If you’re past the age of Mosaics and Busters, you might want to make sure you’re sitting down. In fact, you may want to hold on to your chair real tight. I’m using a style of language here that some may not understand and misinterpret. I’m doing it make a point. So Frankie says relax before you read on . . .

“Jerk: Slang . a contemptibly naive, fatuous, foolish, or inconsequential person.” Not a cuss word. Source.

According to recent studies (you know, the same ones that show that research is known to cause cancer in rats), if two Christians disagree with one another online for more than three consecutive days, there is a 97.3% chance that one of them will end up calling the other a “child of Satan” or a near-equivalent.

With that in mind, here are ten sure-fire ways to perfect the art of being a jerk online:

1. Move from arguing the substance of a disagreement to attacking the person with whom you disagree. (This is called an ad hominem argument. Attack the messenger while you disagree with their message. People often do this when they can’t win an argument.)

2. Assume what other people think and believe rather than asking them directly. And state your assumption about what they think and believe as though it were gospel fact to others. (Did I say without asking the person whose name you’re dropping directly about what he/she believes or thinks? I’m always amazed when Christians do this.) Continue Reading…

I remember it well. A zealous but naïve follower of Jesus in my mid-20s. That was me.

One of my friends had been part of the church to which I belonged. He had recently moved to another city and joined another group.

He called me on the phone from the other state to unload. He told me how he had been mistreated by this other group. And he singled-out one particular person who was (according to him) the source of his pain.

As I listened to him vent, my blood began to boil. I was angry at this group . . .  and I was angry at the particular person who mistreated my friend.

Some time went by, and I was talking to another friend who knew more about the situation than I did. One thing led to another, and I found myself on the phone with the very person from that other group whom (I had thought) mistreated my friend.

As I listened to this man carefully, my blood began to boil again. But this time, I was angry at my friend. And more, I was angry at myself for drawing a conclusion based on hearing only one side of a story. Continue Reading…

In Revise Us Again, I dedicate an entire chapter to a phenomenon I call “being captured by the same spirit you oppose.” This is something that all of us are susceptible to.

One of the characteristics of those who are captured by the same spirit is the tendency to impute the motives of one’s own heart onto those we find threatening or those we just don’t like.

Christian leaders who have inflated egos or deep insecurities are easily threatened by others. As a result, they will unwittingly read their own heart motives into the hearts of other people. Psychologists call this “projection.” I can’t face my own shortcomings and defects so I unconsciously project them onto other people. I accuse others of the very same dark things that are lurking deep within my own heart.

I’ve watched some Christians engage in projection when they came into contact with those who were just as (or more) gifted than they were. The root is often jealousy. You can call it a “Saul complex,” if you will. Continue Reading…

“Sing to the Lord a new song.”

~ Psalm 98:1

I had the privilege of spending the last two weekends with a beautiful fellowship of believers. This group of Jesus-followers has written some of their own songs . . . songs that reflect their life and experience in Christ.

Recently, the fellowship wrote a simple song entitled: Since We’ve Tasted and We’ve Seen.

“Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalm 34:8)

“We have tasted the goodness of the Word of God and the powers of the coming age.” (Heb. 6:5)

“But we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

I love the song, and can’t get it out of my head.

I’m posting a recording of it so you can hear it. The fellowship sang it in several different ways, so listen to the whole recording. Note that I placed a digital recorder on the floor, so don’t expect professional quality. Continue Reading…

Recently, someone whom I’ve not had any contact with for a very long time wrote me an email and ended it with these words:

“I hope you are also doing well and please know that you continue to be in my prayers.”

I don’t have adequate language to describe how such words effect me. But whenever I’m aware that a believer is praying for me, I’m deeply moved. And I’m deeply thankful.

Perhaps some of you who are in ministry can relate to this, but I am keenly aware when God works in and through me in ways that exceed my abilities and giftings. I attribute this to His grace and to the prayers of God’s people for me.

In Revise Us Again, I address the problem of Christianeze. The phrase, “I’m praying for you” or “I’ll pray for you” sometimes falls into that category for some believers. Meaning, many Christians say it all the time to people, but often don’t carry it out. It’s the right thing to say. It’s part of the culture of being a Christian.

Those who know me well are aware of two things on this score: Continue Reading…