N.T. Wright on Attempting to Restore New Testament Christianity

“Many writers…have seen the religious experience of the early Christians…as the normative element within Christianity. This has the apparent advantage that it enables one to conduct the ’scientific’, supposedly ‘objective’ study of early Christian religion and theology, with the knowledge that when one has found them one is in touch with the real model of [...]

Change in Churches - What is Healthy?

There is a fine line we walk when we talk about change. The line is between relevance to a lost and dying world and being pleasing to the God who has made us our own. When people try to swing too hard in either direction the results are often disastrous. Those who seek to please [...]

Ripening Issues in the Church of Christ - Alienated Older People

This is the last of the Ripening Issues in the CofC series. This is one that I am most worried about because the other issues all load into this one. There is pretty close biblical parallel that can help us handle this issue. For many years people thought Paul wrote Romans as a general layout [...]

Ripening Issues in the Church of Christ - Instrumental Music

The can has been opened and the worms are out! I have not really said much about this issue in the past because it is highly charged with strong feelings on both sides. I think it is a mistake to stand idly by while a whole generation of young people leaves the church because they [...]

Spiritual Murder (John 10:10)

In Jesus’ lesson to the Pharisees in John 10 Jesus compares himself to a shepherd and to a gate. Notice what he tells the Pharisees in 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” (TNIV).
In the context of [...]

What Does it Mean to Turn the Other Cheek?

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus says these familiar words, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Mtt 5:38-39)
Honor and Shame in the [...]

Ananias & Sapphira - A Closer Look (Acts 5)

After the earlier post on The Providence of God in Acts 1-10 I received the following email that I thought was interesting and I wanted to address it here to see if anyone had any other thoughts on the matter…
Good Morning Matthew …
As a “New Garment” Christian, I don’t allow myself to fall for many [...]

The Simplicity of the Gospel (Acts 8:26ff)

I love the story of Philip and the Ethiopian in Acts 8. There is so much we can learn about God’s willingness to prepare people for the gospel of Christ. Philip follows the direction of the angel. The Ethiopian had been worshiping in Jerusalem and is now reading from Isaiah 53 when Philip walks up [...]

Holy Spirit Part 1: Why We Don’t Discuss It

1. Doctrinal Whiplash
In the Church of Christ we tend to have what I think of as “doctrinal whiplash.” The Baptists talk about witnessing so we don’t like that term any more. The Pentecostals emphasize the Holy Spirit so we shy away from it. And so on. That can be very detrimental to our own understanding [...]