Our circumstances do not make us sin. They simply reveal the sin that is already present in our hearts. They give it opportunity, or strip away our social barriers, or decrease our emotional resiliency, and a fuller measure of our wickedness is suddenly on display.
You need to make a difficult decision, and ask Christian friends for their input. They give some advice, then ask, “Do you have a peace about your decision?”
The internet has been abuzz these past few weeks about another new Christian athlete suddenly making headlines. This fall saw “Tebowmania,” and now we have “Linsanity,” as Jeremy Lin shows remarkable talent on the basketball court. I’m not really a basketball fan, but I am a fan of the way both Tebow and now Lin seem to see their vocation: as an opportunity to glorify God, whatever the outcome of their games (HT: Stephen Carradini).
Faith is not a private reality that arises from inner reflection or as a result of philosophical investigation. People receive the Spirit “by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:2-5). When human beings hear the word of the gospel and believe, they are saved. The oral proclamation of the word is necessary for faith.
—Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ
It has become increasingly apparent to me over the past three to five years that evangelicalism suffers from a serious deficit of careful thought to our theology of vocation. Though evangelicals pay lip service to the notion that every believer’s work is valuable in the sight of God, in practice we do not act as though this is true. We do not, deep down, seem to actually believe that working as a software engineer or an electrician or a clerk or a manager or a lawyer or even a doctor is really important and God-honoring. Or at least, not as much as doing ministry. Read on, intrepid explorer →
The centrality of Christ and the new humanity formed in him signifies that all other human classes, organizations and distinctions are outmoded.
—Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ
Good and evil, long at war; the feeble things of this world chosen to confound the great and the foolish to confound the wise; God in his heaven and the great enemy coming against his creatures; the horrid lure of sin and the beautiful agony of faithfulness; the sorrow of loneliness and the sweet ache of love; the agonizing distance of God in trouble and his provision of bewildering aid – these all writ large in the lives of simple animals. This is The Book of the Dun Cow. Read on, intrepid explorer →