How Does a Pastor Deal with “Carnal Christians” in his Church?
How do we deal with this type of person in our churches? Those who profess Christ, but whose lives do not reflect it?
One of the greatest joys I have experienced is to watch church members converted. That may seem like a strange thing to say, but do not assume when you take a church all the members are converted. Preach the gospel for all those present. It will encourage the faithful saints, awaken the lost, and hopefully... Continue Reading
Daddy, Am I Really Forgiven?
If you are a Christian parent with young children, do you consider your children to be Christians?
You see, in my household, my children sin. They are very much like their parents, except I am more sophisticated at hiding it (unless I’m blogging or watching the World Cup). But after we sin, we aim to repent – “repentance is a saving grace” – and ask for forgiveness not only from each other,... Continue Reading
New Calvinism and Celebrity
It isn’t so much that the New Calvinism promotes celebrity as that the New Calvinism is Calvinistic celebrity-ism.
I’m sure I sound as though I’m banging the same old drum, but what is missing in all of this are the very sort of controls on pastoral ambition which characterize the Old Calvinism. On the one hand, New Calvinism lacks an established standard of doctrine by which the individual pastor’s preaching may be evaluated.... Continue Reading
Mars Hill Church’s Demon Trials
Mental Illness Considered Sign of Demonic Involvement Along with Pedophilia and Habitual Lying
To the degree that Mars Hill pushes this teaching, they are part of the problem identified in 2013 via research by Lifeway. Ed Stetzer at Lifeway reported that 48% of evangelicals believe prayer and Bible study alone can cure serious mental illness. In the case of Mars Hill, apparently prayer, Bible study and a demon... Continue Reading
Sin Is Cosmic Treason
Not until we take God seriously will we ever take sin seriously
even the slightest sin that a creature commits against his Creator does violence to the Creator’s holiness, His glory, and His righteousness. Every sin, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is an act of rebellion against the sovereign God who reigns and rules over us and as such is an act of treason against the cosmic King.... Continue Reading
“The Kingdom of Christ is Spiritual”: John Calvin and the Redemption of the Cosmos
For Calvin, the church, not civil government, is the focal point of the restoration that will one day encompass all creation
….Calvin’s differentiation between the church as Christ’s spiritual kingdom and the civil or political order. The former is the ministry of Christ by his word and Spirit, with its manifestations in teaching, the administration of the sacraments, and church discipline…. In contrast, civil government can only coerce outward or civil righteousness. Magistrates must submit to... Continue Reading
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America Synod Meeting: Report 4
The Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America Synod met June 23-27, 2014 in Marion, Ind.
The Associate Presbyterian Church (ARP) has invited the RPCNA to meet at Bonclarken Christian Conference Center during their 2015 meeting of Synod (the ARP and the RPCNA had parted ways in 1782). The main concern of the RPCNA with meeting with the ARP was the increased cost for this meeting … The ARP has graciously... Continue Reading
Pastor, Don’t Quit!
There is a discouraged pastor today who is reading this article. This is for you. Get back up. Don’t quit now.
It is no secret that many pastors contemplate quitting regularly. Being a pastor is incredibly difficult. Jesus never promised it would easy. But don’t quit. Ministry is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. It is not just one fall, but many consecutive falls until you finally learn your balance. It is not how you start... Continue Reading
The Anglican Church in North America Taps Atlanta Bishop Foley Beach As New Leader
The Anglican Church in North America elects a bishop from Atlanta to become the church’s next leader
The Rt. Rev. Foley Beach, who currently oversees ACNA’s Diocese of the South, was elected June 21 to succeed Archbishop Robert Duncan, the former Episcopal bishop of Pittsburgh who has served as ACNA’s founding archbishop. Beach was elected archbishop after a three-day conclave at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pa., east of Pittsburgh. He will serve... Continue Reading
Canada: Schools Axe ‘He’ And ‘She’ In Favour Of ‘Xe’
"xe, xem and xyr" will be used instead of "he or she", "him or her", and "his or hers"
Suggesting a possible alternative to xe (pronounced “zee”), National Post’s Kelly McParland wrote: “The British long ago began using the term ‘one’ – as in ‘one does wish for a glass of water’ to get around this problem, but it’s viewed as a bit cold and snooty, and therefore undesirable.” Some schools in Vancouver... Continue Reading