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Showing posts from June, 2014

Why Foreign Missions? 22a The Good News: A Personal Hope of Life in Heaven?

Why Foreign Missions? 22a The Good News: A Personal Hope of Life in Heaven? Introduction Much of the present focus in New Testament studies is on understanding the Gospel message in terms of prophetic passages in the Old Testament that speak of Israel restored from captivity and entering God’s rule.  Well and good—this has been a needed correction to our understanding of many New Testament passages.  Also, much of the present focus in mission studies has been on the social dimension of missions—not simply ‘pie in the sky’ but also and emphatically ‘steak on the plate.’  Thus we speak now of a ‘holistic Gospel,’ one that is not only about spiritual matters but also about making a difference in people’s lives and communities here and now.  Both the focus on Israel’s story and the focus on a holistic Gospel emphasise the social, corporate, and community focus of the Gospel—and this is Scriptural. However, one result of these emphases in Biblical studies and mission studies i

Issues Facing Missions Today: 16 The Robber Church—A Blessing?

Issues Facing Missions Today: 16 The Robber Church—A Blessing? A Definition The Robber Church consists of those groups that have gained control of oldline denominations in order to change the fundamental doctrines and practices of those denominations.  A butterfly may have once been a caterpillar, but it is not any longer a caterpillar.  The Robber Church finds acceptable the denial of the doctrine of the Trinity or the Deity of Christ, or it accepts sexual immorality and even champions same-sex unions.  The Robber Church has stolen truth and morality from its members, and many of the faithful people of God have had no choice but to leave these oldline groups that were once orthodox to form new fellowships.  Whereas once these denominations were Biblically faithful, they are now the champions of falsehood.  (The weasels have taken over Toad Hall!) [1] Property Theft The Robber Church has not only stolen truth and morality from what used to be orthodox denominations; th

Issues Facing Missions Today: 15 Tolerance, Unity, and Love

Issues Facing Missions Today: 15 Tolerance, Unity, and Love [Our world is very confused about the meaning of these virtues--tolerance, unity, and love.  Paul offers a relevant word on this for us in his letter to the Colossian Church.  To understand what he says, I offer his views through an imaginary letter of response from the church to him.]                                                                                                                    15 March, AD 63 Dear Paul, Thank you for your letter [Colossians] last year.  Our Reconciliation Committee, led by the chief elder, the retired Roman centurion, Onychocrypton, [1] has been studying it for the past year.  The following are the three points on which we disagree, and we have every reason to hope that we can find a way to live together in the great Body of Christ despite our differences. First, thank you for your good words about our faith, love, and hope.  Indeed, we do desire, as you say, to grow i