The First Obedience Before the Second Ordinance
Why Unbaptized Believers Should Wait to Partake of the Lord’s Supper Evangelicals have rightly guarded the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. We do not baptize people in order to save them. We baptize people because Christ has saved them. Baptism is not the engine of salvation; it is the immediate, public, obedient response […]
Baptism That Saves? Recovering the Urgency Without Losing the Gospel
Few phrases in Scripture have stirred as much discussion as “baptism now saves you” (1 Peter 3:21). Add to that the language of the Nicene Creed—“We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins”—and the tension becomes clear. Do these statements teach that baptism itself saves? Or have we, in modern evangelical practice, separated baptism from […]
The Return of Young Men to High-Church Christianity
A Sociological and Theological Analysis 1. Introduction: A Real but Limited Trend Recent data suggests a measurable uptick in religiosity among young men, even as overall religious affiliation in the U.S. remains historically low. A 2024–2025 Gallup trend shows that about 40% of young men now attend religious services regularly, a notable increase from earlier years (America […]
Volunteer Tension
Leading for Excellence in a Volunteer Environment: Holding the Tension Without Lowering the Bar There’s a unique tension that comes with leading in a volunteer-driven organization. On one hand, you’re called to pursue excellence—clear standards, meaningful outcomes, and a level of execution that truly serves your mission. On the other hand, the people carrying out […]