Drew Barnard
When I first heard about the coronavirus, I wasn’t worried. It was happening in China, far from home, and probably wasn’t a big deal there, anyway. Remember Ebola and the swine flu? Case in point. It was never a big deal, at least not close to home. If it came … Read More
If you read my last two posts, I attempted to make some helpful observations on the positive and negative aspects of tradition. I barely scratched the surface. I’ve enjoyed lively discussions, both within our team and with some of you readers. Many questions have emerged. Do our communities work too … Read More
In my last post, I discussed some of the dangers of tradition. In the attempt to maintain points of doctrine or practice, it’s easy to lose sight of the Biblical reasons we hold our beliefs in the first place. Even when issues are correctly understood, they can be militantly defended … Read More
It would be nice if life were simple. There are so many paths we can take in life, so many conflicting ideas. Choosing to seek for truth doesn’t make the journey easy or self-evident. In a complicated world, it’s hard to know who we should trust. That’s why there is … Read More
I started out the year a bit foggy-brained. It wasn’t because anything was going seriously wrong in my life. Just a few months before, I had quit my office job to become a music teacher. That was a big deal. I had dreamed about doing something like that for years. … Read More
I would like you to imagine a scenario with me. Let’s say you’re conversing with some of your friends. There are real issues you’re facing. It’s something your church has been wrestling with and you aren’t sure how you should feel about it. Or maybe it’s something personal, like issues … Read More
Have you ever found yourself uninspired by the predictable conversation that typifies much of Christian interaction? As we relate with each other, we hope to be encouraged and directed in our pursuit of God. But too often, our speech gets bogged down by a lack of clarity; common phrases are … Read More
In my last post, I addressed five common ideas that people frequently reference to suggest that modesty isn’t important. I explained why I don’t think they prove what people think they do. At the same time, I don’t think knocking down bad arguments is sufficient. As believers, we want to … Read More
“I’m tired of hearing so much talk about modesty. God sees the heart. Can’t we focus on loving God and the gospel? We’re not going to get anywhere by arguing about dress patterns.” You’ve heard thoughts like this before, perhaps said such things yourself. It’s an explosive issue, one that … Read More