Already & Not-Yet
We may speak of the kingdom of God – the rule and reign of Christ – as being already here, but not yet come in its fullness.
There is a real danger of falling into one of the ditches on either side of the road when it comes to our understanding of the coming of the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God was inaugurated at Christ’s first coming and will be consummated at His second coming. Living between these two epiphanies,... Continue Reading
Why San Francisco’s City Church Is Wrong About Sex
San Francisco's evangelical City Church will no longer require members to abstain from homosexual practice, so long as the homosexual activity occurs in the context of marriage.
Although the City Church letter appeals to Jesus’ mission to outcasts as a basis for jettisoning a male-female requirement for marriage, it is difficult to claim that the Jesus we encounter in Scripture would have countenanced homosexual sex in the context of a “marriage.” Jesus appealed to the two-sexes requirement for marriage (and thus for... Continue Reading
A Brief History Of Covenant Theology
The roots of Reformed covenant theology are as deep as the Christian revelation and tradition is old.
It is clear that, through the 20th century, the great consensus which had been sustained since the Reformed covenant theology since the 1520’s has fragmented. The causes seem to be three: The influence of Barth, even among confessional theologians has been greater than many recognize. Second, in reaction to Modernity, many have become practical fundamentalists,... Continue Reading
Do Churches Practice Age Discrimination in Hiring Pastors and Staff?
Age is important. But it should not be everything.
I am seeing many churches experiencing difficulty finding pastors and other staff that meet their criteria. The solution could be in looking at candidates who just might be younger or older than they originally anticipated. Don’t be surprised if you find some outstanding candidates either younger or older than you expected. It’s a simple... Continue Reading
Presbytery Finally Pays Church The Sanctions Imposed On It By Civil Court
It took two years, but the Presbytery of South Louisiana has finally paid $390,000 in sanctions
“The church had been in the process of selling its property to its contiguous neighbor, The Stuart Hall School for Boys, when the presbytery tried to block the sale by asserting that the denomination – not the church – owned the property. The court ruled in favor of the local church, as did the Louisiana... Continue Reading
The Problem of Evangelicalism’s Unstated Confessions
Evangelicals often have at best very minimal doctrinal statements and a range of other, often confessionally unstated, cultural concerns which guide policy.
If evangelicalism is to have long term theological stability, it needs to learn from churches with properly elaborate confessions and catechisms. That will involve a major culture shift which might well cost its current leadership significant power and indeed money. A movement built on broad-based networks of churches and parachurch organizations will inevitably fragment when... Continue Reading
Cuba Witnessing Christianity Boom as Bible Copies Pour Into Communist-Ruled Country
Last month, some 83,000 copies of the Bible poured into the country
“With a population of 11 million, a literacy rate of nearly 100 percent and an unprecedented growth in Christianity thanks to social, economic and political reforms, many Cubans are seeking guidance and hope found in God’s Word,” the American Bible Society said in a statement. “As a result of this unprecedented spiritual and cultural shift,... Continue Reading
10 Descriptors of Bad Teachers and Bad Leaders
Perhaps not surprisingly, I’ve seen that some of the characteristics of bad teachers and bad leaders are the same.
Their Christian walk is debatable. That is, some who know them best question the depth of their walk with God – primarily because the leaders they are in public are not always the people they are in private. Needless to say, this problem is, among all these listed here, the most serious one for Christian... Continue Reading
The Local Pastor’s Special Joys
Reflecting on what I miss about being a pastor of a local congregation.
Gently Caring for the Lambs. One thing I have noticed, that a wise minister would do well to pay close attention to, is how children in a congregation desire a special bond with their pastor. For week after week, they see the pastor representing the Lord to them as he brings the Word to them,... Continue Reading
The PCA’s South Florida Presbytery Deposes Tullian Tchividjian from Ministry
The South Florida Presbytery voted to depose Tullian Tchividjian at its August 11, 2015 meeting.
“While Pastor Tullian Tchividjian was deposed of his pastoral credentials, the South Florida Presbytery is committed to continuing to offer him pastoral care. Our goal in doing this is to both protect the integrity of the Church from which his credentials were given while, at the same time, wrapping Tullian in the grace offered by... Continue Reading
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