Duty Is Not the Opposite of Love

By Aaron Blumer on

In preaching, teaching and writing, our good intentions are often defeated by an avoidable poor choice of words. Sometimes these inapt wordings gain popularity among Christians and become proverbial. Without thinking, we repeat them for the amens.

One example is the popular habit of speaking of duty and love as though they’re two competing and incompatible dynamics in the Christian life.

I can’t be the only one who has heard this, over and over, and wondered, over and over, what Bible people are reading. Consider Jesus’ state of mind and heart as He approached the cross.

What Am I Eager For?

By Aaron Blumer on

Christian living isn’t just having your heart in the right place, but it isn’t less than that. Given that our hearts are “prone to wander,” as the song says, we need multiple ways to conduct “heart checks” on ourselves.

One self-diagnostic is to examine what we’re eager for.

When I was a kid, I looked forward to Christmas every year with great eagerness. It was an accurate reflection of where my heart was!

The word “eager” does not appear in the KJV, but is used in most other English translations. Because the word has several synonyms, the count ranges from 3 (NKJV) to 18 (NIV).

Envy and the Megachurch

By Filings on

“There is nothing inherently good or evil about church size. It is the coveting of size and status that is the wellspring of evil. The underlying deception is that godliness is a means of gain.” - Ref21

When Working for God Becomes the Goal

By Forrest McPhail on

Reposted from Rooted Thinking.

Even though I had my struggles as a teen, God had my heart. I wanted to serve Him. When I heard appeals from pastors or missionaries about being willing to give ourselves fully to Christ in full-time Christian service, my heart sang, “Let me!”

What Missionary Motives Should Prevail?

By SharperIron on

(About this series)

CHAPTER V - WHAT MISSIONARY MOTIVES SHOULD PREVAIL?

“The love of Christ constraineth us” (1 Corinthians 5:14)

BY REV. HENRY W. FROST, DIRECTOR FOR NORTH AMERICA OF THE CHINA INLAND MISSION, GERMANTOWN, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Should We Use Reward Motivation?

By Aaron Blumer on

Reward-based motivational methods have been around for a long time. Whether patches and bars for children who learn verses or plaques and certificates for hard-working adults, we line people up and applaud them. But some believers are uncomfortable with these traditions. Shouldn’t we serve the Lord out of love? Doesn’t the applause of men rob God of His gods_desire.jpgglory and encourage pride?

Though the reward method of motivation is not without risks, it is not a method we should reject. Here’s why.