Catholics and Lutherans Statement on Justification

Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification Have you ever read the 1998 statement on the doctrine of justification produced jointly by Lutherans and Catholics?  It attempts to declare where the two churches hold common beliefs in the matter of justification and related beliefs regarding sin, good works, assurance of salvation, grace and faith. It is a well crafted statement and not so scholarly that lay people would not find it useful.  In fact, I think many Catholic and Protestant friends could find it a useful discussion starter.  So many people are still of the belief that their good works here on this earth earn them entrance into heaven.  Formally, that belief is anathema to the Christian faith whether it be Roman Catholic, Lutheran or otherwise. Justification is God's act of declaring a sinner righteous before Himself.  It is a gracious gift through faith in Jesus Christ and not earned through good works. Though you may believe or your church may teach that heaven and eternal life will be yours because you have been a good person, that is not now, nor has it ever been, the formal teaching of the church universal nor of the teaching of the Bible.  Jesus never taught that.  St. Paul or the other authors of the New Testament never taught that.  And it has never been the formal belief of the church.

Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery ... Except?

Is It Still Adultery if Your Spouse Has Alzheimer's? - WSJ.com If you are a pastor, how are you going to counsel your people?  How would you preach about this? Some would say, "Yes, it is."  You took a vow of fidelity 'in sickness and health' and you should keep it. I have to admit that I have admired those spouses who have faithfully cared for their aging spouse with dementia or other illness. Their sacrifice appears heroic to me. Others would say, "No. That's really not my spouse any more." or "He or she would not want me to be lonely and committed to her body without her mind." Some are saying that I am keeping my vow of "in sickness and health."  I am not abandoning my care of or provision for this person.  I'm not even getting divorced. But relationally, the person who was my spouse for so long is no longer mentally there. I've grieved as if they had already died and have moved on. So the question people are really asking is, "What is adultery and faithfulness?"  Is it fidelity to a partner no matter their mental capacity, or is it fidelity only as long as they maintain their ability their ability to communicate? Certainly a problematic issue is what if a cure for Alzheimer's is found tomorrow and your spouse awakes to find you have moved on, perhaps with someone they don't approve of. I'm not sure you could point to any one Scripture text that addresses this issue definitively, so you have to look at the preponderance of the evidence.  I've been thinking about what Scripture texts deal with someone, anyone who doesn't have their mental faculties.  My wife thought of "whatever you do to the least of these" (Matt 25.40).  I thought of the compassion that Jesus shows the demon possessed but those are people who could be restored to sanity.  I also thought of God's faithfulness to an unfaithful people and the story of Hosea. I wonder if the Vatican has addressed this. They tend to think through these sanctity of life kind of issues. Perhaps the scripture text that does address it is, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  What would you want your spouse to do? Perhaps we should communicate that to them. What if there are children involved? How would they feel about it?

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Mormons and Evangelicals in Conversation

Most Improbable Dialogue | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction The dialog between Evangelicals and Mormons continues. This article gives a little history and some of the extraordinary results of these interactions.  One interesting event was the permission granted by Mormon leaders to a large group of evangelical churches to use a Mormon Temple for an evangelistic event with Nick Vujicic of Life Without Limbs. It was interesting to read that Mormon leaders are not trained in academic theology -- very few Ph.D.'s.  Whereas most of the evangelical leaders we know of have at least an M.Div. or M.A and a Ph.D., Th.D. or a D.Min. (Thanks Brad.)

Affinity Evangelism For Small Churches

Affinity Evangelism Started a new series on Affinity Evangelism for small churches.

Jujitsu Fighting Pastors

Fight Nights and Reggae Draw Churchgoers in Brazil - NYTimes.com A Brazilian church outreach involves Reggae and a "fight night" with jujitsu fighters including the pastor. An odd attempt at being relevant. I've been thinking about this theologically for a while and something troubles me about it but I'm not sure what it is. What do you think? Do you want your pastor or you as the pastor to be fighting for sport? I guess at a bare minimum his church treasurer and leadership team won't hassle him. The article clearly outlines how it and some other extraordinary measures are being taken in Brazil as an evangelistic outreach. It's being done purely in the name of Christ and done for mission. Yet something troubles me about it. You?

How Will New Devices and Always On Internet Effect the Church?

This article talks about the paradigm shift that is happening in media especially with the advent of the iPhone and that the fact that for many they no longer "log on" to the internet but are "on continuously". That really is a seismic shift. If (more like when) Apple releases a tablet, the author is predicting another seismic shift. I continue to wonder how the church can use these technological shifts to engage people -- be a catalyst for their spiritual lives and help them connect to God. I see technological changes as opportunities for the church. Apple's Tablet PC Will Reinvent Computing | Newsweek Daniel Lyons | Techtonic Shifts | Newsweek.com: "I have no idea what the 'new news' will look like, but I know it will arrive. Look at how people have turned their creativity loose on the iPhone. In just 16 months, thousands of developers have created 85,000 applications for that device. The same will happen with tablets. These powerful devices with constant Internet access will enable us (and force us) to rethink media. What is a newspaper? What is a book? What is a movie? What is entertainment? Somewhere out there, the Orson Welles of the digital age is in grade school, or maybe high school. Soon he or she will be inventing a new language for telling stories. I can't wait to see what it looks like."

The AntiChristian Holiday

Vatican condemns Halloween as anti-Christian - Telegraph The Holy See has warned that parents should not allow their children to dress up as ghosts and ghouls on Saturday, calling Hallowe'en a pagan celebration of "terror, fear and death". The paper quoted a liturgical expert, Joan Maria Canals, who said: "Hallowe'en has an undercurrent of occultism and is absolutely anti-Christian." I'm not sure what's up with the funky spelling of Hallowe'en. They spelled it that way consistently throughout the article. A European thing? Really there is nothing wrong with dressing up. Certainly there is nothing wrong with candy. And that's all Halloween is for most folks. But I think the Vatican is on to something here. Occult and pagan religions practice October 31st as a holiday or holy day and the most common themes for the day are indeed terror, fear, death, the occult and in recent years Halloween has taken on a Mardi Gras atmosphere with more partying and sexual costumes. Why would a Christian want any part of that?

More Christian Unity: This Time it's Orthodox

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.com: Hopes rising for unifying Orthodoxy's U.S. churches The Roman Catholic Church just recently made easier the adoption of Anglicans, both clergy and churches. And there have been some discussions about Catholic and Orthodox unity. Now there are serious discussions within the various Orthodox entities globally to find a status of unity. Imagine, if you could, what would the church in North America look like if the Orthodox, Catholics and Anglicans (not Episcopalians -- I can't imagine that) united as a church and found a way to become missional together. The important act here is not unity. The most important act would be repentance. Repentance is a precursor to revival. Will theses church repent of wounding each other out of pride and over grabs of power and prestige? Will they say "We are sorry for our actions." or like the Episcopalians in recent times just express their regret. The worst thing that could happen is they unify without acknowledging the sin of division, the pain caused by their declarations of anathema and in some cases, violence done to one another. Imagine a world where the dominating evangelizing force was a newly spiritually rejuvenated unified Catholic/Orthodox/Anglican Church.

VirtueOnline - News - Culture Wars - America Tolerates Anti-Christian Double Standard

VirtueOnline - News - Culture Wars - America Tolerates Anti-Christian Double Standard: "Recently in my ultra-liberal city of Portland, I found myself driving behind a car with just one bumper sticker. 'So many Christians,' it read, 'So few lions.' I wondered what could possess a person to adorn their car with this one homicidal sentiment-and then possess my community to let them drive around, unaccosted. A friend and I discussed later what other slogans might be put on a bumper sticker. What if it said 'So many Jews, so few gas chambers'? It could read, 'So many blacks, so few nooses.' Or 'So many Muslims, so few Abu Ghraibs.' How long would it take for a car with that sticker to be pulled over? Twenty minutes?" Indeed it is a morbidly interesting phenomenon to see our nation evolve into one that is derisive toward Christianity from one that favored it.

Christians Prepare For Jail

Obama signs 'hate-crimes' bill into law There are a lot of people who are gravely concerned about new "hate crime" legislation that is now law. Many feel it will be used to specifically suppress the free speach of Christians. A Hindu group already wants to use it to shut Christian mission web sites critical of them. And there are Christians who will be in danger of prosecution because of sermon content.

You Can Become A God

UK Telegraph: Immortality only 20 years away says scientist Eternal life here on earth. You don't even have to change religions. "Scientist Ray Kurzweil claims humans could become immortal in as little as 20 years' time through nanotechnology and an increased understanding of how the body works."

What Really is Shocking ...

FOX News - Opinion - Where Have All the Christians Gone? FOX News is reporting on the decline of Christians in the population. It's really not shocking that people are leaving church. So many are mind boggling boring. What is really shocking is the incredible indifference amongst Christian leaders and especially Christian lay people of the boomer generation and older that people are leaving. When does the plummeting church attendance and the stats that FOX quotes become an emergency to the church?  I'm continue to remain stunned that so few seem to notice or are worried.  How long until North American Christianity becomes European Christianity?

Why Arguments against Women in Ministry Aren't Biblical - Ben Witherington on the Bible and Culture

The future Bishop of Durham, Scott Emery, posted this article on Facebook moments ago: Why Arguments against Women in Ministry Aren't Biblical - Ben Witherington on the Bible and Culture Witherington is a great Biblical scholar. Agree with him or not, he offers some detailed exegesis and well reasoned and researched scholarship in his arguments. His scholarly influence continues to grow.

Sinners, Bars and Jesus

So Catalyst Church recently did a sermon on "Do You Think Jesus Would Hang Out At A Downtown Bar?"  And then I read this article about a church having an Alpha course in a pub:  Go on, have a pint with the Lord - The Globe and Mail. I keep hearing, "Sure Jesus would go to a bar.  He always hung out with sinners in the Scriptures."  A reference to, at least, Luke 15:1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Just a point of reference:  Not everyone in a bar is some moral reprobate that doesn't go to church, alcoholic, addict, looking for a hook-up who is drinking away their kids food money.  Let's not paint with such a broad brush and stereotype people.  Let's know them and love them. Jesus is the creator and author of this entire universe.  I don't think there are any places that are off limits to Him.

FREE! Scholarly Resources

And for my less Pentecostal friends, who are worried about my salvation because I'm listening to Jack Deere and Rick Joyner, I don't want you to feel unloved. Here is a more scholarly resource with Tim Keller, Os Guinness, William Lane Craig, Alvin Plantinga, etc. The Veritas Forum: Media

FREE Sermons! For the Pentecostal in You

I listen to a variety of different sermons and messages from Dave Ramsey and Dan Miller to Mark Driscoll or NT Wright internetmonk.com or Roger Olson or Lee Strobel or Craig Groeschel to Rick Joyner and Jack Deere. I cover a pretty broad theological spectrum. I particularly like to listen to the Pentecostal guys that swim in the prophetic streams. They are inspiring and hope bearing. Below is a brief list of sites that offer free mp3 sermons. Some are from conferences and some are just small collections. You'll find guys like Steve Thompson, Jack Deere, Rick Joyner, Bob Jones, Dutch Sheets, Randy Clark and Mike Bickle but plenty of others ... David Wilkinson, Jim Cymbala, John Bevere ... I listened to Graham Cooke last night and he was extremely funny but very insightful.  What if Osama Bin Laden is the modern day Saul of Tarsus? love God! Look in the left menu for mp3.  A couple of the talks require you to download several segments of it to listen to the whole thing, which is a real pain, but well worth it. He Burns For Me Holy Desperation International House of Prayer : Resources

Tim Keller: Ministry Idolatry

Redeemer Church Planting Center | Counterfet Gods - The Personal Story | Tim Keller Tim Keller tells the story of how ministry accomplishment and personal sacrifice became idolatry. And it became neglect of his wife and children and the sabbath. If that's you. Stop, drop and roll. Go home now and tell them you love them. Be present with them.

Married Catholic Priests? More on the way.

Vatican creates new structure for Anglicans Many do not realize there are already a handful of married Roman Catholic priests. These are generally former Episcopalian priests who have "crossed the Tiber" as the expression goes. However, an announcement today by the Vatican saying it will provide easy access for Anglicans wishing to come to Rome yet maintain certain Anglican worship traditions, also included the provision for married Anglican priests to become Roman Catholic priests, though not bishops. It is believed that Rome has been besieged by Anglicans desiring a theologically orthodox home whilst maintaining their traditions. "Pope Benedict XVI has created a new church structure for Anglicans who want to join the Catholic Church, responding to the disillusionment of some Anglicans over the ordination of women and the election of openly gay bishops. " Of particular interest is the fact that this creation by the Vatican does not seem to be born out of ecumenical dialog. That itself could be perceived as a great slap in the face to the Church of England. Just another embarrassing chapter in the life of Rowan Williams. I do not think history books will be kind to him. We're watching the demise of the worldwide Anglican Communion under his leadership, or lack thereof.

Serving the Covenant Church

Churches Seeking Staff - Evangelical Covenant Church 26 Senior pastor positions available in the Evangelical Covenant Church right now, including 1 part-time and 2 interim positions. What looks good to you? I'll have to get out an atlas for some of these and figure out which are closest to the ocean. CENTRAL CONFERENCE: Glen Ellyn, IL 303/359 Machesney Park, IL 84/64 Northbrook, IL 160/130 Iron River, MI 186/122 EAST COAST CONFERENCE: Cromwell, CT 122/85 Woodstock, CT 360/249 Bronx, NY 959/500 Berlin, CT 512/455 (Interim Pastor, effective 12/1/09) Cromwell, CT 122/85 (Interim Pastor, part-time) GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE: Grand Rapids, MI 571/750 (Thornapple) Northport, MI 58/75 MIDSOUTH CONFERENCE: San Juan, TX 54/40 (Part-time. Parsonage available) MIDWEST CONFERENCE: Castle Rock, CO 101/145 Decorah, IA 64/154 Omaha, NE (Community) 208/135 NORTH PACIFIC CONFERENCE: Portland, OR 177/131 (Irvington) NORTHWEST CONFERENCE: Fairmont, MN 141/183 St. Louis Park, MN (Emmaus Road) 43/140 PACIFIC SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE: Arnold, CA 299/281 Fremont, CA 612/354 (South Bay) Pasadena, CA 372/286 (Pasadena) Sacramento, CA 89/181 (River Life) Stockton, CA 224/186 SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE: Birmingham, AL 125/202 Orlando, FL 57/66 Cary, NC 122/197 Madison, NC (Kallam Grove) 97/80

Today We Honor Jacob Arminius

ARMINIUS 400: The Legacy of Jacob Arminius | Society of Evangelical Arminians

Servant Evangelism

I'm in Ashtabula, OH this weekend at First Covenant Church with Pastor Bruce Wyand.  Nice group of people tonight for our first sessions.  Tomorrow, one of the things I'll talk about is Servant Evangelism:  small acts of kindness to show God's love in tangible ways.  Here's an intro video with Steve Sjogren:

Giffordslist in Syracuse, NY

Giffordslist The site is a great resource for non-profits in our community. It allows organizations to buy, sell, and trade resources and services amongst each other. Organizations can post wants, advertise events, and solicit board members and volunteers. If your organization is looking for ways to go “Green” this is a great tool. The site is free to use! You can post listings of items and materials you no longer use or request items you are in need of. Please visit the site at http://www.giffordslist.org/?site_id=34

Spiritual Disciplines (Habits)

Many Christian people are working changing their habits and behaviors for purposes of holiness and closeness with God. Some are trying to eliminate certain behaviors, others are trying to start new ones or follow through with a spiritual discipline. Sometimes we simply pray and hope that God takes over and miraculously instantaneously changes us. That happens. Rarely. More often than not we struggle against the flesh and sin and wrangle our ways to new paths and disciplines. In doing so, don't disregard less 'spiritual' approaches of developing new habits. Take a look here at: Zen Habits: The Habit Change Cheatsheet: 29 Ways to Successfully Ingrain a Behavior. Yes, by all means pray for God's help but by all means work diligently toward the goals God has set for you. Fight for His calling in your life. From Zen Habits: The simple steps of habit change: 1. Write down your plan. 2. Identify your triggers and replacement habits. 3. Focus on doing the replacement habits every single time the triggers happen, for about 30 days.

Big Ed's Church Planting Mistakes

Ed Stetzer Shares 7 Big Church Planting Mistakes | churchrelevance.com 1. Forgetting the mission. 2. Being married to a model. 3. Not taking care of yourself. 4. Arrogance. 5. Not taking believers deeper. 6. Ignoring hidden agendas. 7. Afraid of finances. What mistakes have you made?