rebelling against low expectations
One of today’s most notorious agnostics is Bart Ehrman, whose books have undermined the faith of many young Christians. His theory is that Jesus was just a preacher from rural Galilee who never even claimed to be God — that it was His followers who slowly, over time, exalted Him to be equal to the Creator. Ehrman explains that the ancient Romans gradually elevated their emperors to gods and...
I think it’s safe to say that often, romantic relationships don’t start out strong. Especially among teenagers. Several years back, I had a teammate on my senior league baseball team, who must have been about fifteen years old. This guy—who had a girlfriend—became the focal point for a great deal of needling and teasing because he and his girlfriend would literally break up and get...
With a majority of churchgoing teenagers abandoning the faith in college, there is one thing us teenagers need more than ever: Apologetics. Apologetics is the rational defense of the Christian faith–using logic to defend the core teachings of Christianity: the existence of God, the authority of Scripture, the resurrection of Jesus and the gospel itself. Here are five reasons why I believe...
Can I be completely honest with you? I don’t have this thing called being a Christian all figured out. I struggle. I sin. I rebel. Yet somehow I’m still loved. I’ve felt captivated by the very presence of God, so close as if I could touch Him, and I’ve also cried as I asked, “God, where are You?” I’ve run—both toward Him and from Him, and ask myself again, “why do I do the things I hate to do?”...
As I sit down to write, I often forget that my words are not my own. There are many times when I forget that I must seek the Lord and ask him for guidance when I relay my thoughts into words. I often forget that the Lord deserves to be extolled through the words that I write. Words have the ability to either destroy or to build up, and this is a responsibility that I cannot carry alone. Like many...
The gospel is offensive. There’s no getting around it. It was in the early church, it is today, and it will continue to be. People don’t like to hear about sin; they don’t want to need a savior; they don’t like the idea of a God in control. People want truth that’s malleable. They’re looking for instant gratification and something they can bend to fit their desires. They want to be told, “It’s...
Editor’s Note: In this article, Debi unpacks three ways a biblical worldview impacts her daily life. For more information on the foundations of a biblical worldview, check out A Biblical Worldview: What It Is and Why It Matters. I hold a biblical worldview. This one statement has numerous implications. First, I believe that absolute moral truth exists and absolute truth is defined by the Word of...
Imagine living color blind. Your friend asks you what color the hibiscus flower in your backyard is, to which you confidently reply “Purple!” They chuckle. “No, it’s like a reddish pink. Can’t you see it?” You shrug your shoulders, slightly annoyed. “I’m color blind. You see a reddish pink, I see purple.” Your friend tries to sympathize with you. “I’m sorry. I wish you could see what I can.” So...
Jim and Elisabeth Elliot are two of my heroes. I’ve devoured as many books by Elisabeth Elliot as I can get my hands on and been moved to tears by Jim’s commitment to God—and the tragedy it led to. I’ve read their journal entries and love letters, listened to audio clips from Jim and talks given by Elisabeth. God has used their steadfast devotion to Him to fuel a fire of passion in my own heart...
Bible reading. Prayer. Meditation. Fellowship. If you’ve spent some time in the church (or even on TheReb), you’ve probably heard a lot about these. You’ve probably also heard about some lesser-known practices like fasting, solitude, secrecy, or celebration. These are spiritual disciplines. Maybe you’re dedicated to practicing some or all of them. Maybe you think it would be a good idea and want...
rebelling against low expectations
