“Pentecostalism – whatever else it is – is a religion of the extraordinary and the new.  Its leaders at times find the pursuit of the exciting to be exhausting.  (Interestingly, Charles Grandison Finney, the apostle of excitement, warned in his Lectures on Revival that excitement long continued would be destructive.)”   In 1926 Aimee Semple... Continue Reading

Although Laurie’s ordination has no standing, the ceremony was timed in advance of expected votes on sexuality and marriage. Votes will be held over the coming two weeks at the denomination’s Portland gathering, while LGBT activists hope to elevate the issue. The United Methodist Church has experienced increasing instances of ecclesiastical disobedience with respect to... Continue Reading

To situate church membership in our thinking as one welcome facet of our lives or a compelling option among a myriad of others, makes a mockery of the elective love of God, the redeeming work of Christ, and the gospel’s hegemonic scope. The gospel does not add the church to our priority list; it subjects... Continue Reading

“The Court’s decision could also empower other municipalities to take a closer look at tax-exempt properties in their own jurisdictions as possible cash cows. Other religious organizations in Massachusetts are monitoring the case, fearful that their own assets could be the next targets for taxation.”   Property-tax battles are rarely sexy. But a case now... Continue Reading

“It is a real pleasure as a pastor to recommend Ken Golden’s new book from Christian Focus, Presbytopia: What it means to be Presbyterian.  In this short volume, Ken provides the reader with the basics of the membership classes at his own church, an Orthodox Presbyterian congregation in Iowa.”   Church membership – that formal,... Continue Reading

“The temptation to treat worship as something casual is great. As part of our weekly activity, it lends itself to being treated as common and routine. We easily go through the motions, sing the songs mindlessly, and get our worship attendance card punched. May it never be. We are on holy ground. As we attend... Continue Reading

Restoration teams—equipped with manuals to instruct the church on how to reinstate its fallen pastor—wait like tow truck drivers on the side of the highway, anticipating the next leadership “accident.” Grace Community Church, where I pastor, has received inquiries wondering if it has written guidelines or a workbook to help in restoring fallen pastors to... Continue Reading

From the shroud of Turin, to the crying Mary statues, to the Holy steps, all with great power to dispense forgiveness of sins, but none of them can do what four doors in the city of Rome can do every 25 years. If you walk through them in this year of 2016 you are promised... Continue Reading

“All 15 people who signed the open letter are members of the national church’s New York Conference, a region that encompasses New York City, Long Island and part of Connecticut. Methodist leaders in that jurisdiction have previously rebelled against the church’s policy by announcing they would not consider sexual orientation when evaluating candidates for clergy.”  ... Continue Reading

So here is the bottom-line: for the Christian and the Christian pastor, the way down is the way up. Like our Master himself, any exaltation from God will come through humility and service (Phil 2.3-12). Remember John the Baptist, “He must increase, but I must decrease.”   In recent years there have been many public... Continue Reading