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Every Thumb's Width

Distinguishing Marks of a Quarrelsome Person

This is a helpful article by Kevin DeYoung about how to identify “habitually disagreeable, divisive, hot-headed church people.” Here’s a humbling taste:

3. Your only model for ministry and faithfulness is the showdown on Mount Carmel. There is a place for sarcasm, but when Elijah with the prophets of Baal is your spiritual hero you may end up mocking people instead of making arguments.

5. You never give the benefit of the doubt. You do not try to read arguments in context. You put the worst possible construct on other’s motives and the meaning of their words.

10. You derive a sense of satisfaction and spiritual safety in being rejected and marginalized. You are constitutionally unable to be demonstrably fruitful in ministry and you will never affirm those who appear to be. You only know how to relate to God as a remnant.

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Every Thumb's Width

Chill Out

Kevin DeYoung offers some perspective as he responds to responses to Justin Taylor’s repost of Jared Wilson’s thoughts on gospel freedom.

There are some in the church who need to step back and inhale, and it’s not only young Christians.

Young Christians, especially when they are getting meaty theology and God-centeredness for the first time, can be prone to manic bouts of self-flagellation, spurts of judgmentalism, and unhealthy hyper-watchfulness.

Also, maturity knows how to use wisdom with relevance without being relative.

It feels safer at times and more heroic to be unrelentingly consistent in every situation with every individual. But in reality, maintaining gospel consistency means we understand that the same piece of advice is sometimes wise and sometimes foolish.

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A Shot of Encouragement

Bad Christian Writing

Bad Christian writing is usually bad because it is derivative and workmanlike. No new insights. No panache.

—Kevin DeYoung, On Writing, Pt 3