5 REASONS I’M A CALVINIST

Theology May 5, 2017 Comments: 11

PMT 2017-036 by Stephen Altrogge (The Blazing Center)

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Calvinist”? A grumpy, cold-hearted person who only wants a select few people to get into heaven? An annoying guy who won’t stop rambling on about Romans 9? That awful, sterile, passionless church you used to go to?

I get it.

Calvinism doesn’t have a fantastic reputation, at least in some circles. Some people feel like it focuses more on theology than on loving people. Others have had really bad experiences with Calvinists. And some people think it runs counter to the beautiful free offer of grace found in the Bible. Continue reading →

DEYOUNG, PERSECUTION, POSTMILLENNIALISM

persecution May 2, 2017 Leave a comment

PMT 2017-035 by Larry E. Ball (author, Blessed Is He Who Reads)

Pastor Kevin DeYoung represents the standard view of the modern church with regard to the present and future expectation of Christian persecution (Four Thoughts on Persecution in America). However, I have been silent too long. It’s time to post a contra-view. Consider the following.

1. As Pastor DeYoung rightly suggests, the examples of “persecution” in the Bible refer to acts of violence toward Christians such as arrest, imprisonment, and even death. I would include a loss of employment and being ostracized by a particular community. Certainly, it can refer to pure hatred. Continue reading →

EUROPEAN MUSLIM CONVERTS TO CHRISTIANITY

missions April 28, 2017 Leave a comment

PMT 2017-034 by Fox News

Christianity is making a comeback in Europe – and it’s mostly thanks to Muslims, say experts in Islam and faith leaders.

A soaring number of Muslims, many of them refugees from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, are converting to Christianity, breathing new life into Europe’s once floundering Christian churches. The Muslims are flocking to various Christian denominations, experts said, including becoming Protestants, evangelical or Catholic.

As many parts of Europe are becoming more secular and houses of worship are seeing congregants leave in droves, it is Muslim converts who are reviving struggling Christian churches. Continue reading →

GAY CONVERSION THERAPY?

Culture, Ethics April 25, 2017 Leave a comment

PMT 2017-033 by Christopher Doyle (Christian Post)

On March 10, ABC’s “20/20” aired a year-long investigation on several “Christian camps” reported to be practicing so-called “gay conversion therapy.” Shockingly, the exposé revealed unspeakable abuse and torture by several unlicensed “pastors” operating reform schools for troubled youth, some of whom identified as gay or lesbian.

Unfortunately, ABC was more sensational than accurate in their reporting when comparing these rogue, abusive camps to licensed therapy for youth struggling with unwanted same-sex attractions and gender confusion, a practice that gay activists have aggressively sought to shut down in more than 25 states and cities across the country. Continue reading →

HEALTH BENEFITS OF WINE

Ethics, Non-eschatology Studies April 21, 2017 Comments: 15

PMT 2017-032 by Mischelle Sandowich (Reformed Health)

Wine is a gift to the human race. What makes wine a gift and not a curse? The answer is in the benefits of wine for your health and emotional well-being. So far we have looked at wine solely from a biblical perspective, but today we will look at 18 science based benefits of wine. If you’ve missed the previous posts, to date we have:

• noted that there are three basic views on alcohol use in the Bible: prohibitionist; abstentionist; and moderationist
• demonstrated that wine in the Bible contained alcohol
• shown one of the benefits of wine is its natural ability to ferment into alcohol – which brings joy to the heart
• provided 14 reasons that God approves the drinking of wine
• and shared 30 warnings in the Bible against drunkenness

Today we will talk about the health benefits of wine from a scientific approach. Continue reading →

CHINA’S REMARKABLE RELIGIOUS RESURGENCE

Church, Culture, missions April 18, 2017 Leave a comment

Interview of Ian Johnson by Rob Moll (Christianity Today)

Under Mao Zedong’s dictatorship, Christianity, Buddhism, and Taoism suffered persecution and near-extinction. In recent decades, however, they have each made an astounding comeback. In The Souls of China: The Return of Religion After Mao, Ian Johnson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has covered China for The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, and other publications, offers an intimate look at this remarkable recovery. CT editor at large Rob Moll spoke with Johnson about the reasons for spiritual ferment among the Chinese people.

What spurred your interest in China’s religious resurgence?

When I first went to China in the 1980s, I thought there was probably no religious belief at all. Continue reading →

EASTER AND VICTORY

Christ, Resurrection April 14, 2017 Leave a comment

PMT 2017-030 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.

This weekend Christians throughout the world especially recall Christ’s resurrection, because this is the Easter season. The Lord’s resurrection was the first step of his exaltation and leads inextricably to his eventual world dominion.

The New Testament has several enthronement passages that highlight his resurrection. The first of the enthronement passages in the post-resurrection age is Acts 2:30ff. This text associates Christ’s enthronement with his exaltation, which begins with his resurrection and proceeds to his ascension and session at God’s right hand. Continue reading →