Food: A Good Gift from a Good God
(Part I/II) We find ourselves eating all kinds of food (especially desserts) this time of year. Yet amid the feasting and celebrating, have you ever thought about food Christianly? Is there a proper Christian view of food? Is it merely a means to an end, or is it nobler than that? Is it somehow less important—less spiritual—than, say, Bible reading and prayer? Over this two-part essay, we will consider five principles regarding...
Agreeing to Disagree? How Christians Should Respond When They Disagree
Have you ever experienced a church or denominational conflict?[1] You know the scene: A group has split into two or three factions, each claiming the moral high ground. We might roll our eyes when this happens over petty things, but are factions ever justified? In a Relevant Magazine article, Brett McCracken points to six issues that divide Christians today: homosexuality, universalism, politics, evolution, women in ministry, and the...
An Introduction to Conservativism: Canons One-Three
Russell Kirk (1918-94) is credited with reviving modern conservatism. He was a prolific author of more than three dozen works, including letters, non-fiction, novels, short stories, and more. At a time when many believed that conservatism was in its twilight, Kirk emerged with the dawn. Rod Dreher identifies Kirk as “one of the key figures in the renascence of twentieth-century American conservatism.”[1] If you describe yourself as a...
Rhetoric to the Glory of God
The Christian speaker speaks unto God’s glory. His task is not simply to relay information; he is not simply sharing words with those who will listen to him. Instead, he is hoping to invoke a meaningful response from his listeners. This applies especially to the preacher, who has the “words of eternal life” (Jn. 6:68). “Life and death are in the power of the preacher’s tongue,” explained J. C. Ryle.[1] How is the Christian speaker...
Rhetoric: The Christian Speaker and Non-verbal Communication
For the preacher, teacher, or leader, speaking well in public is vital. Of course, public speaking is verbal, but it’s also non-verbal. In fact, the majority of public speaking is non-verbal. Albert Mehrabian states, “Only 7 percent of a speaker’s message comes through his words; 38 percent springs from his voice; 55 percent comes from his facial expressions.”[1] Thus, the Christian speaker must concern himself not simply with what he...
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