Deconstructing Jack Schaap
Under the leadership of Jack Hyles, beginning in 1959 in Hammond, IN, First Baptist Church became the largest attended church in the world. Before he died, he made sure his successor would be his son-in-law, husband of his daughter Cindy, Jack Schaap. For that reason among others, it was world-wide news, especially religious, when Schaap […]
Did the Trinity Come from Paganism? part 4
This is a continuation of part 3. Actually, unlike Trinitarianism, both Arian and Sabellian or modalistic theology resulted in large measure from the influence of pagan thought upon Christianity. This fact is the affirmation of real historians quoted in context, rather than the creation of quotations slashed and burned from their contexts or from the […]
Lure Them In, pt. 3
Part One. Part Two. Let’s say you had a church that was doing everything that the Bible teaches a church to do, and even does all of them well with real affection toward God. Great expositional, biblical preaching. Widespread, regular, and bold evangelism. Giving. Obedient. Qualified leaders. Practices scriptural discipline. Discipleship. Unsaved people […]
Lure Them In, pt. 2
Part One If you didn’t figure it out already, the title is play on the lyrics to a well-known hymn, Bring Them In. The song contains a nice allusion to what I believe is the parable of the lost sheep. The concept of “lure them in” doesn’t happen in the Bible. “Bring Them In” isn’t […]
Did the Trinity Come from Paganism? part 3
This is a continuation of part 2. When the Unitarians in the Watchtower society wish to prove that the Trinity comes from paganism in general, they quote, more often than any other single reference book[i] in their Should You Believe In the Trinity? the work “The Paganism in Our Christianity [which] declares: ‘The origin of the […]
Why I’m Not a Calvinist, part three
Hi, I fully intend on completing the series on ‘luring them in’ (as well as every other series that I haven’t completed—remind me of the ones I haven’t finished), but today I interrupt completely that series by working on another series. Why? I usually figure out what to write while I’m jogging, and this one […]
Audio at Bethel Baptist Church
Please read Monday’s blog post. However, we want to update you on a few things, first, that A Pure Church (pre-publication, one copy, and multiple copies) is to the printers and will be out four weeks after we approve the proofs, which should be any day. Second, we have audio of the sermons and lessons taught […]
Lure Them In, pt. 1
When Purpose Driven Church first came out, I had never heard of Rick Warren, and I snatched it up immediately. I thought we were Purpose Driven and I wanted to know what he had to say. If you read that book, you had a hard time finding the purpose. I concluded the purpose was “making […]
Did the Trinity Come From Paganism? part 2
The Watchtower also, as quoted above in part one, wrote: “The Encyclopedia of Religion admits: ‘Theologians today are in agreement that the Hebrew Bible does not contain a doctrine of the Trinity.’ . . . The Encyclopedia of Religion says: ‘Theologians agree that the New Testament also does not contain an explicit doctrine of the […]
Nothing Is Weird Any More
Homosexuality isn’t weird. Purple hair isn’t weird. Women wearing their underwear in public isn’t weird. Trying to walk slow in front of cars isn’t weird. Pants hanging below the buttocks aren’t weird. Nose rings aren’t weird. Churches that bribe you to attend aren’t weird. Believing there’s life on Mars isn’t weird. Mr. Mom isn’t weird. […]