The death throws of a denomination

In the 1920's J. Gresham Machen knew that his denomination, The Presbyterian Church USA, was in deep trouble. It was not because they were blessing homosexuality or holding pagan ceremonies. Those things would follow later in the 20th century. During Machen's time, the PCUSA departed from the doctrine of the Bible's inerrancy. Today, rejecting the Bible's inerrancy seems to many like a non-event and is even encouraged by some.

Machen, however, saw the danger. In fact, the pressure he exerted upon the PCUSA to change course led to his being removed from the denomination. It should surprise no one that the PCUSA continues its long journey down the road of apostasy.

Perseverance and Apostasy

What would you say to a church where two of its most promising young “Christians” had not only left the faith but had turned against it with mockery and hostility? That’s the very real scenario I was asked to address recently at a small gathering of pastors and elders. It is undoubtedly one of the most agonizing and disturbing experiences in the Christian life when a dear friend or family member, abandons his/her profession of faith. I’ve known this very personally and painfully, both among my relations and in my pastoral ministry.

Very helpful post by David Murray at TGC.

McLarenism VS. Christianity

Some of you may be wondering why I am dedicating so many posts to Brian McLaren's new book. The reason is two-fold. First it is important to confront those who call themselves Christians but trash God and His Word. Secondly, Brian McLaren is one of the most influential "evangelicals" (according to Time). Therefore, Brian is influencing a lot of Christians. He is a classic wolf in sheep's clothing and the Bible is not agnostic about how those who lead God's people astray ought to be dealt with.

When you get a chance read Kevin DeYoung's excellent review of A New Kind of Christianity.

I do not write these words carelessly but I do not know any other conclusion but that McLaren is an apostate. What else can we conclude about one who writes that the God revealed in Scripture is "an idol, a damnable idol"? (p. 65).

Cozying Up to Error

The debacle that is the Anglican Church in North America ought to remind us that we cannot make nice with apostasy. Those churches and denominations that were once evangelical but now have departed from biblical Christianity did not reach their sad end overnight. It begin with small compromises usually rooted in a denial of biblical inerrancy.

Al Mohler comments on the on the tragic state of the Anglican Church.

The election of a second openly-homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church hardly came as a surprise. Given the actions of the church in its General Convention this past summer, the question was clearly not if there would be more openly-gay bishops, but when. The Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles answered that question on Saturday, electing the Reverend Mary D. Glasspool of Baltimore as an assistant bishop. She is expected to be consecrated as bishop on May 15 in Los Angeles.

Ms. Glasspool was elected on the seventh ballot, winning 153 clergy votes and 203 lay votes. Her election followed the election of another woman as a fellow assistant bishop for the diocese. More significantly, her election followed the seismic events of 2003, when the Reverend V. Gene Robinson was elected bishop of New Hampshire -- the first openly-homosexual bishop in the entire Anglican world.

Bishop Robinson's election set off a cataclysm in the Anglican Communion. That worldwide body of Anglicans appealed to its American church, the Episcopal Church, to respect the concerns of other churches and to establish a moratorium on the election of openly homosexual persons as bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions.

Anglican churches in the so-called "Global South" responded to the election of Bishop Robinson with outrage and conservatives in the Episcopal Church withdrew, forming the new Anglican Church in North America [ACNA]. Over the past two years, a significant number of churches and dioceses have withdrawn from the Episcopal Church to join the new ACNA or another conservative Anglican body.

Read the entire article HERE.

Sunday's Sermon

Sunday's message was part 17 in our series through Hebrews. It is entitled "Persevering to the End" (pt. 1). The text is Hebrews 6:4-12. You can listen to or download it HERE.

In this message I seek to allow the sharp edge of the warning to do its work. In part two I will consider this same text in light of the biblical witness to the doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints.

Persevering to the End

For the next two Sundays I am going to be preaching from Hebrews 6:4-12 which contains perhaps the most challenging and certainly the most controversial passage in the book. It is a sober warning against apostasy. But the quesiton remains, is it possible for a truly regenerate person to fall away from God's saving grace?

Check out this helpful link from Monergism.

Walking Away From God

As someone who loves music and is currently preaching through Hebrews I found the story of David Bazan compelling and sad. Bazan is a singer/songwriter who formerly fronted the Christian indie band Pedro the Lion. This article takes a look at his journey away from faith.

I am wondering what you would say to Bazan if you had the chance to talk to him.


What might the inspired writer of Hebrews say?

* Note, the article to which I link does have a few obscenities.