September 2002

An Argument Against Youth Ministries

All around us we see churches pandering to young people with every possible game and recreational attraction under the sun. A church of Christ in the Metroplex has built a colossal two-story game room that cost more to build than our entire new building will cost and is larger! Unfortunately, many churches of Christ are just taking their cues from the denominational world. Those churches have been employing fun and games ministers ("youth ministers") for years, offering outings and trips and fun of every kind. more...

Must We Love Ourselves - Part 2

I wrote about the self-esteem movement's misuse of Matthew 22:39 to "prove" that we must love ourselves. Biblically, there is just no such command, or anything akin to it. "Loving self" in the Bible just means to care for our body's needs, to take action for our own self-preservation. Paul says that everyone already does that: "forno one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it" (Eph. 5:29). The problem, according to the Scriptures, is not that we don't love ourselves but that all too often we engage in sinful human pride (see James 4:6-8). more...

What Is Porneia?

We live in a time when we are confronted with sin and justifications for sin that only a few years ago would have been beyond possibility. Sometimes that leads to awkward and even embarrassing situations. No one enjoys discussing, for example, the horror of Internet pornography but it is a real threat to Christians today. more...

How the Nuclear Family Became Controversial

Los Angeles Family Magazine asked me to write an article making the case for the two-parent family. That a mainstream family magazine would commission such an article is quite a sign of our times. more...

The Preacher's Pen

In just a few days Tony Mauck will be with us, preaching the Word of God in his own unique way. Tony has been here several times before. We are well familiar with his quality work and know that he will do his part. The only question is, "Will we?" Think carefully about what the Lord expects from you in this meeting effort. Will you be doing your part? more...