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On Litmust Tests and a Fractured Witness
In my corner of the Bible Belt, nothing is discussed more than human sexuality. One’s views on human sexuality is the way that we have come to judge the sincerity of someone’s faith, the strength of their orthodoxy, and the commitment of their discipleship. This is what search committees ask potential pastors to separate the…
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From Beyond the River
Joshua 24:1-28 God comes to Abram with no apparent reason, makes a promise that God will bring forth from Abram a great nation which will be blessed so that they can be a blessing to all the world. So without any recorded hesitation, Abram goes, as God told him, to the land which God will…
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The Ten Words
Exodus 19:3-7; 20:1-17 In the beginning, when God created, there was nothing, and God brought into existence, something. But creation isn’t something that was, but something that is. Creation didn’t end with the explosion of light and life and existence, that was simply the beginning. In our story this morning, we are seeing another…
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On the Death of a Church
It was the first time that I had walked into the doors and sat near the back for the duration of the worship service. Being a pastor, I am typically at the front. I usually have tasks to do, responsibilities to which to attend. But today was different. I was not there as their pastor,…
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Future Glory
My sermon from this past Sunday. Text was Romans 8:12-25. Henry was a fellow that I knew on the South side of Milwaukee. Henry lived outside, underneath an overpass which went over the Menominee Valley. Henry was a good guy, he had a good heart. He, of course, had demons with which he fought. He…
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Hump Day Hymns: ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word; Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord.” O how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood; Just in simple faith to plunge me ‘Neath the healing cleansing flood! Yes, ’tis sweet…
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Number Worship and Strategic Salvation
“The church is dying!” In my corner of the the last remnants of Christendom, I hear this or something similar regularly. There is concern because our denomination, much like most North American mainline denominations, has a numerically declining trend. There is a fear that because the church is losing the privileged position that it has…
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Why I Welcome the Demise of Christendom
In my corner of the Evangelical Bible Belt, a few things take concern above all else. Opposing gay marriage, decrying taking God out of the schools, mourning the loss of the privileged position of the church in the United States. We fear that the church is losing ground and we fight against it in every…
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Wounds in the Body of Christ
Eendracht maakt Macht These words adorn the banner at the bottom of the crest of the Reformed Church in America. Often the translation into English is, “Unity makes strength” but, as I understand it, a better translation is “Concord makes strength” — a pulling together like a team of horses. *** The Christian church today…
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When you can’t find the words
My calling is centered around language, as language is the way to communicate, to express. In my pastoral role, it is my charge to speak to the community and for the community — to express the experiences and life of the community and to help us all find meaning in our individual and shared experiences.…
Matthew van Maastricht
Shepherd of Souls | Spiritual Director | Psychotherapist
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