Month: February 2015
Matt Chandler Tackles Abortion With Tough Love and Strong Words
Posted on February 26, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
I’ll confess to being a cautious critic against modern pastors. The implosion of the modern church is largely in part due to a failure on the part of our pastors. A failure to preach and teach boldly from the Bible without being concerned whether the message is popular or “tickles the ears.”
One of my greatest grievances against many pastors is their refusal to properly, biblically, clearly address the moral issues facing people today. One of the most critical is that of abortion.
The average pastor won’t even say the word abortion from the pulpit this year. Any sermon where addressing abortion from a biblical perspective would be appropriate will be glossed over with subtle hints and flowery phrases. But you will not hear hardly a single sermon from an American pulpit during which the pastor declares “abortion is murder.”
This sad reality is compounded when pastors say things like “if you’ve terminated a pregnancy, I don’t want you to feel bad.” Or the equally cringe-worthy excuse for not even broaching the subject: “we focus on the Gospel.” Apparently there’s a whole group of pastors that don’t even know that abortion (murder) is in fact a Gospel issue. Perhaps that’s because abortion advocates have done such a good job of painting the issue as a men vs. women or Republican vs. Democrat issue. The truth is that this is not a political or gender issue, this is a biblical moral issue with deep roots in the Gospel. You cannot support destroying the image of God in another human being and call yourself a Christian. Yep, it’s really that simple. That’s how abortion is tied to the Gospel.
Weak Preaching. Rampant Sin. Problems Facing the 21st Century Church Are Serious.
Posted on February 25, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
One of the reasons I believe the church is falling apart and the lives of Christian husbands, wives, children and families are deteriorating out of control is this: there is no conviction in our sermons.
At one time there was boldness born of conviction in the sermons delivered from church pulpits that called people to repentance and brought about Holy Spirit conviction in people. Today we have so many touchy-feely, feel-good sermons being delivered that conviction is lost. Too many pastors want to be hip, befriend everyone, or keep the peace. Too few pastors want to teach and preach the Gospel centered message of repentance and holy living.
What’s the result?
I can see two diverse outcomes from this lack of Gospel-centered, bold, convicting preaching. The first is the “us against them legalist” that makes sure everyone in the church knows that if you stray from the church defined “straight and narrow” you are wrong, and sinful. This church is easy to spot as its small, generally characterized as dying, refuses to embrace anything remotely cultural in an effort to reach people, and tends to rail against specific sins while ignoring others.
The Dones: The Demographic the Church Ignored, Forgot, then Lost
Posted on February 24, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
Scores of pastors in “hip” churches with trendy gimmicks and attractions can’t figure out why people seem to come, linger for a while, then leave. Yes, many of these churches are large – some have hundreds or even thousands of people each week – but they are an ever-revolving role of people that never seem to stick. Why?
Other pastors are having the same problem. The difference is that they oversee small, traditional churches that have “faithfully” held the ranks against any kind of change in their churches. Though younger generations disappeared, they comforted themselves with the knowledge that they were being “faithful” to their calling.
Two different churches with the same problem: people – both young and old – are leaving and not coming back.
This is not a traditional vs. modern church problem. This is a church problem; a Christian culture problem that transcends shallow differences like music and décor. Anyone that can’t see the reality that many people are simply walking away from the church needs to pull their head from the sand. The first thing we need to do is understand this group, then we can figure out why they are leaving.
David Platt’s Message to Christian Won’t Be Well Received. But It’s Absolutely Needed.
Posted on February 23, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
David Platt has a new book called “Counter Cultured” in which he encourages Christians to decide whether they will live with conviction, and what that might cost them.
The message is timely as religious freedom has been attacked at increasing rates and many Christians around the world are losing their lives for their faith.
According to a recent report by The Blaze, Platt discusses the upside down reality that right and wrong are no longer measured by transcendent truth, but by popular opinion. The word tolerance has bee hijacked to accomplish this goal. The end result is, if you agree with what is popular you are tolerant, if you disagree, you’re intolerant. But, as Platt says, this is a misunderstanding of the word tolerant:
“Basically, if you agree with what’s popular or politically correct, then you’re okay — but if you don’t, you’re labeled intolerant. Part of it is the way we’ve mystified the idea of tolerance. Tolerance, itself, implies disagreement.”
Platt is among a group of young leaders emerging as the voice of modern Christianity. With a solid theological foundation Platt has repeatedly called Christians to die to this world, and to self, in order to spread the Gospel. Now he is reminding Christians of the dangers this will involve and urging us to count the cost, then move.
Watch the short video below to get an idea of what Platt’s new book “Counter Cultured” is all about. If the video doesn’t appear automatically, please refresh your browser.
Why Christians Seeing 50 Shades of Grey Should Be Embarrassed (and Repent) – Part 2
Posted on February 19, 2015 in Marriage, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
Yesterday I posted part 1 of this commentary – it’s a good place to start.
Fight The New Drug is a group whose mission “is to use science, facts, and personal accounts to educate on the harmful effects of pornography and sexual exploitation.” This is a secular group, not a religious group that believes (correctly) that pornography in any form – including literature – is harmful. Here’s what they had to say about the movie:
“We know that books can most definitely be pornographic. Especially books like Fifty Shades of Grey that contain a high amount of highly explicit and graphic sexual content. 42% of male students and 20% of women said they regularly read romance novels, sexually explicit magazines, or regularly visited sexually explicit forums or chat rooms. Literature like Fifty Shades of Grey is referred to as erotica and can be just as addictive and as harmful in warping ideas about sex and intimacy as porn videos/images.”
Yet another non-religious voice decrying 50 Shades of grey while Christians eagerly line up to watch it. Anyone else see the problem with that?
Fight The New Drug has also compiled a list – along with an infographic you can see below – of the harmful views espoused in 50 Shades:
Why Christians Seeing 50 Shades of Grey Should Be Embarrassed (and Repent) – Part 1
Posted on February 18, 2015 in Marriage, Sexuality by Nathan Cherry
It seems West Virginia has yet another dubious honor: pre-release ticket sales for the pending movie “Fifty Shades of Grey” are higher than expected.
Yep, apparently the controversial movie is seeing higher than expected ticket sales in states known to be “conservative and Christian.” These states include Mississippi, Arkansas, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, and Louisiana. According to ticket tracking groups, it was surprising to see pre-release ticket sales so high in these so-called “conservative and Christian” states.
What has also been commented on as the movie is set to release is the number of Christian women planning to see it. Not only are they eager to see the movie, they are getting all their gal-pals together for a night at the theater. (I suppose Magic Mike 2 will be next on their list.)
Somehow our Christian culture has entirely lost its moral compass. The very idea that groups of Christian women would be planning to see this movie is indicative of the fact that we’ve lost our way. The fact that they would so casually trump the movie as some epic story worthy of attention indicates a complete lack of biblical understanding regarding sexuality, intimacy, and marriage. And the fact that what would have been considered porn just 25 years ago is now accepted and celebrated by our culture…our Christian culture.
Let’s be clear, what a married man and woman do in the privacy of their own bedroom is their business. As long as that activity does not violate any explicit or implicit biblical principle then it’s entirely up to them. This means viewing pornography together and threesomes are wrong even if the man and woman consent. This simple fact also means that gathering my buddies to go watch a sexually explicit movie together is wrong – as in the case of “50 Shades of Grey.”
Let’s review the basic premise of the movie.
Pain Capable Bill Passes West Virginia House of Representatives
Posted on February 16, 2015 in Life by Nathan Cherry
Some good news came last week when it was reported that the latest version of the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act has passed the state legislature with an overwhelming bi-partisan majority. The vote was 87-12 to be exact.
The bill was passed by the entire legislature last year only to be vetoed by our “pro-life” governor. Gov. Tomblin vetoed the bill saying his legal team believed it was unconstitutional. However, he did not get such information from Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and ignored the fact that nearly a dozen other states have similar laws on the books that have withstood judicial scrutiny.
This year, however, supporters of the bill believe that they have enough votes to override a veto from the governor. It was reported:
“The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, H.B. 2568, was introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates last week by Kelli Sobonya. Co-sponsors of the bill include Lynne Arvon, Saira Blair, Anna Border, Jeff Eldridge, Paul Espinosa, Kayla Kessinger, Ricky Moye, Ruth Rowan, Amy Summers, and Terry Waxman.”
The new Republican controlled house is making good on many campaign promises to social conservatives that want to see life in West Virginia defended. Ours is one of just nine states in the U.S. with not one single abortion law. In other words, a woman can abort a child up to the moment of birth for any reason. That is simply not good enough. The largest abortion clinic in the state, located in Charleston, is performing an average of 3 abortions per day – all day every day – and has not been inspected once since it opened in 1976. That is a problem.
My hat is off to the elected officials representing the values of a majority of West Virginians by passing this legislation. My hope and prayer is that it will next pass the full legislature and be signed by Gov. Tomblin.
Two Reasons Why Many Churches Are Dying…or…Killing Themselves. Part 1: Unbiblical Structure
Posted on February 12, 2015 in Theology by Nathan Cherry
This is likely to be a short blog post. But one I hope to build upon and expand into a cohesive doctrinal teaching regarding the church.
Recently I was in a discussion with a group of people about the church. We were talking about being hurt by the church; something I’m afraid too many people have in common. In fact, when I asked who had ever been hurt by the church I am fairly certain every hand went up. I jokingly quipped that those hands not going up represent some “really good liars.”
Call me a skeptic, but anyone that claims to have never been hurt by the church strikes me as dishonest. After years in ministry I’m just not sure there is anyone left that has not been hurt by the church.
As I reflect back on my life growing up as a pastor’s kid, ministry education, and time spent in various ministry roles, I have concluded that two things lead to much of the hurt that takes place in the church: unbiblical church structure, and unbiblical expectations placed on pastors.
“Gay Christian”: Is Such a Term Compatible With Biblical Teaching?
Posted on February 11, 2015 in Marriage, Sexuality, Theology by Nathan Cherry
I wrote recently about the curious practice of parents changing their theology to accommodate their child’s sexual orientation. Many evangelical parents are suddenly realizing that it is perfectly acceptable to be both a “faithful Christian” and a “practicing homosexual.” More often than not this revelation comes in the after math of their child announcing that he or she is gay. Are we standing on the precipice of the normalization of “gay Christians”?
A recent article at Answers In Genesis (AIG) addresses this very topic.
Dr. Terry Mortensen, writing at AIG, comments on an article written by Brandan Robertson, the national spokesperson for the newly formed Evangelicals for Marriage Equality (EME). This organization seeks to change the dialogue Christians are having about homosexuality and to encourage them to reconsider what the Bible teaches. EME believes it is absolutely possible to be a faithful Christian and proud homosexual; and they’d like more Christians to agree with them.
Robertson went to a conference for LGBTQ Christians organized by the Gay Christian Network. Afterwards he wrote about his experience in extremely glowing terms. Dr. Mortensen addresses those comments with a little more biblical clarity.
First you have to understand where EME is coming from, what they are attempting to effect in the conversation regarding the biblical definition of marriage. They plainly state that their goal is: