The Third Wave was marked by theological change. Leaders such as John Wimber and C. Peter Wagner no longer grounded healing in the atonement or tongues in Spirit baptism. Instead, they shifted the doctrinal basis for miraculous gifts toward inaugurated eschatology. On their view, the presence of the kingdom required the presence of kingdom authority,... Continue Reading

As someone who struggles with same-sex attraction I think it’s important to pray in two ways. First, “God give me a heart that wants what you want and forgive me for (intentionally or unintentionally) wanting what is not good.” Second, “Father, I long for the day that all my wants will align with yours, come... Continue Reading

Newsweek’s piece affords the church the opportunity to clarify what it believes and to learn what it does not yet know. At the same time, the response to this cover story also offers Eichenwald the chance to slow down, step back and discover a world he never knew existed. If Eichenwald wants to engage his... Continue Reading

This is not a stance unique to LGBTQ activists. In fact, it is one of the major assumptions in the contemporary political climate. Much of modern politics—right and left—operates with an impoverished, solipsistic definition of selfhood. The result is that we have lost the classic liberal balance between the constraints rooted in the concept of... Continue Reading

Nevertheless, this does not mean that analogies for the Trinity are unhelpful and inappropriate. We simply need to realize the limitations outlined above. In short, we must not press analogies. Instead, if we constantly remind ourselves, even in hyper-vigilance, that pressing any trinitarian analogy will lead to some form of heresy, then we can be... Continue Reading

In our day, there are countless counterfeit gospels, both inside and outside the church. Much of what is on Christian television and on the shelves of Christian bookstores completely obscures the gospel, thereby making it another gospel, which is no gospel whatsoever. English pastor J.C. Ryle wrote, “Since Satan cannot destroy the gospel, he has... Continue Reading

The great news is that God is the author of 2015. He knows each and every twist and turn that lay ahead both for you and for me. He has planned 2015 down to the minutest detail, all with the goal of his glory and our good. So when it comes to facing the new... Continue Reading

So, when so someone comes along with a slick plan that seems to make ministry that much more “rational” (that was a buzzword in government and business in the first half of the 20th century) it’s hard to resist. It’s something that elders, who might also be businessmen can understand and support. It seems to... Continue Reading

Ask him to deliver you and loved ones from sickness, anxiety, depression, fear, debt. Ask him to save your children and grandchildren, not only eternally, but from this world’s evils and things like bad decisions and the consequences of sins. Ask Jesus to deliver you from the coworker who harasses you. From anything that plagues... Continue Reading

Worry may be the most common sin among your “regular” folks in the church. Now, you may think that’s not very encouraging. “Great, I worry about everything. And now on top of my worrying I am going to feel bad about worrying and I am going to worry about that.” But be encouraged: If worry... Continue Reading