Unreached peoples are unreached for a reason. They’re hard, difficult, and dangerous to reach. All the easy ones are taken. —David Platt
Choose Your Own Sexual Ethics Adventure
What’s really important—what, in Anderson’s view, is really moral—is that one’s sex life is shaped by our own sense of ethics. Given all this, perhaps it’s not so surprising that Anderson so easily falls into the trap of setting up her own values as a substitute source of authority. If one’s own viewpoint is one’s greatest source of guidance, naturally, to her, her viewpoint is going to look like the best one around. The book’s takeaway is a bit of a Catch 22: If the goal is to create a sexual ethic for ourselves, why consider someone else’s guidelines at all?
Nine Traits of Mean Churches
So, after receiving the second email, I began to assimilate all the information I could find where church members had written me about their “mean” churches. They may not have used the word “mean” specifically, but the intent was the same. I then collected characteristics of these churches, and I found nine that were common. I call these the “nine traits of mean churches.”
Despite Assurances, Should PCUSA Pastors Worry about Their Future and Same-Sex Marriage?
So, for now the authority to marry same-sex people in Presbyterian churches is permissive and not compulsory. “But,” LaBerge commented, “If this is a genuine justice issue, which supporters of marriage redefinition claim, then how long do you think they’re really going to be willing for the denomination to limp along between two opinions? How long can ministers serve together as real colleagues in ministry when some think others are discriminatory hatemongers and on the contrary, some think others are blessing what the Bible calls sin? That’s a lot of tension for an organization to endure for long.”
The Christian and Common Grace
As much as I may, at times, be quick to think that people are basically good, I confess that there is another side of common grace that confounds me. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matthew 5:45). I confess that there are days when I wonder at this verse. I see its truth evident all around me, and I’m frustrated by it. Why should Christians suffer while those who deny God’s existence reap benefits seemingly beyond compare?
Why So Many Young Christians Are Leaving Their Churches — And Coming Back Again
Many of my friends have started returning to their childhood church communities, if for no other reason than it feels more faithful to recommit to what they already know than commit to uncertainty. As for me, I’ve decided to recommit to going to church with my husband rather than continuing the search alone. I am less interested in fidelity to an institution than belonging to the people who make it up.
When It’s Time For Some RICO Indictments
by rmiller
Huge money is being made behind the scenes, which helps to explain the manner in which even friendly critics are often treated by such organizations. It also explains the comparative silence about these things in the public sphere: the men of stature who could and should speak out are often invested in the racket themselves and thus co-opted for the cause. Their presence on the payroll both reassures the public that all is well and precludes any possibility of appropriate scrutiny.
LifeWay Pulls All ‘Heaven Tourism’ Titles in Doubts Over Authenticity and Theology
The SBC resolution warned Christians against allowing “the numerous books and movies purporting to explain or describe the afterlife experience” to “become their source and basis for an understanding of the afterlife” and affirmed “the sufficiency of biblical revelation over subjective experiential explanations to guide one’s understanding of the truth about heaven and hell”.
Young People’s Greatest Problem Is…
If Matthew Henry had designed Facebook instead of Mark Zuckerberg, we would be posting status updates on our failings, our faults, and our bad-hair days. And we’d be posting photos of others’ victories, achievements, and successes.
Cornell dean says ISIS welcome on campus in undercover video
“It would be just like bringing in a coach to train a sports team,” says Joseph Scaffido, Assistant Dean at Cornell University. He is captured on hidden camera advising a Project Veritas investigative journalist on how to start and fund a pro-ISIS club on campus, how to obtain funding to send care packages to ISIS […]
Steeped in “Tolerance” makes for a strange brew
Did you hear the one about the university dean who said it’s no problem at all if students want to bring in a pro-ISIS speaker to train young people? (Cornell dean says ISIS welcome on campus in undercover video.) It’s one of many news stories we’re covering today as we watch the aftermath of the […]
Young People’s Greatest Problem Is…
….Pride.
At least, according to Matthew Henry. In his little book, Sober-Mindedness Pressed Upon Young People, Henry says, “I have seen more young people ruined by pride than perhaps by any one lust whatsoever.”
He That Overcomes
by Bill Muehlenberg
When something is repeated in Scripture, you had better stand up and take notice. The idea of overcoming is one of them. John especially uses this quite often in his gospel, his epistles, and in the book of Revelation. Here I wish to focus on how this idea is dealt with in the final book of the Bible.
Watchmen’s full plate
Then there was the story of the “pastor” who doesn’t believe in God. But if you question his faith, he’ll get very offended and make you feel guilty: Lots of other news today, including, Why we’re seeing “Mantle Madness”, and LifeWay pulls Heaven visitation books. Joining us on today’s program is someone who knows Mormonism […]
The Daily Discovery (March 26, 2015)
ARTICLES I LIKE FROM AROUND THE WEB:
(Click title to go to full article)
Five facts about pastors most church members are unclear on – “In my experience, most pastors hesitate to teach the biblical understanding of the role of pastors because to do so might sound self-serving, as though they were trying to carve out a bigger role for themselves in leading the church. This is a serious error for which we are now paying as many congregations are turning the minister into a hired hand, employing him as an errand boy, or treating him as an executive brought in to lead their ‘country club.’”
Christians, You Will Suffer – “I had a brief interaction with an atheist on Twitter a couple of weeks ago that unexpectedly turned to the issue of suffering when she said: You clearly never had a time you were hurt. I don’t mean sick. I don’t mean heart broken. I mean literally a near death experience or rape or abusive relationship…. You can keep floating on a [expletive] cloud thinking Jesus will do everything for you but it’s a lie. What makes you so special?”
Charismania Embraces Glenn Beck – “Recently, charismatic apostle and prophet Dr Chuck Pierce offered Mormon political pundit and commentator Glenn Beck a “new mantle for the future” because of his stand with the nation of Israel.”
UnPhiltered Moral Philosophy: Phil Robertson Speaks Out Again – “About 15 months ago, Duck Dynasty Christian media mogul, entrepreneur, and popular preaching circuit speaker Phil Robertson took some flack in te press for his candid and biblical description of homosexual behavior as recorded in an interview with GQ. In the midst of a controversy over his comments, Robertson was suspended from his own A&E Network Reality show. The outcry over his comments, as well as his suspension, was short. In little time, Phil’s legions of supportive, evangelical Christian fans demanded that he be returned to A&E’s airwaves. He was.”
What Happens When You Replace “Movie Title” With the Breathed-Out Word of God… – “Dumb question: Why does the visible church think that it needs Hollywood movies to draw people to Jesus Christ? Why do so-called anointed pastors feel they need to use sermons designed by Christian mystics who dramatize a very different Jesus and a different gospel?”
SERMON:
Tim Conway – Christ the Destroyer
VIDEOS:
RedGraceRadio Interviews Mike Abendroth from NoCompromiseRadio
Taming the Tongue
“If you alter or obscure the Biblical portrait of God in order to attract converts, you don’t get converts to God, you get converts to an illusion. This is not evangelism but deception.” – John Piper
A Modern Woman’s Guide to Fasting
Fasting is the spiritual discipline of denying ourselves of something (typically food) to feast on the things of God. I explored some reasons to fast in yesterday’s post. Perhaps you sense the Lord is leading you to fast. You may be thinking, Now what?
To get you started, here are answers to some practical questions about fasting.
Rapture References, Part 2
A Bible Study by Jack Kelley
In part one of this series we explored some of the clearest hints from the Old Testament that the Lord has always intended to rapture the Church before the End Times judgments begin. This time we’ll continue with a two part survey of the New Testament. Because Paul was the first to reveal the mystery of the Rapture, we won’t expect to find a clear explanation in the Gospels, but since we already know about it, we’ll be able to spot a couple of hints here and there. Shall we continue?
Is God In Everyone And Everything?
Q. Several colleagues of mine are involved in new age mysticism and eastern religions. A common belief of theirs is that “god is in everyone and everything” and they often talk about “seeking oneness” with the universe. Could you please help point me to scriptures that address this directly?
Martyrs And Saints
Q. Scripture tell us that man is appointed once to die and then judgment. The Bema seat is for the Bride and the great white throne is for all those whose names are not found in the Book of Life. When do the tribulation martyrs/ saints receive their judgment and also the old testament saints?
Old Testament Promises
Q. I cringe when I hear Christians claiming Old Testament promises like Jeremiah 29:11 and 2 Chron. 7:14 because it seems they were specifically for Israel often at a specific point in time. People want to claim Israel’s benefits, but not their judgments! Is it wrong to claim promises such as those listed above? How can we discern what was for Israel alone vs. what can apply to us today? Is it based on personal vs national promises? I’m confused.
Beth Moore & Joyce Meyer Team Up For Unity
Your browser does not support the HTML 5 audio tag.
Click Here to Download this episode
Program segments:
• Rick Warren’s Dubious Moses Applications
• Beth Moore & Joyce Meyer Team Up For Unity
• Sermon Review: If I Could Ask God One Question by James Macpherson
Featured Blogs
Our Time is Short
Truth2Freedom Blog Disclaimer:
This blog is an aggregator of news and information that we believe will provide articles that will keep people informed about current trends, current events, discussions and movements taking place within our church and culture.
A headline link on this blog post doesn’t necessarily mean that there is agreement or approval with all the views and opinions expressed within the headline linked article. Caution is also warranted with regards to the advertisements and links that are embedded within the headline linked article.
Truth2Freedom's Blog 