Sterling Griggs

Radical.  This word is so commonplace that it's almost lost it's punch.  Not to take away from its legitimacy as a word in our English language, but it seems to be one of those catch words that is used to blanket so many things.  As a child of the 1980's, I heard it used in its shortened form - rad - way too many times to mention.  Now I hear it to describe how followers of Christ should be in their faith, just as Jesus was the original radical.  The term radical has been used all over the place to label multiple groups and ideologies. The other night I watched a show about the abduction and subsequent recruitment of Patty Hearst by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA).  The SLA was a "radical" left-wing group in the 1970's that used violence and crime to propagate their beliefs.  Their story, and their passion for their cause, intrigued me, yet their methods and their underlying "radical" beliefs were far from acceptable.  The story of the SLA...

I did not wake up four hours early to stand in lines to wait for outrageous shopping deals this morning.  I did, however, go online to order a new Christmas tree last night, buying it for the Black Friday special price with the option of free shipping or pick up.  In fact, I looked at many items online last night that we are considering getting for our kids and I found that most were better priced on places such as Amazon that they were in all of these stores that were having sales.  Black Friday just isn't my thing.  The power that is social media has revealed just how truly important Black Friday is to many people.  I had scores of Facebook friends who proudly announced their intentions to gorge themselves on shopping starting at midnight with a nice sleep break in between before they headed out again later in the day.  Others were content to set their alarms extra early to wait in long lines outside of toy and department stores just to get those speci...

It was the summer of 1986.  I remember it well.  That was when I responded to God's call to serve Him in full time ministry.  I was only 16 years old then, about to enter my junior year in high school, but I knew then as I do now that there wasn't anything else that I could do with my life.  I tried "regular jobs" but none of them ever satisfied.  My passion was to serve students and that was the very thing God was leading me to do. Just recently I enjoyed two in depth conversations with friends in the ministry, both of whom are involved in student ministry.  One of them carries the burden of reaching out to students who have no clue who Jesus is and his passion is to walk with them every step of the way.  The other minister I spoke with pulls alongside hurting students and their families as their counselor, holding their hands (literally and figuratively) as they wrestle with issues that many often sweep under the table.  Both of them expressed...

Relevant.  To be totally honest, I'm not completely sure what that word really means.  The dictionary defines it as "connected with the matter at hand," so it would almost make sense to say that many would equate relevant with being modern, trendy, or hip.  If that was the case, then there are a lot of relevant churches out there that on the surface seem to "get it" when it comes to being connected with our culture and the time at hand. But is that what relevant truly means when it comes to the church that Jesus started? As a guy who is only 40 (yes, that is young), I consider myself more of a partaker in what is new and modern than what is classic (however I do prefer classic rock because today's top 40 music stinks).  I love technology, I think Hillsong is putting out some of the best praise music that exists, neck ties constrain me to the point of being choked, and I'm just as comfortable meeting with the body of Christ in a gym than I am in a san...

The other night I had the opportunity to sit down with a guy and talk theology, something I love to do. I was introduced to him by a good friend of mine who has been trying to line us up to talk for some time. It didn't take long into our conversation that I realized I was engaging someone who was incredibly well read and intelligent. He came from a pretty oppressive church background and, as a result of some really horrible things being done to him in the name of religion (not Jesus), he left not just the church but the faith as well. The conversation was all over the place and I was challenged mentally and spiritually like I haven't been in many years. Sure, we both got animated on a couple of occasions but we left as new friends and I genuinely admire and respect him for his desire for answers. But what stuck with me the most was how important it is, now more than ever, for followers of Christ to know how to articulate what and why they believe. Throughout our conversati...

I love the teaching of Jesus found in John 8:1-11 .  Commonly known as the story of the woman caught in adultery, this story delves into what it truly means to be forgiven of sin and restored in the sight of God. The story starts with Jesus teaching in the temple in the morning to a crowd of eager listeners.  Soon, a commotion overpowers His words.  Jewish religious leaders known as scribes and Pharisees are dragging a woman into the room, shouting and making a scene.  They approach Jesus directly, rudely interrupting Him, and claim that this woman was "caught in the act" of commiting adultery.  Then, they remind Jesus that the law of Moses ( Leviticus 20:10 ) required that she be stoned to death for the "crime" of adultery.  What do you have to say about this, Jesus?    These guys thought that they were being slick with their intent.  If they could trap Jesus into speaking against the law of Moses (surely He wouldn't condone the dea...

"Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth." (Exodus 20:4) The second commandment (see above) is one that many of you are familiar with. "Don't make an idol," God said. "You can't represent Me by wood or stone or metal or by associating Me with some other object in nature. I am God and I am above any representation that you could create." When we think of idols, perhaps our thoughts go to those things in our lives that we can love more than God, such as money, popularity, sports, or relationships. Either way, we know that nothing can compete with God (He made that clear in His first commandment, "Do not have other gods besides Me," Exodus 20:3). God is to be first, period, not just as the top of the list. He is not to be number one; He is to be the only one . So, if we get rid of all these idols that take God's place we'll be...