A journey into the Rocky Mountains of Western Canada brought me to Vermilion Pass, a single point that divides two national parks and two provinces. It also divides two watersheds, for it stands upon the continental divide. To one side of this spot all waters flow west and eventually find their way to the vast Pacific; to the other side, all waters flow east and eventually empty into the cold Atlantic. To both sides are countless springs, countless snowmelts, countless glaciers, each one the headwaters of a creek, stream, or river that eventually joins with others and makes its way steadily toward one of these two great oceans.

In the decades that I’ve been a Christian, I’ve been told of many doctrines, many convictions, and many movements that represent the theological equivalent of a continental divide. Flowing to the one side of this issue are the faithful and to the other side the unfaithful. To the one side is the standing church and to the other side the falling church. To the one side is the godly remnant holding firm and to the other the great host of compromisers who are crumbling away. The implication is that if we don’t get a certain issue exactly right, we have set ourselves on the side of evil and will eventually be swept into the ocean of iniquity. Not only that, but we need to quickly separate ourselves from those who are moving in the opposite direction.

I face such divides with an increasing sense of skepticism. Though many claim that this issue or that issue is so important that it must be the basis of division, that it marks the point of disfellowship, I have my doubts. That’s not to say that nothing is true and nothing is false. It’s not to say that we ought to live in a kind of theological relativism or be content with a mushy middle. But it is to say that many people have a vested interest in making such claims. It is the claimants as much as the claims that warrant skepticism.

Bullies abound. Hyperbole sells. Exaggeration earns attention. Alarmism is a well-proven tactic. While nobody is interested in buying a book or attending a conference that deals with the third-most-pressing issue of our times, many will invest time and money in one that deals with the issue that will define the era. No conference Q&A has ever asked about issues that are perfectly settled and agreed on by all Christians, but many focus on issues that mark disagreement and division. A discernment blog is likely to rise through the ranks much faster than an encouragement blog. Many a podcaster or YouTuber has forged a career by claiming this issue, then that one, then the other, is the one that must divide the few from the many, the true from the false. Though some of them may be right some of the time, most of them are wrong most of the time.

Bullies abound. Hyperbole sells. Exaggeration earns attention. Alarmism is a well-proven tactic.Share

Every now and again a new issue does arise that demands careful examination and deep thought. Some issues are so pressing that it is right for Christians to gather to discuss them and come to an agreement on what is true and what is false. But most of the true “continental divide” issues have long since been settled. Thus we do well to ground ourselves in the long history of the Christian church and her creeds and confessions. Most of what needs to divide us has already been determined long ago and agreed upon by centuries of believers. Most of the rest demands patience, time, and persuasion more than haste, censure, and separation.

Meanwhile, the great issue of this day and every day is whether God’s people will be holy and united, whether we will speak true with love and love according to truth. It is whether we will be led by the Spirit working through the Word or whether we will be led by people of poor character working through new media. There are many people who will create new divisions or widen existing divisions in the name of Christ but for the good of themselves, the enriching of their pockets, or the widening of their influence. Too many of the church’s agendas are set by people who are following the devil’s agenda—his agenda of chaos, division, and separation.

Satan’s great genius has always been to place his agents within the church. While we keep a wary eye on the world and the culture, they are often ravaging the believers behind our backs. Paul’s warning to the Ephesians elders should sober us all and amplify our vigilance: “From among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:30). I plead with you for the sake of your spiritual well-being, for the sake of the unity of Christ’s church, and for the sake of giving the best of our attention to the Commission Christ has given us, to expect that the worst of our enemies will come from within. It’s very possible they will be wearing the guise of angels of light … or the guise of experts on discernment (2 Corinthians 11:14).

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you today.

Westminster Books would like to introduce you to some missionary “Titans” you’ve never heard of before (and help you better understand the future of Reformed apologetics).

Today’s Kindle deals include He Will Hold Me Fast and Ryan McGraw’s A Divine Tapestry which is meant to help you grow in your knowledge of the Bible.

John Piper explains why the Bible says that baptism saves us.

Samuel James discusses some of the strengths and weaknesses of the “He Gets Us” campaign. “It’s obvious one of the goals of ‘He Gets Us’ is to cut across political and ideological divides. To some extent, they succeed. The writers know where the fault lines in American religious culture are—abortion, LGBT+, race, class, and so on And who could resist being moved by these images of human vulnerability and compassion? Who can push out of his or her mind the many moments in the Gospels where Jesus met such needs and taught his followers to do the same?”

The Church History Handbook is an elegant, full-color handbook with robust summary content, charts, infographics, maps, doctrinal studies, short biographies, and more—and it’s designed to last a lifetime. Pre-order through Lifeway.com and receive 40% off your order when you enter the promo code CHALLIES40. (Sponsored)

This is a fantastic article that will prove well worth your time. “For the last three years, I have wrestled with the fundamental problem of our age. To call it ‘autonomy’ would be too trite. Neither is it a ‘worldview’ because it’s something regularly lived out without any kind of stated ideology. It is rather an inside-out approach to life.”

Chad Van Dixhoorn explains why he wants churches to continue to send young men to seminary rather than taking online courses or opting out altogether.

“If you’re struggling with differences that seem insurmountable—whether in the early, middle, or later years of marriage—take heart. God’s work isn’t measured in days or weeks, but in years and decades. When we entrust our marriages to Him and choose patient love over immediate demands for change, we create space for His transforming work in both our lives.”

Phil Hunt lays out different ways you can pray for protection for the missionaries you know, love, and support.

If any goodbye may be final, then surely every goodbye should be loving. We should never part from those we love in a spirit of anger or bitterness, with sin unconfessed, frustrations unforgiven, or misunderstandings unresolved. 

The wife and the mother has to conduct at the same time a university, a clothing establishment, a restaurant, a laundry, a library, while she is health officer, police, and president of her realm!
—De Witt Talmage

May the God of love and peace be with you on this fine day.

(Yesterday on the blog: No Unfinished Sculptures)
The Gifts of This Age Point Us to the Age Still to Come
Jared Wilson: “What Jesus is saying is that marriage is meant for this age to point us to the reality of that age. How does it do that? There are so many broken marriages, and always have been since the fall, but it was originally like that. And even the best marriages, even the ones that last until death do them part, are often fraught with conflict or hurts or just disappointments.”
He Would Have Come With Me
I enjoyed this story of how God changed one man’s heart.
Navigating Cross-Cultural Relationships
Chopo Mwanza provides an interesting example of a cross-culture difference and offers some good counsel on navigating cross-cultural relationships.
Open Door
“Over the years. In various cultures. Conversations over tea build friendships. And open doors. And our exchange moves from common everyday themes to the topic most essential. And dearest to my heart. Jesus.”
We Agree, Right?
Holly Mackle: “I’ve noticed a curious trend lately: in conversations with acquaintances or strangers I realize my conversation partner presumes I believe the same way they do on a given topic. Sometimes subtle, sometimes overt, whether the topic is politics, pandemic, or Pandora stations—it just keeps happening.”
In John 3:16, Does “The World” Refer To The Elect Or To Fallen Humanity? (Video)
Sinclair Ferguson answers well in this short video.
On Divisions and the Kingdom
“Are you growing in righteousness, and peace, and joy? All the things which we are absorbing, all the debates we are throwing ourselves into, all of our stances, all of our focus and attention on the things which divide, all of our talking points….are these bringing about righteousness and peace and joy? Maybe, then, they aren’t the stuff the kingdom is made of.”
Flashback: One Very Good Reason to Read Your Bible
The benefit of knowledge of God and intimacy with God extends to your family, to your neighbors, to your church. If you can’t or won’t do devotions for your own sake, won’t you do it for the sake of others?

Nothing is too great and nothing is too small to commit into the hands of the Lord. —A.W. Pink