No Longer Ashamed of Prosperity: INTRODUCTION

Tracie and I have been rethinking and reevaluating what we really believe about prosperity. If you choose to follow along with some of these thoughts in the upcoming weeks, perhaps you too might want to reevaluate what you actually believe about prosperity. It may be a far more relevant concept in the coming year(s) than you might have originally considered. Eclipsing even the typical New Year’s wish for a prosperous 2021.

In many ways, the concept of prosperity has fallen on hard times. The abuse and misuse of the word in many church circles has caused a general distaste and reaction to any suggestion that God might prefer prosperity over poverty for His people. That, along with the gimmickry and hucksterism of some of the so-called “prosperity” ministers, has caused any solid defense of biblical prosperity to be seen as heretical and manipulative. To teach on this subject is to immediately open yourself up to the criticism that you are somehow prostituting the Gospel for dollars. As you will see if you trek along, nothing could be further from the truth.

Continue Reading

SEVEN (7) Non-Negotiable, Foundational Attributes of the Post-Pandemic Church

Something needs to change…

I have sporadically posted in recent days that the Church needs to rethink some strategies in this Neo-pagan era which we currently find ourselves in. To look at the cultural landscape, process the last several elections, and then synthesize the impotent influence of the church in America should make us at least pause as to how we might consider going forward. To simply wait for our “omnipotent” government to decree that we are “all clear” with regards to the pandemic and then blindly return to the business that got us here, may not be wise, smart, or more importantly biblical.

Continue Reading

Moralistic Therapeutic Deism and Post-Christian America

In 2005, an overlooked study by two sociologists examined the spiritual lives of American teenagers (13-19) from a wide variety of backgrounds. What they found (and please realize that this study is now indicative of adults 23-35) was that in most cases our culture adhered to a pseudo-religion researchers call Moralistic Therapeutic Deism (MTD).

MTD has 5 basic tenets (read carefully)…

Continue Reading

Pastors Are Not the Only Ones Needing Courage

Be patient with me as I put another perspective on the table of civic engagement discussion. This is a longer article than my normal opining.

My journey into civic engagement (politics) began nearly 15 years ago. It is a long story about how I, as a pastor, made the final steps out of compartmentalizing my faith with regards to public policy and cultural concerns to embracing a comprehensive biblical worldview which claims Christ as Lord in ALL arenas of life. It has been both an exciting and bumpy journey.

Continue Reading

Prosperity Bashing and the Justification of Jealousy

If a doctrine can be twisted, then be sure, it will be twisted.

I have said for years that if the great Deceiver (the devil) cannot keep you from entering the Kingdom and receiving the emancipating grace and atonement of Jesus Christ, he will resort to strategic plan “b” which is to twist legitimate doctrines and confuse you so you will live far beneath your scripturally endorsed right.

Case in point…

Prosperity.

Continue Reading