March 13, 2026
True Friends
Proverbs 17:17 sums up well the work of true friends: “A friend loves at all times.” The love of true friends is expressed in a variety of ways. This editorial identifies some of them.
Series: Letter from the Editor
Bearing The Standard of The Movement for 160 Years
The year 2026 marks Christian Standard’s 160th anniversary, underscoring our long history and deep connection with The Restoration Movement.
September 3, 2025
Stillness
The psalmist offered a remedy for the kind of busyness that keeps us from drawing near to our heavenly Father. He wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God."
The Art of (Spiritual) Warfare
From the moment he set himself up against God and was cast out of heaven, the devil has been hard at work, relentlessly attempting to disrupt and impede the plan of God.
Thanks, Jim!
Jim Nieman is retiring after 26 years as managing editor of Christian Standard. Rick Cherok will replace him starting in June . . .
March 1, 2024
History and Hope
Christian Standard will be focusing on the Restoration Movement over the next several months . . .
January 1, 2024
Remembering Mike / A New Team Member / Defaulting to Mercy and Grace
By Shawn McMullen I WRITE MY FIRST COLUMN AS EDITOR of Christian Standard with mixed emotions. As humbled and grateful as I am to have been given this opportunity to serve Christ and our fellowship of churches, I continue to mourn the loss of the former editor, my friend Mike Mack. When the sister magazines were given new life through the vision of The Solomon Foundation and Christian Standard Media, Mike and I worked together for three years. He edited this journal while I edited The Lookout. During that time Mike and I talked regularly, traveled together occasionally, and supported
November 1, 2023
Inaccurate Assumptions About Evangelism and Christians
By Michael C. Mack When I became a follower of Jesus 35 years ago, I had several faulty assumptions about Christianity. I thought, for instance, that everyone who followed Christ shared their faith in him faithfully and frequently with others. I actually believed evangelism was the norm in the church! After all, the Bible says Jesus commanded it, and the early church practiced it regularly. And several Christians had shared their faith with me. So, I did the same. As I got more involved in the church, I found that my assumption was mostly inaccurate. For many of the Christians
May 1, 2023
Humility, Unity . . . Revival
By Michael C. Mack “Jesus loves this. He loves humility. He loves unity.” A leader at Asbury University spoke these words amid what some have called revival. I visited Asbury in February and witnessed what I would call a gentle moving of God’s Spirit among people both young and old—but led by the young (Gen Z). Several things were noticeably missing at the college, however. Not once did I hear anyone refer to the denomination or tribe they belonged to or the name of the preacher at their church. I heard no arguments about worship style, Bible versions, or any
November 1, 2022
The Stories God Tells
By Michael C. Mack Who doesn’t love a gripping story of adventure told by a master storyteller? Some of my favorites are epic sagas: Star Wars, Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and the like. I was reminded about the adventures of the Pilgrims as I read Bob Russell’s feature article about Thanksgiving in this issue. It’s a true story about religious convictions, bravery, suffering, perseverance, and faith. God uses stories like that to teach us and transform us. It’s why Bob used this and a story about his grandson Charlie in his article, and it’s why I often remind our writers
September 1, 2022
The Church’s Identity Issue
By Michael C. Mack Never has our culture been more perplexed about how to answer the seemingly simple question, “Who am I?” It’s hardly a surprise: The more the world drifts from the Creator, the more people struggle with their identity. We lose our sense of who we are when we forget whose we are. Satan is complicit, of course, in this case of identity theft. In this issue, we address various matters of identity today. Our writers look at identity biblically, speaking truth in love, with a positive, humble attitude. And we hope our readers will have a similar
How God Plans to Make America (and All Nations) Great Again
Many American churchgoers are asking: “When will God bring revival to this nation and restore our Christian foundations?” The desire for a country based on Christian morality and for revival is not unlike the concern in Jesus’ day for the restoration of Israel, its freedom, and economic prosperity. . . .
July 1, 2022
Health: Give Careful Attention!
By Michael C. Mack Why are we committing an entire issue to health? Because health begets growth, good fruit, and reproduction for God’s people, our families, our churches, and the future of our movement. (Of course, unhealthy things can also grow, bear fruit, and multiply, but we don’t want them to!) We all desire health in the various arenas of our lives, but we may not be very mindful of it . . . until something happens and our health is jeopardized. I know what I’m talking about. In October 2021, I was mountain biking with a friend in Brown
December 28, 2021
My December Memory and a Big Life Lesson
It's been 50 years since I spent 3 weeks in the hospital after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In the intervening years, one thing I've learned is that my diabetes is temporary, just like all the bad circumstances of this life.
November 1, 2021
Restoring the Power of Pentecost
By Michael C. Mack Every day you and I face many challenges, and biggest of them all may be how we choose to perceive them. As the apostle Paul put it, we can fix our eyes on what is seen or what is unseen, on what is temporary or what is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). Our perspective makes an incalculable difference in our lives and, by extension, the lives of those around us. How you view the articles in this issue will make a difference, too. A main theme for this issue is missions. One article describes how COVID-19 is
September 1, 2021
Why Are Christian Leaders Falling?
Why are so many Christian leaders falling? In a blog post on Crosswalk.com, pastor, professor, and writer James Emery White suggests three explanations: the celebration of ability over character, an eradication of accountability, and the fact that leaders today are often put on a pedestal and believe the press reports about themselves. White’s assessment seems accurate, but I believe there’s a deeper cause underneath these reasons. It’s a heart issue (see Matthew 15:8, 18-19; Ephesians 4:18; etc.) and a sovereignty issue. For many years in my teaching and one-on-one discipleship I’ve used a graphic developed by Campus Crusade for Christ,
June 14, 2021
Words
Our words have the power to build up or tear down. Yet words can also be the healing agent God uses to bring reconciliation, rebirth, revival, and restoration. We need more of these healing words in every arena of our lives and ministries.
March 15, 2020
God’s Word Achieves Its Purpose
By Michael C. Mack We believe God’s Word “is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). We believe it goes out from God’s mouth and will not return to him empty but will accomplish what he desires and achieve the purpose for which he sent it (Isaiah 55:11). We also believe it is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). We are a people devoted to God’s Word. We stand on the Bible alone, and not on human creeds, human opinions, or
February 22, 2020
Church Tech without the Technobabble
By Michael C. Mack Most of us know the value of using modern technology for both personal and church use, but some of us—especially those of us over a certain age (and I’m uncertain what that certain age is anymore)—simply don’t have the expertise to use it well. Truth is, we’re afraid we’ll bumble the technological language well before we bumble the technology itself. I’ve experienced this while trying to talk to a 20-something wisenheimer at Best Buy. I stand there with a blank look on my face as he lays down some impressive technobabble. Just tell me which watch
February 19, 2020
Church Tech without the Technobabble
By Michael C. Mack Most of us know the value of using modern technology for both personal and church use, but some of us—especially those of us over a certain age (and I’m uncertain what that certain age is anymore)—simply don’t have the expertise to use it well. Truth is, we’re afraid we’ll bumble the technological language well before we bumble the technology itself. I’ve experienced this while trying to talk to a 20-something wisenheimer at Best Buy. I stand there with a blank look on my face as he lays down some impressive technobabble. Just tell me which watch
