Opposition to Revival

The revival led by the Apostle Paul in the city of Ephesus as recorded in The Acts of the Apostles chapter 19, serves as a great example of the opposition we should expect when God begins to do His work of revival and blessing. The city of Ephesus was a great metropolitan city in the first century with a population, by some accounts of 250, 000, and was home to one of the wonders of the ancient world, the temple of the goddess Artemis, the roman goddess of fertility.

Is there a fog in the American Pulpit?

At Easter and Christmas, many Americans make their obligatory pilgrimage back to the Church. For many, this is the two times every year, where their thoughts turn toward the subject of Christ and His church. At least, we can take comfort in the fact that a significant number in our culture still recognize the spiritual foundations of these holidays.

"Of greater concern, I think, should be the number of Christians who populate the pews of churches in America every week with no real sense of why they are there."

Of greater concern, I think, should be the number of Christians who populate the pews of churches in America every week with no real sense of why they are there. We should expect that the grace of God would have some influence on the greater society, giving them a sense of compulsion to attend a worship service during significant celebrations of the Christian faith. But what are we to make of professing Christians who attend a worship service with no worship in their heart toward the God they confess to serve?

Words Matter

"What is said in a momentary rush of emotion can have lasting consequences."

The Apostle Paul gives this warning in Galatians 5:15: “But if you bite and devour one another; take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.” (KJV) I recently heard a minister at a national pastors’ conference call another minister an “idiot” for subscribing to a different philosophy of practical pastoral ministry. Thankfully, I later learned that the two men exchanged apologies and the hosting church also issued an apology. Perhaps those involved learned a lesson that won’t be repeated. But if there is a larger lesson to be gleaned from this incident, it is this: our words matter. And the words of pastors and preachers really matter. It has been observed that in the Internet age our words are “instant, global, and eternal.” What is said in a momentary rush of emotion can have lasting consequences.

Keep this in mind when you watch "The Oscars"

Movies are by far the most popular form of entertainment today, and next month The Academy of Motion Picture Arts will hand out their highest awards for movie excellence.   As Christians, however, we must remember that what is popular should not be our standard for entertainment. In fact the first standard for entertainment as a Christian should always be to think about what we are engaging with our thoughts and emotions. Webster’s dictionary defines two postures toward entertainment: one is “diversion” and the other is “engagement.” As one Pastor has said, “Arguing that ‘It’s just entertaining’ is not an acceptable answer to ‘Why do you like this?’ ‘It’s just entertaining’ is a euphemism for ‘me not think’.” What should entertainment be to a Christian, Diversion or Engagement?

"The first standard for entertainment as a Christian should always be to think about what we are engaging with our thoughts and emotions"