What Is Preaching?

Some thoughts on what preaching is, how it operates, and what makes it good (or bad): “It is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself; and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience they are not the better for having heard the truth. The...

To Be Saved

“Pastoral work, in large part, deals with the difficulty everyone has in staying alert to the magnificence of salvation.” So says Eugene Peterson (Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work). I believe he’s right. Do you really know what it means to be “saved”? Read on....

The Shocking Alternative (conclusion)

A couple weeks ago I ran a column taken mostly from C. S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity—a bit about the claims and identity of Jesus. Let’s pick it up again and finish the quote: “We can all understand how a man forgives offenses against himself. You tread on my toes and...

Should Christians Use Prozac?

If Christians love God enough, trust the Bible enough, walk in the Spirit enough, and discipline themselves enough, should we assume they won’t need the chemical support of psychoactive drugs (i.e., medications for anxiety, depression, & other mental health...

The Shocking Alternative

You really must read Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis. I’m sure the public library has a copy. Or, if you’re in a real hurry, you can borrow mine today. The chapter entitled “The Shocking Alternative” is his summary account of the history of the world in three acts:...