by Bret Capranica | Jul 21, 2005 | Church History, General Theology
According to this article, the Jews had an active, perhaps persecuted, community in Rome during the first century. The article further suggets that the well-known Christian practice of burials in the Roman catacombs was a result of adopting the Jewish practice. Another link in the transition between Judaism and Chrisitianity in the first century. Interesting article, anyone have any comments on the...
by Bret Capranica | May 25, 2005 | Church History, Culture, General Theology
The land that once produced the puritans, the Wesley’s, Whitfield, Spurgeon, Lloyd-Jones and other colossal names in Christian circles has lost her joy. The referenced report is an interesting read, especially when one considers that Great Britain is a country given to the application of modern liberalism, where once she was the propagator of the gospel to the world. This secularized country now faces the results of Christlessness: joylessness. “Money worries, relationship woes and even political concerns were among the reasons given for the collection of grim faces, according to the data, collected for the cruise company Ocean Village.” Rather than examining the ramifications of Britain’s social issues, the group researching England’s joy attributed their sorrow to: “Factors such as weather, time of day and age, were all cited as being able to spark the blues.” What about England’s measured move away from the Bible, the gospel and the Lordship of Christ? While no secular survey would turn up such causes to unhappiness, it should come as no surprise to those who know the strength of the joy of the Lord. “Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4. “I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.” Psalm 119:14 “I have inherited Your testimonies forever, for they are the joy of my heart.” Psalm 119:111 “I rejoice at Your word, as one who finds great spoil.” Psalm 119:162 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Philippians...
by Bret Capranica | May 20, 2005 | Church History, Ecclesiology, Seeker-Sensitive
Do we need another reformation within Christianity? Rick Warren says we do. However this time, the new reformation needs to be one not based on belief, but on behavior. In a recent gathering of over 12,000 people in Dallas, Warren spoke about how the Reformation of the sixteenth century divided the church, but how a new reformation centered on planting churches, developing servant leaders, feeding the poor, curing the sick and educating the uneducated will unify the church. And with whom will we be unified? The meeting was a gathering of “Baptists, charismatics, nondenominational evangelicals, and others [I wonder who these folks are] at Dallas’ Reunion Arena for a Global Day of Prayer rally May 15.” Warren commented about the first reformation and the new reformation, “The first one was about creeds; this one’s going to be about our deeds. The first one divided the church; this time it will unify the church.” Warren led the assembly in “praying against the global giants” that lead to fear, loss of direction, and lack of purpose, noting spiritual emptiness is the greatest giant.” This push for a global response of the Church to issues such as health, education and poverty is a necessary one. My concern is that we are approaching such issues without a common conviction about what is actually most basic: the gospel. To link arms with religious groups who do not agree on the content of the gospel in order to cure societal ills is eternally meaningless. In my estimation, Warren’s approach is picking up the ball where the Promise Keepers left off: unity without theology. He seems...
