The phrase “just have more faith” is a hallmark of the prosperity gospel. I have generally also perceived it to be detrimental. Here are people who already have so little and you are telling them that they also don’t have enough faith?! Adding insult to injury, you tell them that […]
Our church’s sermon series on faith is continuing, with a woman preaching yesterday. Imelda is the wife of Pastor Patrick, and he introduced her before stepping off stage and sitting down to listen. This is the first time we have heard a woman preach, in the year we have been […]
Today is one month since Red Twin died. Arthur asked me if I think I’m depressed. I’m just so sad all the time. But I said no. It’s not been the 6-8 weeks yet (the normal initial adjustment period to shock or trauma) so I think it’s too early to […]
The opposite of faith is not doubt. Even unbelief is not the opposite of faith. That’s why the Bible’s characters are able to rage at and accuse God, and this is an expression of their faith. It’s why we have psalms dedicated to the feeling of abandonment by God. Faith […]
Every morning on the way back from dropping Elliot at school I stop and talk with some ladies selling food on the side of the road. Recently we have been discussing the Nigerian ‘Man of God’ TB Joshua. They are convinced that he can offer healing to Red Twin, if […]
I recently wrote something for Ethos about university ministry. Part of what was driving the article was my interest in improving our evangelism. ‘Participation’ isn’t just a good witness in its own right, it also promotes evangelism. The four articles by Tim Keller and Michael Keller (starting here) were dealing […]
Once upon a time I taught cyberpunk fiction to middle schoolers and we would talk about body modifications. Now I’ve got one of my own, even if it doesn’t come with any dystopian grime or anti-heroism… In Christian circles, there is perhaps a received wisdom that children are a blessing, […]
