Reading Luther Not Wisely But Well: Part One
Luther's theology must be read against the background of his life story
I suspect that which was terror for him has lately become a marketing opportunity for others, that the closest some of his modern acolytes come to Anfechtungen is finding out that the release of the new iPhone has been delayed by a week. To adopt the aesthetics of the hipster or the stand-up comic and... Continue Reading
How to Prepare For Hostility
How will the church of Jesus Christ respond when the things that the church must believe are considered laughable, backwards, or worse?
It’s always been the case that Christianity has been derided by some. But now it’s not just people in far off Hollywood or in far away academia. It’s people next door. It’s the people you work with, the people you live with, the people you go to school with. How will the church of Jesus... Continue Reading
PCUSA Proposes Stricter Gun Control as a Gospel Imperative
The Second Amendment, according to the report, has created an idolatry of guns
Surely we can agree that gun violence is bad and that the church ought to instruct its members to obey the Sixth Commandment. The report, however, goes further to note “the church’s primary calling is to help people prepare for the possibility of a real spiritual awakening that can instigate a social movement.” Is this... Continue Reading
Marks of a True Church: Pure Preaching of the Gospel
Apart from the gospel preached, there is no church
To purely preach the gospel, a minister must preach that sinners are justified by the free grace of God alone, which is received through faith alone, which itself is a gift of God, and that this faith is placed in and rests on nothing except Jesus Christ the Righteous. Churches must see to it, in... Continue Reading
Why Young Churches Want Old Buildings
Protestants have had a low view of church buildings; over the past decade this has changed as churches grow to appreciate the role of art and beauty
A 2008 survey by LifeWay Research found that “unchurched adults”—those who hadn’t attended a church, mosque, or synagogue in the past six months other than for holidays or events—are more turned off to utilitarian buildings. More Americans prefer a medieval cathedral to a contemporary church building…the look of a Gothic cathedral was more likely to... Continue Reading
Retreat or Risk?
Jesus is worth risking everything for
As we stand at our Kadesh Barnea, we have a choice. We, too, can retreat into a wilderness of wasted opportunity. We can rest content in casual, convenient, cozy, comfortable Christian lives as we cling to the safety and security this world offers. We can coast through a cultural landscape marked by materialism, characterized by... Continue Reading
Preaching Tolerance
Does the Bible have something to say about the practice of tolerance within the church of Jesus?
Ultimately, we are called to love one another like Jesus loves us. If the way we live our lives hurts someone else, we have the freedom and power in Christ to change for their sake. Even if the way someone else lives their life is distasteful to us, we have the freedom and power in... Continue Reading
True Unity and the Value of Being Confessional
What is the purpose and value of holding to a 350 year-old Confession of Faith?
Unity is not just a word. It must be a reality in order to mean anything. In a Confessional church like the PCA, our unity is framed by our Confession and by our willingness to be in subjection to our brethren. If we will not set aside our personal views and preferences for the sake... Continue Reading
Intentionality: It’s Vertical Too
Using mature believers to instruct the youth
I have nothing against college or youth groups. In fact, I’ve heard many great things from such programs. As like-minded youth gather to hear the scriptures taught by a church leader, they are encouraged as they feel their issues are being addressed, edified by their peers whom they see as going through similar circumstances, and... Continue Reading
Missionaries Should Communicate—and Churches Should Demand It
Missionaries and prayers and givers have all been called by God to join together in the expansion of his glory
Churches and individual partners, you need to insist the missionaries you support are communicating with you. You are just as much a part of that ministry as the missionary in the field. Get passionate about your calling towards missions. Demand regular communication from your missionaries, but also take the initiative. Check in on them. Tell... Continue Reading
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