You might not know it, but there are a lot of faithful ministers waking up this morning feeling very down about the state of the church. Last week, many denominations met to discuss the business of the church, and many of them didn’t do a great job. Through June, many Protestant denominations showed different weaknesses and struggles: the PCA wouldn’t reaffirm God’s special, immediate creation of Adam and Eve; the EPC opted for a night of skits and comedy instead of the usual worship service; part of the RCA is pushing against basic biblical morality — the list goes on.

In each of those denominations, few to many pastors who love the Lord and His Bride spoke up for truth, for the authority of Scripture, and for the great theological heritage we have had passed down to us through the centuries since the Reformation. Continue reading →

Churches long to be perceived as relevant. What makes a church relevant?

In our day relevance is commonly equated with two traits. The first is contemporaneity: preferring the new to the old. A Tampa, Florida church called RelevantChurch.com advertizes that “the band brings it loud and strong… Expect lots of lights, video, and creativity. Then, expect to hear a Biblical message that is relevant to you and your spiritual journey.” Continue reading →