Reading Apocalyptic Without Going Apocalyptic

I am strongly considering teaching the book of Revelation in the Fall in my Wednesday night Bible study. There’s a big part of me that wants to do it because I know that people have difficulty reading and understanding that admittedly strange book. Once you get past the seven letters to the seven churches,...

When Muslims Defend Christians From Muslims

While some Christians are advocating the persecution of Muslims, something notable occurred in May in Indonesia: Muslims coming to the defense of persecuted Christians. As reported in Christianity Today and CNN, 300 hundred Islamic leaders from 30 countries came together to denounce religious extremism...

What It Means to be Persecuted Like the Prophets

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12) I’ll start with something obvious:...

Persecuted—or Just Whiny?

A few years ago I attended a pastor’s roundtable luncheon with about a dozen other pastors. We would meet 3-4 times a year, have fellowship, enjoy a nice meal in a private room at a nice restaurant, and then have a discussion on some topic related to the contemporary church. This particular luncheon was a...