Brady Adler

“My heart panted after this—to lie low before God, as in the dust; that I might be nothing, and that God, might be all, that I might become as a little child. …”
― William C. Placher, Readings in the History of Christian Theology, Volume 2: From the Reformation to the Present

“To make it quite practical I have a very simple test. After I have explained the way of Christ to somebody I say “Now, are you ready to say that you are a Christian?” And they hesitate. And then I say, “What’s the matter? Why are you hesitating?” And so often people say, “I don’t feel like I’m good enough yet. I don’t think I’m ready to say I’m a Christian now.” And at once I know that I have been wasting my breath. They are still thinking in terms of themselves. They have to do it. It sounds very modest to say, “Well, I don’t think I’ good enough,” but it’s a very denial of the faith. The very essence of the Christian faith is to say that He is good enough and I am in Him. As long as you go on thinking about yourself like that and saying, “I’m not good enough; Oh, I’m not good enough,” you are denying God – you are denying the gospel – you are denying the very essence of the faith and you will never be happy. You think you’re better at times and then again you will find you are not as good at other times than you thought you were. You will be up and down forever. How can I put it plainly? It doesn’t matter if you have almost entered into the depths of hell. It does not matter if you are guilty of murder as well as every other vile sin. It does not matter from the standpoint of being justified before God at all. You are no more hopeless than the most moral and respectable person in the world.”
― Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure

“Christianity teaches that no one is innocent; all are guilty of unjust actions. If that is true of individuals, it is certainly true of nations that are made up of individuals. God stands in judgment of human sin, but has provided a way for human sin to be atoned for in the person of Jesus Christ, who paid for sin “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Christians who embrace open American exceptionalism can affirm that America is unique, is special and is blessed by God. That means America is responsible for how it uses those many blessings. And American Christians can know, teach and live the great truth that Christ is the last and best hope of humankind—not America.”
― John D. Wilsey, American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion: Reassessing the History of an Idea

“Whatever the complexity of people’s troubles, you can always ask yourself this orienting question: What does faith in Christ look like in this person’s trouble?”
― Jeremy Pierre, The Pastor and Counseling The Pastor and Counseling: The Basics of Shepherding Members in Need