A Merry Luther Christmas
Luther's commitment to write for "the low, humble people" was rooted in his own astonishment with the fact that Christ was born into an impoverished family in impoverished circumstances and lived an impoverished life.
“I have written not for those that are experienced but for the common people and those that have the Spirit, who are highly esteemed before God…I hope that I shall do enough if I uncover the purest and simplest sense of the Gospel as well as I can…in order that the Christian people may hear,... Continue Reading
Erdmann Neumeister and His Pious Orthodoxy
Erdmann Neumeister (1671-1756) hated Pietism but his music was full of vigorous piety and lively devotion
“Born at Uechteritz, Germany, from a schoolmaster and organist, Neumeister studied theology and poetry at the University of Leipzig. One of the main subjects of discussion around that time was the recent visit of the popular lecturer August Hermann Francke and his subsequent expulsion from Saxony due to the disputes he generated.” Erdmann Neumeister... Continue Reading
Pilgrims on the Road to the Classical View of God
Here I will briefly describe five major figures and their contribution to the classical view of God
Irenaeus of Lyons (ca. 130–200) was a bishop who learned from Polycarp, a disciple of the apostle John. In ‘Against Heresies’ he emphasizes the unity and transcendence of God. Using a metaphor, he explains God’s relationship to the world through his “two hands,” the Son and the Spirit. Have Christians always held the same... Continue Reading
Remembering Soviet Dissidents and the Weaponization of Psychiatry
One Soviet technique of oppression was to declare that political dissidents were insane.
Certain Soviet officials decided to increase the steel shipped to a certain area. When the planners issued orders for trains to carry double the steel to the designated destination, conscientious engineers informed them that it couldn’t be done. They pointed out that the existing train tracks could not support such great weights. The politicians had... Continue Reading
Christian Teacher Fired For Not Using Male Pronouns For Female Student Who Identifies As Trans
While he agreed to use the student's chosen name, he drew the line at pronouns
“Mr. V took a stand. He is right. If we as Americans don’t support him we will all lose our God given rights,” posted one signer from North Carolina. “This is a clear violation of free speech. Yet another example of the LGBT and the tyrannical left trying to impose their agenda,” stated another from... Continue Reading
My Declaration of Faithful Disobedience – Pastor Wang Yi
Wang Yi is one of China’s most prominent protestant pastors, a renowned human rights advocate, and a church movement leader.
Foreseeing this circumstance, Pastor Wang Yi wrote the declaration below to be published by his church should he be detained for more than 48 hours. He wrote his first draft on September 21, 2018 and revised it on October 4, 2018. In it he explains the meaning and necessity of faithful disobedience, how it is distinct... Continue Reading
Gasparo Contarini and the End of a Dream
At Regensburg, Germany, in 1541, a colloquium was scheduled with the hope of a reconciliation between Protestants and Roman Catholics.
Well familiar with Luther’s writings and the Augsburg Confession, Contarini kept nurturing hopes that Protestants and Roman Catholics could reunite. This conviction continued after his appointment as cardinal in 1535. In fact, he used his position to address his concerns about the Roman Catholic Church, especially regarding the rampant corruption and abuses of power. His... Continue Reading
Pray for the Persecuted Church in China: A New Report From the Field
Underground church movement leader Wang Yi and his wife were arrested by police, along with 80-100 others, on Sunday and Wang Yi is still being held in custody.
“They want to completely eradicate Early Rain Covenant Church from this country, but the will of God is to stamp this church even more firmly onto this country and to engrave it even deeper into their hearts. The Lord’s Church is the only community that will endure forever. Today, may we who bear the weight... Continue Reading
Urbanus Rhegius – Preparing Reformed Pastors
Rhegius wrote How to Speak Cautiously and without Giving Offense about the Chief Articles of Christian Doctrine. Published in Latin in 1535 and in German in 1536.
Rhegius’s influence spread beyond Augsburg. At the imperial diet of 1530, he was actively involved in the composition of the Augsburg Confession and persuaded his good friend Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, to sign it. He was also involved in discussions related to the various Protestant interpretations of the Lord’s Supper, where he retained a... Continue Reading
10 Lessons From the Death of John Chau
Would you be willing to die for the Gospel?
“If you haven’t heard yet, a young man who had been praying about a specific unreached tribe on the North Sentinel Island in India, was killed as he went ashore with the hopes of bringing the Gospel to them.” Would you be willing to die for the Gospel? That’s a question every Christian needs... Continue Reading
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