Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Dallas Willard’s new book, The Great Omission, opens with this observation: “The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples.” Part of Willard’s point in this book is to rejoin two concepts that are often pulled apart. To be a Christian is to be a disciple.
Discipleship is not reserved for the super spiritual. In fact, the act of being a follower of Christ is the first and most fundamental request made of believers in the New Testament. As far as the early church was concerned being a disciple was not optional if you wanted to become a Christian. They believed their entire lives belonged to Christ.
Ultimately, following Christ is about learning to live my life as if he were living it. If you haven’t been to church recently, we at Quail Lake encourage you to reingage and make your way back toward Christ and a life in him—and, obviously, we would love to see you there.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Paying Attention to God-QLCC
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
The things I pay attention to have a bearing on the shape of my soul. Paul tells us as much in Philippians 4:8 when he says we should think about the things that are true, honorable, just, excellent, and so on.Contrast Paul’s list with your typical night on TV. The kinds of images and ideas presented there sell to a broad and bored audience-very little of it is honorable, praiseworthy, or even true. Dwelling on these things does not do much good for our souls. But Paul’s list does. When I focus myself on Paul’s list I shape my soul to the kinds of things that come from God.
Church is a chance to turn your attention toward the One who can give life and health to your soul. If you haven’t been to church in a while, we at Quail Lake encourage you to make your way to church and encounter Christ, and, obviously, we would love to see you.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.
New Year and QLCC
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
A recent Barna study showed some alarming trends in the commitment levels of many who consider themselves Christian. About one out of five considered church attendance to be important to their spiritual maturity, and of those who held a biblical worldview, only 25% thought a community of faith was important to their spiritual development. Don’t think of it in terms of the church needs your attendance, but in terms of other believers need your presence, support, input and help. Your presence at church this weekend can be encouraging to fellow believers, and can help them and you in your walk with Christ.
At Quail Lake, we are a new church and may not have all the bells and whistles of other congregations, but we do want to be a living community that takes God’s work and word seriously. We encourage you to make the New Year a good reason to rededicate yourself to church, and we would love to see you.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.
A recent Barna study showed some alarming trends in the commitment levels of many who consider themselves Christian. About one out of five considered church attendance to be important to their spiritual maturity, and of those who held a biblical worldview, only 25% thought a community of faith was important to their spiritual development. Don’t think of it in terms of the church needs your attendance, but in terms of other believers need your presence, support, input and help. Your presence at church this weekend can be encouraging to fellow believers, and can help them and you in your walk with Christ.
At Quail Lake, we are a new church and may not have all the bells and whistles of other congregations, but we do want to be a living community that takes God’s work and word seriously. We encourage you to make the New Year a good reason to rededicate yourself to church, and we would love to see you.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.
Advent: His People
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church.
Scripture tells us that when Christ came into the world, he came to his own people. He entered history at a particular time and place and lived his life among God’s people. The Gospel of Matthew helps us understand exactly what it means for Christ to come to his own people in his genealogy.
When you take a close look at who is listed in the first few verses of Matthew, you will see that Matthew included some pretty unsavory characters as descendants of Jesus. There is a king who killed a man for his wife; a king who sacrificed his own son; a man who deceived his brother and took everything he had, and the list goes on.
But then an angel tells Joseph that the baby’s name is Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. Jesus entered a family tree that desperately needed saving, and a human race that still needs his hand of grace.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Scripture tells us that when Christ came into the world, he came to his own people. He entered history at a particular time and place and lived his life among God’s people. The Gospel of Matthew helps us understand exactly what it means for Christ to come to his own people in his genealogy.
When you take a close look at who is listed in the first few verses of Matthew, you will see that Matthew included some pretty unsavory characters as descendants of Jesus. There is a king who killed a man for his wife; a king who sacrificed his own son; a man who deceived his brother and took everything he had, and the list goes on.
But then an angel tells Joseph that the baby’s name is Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. Jesus entered a family tree that desperately needed saving, and a human race that still needs his hand of grace.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Advent: Church
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church.
I think we all know it is very easy during this season of the year to get caught up in our work, trips, and lists of things to do. During this “happiest season of the year” we seem to be more busy and preoccupied than ever as we hop from work to shopping to home to even more shopping.
It may seem a little clichéd, but it is true—it is very easy to take our eyes and minds off of Christ during Christmas. Some of us will go to church for our one Christmas service, but not find time during most of the rest of the year to be with the body of Christ. I would encourage you to find your way into a good church this season to help put some perspective on Christmas, and I would also encourage you to consider making church a regular part of your life. I know we would love to see you this Christmas season.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
I think we all know it is very easy during this season of the year to get caught up in our work, trips, and lists of things to do. During this “happiest season of the year” we seem to be more busy and preoccupied than ever as we hop from work to shopping to home to even more shopping.
It may seem a little clichéd, but it is true—it is very easy to take our eyes and minds off of Christ during Christmas. Some of us will go to church for our one Christmas service, but not find time during most of the rest of the year to be with the body of Christ. I would encourage you to find your way into a good church this season to help put some perspective on Christmas, and I would also encourage you to consider making church a regular part of your life. I know we would love to see you this Christmas season.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Advent and Hope
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church.
Hope is a neglected virtue. We often hear a lot about faith and love, but we don’t often think about hope and what it means for the believer. In fact, the Christmas season is a wonderful time to remind ourselves of what hope means.
We do not hope in hope, we hope in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hope for the Christian is not a vague desire that things will get better against all appearances, but that the life and light of Christ will be manifest in this world and in our lives. When Christ entered this world, hope came. Matthew 12 says that, “in his name the nations will put their hope.” We now look forward to lives of meaning and fulfillment because of what happened on the first Christmas morning. Christ came into this world to give us a glimpse of the Father and to give me a good reason to hope.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Hope is a neglected virtue. We often hear a lot about faith and love, but we don’t often think about hope and what it means for the believer. In fact, the Christmas season is a wonderful time to remind ourselves of what hope means.
We do not hope in hope, we hope in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Hope for the Christian is not a vague desire that things will get better against all appearances, but that the life and light of Christ will be manifest in this world and in our lives. When Christ entered this world, hope came. Matthew 12 says that, “in his name the nations will put their hope.” We now look forward to lives of meaning and fulfillment because of what happened on the first Christmas morning. Christ came into this world to give us a glimpse of the Father and to give me a good reason to hope.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Advent: The Wise Men Come
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
In the advent story there are probably no more mysterious characters than the wise men. We don’t know exactly who they were or where they came from. About the only thing we do know is what they came to do—they came to worship a child as King. As enigmatic as these characters are, they have a lot to tell us about faith and spiritual endurance.
They displayed faith in that they had the evidence of the star to guide them, but no teachings or special signs from Jesus himself, yet they worshiped him. Their endurance was great in that they traveled a long way taking a long time and overcoming many hardships to reach the child. It was not easy to travel across the desert and national borders in their day. Yet none of that turned them away. I have far more evidence for faith than the wise men—what am I willing to endure to worship my King?
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
In the advent story there are probably no more mysterious characters than the wise men. We don’t know exactly who they were or where they came from. About the only thing we do know is what they came to do—they came to worship a child as King. As enigmatic as these characters are, they have a lot to tell us about faith and spiritual endurance.
They displayed faith in that they had the evidence of the star to guide them, but no teachings or special signs from Jesus himself, yet they worshiped him. Their endurance was great in that they traveled a long way taking a long time and overcoming many hardships to reach the child. It was not easy to travel across the desert and national borders in their day. Yet none of that turned them away. I have far more evidence for faith than the wise men—what am I willing to endure to worship my King?
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
Advent: Herod Reacts
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
As we approach another Christmas, one very helpful way of interacting with the biblical story is to watch the different reactions to the birth of Jesus. The local ruler, Herod, is a fascinating person for several reasons, not the least of which is how he reacts to Jesus. When he hears the wise men are looking for the Messiah, he sends them to Bethlehem and concocts a scheme to find the child himself. And when that fails he orders all the babies in the region to be killed.
Herod knows what it means for the Messiah to be born—in fact, he knows it better than many Christians do. When Jesus was born, it meant the Lord himself had entered our time and space. And if Jesus is Lord, Herod no longer can be. Knowing Jesus means we encounter our Savior and a friend who sticks closer than a brother, but it also means we encounter our Lord.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
As we approach another Christmas, one very helpful way of interacting with the biblical story is to watch the different reactions to the birth of Jesus. The local ruler, Herod, is a fascinating person for several reasons, not the least of which is how he reacts to Jesus. When he hears the wise men are looking for the Messiah, he sends them to Bethlehem and concocts a scheme to find the child himself. And when that fails he orders all the babies in the region to be killed.
Herod knows what it means for the Messiah to be born—in fact, he knows it better than many Christians do. When Jesus was born, it meant the Lord himself had entered our time and space. And if Jesus is Lord, Herod no longer can be. Knowing Jesus means we encounter our Savior and a friend who sticks closer than a brother, but it also means we encounter our Lord.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
Advent: Priests and Scribes React
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
As we enter another advent season and make our way to Christmas, it is good for us to remind ourselves of the characters surrounding the birth of Jesus. One particular reaction to the birth of Jesus typically goes unnoticed in large part because it comes and goes so quickly. When Herod hears of the birth of Jesus, he consults the chief priests and scribes of his day. What is fascinating to me is that they know exactly where to send the wise men to find the Messiah.
Then what do they do? Well, they do nothing. Their response to the birth of the Messiah might be classified as distracted apathy. They know what is happening but do not take the time out of their busy religious schedules to make their way to Bethlehem to worship their king. Often I find myself in the same position. Am I too busy or distracted to stop and worship my king?
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
As we enter another advent season and make our way to Christmas, it is good for us to remind ourselves of the characters surrounding the birth of Jesus. One particular reaction to the birth of Jesus typically goes unnoticed in large part because it comes and goes so quickly. When Herod hears of the birth of Jesus, he consults the chief priests and scribes of his day. What is fascinating to me is that they know exactly where to send the wise men to find the Messiah.
Then what do they do? Well, they do nothing. Their response to the birth of the Messiah might be classified as distracted apathy. They know what is happening but do not take the time out of their busy religious schedules to make their way to Bethlehem to worship their king. Often I find myself in the same position. Am I too busy or distracted to stop and worship my king?
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
Is The Bible Intolerant? 3
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
I think we have all heard people attack the Christian faith by saying we can’t trust the Bible because it has been changed so often over the centuries. This slogan finds a great deal of popular support in books and movies like “The Da Vinci Code.” The only problem with it is that there is no evidence for these alleged changes.
In her very readable book, “Is the Bible Intolerant?” Amy Orr-Ewing details the history of the Bible and what archeology knows about the ancient manuscripts. As it turns out, we have a large number of ancient texts of the Bible, and this means we can scrutinize the historical development of Scripture. There are changes through time, but they are almost all spelling and grammar changes. The truth about the Bible is that there is literally no evidence of any real change over time. The Bible you buy and read today is the same book that was read by Paul and Peter.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
I think we have all heard people attack the Christian faith by saying we can’t trust the Bible because it has been changed so often over the centuries. This slogan finds a great deal of popular support in books and movies like “The Da Vinci Code.” The only problem with it is that there is no evidence for these alleged changes.
In her very readable book, “Is the Bible Intolerant?” Amy Orr-Ewing details the history of the Bible and what archeology knows about the ancient manuscripts. As it turns out, we have a large number of ancient texts of the Bible, and this means we can scrutinize the historical development of Scripture. There are changes through time, but they are almost all spelling and grammar changes. The truth about the Bible is that there is literally no evidence of any real change over time. The Bible you buy and read today is the same book that was read by Paul and Peter.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
Is The Bible Intolerant? 2
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Oftentimes people will argue against the truth of Christianity or Scripture by using well-worn slogans. These slogans are designed to dismiss an argument even before something important is said and give the skeptic a way out of believing. One such slogan is that more people have been killed as a result of religious wars than anything else. And of course, this means that religion is evil.
As one philosopher noted, people who say this need a history lesson. It is true, and very sad, that many people have died because of religious wars, but more people have died in the twentieth century alone because of Nazism and atheistic communism than in the previous nineteen centuries combined. It is simply false that Christianity has killed more people throughout history than any other ideology. In her great little book, “Is the Bible Intolerant?” Amy Orr-Ewing debunks this and many other slogans used by people as an excuse to not believe.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
Oftentimes people will argue against the truth of Christianity or Scripture by using well-worn slogans. These slogans are designed to dismiss an argument even before something important is said and give the skeptic a way out of believing. One such slogan is that more people have been killed as a result of religious wars than anything else. And of course, this means that religion is evil.
As one philosopher noted, people who say this need a history lesson. It is true, and very sad, that many people have died because of religious wars, but more people have died in the twentieth century alone because of Nazism and atheistic communism than in the previous nineteen centuries combined. It is simply false that Christianity has killed more people throughout history than any other ideology. In her great little book, “Is the Bible Intolerant?” Amy Orr-Ewing debunks this and many other slogans used by people as an excuse to not believe.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org
Is The Bible Intolerant? 1
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Have you ever heard a skeptic dismiss Christianity or the Bible with a slogan like, “the Bible has been changed thousands of times over the years,” or, “more people have been killed in wars over religion than anything else”? If you have, then join the club. I have actually encountered these kinds of slogans in just the last few weeks from people who are desperate to dismiss the truth claims of Christianity.
So what is a good way to counter these kinds of slogans? A new book titled, “Is The Bible Intolerant?” is a wonderful and very readable new tool for the Christian and for the skeptic. In 130 easy to understand pages, the author, Amy Orr-Ewing, tackles these and many other popular slogans head-on. The reader will learn how the books of the Bible were compiled, how reliable they are, and much more. If you want to increase your ability to answer the skeptic, this is a great place to begin.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Have you ever heard a skeptic dismiss Christianity or the Bible with a slogan like, “the Bible has been changed thousands of times over the years,” or, “more people have been killed in wars over religion than anything else”? If you have, then join the club. I have actually encountered these kinds of slogans in just the last few weeks from people who are desperate to dismiss the truth claims of Christianity.
So what is a good way to counter these kinds of slogans? A new book titled, “Is The Bible Intolerant?” is a wonderful and very readable new tool for the Christian and for the skeptic. In 130 easy to understand pages, the author, Amy Orr-Ewing, tackles these and many other popular slogans head-on. The reader will learn how the books of the Bible were compiled, how reliable they are, and much more. If you want to increase your ability to answer the skeptic, this is a great place to begin.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Catholic Bishops and Sexuality
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
In a recent conference, our nation’s Roman Catholic Bishops addressed concerns about receiving communion and sexuality. The immediate concern for them was that many believers think they can live sexually immoral lives and still believe they are in harmony with their church and their faith. The conclusion the Bishop’s drew is the biblical conclusion—a marriage between one man and one woman is the only appropriate place for sexual expression.
Their ultimate concern is that their people learn to live lives of holiness. One Bishop noted, “All of us are damaged by original sin, and all of us have desires disordered in various ways.” He is absolutely right. We are all tainted and twisted by original sin, but God calls us to lead holy lives and he provides the presence of his Spirit to help us. We should all follow the call of the Bishops and lead lives of holiness.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
In a recent conference, our nation’s Roman Catholic Bishops addressed concerns about receiving communion and sexuality. The immediate concern for them was that many believers think they can live sexually immoral lives and still believe they are in harmony with their church and their faith. The conclusion the Bishop’s drew is the biblical conclusion—a marriage between one man and one woman is the only appropriate place for sexual expression.
Their ultimate concern is that their people learn to live lives of holiness. One Bishop noted, “All of us are damaged by original sin, and all of us have desires disordered in various ways.” He is absolutely right. We are all tainted and twisted by original sin, but God calls us to lead holy lives and he provides the presence of his Spirit to help us. We should all follow the call of the Bishops and lead lives of holiness.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Missouri and Cloning
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
A ballot measure that recently passed in Missouri allows research to move forward on human embryos. The measure allows for the cloning and destruction of embryos for research, and, in an Orwellian twist of language, was supported by a group called the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. A writer at Slate.com notes that if these technologies are allowed to progress, “you’re seriously messing with the foundations of human life. You’re creating artificial human entities. You’re turning eggs and embryos into medical supplies.”
He is absolutely right. These kinds of technologies are not going away, and they are only going to expand in their power and potency. Christians cannot ignore the brave new world we live in. We should be the vanguard of ethical and spiritual reflection and stand up for the value and sanctity of human life in all of its forms. Embryonic research destroys human lives and should be opposed whenever possible.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
A ballot measure that recently passed in Missouri allows research to move forward on human embryos. The measure allows for the cloning and destruction of embryos for research, and, in an Orwellian twist of language, was supported by a group called the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures. A writer at Slate.com notes that if these technologies are allowed to progress, “you’re seriously messing with the foundations of human life. You’re creating artificial human entities. You’re turning eggs and embryos into medical supplies.”
He is absolutely right. These kinds of technologies are not going away, and they are only going to expand in their power and potency. Christians cannot ignore the brave new world we live in. We should be the vanguard of ethical and spiritual reflection and stand up for the value and sanctity of human life in all of its forms. Embryonic research destroys human lives and should be opposed whenever possible.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Happiness-In a Biblical Sense: Redux
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, Pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
In their wonderful book, The Lost Virtue of Happiness, J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler want to reengage Christians with a biblical and classical notion of happiness and provide practical ways of attaining it. Early in the book they clarify the difference between what we typically take for happiness from how Scripture views happiness.
It is typical today to see happiness as a sense of pleasurable satisfaction. In that case it is all about us and our own needs. In an ironic reality, the more turned inward we are, the more empty our lives become.
On the other hand, happiness as described in Scripture is more about a life well-lived; a full life of character and virtue, one that displays wisdom, kindness and goodness. Happiness in this sense is a life-long pursuit that fills us with the life and light of Christ, and as we pursue it and Him, our own lives will become filled with meaning and purpose.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
In their wonderful book, The Lost Virtue of Happiness, J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler want to reengage Christians with a biblical and classical notion of happiness and provide practical ways of attaining it. Early in the book they clarify the difference between what we typically take for happiness from how Scripture views happiness.
It is typical today to see happiness as a sense of pleasurable satisfaction. In that case it is all about us and our own needs. In an ironic reality, the more turned inward we are, the more empty our lives become.
On the other hand, happiness as described in Scripture is more about a life well-lived; a full life of character and virtue, one that displays wisdom, kindness and goodness. Happiness in this sense is a life-long pursuit that fills us with the life and light of Christ, and as we pursue it and Him, our own lives will become filled with meaning and purpose.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Peterson and Worship: Redux
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, Pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
In his book, Run With The Horses, Eugene Peterson says this about worship and life, “Worship defines life. If worship is corrupt, life will be corrupt.” This statement is based on example after example of the life of God’s people in the Old Testament. Every time they allowed corruption into their temple and their places of worship, their lives degraded and moved further away from God.
What is it I worship? Not just on the weekends when I sing songs and take communion, but what are the principles that guide my life? Those are the things I worship, and those are the things that have a place of reverence in my heart and mind. If I value leisure, my time, my work, my family will be all about my leisure. If I worship self or money they will all be about me or my money. If I worship God, everything fits into its proper place, and everything becomes about Him.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
In his book, Run With The Horses, Eugene Peterson says this about worship and life, “Worship defines life. If worship is corrupt, life will be corrupt.” This statement is based on example after example of the life of God’s people in the Old Testament. Every time they allowed corruption into their temple and their places of worship, their lives degraded and moved further away from God.
What is it I worship? Not just on the weekends when I sing songs and take communion, but what are the principles that guide my life? Those are the things I worship, and those are the things that have a place of reverence in my heart and mind. If I value leisure, my time, my work, my family will be all about my leisure. If I worship self or money they will all be about me or my money. If I worship God, everything fits into its proper place, and everything becomes about Him.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Christians and Biology
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, Pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Is Christianity incompatible with modern biology? The columnist John Derbyshire thinks so. In a recent column detailing why he lost his Christian faith, he notes, “Creationists are absolutely correct to hate and fear modern biology. Learning this stuff works against your faith.” In an ironic twist, Derbyshire cites an organization full of Christian biologists and scientists who would disagree.
These Christian biologists work with a basic assumption that has guided the Church for two centuries: all truth is God’s truth. This is the idea that wherever we find truth, we can be sure that it is compatible with the Christian faith. Christians who are biologists can then be assured that the truths in modern biology are a result of God’s creative power. It is sad that Derbyshire has lost his faith, but maybe a little more work on his part might have solved this problem.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Is Christianity incompatible with modern biology? The columnist John Derbyshire thinks so. In a recent column detailing why he lost his Christian faith, he notes, “Creationists are absolutely correct to hate and fear modern biology. Learning this stuff works against your faith.” In an ironic twist, Derbyshire cites an organization full of Christian biologists and scientists who would disagree.
These Christian biologists work with a basic assumption that has guided the Church for two centuries: all truth is God’s truth. This is the idea that wherever we find truth, we can be sure that it is compatible with the Christian faith. Christians who are biologists can then be assured that the truths in modern biology are a result of God’s creative power. It is sad that Derbyshire has lost his faith, but maybe a little more work on his part might have solved this problem.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Youth and Doctrine 2
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, Pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Should teenagers be taught doctrine and theology in church? According to Time magazine, the latest trend among youth pastors is to return to Bible-centered youth groups. In the light of a large number of teens that have left the faith in the last couple of decades, many youth leaders have reacted by educating their teens in the essentials of the faith. One researcher recently quoted in Time said, “The vast majority of teens who call themselves Christians haven't been well educated in religious doctrine and therefore don't really know what they believe.”
Knowing God intimately is the best way to secure a relationship with Him. Many young people have grown up without being taught the fundamental truths about Christ—who He is and why He is unique—and have faded from the faith as a result. It is not hard to give up something that you were never sure of in the first place.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Should teenagers be taught doctrine and theology in church? According to Time magazine, the latest trend among youth pastors is to return to Bible-centered youth groups. In the light of a large number of teens that have left the faith in the last couple of decades, many youth leaders have reacted by educating their teens in the essentials of the faith. One researcher recently quoted in Time said, “The vast majority of teens who call themselves Christians haven't been well educated in religious doctrine and therefore don't really know what they believe.”
Knowing God intimately is the best way to secure a relationship with Him. Many young people have grown up without being taught the fundamental truths about Christ—who He is and why He is unique—and have faded from the faith as a result. It is not hard to give up something that you were never sure of in the first place.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Youth and Doctrine 1
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, Pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Is the best way to attract and keep teenagers for Christ to entertain them into the Kingdom? Time Magazine recently ran an article titled, “In Touch With Jesus.” The article notes that youth pastors are growing weary of sugarcoating the Gospel with MTV-style services. Statistics show that over the past couple of decades over two-thirds of teenagers walked away from church and from practicing Christianity. The alternative? The author writes, “in recent years churches have begun offering their young people a style of religious instruction grounded in Bible study and teachings about the doctrines of their denomination.”
This is a piece of wisdom know for centuries in the Church, and that was only recently laid aside. C.S. Lewis, for instance, noted that the most practical thing a believer could do is learn theology—and he was right. Theology is knowledge of God, and the more we know about Him, the closer we can be to Him.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Is the best way to attract and keep teenagers for Christ to entertain them into the Kingdom? Time Magazine recently ran an article titled, “In Touch With Jesus.” The article notes that youth pastors are growing weary of sugarcoating the Gospel with MTV-style services. Statistics show that over the past couple of decades over two-thirds of teenagers walked away from church and from practicing Christianity. The alternative? The author writes, “in recent years churches have begun offering their young people a style of religious instruction grounded in Bible study and teachings about the doctrines of their denomination.”
This is a piece of wisdom know for centuries in the Church, and that was only recently laid aside. C.S. Lewis, for instance, noted that the most practical thing a believer could do is learn theology—and he was right. Theology is knowledge of God, and the more we know about Him, the closer we can be to Him.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Mind and Body 1
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, Pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Recently, US News and World Report ran a large article on human consciousness called, “Is There Room for the Soul.” The author recognized what is at stake right off the bat when he struggled with the idea that the human mind is nothing but a biological add-on. He notes, “There is, indeed, something troubling, if not downright offensive, about the effort to reduce human consciousness to the operations of a 3-pound chunk of wrinkled brain tissue.”
The general trend in science has been to argue that humans are nothing but physical matter, and that we do not have things like souls or minds. The Christian position, on the other hand, has always been that we are body and soul. Part of what it means to be created in the image of God is that our souls and minds are not identical with our bodies and brains. The author is right; it is troubling if we are nothing more than bags of chemicals.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Recently, US News and World Report ran a large article on human consciousness called, “Is There Room for the Soul.” The author recognized what is at stake right off the bat when he struggled with the idea that the human mind is nothing but a biological add-on. He notes, “There is, indeed, something troubling, if not downright offensive, about the effort to reduce human consciousness to the operations of a 3-pound chunk of wrinkled brain tissue.”
The general trend in science has been to argue that humans are nothing but physical matter, and that we do not have things like souls or minds. The Christian position, on the other hand, has always been that we are body and soul. Part of what it means to be created in the image of God is that our souls and minds are not identical with our bodies and brains. The author is right; it is troubling if we are nothing more than bags of chemicals.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit, quaillake.org.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Embryonic Stem Cells and Voting
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
As the political season heats up, there is one topic that is creating a buzz again in commercials and the media. Several celebrities are coming out in support of candidates who support embryonic stem cell research. As our heartstrings are tugged with several emotional and moving appeals, we need to be people who are able to deal with the facts of the matter.
As a matter of fact, in order to harvest embryonic stem cells, embryos must be killed. Since research has begun, exactly no cures have been associated with embryonic stem cells. On the other hand, adult stem cells are associated with over 60 documented cures of illness and disorder. In addition, adult stem cells can be harvested without harming anyone. The facts of science, as well as the ethical considerations, are not on the side of embryonic stem cell research. Be sure this year that you are doing some thinking with your head, not just with your heart.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
As the political season heats up, there is one topic that is creating a buzz again in commercials and the media. Several celebrities are coming out in support of candidates who support embryonic stem cell research. As our heartstrings are tugged with several emotional and moving appeals, we need to be people who are able to deal with the facts of the matter.
As a matter of fact, in order to harvest embryonic stem cells, embryos must be killed. Since research has begun, exactly no cures have been associated with embryonic stem cells. On the other hand, adult stem cells are associated with over 60 documented cures of illness and disorder. In addition, adult stem cells can be harvested without harming anyone. The facts of science, as well as the ethical considerations, are not on the side of embryonic stem cell research. Be sure this year that you are doing some thinking with your head, not just with your heart.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Luke 24: Hiddenness of God 2
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
There are times in our lives when it seems that God is hidden from us, and as the Old Testament prophet puts it, the heavens seem like brass. In Luke 24, we read the story of two disciples taking a trip on the very day that Christ rose from the grave. These two disciples, however, did not believe that Jesus was alive.
You see, it was nearly the end of the third day and they had not yet seen the risen Messiah. Jesus told them he would rise on the third day, but here it was, nearly nightfall, and they had not seen it. To them, Jesus was dead and God had hidden himself. Part of the problem for these disciples is that they lacked faithful patience. It turns out that Jesus was right there with them, but they were unable to wait on God and his perfect timing. Waiting on God is sometimes hard, but always necessary.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
There are times in our lives when it seems that God is hidden from us, and as the Old Testament prophet puts it, the heavens seem like brass. In Luke 24, we read the story of two disciples taking a trip on the very day that Christ rose from the grave. These two disciples, however, did not believe that Jesus was alive.
You see, it was nearly the end of the third day and they had not yet seen the risen Messiah. Jesus told them he would rise on the third day, but here it was, nearly nightfall, and they had not seen it. To them, Jesus was dead and God had hidden himself. Part of the problem for these disciples is that they lacked faithful patience. It turns out that Jesus was right there with them, but they were unable to wait on God and his perfect timing. Waiting on God is sometimes hard, but always necessary.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Utilitarianism and Truth-Redux
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
What makes an act good? In our pluralistic culture, what kinds of political acts can qualify as good and how can we judge those kinds of things? When it comes to some of the most contentious political and social debates of our age--things like stem cells, abortion, gay marriage and the like--the principle most often invoked is “the greatest good for the greatest number.” This is what is sometimes called utilitarianism.
Our particular political culture is sometimes ruled by polls and what a majority of Americans think about a particular subject. What is often implied is that the majority is right, and political policy should always follow. This is utilitarianism-what most people see as good should be our goal. But what this point of view neglects to ask is the simple question, “is it right or true?” Polls and majority opinion do not track truth. A majority of people can be wrong, and the truth is not always the popular option.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
What makes an act good? In our pluralistic culture, what kinds of political acts can qualify as good and how can we judge those kinds of things? When it comes to some of the most contentious political and social debates of our age--things like stem cells, abortion, gay marriage and the like--the principle most often invoked is “the greatest good for the greatest number.” This is what is sometimes called utilitarianism.
Our particular political culture is sometimes ruled by polls and what a majority of Americans think about a particular subject. What is often implied is that the majority is right, and political policy should always follow. This is utilitarianism-what most people see as good should be our goal. But what this point of view neglects to ask is the simple question, “is it right or true?” Polls and majority opinion do not track truth. A majority of people can be wrong, and the truth is not always the popular option.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Luke 24-Hiddenness of God 1
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Have you been through a season in life when it feels like God is just absent? During these times our prayers seem empty and God seems hidden. So what should I do when that happens? Two disciples took a walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day Christ rose from the dead. Even though Jesus was walking with them, they did not recognize him because their own eyes were blinded.
The irony in this story is that even though Jesus was right there with them, the disciples believed he was dead and gone. You see, it was the disciple’s fault that Jesus seemed dead to them. Often, when we feel like God is hidden from us, it is because we have neglected our relationship with him, or have become too much a child of this world to be a child of God. But don’t let those times keep you from pursuing God—you will probably find that Jesus was there all the time.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Have you been through a season in life when it feels like God is just absent? During these times our prayers seem empty and God seems hidden. So what should I do when that happens? Two disciples took a walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus on the day Christ rose from the dead. Even though Jesus was walking with them, they did not recognize him because their own eyes were blinded.
The irony in this story is that even though Jesus was right there with them, the disciples believed he was dead and gone. You see, it was the disciple’s fault that Jesus seemed dead to them. Often, when we feel like God is hidden from us, it is because we have neglected our relationship with him, or have become too much a child of this world to be a child of God. But don’t let those times keep you from pursuing God—you will probably find that Jesus was there all the time.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Daniel-Mind on Fire 2
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
The life of Daniel is a great story for many reasons, not the least of which is that he exemplifies a believer who loves God with all his mind.
As the book opens we discover that Daniel and his friends are the cream of the crop in Judah. They were intelligent, well educated, and likely one their way to positions of influence in the nation of Judah. In fact, that is exactly why the conquering nation takes them away into exile in Babylon. Why would God allow these fine, upstanding young men to be torn away from their homes?
I think we have already answered our question. It is exactly because they developed their minds in their love for God that God needed them in a foreign land. Not just anybody could be an influence in the course of two world powers, turning the hearts of kings and people to their God. God used them exactly because they loved him with all their minds.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
The life of Daniel is a great story for many reasons, not the least of which is that he exemplifies a believer who loves God with all his mind.
As the book opens we discover that Daniel and his friends are the cream of the crop in Judah. They were intelligent, well educated, and likely one their way to positions of influence in the nation of Judah. In fact, that is exactly why the conquering nation takes them away into exile in Babylon. Why would God allow these fine, upstanding young men to be torn away from their homes?
I think we have already answered our question. It is exactly because they developed their minds in their love for God that God needed them in a foreign land. Not just anybody could be an influence in the course of two world powers, turning the hearts of kings and people to their God. God used them exactly because they loved him with all their minds.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Gender Variance
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Recently in a school in Florida, a child was enrolled in kindergarten as a girl when he is actually and genetically a boy. In a school in California teachers are no longer lining elementary children up as boys and girls. These stories illustrate a trend among educators of young children sometimes called “gender variance.” According to this view, gender is constructed by a child, not given to a child before birth.
This represents a dramatic shift in worldview. According to a Christian understanding of humanity, our personhood—including our gender—is a given and is something we grow to know and understand through life. According to gender variance, a postmodern view, our personhood is fluid and can be constructed any way we please. This second view results from the rampant individualism and moral relativism in our culture and only enslaves and confuses us. We should understand, however, that being made in the image of God frees us to be who we were made to be.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Recently in a school in Florida, a child was enrolled in kindergarten as a girl when he is actually and genetically a boy. In a school in California teachers are no longer lining elementary children up as boys and girls. These stories illustrate a trend among educators of young children sometimes called “gender variance.” According to this view, gender is constructed by a child, not given to a child before birth.
This represents a dramatic shift in worldview. According to a Christian understanding of humanity, our personhood—including our gender—is a given and is something we grow to know and understand through life. According to gender variance, a postmodern view, our personhood is fluid and can be constructed any way we please. This second view results from the rampant individualism and moral relativism in our culture and only enslaves and confuses us. We should understand, however, that being made in the image of God frees us to be who we were made to be.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Thinking Beings 1
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church.
Did you know that the scientific classification for humans, homo sapiens, means “thinking beings”? This is not only a scientific classification, but for the Christian, it is a spiritual reality as well. As we were made in the image of God, we were given minds and the ability to think and reason. God himself says through Isaiah, “Come, let us reason together.”
In fact, the use of our minds in worship is something that was important to Christ and Paul as well. Christ sums up the Law by saying we should love God with all our minds. And Paul, while telling us how to grow in our relationship with Christ, says we need to be careful about how our minds are being formed. It is all too possible to be conformed to this world without even working on it. Having a mind that is formed in the image of Christ, however, will require effort. But don’t worry, God will reward that kind of work.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Did you know that the scientific classification for humans, homo sapiens, means “thinking beings”? This is not only a scientific classification, but for the Christian, it is a spiritual reality as well. As we were made in the image of God, we were given minds and the ability to think and reason. God himself says through Isaiah, “Come, let us reason together.”
In fact, the use of our minds in worship is something that was important to Christ and Paul as well. Christ sums up the Law by saying we should love God with all our minds. And Paul, while telling us how to grow in our relationship with Christ, says we need to be careful about how our minds are being formed. It is all too possible to be conformed to this world without even working on it. Having a mind that is formed in the image of Christ, however, will require effort. But don’t worry, God will reward that kind of work.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Daniel 1: Mind on Fire
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
The life of Daniel in the Old Testament is a great story for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he exemplifies a believer who loves God with all his mind.
At one crucial point early in the book, Daniel refused to take the king’s diet and requested nothing but vegetables and water. And as it turns out, Daniel’s faithfulness to his kosher diet won the day when he was discovered to be more healthy and intelligent than his Babylonian comrades.
Daniel’s brave and faithful decision was a direct result of a mind that loved God. Not only did he want to be faithful to God, but he knew exactly how to do it. Because his mind was devoted to the knowledge of his God—to the details of the OT diet--he knew exactly what steps to take when it came time to make a decision. Loving God with all his mind enabled him to be faithful to God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
The life of Daniel in the Old Testament is a great story for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he exemplifies a believer who loves God with all his mind.
At one crucial point early in the book, Daniel refused to take the king’s diet and requested nothing but vegetables and water. And as it turns out, Daniel’s faithfulness to his kosher diet won the day when he was discovered to be more healthy and intelligent than his Babylonian comrades.
Daniel’s brave and faithful decision was a direct result of a mind that loved God. Not only did he want to be faithful to God, but he knew exactly how to do it. Because his mind was devoted to the knowledge of his God—to the details of the OT diet--he knew exactly what steps to take when it came time to make a decision. Loving God with all his mind enabled him to be faithful to God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Apes and Men: Nothing-But-ery
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
A recent cover article in Time magazine proclaims that there is not much at all separating you from the primate world. The piece details how close your genetic make up is to an ape’s and then concludes that the differences between the two are entirely wrapped up in those few genes. You are intended to believe, with all the convenient pictures of babies next to chimps and humans morphing from apes, that you are nothing but an ape with a few more genes attached.
But there is a flaw in this point of view. It is what C.S. Lewis called “nothing-but-ery,” or the view that humans are nothing but a sack of chemicals or a bunch of genes. Lewis, like many others, contends that genetic material cannot account for our souls or our minds. Humans stand out from the pack not because we drew the lucky card from the evolutionary deck, but because we have been endowed with those things that make us in the image of God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
A recent cover article in Time magazine proclaims that there is not much at all separating you from the primate world. The piece details how close your genetic make up is to an ape’s and then concludes that the differences between the two are entirely wrapped up in those few genes. You are intended to believe, with all the convenient pictures of babies next to chimps and humans morphing from apes, that you are nothing but an ape with a few more genes attached.
But there is a flaw in this point of view. It is what C.S. Lewis called “nothing-but-ery,” or the view that humans are nothing but a sack of chemicals or a bunch of genes. Lewis, like many others, contends that genetic material cannot account for our souls or our minds. Humans stand out from the pack not because we drew the lucky card from the evolutionary deck, but because we have been endowed with those things that make us in the image of God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Belief and Behavior--Absolute Truth
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In the latest edition of Time, columnist Andrew Sullivan writes on faith and belief in an article titled, “When not seeing is believing.” Part of what he asserts is that a superior religious belief is not about doctrines or creeds, but just behavior. He says, “practice is more important than theory,” and, “love is more important than law.” Now don’t get me wrong, a mature Christian life will reflect the kinds of behavior that are pleasing to God. We are saved to do His good works.
But upon further reflection, we discover that St. Paul and Sullivan have a sharp disagreement. Paul, in several places, stressed the importance of teaching true and sound doctrine and that those who did not needed to be corrected. Paul gave no room in the church of Jesus Christ for just any old, feel-good religious belief. For Paul, it was the theory of Christianity that gave rise to the right practice and the law of God that gave rise to the love of God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
In the latest edition of Time, columnist Andrew Sullivan writes on faith and belief in an article titled, “When not seeing is believing.” Part of what he asserts is that a superior religious belief is not about doctrines or creeds, but just behavior. He says, “practice is more important than theory,” and, “love is more important than law.” Now don’t get me wrong, a mature Christian life will reflect the kinds of behavior that are pleasing to God. We are saved to do His good works.
But upon further reflection, we discover that St. Paul and Sullivan have a sharp disagreement. Paul, in several places, stressed the importance of teaching true and sound doctrine and that those who did not needed to be corrected. Paul gave no room in the church of Jesus Christ for just any old, feel-good religious belief. For Paul, it was the theory of Christianity that gave rise to the right practice and the law of God that gave rise to the love of God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Belief and Absolute Truth 2
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In the latest edition of Time, columnist Andrew Sullivan writes on faith and belief in an article titled, “When not seeing is believing.” His point is that the root problems in our world are a result of people taking religion seriously and actually believing in absolute truth. His solution is that believers need to take a different approach to their faith—namely, a more humble approach. As a result no religious believer will have the audacity to believe their religion is true.
For Sullivan, “humble” is a code word for relativism. For him, and many others, to hold a belief humbly is to not really hold it at all. But that is certainly not what he means. His article proposes a very specific form of religion, and asserts that it should be true for everyone. According to his definition of “humble,” he has been rather arrogant. In reality, it is not hard to hold to the truth of Christianity and be truly humble.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
In the latest edition of Time, columnist Andrew Sullivan writes on faith and belief in an article titled, “When not seeing is believing.” His point is that the root problems in our world are a result of people taking religion seriously and actually believing in absolute truth. His solution is that believers need to take a different approach to their faith—namely, a more humble approach. As a result no religious believer will have the audacity to believe their religion is true.
For Sullivan, “humble” is a code word for relativism. For him, and many others, to hold a belief humbly is to not really hold it at all. But that is certainly not what he means. His article proposes a very specific form of religion, and asserts that it should be true for everyone. According to his definition of “humble,” he has been rather arrogant. In reality, it is not hard to hold to the truth of Christianity and be truly humble.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Belief, Doubt, and Absolute Truth
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In the latest edition of Time magazine, columnist Andrew Sullivan writes on faith and belief in an article titled, “When not seeing is believing.” Part of what he contends in this piece is that adherence to absolute truth is on the rise in our world because of fear. His argument is that when we are afraid and unsettled in this world we cling to the next for security.
His goal is to put across the idea that it is weak minded to believe in absolute truth, especially when the motivation is nothing but uncertainty. Sullivan gets a lot wrong in his article, not the least of which is his relativistic solution to uncertainty. If this world can be a fearful place, how does even more doubt and uncertainty solve anything? In fact, Christians see clearly the hollowness of trusting in this world to save our souls, so we put our trust in something much more stable and secure. There is nothing weak minded about that.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
In the latest edition of Time magazine, columnist Andrew Sullivan writes on faith and belief in an article titled, “When not seeing is believing.” Part of what he contends in this piece is that adherence to absolute truth is on the rise in our world because of fear. His argument is that when we are afraid and unsettled in this world we cling to the next for security.
His goal is to put across the idea that it is weak minded to believe in absolute truth, especially when the motivation is nothing but uncertainty. Sullivan gets a lot wrong in his article, not the least of which is his relativistic solution to uncertainty. If this world can be a fearful place, how does even more doubt and uncertainty solve anything? In fact, Christians see clearly the hollowness of trusting in this world to save our souls, so we put our trust in something much more stable and secure. There is nothing weak minded about that.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
A Mind on Fire 1
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger.
Christ was once asked what the greatest commandment was. He responded that all the law and the prophets are summarized in two commandments—one of which included the directive to love God with all our minds. We are often quick to agree that we can love God with all our feelings during worship service, but we don’t always consider what it means to love God with all our minds.
First of all, a mind given to God is one that is ready to be all that it can be for God. God is not calling us all to be geniuses or nobodies—he is calling us to use the minds he gave us to be effective disciples. Each one of us has the ability to apply our minds to God and to life around us and become more effective as salt and light. Minds on fire for God change things. When our minds come alive in the light of God, we see him and our world more clearly.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Christ was once asked what the greatest commandment was. He responded that all the law and the prophets are summarized in two commandments—one of which included the directive to love God with all our minds. We are often quick to agree that we can love God with all our feelings during worship service, but we don’t always consider what it means to love God with all our minds.
First of all, a mind given to God is one that is ready to be all that it can be for God. God is not calling us all to be geniuses or nobodies—he is calling us to use the minds he gave us to be effective disciples. Each one of us has the ability to apply our minds to God and to life around us and become more effective as salt and light. Minds on fire for God change things. When our minds come alive in the light of God, we see him and our world more clearly.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Truth and Ice Cream-Redux
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
A Christian apologist today gives a lecture called, “Christianity is not Ice Cream.” It is a talk about truth, relativism, and what we mean when we say that Christianity is true. You see, you and a friend can argue about the best flavor of ice cream all day, your opinions can conflict, you may never convince your friend that mint chocolate chip is superior to cookie dough, but you both walk away from the discussion realizing that ice cream flavor is a matter of opinion.
Not so with Christianity. People may have different preferences about religion, and they may be deeply sincere about their tastes, but at the end of the day it is false that religion is a matter of opinion. When we say Christianity is true, we are affirming the same kind of truth when we say that 2+2=4. Christ is the way and the truth and the life for all of us, in spite of what our opinions on the matter may be.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Jeremiah 34-Lying
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
There is a great deal of value in keeping our promises. We are too often accustomed to people in the public eye, and often in our own lives, who are untrustworthy, and that can sometimes erode our sense of how important it is to be truth-telling people. In Jeremiah 34 we have the story of King Zedekiah and two promises he makes. The first is a promise of loyalty to a foreign king. The second is a promise he makes to God to free all the slaves in Jerusalem.
Zedekiah was a fool and broke both promises. Because he became disloyal to the king, he suffered a fate worse than death, and because he recaptured all the slaves he freed, God gave him into the hands of his enemies. We discover in this story that the habit of breaking promises—of lying—is a powerful relationship killer. On the other hand, truth telling is a character trait God wants me to develop; it will enrich my relationships with others as well as with Him.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
There is a great deal of value in keeping our promises. We are too often accustomed to people in the public eye, and often in our own lives, who are untrustworthy, and that can sometimes erode our sense of how important it is to be truth-telling people. In Jeremiah 34 we have the story of King Zedekiah and two promises he makes. The first is a promise of loyalty to a foreign king. The second is a promise he makes to God to free all the slaves in Jerusalem.
Zedekiah was a fool and broke both promises. Because he became disloyal to the king, he suffered a fate worse than death, and because he recaptured all the slaves he freed, God gave him into the hands of his enemies. We discover in this story that the habit of breaking promises—of lying—is a powerful relationship killer. On the other hand, truth telling is a character trait God wants me to develop; it will enrich my relationships with others as well as with Him.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Jeremiah 33-Call to God
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
How well would you communicate with someone if you did not speak their language? If you wanted to talk to them, how much effort would it take to communicate? No doubt it would take a good deal of work and time. Now ask yourself, how well do you communicate with God?
In Jeremiah 33, God tells the prophet, “Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” The word for “call” here means a deep and serious request, and is sometimes used to describe the roars of animals. When God tells Jeremiah to call out to Him, he certainly does not intend it to be shallow and half-hearted. I should ask myself, have I called out to God in this way?
I communicate well with my wife because we talk on a daily basis. I may not communicate with God well because I have not put the same amount of effort into talking with Him.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
How well would you communicate with someone if you did not speak their language? If you wanted to talk to them, how much effort would it take to communicate? No doubt it would take a good deal of work and time. Now ask yourself, how well do you communicate with God?
In Jeremiah 33, God tells the prophet, “Call to me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” The word for “call” here means a deep and serious request, and is sometimes used to describe the roars of animals. When God tells Jeremiah to call out to Him, he certainly does not intend it to be shallow and half-hearted. I should ask myself, have I called out to God in this way?
I communicate well with my wife because we talk on a daily basis. I may not communicate with God well because I have not put the same amount of effort into talking with Him.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Reading and Images, Redux
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
You should never underestimate the advantages of reading a good book. Learning to read good books trains and develops the mind and the soul in ways that nothing else can. In his book, Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?, Rick Nanez makes the case that Christians need to return to reading in order to more fully develop the gifts God has given each of us. Because we live in a world saturated with images, our minds learn to process information in superficial ways. We are accustomed to break-neck pacing in commercials and even our evening news casts assume you have little to no attention span as a ticker constantly displays tiny chunks of information not at all related to what the anchor is talking about.
But when you read, you force your mind to follow a train of thought and remain focused on a single idea. As a result, reading helps develops our ability to reason well. This faculty is especially important for Christians-we are, after all, people of The Book.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
You should never underestimate the advantages of reading a good book. Learning to read good books trains and develops the mind and the soul in ways that nothing else can. In his book, Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?, Rick Nanez makes the case that Christians need to return to reading in order to more fully develop the gifts God has given each of us. Because we live in a world saturated with images, our minds learn to process information in superficial ways. We are accustomed to break-neck pacing in commercials and even our evening news casts assume you have little to no attention span as a ticker constantly displays tiny chunks of information not at all related to what the anchor is talking about.
But when you read, you force your mind to follow a train of thought and remain focused on a single idea. As a result, reading helps develops our ability to reason well. This faculty is especially important for Christians-we are, after all, people of The Book.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Beckwith, Tenure, and ID
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
The controversy over Intelligent Design continues to swirll, not only in public school systems, but in the noteable university of Baylor, as well. Francis Beckwith, a professor known for his prolific writing and recognized expertise on church/state issues, has recently had his tenure blocked in large part because of his support of Intelligent Design. This basically means the school is trying to squeeze him out of his job.
The reasons officially stated by Baylor have been uncovered as either false or disingenuous, and what the controversy boils down to is that a handful of influential people don’t want defenders of Intelligent Design at their school.
It is always ironic to find these cases where academic freedom flows in only one direction. More and more Intelligent Design is becoming a rigorous and serious field of scientific inquiry, but many people are still afraid of its consequences. For them, we simply cannot have professors who believe there is a Creator, even if the evidence points in that direction.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
The controversy over Intelligent Design continues to swirll, not only in public school systems, but in the noteable university of Baylor, as well. Francis Beckwith, a professor known for his prolific writing and recognized expertise on church/state issues, has recently had his tenure blocked in large part because of his support of Intelligent Design. This basically means the school is trying to squeeze him out of his job.
The reasons officially stated by Baylor have been uncovered as either false or disingenuous, and what the controversy boils down to is that a handful of influential people don’t want defenders of Intelligent Design at their school.
It is always ironic to find these cases where academic freedom flows in only one direction. More and more Intelligent Design is becoming a rigorous and serious field of scientific inquiry, but many people are still afraid of its consequences. For them, we simply cannot have professors who believe there is a Creator, even if the evidence points in that direction.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Screening Babies for Gender
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
If you could genetically screen your next child, what might be some good reasons to do so? Scientists can now screen for many harmful diseases and potential problems, and a growing population of parents is screening embryos so their children will not be born with problems such as cystic fibrosis. But an alarming number of parents are beginning to screen embryos based on gender.
According to a recent study, as many as 42 percent of the clinics that provide this kind of service to parents performed the screening purely for gender purposes.
When parents select their babies just because they are a boy or a girl, it reflects the narcissism rampant in our culture today. For these parents, having children is more about them than it is for the kids. What is next? Should we start rejecting children for their hair or eye color? In this kind of Brave New World, Christians need to stand up for God’s kind of unconditional love.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
If you could genetically screen your next child, what might be some good reasons to do so? Scientists can now screen for many harmful diseases and potential problems, and a growing population of parents is screening embryos so their children will not be born with problems such as cystic fibrosis. But an alarming number of parents are beginning to screen embryos based on gender.
According to a recent study, as many as 42 percent of the clinics that provide this kind of service to parents performed the screening purely for gender purposes.
When parents select their babies just because they are a boy or a girl, it reflects the narcissism rampant in our culture today. For these parents, having children is more about them than it is for the kids. What is next? Should we start rejecting children for their hair or eye color? In this kind of Brave New World, Christians need to stand up for God’s kind of unconditional love.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Shaping Worldview-The Body of Christ: Redux
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
When we struggle to learn how to live out a Christian worldview, one discipline can be of great help to us, but is often neglected. The community of the Church-the body of Christ-can be an invaluable tool in shaping us into disciples.
In the fellowship of believers we can be sharpened, as the Proverb states, “as iron sharpens iron.” Another believer can help me see things in a way I have not yet considered, or they can help correct a problem with my take on Scripture. Hearing God’s word preached each week is an encouragement to me and can help me see things the way God sees things.
According to Scripture, it is very good when the church dwells together in unity; the early church devoted themselves to teaching and fellowship; we build each other up as we are healthy members of the body; and we should not neglect gathering together. Your church is a great place to learn to be like Christ.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
When we struggle to learn how to live out a Christian worldview, one discipline can be of great help to us, but is often neglected. The community of the Church-the body of Christ-can be an invaluable tool in shaping us into disciples.
In the fellowship of believers we can be sharpened, as the Proverb states, “as iron sharpens iron.” Another believer can help me see things in a way I have not yet considered, or they can help correct a problem with my take on Scripture. Hearing God’s word preached each week is an encouragement to me and can help me see things the way God sees things.
According to Scripture, it is very good when the church dwells together in unity; the early church devoted themselves to teaching and fellowship; we build each other up as we are healthy members of the body; and we should not neglect gathering together. Your church is a great place to learn to be like Christ.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Jer 32-A Prayer for the Confused
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
When you go to God in prayer and have something to ask of him, how does your prayer usually begin? When you need something from God, what is typical of the content and structure of your prayer? If you are anything like me, you usually spend your time with God asking for things. There is nothing wrong with this kind of prayer, but we can learn something from the prophet Jeremiah. In chapter 32, he is confused about a real estate transaction and wants clarification from God.
We should note, though, that his actual request is at the end of his prayer. Jeremiah first spends several minutes praising God and declaring his glory. By focusing his prayer in this way, he put his attention on what was important—on God and not his confusion. This kind of focus in my prayer life can not only change my perspective but can bring a powerful measure of peace to my soul. When you pray this week, try beginning with God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
When you go to God in prayer and have something to ask of him, how does your prayer usually begin? When you need something from God, what is typical of the content and structure of your prayer? If you are anything like me, you usually spend your time with God asking for things. There is nothing wrong with this kind of prayer, but we can learn something from the prophet Jeremiah. In chapter 32, he is confused about a real estate transaction and wants clarification from God.
We should note, though, that his actual request is at the end of his prayer. Jeremiah first spends several minutes praising God and declaring his glory. By focusing his prayer in this way, he put his attention on what was important—on God and not his confusion. This kind of focus in my prayer life can not only change my perspective but can bring a powerful measure of peace to my soul. When you pray this week, try beginning with God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Williard-The Great Omission: Sinning
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Has it ever bothered you, if you are a follower of Christ, that you often don’t see the moral transformation in your life you think you should see? I imagine we all find ourselves dealing with this frustration from time to time. Dallas Willard, in his book, The Great Omission, notes that, “We want to do good, but we are prepared, ready, to do evil.” In other words there is a part of us that wants to act like Christ but there is a stronger part of us that is always ready to rebel whenever the situation requires it.
Willard notes that unless we are prepared to become apprentices in the Kingdom of God ready to put into practice the words of Christ, we will remain locked in moral defeat. If, however, we are ready to actually act out the words of Christ and apply them to every day life we will find that we begin to better understand ourselves and the Kingdom of God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Has it ever bothered you, if you are a follower of Christ, that you often don’t see the moral transformation in your life you think you should see? I imagine we all find ourselves dealing with this frustration from time to time. Dallas Willard, in his book, The Great Omission, notes that, “We want to do good, but we are prepared, ready, to do evil.” In other words there is a part of us that wants to act like Christ but there is a stronger part of us that is always ready to rebel whenever the situation requires it.
Willard notes that unless we are prepared to become apprentices in the Kingdom of God ready to put into practice the words of Christ, we will remain locked in moral defeat. If, however, we are ready to actually act out the words of Christ and apply them to every day life we will find that we begin to better understand ourselves and the Kingdom of God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Williard-Great Omission: Discipleship
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Dallas Willard’s new book, The Great Omission, opens with this observation: “The word ‘disciple’ occurs 269 times in the New Testament. ‘Christian’ is found three times and was first introduced to refer precisely to disciples of Jesus….The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples.” Part of Willard’s point in this book is to rejoin two concepts that are often pulled apart. To be a Christian is to be a disciple.
Discipleship is not reserved for the super spiritual. In fact, the act of being a follower of Christ is the first and most fundamental request made of believers in the New Testament. As far as the early church was concerned being a disciple was not optional if you wanted to become a Christian. Their point of view was that their entire lives belonged to Christ.
Have I become stuck in a rut where I am a Christian in name but not lifestyle? Do I try to follow Christ’s example with every breath?
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Dallas Willard’s new book, The Great Omission, opens with this observation: “The word ‘disciple’ occurs 269 times in the New Testament. ‘Christian’ is found three times and was first introduced to refer precisely to disciples of Jesus….The New Testament is a book about disciples, by disciples, and for disciples.” Part of Willard’s point in this book is to rejoin two concepts that are often pulled apart. To be a Christian is to be a disciple.
Discipleship is not reserved for the super spiritual. In fact, the act of being a follower of Christ is the first and most fundamental request made of believers in the New Testament. As far as the early church was concerned being a disciple was not optional if you wanted to become a Christian. Their point of view was that their entire lives belonged to Christ.
Have I become stuck in a rut where I am a Christian in name but not lifestyle? Do I try to follow Christ’s example with every breath?
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Ruth 2-Redux
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
How does God answer prayer? Well, in the life of Ruth, we read Naomi's prayer over her that God would help her find a homeland. We also read Boaz's prayer over Ruth that God would repay her for her kindness to his relative Naomi.
As it turns out, Ruth did find a home-it was Naomi’s. And Ruth was repaid for her kindness-when she married Boaz. In both cases, God used Naomi and Boaz to answer their own prayers.
From time to time we fall into a rut when we think God will work something out for the people we pray for by some other means we do not know or see. We often pray not expecting to be the person God uses to answer prayer. But as we see with Naomi and Boaz, God will often use us as His way of answering our prayers. Be alert-God may be answering prayer through you and your faithfulness.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
How does God answer prayer? Well, in the life of Ruth, we read Naomi's prayer over her that God would help her find a homeland. We also read Boaz's prayer over Ruth that God would repay her for her kindness to his relative Naomi.
As it turns out, Ruth did find a home-it was Naomi’s. And Ruth was repaid for her kindness-when she married Boaz. In both cases, God used Naomi and Boaz to answer their own prayers.
From time to time we fall into a rut when we think God will work something out for the people we pray for by some other means we do not know or see. We often pray not expecting to be the person God uses to answer prayer. But as we see with Naomi and Boaz, God will often use us as His way of answering our prayers. Be alert-God may be answering prayer through you and your faithfulness.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Wilberforce-The Movie
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In February of 2007, Walden media will release a film titled, “Amazing Grace.” It is the story of William Wilberforce and the British abolition movement. In case you did not know, a large part of why England abolished the slave trade in the early nineteenth century is the work of Wilberforce and his colleagues in Parliament.
Still referred to as the “Renewer of Society” in England, Wilberforce was a deeply committed Christian and a tireless voice in his chosen profession—politics—for the cause of abolition. He is one of the more recent examples of a follower of Christ who was so overcome with his Savior and do driven by his grasp of theology and morality that he literally changed the world. I often wonder where the next Wilberforce is, and what they will change. The answer to that question begins with how gripped we are by Christ and how motivated we are by our doctrine and God’s ethical requirements.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
In February of 2007, Walden media will release a film titled, “Amazing Grace.” It is the story of William Wilberforce and the British abolition movement. In case you did not know, a large part of why England abolished the slave trade in the early nineteenth century is the work of Wilberforce and his colleagues in Parliament.
Still referred to as the “Renewer of Society” in England, Wilberforce was a deeply committed Christian and a tireless voice in his chosen profession—politics—for the cause of abolition. He is one of the more recent examples of a follower of Christ who was so overcome with his Savior and do driven by his grasp of theology and morality that he literally changed the world. I often wonder where the next Wilberforce is, and what they will change. The answer to that question begins with how gripped we are by Christ and how motivated we are by our doctrine and God’s ethical requirements.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Chesterton and Hope-Redux
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger.
Hope is a neglected virtue. When is the last time you reflected on hope or took steps to build the virtue of hope in your life? We hear a lot about faith and love, but not much about hope.
As a virtue, it is an interesting character trait in that we need it the most when it seems the most unreasonable to have it. It is easy to be hopeful when all is good and the future is bright, but hope is built into our hearts and minds when times are tough and the future is uncertain. The English author G.K. Chesterton once said, “For practical purposes it is at the hopeless moment that we require the hopeful man, and the virtue either does not exist at all, or it begins to exist at that moment. Exactly at the instant hope ceases to be reasonable it begins to be useful.” Ask God for the blessing of hope today, no matter your circumstances.
This has been Every Thought Captive a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Hope is a neglected virtue. When is the last time you reflected on hope or took steps to build the virtue of hope in your life? We hear a lot about faith and love, but not much about hope.
As a virtue, it is an interesting character trait in that we need it the most when it seems the most unreasonable to have it. It is easy to be hopeful when all is good and the future is bright, but hope is built into our hearts and minds when times are tough and the future is uncertain. The English author G.K. Chesterton once said, “For practical purposes it is at the hopeless moment that we require the hopeful man, and the virtue either does not exist at all, or it begins to exist at that moment. Exactly at the instant hope ceases to be reasonable it begins to be useful.” Ask God for the blessing of hope today, no matter your circumstances.
This has been Every Thought Captive a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Paying Attention
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
The things I give my attention to have a bearing on the shape of my soul. Paul tells us as much in Philippians 4:8 when he says we should think about the things that are true, honorable, just, excellent, praiseworthy, and so on.
Contrast Paul’s list with your typical night on TV. The kinds of images and ideas presented there sell to a broad and bored audience-very little of it is honorable, praiseworthy, or even true. Much of it is contrived to appeal to the lowest instincts in our natures so we don’t have to stretch ourselves. Dwelling on these things does not do much good for our souls. But Paul’s list does. When I focus myself on Paul’s list I shape my mind and heart to the kinds of things that come from the heart and mind of God.
Either I can sink to a lowest common denominator, or I can turn myself toward the things in this world that reflect God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
The things I give my attention to have a bearing on the shape of my soul. Paul tells us as much in Philippians 4:8 when he says we should think about the things that are true, honorable, just, excellent, praiseworthy, and so on.
Contrast Paul’s list with your typical night on TV. The kinds of images and ideas presented there sell to a broad and bored audience-very little of it is honorable, praiseworthy, or even true. Much of it is contrived to appeal to the lowest instincts in our natures so we don’t have to stretch ourselves. Dwelling on these things does not do much good for our souls. But Paul’s list does. When I focus myself on Paul’s list I shape my mind and heart to the kinds of things that come from the heart and mind of God.
Either I can sink to a lowest common denominator, or I can turn myself toward the things in this world that reflect God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Embryos To Order-Loss of Virtue
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
The Abraham Center of Life, an embryo bank in Texas, is on the cutting edge of both medical technology and cultural change. The Center not only allows parents to adopt spare embryos, but it allows them to custom order children as well. Think of the possibilities. A parent could imagine the best life for their child and then pick the smartest, tallest, strongest, and fastest genes to create their new child.
There are dangers lurking in the darkness, however. This kind of consumerism will corrode our virtue. Take love, for instance. Unconditional love, the kind God shows you, is often expressed in moments of failure and disappointment. We love the best when we love the imperfect. If we begin to custom order our children, we will train ourselves to love children the way we like our hamburgers-they are good only when we have them our way. In stark contrast to this kind of selfishness is the love God shows me-a broken but sincere child of God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
The Abraham Center of Life, an embryo bank in Texas, is on the cutting edge of both medical technology and cultural change. The Center not only allows parents to adopt spare embryos, but it allows them to custom order children as well. Think of the possibilities. A parent could imagine the best life for their child and then pick the smartest, tallest, strongest, and fastest genes to create their new child.
There are dangers lurking in the darkness, however. This kind of consumerism will corrode our virtue. Take love, for instance. Unconditional love, the kind God shows you, is often expressed in moments of failure and disappointment. We love the best when we love the imperfect. If we begin to custom order our children, we will train ourselves to love children the way we like our hamburgers-they are good only when we have them our way. In stark contrast to this kind of selfishness is the love God shows me-a broken but sincere child of God.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Designer Embryos
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In Texas there is a human embryo bank, the Abraham Center of Life, where prospective parents not only can adopt embryos, but in the future will be able to custom order them as well. According to Wesley J. Smith, a fellow at the Discovery Institute, the Center will allow potential parents to file through their list of donor parents, pick the ones that fit their ideal profile, and pay for their genetic material.
Something is wrong when we start treating our children the way we treat our fast food. After all, who decides what “better” traits are? How tall do you want your child? Is that different for boys and girls? What level of intelligence is right? What skin color would you choose? When we custom design embryos we force ourselves onto our children and begin to chose their futures for them long before they are born. Our culture needs to be careful and reflect before we turn our children into commodities.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
In Texas there is a human embryo bank, the Abraham Center of Life, where prospective parents not only can adopt embryos, but in the future will be able to custom order them as well. According to Wesley J. Smith, a fellow at the Discovery Institute, the Center will allow potential parents to file through their list of donor parents, pick the ones that fit their ideal profile, and pay for their genetic material.
Something is wrong when we start treating our children the way we treat our fast food. After all, who decides what “better” traits are? How tall do you want your child? Is that different for boys and girls? What level of intelligence is right? What skin color would you choose? When we custom design embryos we force ourselves onto our children and begin to chose their futures for them long before they are born. Our culture needs to be careful and reflect before we turn our children into commodities.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Twentysomethings and Church
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
One of the more disturbing trends in the American church is how we lose the majority of young adults between their high school graduation and their early thirties. According to Barna, as many as 52% of them simply leave the church. Several pastors and authors explain this loss in terms of disillusionment-they argue that twentysomethings are disillusioned with the failed promises of the church.
One angle that can’t be ignored is the fact that every year adolescence lasts longer into people’s twenties. In other words, what sociologist label adolescence-a teenaged mentality and maturity level-is apparent in older adults all the time. Young adults are in general immature longer than they used to be.
Could it be that we are too used to having things exactly the way we want it? It is possible that we all need to learn that church will never be perfect, and that believers need to be a part of it as a matter of faithfulness and maturity no matter its flaws.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.
One of the more disturbing trends in the American church is how we lose the majority of young adults between their high school graduation and their early thirties. According to Barna, as many as 52% of them simply leave the church. Several pastors and authors explain this loss in terms of disillusionment-they argue that twentysomethings are disillusioned with the failed promises of the church.
One angle that can’t be ignored is the fact that every year adolescence lasts longer into people’s twenties. In other words, what sociologist label adolescence-a teenaged mentality and maturity level-is apparent in older adults all the time. Young adults are in general immature longer than they used to be.
Could it be that we are too used to having things exactly the way we want it? It is possible that we all need to learn that church will never be perfect, and that believers need to be a part of it as a matter of faithfulness and maturity no matter its flaws.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.
Jeremiah 33-The Lord Is My Righteousness
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Near the end of Jeremiah 33, God declares to his people that when the Messiah comes all his promises will be fulfilled. This Messiah will be a legitimate and righteous king ruling with justice. And after God’s work is done in his people, their city will now be named, “The Lord is our righteousness.”
This name change is significant. Up to this point Judah has been famous for its creativity in rebellion and copious ability to sin. But when God is through with them, they will be known for His character instead of theirs. The Lord is our righteousness. Something very similar happens in my life as I give it over to Christ. Before becoming a Christian, I was a slave to my flesh. But after Christ completes his work, I can be known for his character and not my own. As a follower of Christ, I am not after my own improvement or goodness, but the life of Christ. Christ is my righteousness.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.
Near the end of Jeremiah 33, God declares to his people that when the Messiah comes all his promises will be fulfilled. This Messiah will be a legitimate and righteous king ruling with justice. And after God’s work is done in his people, their city will now be named, “The Lord is our righteousness.”
This name change is significant. Up to this point Judah has been famous for its creativity in rebellion and copious ability to sin. But when God is through with them, they will be known for His character instead of theirs. The Lord is our righteousness. Something very similar happens in my life as I give it over to Christ. Before becoming a Christian, I was a slave to my flesh. But after Christ completes his work, I can be known for his character and not my own. As a follower of Christ, I am not after my own improvement or goodness, but the life of Christ. Christ is my righteousness.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
New Bumper
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information, please visit quaillake.org.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Reading: Chambers' Advice
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
During Oswald Chambers’ life, he corresponded with a lot of people, many of whom were ministers. When one minister confided that he was drained, Chambers asked him what he was reading. After his friend responded that all he read was the Bible and books directly related to it, Chambers told him, “there’s your problem.” His wise advice to his friend was to fill out his reading with the great books of philosophy, theology and the like. Chambers’ reason was that those books would deepen the minister’s understanding of human nature, culture, and even better his ability to communicate the Gospel of Christ.
Chambers was right. Reading opens entirely new worlds of understanding to us that we simply can’t get through our more typical forms of media. Oswald Chambers carried with him books ranging from Balzac to Plato, and his life and ministry were all the richer for it. Sink yourself into the rich soils of great thinkers and pick up a good book.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor of Quail Lake Community Truth and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
During Oswald Chambers’ life, he corresponded with a lot of people, many of whom were ministers. When one minister confided that he was drained, Chambers asked him what he was reading. After his friend responded that all he read was the Bible and books directly related to it, Chambers told him, “there’s your problem.” His wise advice to his friend was to fill out his reading with the great books of philosophy, theology and the like. Chambers’ reason was that those books would deepen the minister’s understanding of human nature, culture, and even better his ability to communicate the Gospel of Christ.
Chambers was right. Reading opens entirely new worlds of understanding to us that we simply can’t get through our more typical forms of media. Oswald Chambers carried with him books ranging from Balzac to Plato, and his life and ministry were all the richer for it. Sink yourself into the rich soils of great thinkers and pick up a good book.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor of Quail Lake Community Truth and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Reading-The Corrosion of Images
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
You should never underestimate the advantages of reading a good book. Learning to read good books trains and develops the mind and the soul in ways that nothing else can. In his book, Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?, Rick Nanez makes the case that Christians need to return to reading in order to more fully develop the gifts God has given each of us. Because we live in a world saturated with images, our minds learn to process information in superficial ways. We are accustomed to break-neck pacing in commercials and even our evening news casts assume you have little to no attention span as a ticker constantly displays tiny chunks of information not at all related to what the anchor is talking about.
But when you read, you force your mind to follow a train of thought and remain focused on a single idea. This faculty is especially important for Christians-we are, after all, people of The Book.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor of Quail Lake Community Truth and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
You should never underestimate the advantages of reading a good book. Learning to read good books trains and develops the mind and the soul in ways that nothing else can. In his book, Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?, Rick Nanez makes the case that Christians need to return to reading in order to more fully develop the gifts God has given each of us. Because we live in a world saturated with images, our minds learn to process information in superficial ways. We are accustomed to break-neck pacing in commercials and even our evening news casts assume you have little to no attention span as a ticker constantly displays tiny chunks of information not at all related to what the anchor is talking about.
But when you read, you force your mind to follow a train of thought and remain focused on a single idea. This faculty is especially important for Christians-we are, after all, people of The Book.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor of Quail Lake Community Truth and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Colson and Emergent Truth
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In a recent article in Christianity Today, Chuck Colson details a correspondence he recently had with a young theologian who was enamored with a new movement within the evangelical church. The theologian defended a popular notion that the highest truth is relational and not something that can simply be known.
Colson does a good job of exposing that idea as one that sounds good on the surface but is hollow once one goes a bit deeper. If the deepest truth about Christ is relational, is it true that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life if we never experience him? Of course it is-Jesus is the Truth whether we relate to him or not. Anything we experience in our relationship with Christ is a result of the basic fact that he is Lord.
This kind of half-truth is the most dangerous kind. It can lead us down some unorthodox paths if we believe that truth is based on relationships.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor of Quail Lake Community Truth and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
In a recent article in Christianity Today, Chuck Colson details a correspondence he recently had with a young theologian who was enamored with a new movement within the evangelical church. The theologian defended a popular notion that the highest truth is relational and not something that can simply be known.
Colson does a good job of exposing that idea as one that sounds good on the surface but is hollow once one goes a bit deeper. If the deepest truth about Christ is relational, is it true that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life if we never experience him? Of course it is-Jesus is the Truth whether we relate to him or not. Anything we experience in our relationship with Christ is a result of the basic fact that he is Lord.
This kind of half-truth is the most dangerous kind. It can lead us down some unorthodox paths if we believe that truth is based on relationships.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor of Quail Lake Community Truth and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Stem Cell Veto
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
President Bush used his first presidential veto recently to knock down a bill allowing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The bill had a surprising number of supporters in both the Senate and the House, but as we all know, consensus is not a gauge of truth. The bill, if it became law, would allow the destruction of up to thousands of frozen embryos for the use of their stem cells in research.
If you believe life begins at conception then you might see this bill as destroying human lives. In predictable fashion, however, the veto is being cast in terms of science versus religion. What is not often noted is that science is not on the side of embryonic stem cells. Their uses are only potential and possibly decades away from application while non-destructive means of therapy are already available and in use. Don’t let the propaganda fool you-what is labeled as religious in this debate is also the scientific winner.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
President Bush used his first presidential veto recently to knock down a bill allowing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The bill had a surprising number of supporters in both the Senate and the House, but as we all know, consensus is not a gauge of truth. The bill, if it became law, would allow the destruction of up to thousands of frozen embryos for the use of their stem cells in research.
If you believe life begins at conception then you might see this bill as destroying human lives. In predictable fashion, however, the veto is being cast in terms of science versus religion. What is not often noted is that science is not on the side of embryonic stem cells. Their uses are only potential and possibly decades away from application while non-destructive means of therapy are already available and in use. Don’t let the propaganda fool you-what is labeled as religious in this debate is also the scientific winner.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Jeremiah 29-Salt and Light
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
How should we live as Christians in a world that is far from virtuous? This is one of the questions the Church has been struggling to answer for centuries. As far back as the first disciples and their followers, pastors and theologians have tried to answer this question for every generation since Christ. If you think we have it hard in our culture, imagine the ancient Roman society with access to our technology and media.
Each generation has to answer that question for themselves, but the basic guideline has always been the same-live in this world as if you belong to the next. Jeremiah gives exactly this advice to exiles in Babylon in chapter 29 when he tells them to build houses, plant gardens and give their children in marriage. The last thing God wants, even in a culture as pagan as Babylon or ours, is a ghetto of Christians who circle the wagons and refuse to be salt and light.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
How should we live as Christians in a world that is far from virtuous? This is one of the questions the Church has been struggling to answer for centuries. As far back as the first disciples and their followers, pastors and theologians have tried to answer this question for every generation since Christ. If you think we have it hard in our culture, imagine the ancient Roman society with access to our technology and media.
Each generation has to answer that question for themselves, but the basic guideline has always been the same-live in this world as if you belong to the next. Jeremiah gives exactly this advice to exiles in Babylon in chapter 29 when he tells them to build houses, plant gardens and give their children in marriage. The last thing God wants, even in a culture as pagan as Babylon or ours, is a ghetto of Christians who circle the wagons and refuse to be salt and light.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Jeremiah 29-A Promise To Exiles
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
If you know one verse in the book of Jeremiah, it is likely to be 29:11-“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It may be a familiar verse, but it is the kind of verse you should know.
The problem with familiar verses, however, is that we sometimes lose the impact of their context. That promise was not made just to any group of people at any point in time-it was a promise from God to people who had been forcibly removed from their homes as slaves-it was a promise to exiles. God promised His people that He would be at work for them during the most difficult time in their lives. God promises you and me that when we see no hope, he has a future for us if we will only seek after Him with all we have.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
If you know one verse in the book of Jeremiah, it is likely to be 29:11-“I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” It may be a familiar verse, but it is the kind of verse you should know.
The problem with familiar verses, however, is that we sometimes lose the impact of their context. That promise was not made just to any group of people at any point in time-it was a promise from God to people who had been forcibly removed from their homes as slaves-it was a promise to exiles. God promised His people that He would be at work for them during the most difficult time in their lives. God promises you and me that when we see no hope, he has a future for us if we will only seek after Him with all we have.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Monday, July 24, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Reading Old Books-Lewis
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Not counting the Bible, how old was the last book you read? Chances are it was written in the last few years. When was the last time you read a book written more that 50 years ago? 100 years? 400 years? In his essay, “On The Reading of Old Books,” C.S. Lewis encourages us to look to the roots of Christianity and the books written by our forefathers to better understand our present age and our own faith.
Reading old books gives us perspective on our current situation-we understand better where our culture came from and why it has the shape it does. It also helps cure us of chronological snobbery-we are not the only intelligent people to write on culture and the church.
Passing on Lewis’ advice, I encourage you to expand the type of book you typically read and pick up something written at least 100 years ago. You might find a treasure where you currently see dust.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Not counting the Bible, how old was the last book you read? Chances are it was written in the last few years. When was the last time you read a book written more that 50 years ago? 100 years? 400 years? In his essay, “On The Reading of Old Books,” C.S. Lewis encourages us to look to the roots of Christianity and the books written by our forefathers to better understand our present age and our own faith.
Reading old books gives us perspective on our current situation-we understand better where our culture came from and why it has the shape it does. It also helps cure us of chronological snobbery-we are not the only intelligent people to write on culture and the church.
Passing on Lewis’ advice, I encourage you to expand the type of book you typically read and pick up something written at least 100 years ago. You might find a treasure where you currently see dust.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Modern Science-Nanez
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Is Christian theology an adversary or friend of modern science? In the last few decades evangelicals have tended to answer in terms of adversary, but when we take a look at the history of modern science much of it was birthed from the hearts and minds of deeply committed Christians. In his recent book, Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?, Rick Nanez writes convincingly that science is not only beholden to a Christian worldview, but that we need to begin seeing modern science as a legitimate avenue for the Christian mind.
I agree with Nanez when he argues that we need to contribute to the world of modern science and add our worldview to fields that are changing the world. He writes that we must, “find our voice and let that voice be heard on the issues that, with or without our involvement, are affecting and will continue to affect the lives of billions.” So be it.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Is Christian theology an adversary or friend of modern science? In the last few decades evangelicals have tended to answer in terms of adversary, but when we take a look at the history of modern science much of it was birthed from the hearts and minds of deeply committed Christians. In his recent book, Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?, Rick Nanez writes convincingly that science is not only beholden to a Christian worldview, but that we need to begin seeing modern science as a legitimate avenue for the Christian mind.
I agree with Nanez when he argues that we need to contribute to the world of modern science and add our worldview to fields that are changing the world. He writes that we must, “find our voice and let that voice be heard on the issues that, with or without our involvement, are affecting and will continue to affect the lives of billions.” So be it.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Naturalism and Ethics
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
What happens when we remove God from ethical reflection? If God does not exist, what happens to morality? In his recent book, The Right Darwin, Carson Holloway argues that it is hard, if not impossible, to judge ethical behavior or set ethical standards if God does not exist. In a system like Darwinistic Naturalism, all measures of ethical behavior are reduced to individuals and what comes naturally. As a result, we cannot necessarily judge individual humans for their behavior by pointing to a moral law or a moral gauge, and therefore it is hard to judge right from wrong behavior.
In essence when a Moral Lawgiver is removed from the system, moral laws that apply to all people disappear as well. But this is not our inherent sense of ethics and responsibility. We rightly believe we are responsible to an ethical system higher than ourselves, and that points us toward the existence of a Moral Law giver.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
What happens when we remove God from ethical reflection? If God does not exist, what happens to morality? In his recent book, The Right Darwin, Carson Holloway argues that it is hard, if not impossible, to judge ethical behavior or set ethical standards if God does not exist. In a system like Darwinistic Naturalism, all measures of ethical behavior are reduced to individuals and what comes naturally. As a result, we cannot necessarily judge individual humans for their behavior by pointing to a moral law or a moral gauge, and therefore it is hard to judge right from wrong behavior.
In essence when a Moral Lawgiver is removed from the system, moral laws that apply to all people disappear as well. But this is not our inherent sense of ethics and responsibility. We rightly believe we are responsible to an ethical system higher than ourselves, and that points us toward the existence of a Moral Law giver.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor of Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Oswald Chambers1
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In his book, Abandoned to God, David McCasland details the life of Oswald Chambers, the well-known author of the devotional classic, My Utmost For His Highest. Well written biographies are always a wealth of information and inspiration, and this one is no exception. Oswald Chamber’s life was full of unforeseen twists and turns, and through it all he remained focused on God. This was especially true during an especially dark time in his life when he went through what he called his dark night of the soul.
It turns out it is fairly common for many Christians to go through an especially difficult time spiritually as they strive to draw closer to God. Through his dark night Chambers struggled with his own shortcoming and sin and wondered if God would actually use a person like him. But as we all know, because of his faithfulness and God’s extreme grace, God continues to use Chambers to enrich and change lives today.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church, and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
In his book, Abandoned to God, David McCasland details the life of Oswald Chambers, the well-known author of the devotional classic, My Utmost For His Highest. Well written biographies are always a wealth of information and inspiration, and this one is no exception. Oswald Chamber’s life was full of unforeseen twists and turns, and through it all he remained focused on God. This was especially true during an especially dark time in his life when he went through what he called his dark night of the soul.
It turns out it is fairly common for many Christians to go through an especially difficult time spiritually as they strive to draw closer to God. Through his dark night Chambers struggled with his own shortcoming and sin and wondered if God would actually use a person like him. But as we all know, because of his faithfulness and God’s extreme grace, God continues to use Chambers to enrich and change lives today.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church, and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Patriarchal Trinity
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
There have been times in the life of the Church when popular opinion has driven doctrinal choices and when the latest cultural fads have become the foundations for how and why we do church. Each time that happened in our past, the branch of the church that swallowed the pill whole faded significantly within a couple of generations.
Enter a recent proclamation from a major American denomination regarding the labels we put on the Trinity. Instead of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” the proposal wanted to add descriptors such as, “Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, and Life-Giving Womb.” Why do we need to expand the way we talk about the Trinity? Because, according to the document, the traditional language is patriarchal.
This is a text book case of a segment of the Church giving into bad theology dictated by the masses and not the Master. May we ever have the courage to listen to His voice above the din of theirs.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church, and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
There have been times in the life of the Church when popular opinion has driven doctrinal choices and when the latest cultural fads have become the foundations for how and why we do church. Each time that happened in our past, the branch of the church that swallowed the pill whole faded significantly within a couple of generations.
Enter a recent proclamation from a major American denomination regarding the labels we put on the Trinity. Instead of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” the proposal wanted to add descriptors such as, “Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child, and Life-Giving Womb.” Why do we need to expand the way we talk about the Trinity? Because, according to the document, the traditional language is patriarchal.
This is a text book case of a segment of the Church giving into bad theology dictated by the masses and not the Master. May we ever have the courage to listen to His voice above the din of theirs.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church, and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Stem Cells and Mice
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
The world of stem cell science continues to spin. Scientists in Europe have given birth to a generation of lab mice created from embryonic stem cells. This is an especially ironic twist of scientific fate. In order to retrieve embryonic stem cells from mice, fetal mice need to be destroyed. But no matter-in what is heralded as a leap in the technology, scientists gave birth to brand new mice. Baby mice were destroyed so we could learn we could create new ones.
This is the kind of sloppy reasoning that takes place when ethical thought does not precede technological advance. The ability to utilize embryonic stem cells to create new life does not justify taking lives to harvest the cells. And it is a good reason to argue that more Christians need to be involved in the turbulent currents of bioethics. Instead of leaving this field to its own devices, we need to be an informed and influential voice in the debate.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church, and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
The world of stem cell science continues to spin. Scientists in Europe have given birth to a generation of lab mice created from embryonic stem cells. This is an especially ironic twist of scientific fate. In order to retrieve embryonic stem cells from mice, fetal mice need to be destroyed. But no matter-in what is heralded as a leap in the technology, scientists gave birth to brand new mice. Baby mice were destroyed so we could learn we could create new ones.
This is the kind of sloppy reasoning that takes place when ethical thought does not precede technological advance. The ability to utilize embryonic stem cells to create new life does not justify taking lives to harvest the cells. And it is a good reason to argue that more Christians need to be involved in the turbulent currents of bioethics. Instead of leaving this field to its own devices, we need to be an informed and influential voice in the debate.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church, and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Jude 5-7 Consequences
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Reading the book if Jude is sometimes a little like arriving early to the symphony when all the musicians are warming up. What we hear is a cacophony of sound until the conductor arrives on stage and raises his baton-then we have symphony. In verses 5-7, Jude lists a few familiar and not so familiar examples of those who have suffered for their sins. We often get hung up on the strange references in the passage and then we miss the symphony.
Despite some of its novelty, the point in this passage is rather straight-forward. We know that false teachers had entered the church and were preaching a life of license without the need for repentance. Jude’s point is that rebellion against God has its consequences. God’s loving act of forgiveness does not allow us to be shielded from the results of our behavior. He loves us enough to let us learn that our actions sometimes have rotten consequences.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Reading the book if Jude is sometimes a little like arriving early to the symphony when all the musicians are warming up. What we hear is a cacophony of sound until the conductor arrives on stage and raises his baton-then we have symphony. In verses 5-7, Jude lists a few familiar and not so familiar examples of those who have suffered for their sins. We often get hung up on the strange references in the passage and then we miss the symphony.
Despite some of its novelty, the point in this passage is rather straight-forward. We know that false teachers had entered the church and were preaching a life of license without the need for repentance. Jude’s point is that rebellion against God has its consequences. God’s loving act of forgiveness does not allow us to be shielded from the results of our behavior. He loves us enough to let us learn that our actions sometimes have rotten consequences.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Individualized Spirituality
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Spirituality without religion is popular in our American culture. We like the idea of having a grasp on eternal life and ultimate reality without being told what to believe by some institution. The researcher Barna recently noted how popular it is to believe in our own, individualized forms of god, and as a recent example the LA Times columnist Anne Lamott described herself as a Christian and promptly betrayed a very non Christian view of life and death.
Why are we tempted to believe that our own visions of god are superior to His revelation of Himself? Would I let my children get away with their own mathematical machinations and call them correct? Do I think my own imagination about quantum physics is deeper than Einstein’s? Of course not, but when it comes to religion, the concept of God touches our souls in deep ways and we want to devise ways to tell him what to do instead of the other way around.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Spirituality without religion is popular in our American culture. We like the idea of having a grasp on eternal life and ultimate reality without being told what to believe by some institution. The researcher Barna recently noted how popular it is to believe in our own, individualized forms of god, and as a recent example the LA Times columnist Anne Lamott described herself as a Christian and promptly betrayed a very non Christian view of life and death.
Why are we tempted to believe that our own visions of god are superior to His revelation of Himself? Would I let my children get away with their own mathematical machinations and call them correct? Do I think my own imagination about quantum physics is deeper than Einstein’s? Of course not, but when it comes to religion, the concept of God touches our souls in deep ways and we want to devise ways to tell him what to do instead of the other way around.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Friend Assisted Suicide 3
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
The LA Times columnist, Anne Lamott killed a man. She admitted as much in her article, “At Death’s Window.” The man was a friend dying of cancer who wanted a way out. Lamott concocted a cocktail of prescription drugs and fed it to him in a bowl of applesauce. Her justification for this action should not surprise us if we have been paying attention to culture.
Lamott argued that life was nothing more than Earth school, and we were in control of whether we wanted to leave the term early: in other words, we are in control and possession of our own bodies and lives. The Supreme Court ruled the same way in 1992 by arguing that a fundamental liberty was the right to define our own concept of existence.
As a Christ-follower, my perspective is just the opposite. My life with all its twists and turns is in the hands of an all-knowing and loving God.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
The LA Times columnist, Anne Lamott killed a man. She admitted as much in her article, “At Death’s Window.” The man was a friend dying of cancer who wanted a way out. Lamott concocted a cocktail of prescription drugs and fed it to him in a bowl of applesauce. Her justification for this action should not surprise us if we have been paying attention to culture.
Lamott argued that life was nothing more than Earth school, and we were in control of whether we wanted to leave the term early: in other words, we are in control and possession of our own bodies and lives. The Supreme Court ruled the same way in 1992 by arguing that a fundamental liberty was the right to define our own concept of existence.
As a Christ-follower, my perspective is just the opposite. My life with all its twists and turns is in the hands of an all-knowing and loving God.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Naturalism and Consciousness
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger.
Much is often made of the worldview conflict between Christianity and Naturalism. From time to time people try to downplay the importance of worldviews and their consequences, but this quote from a new book written by Naturalists confronting the idea of Intelligent Design should highlight the crucial nature of their differences: Our starting assumption as scientists ought to be that…consciousness has to be an illusion. In case you missed it, this leading scientist is claiming that his awareness of his own consciousness is an illusion.
An absolutely absurd conclusion to be sure, but one logically necessitated by Naturalism. If Naturalism is true, then not only does God not exist, but your mind doesn’t either and your own awareness of reality is an illusion. Simple logic and the Christian worldview say differently. If you can say, “I am not conscious,” then it follows that you are conscious.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Much is often made of the worldview conflict between Christianity and Naturalism. From time to time people try to downplay the importance of worldviews and their consequences, but this quote from a new book written by Naturalists confronting the idea of Intelligent Design should highlight the crucial nature of their differences: Our starting assumption as scientists ought to be that…consciousness has to be an illusion. In case you missed it, this leading scientist is claiming that his awareness of his own consciousness is an illusion.
An absolutely absurd conclusion to be sure, but one logically necessitated by Naturalism. If Naturalism is true, then not only does God not exist, but your mind doesn’t either and your own awareness of reality is an illusion. Simple logic and the Christian worldview say differently. If you can say, “I am not conscious,” then it follows that you are conscious.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Friend Assisted Suicide2
Welcome to Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger.
Anne Lamott, a columnist for the LA Times, opened a recent piece like this, “The man I killed did not want to die, but he no longer felt he had much of a choice.” That phrase, “The man I killed” should be shocking for the reader. The article is a recounting of her actions helping a friend commit suicide. What is more, later on in the piece Lamott tells us the man she killed was surprised to find out she considered herself a Christian and simultaneously whole-heartedly supported this plan of hers to help him die.
Her friend was right to be shocked by that revelation. Lamott’s view is that our lives are our own to dispose of when we see fit. The view of Scripture is that the believer’s life belongs to God and is surrendered to His perfect will. Suicide is no small matter, but neither is God’s love and sovereignty.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Anne Lamott, a columnist for the LA Times, opened a recent piece like this, “The man I killed did not want to die, but he no longer felt he had much of a choice.” That phrase, “The man I killed” should be shocking for the reader. The article is a recounting of her actions helping a friend commit suicide. What is more, later on in the piece Lamott tells us the man she killed was surprised to find out she considered herself a Christian and simultaneously whole-heartedly supported this plan of hers to help him die.
Her friend was right to be shocked by that revelation. Lamott’s view is that our lives are our own to dispose of when we see fit. The view of Scripture is that the believer’s life belongs to God and is surrendered to His perfect will. Suicide is no small matter, but neither is God’s love and sovereignty.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Friend Assisted Suicide
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In a recent article in the LA Times, self-proclaimed Christian Anne Lamott tells the tragic tale of the death of a friend suffering from cancer. Part of what makes the tale so tragic is that she and another friend assist in his suicide. In her piece, “At Death’s Window,” Lamott not only tells the story, she heartily supports her actions in what she calls “friend assisted suicide.”
Lamott’s so-called Christian view on death and suffering is more influenced by our American culture than by the life of Christ himself. In our past, long before medical technology could alleviate most pain and suffering, our Christian forefathers referred to Christianity as “the way of the cross.” They meant to convey the fact that believers, from time to time, may need to follow Christ into the garden and utter His words, “not my will but thine be done.”
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
In a recent article in the LA Times, self-proclaimed Christian Anne Lamott tells the tragic tale of the death of a friend suffering from cancer. Part of what makes the tale so tragic is that she and another friend assist in his suicide. In her piece, “At Death’s Window,” Lamott not only tells the story, she heartily supports her actions in what she calls “friend assisted suicide.”
Lamott’s so-called Christian view on death and suffering is more influenced by our American culture than by the life of Christ himself. In our past, long before medical technology could alleviate most pain and suffering, our Christian forefathers referred to Christianity as “the way of the cross.” They meant to convey the fact that believers, from time to time, may need to follow Christ into the garden and utter His words, “not my will but thine be done.”
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Parenthood Scorn
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
An advice columnist on Slate.com recently advised a reader who was in her 30s and recently married that she may want to reconsider her position on having children. Before she was married she didn’t want any, and now she and her husband were considering it. The backlash to that advice was vitriolic. Angry readers wrote the advice columnist and, “expressed contempt for those deluded enough to want to reproduce.”
This is one of those worldview moments when we clearly see the differences between a self-absorbed point of view informed by Darwinistic Naturalism, and one influenced by a Christian ethic and view of human nature. The angry childless readers were happy with their lives full of self-indulgent pleasures. The columnist wrote that though they saw parenthood has a mountain of diapers, they would never understand the daily and overwhelming joy of being a parent. Following Christ means we appreciate the value of all human life, even ones that may vomit on the carpet.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
An advice columnist on Slate.com recently advised a reader who was in her 30s and recently married that she may want to reconsider her position on having children. Before she was married she didn’t want any, and now she and her husband were considering it. The backlash to that advice was vitriolic. Angry readers wrote the advice columnist and, “expressed contempt for those deluded enough to want to reproduce.”
This is one of those worldview moments when we clearly see the differences between a self-absorbed point of view informed by Darwinistic Naturalism, and one influenced by a Christian ethic and view of human nature. The angry childless readers were happy with their lives full of self-indulgent pleasures. The columnist wrote that though they saw parenthood has a mountain of diapers, they would never understand the daily and overwhelming joy of being a parent. Following Christ means we appreciate the value of all human life, even ones that may vomit on the carpet.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Jer 28-Repentance and Reconciliation
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In Jeremiah 28 we have front-row seats to a confrontation between Jeremiah the prophet of God and the false prophet, Hananiah. It had to be an interesting scene there in the Temple as one very unpopular and disliked man, Jeremiah, was given a talking-to by a religious leader very popular with the people. Hananiah’s message was simple-God will bless and he will do it quickly. Jeremiah’s message was different in one very significant way-God will richly bless us after we repent, spend 70 years in exile, and turn our hearts back to God.
The vital difference between the true and false prophets was repentance. Hananiah spoke a message of blessing without responsibility, of reconciliation without repentance. His opinion, very popular with the people, was that God would bless now without repentance. But in the end, it was Jeremiah who was right about the process-God did bless, but only on the other side of a deep and profound process of repentance and reconciliation.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
In Jeremiah 28 we have front-row seats to a confrontation between Jeremiah the prophet of God and the false prophet, Hananiah. It had to be an interesting scene there in the Temple as one very unpopular and disliked man, Jeremiah, was given a talking-to by a religious leader very popular with the people. Hananiah’s message was simple-God will bless and he will do it quickly. Jeremiah’s message was different in one very significant way-God will richly bless us after we repent, spend 70 years in exile, and turn our hearts back to God.
The vital difference between the true and false prophets was repentance. Hananiah spoke a message of blessing without responsibility, of reconciliation without repentance. His opinion, very popular with the people, was that God would bless now without repentance. But in the end, it was Jeremiah who was right about the process-God did bless, but only on the other side of a deep and profound process of repentance and reconciliation.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Truth and Ice Cream
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
A Christian apologist today gives a lecture called, “Christianity is not Ice Cream.” It is a talk about truth, relativism, and what we mean when we say that Christianity is true. You see, you and a friend can argue about the best flavor of ice cream all day, your opinions can conflict, you may never convince your friend that mint chocolate chip is superior to cookie dough, but you both walk away from the discussion realizing that ice cream flavor is a matter of opinion.
Not so with Christianity. People may have different preferences about religion, and they may be deeply sincere about their tastes, but at the end of the day it is false that religion is a matter of opinion. When we say Christianity is true, we are affirming the same kind of truth when we say that 2+2=4. Christ is the way and the truth for all of us, in spite of what our opinions on the matter may be.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
A Christian apologist today gives a lecture called, “Christianity is not Ice Cream.” It is a talk about truth, relativism, and what we mean when we say that Christianity is true. You see, you and a friend can argue about the best flavor of ice cream all day, your opinions can conflict, you may never convince your friend that mint chocolate chip is superior to cookie dough, but you both walk away from the discussion realizing that ice cream flavor is a matter of opinion.
Not so with Christianity. People may have different preferences about religion, and they may be deeply sincere about their tastes, but at the end of the day it is false that religion is a matter of opinion. When we say Christianity is true, we are affirming the same kind of truth when we say that 2+2=4. Christ is the way and the truth for all of us, in spite of what our opinions on the matter may be.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Utilitarianism and Truth
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
What makes an act good? In our pluralistic culture, what kinds of political acts can qualify as good and how can we judge those kinds of things? When it comes to some of the most contentious political and social debates of our age-things like stem cells, abortion, gay marriage, spending bills and the like-the principle most often invoked is “the greatest good for the greatest number.” This is what is sometimes called utilitarianism.
Our particular political culture is sometimes ruled by polls and what a majority of Americans think about a particular subject. What is often inferred is that the majority are right, and political policy should always follow. This is utilitarianism-what most people see as good should be our goal. But what this point of view neglects to ask the simple question, “is it right or true?” Polls and majority opinion do not track truth. A majority of people can be wrong, and the truth is not always the popular option.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
What makes an act good? In our pluralistic culture, what kinds of political acts can qualify as good and how can we judge those kinds of things? When it comes to some of the most contentious political and social debates of our age-things like stem cells, abortion, gay marriage, spending bills and the like-the principle most often invoked is “the greatest good for the greatest number.” This is what is sometimes called utilitarianism.
Our particular political culture is sometimes ruled by polls and what a majority of Americans think about a particular subject. What is often inferred is that the majority are right, and political policy should always follow. This is utilitarianism-what most people see as good should be our goal. But what this point of view neglects to ask the simple question, “is it right or true?” Polls and majority opinion do not track truth. A majority of people can be wrong, and the truth is not always the popular option.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Barna-Commitment to Christ
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Barna recently performed a survey that measured people’s commitment to church and to developing one’s commitment to Christ. To the issue of developing a deeper relationship with God and doing whatever it took to maintain that relationship, just over 50% of all people agreed, and of those under the age of 40 only 44% agreed.
Pursuing a relationship with Christ is the primary thing. I can rarely control or manipulate the tides of my life and make them go the way I want them to, but I do have direct access to my own decision to deepen my relationship with Christ. Jesus did not lightly say, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things will be given to you as well.” A kingdom mindset is preoccupied with building an almost conversational relationship with Christ, and it creates a foundation upon which I am better able to interact with the tides of life the way Christ would if he were living my life.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies.
Barna recently performed a survey that measured people’s commitment to church and to developing one’s commitment to Christ. To the issue of developing a deeper relationship with God and doing whatever it took to maintain that relationship, just over 50% of all people agreed, and of those under the age of 40 only 44% agreed.
Pursuing a relationship with Christ is the primary thing. I can rarely control or manipulate the tides of my life and make them go the way I want them to, but I do have direct access to my own decision to deepen my relationship with Christ. Jesus did not lightly say, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and these things will be given to you as well.” A kingdom mindset is preoccupied with building an almost conversational relationship with Christ, and it creates a foundation upon which I am better able to interact with the tides of life the way Christ would if he were living my life.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies.
Barna-Church Commmitment
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
A recent Barna study showed some alarming trends in the commitment levels of many who consider themselves Christian. About one out of five considered church attendance to be important to their spiritual maturity, and of those who held a biblical worldview, only 25% thought a community of faith was important to their spiritual development.
We Americans cling very tightly to our personal independence. We like to be our own bosses, and we like to be self-sufficient in just about every way possible. But we are Christians as well, and it seems we need to learn the importance of being a real and genuine part of the body of Christ.
Don’t think of it in terms of the church needs your attendance, but in terms of other believers need your presence, support, input and help. Your presence at church this weekend can be uplifting and encouraging to your fellow believers, and can help encourage them in their walk with Christ. Seems like a good reason to go to me.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies.
A recent Barna study showed some alarming trends in the commitment levels of many who consider themselves Christian. About one out of five considered church attendance to be important to their spiritual maturity, and of those who held a biblical worldview, only 25% thought a community of faith was important to their spiritual development.
We Americans cling very tightly to our personal independence. We like to be our own bosses, and we like to be self-sufficient in just about every way possible. But we are Christians as well, and it seems we need to learn the importance of being a real and genuine part of the body of Christ.
Don’t think of it in terms of the church needs your attendance, but in terms of other believers need your presence, support, input and help. Your presence at church this weekend can be uplifting and encouraging to your fellow believers, and can help encourage them in their walk with Christ. Seems like a good reason to go to me.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Heroic Leadership
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
I always deeply appreciate a book or a speaker who is able to connect the Christian worldview with the world we live in. When it comes to leadership theory, that does not always happen. But with the book, Heroic Leadership, Mark Lowney has shown how the practices of the Jesuits, a 450 year old company in his terms, lead them to great success both corporately and individually.
In many ways the book reads like one you might pick up that was written from a corporate point of view, but this book focuses on the spiritual disciplines and lifestyles of the Jesuits as they expanded across the globe. It underscores the truth that a life wholly dedicated to God and deliberately focused on Him can make a profound difference in this world. Long before the benefits of modern technology or travel, these dedicated and faithful people turned the world upside down. What might we do today if we reengaged life with their kinds of priorities?
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
I always deeply appreciate a book or a speaker who is able to connect the Christian worldview with the world we live in. When it comes to leadership theory, that does not always happen. But with the book, Heroic Leadership, Mark Lowney has shown how the practices of the Jesuits, a 450 year old company in his terms, lead them to great success both corporately and individually.
In many ways the book reads like one you might pick up that was written from a corporate point of view, but this book focuses on the spiritual disciplines and lifestyles of the Jesuits as they expanded across the globe. It underscores the truth that a life wholly dedicated to God and deliberately focused on Him can make a profound difference in this world. Long before the benefits of modern technology or travel, these dedicated and faithful people turned the world upside down. What might we do today if we reengaged life with their kinds of priorities?
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Happiness-In A Classical Sense
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In their wonderful book, The Lost Virtue of Happiness, J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler want to reengage Christians with a biblical and classical notion o happiness and provide practical ways of attaining it. Early in the book they clarify the difference between what we typically take for happiness today from what Scripture and the great thinkers of history took for happiness.
It is typical today to see happiness as a sense of pleasurable satisfaction. In that case it is all about us and our own needs. In an ironic reality, the more turned inward we become, the more empty our lives become.
On the other hand, happiness as described in Scripture is more about a life well-lived; a full life of character and virtue, one that displays wisdom, kindness and goodness. Happiness in this sense is a life-long pursuit that fills us with the life and light of Christ, and as we pursue it and Him, our own lives will become filled with meaning and purpose.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
In their wonderful book, The Lost Virtue of Happiness, J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler want to reengage Christians with a biblical and classical notion o happiness and provide practical ways of attaining it. Early in the book they clarify the difference between what we typically take for happiness today from what Scripture and the great thinkers of history took for happiness.
It is typical today to see happiness as a sense of pleasurable satisfaction. In that case it is all about us and our own needs. In an ironic reality, the more turned inward we become, the more empty our lives become.
On the other hand, happiness as described in Scripture is more about a life well-lived; a full life of character and virtue, one that displays wisdom, kindness and goodness. Happiness in this sense is a life-long pursuit that fills us with the life and light of Christ, and as we pursue it and Him, our own lives will become filled with meaning and purpose.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Jer 27-The Yoke of Christ
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In Jeremiah chapter 27, God has his prophet do something a little uncomfortable. Jeremiah shows up in the king’s court with a yoke built for two oxen around his neck. His message is guaranteed to be unpopular as he tells the king and the assembled nobility to surrender to the Babylonians because God has given them the region. Rebellion will spell disaster, and surrender to God’s plan will mean security.
Jeremiah gives the king an option between two yokes-one of rebellion and one of surrender to God’s plan. Not surprisingly, the king doesn’t want any yoke. But there is no third option given. Paul tells us about this truth in Romans 6 where he says we are either slaves to Christ or slaves to our own sins and shortcomings. We want, like the king of Judah, to be autonomous, but that choice is disastrous as we enslave ourselves to our own flesh. Take on the yoke of Christ-He is gentle and His yoke is light.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
In Jeremiah chapter 27, God has his prophet do something a little uncomfortable. Jeremiah shows up in the king’s court with a yoke built for two oxen around his neck. His message is guaranteed to be unpopular as he tells the king and the assembled nobility to surrender to the Babylonians because God has given them the region. Rebellion will spell disaster, and surrender to God’s plan will mean security.
Jeremiah gives the king an option between two yokes-one of rebellion and one of surrender to God’s plan. Not surprisingly, the king doesn’t want any yoke. But there is no third option given. Paul tells us about this truth in Romans 6 where he says we are either slaves to Christ or slaves to our own sins and shortcomings. We want, like the king of Judah, to be autonomous, but that choice is disastrous as we enslave ourselves to our own flesh. Take on the yoke of Christ-He is gentle and His yoke is light.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Risking for God
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In their book, The Lost Virtue of Happiness, J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler make the case in one of their chapters for forming the kind of trust in God that chooses to takes risks with Him. At one point they note that pondering the reality of God’s future and ultimate victory and our eternity with Him encourages faithful living in this world today.
The say, “Because God’s victory is certain, so is our future….Maintaining a future focus is essential for living now.” A healthy and faithful outlook on this life includes an accurate outlook on the next. Because God will welcome his followers into His hands at the end of our lives, the rest of our lives are free to be given to Him in every way possible. I don’t need to hang onto things in this life. As Paul said, we should not consider the things of this life to be comparable with the glory that waits for us in the next.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
In their book, The Lost Virtue of Happiness, J.P. Moreland and Klaus Issler make the case in one of their chapters for forming the kind of trust in God that chooses to takes risks with Him. At one point they note that pondering the reality of God’s future and ultimate victory and our eternity with Him encourages faithful living in this world today.
The say, “Because God’s victory is certain, so is our future….Maintaining a future focus is essential for living now.” A healthy and faithful outlook on this life includes an accurate outlook on the next. Because God will welcome his followers into His hands at the end of our lives, the rest of our lives are free to be given to Him in every way possible. I don’t need to hang onto things in this life. As Paul said, we should not consider the things of this life to be comparable with the glory that waits for us in the next.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Rockies and Tolerance
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
USA Today recently ran an article about the Christian influence in the ranks of the Colorado Rockies. As a fan, it was encouraging to hear of the open and honest faith expressed by many of the players and the management. But there was a tone in the article that made it sound like the Rockies needed to be on the defensive because of their beliefs; because they were Christians they were in danger of becoming intolerant and small-minded toward other non-Christian players.
One of the remaining politically correct prejudices in our culture today is directed against Christians and Christianity. It is assumed that followers of Christ are unable to live with other points of view in a pluralistic culture. What seems to be lost, however, is that it was good Christian theology that erected the system of political pluralism and religious tolerance we enjoy today. It is exactly because of Christian virtue that other beliefs enjoy the toleration and respect they do today.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
USA Today recently ran an article about the Christian influence in the ranks of the Colorado Rockies. As a fan, it was encouraging to hear of the open and honest faith expressed by many of the players and the management. But there was a tone in the article that made it sound like the Rockies needed to be on the defensive because of their beliefs; because they were Christians they were in danger of becoming intolerant and small-minded toward other non-Christian players.
One of the remaining politically correct prejudices in our culture today is directed against Christians and Christianity. It is assumed that followers of Christ are unable to live with other points of view in a pluralistic culture. What seems to be lost, however, is that it was good Christian theology that erected the system of political pluralism and religious tolerance we enjoy today. It is exactly because of Christian virtue that other beliefs enjoy the toleration and respect they do today.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Colorado Rockies, Character and Baseball
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
In a recent article in USA Today, the Colorado Rockies were exposed, so to speak, as a team full of Christian players and management. It was encouraging to read of a group of professional athletes and administration who were not only open about their beliefs, but who were also honest about how those beliefs were effecting their professional decisions. For example, the manager, Dan O’Dowd, said, “We go after players of character.”
That is a refreshing piece of Christian thinking in a professional sport world that places little to no emphasis upon the personal integrity of their players. Other players are famous for how infantile they are, for how often they disrupt their teammates, and for the teams that are willing to put up with them just to win championships.
A Christian ethic is willing to put first things first, and even in a world as competitive as professional baseball, it is willing to put the character of the player and the team ahead of other concerns.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
In a recent article in USA Today, the Colorado Rockies were exposed, so to speak, as a team full of Christian players and management. It was encouraging to read of a group of professional athletes and administration who were not only open about their beliefs, but who were also honest about how those beliefs were effecting their professional decisions. For example, the manager, Dan O’Dowd, said, “We go after players of character.”
That is a refreshing piece of Christian thinking in a professional sport world that places little to no emphasis upon the personal integrity of their players. Other players are famous for how infantile they are, for how often they disrupt their teammates, and for the teams that are willing to put up with them just to win championships.
A Christian ethic is willing to put first things first, and even in a world as competitive as professional baseball, it is willing to put the character of the player and the team ahead of other concerns.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and director of Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information, please visit everythoughtcaptive.org.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Stem Cells-Darwinism
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
Recently I mentioned a bill up for debate before the Senate that would allow the destruction of 400,000 human embryos for the harvesting of their stem cells. And what we talked about then was the exploitation of an ethic of “the ends justify the means.” There is another important angle at work here-the fact that naturalistic Darwinism has sunk deeply into our culture.
The Darwinistic contribution to innocent and helpless people, as is the case with embryos, is that they lack the value the rest of us have. They quickly become dispensable for the ends of science, politics, and the furtherance of the human species. Without a deep sense of human nature such as we find in Christianity, human embryos become nothing but another variable in the grizzly calculation for survival. A Christian worldview teaches us that each human is of inestimable worth-and that includes each and every embryo. They can’t simply be treated as political or scientific fodder for our future benefit.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit, everythoughtcaptive.org.
Recently I mentioned a bill up for debate before the Senate that would allow the destruction of 400,000 human embryos for the harvesting of their stem cells. And what we talked about then was the exploitation of an ethic of “the ends justify the means.” There is another important angle at work here-the fact that naturalistic Darwinism has sunk deeply into our culture.
The Darwinistic contribution to innocent and helpless people, as is the case with embryos, is that they lack the value the rest of us have. They quickly become dispensable for the ends of science, politics, and the furtherance of the human species. Without a deep sense of human nature such as we find in Christianity, human embryos become nothing but another variable in the grizzly calculation for survival. A Christian worldview teaches us that each human is of inestimable worth-and that includes each and every embryo. They can’t simply be treated as political or scientific fodder for our future benefit.
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit, everythoughtcaptive.org.
Jeremiah-Ahikim and Influence
Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.
At the very end of Jeremiah chapter 26 we read this innocuous verse, “But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.” This comes as the resolution to a court case in which the priests and prophets wanted to kill Jeremiah. The man Ahikam steps in and helps save his life.
This verse would be unexceptional if it were not for the phrase, “son of Shaphan.” It turns out Shaphan was a religious reformer a generation earlier. We also learn later in Jeremiah that two more sons of Shaphan stand up for Jeremiah, save his writing and save his life a second time. This little “throw-away” verse is about influence-the influence of a godly father that literally saves Jeremiah’s life at least twice through the actions of his sons. It causes me to reflect on my influence-will it have those kinds of long term results?
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit, everythoughtcaptive.org.
At the very end of Jeremiah chapter 26 we read this innocuous verse, “But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.” This comes as the resolution to a court case in which the priests and prophets wanted to kill Jeremiah. The man Ahikam steps in and helps save his life.
This verse would be unexceptional if it were not for the phrase, “son of Shaphan.” It turns out Shaphan was a religious reformer a generation earlier. We also learn later in Jeremiah that two more sons of Shaphan stand up for Jeremiah, save his writing and save his life a second time. This little “throw-away” verse is about influence-the influence of a godly father that literally saves Jeremiah’s life at least twice through the actions of his sons. It causes me to reflect on my influence-will it have those kinds of long term results?
This has been Every Thought Captive. I’m Phil Steiger, pastor at Quail Lake Community Church and Director for Dayspring Center for Christian Studies. For more information please visit, everythoughtcaptive.org.
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