Category Archives: Optimism

CHRISTIANITY’S GROWTH IN IRAN

Evangelism, Optimism June 4, 2019 1 Comment

PMW 2019-045 by Afshin Ziafat (Desiring God)

Robert Bruce, a Scottish missionary to Iranian Muslims in the late nineteenth century, wrote home to his supporters, “I am not reaping the harvest; I scarcely claim to be sowing the seed; I am hardly ploughing the soil; but I am gathering out the stones. That, too, is missionary work; let it be supported by loving sympathy and fervent prayer.”

For many years, Iran was one of the most difficult regions of the world to reach with the gospel. A significant development occurred in 1979, however, with the Islamic Revolution in Iran. The ruling monarch, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, was overthrown, and in his place an Islamic Republic was birthed, led by the Ayatollah Khomeini. Sharia law became the law of the land, and Muslim clerics became the heads of state. Continue reading →

IS POSTMILLENNIALISM IMPOSSIBLE?

Optimism May 7, 2019 Comments: 2

PMW 2019-037 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Our Lord Jesus Christ ministered for over three years proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God. But after initially drawing a “great multitude” of followers (Jn 6:2), John records with disappointment that “many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (Jn 6:66). In fact, toward the end of his ministry one of his own twelve disciples turned against him, literally selling him out to the authorities (Jn 13:18; Ac 1:18-19). And even his remaining faithful disciples forsook him in cowardly fear as he was on trial for his life (Mt 26:31, 56; Lk 22:31-34), locking themselves away from opponents (Jn 20:19).

With such a shaky start, what might we expect to become of the kingdom of God, which Christ initially proclaimed as near (Mk 1:15; Mt 4:17) and eventually established as present (Mt 12:28; Lk 17:20-21)? In other words, what is the outlook for the Christian faith in the historical long run? How should we answer a query such as Christ poses: “When the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth” (Lk 18:8)? Continue reading →

GOSPEL SPREADING FASTER THAN EVER

Optimism March 12, 2019 Comments: 2

PMW 2019-021 by Brandon Shoalter (The Christian Post)

Gentry note: The spiritual, moral, social, and cultural decline of America grieves American Christians. But as a postmillennialist, I remind Christians that “it ain’t over til it’s over.” Nowhere in the postmillennial hope or the Bible do we argue that by the year 2019 the gospel will have won victory throughout the world. This will be the case, even though at this stage we do not know when. Nevertheless, there is hope for the gospel’s spread, as we may see from this Christian Post article about Wycliff Translators.

I would also remind American Christians of two things: (1) We need to pray for revival and reformation in America. God is powerful and he answers prayers. (2) We must understand that God does not need America; America needs God. Thus, the absurdity leading our cultural collapse does not impact the integrity of the postmillennial hope.

New Bible Translation Technology by Wycliffe Spreading Gospel Faster than Ever Before

New technology has emerged that will enable quicker translation of the Bible and faster spread of the Gospel, accelerated by indigenous people doing the work of translation.

Wycliffe Bible Translators has recently adapted their translation software, “ParaText,” for smartphones, dubbing it “ParaText Lite,” and has described it as a game-changer in several ways. Continue reading →

POSTMILLENNIAL PRAYER

Optimism January 25, 2019 Comments: 2

POSTMILLENNIAL PRAYER
PMW 2019-008 by Chalcedon Foundation (Editorial)

If prayer is talking with God, then our prayer life is most vital when it is most frequent, when our hearts and minds readily and constantly call upon God in every kind of situation.[1]

There’s an old saying that goes, “Pray like it all depends upon God but work like it all depends upon you.” As Reformed Christians seeking to fulfill the mission of godly reconstruction, this is precisely how we should live, because prayer is not opposed to work, and work is not opposed to prayer. As Rushdoony once wrote, “Prayer is not a substitute for action but its accompaniment.”[2] Continue reading →

CHRISTIANITY DEAD IN EUROPE???

Evangelism, Optimism October 2, 2018 Comments: 3

PMW 2018-079 by John D. Martin (The Federalist)

Gentry note: This is an encouraging article that notes “there have been increasing signs of a real and sustained Christian revival in Europe, hardly reported and barely noticed in press across the pond.” Of course, we know on the basis of Scripture that this will ultimately be the case, but it is good to see signs of that today.

As we can see from the article, with the growth of Christian belief, we need to promote true Christian training in biblical doctrine. The Great Commission not only promotes faith, but training in that faith.

There is an old joke about a Christian lady who was responding to a friend who believed “God is dead.” This humble believer responded: “I know God is not dead! There is no casket big enough to hold him and I am in the family and haven’t been notified.” God is not dead. Neither is belief in God dead.

“Reports of Christianity’s Death in Europe Have Been Greatly Exaggerated”
by John D. Martin

Since the 2007 publication of Philip Jenkin’s God’s Continent: Christianity, Islam and Europe’s Religious Crisis, observers of religious trends in European culture have been keeping a close eye on developments that might validate his sanguine view that Europe could see a revival in Christian belief. Richard J. Neuhaus, in his review of it in First Things at the time, thought the view was “too roseate.” Continue reading →

GOD AGAINST THE GODS

Optimism, Theology March 20, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-023 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

In my last article I gave a brief exposition of God’s name which was given to Moses to encourage him to lead Israel out of bondage. We saw in that name reason to have hope in this world. Our God is a great God. And I will continue in Exodus by showing that our God is a great God above all gods. I will do this by briefly focusing on the Ten Plagues against Egypt and summarizing their theological purpose. Continue reading →

HOPE AND THE GREAT “I AM”

Optimism, Theology, Worldview March 16, 2018 Leave a comment

PMT 2018-022 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

Postmillennialism goes against the pessimistic expectations of contemporary Christianity. Christians have adopted Woody Allen’s view of life: “More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”

This is because we take our eyes off of God and his great power. We are like the Israelites who feared entering the land. We declare that “we are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us” (Num. 13:31). We need to gain a renewed sense of the glory and power of God. Continue reading →