Is Your Church Practicing Mediocre Grace?
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic 1937 book, The Cost of Discipleship, describes cheap grace as the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline and communion without confession. It’s the sort of grace that allowed would-be disciples to avoid confronting the evils of Nazi Germany.
These days, cheap grace has competition. To appease a different kind of cultural complacency, grace has come to mean a bar set quite low. Offering this grace requires little to no accountability, enforces few if any, standards, and bears almost no fruit. This low-level grace is most apparent in churches in our communal and organizational life. It translates into a kind of laissez-faire; you’re off the hook, no accountability stance.
Does Your Church Have Laryngitis?
Does your church have laryngitis? You’ll know by how you answer this question: What is your church speaking up about? Or, What is your church known for? If you answered: We are known for being friendly or we welcome anyone, then chances are what you’re really saying is “not much.” In that case, your church may have lost its voice. It may have laryngitis.
How Long Will We Put Up with Mass Shootings?
In 1999, I was co-pastoring a church in Parker, Colorado when the Columbine shooting happened in the community next door. At that time, school shootings were relatively infrequent. It was wholly unbelievable that it had happened in our community. Even more unthinkable was that it would be the beginning of a decades-long battle, where these kinds of events became increasingly frequent.
Are You a Church Leader or a Church Manager?
Just because pastors and key laity are called leaders doesn’t mean we are practicing effective leadership. Take me, for example.
How to Preach Holy Week Without Condemning Jews
As Holy Week approaches, many Christians prepare themselves to reflect on the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, this solemn occasion also carries a painful history of violence and persecution toward the Jewish people.
Should Gender Matter in Christianity?
Studies around the world show that empowering women is the key to developing economies, family well-being, better nutrition, and equal rights. So, why is there still confusion about the role of women in churches with some denominations still not recognizing female clergy and leaders?