Living in a pluralistic culture in a fallen world means that our neighbors, co-workers, and friends do not necessarily share our deepest convictions and…
Babylon Series: Part 9 Christ is Lord in Tolerant Babylon
Discernment / Ordinary Life / The Skill
In a fallen world, the truth of the gospel will in some way or another always be in tension with at least some of…
Babylon Series: Part 10 Listening to Babylonian Stories
Discernment / Ordinary Life / The Skill
The story does what no theorem can quite do. It may not be ‘like real life’ in the superficial sense, but it sets before…
Babylon Series: Part 11 Beginning the Conversation
Discernment / Ordinary Life / The Skill
On my way to a walk along a creek near our home, I stopped to talk with some neighbors who were sitting on their…
Babylon Series: Part 12 Getting to the Gospel
Discernment / Faith / The Skill
Since movies contain the stories of our culture, thoughtfully engaging them can prompt discussion about things that are otherwise almost impossible to raise in…
Babylon Series: Part 13 Caring Enough to Probe
Discernment / Ordinary Life / The Skill
Imagine you are sitting with some friends—perhaps at work or a coffee shop—and one says he’d like some advice. “Ashley and I have been…
Babylon Series: Part 14 Responding to shifting sand
Discernment / Ordinary Life / The Skill
“What has been is what will be and what has been done is what will be done,” the ancient Hebrew poet known as “the…
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…