Pietism signals the rise of moralism (deeds over creeds) that has become today's evangelicalism! Are you deeper with God than you were a year ago (usually whispered in a low judging voice)? Are you more like Jesus? How are your quiet-times? Are you making converts and planting more churches?
Read moreThe chief theological architect of those changes was Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Read moreFortunately, both deliberate manipulation of data and ignorant errors must eventually fall to the wayside, for all misinformation is short term. The truth will show itself again and again, and ultimately it cannot be covered up.
Read moreThe end result is a church that reeks high-church niceties with a flimsy sentimental theological underpinning that is more interested in science than biblical revelation. This liberal-catholic ethos has dominated the Church of England ever since (Archbishops Michael Ramsey, Robert Runcie, Rowan Williams, and General and Nashotah House Seminaries).
Read moreCatholics believe that justification is a process by which a person is actually, innately made righteous through the infused righteousness that God makes available to them in the sacraments. Protestants, on the other hand, believe that we are never righteous enough, not innately and not in this life, therefore our salvation depends on Christ's righteousness credited to our account (justification by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone).
Read moreEither Jesus meant that our full salvation (justification, sanctification and glorification) was accomplished in the It-Is-Finished event on the cross, or it is "almost" finished. Either we are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, or just some.
Read moreBut by eliminating this observance, the church has reduced the symbolism of birth, death and resurrection. Jesus of course did not derive from Joseph's seed, and Jesus never used his circumcised member to produce a new class of demigods, the way that the Greeks viewed their heroes, Hercules, Achilles and all those born of the union of a god and a human.
Read more83% of all U.S. adults believe people have a soul or spirit in addition to their physical body.
81% say there is something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.
74% say there are some things that science cannot possibly explain.
45% say they have had a sudden feeling of connection with something from beyond this world.
Many years ago, a "debate" was held between two renowned Anglican preachers: Charles Simeon (d. 1836) and John Wesley (d. 1791). Simeon was considered by many to be a leading spokesman for Calvinism and Wesley was viewed as a champion of the sort of Arminianism found among English churchmen. Here is a transcript of their first meeting.
Read moreIf you mention Packer's name to many Christians today, you may hear, "Yes, I read his classic Knowing God, and it transformed my understanding of who God is." That was precisely Packer's goal in penning it.
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