Christopher's Meanderings

Three of the books I recently finished reading are: 1. With  by Skye Jethani 2. Ordinary  by Michael Horton  3. After you Believe  by N.T. Wright I selected each of these books independently of the others, but they ended reinforcing similar enough principles I thought it wise to cover them in one post. First, each book comes from a different perspective and tradition on the Christian faith. With  comes from an evangelical, Ordinary  is by a Reformed theologian, and NT Wright composes as an Anglican.   Despite these differences, each of the authors ends up addressing what Christian faith looks like in the long haul.   For this reason, I believe these books are best suited for someone who is ready to move on from the basics of Christianity to a longer path of obedience.  Next, each book does a good job of making a unique contribution to discipleship literature.  In Ordinary , a case is made for the regular practice...

If you've ever read the Harry Potter series you know how terrible and lonely caves can be.  The main antagonist in the story arc, Lord Voldemort, used a cave to hide some of his darkest secrets. It was there he tortured other children as a child. It was there he hid many of the dead bodies of people he had murdered, and he used their undead corpses as protection for a part of his evil soul. In Plato's Republic we are greeted by the Allegory of the Cave. The cave is the place where ignorant men remain ignorant about the true nature of the world.  The cave really isn't a good place, as the Good is something outside of the cave.  Much more could be said about this little parable. Suffice it to say we don't want to live in caves. They are dark. They are lonely. They isolate us from the warmth and clarity of the sun. Being in vocational ministry is an isolating place. It can often feel like being in a cave. It may not be the most isolating vocation, but it has to...