As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner. The Banner h
I see Christians debating about the “sin of empathy.” Is that a biblical teaching?I think the phrasing might be deliberately provocative, verging on clickbait. But the point, I believe, is that any virtue, even empathy, can be twisted and weaponized. Although that is true, I worry that some people u
Last Sunday our pastor preached about unity in Christ. As I sat in my familiar pew, his words struck deeper than usual. Just days earlier, I’d ended a 15-year friendship over political differences that had grown too painful to navigate.How did we as Christians arrive at this place? When did our poli
I have to make a big decision regarding a job opportunity. I’ve been reading my Bible and praying, but I still don’t know what to do. How do I know if I’m making the right choice?It’s often only looking back that we know whether we’ve made the right decision. Looking forward, the best we can do is t
As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.Like most gas
“Let us go then, you and I, to the place our Rabbi lies.”They clung together,Women’s faces that could not smile,Ravaged by death, defiled and lost in grief.They approached the tomb,Morning darknessGreeted them, but the stone, hid from sight,Was not there. Stealthily they moved,Approached the tomb, e
The party began when the pizza delivery guy arrived. That afternoon, we’d joyfully met with social workers and signed papers to finalize the adoptions of our youngest children—the last step before a judge would stamp the documents and legally make them Hoffs.Now, alongside a dear friend and her chil
Should I feel guilty for the unjust actions of my ancestors or my country even if the actions happened before I was born?Indigenous peoples were violently subjugated, their land occupied, and their people confined to reservations. Africans were shipped across the ocean and forced to labor under ardu
As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner. The Banner h
My married kids don’t want to have children. To me, this is a self-centered decision. How can I convince them to be fruitful and multiply?Decisions about starting a family, how many kids to have, or when to have them don’t involve a family vote. They are personal decisions that couples make prayerfu
What is a holistic gospel witness?A holistic gospel witness is a challenge to popular reductions of the gospel that diminish the full scope of the good news that Jesus proclaimed and lived. In Luke 4:16-21, Jesus declares that the Spirit “has anointed (him) to proclaim good news to the poor” and “to
At 4:31 p.m. Feb. 20, 2018, billionaire Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, posted this Instagram message for his millions of followers: “Installation has begun—500 ft tall, all mechanical, powered by day/night thermal cycles, synchronized at solar noon, a symbol for long-term thinking—the #10,000Yea
Like the psalmists of old, I have been lamenting lately, honestly sharing my griefs, fears, and frustrations with God. Allow me to share some of them with you.I have served God as faithfully as I can. All these years I have tried to be fair to different views, as a journalistic ministry is supposed
As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner. The Banner h
Are children in the church capable of taking on lead roles in our worship services? If so, how might we encourage this?Years ago it was rare for anyone but the pastor to speak in the worship services we attended. In many Christian Reformed churches, though, people have since realized that if worship
I have multiple jobs. I don’t think I can afford to drop any of them, but I feel like I’m being pulled in different directions. What can I do?Having several ‘gig’ jobs is becoming the new “normal” for many people, but this doesn’t make it any easier. It can feel as if you’re always working and still
Cathy sat on a bench by the library, smoking a cigarette and clutching a cup of coffee. Tiny, wizened, and perennially distraught, Cathy looked up when I called her name.Over the past several years I would occasionally see her on my walks. One of my first encounters with her was as she stood near th
Have you ever thought about decomposers? Without decomposers such as fungi, mushrooms, and bacteria, our world would be littered with the carcasses and remains of every plant, animal, and person who ever lived on Earth.But because God is so good, God has orchestrated creation to take care of its own
If God has promised to always be with us (Matt. 28:20), why does God sometimes seem so far away?It is important, as you note, for God’s promises to be the grounding of our faith. This means our faith does not rest in our capacity to predict what God is doing or our ability to perceive God’s presence
As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.Trading trave