But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 1 Peter 3: 14-16
Issues of same-sex attraction, the Christian identity, and sexual orientation have once more made it to the fore, and a growing contingent of believers are wondering if the whole thing is a matter of semantics. Terms like “gay” and “orientation” used in the context of...
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Alex Kocman
There’s a running gag in our family that occurs every time we dine together as an extended family. My father, a creature of habit, always blesses the meal and thanks God “for the hands that prepared it”—covering all the bases, as it were. After the “amen,” my...
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Alex Kocman
Friday, 15 November 2019 20:14
How Covenant Theology Clarifies Justice Issues
Written by Alex Kocman
Whether we owe it to the spirit of the age or to the quirks of our own subculture, we evangelicals generally disdain labels. We prefer to be “Christ-followers,” not Christians; “gospel-centered,” not Baptist, Protestant, or Reformed. This isn’t always a bad thing....
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Alex Kocman
“Everyone we meet is on a spiritual journey.” I recently came across this statement printed on a brochure for an evangelistic Bible study. When I see language like this used in church and ministry contexts, my response is twofold. On one hand, it is true that we must start with the...
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Alex Kocman
Blogging gets a bad rap. For some, it’s a hobby at best. For others, it’s an art, or even a divine calling. How should Christians approach this craft? My friend Benjamin Vrbicek, a far more gifted writer than me, is tackling some of these very questions in a forthcoming book for...
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Alex Kocman
Right now, conservative evangelicals are at an impasse on the issue of boldness. A few months ago, I observed that today there is greater stigma attached to speaking the truth in a tone that seems slightly unnerved or terse than speaking dangerous falsehoods sweetly, politely, and deferentially. A...
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Alex Kocman
If you ever want to see what a room full of tired men looks like, go to the closest pastors’ conference. Of course, in any room full of pastors, you’re bound to find a mix, from fresh graduates to veterans, fauxhawks to receding hairlines—each gray head a crown for a lifetime of...
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Alex Kocman
Monday, 24 June 2019 23:44
Christian Politicking and Innocence By Association
Written by Alex Kocman
Ever since our exile from Eden, mankind has been in a mad dash after fig leaves like they’re going out of style. We trade divine approval for human head nods to relieve our inner shame. And in our evangelical empires, this often takes the form of avoiding “guilt by association” at...
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Alex Kocman
Thursday, 06 June 2019 06:02
The War Against Victimhood Starts in Our Own Hearts
Written by Alex Kocman
Postmodernity has seen the replacement of truth and hierarchy with lived experience and group identity. And, as any ethical or religious system necessarily demands the recognition of justified and unjustified classes, the West has embraced victimhood as its standard of righteousness. One’s...
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Alex Kocman
Increasingly, biblically-aware Christians are consulting their Old Testaments to help them navigate modern issues of social justice and biblical. Unsurprisingly, as conversations over racial reconciliation escalate within the church, the notion of reparations has come to the fore, and many are...
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Alex Kocman
Wednesday, 10 April 2019 19:12
Great Commission Christianity Is Cosmic-Redemptive Christianity
Written by Alex Kocman
Charles Spurgeon famously commented, “Of two evils, choose neither.” Well, to borrow from the prince of preachers, I’d like to argue: Given a choice in a false dichotomy, choose both. Recently, an scholarly evangelical voice took to the web to denounce what he termed “Great...
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Alex Kocman
Sunday, 31 March 2019 19:19
4 Steps to Avoid Ministry Burnout: Lessons From Moses
Written by Alex Kocman
Tracing Israel’s repeated rebellions in the wilderness is as dizzying as watching dirty bathwater circle the drain. In spite of its refrain stressing the patience of God, the book of Numbers exhausts the reader with its reports of these cyclical revolts of the exodus generation. Time and...
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Alex Kocman
Buzzwords have a funny way of painting their subject in the best possible light. Consider a few examples. “Progressive”—who doesn’t want to make progress? “Attractional”—who doesn’t want to attract unbelievers into the church?...
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Alex Kocman
Friday, 08 March 2019 22:47
Resentment and the Market Demand for ‘Reconciliation’
Written by Alex Kocman
At a recent medical consult, a doctor strongly recommended I schedule a particular outpatient surgical procedure. Since I’d been having some discomfort, I quickly obliged and booked the appointment. Of course, as the date of the surgery drew near, I weighed the costs and realized my recovery...
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Alex Kocman
Friday, 22 February 2019 22:08
You Don’t Need to Be ‘Woke’ to Be Biblical: A Review of Eric Mason’s ‘Woke Church’
Written by Alex Kocman
Contrary to Dr. Mason’s claims, we do not need to be “woke” to care about suffering and injustice. By adopting the world’s lingo, we’re playing into a larger agenda that deemphasizes the gospel of guilt, grace, and gratitude. We simply need to be biblical.
Authors: Alex...
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Alex Kocman
Thursday, 07 February 2019 05:40
Why Do Missions When Our Own Nation Is in Flames?
Written by Alex Kocman
Author’s note: This article is cross-posted on ABWE.org. If you’re anything like me, it’s been hard to pray for the nations when our own is in such turmoil. I speak from the perspective of an American, but I recognize that this conversation...
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Alex Kocman
Thursday, 17 January 2019 00:38
3 Reasons Definite Atonement is Basic to Biblical Missions
Written by Alex Kocman
“Sit down, young man. When God decides to save the heathen, he will do it without your help.” These were the words of John Ryland to a passionate, young English Particular Baptist named William Carey, now known to us as the father of the modern missionary movement. Since then, the...
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Alex Kocman
Wednesday, 09 January 2019 10:13
Learn How to ‘Adult’ Before You ‘Missionary’
Written by Alex Kocman
Author’s note: This article is cross-posted on Founders.org and ABWE.org. Every head bowed, every eye closed. Good. Now, do you feel a stirring deep in your soul when I talk about missions? If so, stand up. If you’ve spent any time in...
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Alex Kocman
Author’s note: this article is cross-posted on Founders.org. “When I went to war, I marked my enemies like a sniper. And when I got to them, I chopped their heads off with a knife.” These are the translated words of Wangloi Wangshu, one of the few surviving members of...
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Alex Kocman
Saturday, 29 December 2018 12:49
Is Platform-Building a Sin? (With 11 Diagnostic Questions)
Written by Alex Kocman
If humility is a Christian virtue, false humility is an evangelical vice. Such describes the state of the Christian blogosphere, which itself is marked both by its fair share of platform-building efforts and humble hot takes repudiating the practice itself. Scripture is clear in stating that...
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Alex Kocman
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