What if Modern Missional Celebrity Pastors Had Existed in the Early Church?
A satire
I‘ve often wondered what it would have sounded like if they’d had the modern “missional” celebrity pastors in the early church, and how they would have handled issues like Roman pressure to compromise on the Lordship of Christ or the exclusivity of Christianity. I sense it might have gone something like this: Archaeologists working in... Continue Reading
When Facts Offend
The world has made it clear that even if we work to make accommodations, to agree to disagree, and to attempt to coexist with the modern world, none of it will be good enough.
Several weeks ago, a lesbian couple in Gosport, England, took their son to St. Mary’s Anglican Church to be baptized. The retired Rev. Gebaur was officiating services while the parish looked for a new priest and expressed a willingness to perform the baptism. All seemed well until the Rev. asked the couple who “the mother”... Continue Reading
A New Direction – An Alternative to the Boys Scouts
Organizers of a Christian alternative to the Boy Scouts unveil their program
“First of all, we’re not an anti-BSA organization,” Stemberger said. “We’re not an anti-anything organization. We honor the legacy of the Boy Scouts of America and the contributions it has made to us and our families. The men and boys we have left behind are not our opponents. They are our brothers and our friends.... Continue Reading
Distractions from Orthodoxy
As a distinct institution, the church proclaims, preserves, and propagates special revelation-what God has revealed in Scripture
How many missionaries, home or foreign, might have been sent out with the monies expended to study such issues as women in the military or the length of the creation days? Vigorous, informed theological discussion is healthy for the church, and I have myself participated in it from time to time. But not every discussion... Continue Reading
Missional or Confessional
Spiritual gifts and missiology in a post-Christian context based on 1 Peter
In the evangelical and reformed world, there is often a wedge driven between so called emerging missional churches that preach a “go and be” message and confessional ordinary means of grace churches that have a “come and see” philosophy. These two entrenched camps usually end up launching grenades at each other across the theological divide... Continue Reading
FBC Oxford, Miss., Members Apologize For 1968 Vote Banning Black Members
In July, the First Baptist congregation approved the apology, over 600 members voting in favor and only four against
“There was kind of this collective decision to forget,” Hankins said. “The question is, ‘What is our responsibility for the past?’ Sure it happened a long time ago, before we were here, but it was still hurtful and sinful. It was clearly wrong and needed to be put right.”… As they strategized over how to... Continue Reading
Christus Victor Revisited
The Christus Victor theme is being presented by some as an alternative to the substitutionary view of the atonement
As Christians we are redeemed from both the guilt of sin and the power of sin. It seems to me that we desperately need theological language that enables us not only to describe that glorious transition from wrath to grace in justification, but also to denominate the sanctifying transformation that takes place within us, and... Continue Reading
Ignoring Wisdom Puts the Great “I” in Charge
Even small things need to be done with wisdom
Before Dr. Fletcher left the exam room he stopped, turned his head, looked at me and said emphatically, “If you remove wallpaper or paint again you need to use a mask.” Two weeks later I scraped, caulked and painted the last room in the house that needed painting and I wore a mask. I did... Continue Reading
Walk in My Shoes: Reformed Means White, But It Doesn’t Have To
Walk in my shoes for a moment to see my identify with the reformed minority
As one of almost fifty African-American pastors in a pool of thousands in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), I remain because I believe Presbyterianism—as defined historically and in the Westminster Standards—is the most accurate representation of what we read in the Bible. Therefore, I am committed. Will I still experience growing pains? Yes! But... Continue Reading
Regent University President Stepping Down; Carlos Campo Succeeded Founder Pat Robertson
President Carlos Campo leaving Regent University immediately
Spokeswoman Mindy Hughes said Regent’s Board of Trustees will “consider the matter” of Campo’s successor soon. Campo came to Regent from the College of Southern Nevada, where he was interim vice president of academic affairs. He previously served as the college’s dean of arts and letters and director of academic partnerships. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.... Continue Reading