Timothy Keller, founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC, has stage four Pancreatic cancer. That’s not news—he’s been talking about it for some time. He has also been candid that he’s aware his time left here is limited. I greatly appreciate his honest hope in the midst of suffering and the reality of physical…
Category: Theology
Grace Defined
“Grace is the pleasure of God to magnify the worth of God by giving sinners the right and power to delight in God without obscuring the glory of God.” ~John Piper, The Pleasures of God
A Theology of Serving
With every passing year, people find more ways than ever to fill their time. Between work and family and all the extra-curricular actives that go along with that, there is very little time for anything (or anyone) else. For many Christians, just getting to church on Sundays is a major success. “Surely, God understands my schedule….
When It’s Good to be in a Gang
Paul tells Timothy that if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, “he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21) This is a concept I’ve been dealing with a lot lately in messages at The Gathering,…
Getting it Right
One of the things I had to learn once I started seminary was how to effectively and rightly interpret Scripture. I guess I hadn’t though much about it up to that point. I figured you just read the Bible and did what it said. From time-to-time, I would have people ask me, “Do you interpret…
Who’s Choice is it Anyway?
It is an understatement to say that the topic of Divine Election is a hotly debated one. People are often very passionate and sometimes downright uncivil in their expressions of those passions. People are cast with (what are intended as) disparaging labels, looked down upon with expressed disappointment, and dismissed as marginal when they admit…
When Doctrine Comes Alive
Last night, we had one of our Institute classes at The Gathering. If you’re not familiar, Institute is currently an in-depth systematic theology class we take some of our members through. It can be rather intense and challenging to complete. I have to say, though, I am so proud of those who have taken on…
Shai Linne’s Fal$e Teachers
My twelve year-old son, Jacob, has taken to hip-hop music. Now, if you’re like me, the revelation that your son likes hip-hop can be a bit concerning. I certainly don’t need to mention the fact that most hip-hop music is angry, often violent young men spewing their anger and violence out lyrically. Much of it…
T-Shirt Theology
I’m often amazed at how easy it is to become so focused on a thought we want to convey that we lose sight of truth, often derailing the very point we set out to make. Here’s an example of what I mean: This morning, I heard a guy on the radio make the following statement:…
‘The Great I AM’, Not the ‘I Wish I Was’
May I vent? OK, my blog…guess it’s ok. If you’re anything like me, you’re getting “sick and tired” (two inseparables there) of hearing armchair theologians declaring that God was not present at Sandy Hook because “we systematically kicked Him out of society.” I’m getting to the point that I may actually scream out loud…
Drive Through Prayer?
A church in Ft. Lauderdale has begun offering drive-thru prayer services for those in need. Good idea, right? After all, who couldn’t use a little prayer? The Pentecostal congregation has been offering drive-thru prayer services every Friday for the last month, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Outreach Pastor Sol Levy says many who pass through have…
Rob Bell Attempts to Explain Apparent Inconsistencies in Love Wins
MSNBC interview with Martin Bashir: What do you think? Did he adequately answer the questions or did he continue in the postmodern practice of embracing and promoting contradictory propositions? UPDATE: Listen to an excellent follow-up interview with Martin Bashir.