- John Wesley on Degrees of Justification
In 1768 John Wesley wrote to Jane March and told her that there are “innumerable degrees, both in a justified and a sanctified state, more than is possible for us exactly to define.” I begin with some background before explaining… Read more: John Wesley on Degrees of Justification - Christian Higher Ed and Title IV Funding
Asbury Theological Seminary, where I serve as President, recently announced its intention to withdraw from Title IV funding. This means our students will not receive federal student loans, participate in federal work-study programs, or receive grants from the federal government.… Read more: Christian Higher Ed and Title IV Funding - Homosexual “Pastor” Says the Holy Spirit Told Him the Bible is Wrong About Homosexuality
Brandan Robertson has been in the headlines quite a bit in the last year or so as he is an openly homosexual, self-described “pastor” who opposed traditional, biblical theology while installing himself as a biblical scholar and theologian. Robertson is… Read more: Homosexual “Pastor” Says the Holy Spirit Told Him the Bible is Wrong About Homosexuality - We Might Better Be Quiet?
In the lead up to General Conference, I hosted a series of panels on various topics pertaining to the Global Methodist Church. One of those panels was on the topic of the global nature of our connection. I had two… Read more: We Might Better Be Quiet? - Modern Christianity needs a Method
In the early first century, in Antioch, they gave us the name “Christians.” This name, likely coined satirically due to its connotation with slavery, Χριστιανός, or “those belonging to the Christ,” was received gladly by our earliest church family. After… Read more: Modern Christianity needs a Method - Can You Be a Christian and Still Feel Far From God?
Perhaps you’ve had the experience. At some point in the past, you met Jesus. You were forgiven. You were reconciled. You were loved. And for some time you walked in the joy of your newfound faith in Christ. There was… Read more: Can You Be a Christian and Still Feel Far From God? - A Life That Only Makes Sense if Jesus is Alive
What should the study of apologetics produce in the life of a Christian? This on its own does not sound like an interesting question. The obvious answer is likely—knowledge. We want Christians to know why the Gospels can be trusted,… Read more: A Life That Only Makes Sense if Jesus is Alive - Our Society Now Determines Whose Life Is Worth Keeping and Who Is Worth Killing
My own twins were born prematurely, and both of them suffered consequences of their premature birth. One of my twins was born with a congenital heart defect that recently required open-heart surgery—and the other suffered from other effects. Both are… Read more: Our Society Now Determines Whose Life Is Worth Keeping and Who Is Worth Killing - Good News Re-visted: Is Evangelism Relevant?
To many modern observers, evangelism seems like an antique chair in a museum: a curious relic of the past and an interesting phenomenon for study, but not to be sat on, not fit to bear the weight of today’s burdens… Read more: Good News Re-visted: Is Evangelism Relevant? - Drs. McCall & Vickers | It’s Elementary Podcast Ep. 44
What makes theology distinctly Wesleyan? And why does every generation need to wrestle anew with the great doctrines of the Christian faith? In this episode of It’s Elementary, Dr. David Watson and Dr. Jessica LaGrone welcome Dr. Tom McCall of… Read more: Drs. McCall & Vickers | It’s Elementary Podcast Ep. 44 - HPUMC case tests limits of United Methodist connectionalism
If a Methodist church does not recognize the authority of its regional conference or its bishop, is that congregation still a United Methodist church? In its legal dispute with the Horizon West Conference of The United Methodist Church, Highland Park… Read more: HPUMC case tests limits of United Methodist connectionalism - Our Word to the World: Revisiting the GMC Social Witness
In a previous iteration of Methodism, noting a revisitation of our social witness after coming out of the General Conference would have been a noteworthy headline indeed, if only because of the controversies that it might have engendered. But for… Read more: Our Word to the World: Revisiting the GMC Social Witness - Sounding the Call: An Invitation for Courageous Christianity
Faithfulness to God requires exercising courage. The Biblical witness recounts the stories of God’s people acting courageously in the face of injustice and corruption. In moments of despair and oppression, the Scriptures show God’s people speaking and acting with courage.… Read more: Sounding the Call: An Invitation for Courageous Christianity - How Far Can New York Push to Mandate Amish Vaccination?
The State of New York has fined three Amish schools $118,000 for refusing childhood vaccinations. The schools take no public money. Counsel says the families can pay the judgments only if the state takes their land. - New Methodist Movement Reports Surge in Global Expansion
The Global Methodist Church is making waves across the Christian world as it reports remarkable growth in both congregations and regional conferences. The denomination, which stands firmly on biblical principles and traditional Christian values, recently gathered more than 1,100 faithful… Read more: New Methodist Movement Reports Surge in Global Expansion - Global Methodist Church Adopts Articles of Faith, Elects Eight Bishops at Johannesburg Conference
The Global Methodist Church adopted a new set of Articles of Faith and elected eight bishops to its first regular Assembly of Bishops as its General Conference concluded Sept. 5 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. According to the… Read more: Global Methodist Church Adopts Articles of Faith, Elects Eight Bishops at Johannesburg Conference - Global Methodist Church Holds 2nd General Conference in South Africa
Lay and clergy representatives of the Global Methodist Church (GMC) spent a busy week in Johannesburg, South Africa, at the newly created denomination’s second General Conference. Delegates to the General Conference of the Global Methodist Church worship together in Johannesburg,… Read more: Global Methodist Church Holds 2nd General Conference in South Africa - Something striking is happening in the aftermath of the historic United Methodist Church split.
Something striking is happening in the aftermath of the historic United Methodist Church split. The Global Methodist Church, the conservative denomination launched amid years of fierce theological division within the UMC, is reporting remarkable growth, expanding from approximately 4,700 congregations… Read more: Something striking is happening in the aftermath of the historic United Methodist Church split. - Can Christians Be Perfect?
Can Christians be perfect? John Wesley believed they could. But he didn’t mean sinless perfection. In this episode of Theology Project, Dr. Chris Lohrstorfer joins me to discuss John Wesley’s Sermon 40, “Christian Perfection,” and one of the most distinctive—and… Read more: Can Christians Be Perfect? - Silicon Valley’s War of Religion
AI may kill us. At least, that’s what a number of experts in the field are saying. One of the more recent iterations of this idea comes from Jacob Coxon: - Joburg Journal: GC Recap with Will Gregory
- Adam Hamilton and Taking Back Religion from the Right
As a longtime Methodist, I can attest that—at least from a distance—it is not the most dramatic of the world’s religious operations. Very little incense, not much speaking in tongues, and sulfur and brimstone are barely in evidence. There are… Read more: Adam Hamilton and Taking Back Religion from the Right - Social Holiness: A Conversation with Allan Bevere and Bruce Epperly
In this deep, 70-minute conversation, publisher Henry Neufeld sits down with authors and theologians Allan Bevere and Bruce Epperly to explore the vital, often misunderstood concept of “social holiness.” At a time when public discourse is increasingly polarized and human… Read more: Social Holiness: A Conversation with Allan Bevere and Bruce Epperly - Considering Johannesburg – “So…Are We Charismatics Now?” – Panel 10
Methodism has always had a primary concern with the person and work of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley’s sermons revolved around a robust pneumatology (theology of the Holy Spirit) with great regularity. Yet over the course of a couple of… Read more: Considering Johannesburg – “So…Are We Charismatics Now?” – Panel 10 - A Name for Being Alive, But…
A group of people in the church I serve is reading through the Bible in a year. In the New Testament section of the schedule we’re following, we’ve made it to Revelation. We recently read through those letters to the… Read more: A Name for Being Alive, But…