We hear the term “Calling” a lot in Evangelical churches. > God’s call to the ministry > God’s call to “full-time professional Christian service” > God’s call to “bi-vocational wholistic mission service” I think it has had a very negative effect on Christian ministry. Here are some problems: A. It is a great excuse NOT …
Month: December 2010
Welcome 2011
"Enjoying" the crazy pyrotechnics that is New Years Eve celebration in Baguio City, Philippines. I have added another parable to the PARABLES page. Worked a bit on recommended books. I need to expand this page. May 2011 be a year far more peaceful than the explosions going on outside.
Critique on Evangelism. Part 2
Read Post #1 first. Continuation... 5. Evangelism tends to be too focused on “the conversion event”. James Engel developed the Engel Scale to show conversion is part of a longer discipleship process that goes from complete ignorance of God to a faithful steward of God. Anything that moves a person from the low end …
Critique on Evangelism. Part 3
Read Part 2 First Continuation... final part. 10. Evangelism often is too dependent on proof-texting. Proof-texting is a lazy form of apologetics/argument. Cultic groups love it because almost any strange doctrine can be proof-texted if one rips a verse, sentence, or phrase from its context. I heard a preacher say on numerous occasions that one …
Critique on Evangelism. Part 1
I have to admit that I might not be the right person to criticize “evangelism” as it is practiced today. As a student and teacher of missiology, and as an administrator of the Christian Counseling Center, evangelism (as it is presently defined) is something I only do rarely. (On the other hand, I have organized …
Quote from William Tyndale (1494-1536)
"I had perceived by experience, how it was impossible to establish the lay-people in any truth except the scriptures were plainly laid before their eyes in their mother tongue that they might see the process, order, and meaning of the text... I wish that even the weakest woman should read the Gospel--- should read the …
Another Kind of “Power Encounter”
Missionary Tom comes in and wants to start up a new ministry. Where does he go to get manned with the most competent, driven people? To other local ministries, of course. Tom has more money and so can lure the best people away from other local ministries. Maybe Tom’s group is effective, maybe it isn’t. …
Indispensable?
Missionary Ron is a great organizer and a great planner. He has a good local network and is discipling them to be effective parts of the team. Good things are happening. The ministry is growing and missionary Ron is fulfilled in leading such a fine group. But one day, Missionary Ron is gone. The captain …
Missions “Rule #2”
While in the Navy, I had to learn the US Coast Guard Rules of the Road. This provides rules for navigation of vessels on the water. I thought it was a masterful booklet. Part of its greatness is its brevity. It is not hugely detailed. It provides guidelines, with flexibility. This Rules of the Road …
Critics Needed
No one likes critics... at least when the critic is leveling their critique at us. In theory, a critic can give positive or negative comments... be we tend to associate critics with negative comments. Christians are often very thin-skinned about criticism in matters of faith. We often feel that criticism of Christians, Christianity, and faith, …