Awakening The Sleeping Giant

 Is Inviting People to Church Really Biblical? We've all been there. The flutter of excitement when an invitation arrives, the subtle sting of exclusion when it doesn't. From childhood birthday parties to adult gatherings, the desire for inclusion runs deep. We're taught that inviting others is a good thing, a way to build community and share experiences. But is this always true, especially within the context of the church? Today, I want to gently challenge the conventional wisdom of "invite everyone to church." It's a practice so ingrained that we rarely stop to question its effectiveness or its underlying motivations. Let's take a closer look at the different groups we typically extend these invitations to: Believers Not Part of a Church Body: Why aren't they involved in a church? Do we really know, or do we even care beyond the surface-level invitation? A casual "You should come to our church sometime!" often overlooks the complex and pers...

The Uncomfortable Truth:  My Struggle with Charging for Ministry and What The Holy Spirit Has Asked Me to Do About It. I have a confession to make, one that sits uncomfortably in my spirit, especially given my years of academic pursuit in the realm of ministry. I struggle. I mean really struggle, with the very act of charging people for any form of ministry I offer. This internal conflict presents a genuine challenge. I hold a Master's degree in Ministry and stand on the precipice of completing my Doctorate in Ministry (just that final 5%!). It's not that I subscribe to the misguided notion that those called to full-time ministry should live in poverty. Quite the opposite. I firmly believe that those who dedicate their lives to serving the Lord and His people deserve to have their needs met. However, my deep-seated conviction lies in the how of that provision. I cannot reconcile the idea of directly charging individuals for ministry with what I understand to be the biblical m...

Nailing Truth to the Door: A Call for Real Faith Over Feelings Where are those men and women so ablaze for the Lord that fear is a foreign concept and earthly consequences are mere whispers in the wind? Where are the modern-day Martin Luthers, those willing to stand against the tide, to challenge the comfortable status quo with a fiery passion for truth? Perhaps, though, the question itself is flawed. Maybe we shouldn't be lamenting the absence of another singular figure like Luther. Perhaps the more pertinent question is: where have the followers gone? Not followers in a theological sense, but those who possess that same unyielding spirit, that fierce determination to fight for what is right, even when it means standing alone against the established order, against religious leaders more concerned with maintaining the peace than proclaiming the piercing truth. There was a time, or so it seems, when zeal for the Lord and His Church was a tangible force. Now, it often feels as thoug...

Prosperity (not the prosperity gospel): God's Blessings in Every Calling This morning, one of my students popped into my office, buzzing with the kind of infectious excitement that reminds me why I love what I do. He was sharing his journey into entrepreneurship, a new business venture he and a friend are launching. But what struck me most wasn't the business plan or the potential for success; it was his unwavering conviction that God has been actively blessing their efforts every step of the way. This conversation resonated deeply because I believe it touches on a misconception that often lingers within the Christian community: the idea that if you're truly "on fire" for Jesus, your calling must be in full-time ministry, and that's where God's blessings will primarily flow. Now, as the voice behind "Radical Faith: Beyond Belief," a blog dedicated to exploring the depths of faith and the power of God's work, I am certainly not discounting th...

Amidst the Chaos, a Cry for a Savior:  Recognizing Our Deepest Need It's hard to deny the sense of unease that permeates the world today. From conflict and division to a seemingly endless stream of unsettling news, it can feel like we're witnessing a decline in basic human decency. For those who hold onto the belief that humanity is inherently good, recent events offer a stark and perhaps uncomfortable counter-narrative. It appears, with increasing clarity, that self-interest often trumps genuine concern for others. We see it in countless ways. The fleeting allegiances driven by media trends, the rapid shifts in public opinion that seem to lack a foundation in critical thought. One day, a product or idea is lauded, the next it's condemned with equal fervor. This susceptibility to external influence raises questions about our individual autonomy and our capacity for reasoned judgment. Furthermore, the erosion of trust in established institutions is palpable. Once-respected c...

The Justification Trap: Why "It's Not Wrong" Isn't Enough As I've engaged in conversations about the biblical model of church versus the prevalent North American model, a fascinating pattern has emerged. Those who've been immersed in the traditional church often respond with a similar tone – a tone of justification. And that, in itself, is incredibly telling. Think about it. When was the last time you tried to justify something? Or, conversely, when did someone try to justify something to you? Take a moment. Really think about it. (Cue the Jeopardy theme...) Alright, let me guess. It was something wrong that was being justified, wasn't it? That's because the right doesn't need justification. It needs teaching, clarification, and perhaps even defense, but never justification. Justification implies a need to defend something that is questionable. And this brings us to the common responses I hear: "Well, it's not wrong , is it?" "B...