Review of Ross Douthat’s ‘Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious’
I have always appreciated Ross Douthat’s writing. For many years, he has written columns as both a committed Catholic and a conservative in the New York Times. He is an astute observer of culture who manages to write with great depth without being condescending or “hackish.” In other words, his voice is one that I […]
It Goes Without Saying? A Reflection on Pope Francis
April 25, 2025 “If necessary, use words.” The original (Saint) Francis purportedly said this. Preach the gospel all the time, and—if necessary—use words. To this, we talkers want our chance to reply. First, we might point to when Paul asked, “How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?” Second, we […]
Bringing Our Expectations in Line with God’s Truth
“But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.” (Luke 7:30, NIV) What expectations have we placed on God that may not be consistent with who he has shown himself to be and with how he has shown himself to work in […]
7 Ways Luke’s Introduction Shows the Truthfulness of His Gospel
Luke begins his Gospel with an introduction that gives us multiple reasons to trust his Gospel as a whole. Here’s Luke’s introduction in the first four verses: “Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who […]
10 Biblical Truths About God, Life, and You
In times of chaos and confusion, it’s wise to look for biblical truths to hang onto. Maybe, for you, life is just really, really busy and you feel like you’re speeding through the calendar at speeds that should get you pulled over. Or maybe life is really stressful. Or maybe painful: maybe you or your […]
Preaching That Engages the Skeptic: How (Part 3)
This is my third and final article on engaging the skeptic in our preaching. Let’s take a second to review: First, why do we need to engage the skeptic in our preaching? It’s because skepticism about Christianity is rising both inside and outside the church. That was Part 1. Second, what works and doesn’t work […]
Celebrating Conviction: Learning to Find Joy in Repentance
Conviction has a terrible reputation. At times, we say it’s a prick of conscience when you consider doing something wrong (think Jiminy Cricket). Or it’s discussed as a heavy emotion we feel wrestling with our brokenness. Setting definitions aside, is conviction something you welcome in your spiritual life? Ultimately, conviction is the awareness that we’ve […]
The Scariest Nice Person in Your Church
What comes to mind when you think of “one-hand clapping”? Perhaps you think of the Zen “koan” in which the Zen master asks the student, “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” For months, the student searches for it in vain until meditating and arriving at the “soundless sound” that transcends all sound.[1] “One […]
