By Chaplain Mike For, thank God, a child seven years old knows what the Church is, namely, the holy believers and lambs who hear the voice of their Shepherd. • Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles, III.12 In order to deal with the religious controversies that had emerged between Rome and the Protestants, Martin Luther andContinue reading “Luther on the Marks of the Church”
Category Archives: Church
Driscoll, Masculinity, and the Missional Church
By Chaplain Mike Mark Driscoll. It would be easy to pile on right now. You know… The guy is full of himself. The guy’s language is crude and offensive. The guy can’t control his tongue. The guy is a bully. The guy is a misogynist. The guy is a homophobe. The guy is a looseContinue reading “Driscoll, Masculinity, and the Missional Church”
IM Recommended Reading: Mark Galli on Today’s Vulnerable Pastors
By Chaplain Mike Must Reading: The Most Risky Profession, by Mark Galli at CT. I do not have time to do a full post on this at the moment, but I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this article since I read it last evening. I encourage you to go read it tonight, comeContinue reading “IM Recommended Reading: Mark Galli on Today’s Vulnerable Pastors”
Guest Post: Allen Krell on Evangelicals and Lutherans
Today’s post is from friend of iMonk, Allen Krell. Note from CM: I enjoy getting comments from readers who have their own blogs. I often travel over to their sites to get a better feeling for who they are and what perspectives they have on a variety of issues, not just what we’re discussing hereContinue reading “Guest Post: Allen Krell on Evangelicals and Lutherans”
Major Megachurch Maniacal Missional Madness!
By Chaplain Mike Headline from Christianity Today: “Multi-Site Churches Go Interstate.” Subject: Megachurches are now expanding beyond their localities and regions to other cities and states. Example: “Pastor Mark Driscoll’s megachurch [Seattle, WA] recently announced plans to expand into Portland, Oregon, and Orange County, California, using multi-site campuses that feature live bands and a sermonContinue reading “Major Megachurch Maniacal Missional Madness!”
Distressing Disguise or Distraction?
By Chaplain Mike It finally happened. A church asked Jesus to leave the sanctuary during a worship service because he was being a “distraction.” Jesus was attending Elevation Church in Matthews, NC in the distressing disguise of a little twelve year old boy with cerebral palsy named Jackson. Jackson excitedly got all dressed up forContinue reading “Distressing Disguise or Distraction?”
James MacDonald Needs a Business Meeting
By Chaplain Mike James MacDonald and I both graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1988. He went on to become a successful pastor, author, and radio teacher. I went on to . . . well, let’s just say, a less illustrious career. So, I will leave it to you as to who has moreContinue reading “James MacDonald Needs a Business Meeting”
The Crossroads
Last month, at Easter, my family and I joined the Catholic Church. Each of us would phrase our reasons for doing so somewhat differently, but here are a few of mine. I offer them not to preach or gloat, just to share a decision faced by quite a few of us in the post-evangelical wilderness.Continue reading “The Crossroads”
Changing Churches
I live in a city where changing churches is an art form. Those who have been in their same church for ten or more years are as rare as an Oklahoman who doesn’t like football (which is the unofficial state religion). They are as rare as an Arkansan with a full set of teeth. WhenContinue reading “Changing Churches”
Expecting Too Much
By Chaplain Mike Christian community is like the Christian’s sanctification. It is a gift of God which we cannot claim. Only God knows the real state of our fellowship, of our sanctification. What may appear weak and trifling to us may be great and glorious to God. Just as the Christian should not be constantlyContinue reading “Expecting Too Much”
The Internet Monk Archives 