The Life & Doctrine Journal
Writings that explore theology, Christian living, and the times we live in — from a Reformed Baptist perspective, aiming to help believers think biblically and live faithfully in a fallen world.
When Faithfulness Doesn’t “Fix” Everything: Lessons from the Reformation Under Josiah
Many Christians—and especially many pastors—carry an unspoken expectation: if we are faithful to God, then God will surely bless our work in the way we hope. We often do not say it out loud, but the thought hides inside us: “If I preach faithfully, if I shepherd well,...
When Bad Discipleship Runs Deep: Why unhealthy formation is hard to undo—and how the gospel gives hope
Many of us assume that discipleship is always good. If a Christian is learning from a church, a book, a pastor, or a Bible study group, we think that must help them grow. But the Bible warns us that not all teaching produces healthy Christians. Not every habit formed...
When Truth Becomes a Burden: An Encouragement to South Africa’s Whistle-Blowers
There is a quiet courage in South Africa that rarely makes headlines. It is not the courage of crowds, marches, or elections. It is the courage of a person alone in an office late at night, staring at a document that reveals wrongdoing. It is the courage of picking up...
Playing Against Fourteen Men — and Playing With Fourteen Men
A Lesson for the Christian Life I grew up hearing stories from my father, who was once a soccer player and later became a coach. One of his favourite sayings has stayed with me for many years. He used to tell his team, “We do not train only to face the eleven players...
Lessons from My Pentecostal Church Roots
I grew up in a Pentecostal church. From my early Sunday school days until my early twenties, that was the only church life I knew. Leaving that church was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It wasn’t because I stopped believing in the gospel—actually, it was...
The Most Deadly Heresy in South African Baptists Today
Have you ever looked around in your community and wondered why our country seems full of churches, yet still full of corruption, broken families, and violence? Why is it that we have so many people calling themselves “born again,” but so little evidence of new life?...
Struggling Black Pastors in South Africa
Faithfulness, Contentment, and Practical Wisdom in Ministry Many black pastors across South Africa know what it means to struggle. Whether you serve in a rural village, a township, or even in an urban or suburban church, ministry can be hard — not only spiritually and...
The Heel That Cannot Heal: The Achilles’ Heel of African Traditional Religion
In ancient Greek legend, there was a warrior named Achilles. He was said to be strong, brave, and nearly invincible. But there was one problem — a small weakness in his heel. During battle, an arrow struck that very spot, and the great warrior fell. His strength could...
When Blame Is Easy: Christianity, Apartheid, and South Africa’s Moral Responsibility
In South Africa, conversations about our past are never simple. Many white South Africans today will quickly blame communism for the troubles of the present — past Cold War pressures, the influence of neighboring states, or even global political movements that opposed...
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Siyabulela Zalabe
Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ through preaching and writing that glorifies God, builds up His church, and calls all people to faith and repentance.