Religion is not a compartment that can be hermetically sealed off from the rest of life. It isn't a room in the house of your life, it is the foundation the entire home is built on.
The Public Square of Worship
Category: Christian Life
Take Heart, God Is Not Mocked
God is mocked when people think that the rules don't apply to them–when they think they can sow to the flesh and reap from the Spirit. But God is also mocked when Satan tries to discourage Christians by telling them that all of their labor to sow to the Spirit is pointless.
Politics and Worship
If politics is the codification of laws and institutions that seek to bring about an orderly and flourishing society, then someone has to decide what ‘justice’ is and how it is administered. But who gets to decide?
The Blessing of Despair
J.I. Packer, the late Anglican theologian, wrote: "The index of the soundness of a man's faith in Christ is the genuineness of the __________ it springs from." How would you fill in that blank? The genuineness of the confidence it springs from? The love it springs from? Hope?
In Praise of Leisure
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. - Col 3:23Make the best use of the time, because the days are evil. - Eph 5:16Christians should work hard. There is much the Lord has called us to and little time to do it. Further, we know the sin of sloth is … Continue reading In Praise of Leisure
A Brief Note on Knowing and Humility
Epistemic humility is not the same thing as epistemic relativism. Epistemology is the theory of knowledge. To have "epistemic humility' is to admit that our knowledge is limited because our perspective is limited. Paul says, "We know in part...we see through a glass darkly" (1 Cor 13:12). We really do know (true knowledge), even if … Continue reading A Brief Note on Knowing and Humility
Techno-Skepticism
The discoverer of an art is not the best judge of the good or harm which will accrue to those who practice it. - SocratesIn Plato's book, The Phaedrus, Socrates shares the story of a conversation between the Egyptian King Thamus and Theuth, the god responsible for countless inventions. Theuth showcases his inventions to Thamus before showing him what … Continue reading Techno-Skepticism
Consider What Your Children Are Watching
The issue: The LGBTQIA+ movement has become ubiquitous in America, even in communities that are overwhelmingly conservative, rural, and far removed from urban centers. Technology and social media has made the distance between Nebraska and LA virtually meaningless (especially when LA makes all the TV shows people in Nebraska watch). Now, the companies responsible for … Continue reading Consider What Your Children Are Watching
It Takes a Church (Prov 22:6)
The following is an unedited sermon manuscript; for an explanation of my sermon manuscripts, click here. *Originally preached in May, 2022* Sermon Audio: It Takes a Church (Prov 22:6) Children, do you like coming to church? Do you ever get bored? Wish that I would talk less? My family didn’t go to church very often when I … Continue reading It Takes a Church (Prov 22:6)
A Lament for June
My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law. - Ps 119:136 Lamentation is a familiar genre in the Bible, but a less familiar one in our churches today. While making an appointment on my calendar in my iPhone, I realized that my phone now informs me that June 1st is the … Continue reading A Lament for June
Marc Sims 