Tag: “becoming worldly saints”
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Can You Enjoy Creation Too Much?
Last month I was speaking to a seminary faculty about the themes in Becoming Worldly Saints when a professor shared that he had pondered the pleasures of creation on his walk into work that morning. He had thanked God for the rising sun, the singing birds, but then wondered whether he might be enjoying God’s…
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Interview, Part Two
Here is the second part of the pastor’s interview that began yesterday. 5. Some Christians, I can only imagine, will be inclined to push back on your book, arguing that the church is already too worldly and doesn’t need encouragement to “enjoy life”. How would you respond to such criticisms? One friend asked if most…
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Interview
I spent the last couple of hours responding to perceptive questions from a pastor who wants to share Becoming Worldly Saints with his congregation. I thought that the answers might interest some of you and encourage your faith. I’ll post the first half now and the second half tomorrow. 1. The question driving your book…
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you are called
This devotional for Our Daily Journey rises out of my research for Becoming Worldly Saints. I hope it helps people apply the Reformation’s notion of vocation. There is still time to fix errors before I turn it in, so if you see something please say something. Thanks! read > Colossians 3:18-25 Remember that the Lord…
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higher calling?
The most difficult part to write of Becoming Worldly Saints was p. 104-5. Throughout the book I emphasize how the unified story of Scripture means that all callings matter. Every wholesome task, regardless how small it seems, can be done unto the Lord and receive his reward (Col. 3:23-24). And yet, there are two distinctions…
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going to heaven
Yesterday Kevin DeYoung wisely pushed back against Christians who so emphasize the new earth that they dismiss the benefits of going to heaven when they die. Dying saints may be encouraged by the renewal of all things, but they also want to know what happens the moment they leave this earth. Kevin is right that…
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I can’t get no satisfaction
Yesterday I received the new edition of Christian Scholar’s Review, and I immediately read the article by Scott Waalkes, “Rethinking Work as Vocation: From Protestant Advice to Gospel Corrective” (Winter, 2015, p. 135-53). I was interested because not only does Waalkes teach at Malone University, near my hometown, but his article promised to correct the…
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becoming worldly saints
Eleven years ago I published my first book, Heaven Is a Place on Earth. It didn’t move the needle quite as much as N. T. Wright’s, Surprised by Hope, which came out four years later, but it seemed to make some impact in the evangelical world and brought renewed interest in Belinda Carlisle. I proudly…
Mike Wittmer 