5 top Christian blog posts of the week—posts on resisting temptation, goals for a new year, persecution of Christians, and more by J.D. Greear, Denny Burk, Jared Wilson, and more.
The Danger of Secret Temptations
Pastor Dave Dunham rightly acknowledges that we are all tempted. And he then rightly encourages us toward accountability.
So, confess your temptations to one another. Even the embarrassing, shameful ones. Share with others what you find alluring, even if you’ve never given in to such temptations. If there is a sin that repeatedly draws your attention, thoughts, fantasies, it should be regarded as a potential threat. Ask for help in saying “no.” Invite others to pray that you will remain vigilant. Secret temptations have a power that makes them stronger. Break the hold such temptations have on you by bringing them out of the darkness and into the light (Eph. 5:12-13).
Read the rest of Pastor Dave’s wise counsel at The Danger of Secret Temptations.
Christian Persecution Is Intensifying
Jared Wilson writes:
Every day, 1 in 9 Christians in the world faces high levels of religious persecution for following Jesus — that’s more than 245 million believers. And today, more than any time in modern history, Christian persecution is intensifying, with little sign of relief. In more than 60 countries, Christians risk isolation, ridicule, and imprisonment, loss of their homes, torture, rape and even death for their faith in Jesus.
Learn more in Christian Persecution Is Intensifying.
A New Year
Writing at Faith Biblical Counseling Ministries’ Counseling with Confidence and Compassion site, Bev Moore shares 5 words of counsel about biblical goals for A New Year.
Christian Teacher Teaches at Christian School!
You may have read about Karen Pence—wife of Vice President Mike Pence—taking a teaching job at a Christian school. Denny Burk addresses the Huffington Post’s take on this in Stop the Presses! Christian Teacher Goes to Teach at Christian School! After quoting from the Huffington Post article, Burk writes:
These paragraphs seem designed to scandalize readers with the backwardness of the school and therefore of Ms. Pence herself. It seems lost on the writer that these kinds of moral standards in Christian schools are common. There are countless other schools just like this one all over the country, including the one where I teach. Admission and employment policies for Christian schools vary depending on the mission of the institution, but it is anything but uncommon for Christian schools to expect their employees and students to behave like Christians. Such schools are anything but newsworthy.
If You’re a Christian, You Have One Job
What’s our calling, our commission as a Christian? That’s the question that Pastor J.D. Greear addresses in If You’re a Christian, You Have One Job.
Join the Conversation
Which post impacted you the most? Why? What additional blog posts from the past week do you recommend?
