General Articles
Newsletter
Spiritual Authority Series #3: A Deeper Look into Watchman Nee’s Spiritual Authority.
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...
Spiritual Authority Series #2: The Role of Watchman Nee
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...
Spiritual Authority Series #1: Anecdotes and Authority
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...
When the Wrong Spirit Uses the Right Scripture
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...
Church Attendance: Does it Matter?
Does church attendance matter? Let’s take a quick look.
What is a Pastoral Preference?
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...
A Forensic of Rebellion: David’s Complicity in Absolom’s Conspiracy
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?
Biblical Apostasy: A Backsliding that Puts God to Shame
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.
The Fallacy of Composition, the Church, and Dealing with Deconstructionists
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...
Rooted Bible Study Released
How excited are we to have the release of Rooted: The Bible Study Available for purchase? Pretty excited! The feedback from those receiving these is incredible already! We don't have many left so head over to the shop and grab one. 108 exciting illustrated pages that...
Is a Believing Wife to Submit to an Unbelieving Husband?
Tricky. This is the word for navigating the complex situation of marriages that involve a believing woman married to an unbelieving husband. Whilst it can be the other way around, the most common scenario I have seen and experienced where problems arise involves this...
She Watches from the Window (A Short Story)
She saunters with seductive purpose in her stride. Lips pouting, eyes sparkling. She glides toward me. She is beautiful. Breathlessly, I stand unsure of what to do. My heart races, sweat begins to bead along my forehead. The breeze rustles my hair, bringing the...
Talking Television: Accepting What isn’t Good because other things are Worse?
Growing up, I remember being one of the only kids in the neighborhood without a television. "What in the world do you do," was the common question my friends asked me. Well, I played in the woods for hours, built forts, played basketball, rode bikes, and when home, I...
Echoes in Koinonia: The Danger of an ‘Amen’ Corner
When a snake slithers out from the nondescript foliage in the woods, your entire body responds to the sudden fear of the snake. This fight-or-flight response is an Amygdala Hijack*. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, causing you to breathe more quickly,...
How Churches Became Cruise Ships
In a book I read recently, the prism was turned, which allowed me to understand the plight of church attendance in a whole different light. This book, bringing me through the '50s and into the '60s and '70s, captured a phenomenon that began to occur in the Christian...
Hushai: Another Reason Why I Pray
Perhaps you have sometimes struggled to pray and wondered: "Does my prayer work?" Well, something from a story found in II Samuel and a figure named Hushai has caused me to push through those thoughts and engage in a daily habit of prayer. It is very simple. God is...
The Apostle Paul and the Absence of the Gospels
Many reading this will be surprised to learn that the Apostle Paul did not have the Four Gospels when he began his ministry following his encounter with Christ on the Road to Damascus around AD 35. The newly inaugurated Church did not have anything they utilized as a...
Double Fulfillment in Scripture: The Virgin Birth?
Isaiah 7:14–16 (KJV 1900) — 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, That he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For...
The Spirit of Pure Inquiry
The spirit of inquiry, though uncomfortable for many in the Body of Christ, is a necessary agency that works to hinder the advancement of doctrinal distortions, false teachings, and the temptation by some in the Pentecostal community to become top-heavy in...
PREACH THE WORD: A Careful Reflection on Speech in the Pulpit
As the culture of controversy has become dominated by text chains and back-room conversations, I often find that it is vital to the health and strength of the church community to respectfully and openly navigate certain controversies. In part, this is done to dull the...
The Captor that Comes as Liberator: Responding to the Fallacy of the Self-Described Social Media Holiness Reformers.
One need not peruse social media long these days to find themselves face-to-face with several outlets that have stirred the proverbial pot of biblical interpretation, often touting themselves as an enlightened alternative to all things cultish and cult-like. Uncanny...
Using Other Translations with the KJV
1 Peter 2:2 (NA28) — 2 ὡς ἀρτιγέννητα βρέφη τὸ λογικὸν ἄδολον γάλα ἐπιποθήσατε, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῷ αὐξηθῆτε εἰς σωτηρίαν 1 Peter 2:2 (Elzevir) — 2 ως αρτιγεννητα βρεφη το λογικον αδολον γαλα επιποθησατε ινα εν αυτω αυξηθητε I am not a Greek scholar, expert, or anything...
Holiness Foundations: A Biblical Response to Holiness Criticism
Outside of certain religious groups, the idea of holiness is seldom discussed, and if it is discussed, it is heavily tilted toward a "God alone" paradigm (i.e., God is Holy). My question for consideration is: Does holiness have more to do with us than many allow or...
The War Against the Word
Lately, we have been working (locally) through the Mark 4 text dealing with the four places the seed from the sower fell upon; the first three locations continue to stand out. Let's look at them again: The Wayside: hearing the Word, there is no...
Restoring the Ministry of the Prophet, but which Prophet?
I have seen a hyper-emphasis in recent years on the restoration of the Prophets among us, though I would beg to ask the question: "Which Prophets do we wish to restore?" One observation I have made as many have begun to argue for the restoration of the prophetic...
An Elevated Pulpit: Redeeming Truth from the Cult of Self
As a note to fellow preachers, we must hold each other accountable to a standard that is consistent for even our closest friends. When we veer from exegesis to eisegesis, we must hold each other accountable for the sake of our most sacred text. Our conferences must not become harbingers of hazy hermeneutics where the benchmark for biblical expectation is lowered for the price of enthusiasm alone.
Asbury Revival: A Follow-Up and Other Insights
It is evident from the engagement with my last article that I was met with a healthy dose of agreement and disagreement. That aside, I find that It is important to express to my readers that the articles I publish are not sent into the digital atmosphere as a means to...
Asbury Revival: A Cautionary Stance for the Church
If you are on social media, then you will remember the first few posts celebrating what is being called a 21st-century Great Awakening at Asbury College, a Methodist University in Kentucky. According to many Pentecostal brothers and sisters, this is the “last day...
The Danger of Celebrity Culture in the Church
The fanfare that accompanies the secular Gala's and the high-societal affairs of the rich and famous are both humorous and pitiful to observe. Actors, actresses, and musicians line the red carpets as they are fawned over by an elite press and, beyond the ropes where...
Loud Church: Do I Really need to Lift my Voice?
What's with all this noise? Why is the preacher asking us to lift our voice? These are some common responses that many unfamiliar with Pentecostal churches have had when attending a service. These are fair questions when asked with the right attitude. Why do we lift...
Turning Red: The Real Problem another Disney Film Exposed (Culture Series #1)
Not even spending time on the quotes that captured overt references to sexual objectivity, such as, “shake your moneymaker,” it is clear that teenage puberty is the red herring of the film. This film, based on the aforementioned quotes, is more about “accept the beast” than it is “resist the beast.” In direct opposition to the Apostle Paul’s theological discourse outlining the battle against the deathly desires within us all, Disney subtly marches forward as a vehicle of propaganda whispering the idea of “don’t fight it, embrace it.”
Leave the Office, get to the Altar
The year was 2017 and Pastor Mark Brown stood before 37,000 Pentecostals at the North American Youth Conference in Indianapolis, IN. The crowd he spoke to represented a varied gathering of Pentecostals from across the broad landscape of Pentecostal flavor. In...
Kanye and the Church in 2022: Reflections on Promoting Trees before they Produce Fruit
I had forgotten--until this morning--the fever-pitch fanaticism that went on display a few years ago when Kanye (A.K.A, Yeezy) become a "born-again" Christian who had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The Christian world of all stripes went bonkers. I'm...
The Psychology of the Artificial Face (Image War Series)
To bring this phenomenon into proper focus, it is important to understand the correlation between the porn industry and the unrealistic expectations of the female body. First, porn producers screen and select performers who, by average standards of society, are far more attractive than the average person. Second, lighting, camera angles, intense tanning to cover up normal skin blemishes, video editing, stylists, makeup specialists, and a myriad of other industry practices work to cover things considered to be “unsightly.” Third, because there has been an increasing rise in demand for youthfulness (as revealed in search inquiries on major porn video sites),many porn performers are engaging in practices (laser hair removal, vaginoplasty, etc.) to facilitate what is becoming known as the “designer vagina.” (Future articles will deal with porn’s subtle promotion of Pedophilia).
The Rise of the Artificial Face (Image War Series)
The first charge that critics of this treatise will articulate is the “majoring on the minors” premise that is also cast alongside the missional urgency of the Church to reach and reconcile the lost to Jesus Christ. In response, I merely point toward the writings of...
Decayed Offerings on Pentecostal Altars
I grieved as I watched, not as men moved ancient landmarks, but as men etched new lines that disfellowshipped, castigated, and shamed brothers and sisters over a myriad of subjects. Honestly? The spirit on the streets casting shadows from the fires of buildings that burned was raging in the corridors of the Ecclesia. And today, many of those same individuals whose spirits smoldered with divisive rhetoric and discord have yet to say “I’m sorry.” In fact, the failure to “make things right with thy brother” remains one of the most neglected biblical admonitions of the present day. As such, offerings that have been placed upon altars now rot and decay since God will not accept what was offered by those unwilling to rectify the oughts of their brothers and sisters.
The Real Reason Caleb Wanted the Mountain
"Give me my mountain!" How many times have we heard this phrase preached? How many times have we centered on the vigorous desire of an aged Caleb who--after 40 years wandering in the wilderness--confronted Joshua regarding Moses' promise that Caleb should receive the...
Called to Share: Stewardship in the Christian Life
Let's face it. Stewardship is most often associated with wealth and the responsibility of the individual to distribute wealth based on a tithe and offering paradigm. I introduce stewardship this way--not because I disagree with the biblical paradigm of tithe and...
The Idolatry of Convenience
1 Kings 12:28–30 (KJV 1900) — 28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set the one in...
NICOT and NICNT Mini Bundles at Logos
This is one of the reasons why I waited when the entire set was selling for around 1,100.00. I don't want every commentary in the set, but there are specific ones that I do. This bundle offer was perfect for me in that it offerred what I primarily wanted from the...
Navigating Logos Bible Software Libraries
For those of you not familiar with Logos Bible Software, it is a robust software\biblical library that is packed full of feature sets that make studying the Scriptures an effort of efficiency. Now, let me be honest. I love physical books and I am convinced that...
Pedophobic? The Playbook of Tolerance at Work Again.
On August 17th, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland, another symposium was held by the 501(c)(3) organization known as B4U-ACT. The name of the symposium was “Pedophilia, Minor-Attracted Persons, and the DSM: Issues and Controversies.” The keynote of the symposium, “On the...
What Should our Conversation be in Babylon?
Jeremiah 29:4-9 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; Take ye...
Developing a Daily Devotional System
Let me be honest at the outset of this brief article. I have never been a fan of calendrical devotions due to the clique-driven premise of so many of the books on the market. This is, in part, due to the way my brain navigates written literature. I struggle to "just...
Tony Spell and the Shadow Cast by Covid
At a time when, rightfully so, we are seeking justice for our neighbor who was tragically murdered in a manner that appears to have been cold and calculating, we are putting together lengthy social media discourses, videos, and communications that are assassinating the character of our brothers and sisters. Have we forgotten that poignant words of Christ?
COVID-19: When the Light of the Church Shines or Flickers
It began as a trickle-down rumor and, in just a very short amount of time, became a global panic fueled by reports of pandemic spread and increased rates of mortality. As though the world stepped into the pages of a Robin Cook novel, we found ourselves caught up in the chatter of ignorant conspiracies, political wrangling, and the widely varied responses between the states and the federal government. To make things worse, stockpiling of essential and nonessential goods began to overtake the most sensible of people. Informed or misinformed, even those who were quick to criticize found themselves wandering the empty aisles of local grocery stores looking to fill their cupboards–just in case.
Achsah, the Daughter that Asked
Tucked away neatly within two places in scripture (Joshua and Judges) we are introduced to a character that seldom receives much spotlight. Perhaps it is due to the slow progress of land allotments discussed in Joshua 15 or perhaps overshadowed by the gory events that...
Porn and Supernatural Stimuli
Pornography, often expressed in the more caustic four lettered version (PORN), has become the proverbial elephant in the room. However, I think elephant is a bit too generous and, to be more accurate, I think we ought to just call it the Monster in the...
It’s all about the image…
Paul’s contrast between Adam and Christ (first and last) is an appeal for us to have an “image-change.” Hence, in Christ, we are a “new creature” (II Cor. 5:17). Without the new birth experience, we remain in the image of the 1st Adam and fail to rise to the image of...
The Disturbing Truth about Mark Brown’s NAYC message
There is no other way to really say this, but we went through a period of time where the effects of relevant and cool were realized in the rubble of ruined ministries and countless younger men and women feeling as though the compass was not pointing true North. The strong were found to be weak, the anointed were found to be relics of early years of consecration, and everything suddenly failed to appear as it has always appeared.