Tag: Christian Life

“Enduring to the End”: Extreme Politics and the Christ-Follower
Jay Smith, YTI President and Bridger Professor of Theology & Ethics
Tags: Christian Life, Christianity, Politics
Politics in the United States have always been complicated. They are complicated because the Constitution places the basic responsibility of government on individual citizens. The governed choose those who would govern. “We the People” are called to use our critical faculties as we cast our vote for those who would represent us in Congress and … MORE

Rethinking the Mission of God
Bill Fowler, YTI Church Relations and Professor of New Testament and Practical Theology
Tags: Christian Life, Ministry, Missions
A Biblical Theology of Missions? My earliest efforts at demonstrating the missional heart of God were aimed at producing a “biblical theology of mission.” I would look for scriptures that expressed God’s concern for “the nations,” prophecies and passages that included the universal aspect of God’s love. By doing so, I hoped to convince and … MORE

Pursuing Purity of Heart Through Chastity
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Christianity, Purity
(This is the second in a series on Monastic Ideals.) Chastity was a monastic practice that moved the false self toward purity of heart. It is a way toward freedom to love self and others with the love of God.

The Value of Monastic Ideals
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Christianity, Community, Grace, Love, Monasticism, Spiritual Life
Love for God is one of the essential beginning places for the Christian ascent to holiness. As I mature, I have realized my ability to love others flows through the relationship I have with God. In some ways, living into Christian holiness is like throwing a fine piece of pottery; it comes from a long … MORE

Three Ps to Help Find Your ONE Thing
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian, Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Priorities, Productivity, Purpose
I recently read a book suggesting that people want less. According to Gary Keller and Jay Papason in The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, people want less on their plates, they want less responsibility—basically, they want less everything. However, the authors explain that people also want more. Folks want more productivity, … MORE

Cow
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Grace, Kindness
Crisis! There she was, just waddling down the street – the neighbor’s Jersey milk cow. I had started down the road on my morning run when I encountered a cow walking toward me in the middle of the road. Picture Elsie, the Bordon milk representative, but add a tongue rolling out of her mouth and … MORE

Where is God?
Jay Smith, YTI President and Bridger Professor of Theology & Ethics
Tags: Christian Life, Christianity, Church, God's Love, Jesus, Love, Religion
I have the great privilege of speaking to hundreds of young men and women at some of the best colleges and universities across the United States. Many of them are anxious to serve God in some capacity in life after college. On the other hand, many more are wondering “where is God?” Indeed, when given … MORE

3 Surprising Reasons People Don’t Go to Church
Scott Hamilton, YTI Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling
Tags: Christian Life, Christianity, Church, Gospel, Relationships
I recently came across a shared article on Facebook suggesting that local churches needed to increase their guest lists. According to the article, church members needed to invite unchurched people to church. On the surface, such a thought sounds almost nonsensical. Of course, people need to invite people to church. On the other hand, what … MORE

All Fuzzy Bunnies, Colorful Eggs, a Fancy Lunch; Oh, and a Church Service…
Jay Smith, YTI President and Bridger Professor of Theology & Ethics
Tags: Christian Life, Christianity, Easter, Jesus, Resurrection
Is this what we settle for? Easter… When we really think about Easter in contemporary America, what are we really celebrating? Christians know that we are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus; or at least so we think. In an increasingly secular America, Easter has returned to its Saxon and Germanic roots: Eostre, or Ostara. Ostara … MORE

Officiating the Officiating: Hold the Comments…
Bill Fowler, YTI Church Relations and Professor of New Testament and Practical Theology
Tags: Christian Life, Christian Maturity, Pastor
Just Trying to Be Helpful Basketball is my game and I enjoy watching it at every level. My colleague, David, was going to be watching his (eighth-grade) son’s last game of the season (starting point guard for the varsity team) and I went to cheer Luke on. Throughout the game I felt it necessary to … MORE