life unbalanced.
learning to reorder loves, reorient attention, and respond to God
my story.
When I became a Christian, I was sure I loved Jesus, but I wasn’t so sure about His people. The more I interacted with other Christians—particularly those in leadership—the more I felt they wanted me to conform to a set of rules that seemed only loosely connected to Scripture. I wasn’t interested in trading the way I was already living for religious norms that felt just as empty—and far less fun.
Over time, through the encouragement of faithful Christians and years of academic study, I began to realize that being a Christian has little to do with adopting cultural conventions, whether evangelical or worldly. It has everything to do with living under the unqualified authority of Christ.
Today, I see how many Christians, leaders, and organizations try to fit Jesus into their agendas, interests, and priorities. But God does not fit into our lives—we fit into His. He becomes the reference point for everything we are and do. Living an unbalanced life means challenging cultural and religious assumptions, reorienting our attention toward God, and reordering our loves so that our lives become an expression of worship and loyalty to Him.
God’s people are not called to a way of life defined by influencers or cultural norms. We are called to ‘the way’ (John 14:6)—to Jesus Himself.
life unbalanced.
Unbalanced living isn’t chaos; it’s how we thrive under God’s authority in every moment.
By teaching on the Bible and theology, as well as evaluating modern-ay social, cultural, and political trends, James challenges Christians to remember they we don’t set God’s agenda—He sets ours.
Faith is not one part of life but the reality that shapes all we are and do. By rejecting the myths of balance and prioritization, I call Christians to an unqualified devotion to God by emphasizing the following concepts:
reordering: I encourage Christians to align their lives with patterns rooted in Scripture, reminding them that life is a unified act of worship.
reorienting: By considering the context of modern life—its distractions, constraints, and opportunities—I encourage Christians to reorient their attention to the Lord and live with a greater awareness of His presence.
responding: Faithful living begins by responding to God’s presence and authority rather than reacting to circumstances as if God is absent. This approach brings clarity and peace to decisions, relationships, and challenges.
my approach.
calm: Christians have nothing to fear and no need to be defensive. Living unbalanced means trusting in God’s promises, not bowing to cultural panic, fear-driven narratives, or the chaos of the moment.
thoughtful: Discernment requires a deliberate and diligent thought—a willingness to look “sideways” at situations and cultural trends. By examining issues from unexpected angles, I encourage Christians to see the world more clearly through the lens of Scritpure and theology.
theological: Christians don’t rely solely on human logic; we use theo-logic—an approach rooted in God’s Word and authority. This theological framework challenges us to test God through faithful obedience (Mal 3:10) and engage the world thoughtfully without conforming to its patterns.
grounded: Christians are not immune from life’s complexities and challenges. We can’t just “think.” We need to act. We need to embody our convictions in tangible, practical ways, immersing our everyday activities in the worship of God.
my work.
Throughout my career, I’ve been blessed to have opportunities to work as a biblical scholar, Christian leader, and consultant.
podcasts.
speaking.
articles.
courses.
books.
consulting.
what people are saying.
“I just wanted to let you know I read your article titled, ‘Is The United States Really Blessed By God?’ It is absolutely brillian! Can you please send it out ot every born-again believer on this planet? Never have I read an article filled with such truth. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I repeat: every believer should read this! It would change thier life!”
— J. Coleman, Reader response for “Is the United States Really Blessed by God”
“I spent time using James Spencer's framework to reflect more on how and why Christians think the way they do as well as how we need to adapt in the future. I definitely gained some new tools and lenses to mentor the next generation better. Thank you!”
— S. Postman, Amazon review of Thinking Chrstian: Essays on Testimony, Accountability, and the Christian Mind
“Dr. Spencer articulated some things for me that I have been unable to adequately express to others. I listened to the podcast twice, downloaded the transcript and ordered his book…Thank you for introducing me to another resource that will be very helpful as I seek to fulfill the purpose God has given me.”
— Don, Stand in the Gap Today Listener