The Barna Group recently found that 80% of professing Christians do not know how to apply their Christian beliefs to their everyday lives. This condition is called “pietism.” The NT uses another term: carnality. Pietism divides human existence between the “spiritual” and the “unspiritual” aka the “sacred” and the “secular.” As a result, pietists do not believe God’s… Read More »
I’ve been praying over the last few days about how the Holy Spirit wanted me to conclude this series. The answer came when my now-former-pastor, close friend, and fellow contributor here, Ron Merrell, began one of his sermons with the following quote from Proverbs: My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,… Read More »
This is almost always the first question asked by laypersons and ministers alike when they are initially introduced to the doctrine of divine healing. Such laypersons are generally being confronted with the daunting challenge of developing their faith where they have had no previous teaching or revelation from God’s Word and the Holy Spirit on the topic. Ministers… Read More »
One of the poster-children of the anti-prosperity crowd is an internationally-famous-within-Christendom Calvinist-Baptist theologian, pastor, and published author named John Piper. He is regarded as a theological titan among Calvinists and Baptists alike. He is the founder and teacher of desiringgod.org, chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary, pastor emeritus of Bethlehem Baptist Church, and a Council member of the… Read More »
One of the common objections I’ve heard from the many critics I’ve encountered concerning the so-called “prosperity gospel” is a theologically silly discussion of the dichotomy between “wants” and “needs.” Both sides of this discussion lay claim to the following verse, yet interpret it in entirely different ways: And my God shall supply all your need according to… Read More »
Introduction In May 1976, a nationally renowned news commentator named Paul Harvey began broadcasting a 5-minute-or-so syndicated show on ABC Radio Networks called “The Rest Of The Story.” In each episode, he would recount a carefully-researched story containing fascinating, obscure facts about a famous person or significant moment in history, never identifying that person or moment until the… Read More »
