The Other Reformation: How Martin Luther Changed Our Beer, Too

On this day 500 years ago, an obscure Saxon monk launched a protest movement against the Catholic Church that would transform Europe. Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation changed not just the way Europeans lived, fought, worshiped, worked and created art, but also how they ate and drank. For among the things it impacted was a drink beloved throughout the world and especially in Luther's native Germany: beer.

The change in beer production was wrought by the pale green conical flower of a wildly prolific plant: hops.

Every hip craft brewery today peddling expensive hoppy beers owes a debt of gratitude to Luther and his followers for promoting the use of hops as an act of rebellion against the Catholic Church. But why did Protestants decide to embrace this pretty flower, and what did it have to do with religious rebellion?

Therein foams a bitter pint of history. Read More

6 Ways Going to Church Benefits Mind and Body

As a committed follower of Jesus, I’ve gone to church literally my whole life. My parents took me when I was a kid. I wanted to go as an adult. And in another sense, it’s good that I still go. After all, I am a pastor.

Most believers understand that church attendance does (or should) help us grow spiritually. But did you know that God wired our bodies and brains to benefit from both attending church and developing a healthy spiritual life?

Neuroscientist Andrew Newberg notes that since 2000, over 400 papers have been published each year on this topic. Consider these ways science shows us that church attendance benefits both brain and body. Read More

Also See:
The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience - Course Guidebook

Four Views of the Protestant Reformation

Here We Stand

The churches of the Reformation understand that a true church is always reformed by the Word of God. Read More

The Unintended Consequences of the Reformation

As the Protestant church celebrates the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation, we can’t help but analyze the consequences of this historic act. Martin Luther had no way of knowing the ripple effect his act of defiance toward the Catholic Church would have—not only in the Christian world but also in broader western culture. Read More

500 Years After Luther, We Still Feel the Pressure to Be Justified

Luther's law/gospel insight is as brilliant as ever—especially in 21st century America. Read More

6 Ways Martin Luther Led Me to My Own Personal Reformation

As a young Catholic, learning about the Protestant Reformation dramatically changed my faith. Read More

Is the Pope the Antichrist?

These days no one asks a question like this. It seems too arrogant, too outdated, grossly missing the mark of a honest religious conversation. Moreover, any reference to the Anti-Christ seems to be further marred by the fancy treatments that it has received in popular pseudo-apocalyptic novels, futurist accounts of world trends, and millenarist explanations of Christian eschatology.

It seems that on the Anti-Christ is better to maintain a silent attitude if not an agnostic approach. It is there in the Bible, but we don’t know what it looks like and we are bound to stay away from any polemical discourse or unhelpful conjecture. Ecumenical correctness imposes a dialoguing code that demands that only “nice” things can be said in inter-faith conversations.

In this overly hesitant position there is also a clear-cut theological judgment on the way in which the Protestant tradition has been understating the nature of the Anti-Christ for centuries. From Martin Luther to C.H. Spurgeon, from John Wesley to the Puritans, there has been a consistent, coherent and univocal interpretation of the identity of the Anti-Christ. The Protestant Reformation did not invent this reading of the Papacy as the Anti-Christ but carried it on from strands of Medieval teachings and gave it a deeper theological basis. Read More

The Three Essentials For Every Pastor's Toolbox

The summer after my junior year of college I took up The Life and Dairy of David Brainerd. The book was fascinating and challenging for many reasons, but one thing baffled me. In his diary, Brainerd would record several preaching engagements a day. I could not comprehend how he did it. Was he preaching the same sermon over and over again? Was he at home each night crafting these sermons beforehand? How?

As I've entered the ministry myself, I've come to realize preaching is not one-size-fits-all. Depending on the setting, the audience, and my schedule, I've come to rely on three different forms of preaching/teaching. Whether you are a seminarian, a current pastor, or just a curious church member, let me lift the lid and show you the three most trusty tools in my box. Read More

How to Make the Most of Halloween

Leverage Halloween to Love Your Neighbors

Halloween gives Christians a unique opportunity to welcome our neighbors

I know several Christians who detest Halloween. A 2015 Lifeway Research study shows that 21% of American Christians avoid Halloween completely. I’ll be the first to admit that Halloween is not my favorite holiday; I’m both jumpy and squeamish, and to this day I cannot stand with my feet beside my bed for too long thanks to watching Stephen King’s Pet Semetary 20 years ago. But Halloween gives Christians a unique opportunity to creatively serve, love, and welcome our neighbors.

Acts 17:26 tells us that God has placed us specifically and strategically in our “places” (our neighborhoods) to know him, and to demonstrate his love, his generosity, and his care for the people around us. We are called to live our lives on ‘assignment’ and to take seriously the responsibility that we have to pray for our neighbors, engage in relationship with them, and speak the truth of the gospel to them.

Just because we’re on assignment doesn’t mean we can’t have fun. In fact, I would argue that fun and whimsy are a great way to tighten relational strings! Here are a few ‘do’s and don’ts’ to help us leverage Halloween as a way to connect with and invest in our neighbors. Read More

Three Reasons You Should Go Trick or Treating

Halloween can be a time to be on mission and build relationships that will deepen throughout the year.

Maybe you’ve been too distracted by the excitement surrounding this year’s 500th anniversary of the Reformation to even notice but newsflash: Halloween is tomorrow.

This holiday has sparked quite a bit of controversy in Christian circles over the years. Halloween, as most know, has a mix of origin stories, some of them Christian, some pagan, and some occult. Its dark history certainly should concern us as believers and factor into our decision regarding how we and our families plan to engage in the festivities on the night of October 31st.

And it’s just that—your family’s decision. My family does not promote holiday myths (as in, our kids did not believe in Santa Claus), but we do participate in trick or treating.

Let me explain why. Read More

Halloween, or All Hallows Eve,is the eve of a Christian feast day, Hallowmas, or All Hallows Day.  Hallow is derived from an Old English word, halig, which means saint. Hallow and saint are synonyms. Hallowtide, or All Hallowstide, consists of All Saints' Eve (October 31), All Saints' Day (November 1), and All Souls' Day (November 2). On these days we commemorate not only the saints but all of the faithful departed. In south Louisiana it is customary to clean the graves of the departed, decorate them with fresh flowers, and to illuminate the graveyard at night with lighted candles. 

8 Key First Impressions At Your Church

The first ten seconds matter, and in the first ten minutes decisions are being made.

For example, when I walk into a hotel, a concert venue, or a retail store, within seconds the first things I encounter have made an impression on me. Either positive or negative.

I’ve walked into restaurants that were so bad, I literally froze in the doorway and said to my wife Patti, “We are not eating here.” We were really hungry, but we left!

In contrast, I recently walked into an incredible hotel. It was stunning, and within minutes I told Patti, I’m not sure we’re ever going home!

Your church creates the same effect. One way or the other. Your guests make lightning-fast decisions about your church. No church is perfect, we are all working on stuff, but we can’t afford to mess up on the first impression.

If your first impression is positive, you gain instant grace for any other element of your church overall that needs improvement.

If your first impression is negative, it is far more difficult for a guest to overlook any less than inspiring element of your church. Read More

5 Ways Revitalization is Hindered in Your Church

Each passing week, more churches in North America are waking up to a new world they were previously unaware of, and realizing the need for revitalization—the need to “breathe new life” into their church. Those who don’t wake up will eventually die, as we are seeing happen in increasing numbers.

The problem is, revitalization isn’t easy. Some churches just want to grow so they can return to a previous time they have romanticized as their “golden age.” Some churches feel obligated to sit tight until the most resistant members finally agree to a new path. Still other churches allow long-time members to sabotage the route to new life. For the most part, these things happen, and are allowed to happen, because pastors do truly love their people and would prefer to see everyone move forward together. But refusing to make hard decisions and lead with clarity and strength can prevent the very revitalization your church needs from happening. What follows are five ways to prevent revitalization from happening in your church. Read More

What Is the Greatest of All Protestant “Heresies”?

Let us begin with a church history exam question. Cardinal Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621) was a figure not to be taken lightly. He was Pope Clement VIII’s personal theologian and one of the most able figures in the Counter-Reformation movement within sixteenth-century Roman Catholicism. On one occasion, he wrote: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is _______ .” Complete, explain, and discuss Bellarmine’s statement.

How would you answer? What is the greatest of all Protestant heresies? Perhaps justification by faith? Perhaps Scripture alone, or one of the other Reformation watchwords?

Those answers make logical sense. But none of them completes Bellarmine’s sentence. What he wrote was: “The greatest of all Protestant heresies is assurance.” Read More

Why the Reformation Should Make You More catholic

Celebrating the Reformation, as a 500th anniversary invites us to do, isn’t necessarily a straightforward affair. Even those of us who have robust confidence in the rightness of Protestant doctrine, who feel profound gratitude to the reformers, and whose entire Christian lives have been lived within the good heritage of Reformation churches, can nevertheless worry that somewhere around the third “hip, hip, hooray,” we might be in danger of giving the wrong impression.

The wrong impression would be the sectarian, clannish, hooray-for-our-team impression. It would be bad enough if our Reformation celebration looked like an excuse to mark the boundary between the Protestant us and the Roman Catholic them. But even worse would be a Reformation celebration that looked like an excuse to mark the boundary between 1517 and all that went before it. There is such a thing as chronological clannishness that divides Christian history into fourths and then celebrates the final quarter alone.

Protestants ought to say that this kind of centuries-segregating sectarianism is uncatholic: It fails to be universal in its intent, and it ignores the completeness of the entire Christian tradition. Universal, complete, and entire are of course the proper meanings of the word catholic. So although it may sound odd to our conventional connotations, it’s actually not contradictory at all to say that the Reformation ought to make us catholic. Read More

Why Arminians Should Celebrate Reformation 500

When I was asked to write on why Arminians (like me) should celebrate the Reformation, the answer that jumped to mind was, “Because Arminius himself did.” The staunchly Protestant Arminius saw himself as Reformed to the day he died. He always remained true to, and in good standing with, the Reformed Church, subscribing and publicly committing himself to the Belgic Confession of Faith and Heidelberg Catechism over and over again.

Arminius’s theology, like many Dutch Reformed theologians before the Synod of Dort (1618–19), was similar to much 16th-century Lutheran theology—especially that of Melanchthon, who was highly esteemed as a Reformation giant. Yet Arminius eagerly cited and commended the writings of John Calvin, despite his disagreement with the reformer on predestination and the resistibility of grace, which he didn’t see as the core of Calvin’s theology. Arminius wrote:

In the interpretation of the Scriptures, Calvin is incomparable. His Commentaries are more to be valued than anything that is handed down to us in the writings of the Fathers. . . . I concede to him a certain spirit of prophecy in which he stands distinguished above others, above most, indeed, above all.

After the Heidelberg Catechism, Arminius’s favorite work to give away was Calvin’s Institutes.

I hope more modern-day Arminians will become ‘Reformed Arminians,’ and get on board with the Reformational theology of Jacobus Arminius.

Arminius was an ardent Protestant whose desire was to reform the church—in its theology, practices, and worship—according to the Scriptures, moving the church away from medieval Roman Catholicism. His writings are shot through with the magisterial Reformation’s commitments.

This rings clear in Arminius’s thoughts on the five solas of the Reformation. Read More

Image: Public Domain

Run-Throughs

Those of us forging ahead into the 21st century of worship face challenges never before imagined! Gone are the days of throwing together a few hymns mere minutes before the service, then waving our arms as we lead the congregation behind the pulpit.

Those of us involved in contemporary worship (especially worship leaders in smaller churches who end up doing... everything) must coordinate a complex sequence of events – lyrics projection, praise band dynamics, song selection, vocal mix, video, sound and lighting – and we must blend these events into a smooth worship flow. With so much going on each Sunday morning, run-throughs are critical.

This simple rule saved me much pain and sorrow: we must run through our entire praise set at least one time prior to the service. Read More

Even if your church sings only hymns, it is never a good idea to throw together a few hymns just before the service. The hymns should be carefully selected well ahead of time to ensure that they are fit with the lessons, the sermon, the season or the occasion, and the part of the service in which they are used. While it is not necessary to tie every hymn to the lessons and the sermon, the important liturgical principle of suitability should be applied in their selection. For example, hymns that are obviously suitable only for use at Christmas should not be used during Lent, and hymns that summon the congregation to worship and which are suitable only for the opening of service should not be used at its conclusion. Unless the service is to begin with a solemn procession, long, slow hymns should be avoided at the beginning of a service. Nor should very short, fast-paced hymns be used so that the hymn ends before the procession is halfway up the center aisle. And so on. Even in small churches that have no choir or music group, those who will be leading the congregational singing and performing any special music should practice the hymns and other songs ahead of time, and should warm up before the service itself. Careful attention should also be given to the accessibility of the hymns used in the service. They should be within the range of the average singer in the congregation. New and unfamiliar hymns should be practiced with the congregation in advance of the service. Or sung to familiar tunes.

5 Effective Ways to Follow Up with Fall Festival Guests

Churches across the country are hosting fall festivals this time of year. In most churches, one of the goals of the event is to reach unchurched families in the community.

Fall festival is definitely a great time to connect with unchurched families. With the right advertising (which includes print, social media, invite cards for your regular attendees, community papers, etc.) you can see lots of families walk on your church property for the first time.

But the big question is always - HOW DO WE SEE GUESTS RETURN FOR A CHURCH SERVICE AND EVENTUALLY BECOME A PART OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY?

Let's look at 5 effective ways to follow up with fall festival guests. Read More

Christians Must Lead the Way in Renouncing White Supremacy

We must first recognize the evil of white supremacy in our midst and call it out for what it is. Dr. Randy Davis, the president of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, bravely convened a multi-ethnic gathering of Baptist pastors this week to condemn the rally in Shelbyville. “This movement is evil. It is contrary to everything we are called to be as Christians,” he remarked.

It is worth noting the clarity with which Dr. Davis stated his belief. There is no equivocation to be found.

Too often, white Christians soften their rhetoric in the face of racism or disengage entirely in a shallow attempt to ignore it. That is the wrong approach. It is exactly what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was speaking to in his statement, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Davis and the pastors he brought together are to be commended for their forthright leadership in this moment. Read More

The Reformation 500 Years Later

Is Protestantism Still at Odds with Catholicism? [Video]

Yes, Protestantism is still at odds with Catholicism. And the Reformation is not over. Watch Now

3 Things Every Christian Should Know About the Reformation

Marking the anniversary of the Reformation isn’t about reveling in past glories or pining for an idyllic golden age. We’re celebrating this year because 500 years ago, when the church was deep in darkness, God shone the light of the his gospel afresh. Read More

4 Ways We Get the Reformation Completely Wrong

This post appears on the Tim Challies website with a link to the Good Book Company website. Unfortunately the Good Book Company website has been infected with malware so I do not recommend following the link to that website. However, I do recommend reading the post which explore four common mistaken impressions of the Protestant Reformation. Read Now

Was Luther Insane?

With the advent of modern psychoanalysis, it’s become popular to evaluate the psyches of famous historical figures: people like Alexander the Great, Moses, Nero, and others. One of the favorite targets of study is Martin Luther. Erik Erikson, for example, emphasized that Martin Luther was not only neurotic, but psychotic as well. This accusation implies that one of our great heroes of the faith is one whose sanity is seriously questioned. Read More

Thank God for Flawed Heroes

Too lazy to grapple with the logic of a truth-claim on its own, we rest our faith instead on the people who first taught it, or who taught it to us. And if, God forbid, they should disappoint us, our whole system of beliefs is apt to crumble. Read More

Martin Luther and the Papacy

Luther and the Pope have long been perceived as representing the two enemies within Western Christianity. Their persons embodied the religious conflict that took place in the XVI century giving rise to the Protestant Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. Before Luther rejected the Pope, the Pope had already rejected Luther by condemning him first in 1520 and then excommunicating him in 1521. So it is difficult to establish who first broke fellowship with the other. Read More

Saturday Lagniappe: "3 Lessons on Church Change From Nehemiah" and More

3 Lessons on Church Change From Nehemiah

If your church is not changing, it’s not growing. I heard someone once say, “Don’t be afraid of change. You might lose something good, but you’ll gain something better.” However, bringing change in a church is often difficult. One of the greatest leaders of all time, Nehemiah, effected change in the setting that surrounded the building of the wall around Jerusalem. He modeled for leaders three essentials necessary to bring change. Read More

Four Key Words For Developing Church Core Values

Core Values are the guard rails that keep a church focused on its mission. Therefore, it’s important to take the time to get them right. There are several traps churches fall prey to when addressing core values. While every church has core values, they are not always clearly identified and articulated well. Many churches rush to identify what their core values “should” be, and quickly throw them on a website. But over time, visitors and members will easily see that the written values are disconnected from reality. In other cases, the values are produced without conviction and connection to the leaders of the organization. In such cases, an idealized or mistaken view of the organization and its leadership is presented. Read More

5 Leadership Lessons I’ve Learnt From Failure

Steve Fogg shares five leadership lessons that he learned from a "brilliant" idea of his that in his own words "bombed," "really sucked." Read More

Record and Share Your Sermon with this Simple Process

Recording and sharing sermons on the church website is not a new concept, but for many of us in smaller churches the concept and process can seem daunting. Today, I want to show you an extremely easy way to record and share your sermon this week with this simple process. Read More

Shake It Off? Secular Songs on Sunday Morning

As Scripture makes abundantly clear, certain qualities should define our worship, including our times of corporate singing.... Beyond these guidelines, the specifics of style and form can vary greatly; there is more than one right way to worship in church. Nevertheless, every choice we make — from style to production to lyrics — can drastically shape our faith.Read More

Missions Is Church Planting - Or It's Not Really Christian Missions

When we’re talking about Christian missions, we ought to be talking about doing the things that lead to the formation of churches. Read More

Being A Small Church Pastor Isn’t A Penalty, It’s A Specialty

Pastoring a small church doesn't mean giving up or settling for less. If you embrace it, you can be great at it.

For years I bucked against the idea that I am a small church pastor.

Instead of seeing it as my calling, my heart and my passion, I treated it like it was my penalty for not having the skills to be a big church pastor.

So I consumed every church growth book and devoured all the “10 Reasons Your Church Isn’t Getting Bigger” lists like they were a prescription for a disease. And if the prescription was to grow your church, the disease must be that the church was small. Or so I thought.

But the antidotes didn’t cure anything, because small churches are not a sickness to overcome, a problem to fix, or a theological error to correct. Read More

Latest Podcasts from Revitalize and Replant with Thom Rainer

Autopsy of a Deceased Church - Revitalize & Replant #007

What does it look like inside a dying church? Today we cover 11 characteristics of dying churches and how those have changed over the past few years. Listen Now

I definitely recommend listening to this podcast.

Why Church Planting Is Gaining Momentum - Revitalize & Replant #008

Church replanting is becoming more frequent in churches and denominations. Today, Mark Clifton explains five reasons why. Listen Now

8 "Bad Thinking" Barriers to Church Growth

I realize there are usually many factors that lead to a lack of church growth. I’m also deeply committed to using this site to affirm and encourage church leaders. At the same time, though, I recognize that some leaders allow bad thinking to become a barrier to growth. See if any of these ideas reflects your thinking.... Read More

Tim Le Croy and Trevin Wax on Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation

5 Misconceptions of Reformation Day

For many people the date October 31 is significant not only for being the Eve of All Saints (All Hallows Eve, Halloween) but as the day in 1517 when Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg. These theses were a list of arguments against the abuses of the papacy as it was in the early 16th century, largely centering on the sale of indulgences by the Roman Church. The 95 theses were quickly copied and distributed with the emerging printing press, and soon became a manifesto of sorts for the reform of the church in Europe.

The 500th anniversary of this event is quickly approaching.

Because of this many people are talking about the Reformation and interest in Reformation events and theologies is swelling. Along with this interest and discussion comes several of the myths or misconceptions about the Reformation that have been perpetuated over the years.

As a historical theologian I am not only interested in these misconceptions for accuracy’s sake (though I do care about accuracy) but also because I believe that holding to faulty conceptions about the Reformation does harm to the actual intentions and aims of the Protestant Reformers.

For this reason, I am going to briefly address 5 of these misconceptions and discuss why correcting them is important. Read More

Martin Luther's Parasite

This month marks the 500th anniversary of the posting of Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses, long considered the start of the Reformation. Luther is a hero to me and many other Protestants for his courage, his conviction, and his rediscovery of the truth of justification by faith alone.

It may seem out of place to interrupt our celebration of Luther's legacy by discussing some of the darker aspects of his life and thought. That's how some reacted earlier this week when I tweeted a link to an article called "Luther's Jewish Problem," which lays out in all its awfulness the anti-Semitic turn of Luther in his later years. I agreed with the article in saying that we must look this evil square in the face and not explain it away.

The truth is the truth. And truth is not served by hagiography and exalted biographical sketches that minimize our heroes' flaws. I believe Luther, who never minced words regarding sin and evil, would recommend we not minimize his sins. Read More

The Tie that Binds the ‘Solas’ Together

Is there something about soli Deo gloria that works less well than the other four as a motto summarizing Reformation theology? Teachers of Reformation theology, after all, often remind their students that medieval Christianity and 16th-century Roman Catholicism did not deny the importance of Scripture, faith, grace, and Christ. Many Catholics spoke of them often and would have eagerly affirmed there is no salvation without them.

But if we could press the matter further and ask these theologians about the little word soli (“alone”), we would soon find genuine disagreement.

While the reformers claimed Scripture alone as the authority for faith and life, Rome professed reverence for Scripture while insisting that church tradition and the pope stood alongside Scripture to interpret it infallibly and augment its teaching.

When the reformers asserted that justification comes by faith alone (sola fide), Roman Catholics responded that justification does indeed come by faith—but also by works alongside faith. They had similar exchanges about grace (hence sola gratia) and Christ (hence solus Christus). Read More

What If My Church Doesn’t Preach the Bible?

I remember visiting a church years ago and thinking to myself, When is this pastor going to finish his introduction and get to the text?

Before I knew it, the pastor closed in prayer. His “introduction” was the entire sermon, sharing entertaining stories and therapeutic applications, only lightly (and vaguely) touching Scriptural truth. I attended church that day to hear from God, and I heard a message that could have been on Oprah. I felt conned.

What should a Christian do if they find themselves in a church that doesn’t preach the Bible? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but we can exercise wisdom as we approach the situation. Read More

6 Lessons from Luther on Congregational Singing

Doctrine and doxology belong together. Our theology finds expression in our corporate worship. Likewise, our corporate worship shapes our theology.

Martin Luther understood this reality. He knew the churches in Wittenberg and throughout Germany wouldn’t undergo reformation just by recovering doctrinal fidelity. The biblical truths he and other reformers championed required doxological expression. Through praise and worship, these vital teachings would burrow deep into the hearts of the German people.

Moreover, Luther perceived that the medieval Latin Mass itself needed radical change. Under his leadership, the worship service would adopt a whole new focus: The glorious truth of justification through faith alone in Christ alone would ring out in the common tongue of the people. Read More

Also See:
Benefits of Singing Psalms
Singing the Psalms: A Guide for Modern Worship
Are We Worshiping Worship Songs?

Chant is not the only way of singing the Psalms. Singing metrical versions of Psalms was a common practice in the Church of England during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I. While Elizabeth disparaged the tunes of the metrical Psalms sung during her reign as "Geneva jigs," a reference to the popular tunes to which they were sung, she nonetheless authorized the singing of metrical Psalms before and after services and before and after sermons, recognizing their popularity among her subjects. On one occasion when John Jewel preached a sermon at St. Paul's Cross shortly after Elizabeth's ascension as many as 6,000 people stayed after the sermon to sing metrical Psalms. During his turbulent reign Charles I suppressed metrical Psalm singing in churches but the practice was restored during the Interregnum and continued well into the nineteenth century. It was a mainstay of the West Gallery quires, groups of local musicians and singers who led the congregational singing in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and the early part of the nineteenth century. The adherents of the Tractarian Movement went to great lengths to discourage the practice, forcing the West Gallery quires to disband. They were Medievalists and idealized Medieval Church music. Metrical Psalm singing would enjoy a revival in the second half of the twentieth century along with other forms of West Gallery Music.

Five Ways to Use Social Media When You're Not in Promotions

Too often, institutions behave as if communications is synonymous with promotions. Promotions is one, singular layer of a communications strategy, but it is not an interchangeable word for communication.

As part of that bad definition, many churches and businesses treat their social media as a one-dimensional, broadcast tool. "Give it to the communications or marketing guy. They run our social media."

Take a look at your social media, do all links point back to you? If so, you're doing it wrong. Read More

Reformation 500: Can Roman Catholicism be Considered Christianity?

It’s that time of year again when we remember the Protestant Reformation. But this year, it’s really something special: 500 years have passed since the greatest movement of God in church history next to the birth of the church at Pentecost.

But was the Reformation really necessary? Were the Reformers merely a pack of spiritual naysayers looking to rain on Rome’s innocent parade? Were they not looking to take their ball and mitt to start their own game?

The Reformers were not moved by preferences to seek and start another denomination. They were moved by Scripture to break from something that could not be considered Christian. Five centuries have not improved Rome’s doctrine. The need for her reform could not be greater.

Tragically, several reasons remain why Roman Catholicism still is not Christian. At this 500th year anniversary, it’s worth taking a thorough look at ten doctrines which render Rome outside of Christ. Many of these are sufficient on their own. Read More

Also See:
What Is the Difference between Catholics and Protestants? [Video]

How Should I Share the Gospel with a Roman Catholic? [Video - Español - English Subtitles]

How should we try to share the gospel with a Roman Catholic? Do we confront the differences between Protestants and Catholics head-on?

Sugel Michelen answers. Watch Now

Reflections on the Reformation

Lose Christ Alone, Lose Christianity

Solus Christus stands at the center of the other four solas, connecting them into a coherent theological system by which the reformers declared the glory of God. Read More

The Real Engine Room of the Reformation

Almost certainly, the most striking practical change at the time of the Reformation was the rise of expository preaching in local churches. Read More

The Geography of the Reformation

The Reformation, in fact, can best be conceived not in abstraction, but down in the dust of history. To understand the land is to understand the emergence of Protestantism and how individual nations or cities embraced or rejected the Reformation. Read More

5 Myths about Martin Luther

Herman Selderhuis examines five myths about the Protestant Reformer Martin Luther. Read More

Hillsong Church Doesn't Sing “Shout To The Lord” Anymore? Good For Them

Instead of hitting the replay button, Hillsong is staying true to their mandate and pressing forward. This is something we can all learn from.

Every church has a calling.

In addition to the mission we all share – namely, the Great Commandment and Great Commission – every congregation has a specific reason they exist.

For Hillsong Church, a big part of that calling has been to write, sing and send their songs around the world, to be sung by hundreds of thousands of other congregations.

In a recent article, The Christian Post quoted Hillsong’s pastor, Brian Houston from a recent Catalyst conference talk. Houston said that if you go to Hillsong church, you won’t be hearing their most famous songs, like “Shout to the Lord” or “Oceans” anymore. They’ve moved on.

Good for them. Read More

10 Marks of a Grace-Alone Church

As we look back to the sola gratia cry of the Reformation, it is helpful to ask ourselves: What would a “grace alone” church look like today? What would characterize its life as a church? How might we recognize such a church when we see it?

The answer to these questions falls into two parts: doctrinal and practical. But these parts are closely connected. Here, I offer 10 points that show the interconnection and give hints as to the identity of a sola gratia church. A grace-alone church.... Read More

6 Ways to Celebrate Reformation 500 This Sunday

Wartburg Castle

This Sunday we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the most significant event in human history outside the birth, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Is this an overstatement? I don’t believe so. On October 31, 1517, the world began to shake with a few hammer blows on a small German church door.

At the time, none could foresee what the simple act of a professor nailing hand-written theses to a door would do to shape the world, but it did. And those reverberations would be heard not only throughout Europe, but the entire world.

The Protestant Reformation altered nations, shaped politics, provoked wars, and led to innovations in science, industry, economics, and medicine. It affected exploration and colonization. The Protestant work ethic, the proliferation of democratic governments, and world missions took shape as direct fruit of the Reformation.

But of eternal significance, the Reformation reclaimed a biblical view of salvation, worship, and biblical authority. This recovery led to the redemption of countless souls and served as a necessary correction to the church’s beliefs and practices. Read More

More on the Protestant Reformation and Martin Luther:

Here’s What Christians Should Be Busy Protesting

We cannot forget our original protestor heritage.

The American Priest who Proved the Reformation is Not Over

Why the Protestant Church must continue to evangelize Roman Catholics and to counter Roman Catholic teaching.

Honor the Reformation's African Roots

David D. Daniels explores the possible Ethiopian connection to Martin Luther and the Protestant movement. A short but fascinating article.

Why Luther?

What was it about this particular monk, university professor, and struggling Christian that made him such a spiritual and cultural catalyst?

4 Ways Pastors Fail to Preach the Fullness of Scripture

You preach a great text and share some wonderful insights you’ve gleaned. And they are good insights. You end your sermon, satisfied that you have fulfilled your assignment from the Lord. Little old ladies—God bless ’em!—brag on you at the exit, and you go home pleased with yourself.

But not so fast.

You left us wanting.

You left out something. Something that drives the lesson home, that God uses to bring conviction, that people are sorely in need of.

You forgot to tell us where we were not living up to that lesson. An area where we were failing to receive what God has given in Christ. Our area of disobedience.

Here’s what I mean: Let’s look at a few random texts, in no particular order. Read More

Nepal Criminalizes Christian Conversion and Evangelism

A Nepalese Hindu temple

President approves new sanctions targeting non-Hindus and foreign missionaries.

Last week, Nepal enacted a law to curb evangelism by criminalizing religious conversion, joining neighboring countries like India and Pakistan, where the region’s small-but-growing Christian minority faces government threats to their faith.

The “Nepali government [has] taken a regressive step as this law severely restricts our freedom of expression and our freedom of religion or belief,” said Tanka Subedi, chair of the national Religious Liberty Forum, to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). The pastor is 1 of an estimated 375,000 Christians living in the former Hindu kingdom.

The criminal code bill, which the parliament approved in August and President Bidhya Devi Bhandari signed last Monday, establishes further constitutional protections for Hinduism (which 80% of the population practices) by restricting religious conversion and “hurting of religious sentiment,” or blasphemy. Read More

The image on the Christianity Today website where this article is posted shows what are Buddhist prayer wheels. 

The Church Is Stronger When Small Congregations Are Encouraged, Resourced And Engaged

When their concerns are heard and addressed, small congregations get healthier, and the entire church is stronger.

The body of Christ can't afford to alienate small churches any longer.

Especially since we make up 90 percent of churches, where half of all Christians attend, worship and minister.

Imagine any other group in which that large a segment of its population regularly felt marginalized, overlooked and patronized. There's no way that group, company or country could be healthy.

But we do it in the church. Usually unintentionally, but we do it. Read More

The Importance of Guest Connections - Rainer on Leadership #374

Will Mancini joins Thom Rainer and Jonathan Howe to discuss how churches can better connect with guests and mistakes they make that hurt those connections. Listen Now

I definitely recommend listening to this podcast. It is very informative.

With Rising Teen Suicides, the Church Cannot Afford Mixed Messages on Mental Health

This summer, on lawns all over my small hometown, a crop of signs appeared, bearing witness to what had happened in our area over the past year. Several teen suicides had rocked our quiet community in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, and people were understandably distraught.

We asked the kinds of questions communities must confront when shocked and shaken by similar tragedies: Why? Why were teenagers taking their lives? Who was to blame for their despair? What could be done to stem the tide of loss?

The white and black signs, no larger than those that flourish during election season, were one mother’s answer to these questions. On a weekend morning, Amy Wolff posted 20 signs around town, each with a singular slogan: “You Matter.” “Don’t Give Up.” “Your Mistakes Do Not Define You.” “You Are Worthy of Love.” In just a few weeks, Wolff’s campaign spread to other communities in Oregon and neighboring states.

Anecdotal evidence suggests young people, including students at Newberg’s schools, have found hope in these messages; Wolff reports hearing from those who have been encouraged to persist in living despite their despair. Read More

Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide

Strasbourg

This year, many people are celebrating the five-hundredth anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. But not everyone is. Some have raised severe criticisms against the Reformers and their work. The Reformers, they allege, replaced the authority of the church with the authority of the autonomous individual. Moreover, the doctrine of justification by faith alone, these critics claim, cut the nerve of morality and, effectively, baptized licentious living. Martin Luther and John Calvin, they continue, opened Pandora’s box, releasing two forces that not only rent the church but also went on to define the modern age: radical individualism and antinomianism. Understood on these terms, the Reformation is cause for lamentation, not celebration.

These criticisms rest on a profound misunderstanding of the Reformation and, specifically, a misunderstanding of two of the leading doctrines of the Reformation: sola scriptura (Scripture alone) and sola fide (faith alone). What were the Reformers saying when they declared that the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice? When they declared that a sinner is justified through faith alone, apart from the works of the law? As importantly, what were they not saying when they advanced these claims in the church? Read More

Also See:
5 Lessons from Reformation Women

The Four C’s of Biblical Leadership

Leadership matters! It matters in the home. It matters in the workplace. It matters on athletic teams and in musical groups. And, of course, leadership matters in the church.

Leadership is such an important issue that there is no end to the writing, selling, and buying of leadership books. In fact, we can even say that this blog is about leadership – helping pastors grow in their leadership of the church. But how should we assess leaders – both present leaders and future leaders? Unfortunately, we (and our churches) assess leaders based on competency and results. Can he “preach”? Is the church “growing”?

Now, before we get into what I’m about to say on leadership, let me offer a disclaimer: I am NO leadership expert (whatever that may be?). However, I have made lots of mistakes from which the Lord has taught me much. Regardless, my thoughts on leadership are not dependent on having enrolled in “the school of pastoral hard knocks.” Instead, my thoughts are dependent on what Scripture itself says about church leadership. And according to Scripture, there are more important qualities to assess in leaders than “competency” and “results.” Allow me to offer, then, some biblical thoughts on leadership assessment and development.

As we assess and evaluate leaders in the church (both present and potential leaders), consider these four C’s of biblical leadership.... Read More

Also See:
5 Things Leaders Need to Give Up

25 Bible Reading Tips

Looking for some Bible reading tips? Below you can find 25 of them. Read More

8 Reasons Why Your Church Needs to Connect with the Nearest College or University

I don’t know your church’s location, but I suspect that it may be within driving distance of a college or university campus. If so, your congregation needs to connect with that campus. Here’s why.... Read More

Upcoming Article Series on Reshaping the 1928 Prayer Book Services for Mission

Is your church one of the small Continuing Anglican churches who use the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and whose primary service on Sunday morning is Morning Prayer? If your answer is “yes,” an upcoming article series that I am posting on Anglicans Ablaze is for you and your church.

Among the most important changes that were introduced in the 1928 Prayer Book were in the general rubrics of the Daily Offices. These changes made the services of Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer more flexible and adaptable to local circumstances.

One of the reasons for these changes was the recognition that a much larger measure of flexibility and adaptability was needed in these services on the mission field. In the twenty-first century all of North America has become the mission field and all church services are mission services.

In the twenty-first century all of North America has become the mission field and all church services are mission services.

The world outside our church doors is not North America in the 1950s or the 1970s but North America in the second decade of a new century. Church attendance patterns have changed dramatically from what they were in the first half of the twentieth century. Present day realities demand that we make greater use of this flexibility and adaptability than an earlier generation.

In this upcoming article series I am going to take a look at these changes and how we can make the best use of them. I am also going to look at other ways that we can make the service of Morning Prayer more mission-shaped.

Catholic but not Roman

To celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the ‘Reforming Catholic Confession’ calls Protestants to unity.

Five hundred years on, some observers are wondering whether the nail Luther used to post his 95 Theses on the Wittenberg door was a harbinger of a final nail in the coffin of Protestantism. In light of the many divisions in the church in the wake of the Reformation, do we truly have cause to celebrate? Should we mourn? Should we shrug off our divisions as the price to pay for truth?

This anniversary year gives us the opportunity to honor the legacy of the Reformation. We do so best not by whitewashing its imperfections but by retrieving its unitive spirit—in particular, the Reformers’ original vision for catholic unity under biblical authority. Read More

What Does the Roman Catholic Church Believe About Justification?

The gospel of Jesus Christ is always at risk of distortion. It became distorted in the centuries leading up to the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century. It became distorted at innumerable other points of church history, and it is often distorted today. This is why Martin Luther said the gospel must be defended in every generation. It is the center point of attack by the forces of evil. They know that if they can get rid of the gospel, they can get rid of Christianity.

There are two sides to the gospel, the good news of the New Testament: an objective side and a subjective side. The objective content of the gospel is the person and work of Jesus—who He is and what He accomplished in His life. The subjective side is the question of how the benefits of Christ’s work are appropriated to the believer. There the doctrine of justification comes to the fore.

Many issues were involved in the Reformation, but the core matter, the material issue of the Reformation, was the gospel, especially the doctrine of justification. There was no great disagreement between the Roman Catholic Church authorities and the Protestant Reformers about the objective side. All the parties agreed that Jesus was divine, the Son of God and of the Virgin Mary, and that He lived a life of perfect obedience, died on the cross in an atoning death, and was raised from the grave. The battle was over the second part of the gospel, the subjective side, the question of how the benefits of Christ are applied to the believer. Read More

Justification = Faith + Nothing

One of the five rallying cries of the Reformation was the statement that we are saved by faith alone—sola fide. These words declared that salvation does not come from looking at our own works of righteousness, but from looking outside ourselves to another, to the person and work of Jesus Christ. This statement grew out of a desire to return to the Scriptures and to the teachings of the early church fathers, a cry to reform the church and restore biblical orthodoxy.

Five centuries have passed since the Reformation, and we may wonder: Does sola fide still matter today? Is the notion of justification by faith alone just a relic of days gone by, reflecting a nostalgia for a previous time? I believe the Reformation cry of sola fide should continue to be taught and treasured today because it summarizes biblical teaching—and God’s Word never loses its transforming power. The Word of God speaks in every era and in every place.

While some may cling to sola fide merely to uphold tradition, we should cling to it because it accords with God’s Word. Justification by faith alone isn’t the product of rigid and brittle orthodoxy. It speaks to minds and hearts throughout history because it tackles one of the fundamental questions of our human condition: How can a person be right with God? Read More

The Pastor and Sola Fide

The hallmark of the Reformational tradition is perhaps this tenet of the Five Solas--sola fide, which means "faith alone." This is the article upon which, Luther said, the church stands or falls. We are saved by God's grace alone received by us through our faith alone (Eph. 2:8-9).

Now, just as sola Scriptura does not mean that Scripture is the only authority in a Christian's life (just the ultimate and only infallible authority), sola fide does not mean that all Christians need to be saved is some disembodied intellectual assent. This is the controversial point that James is making in the second chapter of his epistle. The way many Reformed scholars and preachers have put it is this: We are justified by our faith alone, but not by faith that is alone. It is impossible, then, to have faith and not have works corresponding to that faith. That would be nonsensical. Faith, then, would not be faith. Yet we are not justified by our works, but by our faith, which is evidenced by our works.

While we can often make this distinction pertaining to definitive justification, however, it can be a difficult thing to maintain this distinction throughout the Christian life. When Martin Luther recalled Habakkuk 2:4--"The righteous shall live by his faith"--he was not just bringing to mind the new life experienced at conversion but the new life experienced day to day thereafter. When an unsaved person, by God's grace, exercises faith in Jesus Christ alone, he suddenly lives by faith. And when a saved person, by God's grace, exercises faith each day in Jesus Christ alone, he is living by faith. Read More

12 Signs You Are a Modern-Day Pharisee

The Pharisees are mentioned in pulpits and classrooms all over the world. They are the source of jokes. The topic of sermons. Man, I wish I had a penny for every time a Christian teacher referenced the Pharisees. I wouldn’t be here. Maybe in the Caribbean somewhere. But not here.

Here is the reality … Pharisees still exist today. And nobody wants to be a modern-day Pharisee. It just happens. Kind of like eating at Ruby Tuesday. No one knows how you end up there. But it happens. Then you are stuck eating below par food at an above par price. Not good.

Most Pharisees begin with good intentions. But somehow those intentions and motives morph into something not so good.

Here is my hope and prayer … you will read this and do an inspection on your heart. The following things flow from my own personal struggles with legalism and being a Pharisee. In many ways, I am a recovering Pharisee. I still have a long way to go. But I am thankful the grace of God allows me to stumble. Allows me to struggle. And still be His child. So, here are 12 signs you are a modern-day Pharisees. Read More

The Beauty of Normal Boring Liturgy

I may have missed the point of Stephen McAlpine's article, "The Beauty of Normal Boring Liturgy." In my estimation a repeated pattern of worship, which is fundamentally what a liturgy is, is not intrinsically beautiful or edifying. A well-planned, well-executed liturgy that employs traditional worship elements such as a confession of sin, Scripture readings, a sermon, prayer, congregational singing, and a weekly celebration of Holy Communion; which has well-chosen hymns, worship songs, and service music; and which balances the use of set forms with an openness to the Holy Spirit, may be described as "beautiful." However, such a description is subjective.

Such a liturgy may also be edifying to first-time guests as well as to those who regularly attend the church. The presence of the aforementioned traditional worship elements, however, do not guarantee that it will be edifying.

A weekly liturgy can cause boredom, leaving first-time guests weary and restless through its inability to hold their attention. These guests may not walk out of the service but their mind are likely to wander elsewhere. They may not stay for the after-service coffee hour. This is likely to happen when the service consists of long, unbroken blocks of text recited by the congregation or read by the minister. It is not the only factor that may have this effect upon first-time guests. Poorly-chosen hymns, worship songs and service music; poorly-read Scripture readings; a poorly-prepared and poorly-delivered sermon; and poorly-offered prayers can have the same effect. The service may be overly-long and contain too may redundant elements that could have been omitted.

Stephen appears to want to blame first-time guests' unfamiliarity with the various traditional worship elements of the liturgy for their boredom, rather than taking a hard look at the liturgy itself and how it is being done. While it may not have been Stephen's intention, he appears to champion a low standard for our Sunday worship.

Our weekly liturgy may be compared to Sunday dinner. We may eat spaghetti and meatballs every Sunday. In preparing Sunday dinner we may use the same recipe from week to week. However, we use fresh ingredients each time and we may make small changes in the dish. As long as the dish is palatable and appetizing (and not too expensive), the family will also keep eating it from week to week. However, if it is unpalatable and unappetizing, those sitting down to Sunday dinner may taste it but leave the rest on their plate. They may choose to find somewhere else to be at dinnertime the next Sunday.

Our weekly liturgy may have high nutritional value but unless it is palatable and appetizing, it will, like Sunday dinner, go uneaten. Our first-time guests are not going to choke down something that is unpalatable and unappetizing simply because that is what we are accustomed to serving up on Sunday. It may be good for them. But so is cod liver oil. Only a few people, however, will take a spoonful of cod liver oil without mixing it with orange juice.