Category Archives: Harmartiology

Sin Thrives in the Dark

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If there is anything I’ve learned over the last decade of life and ministry, it is that everyone is dealing with something big.  Everyone has fallen in some way.  Everyone is struggling with sin (or willingly giving into it).  Everyone needs grace.  And yet, it is striking that most of us seem to have such a hard time admitting these things personally, with any real detail.  We tend to treat our personal struggle with sin as a thing to conceal, rather than as a thing to confess.

Several years ago, a good friend of mine counseled me with a penetrating tidbit of wisdom that I will not soon forget. … Continue reading

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Total Depravity & the Christian Life

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About a year and a half ago, I decided to take the plunge and begin preaching my way through the book of Romans.  The journey through the book so far has benefited my faith in many ways – not the least of those ways being the constant reminder of what a colossal privilege it is for a corrupt, rebellious, totally depraved sinner like me to be a Christian.

Early on in Romans, the reader of Romans is overwhelmed (in a good way!) with the truth of human depravity.  You don’t even get three chapters into the letter before you are required to square with the truth of your sinfulness. … Continue reading

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The Consequences of an Easy Gospel

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A common strategy in sales (or at least a stereotype of the sales world) is to present a product to someone while maximizing the benefits but minimizing the drawbacks. After all, who wants to highlight why a product you are buying is not necessarily exactly what you want?

salesman

Unfortunately, this mentality is not limited to the business world, as it is easy for the church to do the same in its gospel presentations.

The gospel is a message of unfathomable grace. But it is also a message with a high cost (Luke 9:23; Luke 14:26-27, 33). And when people hear about the cost, they often don’t find it so appealing any longer (Luke 18:18-27).… Continue reading

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Apes, Abortion, and Evangelical Outrage

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gorill_kidBy now, unless you have been mercifully reposed in a remote area with no media access, you are aware that a child fell into the gorilla enclosure at the Cincinnati zoo and in order to safeguard the child’s life the gorilla was killed. That was the right choice, made for the right reasons (as Jason Vaughn wrote here), but that is not what I want to talk about. What I think needs a little attention and biblical thought is the evangelical reaction to the story. I think it is high time we, as the Body of Christ, have an uncomfortable conversation about apes, abortion, and evangelical outrage.… Continue reading

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What’s more dangerous than Las Vegas?

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UnknownI wish I had a dollar every time someone told me about the dangers of Las Vegas and why they could not raise a family here. I habitually hear, “Oh, ministry in Sin City? Well, just like Corinth they need the Gospel too.” It seems many Christians think Las Vegas the most dangerous place in the world. After all, this IS Sin City! Right? (Or at least that is how we market our city to you). [1] Is Las Vegas the most dangerous place to anyone? Let’s face it, everyone knows the Strip has drugs, gambling, free drinks, and prostitution (even though it is technically illegal in Clark County (LV)).… Continue reading

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