Relevant to what? Everybody talking about the decline of Christianity in the Western world says that it is because the faith preached over the pulpit is no longer relevant to our society. What they cannot agree on is in what way it is no longer relevant. For over a century now, many churches have struggled … Continue reading Relevant to what?
Faith and life
Circling the wagons is not an option
The Western movies of my boyhood often contained a scene where Indians attacked a wagon train of settlers. The settlers would draw their wagons onto a circle to form a protective wall, then try to fend off the attackers with rifle fire. This would go on until the ammunition was gone and their doom appeared … Continue reading Circling the wagons is not an option
Power outage
We were moving from one farm house to another, with the help of friends. I hurried to connect the kitchen stove so my wife could bake a pizza for our helpers. This was in the day when kitchen stoves did not plug into the wall, but the wires from the stove had to be individually … Continue reading Power outage
Dementia
There are things that I wish that I would have understood better when my parents were suffering with dementia. Above all, I wish I could have understood that even though their personalities had changed and their memories seemed to be gone, the father and mother that I had once known were still there, though unable … Continue reading Dementia
Anorexia of the soul
I once knew a Christian lady whose husband was self-centred, domineering and prone to uncontrolled fits of rage. She, on the other hand, was unselfish, capable and self-controlled. At some point she developed an interest in fasting. After a time it became apparent to brothers and sisters in the faith that she had become extremely … Continue reading Anorexia of the soul
Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
To put it very briefly, homeopathy is a branch of alternative medicine that treats diseases with natural substances that are diluted well past the point where any trace of the original substance can be detected. Some call it quackery, others say that it works where other methods fail. It does have this much going for … Continue reading Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
Steel-toed slippers
Non-resistance is one of the prime identification marks of a true Anabaptist. Many folks take this to mean that we believe it is wrong to put on a uniform and take up arms to defend our country. What it really means is that we believe in wearing figurative steel-toed slippers so that it never feels … Continue reading Steel-toed slippers
There is a famine – part two
Yesterday I wrote a little about the famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Today I want to write about another kind of famine that is spreading over our land: a famine of community among those who would follow the Lord. This kind of famine is just as deadly as the first, especially since … Continue reading There is a famine – part two
There is a famine – part one
Small town churches across Canada are rapidly disappearing. Fifty years ago, the town where I grew up had five churches. Only two remain, and they are the churches where one is least likely to ever hear sound Bible-based preaching. Smaller towns nearby have no churches at all. This is more than a demographic curiosity. It … Continue reading There is a famine – part one
Uncompromising faith
"Anabaptism was essentially a movement which insisted upon an earnest and uncompromising endeavour to live a life of true discipleship of Christ, that is to give expression in fellowship and love to the deepest Christian faith, with full readiness to suffer in conflict with the evil world order. So long as this willingness to suffer … Continue reading Uncompromising faith
Flatlander Faith 