“The exchange of one set of bureaucrats for another doth not a reformation make.” I first heard Timothy George, the founding Dean of Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama, make … More
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Introduction Dispensational theology is a nineteenth-century aberration away from historic, orthodox, Biblical Christianity. Undoubtedly, an introductory statement of this nature has already polarized some readers. Is this simply a pejorative statement made by an overzealous refugee of Dispensationalism? After all, on what basis can a 25-year-old make such a dogmatic claim about Dispensationalists, especially […]
I stated at the outset of this series that an examination of Richard Baxter’s thought in context would not simplify the issue at hand but rather complicate it. This final … More
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He was asking a question that I had heard multiple times during my years as a pastor: “Do you have children’s church?” This time, instead of giving an extensive explanation … More
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Some Preliminary Thoughts to the Reader I’m not a person who goes out of the way to look for controversy. If you ask those who know me best, they’ll confirm that I tend to be more of a “people-pleaser.” Under most circumstances, if it means making somebody else happy or avoiding conflict, I’m willing to set […]
Part I laid the essential groundwork necessary to understanding Baxter’s advice in Question 109. But to engage with said question it is also helpful to examine other surrounding questions in … More
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Single Elder-led Congregationalism The last governmental structure worthy of consideration is single elder-led congregationalism. This view denies the bishop hierarchal structure espoused in Episcopalianism. It likewise denies the interdependent connectional structure espoused in Presbyterianism. Like plural elder-led congregationalism, single elder-led congregationalism affirms the autonomy of each local/visible church. The distinguishing mark between these two governmental […]
Introduction You’ve probably seen it going around. Almost as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic began, Christian commentators, following the right and well-meaning impulse to look to the past for guidance … More
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Opposing Views to Plural Elder Led Congregationalism The second prominent opposing view to plural elder-led congregationalism worth considering is Presbyterianism. Christians in the Presbyterian tradition hold to a system of church government in which elected elders/presbyters from churches represent churches and oversee them. Hence the name Presbyterianism. This system opposes the independency of a church […]
If you have pastored a single congregation for any length of time, then you know how difficult it can be to shepherd those who disagree with you. The first few months of ministry at a new location are similar to a new happy marriage. But soon after the honeymoon phase has ended, opposition soon arises. […]
Many young Christians didn’t learn how to understand justice from Scripture. So in college, they learned how to understand justice from culture. And now, they think injustice is justice. And … More
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Opposing Views to Plural Elder Led Congregationalism The first major opposing view to plural elder-led congregationalism that we will consider is Episcopalianism. There are different groups that hold to different theological convictions that use this form of church governance. The Episcopalian governance structure teaches that bishops are a distinct office, above deacons and presbyters.[1] Some […]
Plural Elder Led Congregationalism We have given consideration to who an elder is and what an elder does. But now we must consider how an elder cooperates with a congregation. The Bible’s discussion of church leadership always assumes a congregational context.[1] Sam Waldron writes the following about the congregational nature of the church: Congregationalism may […]
The year of our Lord 2020 has gifted us many things that we would like to return. But, through the rioting, looting, moral posturing, and over-reaching governors, God is allowing … More
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The Plurality of Eldership The ninth mark of Mark Dever’s book, Nine Marks of a Healthy Church, is “Biblical Church Leadership.” He writes the following concerning the matter: The Bible clearly models a plurality of elders in each local church.[1] This assertion can be proved with numerous Scripture citations. Consider the following: “When they had […]
All reformation begins with the Word, because it is the Word that is empowered by God for the work that needs to be done[1]. I was asked to share what … More
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The Qualifications for Eldership Not everyone in the church is gifted for the spiritual office of elder. This office has qualifications that restrict who can and who cannot serve the church in this role. Although not everyone is gifted and/or qualified for eldership, Paul tells Timothy that desiring to be an overseer is a noble […]
Jesus announced the purpose of His incarnational mission at a gathering in His hometown synagogue in Nazareth. After His baptism and temptation in the wilderness, on a Sabbath day, He … More
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Regeneration is Necessary to Believe In the last sermon he ever preached, August 19, 1688, John Bunyan said, “Believing is the consequence of the new birth.”[1] I would point out … More
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The New Testament uses multiple terms interchangeably to describe this office: elder, overseer (bishop in the King James Version), and shepherd. The Particular Baptist Nehemiah Coxe helps establish these interchangeable titles: The officers that we are now treating of, which are in our text called elders (πρεσβυτέροι), are in the very next words styled bishops […]
Sometimes Christians must live and minister through unusually difficult seasons. But occasionally the challenges that we face are particularly exacerbated by a degenerating society. Such is the nature of living … More
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I believe in conspiracy theories. I think you should too, if you are a Bible believer. To be clear, I believe in one giant conspiracy theory standing behind every example … More
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Over one month ago I decided to raise money to try to financially support any dismissed Southern Seminary professor who had his severance withheld because he refused to sign a … More
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WHEREAS, Southern Baptists are a Great Commission People, who initiated a “Great Commission Resurgence” in 2010, yet have seen a steady decline in baptisms in the ensuing decade, despite an … More
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Since representing Southern Baptists a year ago before the National Commission on Military, National, and Public service, I’ve been in contact with retired Navy Captain Robert H. Miller, who was … More
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I hate every form of abuse. Whether it be the father who uses harsh words with his wife or children; the mother who slaps her child; the husband who physically … More
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Henry C. Vedder, in his Baptists and Liberty of Conscience (1884), proudly declared that the “glory of Baptists” was that they were the first to advocate religious liberty for all … More
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Some Christians believe the sacraments function like magic wands that automatically bring about (ex opere operato) the things that they signify. For these Christians, salvation is bestowed and maintained by … More
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We Christians know that the world is not a machine. A virus is not merely a glitch in the system. Rather, the Christian faith teaches that God is sovereign. As … More
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Pastors and church leaders around the world are trying to shepherd local congregations through the pandemic created by Covid-19. Many principles must be considered in order to do this well. … More
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