In a monumental ruling (to say the least), the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage is a fundamental right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Justice Kennedy wrote the majority (5-4) opinion in which he said, “The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person, and under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment couples of the same-sex may […]
Jesus loves the church and has richly provided for her eternal health and glory (Eph 4.7-16). He sustains the church through a well-ordered, humble, Spirit-wrought polity. The New Testament teaches and demonstrates that local church leadership should be entrusted to a plurality of qualified men who, though gifted differently, are equal in authority and responsibility. Both biblically and practically, your local church benefits greatly by having a group of men […]
Parts 1 and 2 introduced and briefly defended from Scripture that local church leadership is best entrusted to a plurality of qualified men who, though gifted differently, are equal in authority and responsibility. Both the biblical vocabulary and pattern indicate the local church is best led by elders (a.k.a. overseers, bishops, pastors-shepherds) rather than solo pastors or other pastoral hierarchies. A church without elders is no less a church, but she should […]
The New Testament teaches and demonstrates local church leadership should be entrusted to a plurality of qualified men who, though gifted differently, are equal in authority and responsibility. The local church is most healthy when she is led by elders who defend and teach sound doctrine, and encourage gospel progress through careful pastoral oversight. As introduced in Part 1, until a local church installs a plural eldership it is lacking. It […]
For many a churchgoer church polity (how a church is governed) is not of great concern. As long as there are plenty of programs, pennies and people then why fuss over a secondary issue. But is polity as secondary as we assume? Church polity does not rise to the level of salvific importance. Whether or not a local church has a plurality of elders does not determine if it’s a […]
Bruce Jenner brought some measure of shame on manhood. From the cover of Wheaties to the cover of Vanity Fair is, after all, a meteoric fall (or rise depending on your perspective). It was partly intentional since he insists his manhood has been a lifelong ruse anyway. In any case, he has certainly given new voice to the age-old “gender war.” It’s not, however, a war between the genders but against gender […]
2015 is shaping up as the year of referendum on cartoons. Cartoons of Mohammad, to be exact. It all started in January in France. Two Muslim gunmen stormed the headquarters of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. They killed twelve, including several cartoonists who for years had disgraced the Prophet Mohammad with their drawings. In May, the American Freedom Defense Initiative hosted a “Draw the Prophet” rally in Garland, Texas. In a […]
John Fawcett was converted as a 16-year-old in 1755 under the ministry of George Whitefield. He became the pastor of Wainsgate Baptist Church in Yorkshire in 1764. In 1772, he initially accepted the invitation to succeed the formidable John Gill at London’s Carter’s Lane Baptist Church and that at a substantially higher salary. This was no small honor for Fawcett who once wrote prior to 1764, To be brief, my dear […]
“If anyone thinks he is religious, but instead of bridling his tongue deceives his heart, this one’s religion is worthless” (Jas 1.26). You know that guy who always has an answer for every question, explanation for every situation, provocation for every dispute, and/or recollection for every story? Whatever the setting, this guy always has something to say and assumes it’s everyone’s privilege to hear it. His answer always better. His […]
God’s providence is a fundamental necessity to Christian orthodoxy. “We believe that this good God, after creating all things, did not abandon them to chance or fortune but leads and governs them according to his holy will, in such a way that nothing happens in this world without God’s orderly arrangement. Yet God is not the author of, and cannot be charged with, the sin that occurs. For God’s power and goodness are so great and incomprehensible that God […]