Clare De Graaf's Blog, page 7
October 14, 2019
Is Christianity Good for the World?
In May, my son Tyler and I headed off to Washington to attend an event sponsored by the Colson Center. The topic for the conference to consider was “Is Christianity Good for the World?” “Of course it is!” is what we Christians say. But John Stonestreet, the president of the Colson Center said that many […]
October 7, 2019
The Times They Are A-Changin
In 1964, Bob Dylan wrote this powerful and prophetic warning to parents in a song:
Come mothers and fathers throughout the land.
Don’t criticize what you can’t understand.
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command.
Your old world is rapidly aging.
So please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand.
For the times, they are a-changin
I just read Gen Z by Barna Research. It’s a short, but frightening guide book to this new world our teens are living in – what they believe and what they no longer believe.
But why in the world would a 71-year-old guy read it?
Come mothers and fathers throughout the land.
Don’t criticize what you can’t understand.
Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command.
Your old world is rapidly aging.
So please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand.
For the times, they are a-changin
I just read Gen Z by Barna Research. It’s a short, but frightening guide book to this new world our teens are living in – what they believe and what they no longer believe.
But why in the world would a 71-year-old guy read it?
September 30, 2019
Planning the Divorce of Your Denomination
A year ago, I met with the presidents of two well known denominational seminaries. I was introducing them to the ministry of The Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender, www.centerforfaith.com. The Center’s ministry is educating pastors and their people to be more kind and understanding of LGBT+ people and their families, while still holding the Bible’s historical teaching of marriage and sex.
Each of the denominations these seminaries represent had a number of churches who were affirming. That is they believe the Bible allows same-sex marriage. The lines were being drawn, with churches were being encouraged to join with one camp or another and these seminary presidents could see trouble coming. Their question for me was, “How can we reconcile these two opposing views in our denomination?” My answer surprised them.
Each of the denominations these seminaries represent had a number of churches who were affirming. That is they believe the Bible allows same-sex marriage. The lines were being drawn, with churches were being encouraged to join with one camp or another and these seminary presidents could see trouble coming. Their question for me was, “How can we reconcile these two opposing views in our denomination?” My answer surprised them.
September 23, 2019
Fake It Until You Make It
When I was in 10th grade, I was an odd kid. My parents were simple, blue-collar people while I dreamt of being rich, so I hung out at places where rich people hung out. I’d go to restaurants in our downtown area and watched how successful men dressed, how they entered the room, how they greeted their friends, looked them in the eye, and even how they handled a knife and fork.
I began to dress differently. I wore long sleeve cotton shirts rolled up at the sleeve, in the heat of summer instead of t-shirts like all my friends. I dressed like the Kennedy’s at Hyannis Port. I was an early incarnation of Richey Rich (but without the money!).
The point was to “fake it until I made it.” In doing so, I became more self-confident. I began to believe I could attain that for which I so desperately longed.
I did something similar when I first came to faith.
I began to dress differently. I wore long sleeve cotton shirts rolled up at the sleeve, in the heat of summer instead of t-shirts like all my friends. I dressed like the Kennedy’s at Hyannis Port. I was an early incarnation of Richey Rich (but without the money!).
The point was to “fake it until I made it.” In doing so, I became more self-confident. I began to believe I could attain that for which I so desperately longed.
I did something similar when I first came to faith.
September 16, 2019
Fasting 2.0!
Almost no Christians I know fasts anymore. Oh, maybe at Lent, or on a special occasion for decision-making. Fasting is out of vogue.
And one reason might be that although Jesus encouraged it, and instructed us how to fast in Matthew 6, he gave no grave warnings if Christians didn’t. His disciples were even criticized for not fasting and Jesus defended them. So, it sometimes feels like an optional command or good suggestion. But God, through Isaiah did command a radical type of fast that is anything but optional.
And one reason might be that although Jesus encouraged it, and instructed us how to fast in Matthew 6, he gave no grave warnings if Christians didn’t. His disciples were even criticized for not fasting and Jesus defended them. So, it sometimes feels like an optional command or good suggestion. But God, through Isaiah did command a radical type of fast that is anything but optional.
September 9, 2019
The “Other” 10 Second Rule
The following is a blog written by Rob Parsons, an author and blogger at www.careforthefamily.org.uk.
The ten-second rule – preventing the affair
Over the years, I’ve talked with many men and women who have been involved in affairs. One of the most salutary things is to realize that with many of them, they didn’t intend to be unfaithful to their partners. They sometimes blurt out, “It just happened.” They will normally go on to talk about some innocent event in which they were involved (often a genuine desire to help the other person in some way), and then go on to say, “It suddenly got out of hand.”
The ten-second rule – preventing the affair
Over the years, I’ve talked with many men and women who have been involved in affairs. One of the most salutary things is to realize that with many of them, they didn’t intend to be unfaithful to their partners. They sometimes blurt out, “It just happened.” They will normally go on to talk about some innocent event in which they were involved (often a genuine desire to help the other person in some way), and then go on to say, “It suddenly got out of hand.”
September 2, 2019
Should Your Pastor Have a Sabbatical?
The Senior Pastor of my church takes a one-month “study break” every year. But that’s not a sabbatical. A sabbatical is an extended period of time when a pastor or full time Christian leader is released from their “day job” to get away, to grow spiritually, relationally and emotionally and perhaps to study a spiritual topic of personal interest.
A friend of mine is the founding pastor of a large church, Christian school and several other ministries in California. In response to a family crisis, his church gave him a sabbatical. That time away was so powerful and refreshing that upon his return he wrote the following open letter to his church.
This blog is super long, but I’m praying that if you are a leader in your church you’ll invest the time to read it and then ask the Holy Spirit if you should be an advocate for your pastor to him/her one of the greatest gifts a grateful and wise congregation can give your pastor – rest.
A friend of mine is the founding pastor of a large church, Christian school and several other ministries in California. In response to a family crisis, his church gave him a sabbatical. That time away was so powerful and refreshing that upon his return he wrote the following open letter to his church.
This blog is super long, but I’m praying that if you are a leader in your church you’ll invest the time to read it and then ask the Holy Spirit if you should be an advocate for your pastor to him/her one of the greatest gifts a grateful and wise congregation can give your pastor – rest.
August 26, 2019
Should Christians “Follow Their Heart?”
Oprah Winfrey popularized the slogan, “Follow your heart.” It sounds so romantic, inspirational, American and even Christian. But should Christians always follow their heart?
Christians should always follow God. Our hearts cannot always be trusted. Os Guiness gives us this great word picture I often use with the men I mentor.
Christians should always follow God. Our hearts cannot always be trusted. Os Guiness gives us this great word picture I often use with the men I mentor.
August 19, 2019
Will We Be Punished In Heaven?
A guest blog post from Chip Ingram
The Bible tells us that in Heaven, all believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
But, does this mean we will be punished for the bad things we’ve done? Many Christians seem to think so.
The Bible tells us that in Heaven, all believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)
But, does this mean we will be punished for the bad things we’ve done? Many Christians seem to think so.
August 12, 2019
What Happens When Christians Fail to Forgive Others?
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:14-15
Like most Christians who read these verses, I had some real questions. I thought once a person was truly born-again, all their past, present and future sins were forgiven. But these verses are pretty straightforward.
Some sins, like our failure to forgive others, have consequences both in this life and the next and therefore are not fully forgiven or forgotten by God.
Like most Christians who read these verses, I had some real questions. I thought once a person was truly born-again, all their past, present and future sins were forgiven. But these verses are pretty straightforward.
Some sins, like our failure to forgive others, have consequences both in this life and the next and therefore are not fully forgiven or forgotten by God.
