By Mark W. Christy, PhD Many churches, especially among Baptists, have traditionally operated under a sole elder. Under this system, the sole minister often finds himself isolated and alone in the all-to-frequent, not to mention unfortunate and un-Christlike, struggles for power that occur between himself and the congregation and/or himself and the deacons. While it is uncommon, about seven percent of Baptist churches seek to resolve this ongoing power struggle by maintaining a permanent cla...

By Mark W. Christy, PhD Christianity, for far too many people, has been reduced to little more than keeping a pew warm on just enough Sundays to keep up appearances. This cold indifference by these pretenders is only being magnified by the faithful who do attend regularly only to be inundated with theologically light and emotionally appeasing sermons and worship services where pleasing people is the primary motivator and the preaching of the cross (suffering in the name of Christ) and self-d...

By Mark W. Christy, PhD In 1 Corinthians 2:2, Paul declares, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”[i] Commenting on this verse and noting the centrality of the cross throughout Paul’s ministry, D. A. Carson writes, “If [Paul] really holds that God has supremely disclosed himself in the cross and that to follow the crucified and risen Savior means dying daily, then it is preposterous to adopt a style of ministry that is triumphalistic, designed t...

By Mark W. Christy, PhD At times in Paul’s writings, he seems to suggest that he lacked any real skill in oral delivery. At one point, he says, “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God” (1 Cor 2:1).[i] In this text, Paul is clearly denigrating the form of his speech. Given the prevailing culture which all but worshiped those considered to be masters in rhetoric, Paul certainly wanted to distance himself...