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Adam Dooley

Aug 12
Love0

Cultural Insanity Invades the WNBA

By Persecution, Transgenderism, Women No Comments

Sometimes the easiest way to expose a bad idea is simply to take it seriously. For years, the transgender movement has promoted a false distinction between biological sex and gender identity that has become commonplace in society. Consequently, the intrusion of men into female spaces, whether it be bathrooms, athletic competitions, or beauty contests, is left to the whims of individuals and their chosen identities. All of this is perfectly normal, or so we are told. The absurdity of such thinking is obvious, yet many are afraid to speak out.

Until recently, that is.

Last week, former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom shocked the world when he stated his intention of entering the 2027 WNBA Draft. The 34-year-old, 6-foot-10 veteran played eleven seasons professionally, averaging 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Now, he wants another opportunity to step on the court—this time in the Women’s National Basketball Association.

Not long after Freedom’s announcement, another former NBA  player, Royce White, waded into the fray. As a former first-round draft pick, White seemingly joined the protest to intentionally expose the reckless logic behind the whole gender identity scam. Currently, the WNBA’s position on eligibility is that “only players who are women are eligible to play in the [league].” Nothing wrong here. But if the same league is unwilling to limit the definition of a woman to biological realities, these words are not worth the paper they are written on.

Sports commentator Bob Costas weighed in with refreshing common sense. “There is a reason why the high school champions don’t compete with the college champions,” he said. “There is a reason why no trans-man who was once a woman and become a man has ever competed successfully with men in the Olympics. If Caitlin Clark could play in the NBA,” he continued, “everybody would applaud it. That would be an incredible thing. But if the last guy on the bench of an NBA team went to the WNBA and started averaging 40 points a game, everyone would know that is BS.” While stressing that transgender people deserve dignity and respect, Costas concluded, “Common sense is not transphobic.”

Indeed.

These questions were not born last week, though. In July, Indiana Fever star Sophie Cunningham sparked controversy by simply saying, “I am here to extend love. But I also think with that love is truth, being honest. And I want to protect young girls in a locker room, or young girls in sport who shouldn’t have to go against biological men.” Her observation hardly seems radical. Yet, days later, Minnesota Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve protested comments by wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” shirt on the sidelines.

Claiming to value and protect women without being able to clearly define what women are is a blatant contradiction. Strangely, many of the most ardent feminist voices remain silent. The champions of Title IX rightly celebrated the distinctions between the sexes as important and valuable. These modern reinterpretations of gender, however, jeopardize every previous gain.

The WNBA will not be able to waver between two positions for much longer. Either it is a league for women, or it is not. Abstract talk of inclusion cannot avoid the reality that women will suffer if biological men enter their league. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert recently released a memo stating that league officials are continuing conversations about transgender participation. Team presidents and general managers will reportedly facilitate meetings about the issue, with additional listening sessions expected.

Think about that. Does a league which exists for women really have this much difficulty defining what a woman is? If the roles were reversed, and these were women pretending to be men, how many do you think could earn a spot on an NBA roster? Women’s basketball exists because the physical differences between the sexes are undeniable. Are these conversations really necessary? Or are they just more evidence of our cultural unwillingness to embrace common sense? Freedom and White have exposed the inconsistency by following the argument to its logical conclusion.

Thankfully, the Bible speaks with refreshing clarity about these matters. Every human being possesses innate, immeasurable worth because God created each of us in His image (Gen. 1:26-28). Cruelty, hatred, and mockery of those who suffer from gender dysphoria is not a Christian virtue. God calls believers to love our neighbors even when we strongly disagree with them (Matt. 22:39).

Doing so does not, however, compel us to be untruthful. Jesus affirmed that from the beginning, God made human beings male and female (Matt. 19:4-5). Both the unique roles for the sexes (Gen. 2:18-25) and the gender specific curses that followed humanity’s fall (Gen. 3:16-19) reflect God’s purposeful design for men and women. Rebelling against the gender of our birth is akin to mocking the image of God that is stamped on every human soul. Biology confirms what Scripture so plainly declares. Despite being equally valuable, men and women are not biologically identical.

Our culture increasingly forces objective truth to yield to the personal preferences and feelings of individuals. Such confusion is simply not sustainable. Truth is not hateful because someone finds it offensive. Neither does compassion become loving when it demands dismissing reality. Calling good evil or evil good is never the Christian thing to do (Isa. 5:20).

Adam B. Dooley
August 12, 2026

Aug 05
Love0

When Doubt Meets Grace

By Assurance, Doubt, Grace, Salvation No Comments

Certainty has become a rare commodity in our world. News headlines often project political views rather than reality. Our distrust for politicians, journalists, and corporations is at an all-time high. The days of taking anything at face value seem to be a distant memory that may never return.

Eventually, that same skepticism reaches the most important question of all. Can I really know that I belong to God? Am I truly born again? Is my salvation real? Was my faith genuine? Did I really mean it? What if I was mistaken?

Thankfully, the Bible offers guidance saturated with grace as we wrestle with doubts like these. The Apostle John wrote an entire epistle with the single aim of helping his readers know that they had eternal life (1 John 5:13). Such confidence may be rarer than ever, but it is essential for a thriving walk with the Lord.

A soldier who doubts his commander will hesitate in battle. A child who questions his father’s love will lack peace and security. Likewise, a Christian who constantly disputes his salvation will struggle with consistency and boldness in the faith. In fact, one of Satan’s favorite tactics is convincing genuine believers that they can never be certain that Christ has saved them (Eph. 6:11; 2 Cor. 11:3).

So, what are the unmistakable signs that a person is assuredly saved?

First, the Holy Spirit will continually point us back to Jesus. The role of the Trinity’s third member has never been about drawing attention to Himself. Instead, He constantly glorifies Christ (John 16:13-14), bearing witness that He is the Son of God (1 John 5:6-8).

At Jesus’ baptism, God the Father announced His identity (Matt. 3:16-17). At His crucifixion, the supernatural signs surrounding the cross confirmed His mission (Matt. 27:45-54). At His resurrection, Christ forever proved His victory over sin and death (Rom. 1:4). The Holy Spirt takes these historical realities and woos us with their veracity, compelling us to trust Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).

Too many people make the mistake of searching for peace by seeking emotional experiences or by measuring spiritual accomplishments. Sadly, efforts like these never bring the assurance that we long for. The great reformer, Martin Luther, once confessed that the harder he worked to earn God’s favor, the more uncertain he became. Every act of discipline left him wondering if it was enough.

Amidst our similar struggles, the Holy Spirit is always there to remind us that Jesus is enough. His blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Forgiveness comes through the gracious work of His cross, not as a result of our good works (Eph. 2:8-9). We trust His finished work, not our unfinished efforts (John 19:30). The Comforter consistently whispers, “Look upon Him and be saved (Isa. 45:22).”

Next, the Holy Spirit produces evidence of new life within us. He testifies to us internally that we are born again (Rom. 8:15-16). He transforms our desires (Phil. 2:13). He convicts us when we disobey (John 16:8). He grows our love for our Savior, the Bible, and the people of God (Rom. 5:5). Though Scripture nowhere suggests that Christians can become sinless (1 John 1:8-10), it does teach us that believers cannot feel at home in their sins (1 John 3:9). Even when we stumble, the Holy Spirit is there to draw us back to repentance and faith continually.

As we examine ourselves to test the validity of our faith (2 Cor. 13:5), numerous questions are helpful. Has my heart changed (Matt. 7:16-20)? Do I love Jesus more than I once did (Matt. 10:37)? Do I hunger for God’s Word (1 Pet. 2:2)? Do I desire holiness (Heb. 12:14)? Do I sincerely love other believers (1 John 3:14; 4:7)? While these qualities do not save us, they reveal the reality of an inward transformation that is already taking place.

Finally, the Holy Spirit leverages Scripture to confirm His work within us. The Bible is often the Spirit’s sharpest tool for conforming our lives to Christ (Heb. 4:12). Because God will never lead us to contradict His Word, we should affirm Scripture’s inspiration and sufficiency without hesitation (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20-21). Every chapter and verse ultimately points us to Christ (Luke 24:27), even as it becomes a manual for righteous living (2 Tim. 3:17).

Governments change. Economies fluctuate. Cultures drift. Feelings come and go. Our own hearts often deceive us (Jer. 17:9). But Christ never changes. He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Build your assurance upon Him, not yourself (John 10:27-29). God does not want His children living in perpetual uncertainty. He invites us to trust His Son, believe His promises, and rest in the testimony of the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:9-13). When we do, grace will overcome every doubt.

John the apostle wrote so that you could know.
God wants you to know.
Do you know?

Adam B. Dooley
August 5, 2026

Jul 29
Love0

Going Against the Flow

By Christian Living, Evil, Faith, Holiness, Life No Comments

For most of us, the pressure to go with the flow is much stronger than we care to admit. The societal compulsion to think and live like everyone else can be intimidating, and the misguided values of our fallen world are often enticing. Following Jesus, though, requires the courage to move in the opposite direction by going against the currents of compromise.

Learning from one of Israel’s greatest failures at a pivotal moment offers us some practical guidance. After the Lord delivered His people out of Egypt through ten miraculous plagues, He led them safely through the Red Sea before feeding them manna from heaven and water from a rock in the middle of the desert. After years of journeying together, the Jews were finally on the verge of the Promised Land (Num. 13-14).

After Moses sent out twelve spies to survey the Canaanite territory over the span of forty days, the people heard reports of a land flowing with milk, honey, and abundant fruit (Num. 13:27). While Joshua and Caleb challenged the people to pursue God’s best for them, the ten other spies magnified the obstacles out of fear. In the end, the nation disobeyed God and refused to enter the land (Num. 14:1-3). Their contrasting responses teach us three important lessons as we seek the Lord’s will despite the pressures of our culture.

First, we should celebrate that God’s plans for our lives are always attainable. Despite the Lord’s clear direction, the presence of strong inhabitants in the land paralyzed the fearful spies (Num. 13:28). In other words, to them obedience seemed impossible.

We hear similar misleading voices today. You cannot maintain sexual purity in this culture, they say. You cannot guard your mind with so much wickedness around you, we are told. You cannot build your life around Scripture without becoming irrelevant, many insist. You cannot remain committed to church when others walk away, people speculate. You cannot speak openly about Christ without alienating people, others predict.

Do not believe those lies.

Though God never promises an easy road, He always equips us to walk the path He chooses. Every Christian is the “workmanship” of the Father, created in Christ Jesus for good works that the Lord prepared for us to walk in before we were born (Eph. 2:10).

Personal holiness can sometimes isolate us. Obedience will leave you standing alone. Biblical convictions will put you at odds with the mainstream. Godliness will always be antithetical to popular opinion. Salvation’s narrow road may put us out of step with the world around us, but our Savior does not demand what is impossible, nor does He require anything that is not for our good (Matt. 7:13-14).

Second, we can rest knowing that God’s power is always available. Joshua and Caleb never denied the presence of giant warriors in the land. Instead, they pleaded with their peers, reminding them that the Lord was present with them and for them (Num. 14:9). That realization changes everything.

Christians often look at our deteriorating culture and surrender to despair. We lament declining morality, fractured families, biblical illiteracy, sexual confusion, and increasing hostility toward Christian convictions. These concerns are real and deserve our attention, but fear should never define our response to darkness. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God promises to enable our greater devotion (Rom. 8:5). Whatever He calls us to, He empowers us for. His plans are never out of reach, nor are His desires unattainable.

Because Christ lives within us (Gal. 2:20), we never face temptation alone (1 Cor. 10:13). The Holy Spirit cultivates a hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6), enabling us to repent of sin, share the gospel, and serve others as salt and light in our communities (Matt. 5:13-16). Few feel strong enough to live the Christian life and, in reality, none of us are. Yet, the Lord has not left us powerless against the schemes of the devil (Eph. 6:11-17).

Finally, we must never forget that God’s people are always accountable. Unbelief, not intimidation, was the root cause of Israel’s failure. Despite everything God had shown them, they refused to trust His Word. Consequently, an entire generation forfeited the privilege of entering Canaan (Num. 14:20-23). Their story reminds us that our choices have consequences.

Clearly, disobeying God is sinful. But knowing to do good, and refusing it, is just as egregious (James 4:17). The Lord holds us responsible for both. Our actions, or the lack thereof, have lasting implications.

Perhaps you keep postponing obedience. Maybe God is calling you to fuller surrender. Do you need to forgive someone? To abandon a sinful habit? To repent before God? Perhaps passivity plagues your walk with God? Do you spend enough time reading God’s Word? Are you active in a local church? Have you been putting off obedience of some kind?

Do not assume tomorrow will offer the same opportunity as today. Israel learned the hard way that our inaction is often rebellious. By the time they realized their error, it was too late (Num. 14:40-45). Going with the flow will rob us of God’s best for our lives. You can squander years chasing pleasure, possessions, approval, comfort, or success. By the time you recognize what those pursuits have cost you, the burden created may be irreversible.

So don’t be afraid to stand against the tide of cultural lies. The crowd may offer an easier road, but faith will choose another direction. Go against the flow. Trust God’s plan. Depend on His power. Remember your accountability. You won’t regret doing so.

Adam B. Dooley
July 29, 2026

Jul 23
Love0

Be Careful Who You Listen To!

By Accountability, Bible, Evil, False Prophets, Judgment, Ministry, Pastor, Preaching, Scripture No Comments

Jesus never told His followers to believe every spiritual voice they encountered. Instead, He issued the sobering warning that false prophets often clothe themselves in sheep’s clothing though they are inwardly ravenous wolves (Matt. 7:15). Those words matter more than ever.

Our generation enjoys unprecedented access to Bible teachers all over the globe. A smartphone, microphone, ring light, and internet connection allow anyone to present themselves as an expert on Scripture. Podcasts, YouTube channels, livestreams, and social media feeds place countless influencers at our fingertips. Unfortunately, popularity is not always a reflection of faithfulness. Algorithms reward confidence more than accuracy, and charisma often attracts a larger audience than biblical truth.

But imagine with me that your child suddenly developed a life-threatening heart condition. I am confident that you would not select a surgeon because his videos had gone viral or because online followers reached the millions. Instead, you would seek out someone with proven training, unquestioned integrity, and a track record you could trust. And rightly so. Yet, when it comes to matters of faith and the health of our souls, we are often much less discerning of those who manipulate God’s Word.

Ironically, Scripture accurately predicted this reckless cycle. “The time will come,” warned the Apostle Paul, “when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths (2 Tim. 4:3-4). If that weren’t bad enough, Jesus lamented the abundance of false teachers eager to scratch our heretical impulses (Matt. 7:22-23).

How, then, can we recognize the wolves among us?

Thankfully, Jesus answered with one simple phrase: “You will know them by their fruits (Matt. 7:16).” Because a good tree cannot bear bad fruit; and because a bad tree cannot bear good fruit, we can examine two distinct areas of a teacher’s life to determine if they deserve a hearing (Matt. 7:17-19).

First, is the matter of doctrine. Sound teachers submit themselves to the authority of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:16-17). They preach the whole counsel of God, not merely the portions that draw applause (Acts 20:27). They gladly proclaim God’s love without ignoring His holiness. They rejoice in grace while refusing to minimize sin. They call people to repentance because they understand that forgiveness only has meaning when we first acknowledge our guilt.

By contrast, false teachers often sound remarkably orthodox at first. Though they use familiar Christian vocabulary, they subtly redefine biblical terms. Some deceivers openly deny the plain meaning of Scripture. Others quietly ignore biblical truth. Sadly, what some refuse to say can be just as dangerous as what they do say. They might speak of forgiveness with no mention of repentance. They might promise salvation with no concern for the narrow road that precedes it (Matt. 7:13-14). Jesus’ substitutionary death, His coming judgment, or His claims of exclusivity are dangerously absent (John 14:6). Assurances of peace when there is no peace is the common invitation that wolves love to offer (Jer. 6:14).

Second, is evaluation of a messenger’s devotion. Right doctrine alone does not qualify someone to lead the Lord’s church. The character of a leader’s life is just as important as the content of his message. Truth was never meant to remain behind a pulpit. Practicing what one preaches is the key for avoiding spiritual manipulation. Regrettably, a preacher may possess remarkable communication skills, impressive academic credentials, or even a large ministry platform, yet still lack genuine godliness (Matt. 7:20).

The New Testament insists that spiritual leaders demonstrate integrity, humility, self-control, and faithfulness (1 Tim. 3:1-7). Their homes, relationships, and personal holiness should reinforce the message they proclaim. A man who faithfully preaches biblical messages on Sunday but habitually disregards it throughout the week undermines his own ministry. Eloquence is never a substitute for godliness.

Warnings like these extend far beyond the pastorate, though. Parents should teach and model Scripture to their children. Sunday School teachers will influence young minds by what they say and do. Every Christian who opens God’s Word should strive to live consistently with what he teaches. Doctrine without devotion produces hypocrisy, while devotion without sound doctrine leads to confusion. God desires both.

So, be careful who you listen to. Many who stand before the Lord one day will hear the devastating words, “Depart from Me. I never knew you (Matt. 7:23). Christ also calls us to exercise discernment. We should never surrender our minds to charisma, celebrity, or popularity. Instead, we must test every spiritual voice by the unchanging truth of God’s Word and by the unmistakable fruit of a godly life (1 John 4:1).

In an age overflowing with religious content, Jesus’ warning has never been more relevant. The safest teachers are not necessarily the most entertaining or the most influential. They are the ones whose doctrine faithfully reflects God’s truth and whose daily lives consistently reflect God’s Son.

Adam B. Dooley
July 23, 2026

Jul 15
Love0

The Weight You Were Never Meant to Carry

By Anxiety, Brokenness, Comfort, Faith, God, Grief, Hope, Trials, Worry No Comments

Anxiety has become so commonplace that many people accept it as a normal part of life. We make jokes about being chronic worriers, but fear quietly steals our joy, clouds our judgment, and distracts us from the goodness of God. Like a cancer that contaminates our spiritual blessings, hidden anguish is not a minor problem to ignore.

Every generation finds new reasons to fret. Parents fear for their children. Students stress over grades. Workers wonder whether they will keep their jobs. Retirees question whether their savings will last. Even good news often gives way to fresh concerns. Mark Twain reportedly remarked that he had lived through many terrible experiences, most of which never happened. His observation exposes the deceptive nature of anxiety. Our minds often create disasters long before reality ever arrives (Prov. 12:25).

Jesus addressed our common struggle in the Sermon on the Mount. He cautioned us against obsessing over food, clothing, tomorrow’s uncertainties, and even the length of our lives (Matt. 6:25-34). Worry never solves a problem. Anxiety will not add one hour to our lives, remove any of our future hardships, or strengthen us for whatever today’s responsibilities might be. Instead, fear shifts our focus away from the Father’s providential care and concern.

Combatting our internal dismay begins with an honest confession. The Apostle Paul commanded believers to “be anxious for nothing” (Phil. 4:6a). Though we may understand the temptation to worry, we dare not justify it as anything other unbelief. Faith insists that God reigns over every circumstance, no matter how frightening or painful. Despite our rebellious instinct to live as if reality depends upon us, we do well to admit that our prideful delusion only leads to uncertainty and panic. A sincere acknowledgement of our weakness invites God’s strength into our struggle (Psa. 55:22).

The circumstances behind Paul’s words mark his command as even more compelling. Roman authorities held him in prison while he wrote the book of Philippians. False teachers troubled the churches he dearly loved, and execution remained a looming possibility. Even so, the faithful apostle refused to surrender his heart to fear because he trusted the character of God more than the uncertainty of his future (Phil. 1:20-21).

Calling out to God functions as the next step toward lasting peace. Through the means of prayer and supplication, we are to let our requests be made known to God (Phil. 4:6b). God never asks us to ignore our fears. He welcomes every burden, every question, and every concern we bring before Him. Our Savior even admonished His followers to ask, seek, and knock because our heavenly Father delights in giving good gifts to His children (Matt. 7:7-11).

Thanksgiving also transforms the way we talk to God. Gratitude reminds us of the Lord’s past faithfulness while giving us renewed strength to face whatever is ahead (Lam. 3:22-23).  Likewise, prayerful worship deepens our resolve to embrace God’s direction and will before we know the outcome of our petitions. Making specific requests sharpens our dependence upon our heavenly Father because his specific answers serve as practical expressions which reinforce the realness of our faith. All the while, our confidence grows even as our anxiety subsides.

Regardless of what the outcomes might be, God breathes life into our prayers, making them the means of supernatural peace which guards our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:7). Though this holy serenity does not always remove our painful circumstances, the Lord strengthens His people in the middle of every trial (John 14:27).

Because he also understood the powerful connection between our thoughts and our emotions, Paul instructs us to dwell on whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8). Healthy thinking cultivates strategic prayer, resulting in confident living. Fear grows wherever lies dominate our minds, but joy flourishes wherever God’s truth takes root (Rom. 12:2).

Seem too good to be true? Just look around. Birds never store food in barns, yet our heavenly Father feeds them every day. Wildflowers never toil or spin, yet God dresses the fields with their breathtaking colors every spring (Matt. 6:26-30). Each sunrise silently proclaims the Father’s loving care. Every blooming flower reminds us that our Creator never overlooks our needs. Human beings bear God’s image, making us infinitely more valuable than any bird or flower (Gen. 1:26-28).

Every morning presents us with the same choice. We can rehearse our fears or remember God’s steadfastness. We can carry burdens that belong to the Lord or place them into His capable hands. Worry has never changed tomorrow, but trusting God changes us today (Isa. 26:3).

Adam B. Dooley
July 15, 2026

Jul 08
Love0

The Pesky Reality About Our Trials

By Christian Living, Heaven, Salvation No Comments

None of us ever ask God for trials.

We pray for healing instead of sickness, peace instead of conflict, and provision instead of uncertainty. Adversity interrupts our plans, steals our comfort, and exposes our weaknesses. Hardship arrives uninvited, overstays its welcome, and forces us to ask questions we never expected to face. These intrusions are pesky because of the havoc they wreak.

The most disconcerting reality about life’s troubles, though, is not found in the wake of its collateral damage. The greatest nuisance is not the pain our trials bring but the truth they expose. In one sense, our burdens build faith into our lives in a profound way (James 1:2-4). But, in a different sense entirely, our problems have a way of exposing genuine devotion to Christ or the lack thereof.

Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount with a familiar story about two men who built two houses on two contrasting foundations (Matt. 7:24-27). Outwardly, the homes appeared nearly identical. Their materials were the same and their design was consistent. The difference, however, remained unseen to the human eye beneath the surface. The first house enjoyed the firm foundation of a rock while the other emerged above the shifting sands.

Over the course of time, both homes encountered the same rain, floods, and winds. It was only after the storm struck that the critical distinction between the structures was clear. One house stood tall because of the security beneath it. The other had a great fall due to its faulty footing. Jesus’ parable is obviously about much more than residential construction. His lesson focuses on how we live our lives. Like these homes, we cannot fully discover what we are made of until the wind begins to blow.

The storms did not build the foundations; they exposed them. That truth should make every Christian stop and think. Adversity has its way of uncovering who we really are and what our foundation is (or is not). Even more remarkable, though, is that the fuller context of Matthew suggests these verses are not primarily about our earthly challenges and difficulties.

Christians, like all people, will face hard times. But the emphasis here points us to a greater storm that is coming. Previously, Jesus warned that not everyone who professes to know Him will be welcome in the kingdom of God (Matt. 7:21-23). The clouds of divine judgment are forming and one day every person will stand before the Lord to give an account. Justice will rain down; holiness will flood the earth; and the relentless righteousness of God will blow across our sinful lives.

No wonder our Savior issued numerous warnings about the coming judgment of God. He told us there are two gates, one that is small and the other that is wide, and two paths, one that is narrow and the other that is broad, from we must choose to enter. (Matt. 7:13-14). He warned that there are two kinds of fruit (good and bad), and that a good tree cannot bear bad fruit (Matt. 7:16-20). Two different confessions will separate the sheep from the goats (Matt. 7:21). And now, lest we miss the point, there are two differing foundations upon which we can build our lives.

This impending storm transforms the way we view our temporal problems. Trials become much more than unwelcome interruptions; they are dress rehearsals for eternity! Every burden we face exposes whether our faith rests fully on Christ or merely upon the sands of religious activity. Adversity has a pesky way of laying bare what lies beneath the surface.

The Bible consistently teaches that genuine faith perseveres. James explains that trials produce endurance (James 1:2-4). Peter says God refines our faith like gold in the fire (1 Peter 1:6-9). Paul reminds us that suffering produces perseverance, proven character, and hope (Romans 5:3-5). None of these passages indicate that our commitment through hardship earns salvation. Instead, persistence through difficulties reveals the reality of saving faith. In other words, earthly storms give us a glimpse of what will happen when we stand before God one day.

If we consistently abandon Christ due to our weariness, we should honestly examine whether we have ever built our lives upon Him. On the other hand, believers who continue trusting, obeying, and loving Christ through the hurt and pain of a fallen world gain increasing assurance that their lives rest upon the only foundation that cannot fail. Our perseverance does not determine God’s verdict. It points toward it.

One day every person will face the greatest storm of all when we stand before the Lord. Those who build their lives on Jesus Christ need not fear that day because our Savior already endured God’s judgment in our place. Until then, every earthly trial reminds us to keep trusting Him. Those who stand upon Jesus through the temporary storms of our broken existence can look toward eternity with confidence—not because of our strength—but because the Rock beneath us will never fail.

Adam B. Dooley
July 8, 2026

Jul 01
Love0

Loving America Without Losing Our Way

By America No Comments

Every year around the Fourth of July, especially this year on our semiquincentennial, the same conversation ensues. Someone observes that America has lost her moral compass. Another laments the decline of biblical values. Before long, many agree that our nation stands at a spiritual crossroads.

I share those concerns. Our culture increasingly rejects God’s design for marriage, the family, the sanctity of life, objective truth, and Scriptural morality. Additionally, declining biblical literacy and increasing hostility toward a Christian worldview ought to cause us alarm. Christians should not ignore these realities or pretend that a societal drift is not occurring. Yet, outside of mere acknowledgement, what are followers of Jesus actually supposed to do in such a climate?

Thankfully, Scripture provides remarkably practical guidance. Neither despair nor retreat are appropriate options for those called to be salt and light in the world (Matt. 5:13-16). Though America is not Israel, the biblical principles for faithful citizenship remain timeless. Rather than allowing discouragement to paralyze us, we should respond with consistent obedience to Christ. But how?

First, make sure your personal relationship with God is genuine. Patriotism and Christianity are not the same thing. You can love America, appreciate our Founders, wave the flag, vote for conservative values, and remain separated from God because of sin. No one enters heaven because they were born in the United States. Many sincere patriots have never trusted Christ. Salvation comes only through repentance and faith in the Son of God (John 14:6). Before we ask God to change our nation, we must be sure that He has changed us.

Next, determine to become the very best citizen you can be by obeying all laws that do not contradict Scripture. The apostle Peter admonishes us to submit ourselves to every human institution for the Lord’s sake (1 Peter 2:13). Doing so silences the frivolous accusations of unbelievers aimed at discrediting Christianity (1 Peter 2:15). Believers should follow the law consistently, pay taxes honestly, respect those who enforce justice, and conduct themselves with the highest integrity, knowing we represent Christ in every place every day.

The Bible also commands us to pray for those who lead us. With prayer and thanksgiving, we should call out to God on behalf of “kings and all who are in authority (1 Tim. 2:1-2).” Interceding for elected officials does not require agreeing with their every decision. Oftentimes, we will be praying for individuals we did not vote for. Yet, recognizing the tremendous weight of public service and understanding that God holds the ultimate authority over each leader, we should eagerly call out to the Lord on their behalf. These practical petitions will accomplish far more than our endless political debates.

We should also vote according to our biblical convictions. Casting a ballot for the candidate of our choosing is one of the great privileges of living in a constitutional republic, and we should steward that opportunity wisely. Scripture never encourages us to separate our faith from our politics or to compartmentalize our convictions. Christians ought to support policies and leaders who value the sanctity of human life (Ps. 139:13-16), protect religious liberty (1 Tim. 2), uphold justice (Micah 6:8), and promote the common good by punishing evildoers and rewarding righteousness (Rom. 13:1-5).

Still, we should never imagine that an election can accomplish what only the gospel can do. Presidents cannot regenerate hearts. Legislatures cannot forgive sins. Courts cannot produce spiritual renewal. Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19-20), and that mission remains the Church’s highest priority. If America experiences another great awakening, it will happen because ordinary believers faithfully shared the gospel one person at a time.

Our faith should also motivate us to serve our communities. Even while living in Babylonian exile, God instructed Israel to “seek the welfare of the city” where He placed them (Jer. 29:7). Identifying problems is often easy; doing something about challenges is much more difficult. Christians should be the best citizens in every community. We should volunteer, care for the vulnerable, encourage first responders, strengthen our schools, and love our neighbors well. Biblical conduct must always accompany biblical convictions.

Finally, we should pursue personal holiness. Our greatest contribution toward the strength of America is quietly living each day with consistent devotion to Christ (1 Thess. 4:11). Strong nations are built upon strong homes. Faithful marriages, honest business practices, godly parenting, and everyday integrity still matter. Culture only changes when what we say we believe translates in how we live (James 2:14-20).

As we celebrate our nation’s birthday, I remain grateful for America and hopeful for her future. Regardless of what’s ahead, I often remind myself that my true “citizenship is heaven (Phil. 3:20). We can be deeply patriotic without confusing America with the Kingdom of God. Perhaps that’s the perspective we need the most. Love your country. Pray for your country. Serve your country. But always remember that your greatest allegiance belongs to King Jesus.

Adam B. Dooley
July 1, 2026

Jun 24
Love0

Celebrating America’s Christian Heritage

By America, Christian Living, Faith, Freedom No Comments

As America celebrates her 250th birthday, citizens across our nation will gather beneath fireworks, wave flags, and remember the extraordinary events that gave birth to the United States. Two and a half centuries after the signing of our Declaration of Independence, we still enjoy freedoms that millions of people around the world only dream about. This national milestone deserves more than a casual acknowledgement. Gratitude, reflection, and an honest appraisal of the principles that made America exceptional are in order.

Celebrating America’s Christian heritage does not require blind assertions that all the Founders and our earliest citizens were orthodox Christians. History does not support such claims, though the modern insistence that the majority were deists is demonstrably false. Fifty-two of the fifty-five signers of the Declaration of Independence were Protestants, along with roughly 75% of the population.

Despite their rejection of a state church, the Founders possessed a deep conviction that Christianity was the necessary garden from which freedom would flourish. The men who established our nation overwhelmingly believed that a Christian foundation would protect broad religious liberty for minority groups.

The Declaration of Independence itself reflects sincere spiritual conviction. America’s founders grounded human rights not in government, public opinion, or political power, but in God. Because Scripture so clearly teaches that every human being bears the image of his Maker (Gen. 1:26-27), they insisted that all people are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” Those words changed the world.

For the first time in history, a nation unashamedly asserted that government does not grant rights; it merely recognizes the rights God has already given. The Founders submitted to governmental structures that exist under God’s authority to restrain evil and promote good (Rom. 13:1–4; 1 Pet. 2:13–17). Their goal was not to create truth, define morality, or to determine ultimate worth. At its best, government recognizes what God has already revealed.

Our forefathers feared what would happen if Americans abandoned the moral principles that Christianity supplied. George Washington famously observed in his Farewell Address that religion and morality serve as “indispensable supports” for political prosperity. John Adams wrote that the Constitution was made only for a “moral and religious people” and proved wholly inadequate for any other. Their concern aligns with Scripture’s repeated warning that righteousness strengthens a nation while sin destroys it (Prov. 14:34). To them, freedom could not endure among a people who lacked virtue, self-restraint, and moral conviction.

These concerns were not unfounded. Free societies demand something unique from their citizens. Tyrannies control behavior through force. Dictatorships rely on fear. Constitutional republics require citizens to govern themselves. When people refuse to exercise self-control, government eventually steps in to impose external control. As virtue declines, freedom dissipates with it. Lasting liberty requires moral restraint.

The Founders recognized that Christianity supplied the moral framework necessary for self-government. Scripture commands honesty (Eph. 4:25), personal responsibility (2 Thess. 3:10–12), humility (Phil. 2:3–4), justice (Mic. 6:8), compassion for the poor (Prov. 19:17), and love for neighbor (Mark 12:31). These virtues do more than shape private character; they strengthen public life.

Alexis de Tocqueville, the famous French observer who traveled America in the 1830s, noticed this spiritual connection immediately. “Americans,” he stated, “combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive one without the other.” The success of American culture, according to Tocqueville, was their willingness to exercise their freedoms within a moral framework shaped by biblical principles.

Today, many voices insist that faith and public life should remain entirely separate. Thankfully, our history tells a different story. America did not emerge from an ethical vacuum. Biblical ideas influenced our national understanding of right and wrong. Churches helped shape communities, Christian convictions informed public virtue, and religious faith strengthened the cultural foundations upon which constitutional republic rested.

Even Thomas Jefferson, who admittedly wanted more separation between church and state than his contemporaries, envisioned nothing remotely like the aspirations of the ACLU or the Americans United for Separation of Church and State. While governor of Virginia, Jefferson issued a prayer proclamation for the purpose of solemn thanksgiving and petitions to “Almighty God.” Additionally, he drafted bills outlining the governor’s prerogative to call for days of fasting and humiliation, as well his ability to punish Sabbath breakers and religious malcontents. Jefferson’s proposal for a national seal was depiction of the Red Sea crossing from the book of Exodus under the motto “Rebellion for tyrants is obedience to God.” Freedom from religion was the farthest thing from our third president’s mind.

Of course, Christians should not view America as the kingdom of God or confuse patriotism with discipleship. God’s family transcends every nation, including our own. Our highest allegiance belongs to Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:20). No nation can replace the church, and no flag should receive the devotion that belongs to the cross. Yet believers can still thank God for the remarkable blessings He has given this country while recognizing the profound influence Christianity exerted on its development.

As we mark 250 years of American independence, we should celebrate both the freedoms we enjoy and the foundations that sustain them. Liberty remains a precious gift, but it requires moral responsibility. Freedom flourishes when citizens, even nonbelievers, embrace virtue, honor truth, strengthen families, and love their neighbors. A Christian worldview remains the secret ingredient for protecting the pluralistic realities of the American melting pot.

America’s founders understood these realities. They believed our experiment in self-government depended upon a people shaped by moral conviction. All these years later, their warning remains as relevant as ever. If we hope to preserve the blessings of liberty for future generations, we must recover the virtues that made liberty possible in the first place.

Adam B. Dooley
June 24, 2026

Jun 18
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Narrow Faith in a Broad World

By Christian Living, Eternity, Evil, Heaven, Judgment, Obedience, Priorities, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Sin, Surrender No Comments

Nearly every area of life depends upon narrowness and exclusivity. None of us are eager to be a surgeon’s guinea pig on an operating table, preferring instead a physician who understands the single most effective method for heart surgery. After we board a flight, we trust that the pilot understands the right and wrong way to land the plane. Need a prescription filled? You will not seek out a pharmacist who is comfortable throwing whatever pills are available into your medicine bottle. When making a deposit at our local bank we settle for nothing less than a teller who transfers our funds into a specific account, without changing even one digit in the account number.

Instances like these powerfully demonstrate that narrowness and exclusivity are not only kind, but also the keys to avoiding calamity and heartache. Yet, when it comes to spiritual matters, many strangely conclude just the opposite. Ours is a world that often views moral truth claims as harsh, and their messengers as hateful and bigoted. In this climate, insisting that Jesus is the only way to heaven is out of bounds. Articulating biblical morality falls into the category of hate speech. Speaking with confidence or certainty emboldens critics to chide your hubris and hypocrisy.

But how do we explain this?

Why do so many resist the straightforward claims of Scripture?

Simply put, the path of the majority is broad and deceiving. Jesus explained, “The gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it” (Matt. 7:13). Though we should take no pleasure in it, the popular course of the masses leads to damnation and destruction. Inclusivism and tolerance are buzz words on the broad road. With no boundaries or restrictions, those on this path are free to live however they choose.

We could rightly call it “Just Be Yourself Boulevard.” Live your truth is the theme, and following your dreams is the primary ambition. Rightly, Jesus contrasted this enticing road to hell with the narrowness of the heavenly highway. “The gate is small,” our Lord insisted, “and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:14).

The implications here are as necessary as they are sobering. First, hell is real and eternal. Gehenna (Matt. 10:28, 18:9) was the most common word Jesus used to describe a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matt. 13:41-42). With fire that is unquenchable, the torment of hell is everlasting due to the imposing glory of God (2 Thess.1:9). Unfortunately, our discussions of these realities demonstrate that we have no idea what we are talking about. We tell people to go to hell. People talk about partying in hell. We speak so flippantly about God’s final judgment that there is little to no fear of its coming.

Yet, according to Jesus, the majority of people, those whom we know and love, are on a devastating path that secures their future condemnation. Populating the broad path are the likely suspects. The fornicator is there. The adulterer is there. The homosexual is there. The liar, thief, agnostic, atheist, and humanist are all there. But there are also scores of religious people who blindly walk along this expansive route. Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, and denominations of all stripes are there, all of which have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:5).

That preacher who reduces salvation to earthly prosperity and gain? He’s on the broad road. That minister draped in a rainbow flag as she openly celebrates sin and encourages others to do the same? She’s on the broad road. Those denominations that brazenly ordain homosexuals to lead their congregations? They are on the broad road. The networks of churches across denominational lines that jettison biblical truth for worldly wisdom and philosophy? All of them are on the broad road.

So much of what passes for Christianity here on this earth is far from it in the eyes of God. It may sound harsh to point out the obvious, but isn’t warning those in danger really the most loving thing to do? The Bible repeatedly warns us to stay alert against falsehoods like these. “Certain persons,” lamented Jude, “have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ”(Jude 4).

So, what are we to do? Walking through the narrow gate of salvation requires leaving everything behind in order to follow Jesus. None of our worldly achievement, ambition, or affluence earns our right to eternal paradise. The narrow path is a vivid picture of how we live our lives, reminding us that God’s grace saves andsanctifies (Eph. 2:8-10). The Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus shared these words, is a record of the life changes that accompany a genuine walk with God. Obedience to Christ does not save, but it serves as powerful evidence that we are born again.

Thus, entering the kingdom of God begins with the realization that we are sinners deserving of death (Rom. 3:23, 6:23). Next, we are to repent of our sins in order to turn toward Christ (Acts 20:21). We respond to the gospel by confessing Jesus as our Lord in light of His resurrection from the dead (Rom. 10:9). Because these steps are the beginning rather than the end of our journey on the narrow road, we should repeatedly examine ourselves, looking for the signs of internal and external change, as the markers that our faith is real (2 Cor. 13:5).

If these claims were untrue, all talk of the narrow road would indeed be an insult. But, if Jesus was telling the truth, and He was, the most loving, compassionate act is to warn people of the deception and danger along the broad path. So which road are you traveling? All who are willing are welcome on the narrow road, but it requires total surrender. Choose wisely. Your eternity depends on it.

Adam B. Dooley
June 18, 2026

Jun 10
Love0

Cultural Lies and the True Gospel

By Homosexuality, Lies, Love, Righteousness No Comments

I was shocked recently to run across a sermon online where a self-proclaimed lesbian pastor in the Lutheran church boasted of her ability to “make just about any scripture gay.” Though blatant textual eisegesis is par for the course every PRIDE month, few are so willing to admit openly their unwillingness to let the Bible simply say what it says. In the same message, this false teacher also celebrated, “The first time another pastor told me that my gay sex was holy, I cried.”

Except, it isn’t.

The whole scene reminds me of an eventful trip to St. Jude Hospital years ago when my son was battling childhood leukemia. In those days, we lived in a different city, requiring us to fly to Memphis each week over a three-year period. Once, while passing through security for our flight home, a Ziploc bag containing a bottle of medication tested positive for a small amount of glycerin, which can be used to make explosives. Quickly, TSA workers surrounded us with a bomb sniffing dog. They pulled us aside and began a battery of tests.

Thankfully, our faces were familiar and employees recognized us. My son’s glistening, bald head also gave away our recent trip to the hospital. Still, it was only after several minutes of awkward suspicion and investigation that security personnel allowed us to pass through the checkpoint. Turns out it was a false positive caused by a melting icepack that was cooling the medication. The whole ordeal got me to thinking about the misleading consequences of false impressions, which can leave us happy or scared depending on what they report.

You might, for example, be overjoyed initially only to be disappointed later if a pregnancy test falsely reveals that the child you’ve prayed for is on the way. Or, you might be immediately frightened when airport security suspects foul play as you travel, even if you are able to laugh about it afterward. The problem, though, is that neither reaction is trustworthy. False positives are dangerous because they invite us to live outside of reality based upon something that is not true.

Unfortunately, American Christianity has its share of false positives. Each year misguided churches, and entire denominations, line up to parade their inclusiveness and identify themselves as allies of the LGBTQ community. Doing so and pressuring others to follow suit offers a positive spin on the nature of the gospel, sin, forgiveness, and God Himself that is entirely false and deceptive.

Theological false positives are abundant today. Many Bible teachers are anxious to assure their listeners that God’s primary goal is our personal happiness. Others insist that hell cannot be real because a loving God would never allow anyone to go there. Notions of remaining in sin while following Jesus are the most damning false positive of all. Most will enthusiastically receive these untruthful assertions even though they create a false narrative about WHO Jesus is and WHAT He came to do.

The historical reality that God would sacrifice His Son to deal with our sin problem is insulting to some and downright barbaric to others. Retired Methodist theologian, William Willimon, fairly critiqued, “If you listen to much of our preaching, you get the impression that Jesus was some sort of itinerant therapist who, for free, traveled about helping people feel better.”

Thankfully, Jesus had a way of turning our temporal ambitions on their head in order to focus on what we really need. Take, for example, the familiar story of Jesus healing the paralytic (Matt. 9:1-8). Without question, this man’s burdens were significant. He could not walk, eat, or bathe without the help of others, making him an outcast in society. We can hardly blame his friends for attempting to help him.

Rather than heal the man immediately, though, Jesus said to him, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven (Matt. 9:2).” By doing so, Jesus reminded us that our temporal burdens are merely symptoms of our greatest needs. He is not a Savior who came to improve the quality of our lives (though He often does), but who came to forgive our sins. Yet, popular false positives deceive us into believing that God solving our earthly problems is more important than His addressing our eternal condition.

Because the scribes accused Jesus of blasphemy (Matt. 9:3), He immediately exposed their blindness with a piercing question. Is it easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Get up, and walk (Matt. 9:5)?” Amazingly, Jesus chose to heal the paralytic in order to demonstrate His authority to forgive sins, not distract from it (Matt. 9:6). The real goal was much bigger than the man’s physical healing. In fact, had Jesus only forgiven the paralytic’s transgressions it would have solved his greatest threat.

Tragically, expressions of temporary grace often grip us more than eternal realities. Our need for forgiveness, though, is so urgent that we ought to be willing to lose this life entirely in order to receive it from Christ (Matt. 16:24-27). Nothing is more necessary, and nothing is more remarkable than the glorious truth that Jesus would come to seek and to save the lost!

So, don’t fall victim to the cultural moment. Homosexuality is not an unforgivable sin, but it is a sin. Celebrating what the Bible condemns does not make us allies of those in error; it makes us accomplices to their demise. Defending wickedness is the opposite of Christianity, and loving others requires telling the truth. The gospel is too wonderful and the grace of God is too powerful to substitute a false positive for the good news that Christ offers to all who will call out to Him in genuine repentance and faith.

Adam B. Dooley
June 10, 2026

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