idle glorification

Waiting for that great day when God will finally cure us of the constant idolatry deeply within us, is sometimes unbearable.

Dr. Brown, still the Debater

I haven't heard anything from Michael Brown for a while. I lost touch with his ministry late last summer for various reasons. The last I heard, he was address the radical Gay agenda in his city of Charlotte, NC. It looks like not a lot has changed since then. I found this video from his website. It looks like he is still debating with the best of them. I do like the way Brown handles himself. This debate I think was this summer.

A Christian Response to Homosexuality from AskDrBrown on Vimeo.

Anti-Ecumenicalism Revival (don't worry. I define ecumenicalism)

I know many Evangelical ["Evangel" means "Gospel"] leaders are drawing lines between good and bad doctrine, and I applaud their effort, but I would like to hear a good call for anti-ecumenicalism. Truthfully, until recently, I found myself on the other side of the ecumenical issue. ["Ecumenical" means promoting unity among the churches of the world.] That sounds like a good thing. What could be more beneficial for the mission of the church then a unified apostolic head? As young as I am, I should be a little idealistic. Unfortunately, what usually begins with good intentions of fellowship inevitably ends at a dumbing down of vital doctrines of the church... sometimes doctrines of God.

Remember the children of Israel. While entering Canaan, God commanded His people to keep their sons from taking local wives, so as not to become like the people God was taking Canaan land from. However, marriage was a key means of diplomacy. And attraction to seek peace with at least one neighbor was great, in light of 40 years of wandering into rebellion, bloody battles, and vipers. A marriage to the right family could ensure a bright future and strong alliances meant a growing kingdom. The Israelites did take wives from among God's enemies, and as God promised, their sons worshipped the gods of their pagan brides.

If Evangelicals want to keep from becoming like the world they wish to evangelize, it would profit them greatly to keep their sons from taking brides from among ungodly doctrines. Ecumenicalism does not actually bread what it promises. The bright future of a strong alliance is actually nothing more than an addition of idolatry. When you put aside the teachings of the Bible to embrace a new brother, you actually are leaving The God who wrote the teachings for the sake of that new brother.

I am excited for The Gospel Coalition's leadership within the Evangelicalism. They have rallied Baptists, Presbyterians, Anglicans, and charismatic nondenominationals around the Evangel. But I do believe that the next step is not just coming to an agreement on what the Gospel is and how it affects the Christian's life. The next step is Universal Church discipline. And it begins when Evangelical leaders review doctrines worth breaking fellowship over. Like Israelites of old, we mustn't tire of taking and defending the promise land given to us by the grace of God.

Robust gospel church discipline calls individual congregates to repentance, and warns Christians everywhere of church leaders who have made a shipwreck of their faith. It is ironic, but I believe the goal of ecumenicalism would actually be possible with the success of church discipline. As the church draws doctrinal lines, the churches on the biblical side would be strengthened as we've seen within The Gospel Coalition.

Case+Point:

Immediately, I want to see Evangelicals apply robust gospel centered discipline to John Stott, N.T. Wright, and Mike Bickle. John Stott is still spoken of well, despite his submission to annihilationist ["Annihilation" means no eternity of torture, but instead simply ceasing to exist] view of Hell. N.T. Wright, apart from all his slippery NPP and Exile Homecoming=Justification rhetoric is doing nothing more than denying the Inspiration of scripture. We don't have to know all his teaching to see the error (as I've come to realize). Mike Bickle is among the tail end of the Latter Rain movement. But unlike many other blue hairs, Bickle is attracting many young people--the future of the Church. If understanding is not brought to bare on this "prophet's" "Word Faith" and "Mystic" practices, the church will have to deal with another millennium of monasticism.