Shaken, But Not Stirred
Essay By Eric Thomsen “Before our next song, turn and shake a friend near you.” It was a moment before Chris realized what he had said to the congregation, and by that time a wave of laughter had already begun to sweep across the sanctuary. Red-faced, Chris grinned sheepishly, corrected himself, and the service continued. I laughed along with the rest of our church—slapping Chris on the shoulder and thanking him for...
Examining the “Call” to Ministry
In almost every ordination board meeting, the inevitable question arises, “Will you share with us your call to the ministry?” On many occasions candidates for licensure or ordination fumble a bit and then share how they “felt” the call of God on their life for the ministry. But is it sufficient to be “called” in this way? Does the calling require more? What is the biblical basis for the call to ministry? And is a subjective call...
Why Are We So Worried About Church Growth?
In my last article I attempted to answer the following question, “Whose responsibility is church growth?” I answered this question by concluding that this responsibility lies ultimately with God rather than men. I then made several suggestions as to how we might return to this perspective. Still this general discussion gives rise to many other questions, perhaps the most pronounced being, “Why are we so worried about church growth...
First Things for Christian Apologists
For centuries Christians have believed in the need to give a reason for the hope within. Apologetics (the defense and articulation of Christian truth) has produced a great heritage of theological and philosophical resources. In the wake of the legacies of C.S. Lewis and Francis Schaeffer, many have taken up this mantel with remarkable zeal. Apologetics texts burgeoned in the late twentieth century, along with institutes, courses, and...
Consumerism and the Church Today
Over the last several decades a consensus has emerged among the market-driven and seeker sensitive, that the “traditional” church is like a product now rendered obsolete by the passage of time and the onrush of innovation [1]. Traditional churches are stuck with too few choices and products – and the products are those they have always offered. Indeed, liturgical traditions have their most public products and choices prescribed for...
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