Your weekly installment of things we’ve been reading (and watching) around the web.
Book Review of the Week
Romans 8 – 16 For You, by Tim Keller, Reviewed by Aaron Armstrong. “By now, if you haven’t checked out the growing God’s Word For You series of devotional commentaries from The Good Book Company, I honestly don’t know if anything I say about the latest edition, Timothy Keller’s Romans 8–16 For You, will convince you. Nevertheless, you really should check them—and this volume in particular—out.”
Articles of the Week
Four Lessons From A Study on Pastors Who Experienced “Moral Failure,” Garrett Kell. All Christians (pastors or otherwise) experience moral failures: every sin, of course, is a moral failure. But the phrase has taken on a specific connotation, acting as shorthand for those sins that disqualify a person from serving in ministry—usually involving an extra-marital affair. Kell reflects on a recent study of such pastors, and offers common traits that should act as a warning to us all.
Why Don’t the Guys in My Church Ask Women on Dates? Eddie Kaufholz. It’s a fair question, and Kaufholz doesn’t pull any punches in offering up his answer. Be warned: if you’re a single guy reading this, Kaufholz is coming after you. Make sure you’re ready for a tongue-lashing.
Why Our Children Don’t Think There Are Moral Facts, Justin P. McBrayer, NYTimes. You’ll have to put on your big-boy pants for this one, because McBrayer is going to get a bit deep. (No rush. If you need to dig those pants out of the wash, we’ll wait.) But what he’s saying here is incredibly significant. Moral relativism has long been growing as an assumed feature of American society. But now it’s being reinforced by educational sanction. (As a side-note, this article provides an exceptional example of arguing for Christian principles without specifically invoking God or the Bible. It’s a skill we should all cultivate.)
Four Dangers of Pet Sins, Jen Thorn. Pets can be wonderful little creatures. They combine the beauty of a wild animal with the safety of domesticity, providing us with both comfort and company. We keep them around the house, play with them, feed them, love them. But certain creatures should never be pets, because they can never be domesticated. Sin is one such creature.
On The Lighter Side
“Thanks, Obama.” Regardless of your political opinion about our current Commander in Chief, you’ve got to appreciate his capacity to make fun of himself:
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.”
