Bully Pulpit: A New Series on the Rising Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church
Scut Farkus.
When it comes to movie bullies, perhaps he is one of the most famous. In the classic film A Christmas Story (1983), the red-headed Scut—wearing a coonskin cap and flanked by his shorter partner in crime, Grover Dill—would often torment young Ralphie and his brother on the way home from school.
The reason this movie (and this scene in particular) resonated with audiences is because people can relate. Most everyone grew up knowing a bully in their school; someone who would intimidate, threaten, and domineer the other kids.
Indeed, bullies are part of the human experience. So prevalent, in fact, that one could easily make a list of … Continue reading...
Why Does It Seem Like the Smartest People Are the Ones Who Reject Christianity?
I am working my way through a new blog series in anticipation of my forthcoming book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021). This new series will include 7 videos that tackle key intellectual questions about the Christian faith.
This week’s video deals with one of those things we all wonder as Christians: “Why does it seem like the smartest people are the ones who reject Christianity?”
This question will be particularly acute for college students because their professors are often the ones who don’t believe. There they are, trained in some of the finest research universities in the world. Brilliant. … Continue reading...
What If I Can’t Answer Questions about My Faith?
Last week I began a new blog series in anticipation of my forthcoming book, Surviving Religion 101: Letters to a Christian Student on Keeping the Faith in College (Crossway, 2021). This new series will include 7 videos that tackle key intellectual questions about the Christian faith.
This week’s video deals with one of those things we all fear as Christians: “What if get asked a question that I can’t answer?”
For college students, this may happen in the classroom or in conversations with fellow students. For others it may happen in the workplace, at family gatherings, or even in conversations with your non-Christian neighbor.
And when it happens, you get … Continue reading...
How I Almost Lost My Faith in College: A Preview of My Latest Book
In the fall of 1989, I began my freshman year at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Like many freshmen, I was excited for the next chapter in my life, eager to explore the new opportunities and experiences that college had to offer.
Of course, I knew there would be challenges. College life would not be easy, especially for a Christian. But I had grown up in a solid Christian home, was taught the Bible from a young age, and was a faithful member of my church youth group. So I figured I was ready.
I wasn’t.
The problem stemmed not from what I was taught but … Continue reading...
5 Leadership Lessons I Learned from Ted Lasso
Looking back on 2020, it seemed like all news was bad news. We moved from impeachment to the coronavirus to the killing of George Floyd to the presidential election to multiple church leadership scandals and back to the coronavirus again.
But sometimes it’s the little things that bring some hope and optimism when we’re feeling down. On that note, 2020 was the perfect year for the new show on AppleTV, Ted Lasso.
The comedy catalogs the journey of a warm-hearted American football coach, Ted Lasso (played by Jason Sudeikis) who is hired to coach a soccer team in the English Premier League—despite having never played (or apparently watched) … Continue reading...