The Coming Purge The public acceptance, celebration, and acceleration of homosexuality is staggering. It seems the President can hardly wait to praise athletes, or others, who come out of the closet. The general public repeatedly elects pro-gay politicians. Money trumps morality. Skin trumps sin. Regardless of ethnicity, people favor “race” over “grace.” Even many “conservative”...
Do Faithful And Fruitless Go Together?
A “New Norm” Or A “New Low”? Should churches be growing numerically, as well as spiritually? Is the absence of life the “new normal” for American congregations? Jesus cursed the fig tree that had only leaves, but no fruit. He talked about “fruit”, “more fruit”, and went on to say the Father is glorified when we...
The Pharisee Within…
A Solemn Warning Against Heartless Religion The Pharisees rejected Jesus because He did not fit in with their system. Jesus was all about the kingdom of God, which He referenced over fifty times. While the Pharisees claimed adherence to the Scriptures, they had essentially devolved into a kingdom of their own making. When Christ invited people...
New Wine Needed…
And Wine Skins To Match Vintage skins are incompatible with fresh wine (Mat. 9:17). Crusty wine skins may contain their native juice, but not this year’s crop. Old skins would burst and the new wine would be wasted. Neither Pharisee-ism or Sadducee-ism could accommodate the dispensation of the Spirit. Those prevailing systems were antagonistic to...
Spiritual Inbreeding
Symptoms Of An Ingrown Church Every church and grouping of churches has strong points…and weak points. When a church ceases to grow in “grace and knowledge” it becomes ingrown. At this stage, congregations are subjected to a steady diet of slogans, mantras, rants, and a rehashing of pet doctrines/standards. Anything different is viewed with either...
Pride Versus Brokenness
Pride grieves God. Brokenness secures grace. Pride sets you up for a fall. Brokenness prepares the way for God’s favor. Pride spawns competition. Brokenness builds community. Pride keeps you from praying. Brokenness causes you to pray. Pride blinds you to your wicked ways. Brokenness opens your eyes to your wicked ways. Pride keeps you from...