Dear Pastor, Give ‘em Gospel!
Christianity has never been about getting people to clam up and look the part. It’s about Christ calling sinners to himself.
Contributors
Dominick Santore
Dominick Santore is a theological misfit landing in the area of Lutheranism. He has come to deeply appreciate the truth of Scripture as defined by the distinction between Law and Gospel. He has found freedom in knowing that Christ is his substitute even on his worst days. He is blessed with a wonderful wife and two awesome young men, which he can say without a doubt, he doesn't deserve. He wears a variety of hats at Epiphany, a new church in the heart of NYC.
A Cloud Full of Grace
They were righteous, but they were righteous because God declared it so. Just like us.
We All Sink Like Peter
We are still so much closer to Peter in our flaws than his virtues, and Christ is still our rescue.
Secure in His Righteousness
Should we have more victories over our sin? Probably. But can we be honest and admit that we don't have as many as we'd like?
Squandering Grace
Squander. What a great word. It so perfectly captures the pitfalls of backsliding in all areas of life. It's the utter self-ruination of good things.
Finding Satisfaction in Desolate Places
I wish I was better at seeing the bigger picture. Or maybe, I wish I was simply better at seeing the larger scope of its beauty.
God Alone Saves, Right?
This is the God of the Holy Scriptures. He is the one who repeatedly saves, always preserving his people by providing rescue in situation after situation...
My Grace-Covered Memory
My past, littered about this tiny island, resurrects itself when I draw near, but it never does so alone. It is always accompanied by the Savior.
Yet Faith Remains…
Sometimes, the bible bores me. Sometimes, I take scripture, grace, and Jesus lightly.
Stop Sign Theology
All I need to know about your spiritual condition, I can discover by watching you drive your car. What I’ve learned is that everyone is a lawbreaker, including me. It’s as simple as asking a few short questions about your driving habits...
Un-Joyfully God's
How many of you Christians out there are barely holding it together? I know the inclination should be towards joy and hope, but for some of us, it's not.
Move, Before Death Comes...
I got your life application right here! First off, Happy New Year! It's 2019 and there's a sense of optimism floating about in the air.
I Am The Reason For The Season
I apologize for my part in making Christmas necessary. I have learned that Christ is NOT the reason for the season, I am.
Specks and Logs
I’m a life-long New Yorker, and I have the pleasure of working minutes from the neighborhood I grew up in as a boy.
I'm Not Chad Bird
I think we can all agree that there is not a more popular writer on Christ Hold Fast than Chad Bird.
Grace Twists Braids
I saw a beautiful picture of grace yesterday. A real bestowing of favor on someone less deserving.
Come and See
I know it’s hard for some people to put aside old ideas and notions about Christianity, Christians, and church in general.
Hope Within The Shadows…
The Sixth Sense is a suspenseful and scary movie where a little boy is born with the strange gift of seeing dead people.
My Always Reliable Hope…
Do you have something in your life that you know, without a doubt, you can rely on?
The Good Struggle?
I have to admit, there are times that I'm still completely susceptible to self-serving salvation projects.
"Touched" By God
Some days, people need a touch. Not just any touch, but something that says, "I care about you, and I love you."
The Gospel: No Strings Attached
I don't remember the first time I heard the gospel, but I do remember the first time I began to understand it.
Chasing Broken Christians
Do we only want to be around people who want to be around us? We certainly like people who agree with us, and we love people who buy the same books, or saw the same movies as us.
Forgiveness At Every Level
Whatever level of sin you're rummaging around in, forgiveness and grace is yours.
The Daily Struggle... The Victory Won!
Sometimes, I wish I was much older. Old enough to realize that my best, most influential, and productive days are behind me so that I could speak completely and openly about my life, my triumphs, and most of all, my struggles.
The New Year High
It's coming. Can you feel it? It's creeping up on us like a quiet predator. It's hiding behind the Christmas trees and stockings hung with care. It's getting ready to strike.
Death And The Gospel
A while back, my wife and I attended the wake and memorial service of a friend from a prior church we attended.
Grace Is Waiting
I often dance around the idea of denominations. I've been Pentecostal and I guess Evangelical.
The Other Criminal’s Demand: “Save Us!”
There was another criminal next to Christ the day he died. He was aware of who Jesus was, and why he was there.
The Criminal’s Prayer: “Remember Me!”
I'm afraid of dying. I am a Christian and I am horribly afraid of falling bridges, crashing planes, turned over cars and anything else that you can think of that would include my body being mangled into a mess of bones and flesh.
Put Your Trust in Jonah
No, that is not a typo. I am telling you to put your trust in this Old Testament prophet. I want you to look at him and be assured of God’s love for you.
Today, I Almost Died...
Today, I almost died several times.
Baptism's Promise
A promise was made to my older brother roughly 50 years ago. He was just an infant and had no idea that this promise was being set upon him.
Make Sure You're Right With God!
To the Pastors and Preachers whose only word for me and others seem to be, "make sure you’re right with God!"
Understanding Grace
I came across a "deep commentary" in the form of a Facebook meme, extolling the frustrations of the natural man's inability to understand the things of God.
The Prosperity of the Gospel
I started writing this article about a friend, her struggles through cancer, and the pain of an unfortunate and severe fall that landed her in a hospital, requiring months of rehabilitation.
Repentant Enough
If you’ve been in church long enough, you might have seen the worst of someone’s unrepentant sin get them kicked out, cast out, excommunicated or “handed over to Satan so their flesh might die and their soul might live.”
Miles To Go…
I was excited and eager to start my journey. I was driving from NYC to Florida to attend the Christ Hold Fast Conference in Orlando, meet some dear friends, and make some new ones.
But You Do Belong...
The conference is upon us. Christ Hold Fast is holding its first ever conference and from the moment I heard about it, I was excited.
It's Okay to Move
It's a January day in New York City and the building I work in is just off the water. What this means is that it's cold out and not just cold but cold with a biting wind. As the phrase goes, "you can feel it in your bones."
Sort of Like Jesus for a Day
Prepare yourself. You're about to be encouraged beyond all encouragement. Are you ready? Here we go…
When You Don't Feel Merry
Please... don’t say any variation of, “cheer up.” or “look on the bright side.” Don’t invalidate what someone is going through because you may not understand.
It's Just Coffee...?
I could’ve stopped it, but I didn’t. I'm surprised that I didn’t turn my back to receive a pat as I let loose from lips, how good and saintly I was. What a reminder, that we are all susceptible to looking for the adulation of others.
The Long, Sad Road of an Unrepentant Life
I was recently challenged to write about someone I know. A very specific someone who is extremely flawed and broken, even if they don't know it or care to admit it.
From Treasure to Trash
A while back, I drove past my neighbor's house and right there in the street with the rest of the garbage were several golden trophies nearly half my height and still looking quite shiny and new.
Never Far Away
Why am I not surprised when people have a need to feel, touch or sense God in some tangible way? Part of it probably has to do with my church experience consisting of denominations that place a fairly strong emphasis on some form of tangible, experiential expression of God.
Our Rescue in the Darkness
If you read my posts here or on my own site, you’ll find that most of my writings lean toward the issue of dark times or brokenness in our lives.
Afflicted and Loved
Some days, I stare at the computer screen, haphazardly pecking at my keyboard, wondering where the words will come from or even if the words will ever come again.
Gospel Transparency
Sometimes I think transparency is the bastard child of Christianity. Everyone is willing to talk about transparency (and its cousin, accountability), but when it walks into the room and stays awhile, most people pretend it doesn’t exist.