The Different Gospel in Some Presumably Conservative Evangelical Churches

Posted on by markwchristy
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel, 7 which is not just another account; but there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ” (Gal 1:6-7 NASB). From these words of Paul to the Galatians, the reader is made aware of the potential for true Christians (cf. 1:2, 11; 3:3, 5, 15; 4:6, 12, 31; 5:13; 8-9) to become sidetracked by “different gospel[s]” that are not founded on the “grace of Chr...
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Should Believers Expect Blessings in Regard to Finances, Health, and Success? (Part 1 of Interaction with the Belief Statement of a Prosperity Gospel Church)

Posted on by markwchristy
While giving at a sermon a local SBC church in Shreveport, the pastor mentioned his joyful willingness to partner with a local church called the Word of God Ministries. Honestly, the name alone drew my attention as it suggests affiliation with the Word of Faith and Prosperity Gospel movements. Given this concern, it made sense to tour their website (See link in 1st endnote) and determine whether or not grounds existed to support my suspicion. On their website, I accessed their belief statement ...
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The Road to Dumbing Down the Church: A Review of Stephen Furtick’s Seven-Mile Miracle

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By Mark W. Christy, PhD Steven Furtick, Seven-Mile Miracle: Journey into the Presence of God through the Last Words of Jesus (Multnomah: 2017). In Seven-Mile Miracle, Steven Furtick offers his readers a pathway to knowing more of God (2-3).[i] Before continuing to read, the observant and informed (biblically) reader would note that one cannot know more of God. One can either know God or not. As a Christian, one can either walk in fullness of the Holy Spirit or not.[ii] Ignoring this error...
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Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador or Not: Have the Ears of Southern Baptists Been Tickled?

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By Mark Christy, PhD Recently, I ran across a book entitled Billy Graham, God’s Ambassador by Russ Busby as it was being donated to a ministry (owned by an SBC church) for the purpose of reselling. Given that Graham was ordained by an SBC church, this donation at first glance seemed entirely in order. As I reflected on its title, I checked Lifeway.com (owned by SBC) and noted that many books by and about Billy Graham are available. Then, I suddenly remembered that the Southern Baptist Theolo...
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Being Thankful is a State of Being and Not a Product of Effort

Posted on by markwchristy
Over the last several weeks, I have come across three separate pastors (all in the SBC like me) who have, in one way or another, given a message on the need for Christians to develop an attitude of gratitude. One of them said it in exactly that way. Another argued that a Christian’s intimacy with God is broken when they start complaining, and this leads to doubt. To allay this process from the start, he urged believers to practice being thankful. The third pastor, believing he was giving a bibl...
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Loving One Another Biblically Requires Some Confrontation

Posted on by markwchristy
Have you ever heard someone give the following advice when some sort of relational conflict has arisen and tempers begin to flare: ‘Why can’t we just love everybody’ or ‘Let’s just love everybody.’ On the surface, this advice seems biblical because “love never fails” (1 Cor 13:8 NASB), and it “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet 4:8 NASB). While affirming the aspects of love mentioned in the previous verses, biblical love has to also be understood in how it is to be displayed within relationship...
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Filling of the Spirit Coincides with Ongoing Instruction in and Submission to the Word of God

Posted on by markwchristy
(Note: All true believers have been indwelled and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Both of these divine actions remain permanent and set apart those who are believers who have been called in Christ heavenward. This article will focus on what it means for believers to filled by the Spirit during their earthly lives.) In Ephesians 5:19, Paul, who is writing to his Christian audience (i.e., those who have been indwelled by the Spirit) tells believers that they are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. A...
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The Great Commission Does Not End with Evangelism

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Matthew 28:19-20 NASB – “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” As careful reading of v.20 will show, the Great Commission does not end with evangelism. Unfortunately, many seem to focus exclusively on this part of it. Sure, it is awesome to see people coming to Christ and seeing the Church of G...
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