<![CDATA[Devin Peterson - Field Notes in Formation]]>Tue, 29 Sep 2026 09:15:38 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Fulfilled; Not Forgotten: When Silence Isn't Innocent]]>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 19:03:25 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/fulfilled-not-forgotten-when-silence-isnt-innocentWhen Silence Makes You ResponsibleMost of us know that lying is wrong. That part isn't particularly complicated. But what if you know the truth and simply choose not to say anything?

There is a law tucked away in Leviticus that I don't remember paying much attention to before:

“When someone sins in any of these ways: If he has seen, heard, or known about something he has witnessed, and did not respond to a public call to testify, he will bear his iniquity.”
— Leviticus 5:1

The setting here is essentially a legal one. Someone knows something relevant to a case, a call goes out for witnesses, and that person decides not to come forward.

What caught my attention is that the person doesn't lie. He doesn't give false testimony. He just doesn't say anything. And apparently, in this situation, God doesn't consider silence neutral.

That challenges me because I tend to think about righteousness in terms of things I shouldn't do. Don't lie. Don't steal. Don't hurt someone. Don't spread gossip. If I can say, “I didn't do anything,” I can usually convince myself that my hands are clean.

But this law introduces another possibility: maybe there are situations where the problem is precisely that I didn't do anything.

Think about the original situation. If a witness refuses to speak, an innocent person could be blamed for something he didn't do. Someone who actually did wrong could avoid responsibility. A conflict could remain unresolved simply because the one person who knew what happened decided it was easier not to get involved.

Suddenly silence isn't quite so innocent.

That doesn't mean we are supposed to tell everyone everything we know. Scripture has plenty to say about gossip, discretion, and knowing when to keep our mouths shut. There are confidences we should protect and situations that really aren't our business. Being committed to truth doesn't mean becoming the person who feels obligated to insert himself into every disagreement.

But there is a difference between discretion and self-protection, and if I'm honest, I don't always know which one is motivating me.

Sometimes “I don't want to get involved” really means “I don't want this to cost me anything.”

I think that gets pretty close to the general equity of this law. We aren't ancient Israelites responding to a public summons for testimony, but we do regularly find ourselves possessing information that matters. And sometimes knowing the truth creates a responsibility to do something with it.

Maybe someone is being blamed for something and you know the story isn't accurate. Maybe you hear a rumor about someone and happen to know that it isn't true. Maybe someone at work is taking the fall for a mistake and you know enough about what happened to set the record straight. Maybe someone has misunderstood a situation in a way that benefits you, and while you haven't actually lied, you also haven't been in much of a hurry to correct them.

Those are harder situations than simply asking, “Did I lie?”

They require us to ask, “Am I being faithful with the truth?”

And I think that's what this law reveals about God's character. God doesn't merely care that His people avoid making false statements. He cares about truth itself. He wants His people to become trustworthy people.

Jesus takes that idea even further. He doesn't merely claim to tell the truth; He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Truth isn't just a rule Jesus follows. It is part of who He is.

So if the Holy Spirit is forming Christ in us, then Christian maturity has to involve more than getting better at technically avoiding lies. We should gradually become people who actually love what is true, even when the truth is inconvenient.
That's where this little law starts becoming uncomfortable for me.

Have I ever watched someone receive blame when I could have clarified what really happened? Have I allowed someone to continue believing something because their misunderstanding worked in my favor? Have I called my silence “wisdom” when it was really fear? Have I ever told the technically true version of a story while conveniently leaving out the part that would make me look bad?

Those aren't questions I ask because I think keeping Leviticus 5:1 will somehow make me righteous before God. That's not what the Law can do for us. Christ has already done what we could never do for ourselves.

But the Law can still expose us.

It can show us something God values and then give us an opportunity to ask whether that same thing is being formed in us.

And when I discover that it isn't, the answer isn't to grit my teeth and promise God that I'll do better next time. The invitation is to surrender that part of myself to the Spirit and ask Him to change me.

“Holy Spirit, show me where my desire to protect myself has become greater than my love for truth. Make me more like Jesus.”

There won't always be an obvious answer about when to speak. Sometimes love will require silence. Sometimes wisdom will tell us to wait. Sometimes keeping someone's confidence is exactly the faithful thing to do.

But there will also be moments when we already know why we're keeping quiet.

We don't want the awkward conversation. We don't want someone upset with us. We don't want to admit our part. We don't want to lose whatever advantage the misunderstanding has given us.

Maybe that is why this obscure little law is still worth sitting with.

It reminds us that following God isn't only about refusing to say what is false. It's about becoming the kind of people who can be trusted with what is true.
​
And sometimes faithfulness with the truth means having the courage to say something when it would be much easier to say nothing.
]]><![CDATA[Fullfilled, Not forgotten: Don't Take the Mother with the Young]]>Wed, 15 Jul 2026 03:07:28 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/fullfilled-not-forgotten-dont-take-the-mother-with-the-youngOne of the easiest mistakes we can make when reading the Mosaic Law is assuming that every command is simply a rule to obey. Yet many of the laws reveal something far deeper. They reveal the heart of the God who gave them. One of the most overlooked examples is a law about a bird's nest.
"If you come across a bird's nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long."
— Deuteronomy 22:6–7

At first glance, this command seems almost insignificant. Why would God concern Himself with a single bird's nest?
Why include such a specific regulation among laws about justice, holiness, worship, and community? Yet perhaps that is precisely the point. If God cares about something this small, what does it reveal about His heart? Looking Beyond the CommandLike many Old Testament laws, this command has prompted discussion among scholars.

​Some suggest it was intended to preserve future generations of wildlife by allowing the mother bird to continue reproducing. Others see it as an expression of compassion toward creation. Still others understand it as a way of preserving the natural order that God established in the beginning. While we cannot know every detail of God's intent, each of these explanations points toward the same conclusion: God does not permit His people to consume without restraint. Even when they have the right to take something, He teaches them to exercise wisdom, moderation, and care. Israel was free to benefit from creation. But they were never free to exhaust it.

The General Equity Thereof
This is where the Westminster Confession's language of "general equity" becomes so helpful. The command itself belongs to ancient Israel. Most of us will never find ourselves deciding whether to take a mother bird along with her young. Yet the principle behind the command remains.

Exercise your freedom in ways that preserve future flourishing.

Or stated another way:
​
Stewardship values tomorrow as much as today.

The specific command may no longer govern us. But the Father's heart behind it still instructs us. What Does This Reveal About God?This law reveals that God thinks beyond the present moment. 

Human beings naturally ask:
"What can I gain today?"

God asks:
"What kind of world are you leaving for tomorrow?"

Throughout Scripture, God consistently demonstrates this concern. He placed Adam in the garden to cultivate and keep it. He commanded Israel to let the land rest during the Sabbath year. He repeatedly warned against exploiting the poor, the vulnerable, and creation itself. God delights in abundance. But He never encourages consumption without stewardship. His blessings are meant to be received with gratitude and managed with wisdom. The Father is not merely concerned with what His children receive. He cares about what they leave behind.

Walking in a Way That Pleases God
One of the greatest misconceptions about stewardship is that it only concerns money. Scripture presents a much broader vision. Everything entrusted to us belongs ultimately to God.
Our bodies.
Our marriages.
Our children.
Our churches.
Our friendships.
Our influence.
Our time.
Our work.
Even creation itself.

Every gift becomes an opportunity to reflect the character of the Giver. Walking with God means continually asking:

Am I consuming what God has entrusted to me, or am I cultivating it?

The righteous person thinks not only about what can be gained today, but about what will remain tomorrow.

Becoming a Steward
Most of life's decisions are not simply questions of right and wrong. They are questions of stewardship
Before making a decision, we might ask:
  • Will this strengthen or weaken my marriage?
  • Will this habit make me more available to God or less?
  • Am I investing in people or merely benefiting from them?
  • Am I leaving my children with a deeper faith than the one I received?
  • Am I building something that will outlive me?

Godly wisdom always looks beyond immediate gratification. It considers future fruitfulness.

A Mirror for the Heart
Paul teaches that the Law functioned as a guardian leading us to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Though we are no longer under the Law as a covenant, it still serves as a mirror.

This command invites us to examine our hearts.
  • Do I consume everything available to me simply because I can?
  • Do I leave room for others to flourish?
  • Am I thinking only about today's benefit?
  • Am I treating God's gifts as possessions to own or trusts to steward?

​The Law cannot change our hearts. But it can reveal where our hearts still need to be changed.

The Good News
The Gospel shows us the perfect Steward. Jesus never exploited people for His own advantage. He invested in them.
He poured into them. He gave Himself for generations He would never meet this side of eternity. Everything He possessed—including His very life—was offered for the flourishing of others. Now the same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus has been given to us. As He renews our minds, He teaches us to think less like owners and more like stewards.
Less like consumers and more like cultivators. Less concerned with immediate gratification and more concerned with eternal fruit. This is the transformation the Law could never produce but always anticipated.

The Spirit is writing God's priorities upon our hearts. 

A Question for Reflection
What has God entrusted to your care that you are tempted to consume rather than cultivate? Perhaps it is your marriage. Perhaps it is your children. Perhaps it is your health. Perhaps it is your church. Perhaps it is your influence. Whatever it is, remember this: God is not merely preparing you to enjoy His gifts. He is preparing you to steward them in a way that reflects His character.

Because in the Kingdom of God, maturity is measured not simply by what we receive, but by what continues to flourish because we faithfully cared for what our Father entrusted to us. The command about the bird's nest was never merely about birds. It was about forming a people who instinctively ask, "How can I exercise my freedom in a way that preserves life, reflects the Father's heart, and promotes flourishing for generations to come?"
​
That is the kind of stewardship the Holy Spirit is still cultivating in God's people today.
]]><![CDATA[Fulfilled, Not Forgotten: Discovering God's Heart Through the Law]]>Fri, 05 Jun 2026 19:38:25 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/fulfilled-not-forgotten-discovering-gods-heart-through-the-lawWhy Study the Law If We Are Under Grace?
Many Christians avoid the Old Testament Law because they rightly understand that we are not saved by keeping it. Others read the Law only as a list of rules that no longer apply. Yet Scripture presents a different picture. The Law remains valuable—not as a means of justification, but as a revelation of the heart and character of God.

The psalmist declares, "Oh how I love your law!" (Psalm 119:97). David was not celebrating legalism. He was delighting in what the Law revealed about the God who gave it.
​
As followers of Jesus, we are not called back under the Law as a covenant of salvation. We are saved by grace through faith. Christ has fulfilled the Law on our behalf, accomplishing what we never could. Yet the Law still teaches us. It still reveals God's priorities. It still exposes our hearts. Most importantly, it still shows us what righteousness looks like.
The Threefold Division of the Law
The Westminster Confession of Faith provides a helpful framework for understanding the continuing value of the Mosaic Law.

The Confession distinguishes three categories of law:
Moral Law – God's enduring standards of righteousness, summarized in the Ten Commandments.

Ceremonial Law – laws concerning sacrifices, rituals, purity regulations, and temple worship that pointed forward to Christ and were fulfilled in Him.

Civil (Judicial) Law – laws governing Israel as a covenant nation under God's direct rule.
While Christians generally agree that the ceremonial laws have been fulfilled in Christ and that Israel's civil laws are no longer binding as national legislation, the Westminster divines recognized that those civil laws still contain wisdom for God's people.

Thus they wrote that the judicial laws have expired "excepting the general equity thereof."
That phrase--general equity—is one of the most important yet overlooked principles for reading the Law.

It means that while we are not required to replicate ancient Israel's legal system, we are called to discern the enduring principles embedded within those laws.

The form may pass away. The wisdom remains. The specific command may belong to ancient Israel. The character of God revealed through that command remains eternally relevant.

Looking Beyond the Rule to the Heart
Consider the command to build a parapet around the roof of a house (Deuteronomy 22:8). Most Christians do not have flat roofs where people gather. Yet the principle remains clear: God's people should take responsibility for preventing foreseeable harm to others. The law itself may not directly apply, but the heart behind the law certainly does. Likewise, when Israel was commanded not to take a millstone as collateral for a debt (Deuteronomy 24:6), God was revealing His concern for human dignity and livelihood. The principle remains: justice should not destroy a person's ability to fulfill their God-given responsibilities.

In this way, the Law becomes a window into the Father's heart. When we meditate on these laws, we are not merely studying ancient regulations. We are learning what God values. We discover His concern for justice. His compassion for the vulnerable. His commitment to truth. His desire for restoration. His protection of human dignity. His vision for human flourishing. The Purpose of the LawPaul explains in Galatians that the Law was never intended to justify sinners.

"The law was our guardian until Christ came" (Galatians 3:24).

The Law exposes sin. It reveals our need for a Savior. It drives us to Christ. Yet even after coming to Christ, the Law still serves a purpose. Not as a ladder to climb toward salvation. Not as a checklist for earning God's favor. But as a mirror. It shows us what God's righteousness looks like. It reveals the kind of life that Jesus perfectly lived and died to give us. The Law cannot transform us. But it can reveal where transformation is needed.

The Spirit and the Law
Under the New Covenant, God has given us something Israel longed for but did not fully possess. The Holy Spirit. The prophets promised a day when God would write His Law on the hearts of His people (Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:26–27). That promise has been fulfilled in Christ. The Christian life is therefore not about following an external ledger of rules. It is about receiving a new heart. We are no longer merely called to obey the letter. We are called to embody the heart.
​The Spirit is actively forming Christ within us, renewing our minds and shaping our desires. Yet the Law remains useful because it helps us evaluate whether our lives increasingly reflect the character of God. Do we love justice? Do we practice mercy? Do we honor truth? Do we care for the vulnerable? Do we steward our resources faithfully? Do we reflect God's priorities? When the answer is no, the solution is not to try harder. The solution is to surrender more deeply. The Law reveals the gap. The Spirit closes it. Sanctification is not self-improvement. It is Spirit-enabled transformation. As we behold Christ, submit to the Spirit, and renew our minds through Scripture, the very righteousness that the Law describes becomes increasingly visible in our lives.

What This Series Will Explore
This series is not an attempt to place Christians back under the Mosaic Law. Nor is it an attempt to recover ancient Israel's legal system.

Instead, each post will explore a specific law from the Torah and ask three questions:

1. How was this law fulfilled in Christ?
2. What does this law reveal about the character and priorities of God?
3. What is the general equity principle that continues to guide believers today?

Through these explorations, we will discover that the Law is far more than a collection of ancient commands. It is a revelation of the Father's heart. It points us to Christ. It exposes our need for grace. And it provides a beautiful picture of the life that the Holy Spirit is seeking to produce within us. The Law cannot save us. Only Christ can do that. But the Law can teach us to recognize the likeness of Christ as the Spirit forms Him within us. And that is a pursuit worthy of a lifetime.
]]><![CDATA[Seed, Powers, Spirit, and Kingdom]]>Fri, 29 Nov 2024 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/seed-powers-spirit-and-kingdomOver the past several months, I have been developing four interpretive lenses that seem to help me make sense of the larger movement of Scripture: Seed, Powers, Spirit, and Kingdom. I hesitate to call this a theological system, because I do not want to impose a predetermined structure onto every biblical text or assume that every passage is equally concerned with all four themes. It is probably better understood as a way of noticing recurring patterns within the biblical story. The more I read Scripture with these categories in mind, the more I find that they help me ask four basic questions: What is God bringing about? What is resisting what God is doing? How is God present and active in the midst of that resistance? And toward what end is God moving creation? Those questions correspond roughly to Seed, Powers, Spirit, and Kingdom. What has become increasingly important to me, however, is that Christ should not simply be added as a fifth category. Christ stands at the center of all four. He is the promised Seed, the one who triumphs over the Powers, the one upon whom the Spirit rests and through whom the Spirit is poured out, and the King through whom God's Kingdom comes.
Seed
The first of these patterns that began to stand out to me was Seed. Genesis opens with repeated references to seed, fruitfulness, multiplication, and life reproducing according to its kind. Initially, this is simply part of the goodness and abundance of creation, but after the fall the language takes on a new theological significance. In Genesis 3:15, God announces hostility between the serpent and the woman, and between the serpent's offspring and her offspring. From that point forward, the question of offspring becomes inseparable from the question of promise. The story begins to move through particular people and particular families, and the reader is repeatedly forced to ask how the promise of God will continue. Abel is killed, but Seth is born. Humanity descends into violence, but Noah finds favor with God. The line continues through Shem, then narrows dramatically with Abraham, to whom God promises offspring through whom the nations themselves will eventually be blessed.

Once I began reading Genesis this way, many familiar stories started to look different. The repeated struggles with barrenness are no longer merely private family tragedies; they threaten the continuation of the promise. The conflict between brothers is not merely sibling rivalry; again and again the future of the family through whom God has chosen to work appears to hang in the balance. Isaac carries the promise rather than Ishmael, Jacob rather than Esau, and eventually the story becomes more complicated because Jacob has twelve sons. Judah emerges as the line through whom kingship will come, while Joseph becomes the means by which God preserves the entire family during famine. That distinction has become particularly important to me: the person carrying the promise is not always the person God uses to protect the promise. God's purposes are larger than any one individual, and different people can occupy very different roles within the preservation and advancement of what God has promised.

This also changes the way I read the genealogies. What can initially feel like tedious lists of names become testimony to the faithfulness of God. Generations come and go. People sin. Families fracture. Women experience barrenness. Brothers betray one another. Famine threatens the family. Nations conquer God's people. Kings fail. Israel is carried into exile. Yet the line continues. In that sense, every genealogy is making a theological claim: God has not dropped the promise. Matthew makes that explicit when he opens his Gospel by identifying Jesus Christ as the Son of David and the Son of Abraham. The long movement of promise has arrived somewhere. Paul can therefore speak of Christ as Abraham's Seed because Jesus is not disconnected from everything that came before Him; He is the one toward whom the promise has been moving.

I am increasingly convinced, though, that Seed is larger than simply tracing a messianic bloodline. It reveals something about the way God ordinarily works. God often plants something long before He brings it to maturity. Scripture is filled with the distance between promise and fulfillment, calling and completion, anointing and kingship, exile and restoration, death and resurrection. Even the Kingdom itself is described by Jesus as a seed. It can begin like a mustard seed, almost insignificant in appearance, while already containing a future far larger than its present form would suggest. This makes Seed not only a Christological category but also a way of understanding faith. Faith learns to recognize what God has planted even when it has not yet become what God has promised it will be.

Powers
The second lens follows naturally from the first because the Seed is never allowed to develop without opposition. Genesis 3:15 does not merely announce offspring; it announces hostility. There will be enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. The biblical story therefore does not unfold on neutral ground. God's purposes are repeatedly resisted, threatened, distorted, and attacked. I have been using the word Powers to describe this dimension of the biblical story, although the category needs to remain broad enough to account for the different ways Scripture describes evil without collapsing them all into the same thing.

Sometimes the Powers are explicitly spiritual. Scripture speaks of Satan, demons, rulers, authorities, principalities, and spiritual forces of evil. At other times the opposition is unmistakably human and political. Pharaoh enslaves Israel. Empires conquer nations. Kings abuse authority. Herod attempts to kill the infant Jesus. Rome crucifies Him. There are also powers that operate internally within human beings: sin, the flesh, fear, pride, shame, accusation, and disordered desire. Scripture eventually brings all of these forms of bondage into relationship with the power of death itself. Paul can even describe death as the "last enemy" to be destroyed. The biblical understanding of evil is therefore far more multidimensional than an account that reduces everything either to individual moral failure or to oppressive social structures.

At the same time, I want this lens to resist the temptation to spiritualize everything. Pharaoh is responsible for what Pharaoh does. Human beings remain accountable for sin. An unjust system does not require speculation about a demon hiding behind every institution. Yet Scripture also refuses the sharp separation between spiritual and material reality that modern readers often bring to the text. The Exodus is a good example. Pharaoh is a human ruler exercising political power. Israel experiences actual social and economic oppression. At the same time, the Exodus is narrated as a confrontation between Yahweh and the gods of Egypt. These are not competing explanations of the same event. Scripture seems comfortable allowing political, human, theological, and spiritual realities to occupy the same story.

This becomes even clearer in the ministry of Jesus. He confronts demons, but He also forgives sin. He heals bodies, but He also challenges religious hypocrisy. He resists Satan in the wilderness, confronts distorted uses of authority, touches people who have been pushed to the margins, and announces good news to the poor. Eventually, these different forms of opposition converge at the cross. Human betrayal, religious corruption, imperial violence, sin, Satan, and death all appear to have their moment of victory, and yet the New Testament interprets the cross as the place where Christ actually triumphs over the Powers. What appears to be their victory becomes their defeat.

This is why I do not want the Powers lens to become primarily about identifying darkness. The point is not to become fascinated with evil or to find a spiritual enemy behind every difficulty. The theological significance of the Powers is finally Christological: Christ is Lord over them. Their presence explains why God's purposes encounter real resistance, but their defeat in Christ means resistance does not have the final word.

Spirit
If Seed asks what God has promised and Powers asks what opposes that promise, then Spirit asks how God is present and active in bringing His purposes forward. The Spirit appears at the very beginning of Scripture, hovering over the waters in Genesis 1. That first appearance is significant because the Spirit is present precisely where creation is described as formless, empty, and dark. From the beginning, the Spirit is associated with God's movement toward life, order, and fullness. That pattern continues throughout Scripture. The Spirit empowers craftsmen to build the tabernacle, comes upon judges for particular acts of deliverance, empowers kings, speaks through prophets, reveals God's purposes, and enables people to accomplish things that cannot be explained simply by natural ability.

The Old Testament also creates an expectation that something greater is coming. The Spirit's activity is real, but it is often concentrated upon particular people for particular purposes. The prophets begin to anticipate a day when this will change. Joel imagines the Spirit being poured out upon sons and daughters, young and old, male and female servants. Ezekiel connects the Spirit with new hearts, obedience, resurrection, and the restoration of God's people. By the time we arrive at the New Testament, there is an expectation that the coming age will be marked by a new experience of God's Spirit.

Jesus stands at the center of that expectation. He is conceived by the Spirit, anointed by the Spirit, led by the Spirit, ministers in the power of the Spirit, and ultimately promises the Spirit to His disciples. Pentecost is therefore not an isolated charismatic event dropped into the story of Acts. It is the fulfillment of a trajectory that begins much earlier. The Spirit who hovered over the first creation is now at work in new creation. The Spirit who empowered particular people is poured out upon the people of God. The Spirit who spoke through the prophets now forms a prophetic community that bears witness to the risen Christ among the nations.

This is also why I do not want to reduce the Spirit lens to spiritual gifts, even though gifts are clearly part of it. The Spirit animates, empowers, indwells, reveals, sanctifies, unifies, and sends. Most importantly, the Spirit forms Christ in the people of God. This gives the Spirit lens an important corrective to the Powers lens. It is relatively easy to become skilled at diagnosing what is wrong—with a person, a church, a culture, or a system. But Christian discernment cannot stop with the question, "What is wrong here?" It must also ask, "What is God doing here?" Where is the Spirit bringing conviction? Where is He creating life? Where is He giving courage? Where is He producing fruit? Where is He creating unity where division previously existed? Where is He supplying gifts that the body needs? The Spirit lens forces me to look for God's activity in the middle of contested territory.

Kingdom
​The final lens is Kingdom, and in some ways it gives direction to the other three. Seed tells me that God has a purpose. Powers tell me that this purpose is contested. Spirit tells me that God is actively present in bringing His purposes forward. Kingdom asks where all of this is going. What does God actually intend creation to become? Jesus' announcement that the Kingdom of God has come near is therefore not simply one theme among many in His ministry. It is the declaration that God's reign has entered history in a decisive new way. This is why the signs surrounding Jesus matter. The sick are healed, demons are expelled, sins are forgiven, outsiders are welcomed, and broken people are restored. These are not random demonstrations of supernatural power. They are signs of what reality looks like when the reign of God confronts the Powers that have disfigured His creation.

The Kingdom is therefore much larger than the idea of going to heaven when we die. It concerns the reign of God over His creation and the restoration of what sin and death have corrupted. Yet the New Testament also refuses to pretend that this restoration has already been completed. Jesus has risen, but people still die. Satan has been defeated, yet spiritual opposition remains. The Spirit has been poured out, but creation still groans. Christ reigns, but we still pray, "Your kingdom come." The Church lives inside this tension. The Kingdom has genuinely arrived, but it has not yet come in its fullness.

That tension protects Christian theology from two opposite mistakes. It keeps us from despair because the resurrection means that God's future has already entered the present. But it also keeps us from triumphalism because the world is clearly not yet what it will be. We live between resurrection and consummation, experiencing the firstfruits of something we still await in fullness. The Kingdom lens therefore asks more than what a passage predicts about the future. It asks what the reign of God looks like when it becomes tangible in the present. What happens to relationships when Jesus is King? What happens to power? What happens to enemies? What happens to possessions, bodies, communities, suffering, ambition, and identity?

This is where Kingdom becomes inseparable from discipleship. The Church is not the Kingdom in its fullness, but the Church should become a place where the coming Kingdom can already be seen. When enemies are reconciled, when the weak are honored, when gifts are used for the good of others, when truth is spoken in love, when forgiveness interrupts cycles of retaliation, and when people increasingly take on the character of Jesus, the future reign of God becomes tangible in the present.

Christ at the CenterThe more I have worked with these four lenses, the more convinced I have become that Christ cannot simply become a fifth lens. That would actually weaken the framework. Christ is not another category alongside Seed, Powers, Spirit, and Kingdom. He is the person in whom all four converge.

Christ is the Seed toward whom the promise has been moving. He is the offspring of Abraham, the Son of David, the true Israelite, and the last Adam. Christ is also the conqueror of the Powers. He resists Satan, confronts demonic oppression, bears sin, enters death, and rises victorious. Christ is the Spirit-anointed Son who then pours out the Spirit upon His people. And Christ is the King whose resurrection and exaltation announce that God's reign has already begun and will one day be universally acknowledged.

That means the four lenses can never become detached theological themes. Seed without Christ becomes vague optimism about promise. Powers without Christ can become either paranoia or an endless analysis of what is wrong with the world. Spirit without Christ can become experience detached from revelation and character. Kingdom without Christ can become little more than our preferred vision for a better society. Christ gives each category its distinctly Christian content.

I am beginning to think, then, that these four lenses give me something like a theological grammar for reading Scripture. Seed asks what God has purposed and promised. Powers asks what resists that purpose. Spirit asks how God is present and active in bringing His purpose forward. Kingdom asks what reality looks like when God's purpose reaches its intended end. Christ stands at the center of the whole movement: the fulfillment of the promise, the victor over the Powers, the giver of the Spirit, and the King of the Kingdom.

What excites me most about this framework, though, is that it may eventually become more than a way of reading the Bible. Scripture teaches us how to see reality. The same questions can begin to shape the way I understand my own life, the Church, and the world around me. What has God said or planted that I need to trust even though I cannot yet see its fulfillment? What is resisting His work—whether sin within me, fear, cultural pressure, broken systems, spiritual opposition, or simply the reality of living in a world still subject to death? What is the Spirit doing in the middle of it? Where is He convicting, empowering, healing, revealing, forming, or calling me to obedience? And finally, what would it look like for Jesus actually to reign here?

Perhaps that is ultimately where these four lenses are leading me. I am not merely trying to develop a better method for interpreting Scripture. I want Scripture to teach me how to interpret reality. I want to learn to recognize the Seed before I see the fruit, to discern the Powers without becoming consumed by them, to recognize and depend upon the activity of the Spirit, and to live now in light of the Kingdom that is still coming. And through all four, I want to see Christ more clearly—not as one theological idea among many, but as the one in whom the whole story holds together.
]]><![CDATA[Leaders Who Destroy VS Leaders Who Develop]]>Mon, 10 Apr 2023 17:00:42 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/april-10th-2023Leadership is a crucial element in any organization's success. The leadership style employed by a leader determines the outcome of the organization. In general, there are two types of leaders: those who destroy and those who develop. The former type of leader is known for their autocratic leadership style, while the latter is known for their democratic leadership style.
Leaders who destroy are characterized by their dictatorial leadership style. Such leaders do not value the opinions of their subordinates and do not delegate tasks to them. They make all decisions without consulting their team, leading to low morale and poor performance. They are focused on their personal interests and do not work towards the organization's goals. Such leaders are known to intimidate their subordinates and may use force to achieve their goals.

These leaders may offer short-term results, but they will eventually lead to the organization's downfall. They create an environment of fear and mistrust, where employees are afraid to speak up or share their ideas. The lack of collaboration and creativity leads to stagnation and missed opportunities. The employees become disengaged, and turnover rates increase. This results in lost productivity, revenue, and talent.

Leaders who develop use a democratic leadership style that values the opinions of their team. Such leaders delegate tasks to their team, creating a sense of ownership and responsibility among the subordinates. They create a positive work environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and creativity. They work towards the organization's goals and are committed to achieving them. They empower their team members, allowing them to make decisions and take ownership of their work.

These leaders create a culture of excellence, leading to high performance and productivity. They are committed to their team's success and invest in their development. They inspire and motivate their team, leading to higher morale and job satisfaction. They promote innovation and creativity, leading to new ideas and approaches that improve the organization's performance.

Leaders who develop not only achieve better results but also create an environment where employees feel valued and engaged. They create a sense of purpose and direction, which leads to higher job satisfaction and retention rates. The employees are more likely to share their ideas and collaborate, leading to new opportunities and growth. This results in increased productivity, revenue, and talent retention.

Moreover, leaders who develop are better equipped to handle crises than leaders who destroy. In times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, leaders who develop are more likely to take a proactive approach and communicate effectively with their employees. They prioritize the safety and well-being of their team and are willing to make tough decisions for the greater good. In contrast, leaders who destroy may resort to fear-mongering and may not take the necessary steps to protect their employees or the organization.

Furthermore, leaders who develop are more likely to create a culture of learning and growth within their organization. They encourage their team members to take risks and learn from their mistakes. They provide opportunities for training and development, both for their team members and for themselves. They are open to feedback and are willing to make changes to improve their leadership style. This creates a dynamic and adaptable organization that can thrive in a rapidly changing environment.
​
In conclusion, leaders who destroy employ an autocratic leadership style that is characterized by intimidation, dictatorial behavior, and personal interests. On the other hand, leaders who develop use a democratic leadership style that values their team's opinions, delegates tasks, and empowers their subordinates. Leaders who develop create a positive work environment that fosters teamwork, collaboration, and creativity, leading to high performance and productivity, along with better employee engagement and retention rates. They are also better equipped to handle crises, prioritize the safety and well-being of their team, and create a culture of learning and growth within their organization.
]]><![CDATA[Spiritual Disciplines: A Pathway to Deeper Faith]]>Mon, 10 Apr 2023 16:52:59 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/spiritual-disciplines-a-pathway-to-deeper-faithSpiritual disciplines are practices that help us connect with God and grow in our faith. They are not just religious rituals but intentional actions we take to foster a deeper relationship with our Creator. Spiritual disciplines can take on many different forms, and the beauty of them is that they can be tailored to fit our unique personalities and spiritual journeys.
Prayer
Prayer is one of the most important spiritual disciplines, and it is a powerful way to connect with God and express our deepest longings and desires. Prayer is simply talking to God, and it can take on many different forms. Some people prefer to pray silently, while others like to pray out loud. Some people like to pray in a formal setting, while others prefer to pray in nature. Whatever form prayer takes, it is a powerful way to connect with God and express our deepest longings and desires.

Prayer is an essential spiritual discipline that can help us experience a deeper relationship with God. Through prayer, we can communicate our worries, joys, and desires to God. It is an opportunity to express our gratitude to God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us, and to ask for His guidance and wisdom in our daily lives. Prayer is not just a one-way communication, but rather a dialogue between us and God. By listening to God's voice and following His guidance, we can experience a more fulfilling and purposeful life.

​Reading Scripture
Another important spiritual discipline is reading the Bible. The Bible is God's word to us, and it is a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Reading the Bible can help us understand God's character, learn from the examples of others who have walked with God, and gain wisdom for living our lives in a way that honors Him.

The Bible is a rich source of inspiration and guidance. By reading it regularly, we can deepen our understanding of God's plan for our lives, and gain insight into how we can live a life that is pleasing to Him. Reading the Bible can also help us develop a stronger faith, as we become more aware of God's love and grace for us.

Fasting
Fasting is another spiritual discipline that can help us grow in our faith. Fasting involves abstaining from food or other pleasures for a period of time in order to focus on God and seek His will. Fasting can be a challenging discipline, but it can also be incredibly rewarding as we learn to rely on God's strength and provision.

Fasting can help us gain a new perspective on life, and deepen our appreciation for the blessings we have. By giving up something that is important to us, we are reminded of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. Fasting can also help us break free from unhealthy habits or addictions, and develop a greater sense of self-control.

Meditation
Meditation is a practice that involves quieting our minds and focusing on God's presence. It can help us develop a sense of inner peace and calm, and deepen our awareness of God's love for us. Worship is a practice that involves expressing our love and devotion to God through music, prayer, and other forms of worship.

Service
Service is a practice that involves serving others in Jesus' name, and is a powerful way to show God's love to those around us. Solitude is a practice that involves spending time alone with God, and can help us find clarity and direction in our lives.

Incorporating spiritual disciplines into our daily lives can be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. As we seek to grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with God, spiritual disciplines provide a pathway to experiencing His love and grace in new and transformative ways.

When we incorporate spiritual disciplines into our daily routine, we are able to create a space for God in our lives. We become more aware of His presence and guidance, and we are able to experience His love and grace in new and transformative ways. Spiritual disciplines help us to focus on what is important, and they remind us of our ultimate purpose in life: to love and serve God.

So, whether you are just starting out on your spiritual journey or have been walking with God for many years, consider incorporating spiritual disciplines into your daily routine. They may just be the key to unlocking a deeper and more meaningful relationship with your Creator.

In conclusion, spiritual disciplines are essential for our journey of faith. They help us to connect with God in unique ways, deepen our faith, and experience a more fulfilling and purposeful life. By incorporating spiritual disciplines into our daily routine, we can create a space for God in our lives and experience His love and grace in new and transformative ways.

]]><![CDATA[LIVING LIFE WITH PURPOSE: DISCOVERING GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE]]>Mon, 27 Mar 2023 20:35:23 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/living-life-with-purpose-discovering-gods-plan-for-your-life​Living with purpose is one of the most fulfilling experiences a person can have. When you know that you are doing what you were created to do, you have a sense of peace and joy that cannot be found anywhere else.
​As Christians, we believe that God has a plan for our lives. He has created us with unique gifts, talents, and passions that can be used to serve Him and others. However, discovering God's plan for your life can be a journey that takes time and effort. It requires a willingness to seek God's guidance, use your gifts and talents to serve others, and trust in His plan for your life.

The first step to living with purpose is to seek God's guidance. Spend time in prayer and ask Him to reveal His plan for your life. Listen to His voice and pay attention to the opportunities and challenges that come your way. God can use both positive and negative experiences to shape you into the person He wants you to be. Sometimes, it may take some time to hear from God, and you may not receive an answer right away. However, it is important to remain patient and trust in His timing.

Another important aspect of living with purpose is to use your gifts and talents to serve others. When you use your abilities to help others, you not only make a difference in their lives, but you also fulfill your purpose. God has given you these gifts for a reason, and He wants you to use them for His glory. Whether it is volunteering at a local charity, mentoring a young person, or using your musical talent to lead worship at church, there are countless ways you can use your gifts and talents to serve others and make a difference in the world.

Living with purpose also requires faith and trust in God. Sometimes, His plan for our lives may not make sense to us or may be different from what we had envisioned. However, we can trust that He knows what is best for us and that He will guide us along the way. It is important to let go of our own plans and desires and surrender to His will. This may require some sacrifice and stepping out of our comfort zones, but when we trust in God's plan, we can be sure that He will lead us to our true purpose.

In conclusion, discovering God's plan for your life and living with purpose can bring a sense of fulfillment and joy that cannot be found anywhere else. It is a journey that requires faith, patience, and a willingness to serve others. Seek God's guidance, use your gifts and talents to serve others, and trust in His plan for your life. With these principles in mind, you can live a life of purpose and impact the world for His glory.
]]><![CDATA[16 WAYS TO IMPROVE WORK PERFORMANCE]]>Mon, 20 Mar 2023 21:01:08 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/16-ways-to-improve-work-performanceAs employees, we all aim to excel in our jobs and strive to be better than yesterday. Improving work performance can help us achieve that goal. In this blog post, we will discuss 16 ways to improve your work performance and be successful in your career.
1. Set clear goals
Setting clear, achievable goals is crucial for improving work performance. It helps us stay focused, motivated, and measure our progress. Make sure that your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

2. Prioritize your tasks
Prioritizing your tasks can help you manage your workload efficiently. Start with the most urgent, important tasks, and then move on to the less critical ones. You can also use tools like the Eisenhower matrix to prioritize your tasks effectively.

3. Avoid multitasking
​Multitasking can reduce your productivity and affect the quality of your work. Focusing on a single task at a time can help you complete it faster and better. Avoid distractions like social media, emails, or phone calls while working on a task.

4. Take breaks
Taking breaks can help you recharge your energy and improve your focus. Take short breaks between tasks or work sessions, and use that time to stretch, take a walk, or meditate.

5. Learn new skills
Learning new skills can help you stay relevant in your field and improve your work performance. Attend workshops, seminars, or training programs to learn new skills and stay updated with the latest industry trends.

6. Seek feedback
Seeking feedback from your peers or supervisors can help you identify areas for improvement and make necessary changes. It also shows that you are open to constructive criticism and willing to improve your work performance.

7. Set boundaries
Setting boundaries is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Avoid working overtime or taking work home, as it can lead to burnout and affect your productivity.

8. Stay organized
Staying organized can help you manage your tasks and time effectively. Use tools like calendars, to-do lists, or project management software to stay on top of your tasks and deadlines.

9. Develop good communication skills
Good communication skills are crucial for building relationships with your colleagues, clients, or supervisors. Practice active listening, clear and concise communication, and be open to feedback.

10. Take responsibility
Taking responsibility for your actions and mistakes can help you build trust and credibility with your colleagues and supervisors. It also shows that you are accountable and willing to learn from your mistakes.

11. Stay positive
Staying positive and maintaining a positive attitude can help you overcome challenges and improve your work performance. Focus on your strengths and accomplishments, and use them as motivation to achieve your goals.

12. Stay updated
Staying updated with industry trends, news, and developments can help you stay ahead of the curve and improve your work performance. Subscribe to industry newsletters, attend conferences, or follow thought leaders in your field.

13. Collaborate
Collaborating with your colleagues can help you learn new skills, share knowledge, and improve your work performance. It also helps build a positive work environment and fosters teamwork.

14. Take care of your health
Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for improving work performance. Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, eat healthy, and practice mindfulness to reduce stress and improve your focus.

15. Stay motivated
Staying motivated can help you achieve your goals and improve your work performance. Find what motivates you, whether it's recognition, personal growth, or monetary rewards, and use that as a driving force.

16. Celebrate your achievements
Celebrating your achievements, no matter how small, can help you stay motivated and improve your work performance. Take time to acknowledge your accomplishments and use them as a source of inspiration for future goals.

Conclusion
​Improving work performance requires effort, dedication, and continuous learning. By following these 16 ways, you can improve your work performance, achieve your goals, and be successful in your career. Remember to set clear goals, prioritize your tasks, learn new skills, seek feedback, and take care of your health. With hard work and determination, you can take your career to the next level.
]]><![CDATA[You’re Not ALWAYS right!]]>Fri, 16 Dec 2022 19:52:57 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/youre-not-always-rightHave you ever felt like you, or maybe a small group of likeminded people, had all of the answers to life's question and everyone else lacked your “common sense?” Maybe you just don’t understand how some people can “be so stupid” as to see the world the way they do. After all, the world just makes so much sense to you, and others just don’t seem to get it. Have you ever considered that their world makes as much sense to them as yours does to you? 
Now, to be clear, I’m not saying that everyone is right, or that “perception is reality.” But, I am saying that to each person, their perception is their reality. Not only is it reality, but it becomes the lens by which they make sense of everything else. While we often criticize this, it’s actually a defense mechanism that has been hardwired into our brains. From the time we are very little, we learn a set of principles (usually passed down from our parents or some other formative source) and the rest of our lives are spent retaining information that reinforces those principles - or rejecting information that doesn’t. This is why I often say that experience can be a great teacher, but also a great deceiver. Our past experiences actually have a way of clouding our judgment and producing faulty reasoning. It’s a phenomenon known as the Baader-Meinhof Complex, “Confirmation bias” or “Frequency Bias.” When we experience something for the first time, we tend to assume that we will experience it that way every time - we tend to see those results even if someone with fresh eyes would see it differently. 

So, how can we combat this reality? We all deal with it, so what strategies should we employ to fight back? Here, I’ve offered four that I try to live on a daily basis! 

Keep an Open Mind
When we find ourselves needing to make a decision, even if it’s just sharing our opinion, we will naturally default to what feels comfortable: that which reinforces our formative principles. Though it’s easier said than done, before you buckle down with your conviction, take a moment to question your thinking. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “If I can be right 75 percent of the time I shall come up to the fullest measure of my hopes." This viewpoint conditioned Roosevelt to believe that he would be  wrong at least 25% of the time! If we’re being honest, how many of us assume we’re wrong even 1% of the time? Approaching life with this mindset allows us to have meaningful conversations, learn from others, and, frankly, be more pleasant to be around! 

Consider Alternative Viewpoints 
Have you ever wondered why PhDs are often regarded as some of the most intelligent people on the planet (whether they are or not is a discussion for another time)? It’s not necessarily because of their wealth of knowledge. In fact, some programs don’t even have a comprehensive exam! Actually, it’s because they are required to read and understand every perspective on their topic before forming an opinion (thesis statement). While not everyone will have the desire to pursue a PhD, we can all apply this same principle! Doing so will help you in two main ways. First, it will give you more opportunities to learn, and maybe even change your perspective. Secondly, it may serve to reinforce your perspective, but in an informed way (as opposed to ignorance). PhDs are also required to effectively “defend” their opinion, which requires a meaningful understanding and respect for every other points of view. Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to agree with other perspectives; it just means that you need to respect the fact that intelligent individuals have taken the time to think through the content, and have come to a different conclusion than you have. One of the worst things you can do is ONLY read material or talk to people who agree with you. Sure it’ll feel good to have your formative principles reinforced, but what if those principles are not aligned with reality? Is it better to live in a vacuum, or to seek truth and learn from others throughout life? Take some time to consider where you learned what you know? We’re those sources credible? Is it possible that they were merely regurgitating something that they had been taught in the same way? As Socrates once said, “an unexamined life is not one worth living.”

Make a Bet
In her book, “Thinking in Bets,” poker champion Annie Dukes shares her experience with high stakes poker and how it has changed the way she makes decisions. She encourages the reader to place a monetary bet any time they make a judgment call. How sure of your perspective are you? Would you be willing to risk $5.00? What about $50.00? What about $100.00? Putting our “money where our mouth is,” helps us to second guess how sure we are of our position. Or, maybe we're so sure, that we’re willing to go “all in!” Either way, this strategy helps us to stop and think before we speak. 

Keep Yourself Accountable 
Since our formative perspectives are usually inherited, we very often begin with them as our presupposition. That being said, they are generally left unexamined and unexplored. As we move through life, we acquire new principles that sound good, but ultimately contradict our baseline beliefs. However, we don’t realize it because we have failed to explain these principles in the first place. One way to avoid this is to surround yourself with people who will call you out on your inconsistencies. Of course this requires deep trust and relationship, but these bonds are invaluable! If all of your friends agree with you, then either you need to get new friends or you may just be far too argumentative for people to want to challenge you. Either way, there’s work to be done! 

Wrapping Up
All of us dig out heels in the ground and fight for what we believe is true! But no matter how sure you are, there’s always room for error. Thinking otherwise is nothing more than blatant arrogance. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be confident in what you believe. It does mean that true confidence should come from examination and an ability to consistently and effectively defend your point of view. That doesn’t mean arguing until you’re blue in the face, it means meaningfully considering every perspective and coming to a conclusion that handles all the facts appropriately. If we can do this regularly, then experience truly does become a great teacher. 
]]><![CDATA[The Alpha & Omega of Theological Studies]]>Sat, 26 Nov 2022 21:55:37 GMThttps://www.devinpeterson.com/field-notes-in-formation/the-alpha-omega-of-theological-studiesI recently wrote a post entitled “Hinge Points: Solving Big Problems with Small Steps.” Here, I shared how my journey into the study of Bible and Theology was slow and confusing. I spent many years struggling to wrap my mind around the big concepts, and constantly felt myself pulled from one school of thought to the next. Even when I started taking courses in seminary, I struggled to find firm footing and feel confident in my views. That was until I found a “hinge point”: one concept that brought it all together.
Christ at the Center 
At first glance, Scripture, and consequently the study of theology, appears to be a collection of stories, ideas, and answers to life’s big questions. It could be viewed as a rule book, or even an instruction manual for righteous living. In reality, it’s a story (and the study of a story) about one person: Jesus Christ. Once I came to this conclusion, I stopped trying to wrap my mind around every concept, every theory, and every isolated school of thought that exists in Church history. Instead, I began to focus on the one consistent theme that runs from cover to cover. 


Not Just a Sunday School Answer 
Before I go on, I want to be clear that by focusing on Jesus, I do not mean that I abandoned the study of theology and just focused on my own person experiences of Jesus. This approach is becoming increasingly popular and it misses the richness that comes from the deep reflection and rumination of active study. Instead, I mean becoming more and more familiar with Christology (The study of Jesus) and using that as a foundation for everything else. 


What is Christology? 
Christology is the study of Christ, or, more accurately, the study of the second person of the Trinity. Among such questions as the nature of Christ (humanity vs deity) and the role of Christ in redemption, Christology grapples with the purpose of Scripture altogether. 


Is Christ a Valid Hinge Point? 
Some struggle to accept Christ as a valid starting point. After all, the Bible is full of material leading up to the first mention of the person Jesus Christ. Certainly the mature reader understands that that material speaks to the prophecies that set the stage for the coming of Christ, but shouldn’t that material all be scrutinized before broaching the subject of Christ Himself? 


When in Rome…
Without a doubt, God revealed Himself to the Jewish people first, long before Jesus walked the earth. This revelation, and the religion that it birthed among the Hebrew people set the stage for the coming of Christ. Judaism and the Law served to set apart a people group that would later become the Church of Jesus Christ. The church would then serve as God’s primary vehicle for redeeming the world. However, the gentile nations (those people who were not the Jews) were not converted by first understanding the Law, and then revealing Christ. Instead, the evangelists to the gentiles started with Christ and used that understanding to teach the rest of Scripture. 


Like Father, Like Church 
Similarly, the early Church Fathers wrestled with many questions surrounding Christ and how He fits into our theological understanding. As the central figure of the Christian faith, a well rounded understanding of the person (both historically and conceptually) was seen as essential to the survival of the orthodox teachings of the Church. While many topics were discussed in the writings of Augustine, Jerome, and Athanasius, the central idea was surrounding Christ Himself. 


Christ: The Perfect Revelation 
Without a doubt, God has revealed Himself since the onset of creation. However, until Christ came in the flesh (specifically as we see Him on the cross) mankind was only given an essential glimpse. Christ on the cross revealed the nature of God as being one of justice, love, and mercy. When we look back into the Old Testament, and see what appears to be a God of wrath and cruelty (one who very much resembles the ancient Canaanite gods who required death and blood), we might be confused with the apparent contrast of a self sacrificing God who gives Himself as the ultimate sin offering. But, when we start with Christ, and use this as a lens for reading the rest of Scripture, we realize that Christ (as the perfect revelation) is the same in Matthew and Mark as he was in Leviticus: taking on the sins of His people and appearing to deserve of death on a cross). All the while, He was redeeming His people by descending to a level we could understand. 


The Beginning & The End 
As a hinge point, Christology holds the study of Theology together. It keeps the student on track and keeps us from majoring in the minors. So much time has been spent debating topics such as young earth and old earth creationism, premillennialism and postmilinialism, and Calvanisn and Arminianism. While these topics can be interesting, and certainly provide beneficial insight for reflection, they often serve to distract us from what’s really important. I believe that a well rounded understanding of Scripture and theology begins and ends with Christ at the center.
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