus as King won’t have a reason to follow him nor the ability to do so from the heart. Encouraging our kids to see others in this way means we don’t shame people, but we do recognize their great need because it’s a need we share: to be saved from our sin.’

From the archive: Being off our food is a sign of sickness

‘When we are off our food, it is a sign that we are really quite sick. As true as that is physically, it is equally true spiritually. If we are off our spiritual food, it is a sign that we are spiritually really very unwell.’