Ministries — Page 29

Christian Lawyers And Doctors Need Not Apply

It has become a scary time to be a Christian professional in Canada

Written by Albertos Polizogopoulos | Tuesday, January 27, 2015

“This direct attack on Christian lawyers is meant to create a chilling effect in the legal profession. Lawyers who work for law firms seeking to do business with these corporations will hesitate, and perhaps even be barred from voicing their religious and moral beliefs, or for acting for religious clients in human rights cases dealing... Continue Reading

Buyer Beware: The Value of Near-Death Accounts

Religious hucksterism is not a new phenomenon. From Sinclair Lewis’ Elmer Gantry to televangelist Jim Bakker to some proponents of the Prosperity Gospel, fictional and real life examples abound.

Written by Gary S. Smith | Sunday, January 25, 2015

The colossal sales of books about near-death experiences attest that many people desire to go to heaven and are curious about what the afterlife will entail. Despite the revelation that Malarkey invented his son’s story, millions will undoubtedly continue to find near-death accounts to be captivating, inspiring, and reassuring. Nevertheless, for Christians, the teachings of... Continue Reading

Nine Observations About Announcements in Worship Services

To have or not to have announcements in the worship services?

Written by Thom Rainer | Sunday, January 25, 2015

Pastors also receive pressure from different groups and individuals to make certain their announcements are made. Most every church member has his or her own idea about priorities in the church. One pastor recently told me that a church member got mad at him because he did not announce that the member’s daughter was named salutatorian of... Continue Reading

Apologetics: Two Reasons Not to Use When Sharing Your Faith

Your experience of the living Jesus and the internal claims of Scripture may be true and meaningful–but, when it comes to showing your faith, neither one is particularly helpful.

Written by Timothy Paul Jones | Thursday, January 15, 2015

Do I believe the Bible to be God’s inspired Word? Certainly! But remember: the Christian faith is not only known but also shown. We’re called not only to know what we believe but also to be able to show reasons why our beliefs are true… When it comes to the people to whom we’re sharing the gospel, if the... Continue Reading

The Mormon View of Salvation: A Gospel That Is Truly Impossible

Salvation comes through Christ’s work on the cross; it’s about what He did for us. Mormonism places an oppressive burden squarely on what people must do.

Written by Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson | Thursday, January 8, 2015

Forgiveness of sins provides the Christian peace that passes all understanding. By using the approach we’ve presented here, you will be challenging the Mormon to explain why Christians should surrender their assurance of forgiveness for something that the Mormons only wish they had. A doorstep encounter with missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ... Continue Reading

What Would Jesus Say to Someone Like Leelah Alcorn?

What to say to a 17-year-old high school student who apparently committed suicide after a difficult journey with confusion over gender identity

Written by Garrett Kell | Tuesday, January 6, 2015

It is heart-wrenching to know that a young person was so overwhelmed with pain that their only response was to stop living. That should mean something. Whether you’re LBGT, Christian, liberal, conservative, religious or otherwise—we are humans and a tragedy like this should lead us to stop, weep, pray, and take notice. For me, it made me... Continue Reading

Whither Messianic Judaism?

American Messianics are mostly right-wing Evangelicals who honor Judaism in their worship and support Israel financially with an eye towards the End Times.

Written by Paul Spinrad | Tuesday, January 6, 2015

My unprovable, possibly far-out, but hopeful belief is that Jews will some day accept Messianic Jews as their own, and that this brave example will help inspire people all over the world to creatively re-think long-held categories and narratives in a conscious and positively transformative way. Jesus may or may not be personally involved in... Continue Reading