I’ve spent nearly four decades in the pulpit and more than six inside the walls of Protestant churches. In that time, I’ve seen a troubling trend deepen—a kind of spiritual tribalism among believers. Denominational lines have become fences, and in some places, barbed wire. We’ve forgotten that we are not opposing teams. We are not Methodists versus Baptists, Presbyterians versus Pentecostals, or Lutherans versus the non-denominational crowd down the street. We are the Church—the Body of...

There’s an old saying in the church: “Where two or three are gathered, there will be four opinions.” Anyone who has spent much time among believers knows how true that can be. Healthy discussion and thoughtful theological debate have always been part of our faith heritage. After all, iron sharpens iron. But lately, I’ve noticed that too often our sharpening leaves sparks that burn rather than refine. We seem to have forgotten that the goal of theology is not to win arguments but to know God...

When we open our Bibles and read the story of David and Goliath, most of us instinctively find ourselves rooting for—and identifying with—the shepherd boy. David is the underdog, small in stature but mighty in faith. He represents courage, trust, and God’s ability to use the weak to humble the strong. It’s an easy and comforting comparison. But if we’re honest, we’re rarely David. More often, we’re Goliath. We live in a culture that prizes confidence, self-sufficiency, and victory. We measure...