Posted in persecution, tagged persecution on May 2, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
What does it cost you to go to church? Missing a bit of your favorite televised sporting event? A few hours out of your week? A bit more money because of higher gas prices? An hour or so of lost sleep?
In many countries going to church means you may potentially be arrested. In Nigeria this week it cost 21 people their lives. Read, pray for brothers and sisters in other countries. , and if you live in free country, be thankful that the cost of going to church is minimal.
Posted in Uncategorized, tagged Andy Stanley, homosexuality on May 2, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
The title “Megachurches and the New Liberalism” didn’t particularly catch my attention. But what was preached by one of America’s most well-known pastors was shocking to me. Incredible the warp speed that church’s are abandoning biblical truth. Dr. Albert Mohler writes:
“Some churches are openly considering how they can minister most faithfully, even as the public and private challenge of homosexuality and alternative sexual lifestyles has radically transformed the cultural landscape. Other churches, both large and small, are renegotiating their stance on the issue without drawing attention to the changes.
A shot now reverberating around the evangelical world was fired by Atlanta megachurch pastor Andy Stanley in recent days. Preaching at North Point Community Church, in a sermon series known as “Christian,” Stanley preached a message titled “When Gracie Met Truthy” on April 15, 2012. With reference to John 1:14, Stanley described the challenge of affirming grace and truth in full measure. He spoke of grace and truth as a tension, warning that “if you resolve it, you give up something important.”
The message was insightful and winsome, and Andy Stanley is a master communicator. Early in the message he spoke of homosexuals in attendance, mentioning that some had shared with him that they had come to North Point because they were tired of messages in gay-affirming churches that did nothing but affirm homosexuality.
Then, in the most intense part of his message, Stanley told the congregation an account meant to illustrate his message. He told of a couple with a young daughter who divorced when the wife discovered that the husband was in a sexual relationship with another man. The woman then insisted that her former husband and his gay partner move to another congregation. They did move, but to another North Point location, where they volunteered together as part of a “host team.” The woman later told Andy Stanley that her former husband and his partner were now involved as volunteers in the other congregational location.
The story took a strange turn when Stanley then explained that he had learned that the former husband’s gay partner was still married. Stanley then explained that the partner was actually committing adultery, and that the adultery was incompatible with his service on a host team. Stanley told the two men that they could not serve on the host team so long as the one man was still married. He later told of the former wife’s decision not to live in bitterness, and of her initiative to bring the whole new family structure to a Christmas service. This included the woman, her daughter, her former husband, his gay partner, and his daughter. Stanley celebrated this new “modern family” as an expression of forgiveness.
He concluded by telling of Christ’s death for sinners and told the congregation that Jesus does not condemn them, even if they cannot or do not leave their life of sin.
Declaring the death of Christ as atonement for sin is orthodox Christianity and this declaration is essential to the Gospel of Christ. The problem was that Stanley never mentioned faith or repentance — which are equally essential to the Gospel. There is indeed no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, but this defines those who have acted in repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). As for those who are not in Christ, they stand condemned already (John 3:18).
There is more–much more–to learn from this story from Dr. Mohler’s full article
Posted in Uncategorized on May 2, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
“The Disney gospel encourages narcissism. It suggests that our main problem is we don’t celebrate ourselves enough, so others don’t realize how special we are. This positive message is actually cruel, for the poor fellow who follows their advice, “In everything you do, celebrate you!”, won’t be married long. And he won’t have many friends.
The Apostle Paul never went to Disney, and he offered a better gospel. He confessed that he was a sinner, so despite his strong reasons to feel superior, all his accomplishments were “worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (v. 8). The truth is we are special, far more than a Disney song can tell. We belong to Jesus. So in everything you do, celebrate Him.”–Mike Wittmer
Posted in Christian life, spiritual growth, tagged spiritual growth on May 2, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
If you are struggling with “going nowhere” in your Christian life right now or with feeling separated from God as a Christian, please read article referenced below.
If you are growing spiritually and discipling others (and all Christians are called to disciple-making), the also please reference the article below. Here’s an excerpt to get you started:
Spiritual stagnation is a problem that will bombard everyone at one point or another. Depression, fears and anxiety gush out, because we feel “separated” from God, from grace. We feel alone, sinful, dirty and unloved—or perhaps unloving.
Part of reason spiritual depression occurs, I am convinced, is because we have a wrong view of Biblical change. We go to God and ask for ways to overcome our problems, our worries. We look to ourselves and our problems and then to God’s word for helps to our problems. Being lost in our issues, we seek help from God.
Keep reading to find out what is wrong and right about this view of Biblical change and how God wants us to grow and overcome spiritual stagnation in our lives. (Hint: It isn’t about you)!
