Simply Gospel

May my steps be worship. May my thoughts be praise.

  • Slander in the Camp

    Slander in the Camp Another word for slander in Greek is diabolos. It is the word that is used for Satan and means the “accuser”, the one who attacks the brethren. Slander is the passionate, determined goal of one person to destroy another. As you can see, it is driven by bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and every form of malice. It is diabolical. What are a few ways that we may attempt to slander someone for the purpose of harming their reputation? Sensationalism — spinning what someone said to sound evil. Betraying confidence — using constructive criticism shared in private and telling the person not present… Continue reading

  • We Need Leaders, Not Just Followers

    We Need Leaders, Not Just Followers We do well to note that Jesus spent a lot more time talking about the characteristics of followers than he did of the characteristics of leaders. And what is said of leaders doesn’t sound much like what the world tends to think of in a leader. But God has called certain Christians to tasks of leadership, specifically to the job of equipping the church for ministry. Continue reading

  • 10 Traits of Inwardly-Focused, Ineffective Churches

    10 Traits of Inwardly-Focused, Ineffective Churches Worship wars. Prolonged minutia meetings. Facility focus. Program driven. Inwardly focused budget. Inordinate demands for pastoral care. Attitudes of entitlement. Greater concern about change than the gospel. Anger and hostility. Evangelistic apathy. Continue reading

  • Hand Over Hand

    I introduced my daughter to the joys of the original Super Mario Bros. a couple of weeks ago. Of course, to do it right, this isn’t run in emulation, downloaded to the Wii U virtual console, or any other non-authentic experience. She’s seeing the game in full 8-bit glory running off of the NES I got from my parents some 25 or so years ago. She’s had the privilege of blowing off the cartridge, and she even got to use an original NES controller. At first, I just handed her the controller and let her have at it. Unsurprisingly, she… Continue reading

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  • Comfort and Joy

    Comfort and Joy — those two words summarize the gospel message very well. In Matthew 11:28, Jesus extends this invitation: Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. This is an invitation to all of us who want to leave behind the burdens of the world and find comfort in His arms. Jesus goes on in the… Continue reading

  • Beware of Obscurantism

    Beware of Obscurantism In an obscured version of Christianity, it appears as though you have to do particular things that are not actually the gospel in order to follow Christ, because all the Christians you know do them. It could be as simple as a change in dress or hairstyle or musical tastes; or it could be bigger issues like political bent or a particular worldview. But, it could be a hundred other things—I just gave two examples. Ultimately, seeing these things as the gospel is actually a false gospel. Continue reading

  • My Problem With the Bible

    My Problem With the Bible Now think about Jesus announcing the arrival of God’s kingdom with the proclamation of his counterintuitive Beatitudes. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,” how was that received? Well, it depends on who is hearing it. The poor Galilean peasant would hear it as good news (gospel), while the Roman in his villa would hear it with deep suspicion. (I know it’s an anachronism, but I can imagine Claudius saying something like, “sounds like socialism to me!”) And that’s the challenge I face in reading the Bible. I’m not… Continue reading

  • Andy Stanley: Assume People Are Biblically Illiterate (But Not Dumb)

    Andy Stanley: Assume People Are Biblically Illiterate (But Not Dumb) And when we use phrases like “The Bible says,” we miss teaching opportunities. For instance, Every time I teach from Paul, I say, “Hey, if you’re new to church or Christianity, you will love this guy, because Paul hated Christians. If you hate Christians, Paul’s your guy. Paul hated them so much he wanted to put them in jail. I bet you know Christians you wish you could have arrested.” Everybody laughs. “That’s Paul. And then he became a Christian. Isn’t that interesting? Now let’s see what he has to… Continue reading

  • Some Scriptures for an Election Day

    I struggle with election season in context of my spiritual life. Instead of trying to flesh my thoughts and struggles out into anything coherent, here are some scriptures that have been running through my head. Philippians 4:8–9 Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable — if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise — dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you. So much negativity… Continue reading

  • Grace, Theology and Autism

    Grace, Theology and Autism My husband and I saw the signs. We knew what to look for, and we had diagnosed our son ourselves years before we felt the necessity to seek a formal, medical diagnosis. It was as if all these people and situations were highly contagious and I had now become infected. If I had not been so well informed on autism, then I never would have given birth to someone on the spectrum. There. Fleshed out in a sentence – cause and effect – in all its explicitness, it looks utterly ridiculous. And yet…there are times when… Continue reading