How can Christians best respond to a situation in which historic Christian belief and practice is increasingly marginalized socially, culturally, and politically? On July 12, 2017, I participated in a panel discussion of this question at the National Press Club in Washington, D. C. The discussion was hosted by the Institute on Religion & Democracy and moderated by [ Read More ]
Last week, I asked the readers of this website to fill out a short survey providing feedback on what they like about the site, what they don’t, and what subjects they’d like me to address. The one question asked more than any other was, “Should a pastor address political issues from the pulpit?” So, should [ Read More ]
It happens to most of us church leaders. Gradually, and without notice, we slip into the habit of viewing the Scriptures more as an object to be dissected than a spiritual feast to nourish our souls. As an antidote to this temptation, I recently wrote about a four-fold pattern of Scripture intake that helps us [ Read More ]
On Easter, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That much is clear. What is not clear to many people, however, is what the resurrection means to Christians and why we would make such a big deal of it. The resurrection only makes sense if we first understand what the Christian “gospel” is. In the [ Read More ]
On a dark Friday two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. Powerful members of the religious, political, and military communities colluded to strip him naked, mock him publicly, and crucify him. Yet two millennia later, Christians—who believe that Jesus is the Son of God—celebrate that dark day by calling it Good Friday. Why [ Read More ]
I will never forget my first day of seminary. At 8:00 a.m., I walked into a classroom for the first time for a course in Systematic Theology taught by Paige Patterson. I sat on the back row with J.D. Greear and several other embryonic theologues. As Dr. Patterson began class, he announced that he would [ Read More ]
This week, I had the privilege of interviewing with Tony Merida for the Acts 29 podcast. We discussed my time as a missionary and church planter. We also talked about what pastors, church planters, and everyday Christians can learn from Abraham Kuyper about bringing the West into a “missionary encounter” with the gospel through an interface with culture [ Read More ]
Please allow me to serve advance notice of a major event: Craig Bartholomew’s Contours of the Kuyperian Tradition: A Systematic Introduction will be published by IVP Academic on April 24, 2017. I’ve read the rough draft manuscript in its entirety; it is a fine systematic introduction to Kuyper’s thought that draws upon the rich archive [ Read More ]
On March 1, 2017, Broadman & Holman publishers will release a book entitled, This is Our Time: Everyday Myths in Light of the Gospel, by Trevin Wax. Along with books such as Rod Dreher’s The Benedict Option, Anthony Esolen’s Out of the Ashes, and Jamie Smith’s Awaiting the King, the release of This is Our [ Read More ]
One week into his presidency, Donald Trump fulfilled one of his campaign promises to ban immigration from countries compromised by terrorism. In an executive order signed on Friday, he banned all people from seven nations, refusing them entry for 90 days. Those nations are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. In light of [ Read More ]