For the past 10 years, my go-to media outlet for nuanced, sane, Biblically grounded, Jesus-shaped, and good-humored perspectives on Christianity, history, culture and politics, has been the Holy Post. Everyone podcast and media outlet has an angle. Everyone has a bias. Nobody is really all that “balanced” — whatever that means. … More My Media Outlet of Choice
As someone who struggles with anxiety, I understand the crippling power fear can exercise in our lives. As a pastor and disciple of Jesus, however, I live in a story where faith overcomes fear, and where Christ’s “perfect love drives out all fear” — including in our political engagement. What can the “Got Milk?” ad campaign teach us? Skye Jethani explains in this video. … More Fear Not, Christian!
I want to commend to you the “Evangelical Confession 2024” as a helpful guide for Christians this election season. It emphasizes allegiance to Jesus over political ideologies while encouraging love, truth, unity, and recognition of every individual’s worth. It outlines Biblical principles that reject fear, division, and manipulation in political discourse, aiming to position the Church as a prophetic witness of God’s reconciliation and love in a divisive world. … More Evangelical Confession 2024
Recently a very popular pastor came under public attack, lost numerous speaking invitations, and had his radio program canceled. What was his sin? He counseled a grandmother to attend her trans grandchild’s wedding. The pastor himself is extremely conservative on matters of marriage and sexuality, and his theological position on these issues has not changed. … More Fundamentalism’s Folly (Skye Jethani)
The problem wasn’t simply that the mob displayed Christian symbols, but that they saw no contradiction between those symbols and their actions. The cross is a symbol of surrender and self-sacrifice; it represents Jesus’ relinquishing of power and his refusal to retaliate against his enemies. At the Capitol, however, the cross was erected next to a gallows and carried by those calling for their political enemies to be executed. … More January 6: A ‘Christian’ Insurrection?
In many parts of the West, Christians find themselves being pushed to the periphery of power and influence after centuries of privilege. Fear, anger, nostalgia, and retaliation are not how Christ’s people are to respond when their circumstances change or their cultural authority is taken away. … More Kings Rise and Fall (Skye Jethani)
“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow” (Tozer). … More When the Spirit Builds the Church
What about abortion? Should this one issue determine how Christians vote? … More Abortion: The Reality Behind the Rhetoric
It is not the sins we are tempted to commit that ought to frighten us, but the acts of justice we are never inspired to attempt. … More More Than Sin-Avoidance (Skye Jethani)
The true mark of Christian love isn’t revealed merely when we have nothing to gain, but precisely when we have everything to lose. … More Quarantine Letters: Illusion of Civility
There are many lessons to take from the famous story of David and Goliath, but one is the illusion of strength. The COVID-19 virus, like David’s small stones, is revealing the true fragility of systems and structures we thought were so strong. … More Quarantine Letters: Illusion of Strength
The current COVID-19 pandemic is revealing the limits of our independence. Despite our cultural rhetoric, we are biologically, psychologically, and spiritually communal creatures. Autonomy is an illusion. From the very beginning, God designed us to exist interdependently. … More Quarantine Letters: Illusion of Independence
So much of our growth happens through pain, and that pain comes in two forms. Pain we choose is called a discipline, while pain we do not choose is called a trial. Neither kind should be wasted. … More Quarantine Letters: Illusion of Control
Here’s a great and urgent message by Skye Jethani filled with Scriptural wisdom touching on the key themes of the smartphones and the rise of mental illness and suicide rates, the role of fathers in our search for identity, and our proneness toward placing our security and significance in things other than God. … More Urgent Message for a Smartphone Generation
We are focusing on Christ as Wonderful Counselor this week. God’s plan for passing on his wisdom and guidance to others was to give His Spirit of Wisdom and insight to people who in turn share this wisdom with others. Who are the wise guides you turn to daily for insight and truth to live … More Selfie Spirituality
Today most names are chosen based on a parent’s preference or popularity. But in the ancient world, a person’s name was believed to be the essence of their identity. … More Your True Name (Skye Jethani)
by Skye Jethani Jean Vanier, the founder of the L’Arche communities who died just a few weeks ago, often used a simple metaphor to explain his ministry with the mentally handicapped. With his hands cupped he would say, “Suppose I have a wounded bird in my hands. What would happen if I closed my hands … More The Space for Growth (Skye Jethani)
From Skye Jethani: Most of the characters in the Bible were scoundrels. King David, for example, possessed some noble qualities, but he was also a liar, adulterer, and murderer. Still, he was called “a man after God’s own heart.” The explanation may be found in David’s prayers. They run the spectrum from adoration to anger, … More Taking Off Prayer Masks
by Skye Jethani The use of pre-written prayers carries many benefits, as we’ve been exploring over the last few days. They guide our often wandering minds to focus on God. They instruct us to think rightly about our Lord with a depth we often lack. They can also remind us that communion with God is … More Consumer Faith & Magic Spells (Skye Jethani)
By Skye Jethani | With God Daily Devotional In my previous role as an editor at Christianity Today, I had the opportunity to engage many Christian leaders and to see “behind the curtain” of numerous ministries. Often I came away from these encounters deeply encouraged and grateful. Sometimes I did not. Occasionally, my time with … More Doctrine, Demons & Disciples (Skye Jethani)
Last night a handful for MainStreeters gathered on Ash Wednesday to watch the movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ.” We all came away amazed at what it cost to be a Christian in first century Rome — that is, often your very life! Better than any Bible film I’ve seen, this one beautifully portrays how the early … More Counting the Cost (Skye Jethani)
Richard Halverson, the former chaplain of the United States Senate, summarized church history this way: “In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became an institution. Next, it … More The Idol of Celebrity (Skye Jethani)
Christianity Today (September ’16) featured the findings of a LifeWay Research survey that asked 2,000 people who do NOT attend church what would draw them to one. The results were revealing: Skye Jethani, on the Phil Vischer Podcast, insightfully asked the following question while discussing this survey: What does it say about our deepest concerns and highest … More A Non-Anxious Presence in an Anxious World
“In the beginning the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on the living Christ. Then the church move to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome, where it became and institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And, finally, it moved to America, where … More QUOTABLES: On Consumer Christianity
A great conversation is happening at the Internet Monk this week around Skye Jethani’s blog post on the transient nature of Moses’ mountain top encounters with God and our churches’ dependence on external experience in worship. Moses met with God on the mountaintop and the encounter made his face shine. Coming down the mountain, Moses … More “The Fading Glow of External Experience” (iMonk)
Jeremy L. Berg 