My church has two primary ways for dealing with members who have had a moral default- a serious sin. (Adultry, lawsuits against another member, an unbiblical divorce, abuse, swindling, teaching heretical things, sowing discord between members, etc) We first investigate then meet with a member to tell them what has been reported and discovered to give them a chance to explain, or refute the allegations. From there it generally goes one of two ways; A. They deny the allegatio

A decade ago I received a call from a local pastor I knew about his 25 year old daughter. “Clare, Jane (not her real name) just told us she’s not sure she believes everything we believe the Bible teaches. Which of course makes us sad and afraid for her salvation. Any ideas? So, a week later we’re all sitting together at a coffee shop. I’d never met Jane so I began as I usually do with asking her to take 15-20 minutes to share a bit about her life and dreams and of course her

There are two topics most people agree you should never talk about at large family gatherings, Religion and Politics. Generally that’s good advice. If I had a brother who was not a Christian, trying to convince him otherwise at a Thanksgiving dinner would be unwise because he’d be forced to defend his position once again to everyone present and probably be angry at me for putting him on the spot. Those conversations are best done thoughtfully after much prayer one on one. But

If everything belongs to God then we have a spiritual obligation to give his resources wisely. And one of the best ways I’ve discovered to begin giving more wisely is to put on paper how God seems to be directing you to give. This includes both the kinds of ministries God wants you to support as well as those you sense he doesn’t want you to be engaged in. Very few people can be knowledgeable or thoughtful enough about many different ministries to be a truly informed donor.

Decades ago a man I deeply admire asked this penetrating question of me, “Is there anyone right now praising God for you because without your advocacy for them they would be hopeless?” My mind instantly swung into justification mode, and I began adding up the money I’d given and boards on which I’d served that assist the poor in some way. But, that wasn’t what he was asking. What he was getting at is this, “Are you personally engaged in the life of a person who is powerless o

With Thanksgiving coming up some of the “prodigals” in your life may be coming home soon. Many of us have teenage, or adult children, or grandchildren who say they are Christians but appear us to be apathetic and luke-warm about following him. We’ve asked them about attending church, or some Christian concert, or other event with us and there’s just no interest, or if they do it’s more out of respect than enthusiasm. I’ve been praying deeply for wisdom how to breakthrough to

“My son believes there may be many ways to God, including other religions.  I know that’s not true but what do I say to him?” The man sitting across from me, asking the question appeared to be a sincere Christian attending a good church.  But his son ran off to college and heard other opinions that sounded more “fair” than the claim of his church and of Jesus, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father, except through me.”  John 14:6 And, fairness an

Even if they say they are Christians, your children or grandchildren, may believe in a different “Christianity” than you do! Years ago I served on Spiritual Formation Task Force for a local Christian high school and I was given a book by Christian Smith, entitled, Soul Searching . Under a major grant from the E.I. Lilly Foundation, Dr. Smith, a Christian sociologist, at the University of North Carolina and his team conducted hundreds of face-to-face and phone interviews to fi

Christians talk about “walking in the Spirit” or, being “led by the Spirit,” all the time, but what does that really mean in everyday...