Posts by Taigen Joos
Growing Toward Maturity
Many elements helped contribute to the immaturity that is evident in the American church today. The accommodation with pop culture, an infatuation with self, an overemphasis on “reaching the youth,” and the adoption of a consumeristic mindset when it comes to the local church are just a few key aspects that have led to where…
Read MoreWhy the Immaturity?
Much of modern America’s Christianity is filled with immaturity. In Ephesians 4:11–17, Paul highlights several aspects of what spiritual maturity would look like: a measure of unity, growth in Christlikeness, spiritual discernment, loving discipleship, and selfless service. Unfortunately, personal, and spiritual immaturity are keeping these kinds of things from happening in many American churches, leading…
Read MoreImmaturity in American Evangelical Churches
Has it struck you in recent years that there seems to be a growing trend of spiritual immaturity in churches today? I know that is a rather broad-brush stroke, but I just want to pose this idea for consideration from a few angles. Immature Beliefs Consider the various views about God: God is the “big…
Read MoreSeeking the Praises of Man
Are you a people-pleaser? Do you struggle with living more for the praise and approval of men, more than God? In my devotional reading this morning, in John 12, I read of highly respected religious leaders of Christ’s day struggling with this very problem. “Nevertheless, even among the rulers many believed in [Jesus], but because…
Read MoreImmaturity in American Evangelical Churches
Has it struck you in recent years that there seems to be a growing trend of spiritual immaturity in churches today? I know that is a rather broad-brush stroke, but I just want to pose this idea for consideration from a few angles. Immature Beliefs Consider the various views about God: God is the “big…
Read More“Doubting” Thomas and Deconstructionism
The apostle Thomas sometimes gets a bad wrap because of his words the day of Christ’s resurrection, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe” (John 20:25). However, in reflecting upon…
Read MoreYou Can’t Outsource Parenting
Parenting is something like a glorious agony. If you have been a parent for any length of time, you can understand what I mean. I have two children, a boy and a girl who are twins. They truly are blessings from the Lord as the psalmist wrote, but every moment of parenting has not been…
Read MoreTraining Our Brains
May the mind of Christ my Savior Live in me from day to day; By his love and pow’r controlling All I do and say. – Kate B. Wilkinson (1859-1928) These words should strike a nerve in the hearts of Christians. Taken from the text of Philippians 2:5, Wilkinson captures in poetic language what should…
Read MoreTeens and Technology
As Christian parents living in the 21st century, we must deal with a world of technology. Televisions, DVD players, cell phones, tablets, computers, etc. have infiltrated our society. While there is value in technological advances, there are also some dangers that Christian families must be aware of. As parents, we are responsible to protect our…
Read MoreHumility, the Queen of Virtues for Both the Old and the Young
The fact that there is a “generation gap” within biblical fundamentalism should not be a surprise to anyone. This is what generations do: gap. The main issue is to determine the best way to bridge the gap. Humility must be exhibited by both the “younger” as well as the “older” fundamentalists. As a forty-four-year-old, I…
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