Category Archives: Religion

Pray for Rick Warren’s speedy recovery

Rick Warren is apparently at home recovering after his eyes were severely burned by toxic sap from a firestick plant last Monday. I am praying that Rick Warren makes a swift and full recovery, and encourage you to do likewise.

A closer look at the Alpha Course and whether it is permissible to judge what other Christians teach

In this post: The responsibility of elders for sound doctrine; Do ordinary believers have the right to judge an elder’s doctrine?; Doesn’t Jesus tell us not to judge?; Doesn’t Paul tell us not to judge another’s servant?; Is the Alpha Course really that bad?; Is God not able to use Alpha, even if it imperfect?; [...]

Our transformed lives: what are we to make of good works?

In this post: On professing Christians who seemingly bear no fruit; Paul Washer on our unbalanced understanding of Christianity; Of those whose lives do seem to bear fruit in keeping with repentance; Bonus comments: Brief study of assurance in 1 John 3:14–20; Is it right to share our testimony of a changed life? In my [...]

The Purpose Driven Life: introductory discernment resources

In this post: Rick Warren; The Gospel obscured; Drs. Sproul and Mohler on the errors of seeker-sensitivity; Hostile church takeovers In his comment on my article, Dangerous pragmatism – why a transformed life is not proof of salvation, my father expressed unawareness of the Purpose Driven Life movement. I know that my father’s claim might [...]

In thankfulness for my readers and their comments

This blog is blessed with intelligent, thoughtful and gracious commenters. One of the delights of posting a piece is in the subsequent interaction with its readers. Whether they agree, disagree or are simply asking questions, I often find that the ensuing conversation helps me to sharpen my understanding of the glorious Gospel and its outworking [...]

Dangerous pragmatism – why a transformed life is not proof of salvation

In this post: The defective gospel of the Alpha Course; False assumption 1 – We can judge what is right by whether it ‘works’; False assumption 2 – Growth in church attendance proves God’s blessing; False assumption 3 – A transformed life is proof of salvation; The right way, and the wrong way, to view [...]

The power of the Gospel

What is the Gospel? I briefly covered this in my article, The mysterious case of the disappearing gospel. But the topic is so important that I return to it here. St. Paul defines the Gospel very clearly and concisely in his first letter to the Corinthians: Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which [...]

Bob DeWaay on the dangers of spiritual formation and spiritual disciplines

My friend Mike Ratliff presents a superb article by Bob DeWaay that gets to the heart of the problems inherent in spiritual formation and spiritual disciplines. As usual, Pastor DeWaay is Scriptural, clear, insightful and convincing. What more could you want? If you have read my article Spiritual growth? There’s an app for that, you’ll [...]

The mysterious case of the disappearing gospel

Have you noticed? Christian organizations everywhere are emphasizing the importance of engaging in practical ways with the poor and needy. The talk is of ‘impacting people’s lives for the Kingdom’ and ‘responding to Jesus’ call to look after the poorest and most vulnerable’. This is a good thing, surely? Is this not simply following the [...]

Spiritual growth? There’s an app for that

The folks from Leadership Network are into innovation in a big way. And they have something shiny and new. It’s called Monvee. Remember, Leadership Network is the organization that helped infect the church with the twin blights of Seeker Drivenism and Emergence Christianity. Leadership Network has marketing clout, and knows how to use it. Monvee [...]