Christians who share a high view of Scripture hold differing views on marriage. Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash Complementarians believe husbands are to exercise headship, while wives are to submit to their leadership. Biblical mutualists (egalitarians) believe husbands and wives are created to work together as a team, deferring to one another’s strengths and gifts regardless of gender. A casual reading of Ephesians 5:22-24 in some English translations seems to support the complementarian view. “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is Continue Reading
Honor culture sounds pretty, but it repeatedly whitewashes abuse
I’ve never attended Bethel Church or their school of ministry, and I’ve only listened to a handful of sermons by Bill Johnson. Photo Credit: The Spruce / Jacob Fox However, as a lifelong Pentecostal/Charismatic, I’m aware that Bethel’s influence has saturated charismatic culture for decades. One concept Bethel promotes is creating and maintaining a “culture of honor.” This sounds like a beautiful and biblical idea, since human beings should honor one another as the image of God—but what does it really mean? In Bethel’s view, current forms of church leadership should be Continue Reading
Charismatics, let’s rethink “word of knowledge”
The ruse is up for popular so-called prophets who use data mining to conjure up what charismatics commonly call “word of knowledge.” Photo by FotoFlo on Unsplash Such fakery shows blasphemous disregard for the work of the Holy Spirit. It also does real harm to real people—and it has for generations. Part of the problem is that we charismatics can be so captivated by the sensational and spectacular we neglect God’s command to test prophetic words (1 Thess. 5:19-22). We are too easily deceived. To help fix that, let’s take a fresh look at what word of knowledge is Continue Reading
The charismatic movement needs drastic reformation
I was raised in a Pentecostal denomination and have attended non-denominational charismatic churches almost all my adult life. Photo by Rachel Coyne on Unsplash I believe the Holy Spirit still distributes supernatural spiritual gifts, and the gift of prophecy supernaturally strengthens, encourages and consoles believers (1 Cor. 14:3). I believe prophets are one of Jesus’ gifts to the church. Along with apostles, evangelists, and teacher/pastors, they help equip, mature, and unify the body of Christ (Eph.4:11-12). That said, I’m deeply disturbed by certain patterns and trends in Continue Reading