When a Church Loses Confidence in the Gospel
It seems to me that churches and pastors are often-times pressed to change their biblical positions on issues like homosexuality, ordination of women, and the exclusivity of Christ out of a desire to better reach a rising generation or culture.
What is it within the context of daily ministry life in the local church that leads pastors to begin to question the veracity of what have been long-held tenets of Christian Orthodoxy? We have seen this theological interplay take place with other doctrines besides homosexuality and same sex marriage, such as Rob Bell’s questioning of... Continue Reading
Hudson Taylor’s Founding of the China Inland Mission
Hudson interviewed or corresponded with all of the main English missionary societies about the need to send workers to the unevangelized provinces of inland China.
Through the early months of 1865 Hudson sensed the Lord prompting him to establish a mission that would have as its objective the evangelization of the inland regions of China. Knowing the marked challenges, trials and responsibilities such an undertaking would entail, he hesitated. For weeks he wrestled with God about the decision. Do... Continue Reading
If Gospel Coalitions Can’t Unite, What about Social Gospels?
As much as critics might want to accuse defenders of the spirituality of the church of racism, they should actually consider that a reduced scope for Scripture and the church is much like classical liberalism
The church needs to do more than proclaim the gospel, conduct faithful worship, provide discipline, and care for widows and orphans (with 1 Tim. 5 scrutiny). How could Christianity ever make people go “wow” if the church restricted what it did to word, sacrament, and discipline (and let all the other agencies of a civil... Continue Reading
Church Massacre Shakes Central African Capital
Priest among 16 killed during Mass at Bangui Catholic church which suffered a similar attack in May 2014
The assailants started shooting at people who were outside the church because the building was too small and could not contain all the attendees. They also threw hand grenades. “We are all shocked, everybody is shocked,” said Moses. “We don’t understand why. Why to kill people who are praying—just innocent people who are praying?” ... Continue Reading
United Methodist Bishops Recommend a Way Forward
The majority of the Council recommends the One Church Plan as the best way forward for The United Methodist Church.
The One Church Plan allows for contextualization of language about human sexuality in support of the mission; and allows for central conferences, especially those in Africa, to retain their disciplinary authority to adapt the Book of Discipline and continue to include traditional language and values while fulfilling the vision of a global and multicultural church.... Continue Reading
Thinking Wrongly About Leadership
I do believe the church would be healthier if we spotted these problems and in shining the light on them finally got rid of them.
If our reading of 1 Timothy 3 leads us to believe that no one’s qualified or that almost everyone is qualified, we haven’t understood the passage. Paul wrote to Timothy with the full expectation that he would be able to find men like this in the churches he was serving. And he also wrote with... Continue Reading
The Preacher and Politics: Seven Thoughts
When preachers are quickly criticized for saying too much (you’re not gospel-centered!) or saying too little (you’re not woke!), it behooves us to think carefully about the relationship between pastoral ministry and politics.
Jesus is Lord, not Caesar. That’s a political statement. Every sermon touches on the polis, on the city of man, on our earthly citizenship. But that’s not what I have in mind, at least not entirely. What I mean by “politics” are the elections, the elected officials, the political parties, and the endless stream of policy... Continue Reading
Let’s Address Missionary Objections to Seminary
For me, seminary proved to be a formative experience in spite of common objections.
My wife and I always envisioned landing on the mission field straight out of college. But as we approached my senior year, I began to rethink our plans. For one, I didn’t feel grounded theologically. Second, I didn’t know if we were spiritually mature enough for the rigors of ministry overseas. I can still remember... Continue Reading
I Signed up for This
Generally speaking, there are two kinds of pastors' wives: those who know they are marrying into the ministry, and those who get adopted into the ministry.
There are those wives who marry men who never set out for the pastorate, but sometime early (or later) into their marriage, their husbands sense the call of God, enroll in seminary, and enter full-time ministry. Then there are the wives who marry men studying for the pastorate, knowing at the onset they will be... Continue Reading
Martin or Matteo?
A historical look at Protestant and Catholic poverty-fighting.
The different approaches of these two men with hearts for the poor are more than personal views. They reflect, five centuries after the Protestant Reformation, historically dueling evangelical and Catholic attitudes toward poverty. James Whitford, 48, founder and director of the Watered Gardens Gospel Rescue Mission in Joplin, tells stories of rescues from poverty.... Continue Reading
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