Reflections of an Undeconstructed Pentecostal
Jesus Christ is the standard by which all Christians must model our lives. Christians are called to be an example of his suffering (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus’ self-sacrificing death is the example of love that Christians are called to express. Just as James insisted that “faith without works is dead,” John insists that love without sacrificial deeds is empty.
Continue reading “An Open Heart”
You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).
Paul was deeply concerned about the believers at Galatia. Some of the leaders have disturbed the church by preaching a “distorted” gospel (1:7). The believers have deserted Christ by embracing “a different gospel” (1:6). This distorted gospel has “bewitched” the Galatian believers (3:1) to such an extent that they “have been severed from Christ,” they have “fallen from grace” (5:4). What heresy had they embraced? They were “seeking to be justified by law” (5:4). In seeking to be made righteous by the law they were distorting the Gospel of Christ.
Continue reading “A Political Gospel has Fallen from Grace”
Chris Green’s new book is theology at its best – devotional, meaningful, and challenging. This is not a sentimental presentation in which belief in God can be reduced to child-like faith. Chris’ presentation is more like struggling with God. He’s trying to make sense of faith in God in a world tormented by evil. This is serious stuff.
Continue reading “Surprised by God – Chris E. W. Green”
The “prosperity gospel” is notorious for multi-million dollar mansions, extravagant clothing, expensive automobiles, and personal jets for charismatic evangelists. Reverend Ike, the forerunner of prosperity preachers, proclaimed, “I don’t want my pie in the sky, I want it now!” Creflo Dollar has exhorted, “What’s good news to a poor man? You don’t have to be poor anymore!” The goal of the prosperity gospel is personal enrichment and the sanctification of greed.
Continue reading “Prosperity with Purpose”
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God created humanity for the sake of divine-human fellowship. Humans – male and female – were created in God’s image and were given dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:26-27). God’s breath gave life to humanity (Genesis 2:7). The first humans were clothed in God’s glory (Psalm 8:5). As God speaks, the divine breath continues to give life. As God conversed with the first humans God’s words were the source of life. So, why bother conversing with a snake?
Continue reading “Why do we talk to Snakes?”
In conversations regarding the role of women in the church it has been said that the issues of women and slavery in the Bible are unrelated. The point being that we should view slavery as a systemic human evil; but the submission of women in the church and society is a matter of God’s order in creation. But, in fact the issues of slavery and women are indeed related. The Apostle Paul says so.
Continue reading “The Issues of Slavery and Women are Related”