In the previous post, I discussed the first, great Christian heresy, the heresy of Judaizing. This theological error, made by many in the earliest days of the Christian faith, places the burden of the Mosaic law back onto the believer in God. It rejects the efficacy of Christ’s atonement on the cross for the sake of sinners, and seeks to reestablish a system of “works-righteousness,” or salvation through or by the Law. The form this heresy takes, or the names it... Read more
It is, or at least should be, a grave responsibility for every pastor, teacher and preacher of the Bible to not just be aware of heresies but to actively defend the apostolic and orthodox Christian faith against them. Unfortunately, one of the most lamentable realities in American Evangelicalism today is a woeful ignorance of Church History, especially early Church history. This causes a problem, for it was early in the life of the Church that God’s people encountered two essential... Read more
A popular worship song, entitled Make Room encourages believers to surrender, to sacrifice their own interests in the interest of the kingdom. The chorus contains these words: And I’ll make room for you To do whatever you want to Do whatever you want to. Make Room © Community Music, 2021 So many times, as believers we may be striving to glorify God and to build His kingdom. We often are consciously working for the things of heaven to come into... Read more
I recently was blessed with the opportunity to get away from daily life and spend a few days in Hawaii with my wife and some friends. We also took my mother-in-law who lives with us and who had never visited the islands. The weather was balmy, the water was warm, we went swimming and snorkeling, took a catamaran cruise, and generally relaxed and had an enjoyable time. As a Christian reflecting on the time we spent I was reminded of... Read more
Martyrdom is a notoriously misunderstood idea, at least in the Christian sense of the concept. Many today find the idea of martyrdom utterly distasteful. They either find it incredibly foolish, seeing it as a meaningless rejection of this world and the good things it offers. Or, alternatively, they find it very dangerous, in part for the same reasons, but also because of an aberrant version of martyrdom which entails the killing of others along with the annihilation of the self.... Read more
Across the country, especially on university campuses, Americans are witnessing a growing sympathy for what one could only call “barbarism,” and that in its most pristine form. Protests in favor not just of the Palestinian people, but of the radical Jihadist wing of Palestine, Hamas, have multiplied around the nation. For many, this is shocking. For others, it is a development to be welcomed. For a few of us, it is upsetting but also not surprising. In the end, however,... Read more
Disclaimer: It is not my usual policy to provide book reviews. In this case perhaps we could consider it more of a testimonial. I recently read and immediately re-read a book that has now been on my mind for a few months. This book was so challenging I had to put it down multiple times, take a few deep breaths, and gather my energy to press forward. I cried at several points. I stopped to pray almost every chapter. The... Read more
It may seem unfair to use a particular pastor as an example of a much larger and far more profound problem in American Evangelicalism today. However, without desiring to “pile on” Andy Stanley, as one popular theologian put it, Stanley’s recent event at his Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, provides too precise an example of a deeply rooted error to not use it as a illustrative case. The fact that Stanley’s conference affirming LGBTQ+ individuals and their relationships was... Read more
In late September, Pastor Andy Stanley hosted the Unconditional Conference at his church, Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, GA. This conference was organized by a group called Embracing the Journey, an organization characterized by the seemingly Christian values of teaching parents how to love and care for their LGBTQ+ children. The mission statement of Embracing the Journey reads as follows: To build bridges between LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and the church, not in spite of the bible but because of... Read more
Many Christians today are disillusioned by their efforts to know God. Many may wonder if it is even possible. It is something we talk about in Church or small group often, but we rarely discuss how we know God and what that means. We go through the motions…church, home group, read the Bible sometimes, pray sometimes. Yet this is not what knowing God means, nor are these small gestures of devotion enough for our souls to truly connect with the... Read more
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