John Newton’s popular hymn has that jarring line: Amazing grace, How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. A wretch? Few of us would call ourselves by that term. We are far too respectable. With our advanced degrees and cultured upbringing, we are anything but wretches. However, one result of an awakened heart…
Category: Worldview
Recovering Reverence
I remember reading R.C. Sproul’s (1939-2017) book The Holiness of God several years ago. It awakened in me a sense of how little I apprehend God’s majesty. God had become so familiar and I had taken him for granted. And I realized this was by no means an individual problem; the modern church had fallen…
What it means to love God
Charles Colson’s classic, Loving God, has engaged my attention over the past few days. Written nearly 40 years ago, it still hits with such a force as though just penned some months ago. Loving God is something every Christian claims to do or at least aspires to consistently do, yet we seldom understand what it…
A World worth fighting for
There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it’s worth fighting for. Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings When I watch the above scene in the Lord of the Rings movie or read from the book, Samwise Gamgee’s remark excites me. But it also makes me ponder. How can one still believe this…
Five Common Problems in Christian Writing
I teach and discuss the Christian worldview through articles and posts, and I remain in awe of the power of the written word. Therefore, many within the Christian world, both in the past and today, have worked to communicate truth in words via the printed page or on the screen. As I help writers in…
Christians in History: Augustine (354 – 430AD)
The eminent church historian, Philip Schaff (1819-1893), described him as ‘the great church teacher of all times’. Augustine is a towering figure in the long history of the Christian church. Aside from standing as an important link between early Christianity and the Middle Ages, his views and ideas have deeply influenced how the Christian world…
When Work becomes an Idol
Idols are still very much with us. Lest we assume that we modern Africans have abandoned that aspect of traditional society, they remain (sadly) a part of our daily lives. An idol is any created thing that has been elevated to occupy God’s place in our minds and lives. In this sense, almost anything can…
On Jonathan and Saul
“For nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6) Saul was a man after the people’s heart. He had exactly what the Israelites wanted in a king. Splendid physique. Fine looks. A noble pedigree. Fighting skills. Yet he lacked the indispensable attribute required by God. His heart was…
Truths of Calling
Over the past several years, the theme of Calling has become very dear to me. I have increasingly come to see that it is crucial for escaping the humdrum of modern life. As such, I am always on the lookout for books which help to clarify what it’s all about and provide much needed guidance…
How to fight Greed
Greed is idolatry. It stems from valuing created objects wrongly. Whereas true satisfaction comes only from knowing God (John 17:3), the greedy person seeks it in ‘things’. Greed is an enemy. Like all enemies, it is not after our wellbeing and so we must resist it. Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, lost his place and health on…
The Christian Mind 