Where Preferences Go To Die
If a church doesn't teach sound doctrine, preferences don't matter, since one's soul is at risk.
“I’m convinced many of our problems with the church result from running away from difficult or uncomfortable situations rather than persevering through them. Since we don’t enjoy facing our fears or finding ourselves in challenging circumstances, the thought of escape brings great comfort.” I love my church. Without question it’s a community unified in... Continue Reading
On Scripture Regulated Worship
It is on the ground of this robust understanding of the authority of the Word of God that we assert that Christian churches must follow the worship of God regulated by God.
“We deny that God desires or is pleased by innovation in matters of faith. We deny that silence from God’s Word on the circumstances of worship renders them amoral, or their implementation a matter of indifference.” We affirm that the worship of God is regulated through his Word. Innovation, however well intentioned, is “will... Continue Reading
It’s Not Just Sabbatarians Who Need Sabbath
Sometimes I think my fellow Baptists may have been just a little too reckless in abandoning the pattern of six days followed by one day.
“It has always fascinated me that God chose to rest. He worked six days, creating the heavens and the earth and everything that would fill them. And then he, the God who never grows weary, chose to rest. He took sabbath. Why would he do this? Why would the all-powerful God rest?” I grew... Continue Reading
Gay Advocacy May Split Church of England From Ugandan Church
The Church of Uganda is prepared to walk apart from the Church of England if the Church of England does not respect the African church’s views on sin and sexuality.
“He added the Western church appeared unaware of their double mindedness. “Many people have spiritual blindness but let us not mix issues. One hundred and thirty six years ago, the Church of England sent graduates from Oxford University to Africa to evangelise. America is a super power built on Christian principles… but in all this... Continue Reading
You’re Going to Die (and So Might Your Dreams)
It’s possible that God’s plan for us is littleness
Are we pursuing our own greatness or the expansion of worship of Jesus Christ? They aren’t necessarily incompatible, but God is more interested in the latter than the former. And ultimately, if we prioritize Christ’s glory, we won’t really care in the long run how noticed, renowned, recognized, or “successful” we are personally. We’ll realize... Continue Reading
The Heart of Hypocrisy
Four examples of hypocrisy from Luke 12
In Luke 12, we are given four examples of hypocrisy from the teaching of Jesus. All of them point back to verse 2 which says, “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” In other words, Jesus is saying that you cannot hide what is inside your... Continue Reading
Offense to the Establishments
When the church finds herself sitting at the top table with the politicians, academics, the sportsmen and the pop-stars, it is virtually certain that she has abandoned the way of the cross.
He calls the outcasts and the strangers into his family, and makes them his bride. He doesn’t summon us to build an empire, to change the education system while convincing the world of his sovereignty, and to clean out the music industry for his glory. He calls us to worship and he calls us to... Continue Reading
The 3 Tenses of the Gospel
We never get past the gospel.
Why, then, does the New Testament speak of salvation in three tenses? The answer lies in considering what happens in salvation. Initially, at the point of regeneration, our sins are forgiven— entirely and completely. We have been delivered from sin’s penalty. Through faith, we are reckoned to be righteous—as righteous as Christ is. Then, there... Continue Reading
A Preaching Confession
I feel guilty admitting I want to win more souls, like a barren woman wanting children but ashamed to let others know.
It is hard to confess that I have not been earnest enough in praying for conversions through preaching, believing souls will be converted by preaching, and calling people to Christ when preaching. To do this is an admission of defeat. Spurgeon says that the Lord hides much of our fruit to keep us humble and... Continue Reading
A Mother’s Ordeal – One Woman’s Fight Against China’s One-Child Policy
A review of a book on the tragedy of China's one-child policy
This book is hard to read; it’s callous and brutal and disgusting. The horror of Chi An’s “profession” comes to life in the chapter entitled “The Little-Boy-Who-Wouldn’t-Die.” A young girl, at full term, was forced to abort her baby. One doctor, then another, plunged formaldehyde into the baby’s brain in the birth canal, but still... Continue Reading