Category: 500 Words
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True Corporate Worship Must Emphasize the Unity of the Body
Nehemiah 8-9 join Leviticus 10 and Hebrews 12 as significant to our development of a theology of worship. In verse 1, the people of Israel are described as gathering “as one man into the square before the Water Gate” (Nehemiah 8:1). When the people gathered before the Lord for corporate worship, they did so “as…
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Delighting in the Christian Work of Worship
Some wrestle with making worship more “participatory.” What they mean is they want more people to lead. However, since worship is work, all of worship is an exercise in which the whole congregation participates.
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The Scriptures, Not Sincerity, Are Key to Pleasing Christ in Worship
When we worship Christ, it’s a powerful temptation to think that whatever pleases us must please him. If I enjoy interpretive dance, neon lights, and little Suzy’s solo, surely Jesus must. Approaching worship this way is self-centered, not Christ-centered.
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A Call to the Church to Return to True Worship
As I observe the practices of the church, I’m concerned that churches have stopped thinking about worship. It really does seem as though we’ve entered an era in which “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25).
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Most Southern Christians Believe God Accepts the Worship of All Religions
In AD 610, while staying in Ramadhan, Mohammed reported having a Samuel-like encounter. Whereas Samuel heard the voice of God (1 Samuel 3), Mohammed encountered the angel Gabriel, God’s messenger. According to Islamic tradition, Gabriel would deliver the content of the Koran to Mohammed over time. Loosely derived from the Koran, every faithful Muslim must…
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Identifying Sinful Fears, Pt. 2: The Fear of Creation
Matthew’s Gospel challenges our assumptions about fearfulness. After a long day of ministry, Jesus and his disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee. Weary from the day, our Lord fell asleep in the boat’s bow. Then, a violent storm battered and threatened to destroy the vessel and its occupants. The disciples panicked, but Jesus remained asleep.…
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Identifying Sinful Fears, Pt. 1: The Fear of Man
On April 27, 2011, we had our children huddled in the bathtub of our Alabama home, wearing bicycle helmets. Weather sirens were blaring in the background as 62 tornadoes touched down throughout the day. My children were terrified by the ordeal, and it took one of them nearly five years to overcome the memories of…
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Bunches of Southern Churchgoers Don’t Believe the Bible
Many Southern churchgoers believe the Bible is a book of silly myths. What I’m about to share with you applies to survey respondents who attend church “several times per week.” These are not the fringe folks who only show up on rare occasions. These are the regulars. Twenty-five percent of these folks agree that “the…
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Southern Evangelicals Overwhelmingly Affirm Scripture’s Inerrancy and Authority
Orlando-based Ligonier Ministries recently released their 2022 survey titled, The State of Theology. The survey included 33 questions designed to assess Americans’ beliefs. Twenty-seven questions covered five theological categories, and six questions probed ethical concerns. For my research and reporting, I filtered the results to include the responses of those classified as Southern Evangelicals. To…
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The Sanger Gospel, Part 2
One of the most troubling economic indicators for our country is the declining birth rate. A nation built on two-worker households cannot survive if those workers do not replace themselves. And, we are not. I shared this with my physical therapist in South Carolina many years ago. His response was, “The more troubling thing is…
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The Sanger Gospel, Part 1
To measure the level of sadness and despair in individual families, count their children. The more they have, the greater their misery. To achieve happiness, both for your family and society at large, keep your family small. Such was the perspective Margaret Higgins Sanger, founder of Planned Parenthood, adopted early in her childhood. Sanger grew…
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Compassionate Orthodoxy
Not long ago, I rolled up to the church and found an unfamiliar vehicle parked in the lot. I strolled over to assess the situation and struck up a conversation with the driver. After a moment, I could tell he was in some distress. Against my better judgment, I invited him into my office to…
