Lies We’re Being Told In the April 15, 2019 issue of The New York Times, columnist David Brooks published a thoughtful opinion piece titled,…
Discernment Exercise: Drawing a Line With Idiots
Discernment / Exercises / The Skill
I know, I know. My mother always told me not to call anyone an idiot, but really, what other word will do? I’ve just…
Discernment Exercise: Beatitudes on the Dark Side
One of the great classics of 20th century Christian writing is The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. It’s one of those rare books…
Discernment Exercise: Your God Does Intolerable Things
Often the questions we face in a pluralistic culture require Christians to develop an apologetic for their faith. A reasonable, winsome defense of what…
Discernment Exercise: Questioning American Foreign Policy
Since 9/11 our country and our churches have once again been interested in just war theory. Since the attack on the World Trade Center…
Discernment Exercise: Why I Kissed Christian Concerts Good-bye
Editor’s Introduction In the following piece a music lover, after attending Christian concerts regularly for a decade and a half, explains why he no…
Discernment Exercise: Should We Attend This Party?
Here is a case study for discernment, based on a true story (though I’ve taken liberties with many of the details). Your small group…
Discernment Exercise: Love It or Leave It
Though America is obviously a country of immigrants—after all, very few of us are Native Americans—over the years each major wave of immigration has…
Discernment Exercise: Can We Make Our Faith Attractive?
In the opening scenes of the movie Chocolat, Vianne, played by Juliette Binoche, moves into a new town and rents a dingy, dirty storefront.…
Discernment Exercise: A Great Spirit Blessing
Living in a pluralistic culture, as we do, does not mean that we live among unbelievers; it means we live among people who believe…