Tomorrow is October 1st, and the pumpkins and Halloween decorations are popping up all over my local community here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Kids are talking about costumes and trick-or-treating. Among the princesses and super heroes we’ll see little ghouls, goblins, ghosts and gremlins walking around our neighborhoods. My personal opinion is that Halloween is oneContinue reading “How should Christians respond to spiritual darkness – Ephesians 6:10-13, Preview”
Monthly Archives: September 2023
How to have strong opinions and be humble too – How to interact with people who view the world differently than you, Part 5
In the first post in this series, I talked about unity as Christians agreeing on top tier issues. What are top tier issues? That God is father, son and Holy Spirit, and that it is only through God the Son, Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection that sin, death and the devil are defeated, andContinue reading “How to have strong opinions and be humble too – How to interact with people who view the world differently than you, Part 5”
Why it is so good to be wrong – How to interact with people who view the world differently from you, Part 4
So what does it look like to do all to the glory of God when we are interacting with people with whom we disagree? It is clearly putting God first. But how? In 1st Corinthians chapter 8, verse 9, Paul writes, “Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumblingContinue reading “Why it is so good to be wrong – How to interact with people who view the world differently from you, Part 4”
The tragedy of American Christian sorting – How to interact with people who think differently than you, Part 3
What has happened in recent years in American Christianity has been called a sorting. We American Christians, rather than do what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 10, be unified, we have sorted ourselves into different camps. Has this happened in your church? In your community? It’s very evident in the wider American church. Continue reading “The tragedy of American Christian sorting – How to interact with people who think differently than you, Part 3”
A clash of cultures in the church – How to interact with people who view the world differently than you, Part 2
As I mentioned in the previous post, 1st Corinthians Paul brings up an issue that was dividing the Corinthian church. Some were okay with the issue, some were not okay, and people were offended. What was this offensive issue? Here’s what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 8:1-8, “Now about food sacrificed to idols: We knowContinue reading “A clash of cultures in the church – How to interact with people who view the world differently than you, Part 2”
The important difference between unity and uniformity – How to interact with people who view the world differently than you, Part 1
A couple years ago, I think it was in 2020 or 2021, I proposed the idea that some members of my extended family listen to the podcast, Seeing White. The goal was to listen to one episode per week, and then discuss it together on a group text message chat. I suggested this idea becauseContinue reading “The important difference between unity and uniformity – How to interact with people who view the world differently than you, Part 1”
How do we have conversations with people whose view of the world is so different from our own? – Preview
I was recently in a conversation with a friend who said there is a concerted movement in the United States to destroy Christianity. Immediately yellow “Caution” signs flashed in my brain, and I thought, “Oh boy, where is this coming from, and where is this going?” My friend went on describe, with authority, that allContinue reading “How do we have conversations with people whose view of the world is so different from our own? – Preview”
A proper perspective on worship gatherings and God as judge – Psalm 96, Part 5
Finally the psalmist says in Psalm 96 that worship is when we come to God’s courts, which is participation in the gathered community of believers. That is worship services on Sundays, but it could also be participation in a smaller group. We need each other. We need vital relationships with other believers. Worship God byContinue reading “A proper perspective on worship gatherings and God as judge – Psalm 96, Part 5”
Some much needed perspective on how to worship the Lord – Psalm 96, Part 4
In Psalm 96, this psalm about perspective, the psalmist started with a repetitive phrase, “Sing to the Lord,” which we talked about here and here. And now later in his song, he returns to a repetition. Look at verses 7-8. “Ascribe…Ascribe…Ascribe to the Lord.” What does it mean to “ascribe”? “Ascribe is not a commonContinue reading “Some much needed perspective on how to worship the Lord – Psalm 96, Part 4”
Perspective in the middle of tough times – Psalm 96, Part 3
In Psalm 96, verses 2 and 3 instruct us to proclaim God’s salvation day after day. This is the same idea that is encapsulated in the word “evangelism,” which is about proclaiming Good News. The psalmist reminds us that we have Good News story to share, and in verse 3 he describes it as declaringContinue reading “Perspective in the middle of tough times – Psalm 96, Part 3”
Engaging Scripture 