Christian Unity

Hey, Boomers! Let’s Step Up And Be The Elders The Church Desperately Needs Right Now

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What’s wrong with today’s younger generations? I hear that question all the time. Especially from my fellow Baby Boomers. The quick answer? Nothing. Nothing is wrong with the current and upcoming generations that hasn’t been wrong with every previous generation. With one possible exception. They don’t have the elders and mentors that almost every previous generation […]

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10 Ways to Disagree Online Without Being a Jerk

/ 1 minute of reading

The internet is a great place for debate. I love throwing ideas out there, stirring up interest and reading other passionate opinions.

But the anonymity of the internet also has a way of turning mean people loose. And that stifles, sometimes kills, the opportunity for healthy, inspiring conversation. A lot of good people have stopped writing online because they don’t want to wade through the nastiness any more. I don’t blame them.

The worst place for this is usually in the comment section of blogs. Unfortunately, Christian sites – even church leadership sites – are no exception to this. Including CT, which hosts this blog, which is why they have shut down their comment section altogether.

Despite this, I hold out hope. I’ve learned that it is possible to disagree with someone online and not be a jerk about it.

So if you, like me, want to engage in lively discussion, even disagreements online, while keeping the tone civil, try these ten steps as a guide.

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10 Ways to Disagree Online Without Being a Jerk

/ 1 minute of reading

The internet is a great place for debate. I love throwing ideas out there, stirring up interest and reading other passionate opinions.

But the anonymity of the internet also has a way of turning mean people loose. And that stifles, sometimes kills, the opportunity for healthy, inspiring conversation. A lot of good people have stopped writing online because they don’t want to wade through the nastiness any more. I don’t blame them.

The worst place for this is usually in the comment section of blogs. Unfortunately, Christian sites – even church leadership sites – are no exception to this. Including CT, which hosts this blog, which is why they have shut down their comment section altogether.

Despite this, I hold out hope. I’ve learned that it is possible to disagree with someone online and not be a jerk about it.

So if you, like me, want to engage in lively discussion, even disagreements online, while keeping the tone civil, try these ten steps as a guide.

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The Importance Of Doing lowercase ministry In An ALL CAPS World

/ 1 minute of reading

There are a lot of voices yelling at us.

Stop that! Buy this! Do it now!

And it’s all accelerated by the device you’re currently using.

In such a loud, hurried world, it’s tempting to think that the only way to get our message and our ministry heard is to raise our voices above those around us.

It’s tempting to think that the only way to get our message and ministry heard is to raise our voices above the voices around us.
So we yell our message louder, use bigger, bolder colors, and get angrier.

But all that does is make the gospel message appear like part of the problem, not an answer to it.

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The Importance Of Doing lowercase ministry In An ALL CAPS World

/ 1 minute of reading

There are a lot of voices yelling at us.

Stop that! Buy this! Do it now!

And it’s all accelerated by the device you’re currently using.

In such a loud, hurried world, it’s tempting to think that the only way to get our message and our ministry heard is to raise our voices above those around us.

It’s tempting to think that the only way to get our message and ministry heard is to raise our voices above the voices around us.
So we yell our message louder, use bigger, bolder colors, and get angrier.

But all that does is make the gospel message appear like part of the problem, not an answer to it.

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9 Common Social Media Tactics That Never Draw Anyone Closer To Jesus

/ 1 minute of reading

Social media has no moral component to it – except the ones we give it. It’s just a tool.

A very powerful one.

And we’re only beginning to grasp its impact.

When used well, it can connect, inform and entertain us. But when it’s used poorly, as it so often is, it can ruin your mood, your day, your life, and – as a Christian – your testimony.

Christians are not exempt from the dangers of social media. Just like anyone else, we can make mistakes that hurt the cause of the gospel, even while we’re trying to promote the message of Jesus.

Here are 9 common missteps I’ve seen a lot of Christians make. For most, maybe all of them, I can see the good motive behind it. But good intentions are not enough.

These tactics tend to push people away from Christians, the church and – worst of all – Jesus, more than draw them towards him.

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9 Common Social Media Tactics That Never Draw Anyone Closer To Jesus

/ 1 minute of reading

Social media has no moral component to it – except the ones we give it. It’s just a tool.

A very powerful one.

And we’re only beginning to grasp its impact.

When used well, it can connect, inform and entertain us. But when it’s used poorly, as it so often is, it can ruin your mood, your day, your life, and – as a Christian – your testimony.

Christians are not exempt from the dangers of social media. Just like anyone else, we can make mistakes that hurt the cause of the gospel, even while we’re trying to promote the message of Jesus.

Here are 9 common missteps I’ve seen a lot of Christians make. For most, maybe all of them, I can see the good motive behind it. But good intentions are not enough.

These tactics tend to push people away from Christians, the church and – worst of all – Jesus, more than draw them towards him.

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The Growth Gap: How The Megachurch Phenomenon Has Unintentionally Isolated Small Churches

/ 1 minute of reading

Sometimes it seems like the divide between big and small churches is so vast it’s almost insurmountable.

And it’s increasing, not diminishing.

Why is that happening? And why does it seem like that divide has grown especially large in the last few decades?

I think it has to do with the advent of the megachurches. Not that they’re bad. They aren’t. But the massive difference in size between megachurches and the typical church is causing an unintentional rift that we need to pay attention to.

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The Growth Gap: How The Megachurch Phenomenon Has Unintentionally Isolated Small Churches

/ 1 minute of reading

Sometimes it seems like the divide between big and small churches is so vast it’s almost insurmountable.

And it’s increasing, not diminishing.

Why is that happening? And why does it seem like that divide has grown especially large in the last few decades?

I think it has to do with the advent of the megachurches. Not that they’re bad. They aren’t. But the massive difference in size between megachurches and the typical church is causing an unintentional rift that we need to pay attention to.

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A Friendly Reminder: “Come To Jesus” Is More Important Than “Come To Our Church”

/ 1 minute of reading

Here’s a sincere question for my fellow pastors and other church leaders.

What if the members of our churches started sharing their faith, but it wasn’t in a way that brought more people to our specific church? Could we be okay with that?

If not, we may not be as much about kingdom growth as we think we are.

As people use social media to make new relationships and keep in touch with friends who have moved away, more aspects of our lives are happening without regard to geography. From crying with a friend going through a divorce, to celebrating the joy of childbirth, many of our most intimate moments are being lived through Facebook Live, Skype and FaceTime.

More people who share their faith are doing it online, too. Which means that the friends and family members they’re sharing it with are becoming less likely to be able to attend church together.

This has great potential for our church’s participation in kingdom growth, even if it doesn’t always result in the numerical growth of our local congregation.

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