Author: Julian Stoltzfus

Why Theology Matters

The word theology often reminds us of stuffy libraries and even stuffier scholars. We see it as an intangible world of theories and arguments, totally removed from daily life. But, while we may sometimes view it as an accessory to Christianity, it’s really an essential element of every Christian’s faith. All Christians must be theological in some sense. We can’t grow spiritually without right theology; we can’t even maintain true faith without it. Read More

One Word | Karpos

Karpos, the original Greek word which is here translated “fruit,” is the simple fruit of trees and plants. It grows according to the nature of the tree or plant, never contrary to it. You won’t find a cherry growing on a peach tree; trees grow fruit according to their nature. Jesus makes it clear in Luke 6 that our actions reveal the true state of our hearts. He says, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Read More

Pursuing Sexual Victory | Article 3 of 3

The pursuit of sexual victory must begin in our minds. Paul reminds us that our bodies are to be a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God. He immediately follows with a reminder that true transformation starts in our thoughts (Rom 12:1-2).

We can never think lofty enough thoughts about God. He is supremely higher, holier, and more benevolent than we have the capacity to understand. Though we cannot know Him fully, we can know Him truly, and we must diligently pursue an accurate knowledge of Him. The resulting awe is a powerful tool for fighting sin. Read More

Pursuing Sexual Victory | Article 1 of 3

It is, of course, impossible to cover every aspect of this issue in a few short articles, but we aim to lay a solid biblical foundation by detailing several principles. This piece is a joint effort between my wife and myself to establish the root of purified Christianity. As we discussed this series we saw a similar thread in our thoughts – the Gospel of Christ. In the following articles we will be applying the fundamental truths of the gospel to the gritty day-to-day of our experience. I will be addressing other young men, and my wife will do the same to the young ladies. Our goal is one—holy, Christ-exalting lives. Read More

Christian Integrity

As Anabaptists, we are taught early on of the importance of following through on what we say. Honesty, consistency, reliability – these are pivotal character qualities for us, and I dare say we’ve done well at retaining them. Many of our communities are founded on collective integrity, and our businesses flourish because of our reputation of being trustworthy folk.

Yet, sin has a way of uprooting even the sincerest intentions, and none of us are free from the temptation to bend the rules when it’s convenient. Often, our integrity flows only from tradition or good morals, but when that’s all we have, we will break when strained. Our testimony, our faith, and indeed, even our Christianity are at risk when we fail to maintain our integrity. Read More