Ben Zornes

Living and Dying to Show the Preciousness of Christ

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A Great Mountain, and a Crumbling Statue

A Great Mountain, and a Crumbling Statue

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Limp-wrists are all the rage. Our modern Christian culture, with its skinny-jean clad worship leaders, hawaiian-shirted Pastors, and Great Mountaincigar-smoking small groups has become proficient in the art of ineffectuality. We have bought the bait that tolerance and acceptance is the most important expression of Christian love. We love by accommodating, cow-towing, and placating the culture. I remember hearing about a church that sent out surveys to their community asking: “What sort of church do you want?” Well, what’ll you know, they wanted a church that gets out in time for the game, allows dad to export his fatherly responsibility to a 28 year old youth pastor with a cool haircut, sermons that include clips from a movie about two dumb guys (one dumber than the other), and a great worship band–pyrotechnics and all.  [Read more…] about A Great Mountain, and a Crumbling Statue

Beware Erasmus

Beware Erasmus

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Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (27 October 1466 – 12 July 1536)

Beware Erasmus.
In a recent foray through David Daniell’s meticulous biography of William Tyndale, I have been stirred more than once by this simple warning: “Beware Erasmus.” It has become a slogan I have begun to frequently whisper to my soul, (for reasons that shall soon become clear) to provoke me to stay on guard against the enchanting fumes of pride. We recognize the perceived deadness of the previous generation and we refuse to follow in that path; we, instead, want a robust and living spirituality. I’ve seen my peers pursue this healthy desire in two very unhealthy ways.
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The Horsepower of Olive Oil

The Horsepower of Olive Oil

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David’s words from the 20th Psalm speak just as forcefully today as they did all those long centuries ago: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses.” The ancient empires often measured their greatness and power in horses and chariots. Horses and chariots equated to strength in battle, mobility, and superiority of resource and wealth. Thus, it is no wonder that the Psalmist points out that some place their confidence in their horsepower; we haven’t come very far have we?

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Preaching by Proxy

Preaching by Proxy

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Around two millennia ago, the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and reminded them of something that we, as believers, are all too often ready to forget: “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (1 Cor. 4:20).” The first century was marked with the mightiest works of God this world has ever seen: the life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and outpouringof the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Indeed, the old had gone, the new has come. Yet, 19 centuries later, we find ourselves in an age of spiritual malaise, where it appears secularism has Christianity on the ropes.

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Ben Zornes