As mentioned in our previous article, I believe Watchman Nee’s work on Spiritual Authority has played a pivotal role in specific contexts of the Pentecostal community regarding spiritual authority. Depending on one’s community and contextual background, the...

In specific contexts of the Pentecostal community, discussing a theology of Spiritual Authority is only possible by bringing the work of Watchman Nee on Spiritual Authority into the mix. Little is known about Watchman Nee and the rapid development of his Christian...

Suppose you are on the frontline of pastoral ministry. In that case, I’m sure you have either become the target of or have seen the various deconstructed attacks on principles of spiritual authority. Many of these attacks can...

Let's start with a scenario. Imagine an individual attending a church. In one service, someone in leadership said something neither wise nor appropriate to this individual. This individual was hurt, and rightfully so, and they left the service seething. All they could...

Does church attendance matter? Let’s take a quick look.

We hear the words often, sometimes in the favorable and others in the negative: pastoral preference. Are they right? Can a local pastor have them? Can a local pastor expect them to be respected and honored? These are great questions that I believe merit a balanced...

How often is Absolom’s example utilized in many church communities to describe rebellious coups against pastoral leadership? Often, but do you think the comparison is worthy? I believe it can be if one allows the totality of the story to speak of the entire context of Absolom’s rebellion. What if we, taking a forensic look at the uprising of Absolom, were to find David complicit in the events?

What are these individuals doing as they disown every feature and benefit of their having once been enlightened? They are crucifying the Son of God and putting Him to open shame. Having disowned practically every benefit of God’s grace and the gift of that grace- the power and holiness of the Holy Ghost- they bring Christ back to the cross, denying His completed work while claiming to be partakers of His completed work. Denying their resurrection, they deny His resurrection. Denying their burial in baptism, they deny his burial. Christ now bleeds again on a cross while they openly parade the image of an empty cross.

Bad apples exist, but that doesn't mean we must set fire to the entire apple orchard. Unfortunately, this is precisely what many attempt to do regarding the church community. They highlight extreme examples of narcissism or hand-select leadership or ministries who...