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The most recent articles, videos, blog entries, and more that have been added to ChristianUnion.org.
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
In his Grace in Practice: A Theology of Everyday Life (Eerdmans, 2007), Paul F. M. Zahl writes, “The more dire the circumstance or checkmate is, the more heartfelt and spontaneous the prayer for help is.” I love the image of a checkmate because it describes well the human condition: defeated and helpless apart from God’s grace. Due to the invasion of evil we find in ourselves and our world, we are utterly impotent to change, improve, or save ourselves. We are surrounded by reckless rooks and cruel queens that render our personal kingships hopelessly conquered.
Checkmate.
While this may sound pessimistic, it’s the only thing that makes sense of “heartfelt and spontaneous” prayer, isn’t it? To the degree we are optimistic about our ability to save ourselves and change the world, our fervency in prayer will disappear. But to the degree that we see ourselves accurately, as helpless, we will pray to God for help. And perhaps this is why energetic and sincere prayer is so rarely found today: we don’t know that we’re in checkmate.
Checkmate.
While this may sound pessimistic, it’s the only thing that makes sense of “heartfelt and spontaneous” prayer, isn’t it? To the degree we are optimistic about our ability to save ourselves and change the world, our fervency in prayer will disappear. But to the degree that we see ourselves accurately, as helpless, we will pray to God for help. And perhaps this is why energetic and sincere prayer is so rarely found today: we don’t know that we’re in checkmate.
Wall Street Journal Article Shows How Christians Can Positively Engage the Culture Around Them
Author Eric Metaxas wrote an exceptionally popular article for the Wall Street Journal concerning God, faith, and science in 2014. Since its publication, the article has gained traction in both Christian and scientific circles, attracting both critics and advocates alike. Metaxas supports the idea that scientific research increasingly points to the existence of a universal creator, drawing attention to recent findings that exemplify exactly how unlikely it is that a series of random events led to creation as we know it. He writes:
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. –Luke 2:36-38
Anna’s life didn’t turn out the way she’d planned. As a young bride, Anna envisioned herself like other women in Jerusalem who spent their days and nights attending their families. But after her husband’s untimely death, Anna never remarried. One can only imagine the combined agonies of widowhood and old age in first-century Jerusalem. But what did Anna do with the time God gave her? Was she to live out her days as an object of pity?
Anna’s life didn’t turn out the way she’d planned. As a young bride, Anna envisioned herself like other women in Jerusalem who spent their days and nights attending their families. But after her husband’s untimely death, Anna never remarried. One can only imagine the combined agonies of widowhood and old age in first-century Jerusalem. But what did Anna do with the time God gave her? Was she to live out her days as an object of pity?
A Devotional from the 40 Days Initiative
Day 16
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
In the fall of 1740, Harvard College tutor Daniel Rogers was eager to learn of an impending visit to the New England colonies by Anglican clergyman and transatlantic revivalist, the Reverend George Whitefield.
A 1725 graduate of Harvard College, Rogers was anticipating appointment to a pastoral position with Boston’s New North Church when he first had opportunity to hear Whitefield preach. Although raised in a Congregational home and familiar with the orthodoxy common to the “New England Way,” Rogers had not personally entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ despite his familiarity with Christian doctrine.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
In the fall of 1740, Harvard College tutor Daniel Rogers was eager to learn of an impending visit to the New England colonies by Anglican clergyman and transatlantic revivalist, the Reverend George Whitefield.
A 1725 graduate of Harvard College, Rogers was anticipating appointment to a pastoral position with Boston’s New North Church when he first had opportunity to hear Whitefield preach. Although raised in a Congregational home and familiar with the orthodoxy common to the “New England Way,” Rogers had not personally entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ despite his familiarity with Christian doctrine.
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
“Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so.” - Matthew 26:47-56
The deed is done, and, as Jesus had just predicted to His close friends, the hour is now at hand when He is betrayed into the hands of sinners. More specifically, these “sinners” consist of Judas (famously known as The Betrayer), the chief priests and elders, and a large crowd of temple guards and police with swords and clubs at their sides, as if ready for a fight. At first there is no fight. Jesus’ arrest is quick and easy, that is, until Peter gets valiant and cuts off the ear of one of the High Priest’s slaves with his own sword. Surprisingly, all hell does not break loose like you would expect in a scene like this. Instead of using this distraction to slip away, Jesus immediately mitigates the situation and avoids more bloodshed by telling Peter to put away his sword. You see, Peter still does not quite get who Jesus is and the authority He has. Peter may have thought this was a test, a perfect opportunity to show his loyalty to Jesus, when, in fact, Peter’s actions are getting in the way of Jesus’ necessary destiny.
The deed is done, and, as Jesus had just predicted to His close friends, the hour is now at hand when He is betrayed into the hands of sinners. More specifically, these “sinners” consist of Judas (famously known as The Betrayer), the chief priests and elders, and a large crowd of temple guards and police with swords and clubs at their sides, as if ready for a fight. At first there is no fight. Jesus’ arrest is quick and easy, that is, until Peter gets valiant and cuts off the ear of one of the High Priest’s slaves with his own sword. Surprisingly, all hell does not break loose like you would expect in a scene like this. Instead of using this distraction to slip away, Jesus immediately mitigates the situation and avoids more bloodshed by telling Peter to put away his sword. You see, Peter still does not quite get who Jesus is and the authority He has. Peter may have thought this was a test, a perfect opportunity to show his loyalty to Jesus, when, in fact, Peter’s actions are getting in the way of Jesus’ necessary destiny.
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
Do you recognize the context in which Jesus made this observation (and promise!)? It’s a verse that I never really noticed before, as it lies inconspicuously in a passage filled with attention-getting drama.
Do you recognize the context in which Jesus made this observation (and promise!)? It’s a verse that I never really noticed before, as it lies inconspicuously in a passage filled with attention-getting drama.
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. - 1 John 3:9-10
When I read this passage, I often wonder whether Christians in the U.S. take it seriously especially as it relates to Biblical commands about sex. The data is not encouraging. A 2012 survey by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found that 80% of young evangelicals (18-29) who are unmarried are having sex. Other surveys come to similar conclusions. The data can be really discouraging.
When I read this passage, I often wonder whether Christians in the U.S. take it seriously especially as it relates to Biblical commands about sex. The data is not encouraging. A 2012 survey by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy found that 80% of young evangelicals (18-29) who are unmarried are having sex. Other surveys come to similar conclusions. The data can be really discouraging.
Day Twelve Devotional
During this season of seeking God in prayer and fasting, having extra time to meditate on the Holy Scriptures provides great strengthening. Given the worth of the Bible, it's important that our trust in its teachings not be undermined, which is why it is helpful to take a brief look at the controversial subject of "slavery" in the New Testament.
A cursory reading of the New Testament could lead someone to believe that New World Slavery, as we experienced in American history, is acceptable practice for the Christian, yet other passages in the New Testament seem to condemn the practice. How do we reconcile this?
A cursory reading of the New Testament could lead someone to believe that New World Slavery, as we experienced in American history, is acceptable practice for the Christian, yet other passages in the New Testament seem to condemn the practice. How do we reconcile this?
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
“To be sure, food keeps us alive, but that is only its smallest and most temporary work. Its eternal purpose is to furnish our sensibilities against the day when we shall sit down at the heavenly banquet and see how gracious the Lord is. Nourishment is necessary only for a while; what we shall need forever is taste.”
When I came across this thought in Robert Farrar Capan’s book The Supper of the Lamb, I found it arresting. I don’t think I had ever considered what the “eternal purpose” of food might be, nor even that it has one. In my experience, food is always temporary. Mere hours after a delicious meal, I’m back at the fridge for more.
When I came across this thought in Robert Farrar Capan’s book The Supper of the Lamb, I found it arresting. I don’t think I had ever considered what the “eternal purpose” of food might be, nor even that it has one. In my experience, food is always temporary. Mere hours after a delicious meal, I’m back at the fridge for more.
A Prayer and Fasting Devotional
Dear Friend in Christ,
As we continue our season of fasting together, I want to remind us of God’s purpose for us through fasting. Listen to Jesus’ words in Mark 7:15: “Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. If anyone has an ear to hear, he should listen!” In verses 20-23, Jesus continues to explain this mystery to His disciples by saying: “…What comes out of a person - that defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.” In our text today, the core problem of defilement is defined as what resides in the heart (things that come out), not things going into a person. Throughout Scripture, the heart refers to the center of one’s being, including the mind, emotions, and will.
As we continue our season of fasting together, I want to remind us of God’s purpose for us through fasting. Listen to Jesus’ words in Mark 7:15: “Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. If anyone has an ear to hear, he should listen!” In verses 20-23, Jesus continues to explain this mystery to His disciples by saying: “…What comes out of a person - that defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.” In our text today, the core problem of defilement is defined as what resides in the heart (things that come out), not things going into a person. Throughout Scripture, the heart refers to the center of one’s being, including the mind, emotions, and will.
