I grew up in a church that was so low it basically qualified as being underground. For all that it was quite traditional. There was general suspicion of the more ritualistic expressions of other churches (and perhaps a lack of awareness of our own rituals). We would have insisted that anything that looked like a …
The actions of a Christian life can become a substitute for grace. They could become the grounds on which we come to rely on as the reason why God’s blessing falls upon us. But that does not mean those actions are wrong, rather that they are wrongly pursued. Particularly if we live as if our …
Works of service, mercy, and justice can’t be done with the intention of being noticed by those around us, and yet pursuing them is something that others do notice. Instead of primarily noticing those who carry these works out, the Holy Spirit may use the works to draw notice to their anticipation of a kingdom …
The warnings about public displays spiritual activity, particularly those focused on repentance may lead to a neglect of those activities, or suspicion of those who we know carry them out. Esau McCaulley, in his book Lent – The Season Of Repentance And Renewal helpfully points out that the direct application is not the activity or …
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