Your weekly installment of what we’ve been reading (and watching … and listening to) around the web.
Podcast of the Week
Does Porn Use Disqualify a Pastor from Ministry? John Piper. When asked if pornography use would disqualify a pastor from ministry, 41% of church members said, “Yes.” Rather shockingly, when asked the same question, only 8% of pastors said, “Yes.” Piper’s answer helpfully distinguishes between an isolated incident and a habitual practice. For those in the latter category, Piper argues that people cannot presume to lead others in the church when they are flagrantly disobeying God. For those in the former category, it all depends on how the pastor responds when he is confronted.
Articles of the Week
Is Religious Liberty “Hanging by a Thread?” Bruce Ashford. Religious liberty is often put in scare quotes these days, implying that the only people who desire “religious liberty” are actually bigots with some other heinous agenda. Is that true? More importantly, is the idea of religious liberty actually in jeopardy in our country? And if we lose religious liberty, what are we actually losing? Ashford (one of the Summit’s directional elders) offers a keen perspective on this important right.
Why “The Bible Says So” Is Not Enough Anymore, Andy Stanley. This “little” article clocks in at just under 8,000 words. So it’s not a glance-and-skim article. It’s more of a pour-yourself-some-tea-and-put-up-your-feet kind of article. But read through it and you’ll be glad you took the time. Stanley has taken a lot of heat based on some recent comments about the Bible in his “Who Needs God?” series. In response, Stanley reassures people that he really does believe the Bible is God’s inspired Word. But he also continues to insist that we need to adjust our approach if we want to reach people outside our own bubble. We may not always agree with 100% of Stanley’s methodology (and there are some statements, even here, that may be more confusing than clarifying), but we absolutely agree with his passion to ask, constantly and intentionally: are we willing to take a long, hard look at everything we’re doing through the eyes of the post-Christian?
Beware the Instagram Bible, Jen Wilkin. Speaking of Bible, while most of us may not deny inerrancy in public statements, we may practically deny it in what we post online. Wilkin raises some uncomfortable questions about our “Instagram Bible,” and we’d do well to let the warnings sink in. (PS – don’t miss the little calligraphy pic on the right side of the post. It reinforces her point rather shockingly.)
Seven Books on the White-Black Racial Divide, Ivan Mesa. As the Summit has tried to become more intentional in our pursuit of racial reconciliation, we’ve read a few of these already and found them insightful. Others here are new for us, so we’re eager to pick them up. Particularly helpful here are the short summaries of each book, so that you can pick your first book without just jumping at the flashiest cover.
On The Lighter Side
Dinner Parties, Brian Regan. Beware the me-monster. (Even more importantly, don’t be the me-monster.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiUsfEkVRDY
Wisdom For Your Weekend is presented to you by Chris Pappalardo, with occasional guidance from J.D. Greear. This is our attempt to reflect Proverbs 9:9: “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.”
