Posted on Wednesday,

Are Christians on the Wrong Side of History? (Video)

Cultural undercurrents are always shifting. What is morally acceptable in one generation can find itself condemned in the next. And vice versa. However, truth is not a popularity contest ( Is Truth Relative? ). What does this mean for us as Christians? It means we will need to have the courage of our convictions and stand firm when clear teachings of Scripture fall out of step with our culture. It also means we must train the next generation to be ready to own their faith. In this video D.A. Carson, John Piper, and Tim Keller reflect upon what it means to be on the right and wrong side of history.

“As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ” – Eph. 4:14-15

On the Wrong Side of History? from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

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Posted on Friday,

Talking About Truth At Charleston Southern University

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Recently I had the privilege of speaking to the students and faculty at Charleston Southern University. It was a great trip and I was impressed with the students I was able to interact with. I spoke on How to Think Christianly in a Post-Christian Culture, How Can Jesus Be The Only Way To God?, and 5 Things Every Student Needs To Live Well. I also really enjoyed an informal round table with the thoughtful faculty at Charleston Southern. There was a lot I took away from this time speaking with students, but I will just make a few observations.

First, students want to engage the tough questions. They don’t just want pat answers. Next, this generation is passionate and wants to follow God and do big things for him. Lastly, there is increasing confusion about moral and spiritual truth in our culture and Christians are unconsciously absorbing it. The remedy for this is equipping and training. Students are fully capable of having mature conversations about topics that matter.

Here is a short video conversation I had with the campus pastor, Jon Davis, about truth, integration, and my book Think Christianly.

Here is the audio to the chapel message.

Invite me to speak to your group.

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Posted on Tuesday,

Tim Keller on Doubt

“A faith without some doubts is like a human body without any antibodies in it. People who blithely go through life too busy or indifferent to ask hard questions about why they believe as they do will find themselves defenseless against either the experience of tragedy or the probing questions of a smart skeptic. A person’s faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflection.” – Tim Keller

Need an accessible place to start exploring your doubts? Check out Is God Just a Human Invention? I wrote this book with Sean McDowell to honestly engage the tough questions we all have about God. Also check out this article “Should Christians Have Doubts?”

Posted on Wednesday,

We Behave As We Believe

People behave as they really believe. But our actions are only the tip of the iceberg. What really drives us is our invisible worldview that lives beneath the surface. Our worldview is shaped by a complex collection of broken relationships (with God, parents, and others), a mixture of true and false beliefs about reality, and values that are primarily directed toward the self. Embracing a Christian worldview — thinking Christianly — means growing in our ability to understand and live all of life from God’s perspective.

This becomes possible as our relationship with God is restored in the gospel (and this serves as the basis for restoration of relationships with others), we replace false beliefs with truth as our minds are renewed (Romans 12:2), and we give priority to God over self and come to increasingly love what God loves by the constant enablement of the Holy Spirit.

This process of worldview formation is essential to living well and flourishing according to God’s design.

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Posted on Wednesday,

What Does the Authority of the Bible Mean?

When we talk about authority we are raising the “who says so” question. Authority is what the FBI agent has when he shows you his badge. Frankly, we all have a cosmic authority problem; we want to do things the way we want, when we want, and how we want. But if God exists and has spoken, then he wins the “who says so” argument hands down:

“The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19)

When Scripture speaks, God speaks. Because the source of Scripture is God, it bears his authority. John Stott captures this sentiment well:

“If it is a word from God, it has authority over men. For behind every word that anybody utters stands the person who speaks it. It is the speaker himself (his character, knowledge and position) who determines how people regard his words. So God’s Word carries God’s authority. It is because of who he is that we should believe what he has said.”

Paul celebrated when the Thessalonians came to understand this great truth. “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

As we conclude this brief discussion of the authority of Scripture, it is also critical to note that Jesus of Nazareth submitted to the authority of God’s Word. And if he did, how much more so should we?

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