Rooted in Jesus Grace

  Few passages of Scripture confuse readers more than the parable of the shrewd manager in Luke 16. At first glance, it almost sounds as though Jesus is praising dishonesty — and because of that, people often twist the passage into meanings Jesus never intended. Here’s the thing, one of the most important principles for understanding Scripture is this: Jesus Himself explains the point of His parables. When we ignore His explanation and insert our own ideas, we inevitably drift away from His message. Luke 16 is a perfect example. The Story in Brief Jesus tells of a wealthy master whose manager is accused of wasting his possessions. The manager is about to lose his job. Knowing his dismissal is certain, he quickly calls in the master’s debtors and reduces what they owe. One debtor’s bill is cut in half. Another receives a significant reduction. Afterward, the master commends the manager — not for dishonesty — but for acting shrewdly. This is where many readers stumble. Why would Jesu...

  Throughout this series, we have traced a quiet shift within modern Christianity — a movement shaped by cultural change, expressed through different ministries, and sustained by sincere attempts to help people experience transformation. We have seen how experience, psychological insight, and structured processes can gradually move from serving the gospel to subtly redefining it. But thoughtful readers often arrive at another question, one that feels more personal and more painful: How did these ideas become so influential in the first place? For many believers, the answer is not abstract. It sits on their bookshelves. It comes through conferences attended, sermons trusted, and teachers once respected. And in recent years, some of those influential voices have been revealed to be morally disqualified from ministry. This realization creates a particular kind of disorientation. When trusted leaders fall, believers are left wrestling not only with disappointment but with deeper questi...

  Over the course of this series, we have traced a quiet shift in modern Christianity — a movement shaped by cultural change, expressed through different ministries, and often carried forward by sincere attempts to help hurting people. We have seen how experience, psychological insight, and structured processes can gradually move from serving the gospel to subtly redefining it. But analysis alone is not the goal. The deeper question is pastoral and personal: What does it look like to return to a faith centered again on the gospel itself? For many believers, that return does not initially feel like gain. It feels like loss. 1. Why Re-centering Often Feels Like Loss When spiritual frameworks have shaped our understanding of growth for years, stepping back from them can feel disorienting. Letting go of familiar systems may raise uncomfortable questions: Was I wrong before? Am I losing something important? What replaces the structure that once guided my faith? Because modern Christians...