Blog Posts

Disciple Making and Kingdom Building in Africa

Reports of the spectacular growth of Christianity in Africa are well known. What is less known is how it is happening. Glenn has visited Africa and has reported on the growth of the church in the book he co-wrote with Jerry Trousdale, The Kingdom Unleashed. In today’s show the Pugcasters interview one of the leaders of this phenomenal movement. There were many remarkable things that they learned in the course of the interview–an important one being how Islam is growing in Africa through a combination of biological growth, conversion through marriage, business dealings with strings attached, and the building of mosques.

https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/the-theology-pugcast-disciple-making-movements-the-contest-w-islam-in-west-africa/

My show notes

Making disciples in West Africa

  1. Identify a community
  2. Research the community, get to know the culture
  3. Identify a “person of peace” … someone from the community to be a bridge into the community

Establish Access Ministries (5 pillars)

  1. Prayer and Fasting
  2. Service with a purpose, fill a need
    Education/vo-tech, clean water, health facilities, seed banks, government corruption/justice, business/jobs
  3. Every believer is a disciple, and every disciple is a disciple maker. “Who is your disciple?”
  4. Multiplication
    Church planting, small groups
  5. Partnerships
    When government programs fail. Involving people in their own development.

Islam vs Christianity

Kingdom building

  1. Family multiplication
  2. Businesses
  3. Building (physical representation of the Church, claiming ground for Jesus)

Spiritual Warfare

  1. Battle in the spiritual realm first by prayer and fasting
  2. Believe! Has the church in America become blind to spiritual things?
  3. Need a supernatural worldview revival in the churches in America!

Fear of What is Coming Out of America

Like the church of Pergamum. (Revelation 2:12-17)

But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:14

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing

2 Peter 2:15

Just War / Just Cause Theory

Liberty Man – Forefathers Monument

Just Cause Theory

“a three-step theology of resistance…

“The [1] first was prophetic denunciation of the civic evil. When the magistrate is defying God, then courageous men in the pulpit should be authoritatively naming what is happening, and denouncing it ( Matt. 14:4). The [2] second stage is for the believers to flee the persecution. Jesus said to do this — when you are persecuted in one city, flee to the next (Matt. 10:23). The [3] third and final stage is to take up arms defensively (1 Sam. 22:2). David’s men were armed, and were not cooperating with Saul’s tyranny at all, and would certainly have defended themselves if cornered, but David would still not lay a hand on the Lord’s anointed. So it is not permissible to undertake a revolution whereby the rebels seek to overthrow the existing authority. But taking up arms defensively is an option. And stating that you will refuse to comply if required by the tyrants to is also an option. This is why George Washington said that weapons were liberty’s teeth. This is why molon labe is an option. As the saying goes, when the government starts saying that you don’t need a gun, then you need a gun.

“In his magisterial Institutes, [4] John Calvin gave us another layer of protection against lawless anarchy. He taught that when the supreme ruler is resisted, it should be undertaken by the lesser magistrate, and that the people should not try to resist tyranny at the top as an inchoate mob. They should resist tyranny from the central government by means of submission to local authorities who are fulfilling their oath of office. Every lesser magistrate has the obligation (not the right, the obligation) to disobey unlawful orders from above. And, when they do this, the people have an obligation to rally behind them.

https://dougwils.com/books-and-culture/s7-engaging-the-culture/assemblin-carryin-n-sayin-stuff.html

Just War Theory

“[W]e can evaluate whether… any decision leading to hostile action, is justified according to what is called “Just War Theory.” Over the centuries, Christian thinkers from Augustine to Aquinas to the Reformers—seeking to reconcile Christian teaching on the sanctity of human life with the Christian responsibility to love our neighbors by protecting them from evil—have proposed a set of conditions by which a violent act can be considered justified. These conditions deal with both whether war ought to be waged, as well as how war should be waged.

“[1] First, the cause for going to war and the intention behind it must be just. [2] Second, the war must be waged by a legitimate authority. [3] Third, force must be used as a last resort. [4] Fourth, force used in war must be proportionate to the threat. [5] Fifth, force must not target non-combatants, and finally, [6] there must be a reasonable chance of success.”

https://www.breakpoint.org/soleimani-the-u-s-and-just-war/

EDC (every day carry)

Barmen: the Church then and now

Tom introduces listeners to the Barmen Declaration of 1934. He then helps listeners understand what genuine resistance to the Nazis looked like at the time, and how many German churches had been coopted by cultural trends.
In our ideological age, cut off from both nature and nature’s God, totalitarianisms emerge to fill in the empty spaces in our heads and hearts. Classical Christian theism is what we need today, but most evangelicals don’t know what that is.

Podcast: https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/the-theology-pugcast-the-barmen-declaration-saying-no-to-cultural-accommodation/

Here’s the wiki page for the Barmen Declaration–https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barmen_Declaration

Highlights/Outline of this Episode

The Barmen Declaration

1934 Germany, 139 delegates of the churches meet to declare the true aligence of the church and encourage resistance to false allegiances and the political evil of national socialism. (Yes, socialism, the same godless ideology we are facing today in America.)

False allegiances

  • Turned from the true God
  • Political symptoms are related to the sickness of theological liberalism
  • Theological liberalism is embraced in order to make the church more relevant, attractive
  • Resulted in “domesticated,” “accommodating,” and effeminate church

Resistance to evil

  • Godly relevance (truth) is not always popular
  • The movement started from the Barmen declaration had to go underground
  • Grace and salvation give you the freedom to proclaim unpopular truths no matter the worldly consequences
  • Stop following the godless culture in order to be relevant
  • Build a Godly culture in the church and our households

Podcast: https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/the-theology-pugcast-the-barmen-declaration-saying-no-to-cultural-accommodation/

Socialism, Communism, Marxism https://ministry.family.blog/america/socialism-marxism-communism/

Prayer of Hope

A prayer of Hope in times of danger, distress, and terror.

July, 2016

I was feeling great sorrow and distress over the turmoil in our nation and world. It is obvious God has been pulling away as we have been pushing him out. The acts of terror, racial and police violence, and political uncertainty and division.

But, Christ is in me, the hope of glory! (Colossians 1:27)

In my Scripture reading and meditation today:

1. I prayed from the Psalms “I am weary from grief; strengthen me through Your word.” (Psalm 119:28)

2. I was both encouraged and challenged that when God had twice revealed plans for the ultimate destruction of Israel, twice he relented after the intercessory prayer and pleading of the prophet Amos. All is not lost, but we must plead and pray and repent! “‘Lord God, please forgive! How will Jacob survive since he is so small?’ The Lord relented concerning this. ‘It will not happen, He said.” (Amos 7:2-3)

3. I marveled in the hope of glory! “God’s mystery—Christ. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him.” (Colossians 1:2b-3)

So, have hope, do not be deceived and be thankful! (Colossians 1:4,7)

Pray

“O Lord, whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible… let us dwell in Your most secret place under Your shadow, where there is safe protection…

Help us to be entirely dependent on You for support, counsel, and consolation.

Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit for every purpose of our Christian life.

In Jesus Christ’s name we pray – Amen!”

Prayer adpated from the “Puritan Prayers: Refuge”

Reading plan From the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings for Year C, Monday (July 18, 2016): Psalm 119:17-32; Amos 7:1-6; Colossians 1:27-2:7.

Prayer for Healing

“Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, You became man and died on the cross for our salvation. You healed people of sickness and affliction through Your love and compassion. Visit me, Lord, and grant me strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with patience, submission to Your will and trust in Your loving care. I pray that You will bless the means used for my recovery and those who administer them. Grant that my sickness may be to my spiritual benefit and that I may live the rest of my life more faithfully according to Your will. For You are the source of life and healing and to You I give praise and glory, now and ever and to the ages of ages. Amen.”

“My Orthodox Prayer Book” by Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Rev. Theodore Stylianopoulos

See Healing https://ministry.family.blog/2020/01/05/healing/

Healing

God can and does heal

  • Remember all the times Jesus healed and even brought the dead to life
  • I have seen people healed from health afflictions after earnest prayer in our small group

15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:15-16 (ESV)

But does not always heal

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,[a] a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 (ESV)
  • To keep Paul from becoming conceited, or trusting in his own ability and righteousness, rather than in God’s grace and power.
  • So that Paul’s weakness would bear witness to God’s greatness.

We can’t always understand His ways

33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36 (ESV)

But we can trust that all things are for our good and His glory

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

And even death cannot separate us from His love!

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV)

Truth

Veritati adhaereto
“Stick to the truth.”

 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:31-36

Truth and Knowledge: Dr Strange Magic


What are some themes in the Doctor Strange movie? 

People seeking answers in all the wrong places and falling for the same lies that humans have since Adam and Eve in the garden when Satan questioned God’s truth and promised that “you will be like God.” (Genesis 3:1-7) But good does win over evil in the end.

The Spiritual

Doctor Strange starts off as a materialist, someone who believes that all that exists is physical matter, what we can understand with our senses (see, touch) (3). Since there is no other reality, no moral truth of right and wrong, all he pursues is power, money and possessions, and he doesn’t care about anyone but himself.

But when he loses everything he learns there is more than meets the eye! We are more than just physical bodies!

“the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” (Genesis 2:7)

“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

The Library

A major theme is the good guys and bad guys seeking knowledge and wisdom. Studying is generally good, but what you study can be good or bad. Much of the studying in Doctor Strange is of mysticism (magic, witchcraft, or occultism) or gnosticism which are bad.

mysticism (magic, witchcraft, or occultism) is the study of secret knowledge, supernatural powers, and or demonic forces (2). Or as Satan lies, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-7)

gnosticism is a false belief in secret or special knowledge or adding to God’s truth with mystical knowledge (2).

“Doctor Strange’s magic points real-world viewers in some potentially dangerous directions, spiritually speaking,” says PluggedIn (6).

Turn to the Bible for the truth. Study theology to learn more about God, His creation, His plan of salvation, and His plan for His new creation. Do not look for “secret” or “special” knowledge. God’s word, the Bible, is God’s very breath. Let it transform your life.

“… evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:13-17)

Theology: Greek theos which means “God,” and logos which means “reason,” “wisdom,” or “thought.” So, theology is to think about God (1).

The search for secret knowledge apart from God is nothing new. Satan in his pride wanted to be like God, and now he continues to deceive people into thinking that they don’t need God. From Satan, to Adam and Eve, to Nimrod, Noah’s great grandson, that studied astrology and mystical occultism and built the city of Babel (Babylon), where the tower of Babel was built (5). (Genesis 10:8; 1)

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared… Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:1-2, 7-8)

Establish your knowledge in sound doctrine so that you will know the truth and know when someone has been deceived.

Doctrine: Teaching of the Church from the truth of the Bible.

Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35, John 14:6, Romans 12:2

What I want you to understand is:

1. The movie is fiction. Much of the “magic” as seen in the movie is just pretend.
2. But, there are demonic forces, cosmic powers, and spiritual forces of evil!
3. And they are very very dangerous because they want to deceive or trick us into denying Jesus.
4. But, we who live in Christ have nothing to fear! Jesus Christ has overcome death, and even the demons shudder! In fact, “whenever the unclean spirits saw [Jesus], they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God.'” (Mark 3:11)

So, put on your armor and be prepared!

The Whole Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
(Ephesians 6:10-20)



References:

1. “Who Needs Theology: an invitation to the study of God” Grenz and Olson, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL., 1996

2. “The Concise Evengelical Dictionary of Theology” Elwell, Baker Book House Company, 1991

3. “Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms” Grenz, Guretzki, and Nordling, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL., 1999

4. The Dobra Family Mission

5. “The Barbarians are Here: Preventing the collapse of western civilization in times of terrorism” Youssef, Worthy Books, Franklin, TN., 2017
www.amazon.com/Barbarians-are-Here-Preventing-Civilization-ebook/dp/B01MY9QH4X/

6. PluggedIn Movie Review www.pluggedin.com/movie-reviews/doctor-strange

“And God said”: words have meaning

https://www.bible.com/59/gen.1.3.esv

Enchantment, chanting, charming, charm, glamour, cosmetics, cosmos, grammar, spell, incantation… what do they all mean, and what do they have in common?

Words have meaning! Words are magical!

Listen to “The Theology Pugcast: True Enchantment and the Consequences of Disenchantment” What an enchanting episode. https://crosspolitic.com/podcast/the-theology-pugcast-true-enchantment-and-the-consequences-of-disenchantment/ [Apple]

In [this] show Glenn begins with a marvelous series of word studies ranging all the way from “enchantment” to “cosmology”. His point is that our language is full of words that reflect a time when the world was full of meaning and words were spells that drew on those meanings. Undoubtedly, the very fact that we’ve lost the original meanings of words like “spell” and “magic” just reinforces the point that we now live in a disenchanted world.

Or do we? Tom points out in the conversation that what we actually have now is black magic. Our words now bend and twist things as we seek to dominate our world and other people. We’ve lost the “good magic” of Aslan and all we’re left with is the “black magic” of the White Witch.

Good Magic

“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:3‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/gen.1.3.esv

Beware the black magic: “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes…

Be the good magic: “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:14-15‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/eph.4.14-15.esv

Put away the black magic: “Therefore, having put away falsehood…

Be the good magic: “let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:25‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/eph.4.25.esv

Do not speak black magic: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths…

Be the good magic: “but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:29‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/eph.4.29.esv

Avoid the black magic: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness…

Be children of good magic: “but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:6-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/eph.5.6-8.esv

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”
‭‭John‬ ‭1:1-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://www.bible.com/59/jhn.1.1-18.esv

Black Magic

“Now the serpent… said to the woman, “Did God actually say…’?””
 ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬ https://www.bible.com/59/gen.3.1.esv