Resolve

We encounter gray areas in many ways. But, just because it’s not clearly one way or another, have we gone too far by considering a “gray area” to be synonymous with “yeah, it’s wrong, but since it’s a gray area, it’s okay”? Edwards saw this likelihood, and perhaps he drafted resolution 39 for that reason.

Are You Too Comfortable in the Gray Areas of Life?

Life comes with a lot of gray areas. We meet them in many situations, whether it’s in business, marriage, following laws, or otherwise. Too often, though, when someone says, “it’s sort of a gray area" they say it to infer “yeah, it’s not right, but it’s a gray area,...

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Personal accountability is almost a dying art. I think that is why Edwards make sure to resolve to hold himself accountable to his resolutions.

Resolve to Have Personal Accountability in Life

There often seems to be a lacking of personal accountability in our world. In fact, it seems like personal accountability is a dying skill, much like cursive and Latin. That's why I love that Edwards built personal accountability into his 23rd resolution. And I don't...

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Judging others is a frequent Christian Living trope. Edwards 21 Resolution shows we should seek to be living as the judged and NOT as the judges.

The Hypocrisy and Reason for Judging Others

Not a day goes by that I don't find myself judging others. On the one hand, I grow angry with myself because I am judging others. On the other hand, I thank God for revealing to me those things I should seek to rid from my life and being. In that regard, it is a gift....

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Knowing and making the right Christian response to conflict and in small moments shows a grasp of personal discipline, cultivated wisdom, submission to the Holy Spirit, and more.

What’s the Right Christian Response in Big & Small Moments?

One of my former pastors encourages people to ask “what is the right Christian response to this?” when faced with conflict. It's not just conflict, though. It’s an appropriate question for all matters of life. Being able to press pause for questioning an appropriate...

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The phrase, Christian Living is probably a publishing industry invention. But it may be one of the most important disciplines of our age. I think Jonathan Edwards’s first resolution captures this ideal for becoming more like the character of Christ and in frequent communion with God.

The Art of Christian Living – World but Not Worldly

I tried to find the origin of the phrase, Christian Living. I failed. It’s not overly surprising to me. However, I have seen it in many avenues over the last several months, so I thought there was a chance. But the art of Christian Living may be one of the most...

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When it comes to the Sabbath, there is a lot of debate. That debate questions of Christians should work on Sundays or not. While it’s important to be mindful of the intent of the Sabbath and who it is for, we also must be careful to not create a standard set of rules concerning it, nor should we judge others for honoring it in the way they must or choose to do so.

Keeping the Sabbath is Not Part of a Holy Checklist

What seems like an age-old debate is whether or not Christians should work on Sunday. It would seem that doing so is in direct violation of the fourth commandment of “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” (Exodus 20:8). While I cannot even begin to present a...

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Being charitable is not just a box to be checked. It’s a way of Christian living. An act of compassion and love. I can’t help but wonder if our current age has allowed the concept of charity to evolve to something it vastly different than what Jesus wanted us to pursue.

How Being Charitable May Not Mean What You Think it Does

My earliest memories of the concept of being charitable go back to probably first or second grade. I had attended mass with my mom. Afterwards, they handed out unassembled boxes to the churchgoers as they left. Mom explained to me that we were expected to go home,...

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