Sanctifying the Mind
The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17) has poisoned the human mind. Even as humans are capable of astounding scientific discovery and ingenious feats of engineering, darkness clouds the mind and evil is an ever present reality. Reflecting upon the human condition, the Apostle John declared that humans “loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil” (John 3:19). Jesus Christ is the Light that seeks to enlighten the human mind (John 1:9). However, as humanity rejects the light of Christ, their minds are darkened. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…” (Romans 1:21-22). So, when we speak of the salvation of humankind through the person of Christ, we must acknowledge that salvation includes the regeneration of the human mind.
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A Lenten Prayer
Lord, let me die. Let me die so that in the weakness of my flesh I shall not fall into sin. Let me die so that I will not be confident in my own strength. Let me die so that the love of this present age will not corrupt my heart. Let me die so that my pride will not be exalted so that I become self deceived, believing in my own importance. Let me die so that I am loosed from the need or desire of worldly treasures.
Lord, let me die. Let me die so that I may be raised in Christ by the Spirit of Life. Let me die so that Christ may live in me. Let me die so that I may live abundantly and eternally in this age and the age to come. Let me die so that I may be filled with the goodness of God, partaking of the divine nature, glorified in Christ. Let me die so that I may see beyond the corruption and death of this present age; into the beauty, justice, peace, and joy of your eternal kingdom. Let me die so that I may see your glory.
Amen.
Why I Observe Lent (and the Liturgical Calendar)
For most Pentecostals, the only days of the Christian calendar worthy of observance are Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost. Even so, these days are dropped into the midst of ordinary days with very little reflection or planning, with the exception of the obligatory drama or cantata. As a kid in Pentecostal church, I never knew what Ash Wednesday signified. I thought it had something to do with the government’s anti-smoking campaign.
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Loving the Great Whore
Hating the church, and all things religious, has become a raging fad among Christians. Daily I read Facebook posts and blogs expressing resentment toward religious institutions of all shapes and sizes. With friends like this, who need enemies?
I recently read through Hosea again. This time I was overwhelmed by the depths of sin and grace expressed in this narrative.
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Food, Sex, and Idols: Who can be Saved?
Who can be saved? That is a question Christians have sought to answer for millennia (Mark 10:26). When Cornelius and his house received the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-45), God provoked a major controversy within the church. Can uncircumcised Gentiles inherit the Kingdom of God? “Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved’” (Acts 15:1). It’s amazing how many times preachers of the good news of Christ try to prohibit God’s outpouring of grace. For some Jewish believers, confession in Christ and baptism (water and Spirit) were not sufficient. To their way of thinking, to be saved the Greeks must become Jews. Peter witnessed the Spirit’s outpouring upon the Gentiles, and the Spirit had prepared him through a visionary experience (Acts 10:9-16). Peter declared, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35).
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A REVIEW – Global Pentecostalism: The Face of Christian Social Engagement
Global Pentecostalism: The New Face of Christian Social Engagement. Donald E. Miller and Tetsunao Yamamori. Berkley: The University of California Press, 2007.
Progressive Pentecostals are having a positive social impact in the developing nations of the world. Of course, this statement has to be qualified. First, not all Pentecostals are successfully engaging the social culture of their nations. As a rule, the most progressive Pentecostals are those of indigenous Pentecostal denominations and the independent Neo-Pentecostal churches. Second, the term progressive must be defined.
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