Reformed. Christianity. Evangelism. Modern Culture.
I have a riddle. This section of discussion is found some where in the blogosphere. With no clues (what so ever) as to who is being discussed I would like you to read with an open mind. Then I will ask you a question at the end. He is…
… a self-styled “bishop”—notorious for his love of money, who teaches a false prosperity gospel, who freely shills for every aberration on TBN, who was ordained in a Sabellian denomination, who has been confronted repeatedly about his anti-trinitarianism, who refuses to renounce modalism, who declines to embrace any standard expression of Trinitarian conviction, and who (on top of all that) is unclear on practically every doctrine germane to the gospel …Read More!
Every generation has its wild eyed enthusiast who grabs hold of the coat tails of a principle and swings the tides of history. Wow! Can I ever stop blushing after hearing what Steven Furtick has ushered into evangelicalism? Yup, even Charles Finney would not have come up with such an ingenius idea. The best Finney did was to leave us with introduction of altar calls. (Okay yes, plus crumbs in decisional regeneration in his classic sermon “Sinners bound to change their own hearts”). But this goes even further. Spontaneous baptisms! My jaw dropped down to my ankles in amazement when I read that…
At Elevation Church in the summer of 2011, we saw one of the most audacious acts in the history of this church.
We believe in baptism at Elevation Church, and we believe every person who has made a decision to follow Christ should be baptized. And to give as many people the opportunity to get baptized, we decided to spontaneously baptize people. We provided an opportunity to get baptized… on the spot.
We baptized 2,158 people over 2 weekends. It was unbelievable. It was audacious.
If you’d like to find out more of what we did to make the baptisms a success, we’ve made everything available to you to download for free right here.[Editor: Link removed by a hater! Possibly a Calvinist!] …Read More!
I came across this picture and it just reminded me of two preacher’s kids. No, not just ordinary preacher’s kids – mega church preacher’s kids. Yup, that elite successful echelon of accomplished MOGs (Men of God). What are their squabbles like?
I know what you are thinking. Exactly!
On a lighter note: I came across this witty chart and I still haven’t stopped rolling on the floor laughing. (ROFL for you tweeters who use 140 characters or less). See what you make of it:
[HT Zwinglius Redivivus]
It’s out. It’s all over the internet. The award winning documentary is free to watch. It’s the “180” movie. And here it is:
What dya t’ink then?
Hooray! Hooray! It’s here! The ultimate pew is out now!
Terms and conditions: A word of caution to you sleepy heads and …Read More!
This bit of news will make Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield and John Owen spin in their graves. The land in which they joyously preached the Word of God seems to have lapsed into “intolerance”. Wait a minute, who is being intolerant? You be the judge:
Police in Lancashire have told the owner of a Christian café to stop displaying Bible texts on a video screen, because it breaches public order laws. …Read More!
On lighter note: What are the odds that a falling satellite will kill you? Probably zero — but your car may not be safe. Lol.
If you glean your moral precepts from newspapers surveys, here is a little something for you…
Couples who live together before getting married could be behind the falling divorce rate, research suggests.
Researchers believe the large rise in girlfriends and boyfriends cohabiting could be acting as a ‘firewall’ stopping unstable relationships deteriorating and ending in divorce years later. …Read More!
I dont know if this news is going to make you squirm or breakdance but Alabama authorities think one can have their cake and it it too. Well…
BAY MINETTE, Ala. – Authorities say non-violent offenders in Bay Minette, Ala. now have a new choice: Go to jail, or go to church every Sunday for a year. …Read More!
Well, some of you usually imagine that when you go to church to meet with your pastor there’s going to be some good ol’ bible study. If you are a member of Guts church its alittle different…..
TULSA, Oklahoma — Former Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker George Clinkscale died Wednesday night after participating in an unsanctioned amateur boxing match held at Guts Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The fights are targeted to young adults 18 – 30 years old, and promoted online as part of their “Sub 30” ministry.
GUTS held Wednesday’s match in the parking lot and promoted it with billboards, but it passed under the radar of the state authorities who oversee amateur boxing. …Read More!
It is always good to get involved in meaty theological discussion that challenges you to read more of the bible and flex your spiritual muscles. Imagine the excitement when one pastor went to meet up with his study class and found this question being discussed. Well I will let him tell the story….
Recently, in a leadership training class at our church, a spirited discussion broke out on whether sanctification is monergistic or synergisitic. No, this is not what every class is like at University Reformed Church. But this one was. I wasn’t there, but I was told the discussion was energetic, intelligent, and respectful. I’m glad to serve at a church where people know and care about this level of theological precision. …Read More!
Today I was reading Loraine Boettner’s classic book The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination (1932). Well, it wasn’t the first time I was tucking into it. It has always (okay over the last 2 years) been one of my favorite books. At this point I look at my small library and immediately shudder (yeah, its a very small library these days after I got rid of my word of faith, prosperity and purpose driven rubble).
So, who was Loraine Boettner? Where do we begin? Well…
Loraine Boettner
Loraine was born March 7th 1901 in Linden Missouri. He lived with his family; his father being a Christian school superintendent and his mother a housewife. Loraine attended his father’s church until he was 18. Then he joined his mother’s church–the Centennial Methodist Church; his mother was of a different denominational background than his father. …Read More!
Much as some would like to impress us with figures of how the Evangelical church is doubling in size and mega churches are springing up with exciting sermon series and drawing young people in droves, it is good to sit back and take stock. So, is the gospel being preached? You see…
Excite them with edgy or racy sermon series?
A regrettable development in current evangelicalism is that the term “gospel” is often used in a way that lacks the content of the gospel as preached by Christ and His apostles. Today we hear, “come to Jesus and have a better marriage,” or “come to Jesus and find purpose in life,” or “come to Jesus and He will solve your economic or emotional problems.” None of these statements is the gospel. First of all, do the hearers of this weak message know who Jesus is? Perhaps some are Mormons who claim to believe in Jesus, but have a different Jesus. Secondly, do those who hear this message know what Jesus did for them? Maybe they hear that Christ died on the cross; but why? …Read More!
I have always thought if a son shall asks for bread a father wouldn’t give him a stone. Or if he asks for fish, he wouldn’t be given a serpent. Or furthermore if he shall asked for an egg, he wouldn’t be offered a live scorpion. Well who needs enemies when you have friends who give you unusual gifts like these? You see…
Children in Somalia
Over the weekend, a Somali radio station run by the Shabab, the most powerful Islamist militant group in the war-ravaged country, held an awards ceremony to honor children who were experts at Shabab trivia and at reciting the Koran. The prizes? Fully automatic assault rifles and live hand grenades.
The contest itself was held during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and featured …Read More!
Some times when you see something every day, over and over you get desensitised to it. Like that nude advert that is played every twenty minutes purporting to sell a body spray or chewing gum, you slowly and gradually believe its acceptable and rationalise that its permissible as long as your lust that it fuels is a “victimless crime”. A polish photographer, Maciej Dakowicz, 34, decided to capture nocturnal scenes of the streets of Britain and entered the collection in a photo exhibition. Well…
They look like images you might find in some depressing police dossier. Here, in vivid detail, is a squalid portrait of binge-drinking Britain. Some of the more incapacitated specimens are in mid-vomit. A few have simply passed out.Tequila-fuelled young women strike crude poses that will (or should) mortify them in the sober light of day. More worryingly, one or two are unconscious on the pavement, dangerously vulnerable in their pathetic state.
The scenes were all captured in …Read More!
With the tongue firmly planted in cheek…
Well on a lighter note, here is an astounding true story of a pet (yet again) and it’s owner. No, it’s not about Balaam and the talking donkey. But close though. You see…
(Reuters) – A pet rabbit is being credited for saving its owners from a house fire in southeastern Alaska before it died of smoke inhalation, fire officials said on Friday.
The rabbit woke up the homeowner early on Tuesday morning by …Read More!
Hey if you haven’t reached New Jersey you should leave what you are doing and head there now! It doesnt matter if you are a Muslim, Atheist, Christian, Agnostic or Sikh in a very humble and anonymous very very public show of charity apparently….
Calling it a “spiritual stimulus,” leaders of a New Jersey church say they will be giving away $30,000 in cash during church services on Sept. 25 to everyone in attendance. …Read More!
At an open-air gospel event, at Cerritos College. A student by the name of Jason stood up to address the crowd. Jason, a supposed professing Christian, began to preach a false gospel of “God has a wonderful plan for your life.” What you will see in this video are two very different messages as Tony Miano corrects Jason in love.
The usual way of arguing against one of the doctrines of grace is first, to misrepresent it so badly that no serious student of the Scripture would ever embrace it; then totally demolish it with arguments that have nothing at all to do with the issue. You have heard these straw man arguments before. Now we shall boldly look at them and debunk them one straw at a time. Some say the doctrine of total depravity (inability) cannot be true because:
1. The Bible teaches that all are responsible to believe and repent.
2.The Bible teaches that man has a will (choice). Man is not a robot or a puppet.
3. Every man does not act as sinfully as he is capable of acting.
4. Even wicked men perform acts which are good in the sight of other people.
Well…
1. The Bible teaches that men, controlled by a sinful nature, are not able to believe or repent. The person who believes in free grace has no argument with the truth that sinners are responsible. …Read More!
We live in a time and age where alot passes for Christianity that the early church would outrightly have called heretical or even pagan. A cross-sectional look at the state of the pulpit shows…
Churches today are suffering spiritually, both because of false doctrine and because of other doctrine, that is, ideas and activities which are far removed from God’s revealed will. So much of what we hear from modern Christian ministries is not necessarily wrong in itself, but a distraction from the core of the apostolic message, and to the degree it diverts us from the most important truths, it really is “contrary to sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 1:10). Ironically, in the name of relevance, Christian pulpits and presses and media spew forth many things completely irrelevant to the nature of God and man, the plight of sinners without Christ, and the way of salvation through Him. …Read More!
Every so often its good to look back and see what God has done and praise Him for his providence but more so for the spread of the gospel of redemption from sin. I am always over whelmed with compassion for the missionaries who leave their comfortable lives and trudge on to remote mountains in South America or track down primitive tribes in unknown jungles in uncharted territories to preach the gospel. In the same breath, there has always been wisely devised fables and tales that some preachers would like to spread in the name of the gospel. Truth is some of the tales and snake oil being tauted is so alluring and excitable that these teachers easily amass crowds and followings. It is deplorable and nauseating. Such preachers have their reward and surely God will not take this lightly on that great and fateful day when He calls them to account for their deeds. [This is an archive story from reuters.] See what you make of it:
SOWETO, South Africa – “Jesus wants you to drive a brand new Nissan Navara 4×4. He’d also like you to live in a classy house, use the latest cell phone and wear the snappiest designer clothes.” Read More
What are the common straw man arguments against Predestination also called the doctrine of God’s fore knowledge or Unconditional Election? It is argued that the doctrine of “Unconditional Election” cannot be true because:
1. Anyone who wants to be saved, can be. “Whosoever will May come.”
2. God does not delight in the destruction of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11), but desires that all men repent.
3. We should preach the gospel to everyone. If God has only planned to save some, why should we preach to and pray for all?
4.”Election” and “predestination” are terms contrived by the Calvinists to cause confusion, bring division, and excuse a lack of evangelistic zeal (The issue is whether election ever took place or not).
Well lets tackle each of these issues one straw at a time:
1. The true believer in free grace will never deny that God has extended a free offer of mercy, in Christ, to all who hear the Gospel. To deny that “Whosoever will may come,” is to deny the clear teaching of God’s Word. The real issue, however, is whether any will desire salvation (in God’s way and on God’s terms) unless God gives him that desire (Psalm 14:1-3; Romans 3:11; Psalm 58:3-5; John 3:14-21, 5:40). …Read More!
On his television show Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson said a man would be morally justified to divorce his wife with Alzheimer’s disease in order to marry another woman.The dementia-riddled wife is, Robertson said, “not there” anymore. This is more than an embarrassment. Russell D. Moore was only too glad to set the record straight. Even if it meant going to CNN to say, “This is more than cruelty. This is a repudiation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Listen in:
Further more:
Few Christians take Robertson all that seriously anymore. Most roll their eyes, and shake their heads when he makes another outlandish comment (for instance, defending China’s brutal one-child abortion policy to identifying God’s judgment on specific actions in the September 11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina, or the Haiti earthquake). This is serious, …Read Moore!
Postmodernism is one of the most prevalent belief systems among young people today. Lets see how Moe breaks it down:
On another lighter note: How many post modernists does it take to change a light bulb? …Read More!
Uh, I am not sure if this is the kind of prayer we should be making for our leaders. Some times God grants us the leaders that we deserve. (I wonder which country this church sign is from)
Big Brother Your brother’s keeper is watching you…
[HT Defending. Contending]
These are different numbers and letter forms that were photographed on wings of butterflies.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. ~Rom 1:20
Or may be such beautiful patterns just evolved after billions and billions …Read More!
The Alexamenos graffito discovered in 1857 also known as the graffito blasfemo is an inscription carved in plaster on a wall near the Palatine Hill in Rome. It is generally thought to be the earliest known pictorial representation of the crucifixion of Jesus.The crude drawing in no uncertain terms depicts the said Alexamenos worshipping a Bart-Simpson-esque man with a head of an ass. Comical…but sadly blasphemous.
I wonder if Alexamenos was a christian. I wonder if it was a work mate or a former lover who engraved the repugnant inscription. Could it have been a self portrait in his moments of soul searching? But There’s More
Very sound words of advice on this clip from Andrew Strom:
Is prosperity theology getting the better of most liberal Christians? I am still pondering on Pat Robertson’s flippant answer to Andreas.
Mark Driscoll is back in the headlines again. The voices are back. Mark had every one laughing (yup, even the cessationists) the other day when he said, “I start getting prophetic dreams. God’s showing me the future… but I can see somebody and I just know their story.” The non cessationist camp took it with a pinch of salt and dismissed him with a slap on the wrist. But this time will going to the naughty step alone remove the deep concerns after this latest tweet? :
Is Mark drifting from orthodoxy and pandering to fortune telling? Surely …Read More!
Lamp Mode Recordings is an independently owned and operated recording label based out of Philadelphia, PA. In its recent talk show (The Chopping block) Json, Stephen the Levite, Hazakim and Shai Linne step up to discuss “Reformed Theology” Listen in…
Lamp Mode Recordings appears to be more theologically driven than entertainment bent. Their mission statement reads:
Highlighting the Character of God, while presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ and a biblical world view through hiphop culture…We are not influenced by the radio. We are not influenced by “what’s hot”. …Read More!
Sometimes objects and personalities can become a distraction from simple faith in God. This recent story on the surface sounds very noble but as one continues to follow it further, one thing that you realise is that there becomes little mention of Jesus Christ or even the gospel of grace. You see…
On the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks members of Grace Lutheran Church in Yorktown Heights gathered for a special Sunday mass. At the service, Pastor Timothy Kennedy dedicated a unique cross which had been cut from a piece of salvaged steel that was once part of Tower One of the World Trade Center. …Read More!
Mars Hill church must have lost all theological bearings and now wants to do the unthinkable. Seeing this latest jubilant tweet from Shane Hipps (Rob Bell’s co-pastor):
Does Shane know that when communion was instituted Jesus actually said as often as you do this remember me? Does he know that the drink is symbolic of the blood of Christ shed as a seal of a covenant being established on behalf of believers? …Read More!
Some people believe in coincidences but God watches over all events and in His sovereignty controls all things for His purposes and His glory. Watch this closely…
Many people ask what IHOP (International House of Prayer) really is all about. It is regularly featured on christian television so it must be genuine say some. Well to understand the theology behind this ministry one has to scratch beyond the apparently glossy veneer. Ariel [name concealed to protect her identity] vividly describes her experiences and how she got out of a group that has the hallmarks of a cult. A cult? Strong words you might say but….
[Ariel says ] It is not a word I use lightly or carelessly to label anything. But much prayer, time and years of research and personal experience have brought me to the conclusion that I can say confidently that the root system–or foundation–that IHOP is built on follows the basic premises and signs of a cult religious group. When I first left IHOP, I went through a severe culture shock that is hard to put into words. When I began studying the signs of cult fallout and the things that cult members go through after leaving a cult, my eyes began to open to what I had been a part of and recently come out of. …Read More!
Dan Kimball has a book titled The Emerging Church. Roger Oakland has an indepth article that looks closely at this new trend. This current generation lives in a period in church history that is characterized by enthusiasm for methods and means that facilitate church growth. Large churches are commonly equated with successful pastors and successful church growth methods. Whatever it takes to reach that objective, is acceptable, we are told. Church growth has become the measuring stick for successful Christianity. Well…
While Dan Kimball and other promoters of the emerging church may be sincere in their efforts to evangelize the postmodern generation and believe they are genuinely representing the scriptures, there are some real concerns that need to be addressed. Deviating from the Word of God for extrabiblical experience can open the door to deception. While worshipping God is a very important part of the Christian faith there are problems that can occur if worship supersedes the word. …Read More!
John MacArthur explains the dangers of making emotional pleas.
Well not literally but here’s the interesting story…
David Bathurst
In effort to break the world record for reading aloud, by reading out the entire Bible, failed after the reader lost consciousness while reading Jeremiah.
The reader, David Bathurst, who is 51 and has accomplished several feats for charity, including reciting the Gospels and the complete works of Gilbert and Sullivan from memory, said that he still felt positive about his attempt, which has raised £2,500 for charity.
The current record for reading aloud stands at just over 113 hours, and was set overseas, reports the Church Times. …Read More!
On a lighter note: Don’t adjust your screen – its just an oldie but a goodie!
For some reason my wife likes humming to this song. 😉
On a lighter note: I almost did a Eutychus through my window in laughter when I saw this. Lol 🙂
Meet the latest in Calvinist garage-style church praise bands: Guns ‘n TULIPs Welcome to the jungle…
[HT Truthinator’s Blog]
I have always asked myself, why do cults flourish and exist? The cults exist and prosper because they purport to fill a spiritual vacuum. Our innate rebellion against God, thrusts upon us an inherent reluctance to accept our spiritual condition and return to God in the way He has prescribed. You see one of the chief reasons people refuse to accept the gospel is because of the way it ruthlessly illuminates the human condition and commands repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Today I am really concerned about a church that has sponged up thousands of disillusioned young people by advertising itself as “the church for people who don’t do church”. One would indeed fill up an auditorium and become a successful mega church with such a promise. But wait a minute…
ELK RIVER, Minn. (WCCO) – [Dozens] of families are expected to discuss how they believe a church in the north metro has too much control.
On its website, The Crossing in Elk River states it is “A church for people who don’t do church.”
But, many families said becoming a member comes at too high a cost. Eric Dykstra and his wife Kelly lead The Crossing in Elk River along with three satellite locations. The church is known for its unconventional approach to weekly worship. What started as 40 members six years ago has now grown to more than 2,000.
Katie Kennedy blames the church for taking her son away. She said she started going to the church with her 18-year-old son to support him playing music during the services.
“Down in the pit of my stomach I knew something was terribly wrong in this place. …Read More!
Septembers since 2001 have become a time period in each year endured by all Americans releasing deep streams of emotions. This September as America marks the 9/11 anniversary things apparently will be alittle different in that it will be disjointed, complicated and abit lukewarm because…
The White House has instructed officials to downplay al-Qaeda’s role in the Sept. 11 attacks, while New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in order to avoid offending Muslim groups, has decided to exclude clergy and first responders from participating in the 9/11 ceremony this Sunday.
Bloomberg said he decided to exclude clergy and first responders because …Read More!
News paper exegesis is lucrative. Whenever an event occurs any where in the world there will always be a so called prophet or seer who will begin drawing crowds claiming he has got inside information direct from God about the event. Recently there was an earth quake in Washington and a monument got cracked. Now a whole host of televangelists and religious commentators are sleepless speculating. And the big question is….
Were the cracks in the Washington Monument really a sign from God?
If it was, one professor believes that just as much as it was a warning to unbelievers, it was equally, if not more, a message to believers and the church today.
Responding to televangelist Pat Robertson’s end time theories posed last week surrounding the cracks in the long-standing monument, Professor Robert Crosby delved further into the suggestion, which has been criticized and ridiculed by many.
“Could the crack in the Washington Monument be a sign, or a message, to us from God? Could it be a wake up call?” repeated the Florida professor on Patheos.com. “It seems that the question at hand is one worth considering…regardless of Robertson’s postulations…” …Read More!
Well the debate on what continuationists may and may not do will be as endless and bottomless as the question, “what is the next Christian fad going to be?” This time (as an ex-charismatic) I am still baffled and scratching my balding patch as I slowly struggle to interprete this latest development. Well …
Prophetess Bynum
In a series of posts published on Aug. 17, on one of Bynum’s many Facebook pages, the minister typed messages where it was believed by commenters and critics that the she was praying in tongues.
In the first message time stamped 3:57 p.m., it appeared that Juanita Bynum II, the account holder for the Facebook page, started praying for Zachery Tims, the Florida megachurch minister who was found dead in a New York City hotel room on Aug. 12:
GOD WE PRAY FOR THE DESTINY CHURCH FAMILY….WE PRAY FOR THE STRENGTH OF PASTOR RIVA TIMS….[Furthermore] GIRD THEM UP IN THE SPIRIT…GIVE THEM A MIND TO PRAY LIKE NEVER BEFORE….WE CALL ON YOU JESUS….YOU ARE OUR HELP AND OUR HOPE!!!!!!!!NDHDIUBGUGTRUCGNRTUGTIGRTIGRGBNRDRGNGGJNRIC YOU ARE OUR HELP AND OUR HOPE….RFSCNGUGHURGVHKTGHDKUNHSTNSVHGN YOU GOD …Read More!
I have always thought the Bible was right in saying Christians are saved from the wrath to come and they have become born-again and are new creatures (the old man has passed away ) on the basis of the completed work of Christ on the cross. Well, I must be out dated since …
Tim Stevens
An Indiana megachurch pastor says he is annoyed at the word “saved,” especially when used among Christians to describe someone that has made a commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of their lives.
In one of his recent blog posts, Granger Community Church’s executive pastor, Tim Stevens, asked readers, “Does the Word ‘Saved’ Bother Anyone Else?” …Read More!
A Twisted Crown of Thorns ® 