Reflections of an Undeconstructed Pentecostal
I first noticed the Christmas decorations in department stores before Halloween. Soon after, I began hearing the Christmas mood music. Then some radio stations began doing their “all Christmas” schedule. The TV specials and Hollywood’s annual Christmas releases began to appear. By now we’re in full holiday mode. Parties, food, presents… and the new sign of the Christmas season – the Christmas propaganda war, aka, the war on Christmas.
Continue reading “The Christmas Propaganda War”
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).
My wife, Sharon, and I have been traveling for the Thanksgiving holidays. We are very happy to be spending the holidays with our family. As we were driving along I-40 between Chattanooga and Nashville, we decided to stop at Wal-Mart. After shopping for a few minutes we walked up to the check-out clerk, a young lady who sheepishly asked me, “You’re not going to get mad if I wish you ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas,’ are you?”
Continue reading “Does “Happy Holidays” make you angry?”
Peer Accountability – Sanctification through Community
Paul charged the Ephesian church elders: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). His warning is not to guard the flock from the devil, but from toxic leaders within the church: “…savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30). Here we discern two aspects of guarding the flock. First, church leaders must exercise sober caution in the initial placement of leaders in ministry. Paul places the responsibility for dealing with toxic leadership squarely upon the bishops and elders of the church. He warns, “Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin” (1 Timothy 5:22). When the bishops of the church fail to guard against toxic leaders, they become complicit toxic leaders.
Continue reading “Chrism, Charismata, and Character”
Conflict is the absence of shālôm. The Hebrew word shālôm refers to the overall welfare of the human soul.[1] Shālôm means to be complete, or whole; to be safe; to be in good health; to prosper; to live and die in tranquility. In matters of human community, shālôm refers to friendship and peacemaking. In relationship to God shālôm refers to the salvific covenant between God and humanity.[2] When the apostolic authors of the New Testament spoke of peace they used the word to reflect its usage in the Septuagint, which corresponds to the Hebrew shālôm.[3] Jesus Christ is the “Prince of Peace” and his disciples are call to be peacemakers.[4] Throughout the New Testament, the apostolic greetings and benedictions speak of the blessing of peace.[5]
Continue reading “Church Conflict as Spiritual Warfare”
As the Apostle Paul offered his farewell address to the church at Ephesus he offered a paradigm for leadership in the church. Throughout his farewell address, Paul’s words reflect three years of diverse conflict as he served the church. Paul’s time at Ephesus was marked with tears. His straightforward declaration of the gospel of Jesus Christ provoked the conflict. The sources of conflict were “the plots of the Jews,” “savage wolves” from outside the assembly, and leaders within the church that will arise to speak “perverse things” in an effort to divide the church. As Paul takes leave of these believers, he warns them of continuing conflict and urges them to “be on guard” and “be on the alert.” Even as he transitions to another area of ministry Paul declares that “the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.” In other words, conflict cannot be avoided. In fact, it is the Holy Spirit that is guiding him from conflict to conflict. The goal of Paul’s ministry is to “build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:18-32).
Continue reading “False-christs, False-prophets, and False-apostles: Toxic Leaders in the Church”
Jesus’ example of grace is the model that pastors should seek to emulate when teaching on the discipleship of giving. In teaching on tithing, pastors must acknowledge that God’s people have suffered much spiritual abuse. Church leaders are not exempt from the temptations associated with the love of money. As Paul warned Timothy about these temptations, he encouraged Timothy to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:6-11 NKJV). Pastors should recognize the financial difficulties that many believers face. Some new converts come to church overloaded with debt. Many young couples try to provide for their families with a sub-standard income. Many senior adults live on a fixed income that is not adequate to their needs. These believers often struggle with tithing and giving. Pastors must have a patient and gentle spirit while encouraging these disciples to be faithful stewards.
Continue reading “Teaching on Tithing with a Gentle and Patient Spirit”
Who can be saved? That is a question Christians have sought to answer for millennia (Mark 10:26). When Cornelius and his house received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-45), God provoked a major controversy within the church. Can uncircumcised Gentiles inherit the Kingdom of God? “Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved’” (Acts 15:1). It’s amazing how many times preachers of the good news of Christ try to prohibit God’s outpouring of grace. For some Jewish believers, confession in Christ and baptism (water and Spirit) were not sufficient. To their way of thinking, to be saved the Greeks must become Jews. Peter witnessed the Spirit’s outpouring upon the Gentiles, and the Spirit had prepared him through a visionary experience (Acts 10:9-16). Peter declared, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35).
Continue reading “Food, Sex, and Idols: Who can be Saved?”