Wednesday's Catch: The Dog Ate My Doctrine and More

The Dog Ate My Doctrine: Leaving No Place in Our Pews for Theological Laziness

The latest research reveals several doctrines evangelicals get wrong including the alarming fact that nearly two-thirds of respondents (65%) say Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God. The belief that Jesus is a created being was first championed by the ancient heretic Arius. Today, it fuels the doctrine behind several of the world’s most prominent cults. So why would a majority of evangelicals—those who hold that the Bible is the highest authority for what they believe—agree with such a statement? Read More

The FAQs: What Christians Should Know About Proud Boys and Antifa

This article is informative and I am posting it for that reason. However, it does not address one issue that concerns me. The issue in question is Christians labeling their fellow Christians left-wing and right-wing extremists because they have differing opinions on various issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the removal of Confederate monuments, Black Lives Matters demonstrations and protests, and so on. Due to the increasing political polarization of the United States Christians are demonizing each other rather than loving each other as Christ loved us. Read More

Making Your Church Manlier Won’t Make It Bigger

It turns out that Christianity is no more “feminized” today than it was 50 years ago, 100 years ago, 300 years ago, a thousand years ago, or even in the first century of the church. Those who argue that church growth depends on special, male-focused activities—or especially “masculine” programming—mistake the historic record of the church and also imperil the church’s historic teachings on sex. Read More

Four Principles for Welcoming Church Guests in the COVID Age

The call to Christian hospitality is a call both to the individual and to the church at large. As believers, we are to be welcoming people. But how does the gathered church welcome guests when our churches are in various stages of gathering and re-gathering, virtual and physical? How does a global pandemic affect our call to care for the outsider? Read More

The Need for Deeply Formed Pastors

It is certainly possible to be deeply committed to being a Christian—but not be deeply formed by Christ. As a pastor who has experienced the impact of evangelical, Pentecostal, and progressive ways of formation, I’ve noticed how easy it is to compartmentalize our spirituality. Read More

How to Preach an Effective Sermon

When it comes to effectiveness there are only two types of sermons: Type 1. Effective, or Type 2. Ineffective. It is possible for us to get style and approach correct and still be ineffective. Let us discuss six elements of an effective sermon. Read More

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday (September 30, 2020) Now Online

The daily rhythm of praise and prayer has helped generations of Christians in difficult times like our own. It focuses our attention on what is most important—our relationship with God. Everything else in its time will fade away. But our relationship with God lasts forever.

All Hallows Murray offers its weekly services of Evening Prayer on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings with that thought in mind. It does not matter who you are, the walk of life from which you come, or where you are in your faith journey, these services are offered to help you to draw closer to God and to live in the way that God is calling you to live, at peace and in harmony with God and all humankind. May they prove a lasting blessing to you and to whoever with whom you share them.

The reading for this evening is: Philippians 2:12-18.

The homily for this evening is titled "Shining like Stars in the World."

The link to this evening’s service is: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/09/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_30.html#more 

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

The People of Praise, Charismatic Catholics, and Fringe Religious Groups

A brief introduction to the charismatic Catholics and People of Praise, in the news now due to Amy Coney Barrett's nomination.

People of Praise.

You may never have heard of it before the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett––who is said to be a part of the group––to the Supreme Court.

You will probably hear that they are a far-right fringe group, but they are actually part of the charismatic movement, and a bit of history may help us to understand them better. Read More

The charismatic renewal movement was quickly assimilated by the Roman Catholic Church. The charismatic notion of a "second work" in addition to water baptism meshed with the Roman Catholic view of confirmation. Most charismatic Roman Catholics that I have met hold fairly traditional Roman Catholic views. Their style of worship and their practice of the sign gifts (e.g., speaking in tongues), laying on of hands, anointing with blessed oil, and prayer for healing sets them apart from other Roman Catholics.

Churches Can Prevent a Post-Pandemic Crash

Churches must continue to evolve and embrace digital discipleship.

When we look back five years from now, what decisions made by church leaders will we recognize, in hindsight, pushed some institutions into freefall? Leaders are making decisions today that shape the future they and their congregants will live in tomorrow. How can they know they’re making the right ones?

The following missteps can set churches on a path that will lead to their decline. Read More

Also See:
Some Awkward Questions about How to Measure Online Church Attendance (+5 Growth Strategies)

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (September 27, 2020) Now Online

The daily rhythm of praise and prayer has helped generations of Christians in difficult times like our own. It focuses our attention on what is most important—our relationship with God. Everything else in its time will fade away. But our relationship with God lasts forever.

All Hallows Murray offers its weekly services of Evening Prayer on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings with that thought in mind. It does not matter who you are, the walk of life from which you come, or where you are in your faith journey, these services are offered to help you to draw closer to God and to live in the way that God is calling you to live, at peace and in harmony with God and all humankind. May they prove a lasting blessing to you and to whoever with whom you share them.

The reading for this evening is: Luke 6: 27-36.

The homily for this evening is titled "Do to Others as You Would Have Them Do to You." It is the second in a two-art homily mini-series on the Golden Rule.

The link to this evening’s service is: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/09/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_27.html#more

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/

Coronavirus FAQs: Why Can't The CDC Make Up Its Mind About Airborne Transmission?

What is up CDC? First you say airborne transmission is a thing. Then you rolled it back. So ... is this something I should be worried about?

Last Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention briefly became the first major public health agency in the world to say the coronavirus could be frequently spreading through the air. A page on the CDC website on "How COVID-19 Spreads" described the coronavirus as spreading "most commonly" through "respiratory or small particles, such as those in aerosols," which are tiny airborne particles expelled from people's noses and mouths when they speak, sing, cough or breathe — and which can remain suspended in the air and travel further than six feet.

Aerosol researchers such as Linsey Marr, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech, who have been pushing for health agencies to officially recognize the potential importance of aerosol spread — cheered over the weekend.

But then, on Monday, CDC walked it back. "A draft version of proposed changes to these recommendations was posted in error," notes a box at the top of the CDC's page, adding that the agency is still working out what to say about aerosol transmission.

In the midst of this confusion, you might be wondering what exactly is in dispute. Does the coronavirus spread through the air? What precautions can help protect you?

The bottom line is: Yes, the coronavirus may be spreading through the air, particularly in stuffy rooms where many people aren't wearing masks. Read More

Also See:
Experts are warning of a coming surge of Covid-19 cases in US
U.S. Midwest sees surge in COVID-19 cases as four states report record increases
Fewer than 10% in the US have antibodies to the novel coronavirus
Don't Be Fooled by Reports on the 'New' Coronavirus Mutation

Image Credit: Shanti Hands for NPR

We can expect an uptick in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths during the coming months for a number of reasons. The colder weather will drive people indoors. Due to the colder weather it will be more difficult to adequately ventilate the interiors of buildings and rooms. In warmer states like Floria which are seeing a reduction in their infection rate and easing or lifting restrictions, we also can anticipate an uptick of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths as the public lowers its vigilance and disregards the need for precautionary measures such as social distancing, face masks, hand washing, and the like and out-of-state visitors travel to these states to escape the cold weather in their home states and bring the COVID-19 coronavirus with them, boosting the infection rates in these states. Considering these factors as well as what is happening in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and elsewhere in the world, a much more organized response, one that recognizes the seriousness of the pandemic and the need for appropriate measures to contain the pandemic and mitigate its effects, is clearly needed during the coming months, and not one that plays politics with human lives. I am not optomistic that we will see an end to the present turmoil.

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (September 26, 2020) Online

The daily rhythm of praise and prayer has helped generations of Christians in difficult times like our own. It focuses our attention on what is most important—our relationship with God. Everything else in its time will fade away. But our relationship with God lasts forever.

All Hallows Murray offers its weekly services of Evening Prayer on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings with that thought in mind. It does not matter who you are, the walk of life from which you come, or where you are in your faith journey, these services are offered to help you to draw closer to God and to live in the way that God is calling you to live, at peace and in harmony with God and all humankind. May they prove a lasting blessing to you and to whoever with whom you share them.

The reading for this evening is: Matthew Matthew 7:7-14.

The homily for this evening is titled "Do to Others as You Would Have Them Do to You." It is the frist in a two-art homily mini-series on the Golden Rule.

The link to this evening’s service is: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/09/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_26.html#more

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/.

Saturday Lagniappe: Christians and Conspiracy Theories and More

Why We’re Drawn to Conspiracy Theories

Christianity has been the subject of conspiracy theories since its inception. But recently some Christians have become known for spreading conspiracy theories, which may undermine the gospel witness of the church. Read More

Christians Are Not Immune to Conspiracy Theories [Repost]

Satan has found no shortage of marks among God’s children. But our current technological age has made it possible for conspiracy theories to spread faster than the novel coronavirus. The online realm, which can promote anti-intellectualism and radical individualism, has become a breeding ground for such bizarre conspiracies. Read More

Churches Hit Home Run with Services in Ballparks and Stadiums as COVID-19 Cancels Sports

Amid stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines, churches across the country have found creative ways to touch base with their members this year. Many churches have moved online. Those churches that have continued to meet in person in their buildings have done so with smaller gatherings, social distancing, mask wearing and other measures meant to protect worshippers from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Others have hosted drive-in services. At least one held a kayak service. And, with many sports canceled for the season, some churches — like South Bend City Church — have filled the stands at the empty stadiums and ballparks in their neighborhoods. Read More

What Pastors See as the ‘New Normal’ for Preaching After the Pandemic

COVID-19’s ministry disruptions are generating lasting insights. Read More

Busting Out Of Sermon Block

Give your sermons new life every week with this timeless advice from Haddon Robinson. Read More

In Praise of Uncomfortable Friendships

The prophet Nathan didn’t seem like an ideal candidate to be King David’s friend. Friendship between a king and his counselors often meant compromise and corruption. But if we use the term “friendship” to mean intentional relationships that push us toward faithfulness to God, then Nathan fits the bill. Read More

Reimagining Evangelism During the Pandemic

Many churches have found effective and creative ways to be on mission and to engage in evangelism during the coronavirus crisis. At the same time, some evangelism approaches have been affected just like church life (and, let’s face it, all of life) has been disrupted. Read More

How to Honestly Share the Gospel [Podcast]

Rico Tice delivered a message in a breakout session at The Gospel Coalition’s 2019 National Conference titled “Honest Evangelism: How to Talk About Jesus Even When It’s Tough.” The workshop explored the issues that make talking about Jesus difficult—for example, doing the hard work of pursuing the lost and overcoming the fact that Christians are simply weird in the eyes of those around us. Watch Now or Read Transcript

Some Christians are growing weirder in the eyes of those around them, embracing bizarre conspiracy theories, peddling misinformation on social media, lashing out at those who disagree with them, demonizing those who do not share their political views, refusing to conform to state and local guidance against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, encouraging others to do the same, and otherwise behaving in ways that are not worthy of the gospel. They may not recognize it but their actions are making it more difficult for other Christians to share the gospel.

Friday's Catch: Outdoor Worship during the Pandemic and More

Churches Embrace Outdoor Worship during Pandemic

As the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic requires social distancing and vigorous cleaning, churches must weigh whether to continue only worshipping online or reopening buildings in limited capacities. Others have begun to move outside. Read More

Connecting Without Live Streaming

Everyone is feeling the effects of COVID-19. Many churches aren’t able to worship in-person right now, but some churches have easily made the switch to live streaming. For a myriad of reasons, streaming to Facebook or other platforms might not be a great option—especially for churches with smaller congregations, in rural communities, or with older demographics. Beyond Sunday worship services you might also wonder how to have community with the church when you’re not physically together. Here are some other options to stay connected with your congregation when you’re unable to connect in-person. Read More

Pandemic Challenges Music Ministers, Choirs

United Methodist music ministers are coming up with creative ways to keep music going and keep choir members engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More

I am having to cast my nets wider in search of articles that may prove helpful to churches during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am running across too many articles that treat the pandemic as a thing of the past or a non-occurrence, not as a present reality. These articles are not helpful to churches that are struggling with how to do church in the midst of a serious epidemic without endangering their congregations and communities.

5 Ways Your Church Can Use Text-Messaging to Reach More People

As the church begins to utilize social technologies, the youngest generation may already be moving on from social networks to much more personal means’ of communicating, especially texting. Text-messaging, as an outreach and communication tool, is HUGE! I believe rather strongly that we should stop asking people to turn their cell phones OFF during worship services and instead, ask them to turn them ON and use them.... Read More

‘The Social Dilemma’ and the Bigger Dilemma

Often our concerns about AI are centered on when it will overcome our strengths and outperform us in various tasks, rather than on how it has already overcome our points of weakness by fostering addiction and fueling dissent. Read More

A small but growing number of Christians are taking a break from social media because it encourages division and conflict and gives free rein to those peddling inaccurate or false information. A friend of mine, when she announced that she was taking a break from Facebook, gave as her reason the intensifying hatred on both sides in the upcoming presidential election. It was too much for her. What I have also noticed is that individuals who identify themselves as Christians act no differently from those who make no such claim. Loving your neighbor, much less your enemy as well as each other, and the Golden Rule, doing to others what you would want done to you, has gone out the window and I fear will not return.

Should Your Church Use Facial Recognition Technology

You may read that headline and wonder how in the world someone could ask that question when many churches are still not able to meet in person or are having hybrid services to cut down on the spread of COVID-19. Technologies like facial recognition seem like such a far off dream that you likely haven’t even considered the possibility of using it in your church or ministry. But in light of the questions concerning regathering together as the church, social distancing, security, health risks, and even new member assimilation, there will be increasing pressure on church leaders to implement these types of tracking tools to keep people safe and connected. Read More

7 Ways to Keep Politics from Blowing Up Your Bible Study Group

Today I am re-posting an article I wrote in mid-January 2020 – you may have missed it (I’ve added a seventh suggestion in today’s post). Now that we are just a few months away from a presidential election, and with the country polarized around candidates and political parties, I thought this is a good time for a quick refresher. Don’t let politics blow up your group as it already has in some places. The stories are just sad to hear – groups splitting over politics. Here are 7 ways to keep politics from blowing up your Bible study group. Read More

Bringing up politics and political figures is guaranteed to take your small group off track and tear it apart. Politics and political figures have become idols in the lives of many Christians and political opinions have taken the place of the teaching of Jesus and the apostles.

Choir Practice in Spain Infects 30 of 41 Members with Virus

At least 30 of 41 members of a gospel choir in northeastern Spain have contracted coronavirus following a rehearsal indoors with little air circulation, local authorities and the chorus say.

The River Troupe Gospel, a volunteer gospel group, rehearsed on Sept. 11 ahead of an open-air performance two days later for a local festival in Sallent, a town in the province of Barcelona. It was their first public show since the beginning of the pandemic.

After one member of the chorus tested positive following the Sept. 13 performance, more than 40 other members and their close contacts went into isolation, the chorus said. Since then, at least 30 singers have tested positive, the Sallent municipal government said.

Although the chorus claims that it complied with most health safety measures — temperature checks on arrival, hand washing, social distancing between each member and masks on for most of the rehearsal — the venue's windows were closed to avoid moths and mosquitoes. The group said it had switched on air conditioning to fight the heat.

It was not known if any relatives of the singers also became infected. Read More

Also See:
Updated CDC guidance acknowledges coronavirus can spread through the air
CDC abruptly removes guidance about airborne coronavirus transmission, says update 'was posted in error'
The CDC Now Says COVID Spreads These 5 Ways
No matter what the CDC says, here’s why many scientists think the coronavirus is airborne

I am posting this article as a reminder that the COVID-19 coronavirus spreads in inadequately ventilated spaces even when precautionary measures such as social distancing, face masks, temperature checks, and hand washing are taken. Mechanical ventilation that recirculates the air in a room or a building as does certain air conditioning systems will not prevent the buildup of concentrations of COVID-19 particles in the air. Asymptomatic carriers of the COVID-19 coronavirus particles will not have an elevated temperature. At the same time they are infectious, exhaling COVID-19 particles into the air. Singing and loud speaking increases not only the exhalation of these particles but also their inhalation. In a closed, poorly ventilated room the result will be a buildup of high concentrations of the particles in the air. Individuals remaining in the room for a length of time such as a choir rehearsal will inhale more particles than individuals who walk into the room and out again. The more particles an individual inhales, the sicker they are likely to become. These are the findings of a growing body of research to date. This research also has shown that the best form of ventilation is natural ventilation--open doors and windows with a breeze blowing fresh air into the room--or mechanical ventilation that draws into a room or building fresh air from the outside and exhaust stale air in the room or building to the outside. The replacement of stale air with fresh air prevents the buildup of concentrations of particles, diluting and dispersing them.

Among the early guidance from the CDC for churches and other religious organizations was that they hold gatherings for worship and instruction in large, airy rooms with the doors and windows open and ventilated by electric fans or outdoors. This guidance was quickly withdrawn on the grounds that it was not authorized by the White House. Since that time it has come to light that Trump administration officials have been pressuring the CDC to change its guidance to fit with the president's narrative of the pandemic and his message that the United States has turned the corner on the pandemic. It has also come to light that the president has been deliberately deceiving the public about the seriousness of the pandemic, intentionally downplaying its seriousness. He has in public statements expressed a willingness to accept high levels of casualties from the pandemic in order to reopen the US economy and improve his reelection prospects. More recently the president, when asked about the COVID-19 transmission risks of holding political rallies indoors again, stated that the rallies posed no risk to himself as he kept a safe distance from the attendees. He expressed no concern for the safety of the attendees themselves, only himself. Based upon his statements and actions and the statements and actions of his subordinates the president is far more concerned with retaining the office of the presidency than he is with protecting the health, safety, and well-being of the US population.

The CDC's withdrawal of its recent guidance that COVID-19 is also spread by airborne particles has become a source of controversy due to these developments, leading public health experts and others to believe that it was politically-motivated and is a further example of Trump administration officials' tampering with CDC guidance for political reasons.

Churches and other religious organizations, however, need guidance that is based upon science and not politics in order to protect their congregations and their communities. With the influence of genuine Christianity--the teaching of Jesus and his apostles--waning in the United States, churches need to maintain good relations with their communities so that they can continue to be salt and light in the community. If churches are to have a lasting positive impact on their communities, they cannot selfishly ignore the health, safety, and well-being of the community. If genuine Christianity is to regain a measure of influence in the United States, Christians must demonstrate the value of being a follower of Jesus through their witness, through their words and deeds. They cannot restore the influence that the teaching of Jesus and his apostles once enjoyed in this nation through legislation, through judicial appointments, through personality cults. 

Thursday's Catch: America "at War with Itself" and More

Barna: This Is the Largest Generation Gap We’ve Seen in 7 Decades

According to a new study about generational beliefs, America “is at war with itself.” That’s how study author George Barna sums up what he calls “deeply troubling” results of the “American Worldview Inventory 2020,” released this week from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. Read More

The influence of genuine Christianity, that is, the teaching of Jesus and his apostles, is waning not only in our culture but also among those who identify themselves as Christians. This is evident from the comment threads after articles on Church Leaders and other Christian websites and from posts on social media such as Facebook and Twitter. This study appears to confirm its fading influence.

Most Americans Embrace Religion, Spirituality--Even Atheists

More U.S. adults say they are currently atheist or agnostic than who say they grew up that way, but faith and spirituality are present even among non-religious Americans, according to a new study. Read More

A finding of the study reported in the previous article may account for the findings of this study: "Millennials ...more likely to believe that having faith matters more than which faith they have."

3 Reasons Evangelicals Shouldn’t Become Roman Catholic

The much-publicized “reversion” of former Christianity Today editor Mark Galli (he’d been baptized in the Roman Catholic Church as a child) quite naturally leads thoughtful sons and daughters of the Reformation to evaluate the biblical and theological support beams of their faith. After all, if someone who’d ascended to the summit of an evangelical magazine founded by Billy Graham finally decided the Protestant faith is somehow lacking, then what makes us think we stand on solid theological ground? Read More

The number of high profile Protestants who convert to Roman Catholicism is a trickle compared to the number of ordinary Roman Catholics who convert to Protestantism. I was involved in a new church plant in southeast Louisiana that had a number of former Roman Catholics in its congregation and was active in reaching out to Roman Catholics who were no longer attending Mass for one reason or another. One of the appeals of Protestantism is its Biblical view of grace and of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone.

You Don’t Have to Do It All

The goal of life is not for us to “get it all done.” The goal is to be faithful. Our purpose is not to change the world in our lifetime, but to choose a few good works in the next 24 hours. Read More

When God Says No to Your Earnest Prayers

Have you ever prayed earnestly for something, only for God to say no? What should we do when God says no to our earnest prayers? Read More

Pandemic Denial Sows Division and Endangers Others

When pastors and church leaders deny that we are even in a pandemic, it can cause wide-ranging problems.

Yesterday, as the United States passed a grim milestone, I tweeted:

As of today, 200,000 dead in the United States. Just a reminder that we are still in a global pandemic, even if your pastor says it is not.

Most pastors were overwhelmingly positive—the tweet was widely shared, with hundreds of retweets and thousands of likes. Many pastors and church leaders indicated they shared the same concern.

However, some were upset. Some pastors felt attacked, which may be understandable if you denied a global pandemic.

If not, there seems to be no reason to see my statement as controversial.

Let me explain. Read More

Gaslighting

One of the more pernicious quirks of English usage to arise in the past few years is the employment — by a remarkably large number of people, it seems to me — of the term “gaslighting” as the default explanation for disagreement. Nobody just disagrees with me anymore, they’re trying to gaslight me.

Let’s remember where the phrase comes from: a 1944 film in which a husband attempts to make his wife think that she’s crazy. To say that someone is gaslighting you is to say that they know you’re right but are pretending not to. They’re maliciously trying to get you to doubt yourself. They are dishonest, deceitful, manipulative. The charge of gaslighting is an extreme form of Bulverism: Instead of claiming You say that because you’re a man or You say that because you’re an American it’s You say that because you’re a moral monster.

It’s a useful tactic to deploy if you’d prefer never to think about whether any of your assumptions are correct. Your opponents are not only wrong, they are wicked, and why should you engage with arguments that are obviously made in bad faith and for evil purposes? These convictions keep your echo chamber hermetically sealed. Read More

Wednesday's Catch: Rediscovering the Pedagogic Power of Narnia and More

Rediscovering the Pedagogical Power of Narnia

As a parent myself, now, and a teacher and an Anglican priest, I’ve been revisiting the Lewis of my childhood. What did I learn in Narnia? Did the stories of the Pevensie children encourage me towards virtue? More importantly, through loving Aslan was I better prepared to love Jesus? Read More

I read the Narnia Chronicles for the first time when they were first published. I began with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the only way to begin the Narnia Chronicles in my way of thinking. Otherwise, the stories lose their magic. I have read the Narnia Chronicles over and over again since then. At the age of 72 I am still reading them. They touched my heart as a child and they still touch my heart. They have not ceased to bring tears to my eyes. They may teach virtue but I believe that they teach much, much more. We learn to love Aslan so we can learn to love Jesus even more in our world. Lewis wrote that the stories came to him in dreams and mental images. They began as a faun walking in the woods on a snow day. Lewis stopped writing them when the mental images and the dreams stopped.

Take time to read the Narnia Chronicles to your child or your grandchild. Read them to a group of children at the public library. Encourage children to read them for themselves. The movies, while they are well done, do not do justice to the magic of Narnia. But the books do. Find the wardrobe in the upstairs room and enter Aslan's kingdom.

6 Truths to Prepare the Church for Post-Christian America

Ministry in post-Christian Europe taught me a lot. In Europe, you’re definitely playing the long game, but somehow it seems richer and fuller. As the U.S. seems to be growing more secular like Europe, six truths about ministry stand out. Read More

Coronavirus Has Unveiled the Liturgical Poverty of Evangelicals

If I have to go to another church service and turn to the people around me to discuss something-or-other, I think I’ll cry. Seriously, is that all we’ve got in this period of lockdown? Zoom breakouts and socially distanced groupwork? Without the singing or the preaching, evangelical church services just resemble a staff development day. Why are evangelicals so impoverished when it comes to Christian liturgy? Read More

Don’t Fear Satan, But Don’t Ignore Him, Either

In his book The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis said that Christians make two primary mistakes in regard to Satan: Some people give Satan too much credit, where they blame him for any sin in their life. On the other side—and perhaps even more problematic—are those who don’t recognize Satan at all. Re>ad More

10 Ways the Enemy Infiltrates the Church

In some ways, this post is just a Bible review. As I think about ways the enemy seeks to infiltrate a church, I find many of those ways in Paul’s correspondence to the Corinthians. While this list isn’t exhaustive, here are some ways we should recognize.... Read More

Jesus’ Decisive Victory Over the Rulers of This Dark World

The contention of this series of articles is that the Bible is set in the land of wild things. That is, the Bible is more fantastical—beautiful, dangerous and strange—than we give it credit for. What we incorrectly call the natural and the supernatural, as if they are distinct and isolated realms, are actually part of a single, fascinating, and intertwined world. In the Bible, heaven and earth constantly interact and are alive with all kinds of creatures, forces, and powers—both seen and unseen. Read More

What Pastors should Look for in Safe People

In a previous blog post I wrote about how many pastors suffer with relational anorexia. Pastors can find a cure for this devastating issue when we seek out and find people with whom we can process the pain ministry inevitably brings. As you consider the traits you’d look for in a safe person, consider these Scriptures and the guidelines they infer, because these people are often difficult to spot. Read More

7 Tips for Preaching to Teenagers

This isn’t an exhaustive list of everything you need to know. But hopefully these tips will help some of you not have to learn the hard way like I did. Read More

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Wednesday Evening (September 23, 2020) Now Online.

The daily rhythm of praise and prayer has helped generations of Christians in difficult times like our own. It focuses our attention on what is most important—our relationship with God. Everything else in its time will fade away. But our relationship with God lasts forever.

All Hallows Murray offers its weekly services of Evening Prayer on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings with that thought in mind. It does not matter who you are, the walk of life from which you come, or where you are in your faith journey, these services are offered to help you to draw closer to God and to live in the way that God is calling you to live, at peace and in harmony with God and all humankind. May they prove a lasting blessing to you and to whoever with whom you share them.

The order of service for Wednesday evening (September 23, 2020) is as follows:

Phos hilaron: “O Radiant Light, O Love Divine” tr. William G. Storey

Psalm 141: “O Lord, Let My Prayer Rise Before You Incense” Peter Inwood

Variable Psalm: Psalm 84 “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” Jonathan Asprey; arr. Danile Kallman

Reading: James 3: 6-12

Homily: "Tongues That Bless"

Gospel Canticle: “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord” Lucien Deiss

Dismissal Hymn: “Gentle Words" arr. Kevin Seigfried

The link to the service is: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/09/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for_22.html#more

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/.

Tuesday's Catch: The Siblinghood of the Saints and More

The Siblinghood of the Saints

We are brothers and sisters, called to love one another deeply whether we like it or not. Do we think of this when we interact with fellow children of God? Do we ponder the implications of this truth when relationships within the church are difficult? Do we relate in a way that demonstrates God’s love to the watching world? Read More

Was the Divinity of Jesus a Late Invention of the Council of Nicea?

One of the most common objections to Christianity is that the divinity of Jesus was “created” by later Christians long after the first century. No one in primitive Christianity believed Jesus was divine, we are told. He was just a man and it was later believers, at the council of Nicea, that declared him to be a God. Read More

According to Ligioner Ministries' latest The State of Theology survey a significant number of evangelical Christians now reject the divinity of Jesus, suggesting that they have been influenced by this objection to Christianity as well as by the 4th century heresy of Arianism, the 16th and 17th century heresy of Socianism, and the 18th century heresy of Unitarianism.

Good Leaders Embrace Their Limits

We don’t have to fear our limits, because God doesn’t send us out on our own; where he sends us, he goes too. Read More

3 Reasons Mentoring Is Critical to Your Ministry

How can pastors gain the encouragement they need when their batteries—and their morale—run low? One solution is found in mentoring. Every leader needs a mentor who has walked through tumultuous times in ministry—like the pain of a potential (or actual) church split, the recurrence of a worship war, or a mean-spirited staff member. Read More

6 Traits of a Biblically Faithful Preacher

Because God has called preachers to be faithful rather than successful, how can we be sure we are staying true to the call? Here are a few biblical criteria to keep us on track.... Read More

3 Ways to Teach Biblical Hermeneutics Through Your Sermons

Chances are, many pastors already share a lot of commonalities when it comes to sermon prep—commonalities like: texts are carefully selected, study is prayerfully undertaken, notes are thoughtfully prepared, and, by God’s grace, delivery is faithfully executed. But in that preparation process, are you, pastor, intentionally thinking of ways that your sermons each week will provide hermeneutical building blocks in the minds of your listeners in such a way that while they may not know they are being taught hermeneutics, they are in fact being equipped little by little with a long-term view in mind? Read More

9 Traits of the Most Evangelistic People I Know

I’m a professor of evangelism and missions, but I still must work at doing evangelism. In fact, I constantly watch for people who evangelize regularly and seek to learn from them. Here are some characteristics of the most evangelistic people I know.... Read More

People are Addicted to Outrage: Four Ways to Walk a Better Path

Today, everywhere you look you see “treats”—supermarkets filled with fresh cakes and pies, every convenience store displaying an array of snack cakes, honey buns, and donuts. What was once a rare “treat” has become a dietary staple for too many of us, with increased waistlines as evidence.

But a “treat” by definition is something we enjoy only occasionally. Having a piece of cake for your birthday won’t wreck your health. Turning a treat into a staple, whether it’s cake, chips, or fast food, doesn’t put you on the fast track to a healthy mind and body.

Returning to the idea of these sorts of food as an occasional treat is a great way to move toward better health.

Unfortunately, too many of us are doing the same thing to our emotional health we’ve been doing physically. In this case, rather than turning a treat into a staple in our diet, we’re feeding our souls with an unhealthy diet of outrage.

Sure, there’s a time to be unsettled or perhaps even outraged over some things. But outrage has moved from an occasional outburst to a first-response for many it seems.

There's plenty to tempt us to respond this way, given the uncertainty of our times and our divided country. But even this is no excuse to turn outrage into an emotional version of junk food binge eating—it’s too common, mostly unnecessary, and almost never useful. And, it doesn’t change things for the better.

We've become addicted to outrage and it’s killing us.

I wrote Christians in the Age of Outrage: How to Bring Out Our Best When the World’s at Its Worst not to scold Christians for being like the world in our constant sense of outrage.

I wrote it primarily to help us to be at our best in our age of outrage— how we can break the addiction and find a better path forward.

In the book, I talk about how Christians can be at our best today. Rather than seeing our world through the lens of everything that’s broken I argue we should use a lens with four main features. Read More

5 Factors Fueling Dangerous Beliefs in America

Auschwitz Death Camp

A new survey on Holocaust knowledge reveals how many Americans live in alternative realities in which Holocaust denial and neo-Nazism are acceptable. Here are five factors shaping such radical and dangerous views. Read More

Also See:
63% of Young Americans Don’t Know How Many Jews Died in the Holocaust

Twenty Five Ways to Pick Good Worship Songs for Your Church

Worship song selection is no easy task.

You have to choose a song that people will sing, that you like playing, has a good message…the list goes on.

I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to fear finding the right music for your church. Sure, there’s a lot to consider, and you won’t get it right every time.

That’s okay.

You’ll learn more from your failures than your successes in this area. Still, you want to have a healthy tally in the “win” section, and that’s why I put together a checklist of 25 things to look for in a good worship song.

You certainly don’t have to hit all 25, but finding a good song is more like finding a good car or place to live. If you hit 70-80% of your wish list, you’re doing great.

So without further ado, let’s get started! Read More

While Tim Lucas' suggestions are mainly for churches with a local liturgy and a contemporary style of worship, a number of them are also applicable to churches that use a liturgy from a denominational liturgy book and have a more traditional or blended style of worship. If you are not familiar with the term "local liturgy," it refers to a pattern of worship which a church has developed on its own or copied from another church with a local liturgy rather than one that is suggested or required by the denomination with which the church is affiliated. There is really no such thing as a non-liturgical church. 

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Sunday Evening (September 20, 2020) Now Online

The daily rhythm of praise and prayer has helped generations of Christians in difficult times like our own. It focuses our attention on what is most important—our relationship with God. Everything else in its time will fade away. But our relationship with God lasts forever.

All Hallows Murray offers its weekly services of Evening Prayer on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings with that thought in mind. It does not matter who you are, the walk of life from which you come, or where you are in your faith journey, these services are offered to help you to draw closer to God and to live in harmony with God and your fellow human beings. May they prove a lasting blessing to you and to whoever with whom you share them.

The order of service for Sunday evening (September 20, 2020) is as follows:

Phos hilaron: “O Radiant Light, O Love Divine” tr. William G. Storey

Psalm 141: “O Lord, Let My Prayer Rise Before You Incense” Peter Inwood

Variable Psalm: Psalm 84 “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” Jonathan Asprey; arr. Danile Kallman

Reading: Romans 12: 16b-21

Homily: "Wisdom's Way"

Gospel Canticle: “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord” Lucien Deiss

Dismissal Hymn: “Love Is Little, Love Is Low"  arr. Kevin Seigfried

The link to the service is: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/09/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-sunday_20.html#more.

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/.

Saturday Lagniappe: Good and Evil in The Lord of the Rings and More

Good and Evil in the Lord of the Rings

The conflict between good and evil is at the heart of all great stories, and the best ones offer thoughtful insights into this conflict. Is it possible that we might be able to learn something about good and evil from a fantasy story such as The Lord of the Rings? It is quite possible indeed. Read More

Preparing To Lead The Post-COVID Church

In this post, I want to talk about leadership in this transition period and in the post-coronavirus era to come Read More

Porn—Even in the Name of ‘Art’—Perpetuates Abuse

In the outrage following the controversial new Netflix drama Cuties, I’ve been haunted by memories. They say “old sins cast long shadows,” but I feel as if they have ghosts. I see my childhood self in those little girls. I see so many girls I never knew but whom I witnessed being abused. I don’t know their names. I don’t know where they live. I don’t know if they’re still alive. But I can still see their faces. Read More

Lockdown 'Sexting' Blackmail Concerns for Young People Sharing Images

"He's threatened to share those pictures with my friends unless I send him more." Mia, 13, was duped into sending sexual photographs to someone she met online, who she has now found out is an adult posing as someone else. Charities including the NSPCC and Meic - a helpline for younger people in Wales - are concerned more young people are sharing naked images of themselves. They both said staff have seen an increase since lockdown. Read More

There is a good chance that many of these photographs will end up on a porn site or be shared with people with whom the youngster who took them had no intention of sharing them.

Survey Reveals Many Evangelicals Hold Unbiblical Beliefs

A new survey reveals the theological beliefs of Americans about God, sin, salvation, heaven and hell, the church, and the Bible. And the results for evangelicals aren’t encouraging. Read More

Reflections on an Evangelical Becoming a Papist

The word “papist” has a distinctly “anti-Catholic” ring to it, and if you are immediately turned off from reading the rest of this article because of that word in the title—well, I apologize. But I chose that word “papist” to make it clear that the issue is not evangelicals becoming catholics. Evangelicals already are catholics; they are not Roman Catholics, and they are not papists. But terminological clarity aside, the news that one (now former) evangelical journalist has decided to become a Roman Catholic has caused me to reflect, and to put some of those reflections in writing. Read More

Evangelicals Becoming Catholics: Former CT Editor Mark Galli

Why do evangelicals convert to Catholicism and how should we respond? Read More

Three Challenges in Bible Reading

The church’s own practices, and by this I mean what we learn in sermons and conversations and things we read, of Bible reading can become obstacles. Anyone who teaches Bible as I have for nearly forty years encounters these obstacles in the questions of students as well as in their answers. Read More

All Hallows Evening Prayer for Saturday Evening (September 19, 2020) Now Online

The daily rhythm of praise and prayer has helped generations of Christians in difficult times like our own. It focuses our attention on what is most important—our relationship with God. Everything else in its time will fade away. But our relationship with God lasts forever.

All Hallows Murray offers its weekly services of Evening Prayer on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings with that thought in mind. It does not matter who you are, the walk of life from which you come, or where you are in your faith journey, these services are offered to help you to draw closer to God and to live in harmony with God and your fellow human beings. May they prove a lasting blessing to you and to whoever with whom you share them.

The order of service for Saturday evening (September 19, 2020) is as follows:

Phos hilaron: “O Radiant Light, O Love Divine” tr. William G. Storey

Psalm 141: “O Lord, Let My Prayer Rise Before You Incense” Peter Inwood

Variable Psalm: Psalm 84 “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place” Jonathan Asprey; arr. Danile Kallman

Reading: Matthew 22: 34-40

Homily: “Love God; Love Others”

Gospel Canticle: “My Soul Proclaims the Greatness of the Lord” Lucien Deiss

Dismissal Hymn: “My Life Flows on in Endless Song” Robert Lowry

The link to the service is: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/2020/09/all-hallows-evening-prayer-for-saturday_19.html#more.

Please feel free to share this link with anyone whom you believe might benefit from the service.

If an ad plays when you open a link to a video in a new tab, click the refresh icon of your browser until the song appears.

Previous services are online at: https://allhallowsmurray.blogspot.com/.

Ohio Prohibits the Closure of Churches and Other Religious Buildings for Public Health Reasons

By Robin G. Jordan

I question the wisdom of enacting a law that prohibits public officials from closing churches, synagogues, mosques, and other buildings where the adherents of a religion meet for worship and instruction in a public health emergency as the State of Ohio has done. Enacting and repealing a law is a slow process. There may come time when due a particular set of circumstances such a building may need to be temporarily closed to contain the spread of COVID-19 or some other highly infectious disease.

With the passage of this law the State of Ohio is effectively tying the hands of public officials in such cases and thereby enabling the spread of dangerous, life-threatening diseases. The passage of this law shows a lack of foresight on the part of the legislature and the governor of the state. The residents of the State of Ohio, neighboring states, and other regions of the country may come to regret the adoption of this ill-conceived law. What one state does affects other states in a public health emergency.

Such a law has a high likelihood of contributing to the spread of highly infectious diseases in a community. For example, a church building could become infested with bubonic plague carrying rodents. The church occupying the building could refuse to do anything about the rodents, arguing that it is relying upon God’s protection from the bubonic plague, an argument similar to the one used by a number of churches that have been defying the state and county public health measures intended to reduce the COVID-19 transmission risks in their locality. Ohio’s law would prevent state and local public health officials from temporarily closing the building while exterminating the rodents. It would also prevent state and local public health officials from closing down a church building if an outbreak of e. coli or salmonella was traced to a day care center or nursery operated by a church in its building and the church refused to take steps to improve sanitary conditions.

Rather than a blanket prohibition of public officials from closing buildings used for religious purposes, the State of Ohio could have adopted a law which laid out specific requirements that public officials would have to meet before they could temporarily ban the use of a building for religious purposes for public health reasons. These requirements could have included a process for determining the need for such a ban, for reviewing its continued need, and extending the ban if and when it is warranted.

Ohio’s new law allows religious organization to meet in unsafe conditions that not only endanger the members of the religious organization but also the public at large. It sets a bad precedent. Having excluded one class of organizations from public health laws and regulations, other classes of organizations will seek similar exclusions. Such exclusions will not only impact Ohio but neighboring states and other regions. They will undermine the efforts of other states to contain the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Friday's Catch: The Qualities of a Great Leader and More

The Difference Between Great Leaders and Leaders Who Appear Great

Do people respect you more or less the closer they get to you? Read More

9 Options When You've Had Enough of Ministry Heartache

Most of us who’ve been in ministry for any length of time have been there. Some days, the stress of ministry is too much—and we’ve had enough. If that’s where you are today, maybe one of these ideas will prove helpful to you. Read More

Five Simple Steps to Stop Teenagers from Dropping Out of Your Church

Churches should make sure that these five simple steps are part of their student ministry, if they want to increase the likelihood teenagers stick around. Read More

2 Habits That Will Destroy Your Small Group

If you want people to attend your ministry, you must give a great deal of attention to the culture. Here are two things that will destroy the culture of your group if you don’t pay attention to them.Read More

Glossophobia, Groups, and Ground Rules

When you ask a person to read a passage of Scripture in your Bible study group, don’t forget that 75% of people have an anxiety about speaking out loud in public. Your group Bible study should be a place of safety for all, so here are some guidelines that might help you serve the people in your group who struggle with glossophobia.... Read More

The Lessons We Can Learning from Our Own and Others' Failings

By Robin G. Jordan

It does not reflect well on Christians when a pastor exercises poor judgment in making a decision and then refuses to take responsibility for having made a reckless decision. One such decision is the decision of Rev. Todd Bell of Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford, Maine. Bell officiated at a wedding that was attended by members of his church and at which the number of guests exceeded Maine’s 50-person limit for indoor events. Many of those who attended the wedding and the reception afterwards reportedly did not wear face masks or socially-distance from each other. The wedding would become a super-spreader event. Eighty-seven COVID-19 cases have been traced to the wedding. Seven people died. None of those who died attended the wedding.

Rather than admitting that he exercised poor judgment, the Rev. Bell defends his unwise decision. He dismisses the effectiveness of wearing a face mask in reducing COVID-19 transmission risks. The Rev. Bell’s church, Calvary Baptist Church, discourages attendees from wearing face masks. The church’s school, Sanford Christian Academy, also does not require its students or staff to wear face masks.

The Rev. Bell claims that in his decision-making and subsequent actions he is “ruled by Jesus Christ.” When the Rev. Bell’s decisions and actions are measured against Jesus’ teaching as recorded in the Bible, this claim does not hold up. This is evident from reading the Gospels. Jesus taught that we should treat others as we would wish to be treated; that we should love our enemies as well as our neighbors; that we should show kindness and compassion toward others, including those who may hate and despise us; and that we should show the same kind of sacrificial love toward each other that Jesus himself has shown toward us. One does not see this kind of love and good-will toward others in the Rev. Bell’s decisions and actions.

Readers may be wondering why I chose to write this article, drawing attention to the Rev. Bell’s poor judgment and the consequences of his ill-conceived decision. Simply put, we can learn an important lesson from them. The Rev. Bell is not the only pastor evidencing poor judgment in the midst of a serious pandemic. However, the consequences of his reckless decision are well-documented as well as the extent of his poor judgment.

Pastors, I realize, are faced with all kinds of pressures from their congregations. These pressures may influence the decisions that they make. They are also fallible human beings like the rest of us and have a tremendous capacity for self-deception as we do.

At the same time pastors are called to teach what Jesus himself taught and to be an example of his teaching for their congregations. If they claim that Jesus is the ruler of their lives, they must show in every way, both in their words and their actions, that he is indeed the ruler of lives. It is not enough for them to say that he rules their lives and then think and act in ways that are inconsistent with what he taught and the example that he set.

Officiating at a wedding whose number of guests exceed Maine’s limit for indoor gatherings, and permitting guests not to wear face masks or social-distance from each other is not showing the kind of compassion that Jesus himself showed and which he expects from his disciples. Neither is dismissing the effectiveness of wearing face masks and supporting a church and church school’s policy against wearing face masks. Face masks may not provide us with total protection but they significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission risks. Such actions are ill-considered and give little or no thought to the possible consequences. They raise serious questions about the judgement of the pastor in question and his ability to lead a church safely in the midst of a serious pandemic. If we are honest with ourselves, they also raise questions about ourselves when we do the same thing.

One of the snares into which pastors are apt to fall is pridefulness. We are unwilling to admit making a mistake when we make one, putting our pride first and fearing any loss of respect from others. Yet in failing to acknowledge our mistakes and to learn from them, in insisting that we have done no wrong, and those who are drawing our wrongdoings to our attention are themselves in the wrong, we are not only losing others’ respect for us but are contributing to a wider loss of respect for Christians.

One of the reasons that young people are becoming “dones,” giving up on Christianity, is that the churches that they attended did not live according to the teaching and example of Jesus. One of the reasons that those who are not Christians give for not becoming a Christian themselves when they are surveyed is that the Christians whom they know do not live according to Jesus’ teaching and example. 

Pastors who insist that they are right no matter what and do not admit their mistakes, much less correct them, are one of the reasons that Christianity is not faring as well in the United States as it might. They are poor examples of what following Jesus is all about. So too often are the congregations in their care.

Thursday's Catch: Should All Churches Reproduce and More

Should All Churches Reproduce

As we think about multiplying churches around our community, nation and world, we should focus on markers of health. We need to be sure we are reproducing what is good, life-giving and honoring to God. We should also minimize and avoid multiplying what is unhealthy. As you dream and pray about the possibility of reproducing, ask these six simple but probing questions. Read More

Angry Americans: How Political Rage Helps Campaigns but Hurts Democracy

As the 2020 presidential election draws near, one thing is clear: America is an angry nation. From protests over persistent racial injustice to white nationalist-linked counterprotests, anger is on display across the country. Read More

White Christians Have Become Even Less Motivated to Address Racial Injustice

One might assume that the events of 2020 have increased awareness of racial injustice in the United States and motivation to address it. But the story isn’t so straightforward, new Barna research (conducted in partnership with Dynata) suggests. Yes, there are signs the past year has clarified how Americans think about racial injustice—but that doesn’t mean they see the issue, or their role within it, with greater urgency. In the Church especially, there is a sense that people are doubling down on divides. Read More

Why ‘Cuties’ Isn’t Just Netflix’s Problem

The sexual exploitation of children is a symptom of a larger disease—one that we’re complicit in. Read More

Condemning ‘Cuties’ Should Be Noncontroversial

One of the most disturbing things about Netflix’s Cuties is that many ostensibly sophisticated, “cultured” people seem bent on defending and redeeming what is, in the end, an irredeemably problematic film. Read More

Don’t Just #CancelNetflix

The meaningful change that is needed to protect children will not happen merely by cancelling Netflix. To protect children from exploitation and sex trafficking, we need to go a step further. Read More

New COVID-19 Mental Health Handbook

The Humanitarian Disaster Institute has produced a new resource which "covers a range of topics that live at the intersection of COVID-19 and mental health." It is a free download. Learn More

How to Overcome Digital Ministry Fatigue

Pastor, if you’re feeling like all those online calls and video conferences seem to be leaving you drained by the end of the day, it’s not just you. Zoom fatigue is real, and it’s compounded for those in vocational ministry. Read More

4 Guidelines To A Great Children's Sermon

Using just 7-10 minutes of your service, you can have children asking to come back to church. Here's how. Read More