The doctrine of original sin is one of the most crucial teachings of Christian theology. It is not merely an abstract idea debated by theologians but a foundational truth that shapes our understanding of human nature, salvation, and the work of...
I recently received this question and wanted to share my answer here. Short Answer: No, You Are Not in Sin! If you work in healthcare on Sundays, you are not violating God’s command to observe the Sabbath. The Bible itself provides strong...
A common accusation from Calvinists against Arminians is that Arminian theology undermines the doctrine of assurance of salvation. The argument goes as follows: if salvation can be forfeited, then believers can never have true confidence that they...
As to be expected (which is wonderful), I received a question about Romans 9:10–33 in response to this post. Here’s my response. While Calvinists interpret Romans 9:10–33 as a definitive affirmation of unconditional election—God choosing...
The doctrine of the millennium—the thousand-year reign of Christ mentioned in Revelation 20—has been a significant point of theological discussion throughout church history. Three major views have emerged regarding how this period relates...
As Global Methodist clergy in Southern Baptist country, one of the doctrines that I get questioned about most is “once saved, always saved” (OSAS). Technically, OSAS is another way of referring to the “P” of Five-Point...
I hold John Wesley in very high regard (I am, after all, Methodist!). The guy was simply amazing on so many levels. The thing I love the most is how many churches were planted under his leadership (it’s estimated that at his death Methodism...
As a Methodist pastor, I’ve thought a lot of altar calls. As is often the case with Protestants, we define ourselves by how we’re different than other traditions. Methodists do altar calls, but Presbyterians and Lutherans do not (read...
How do you know a Christian when you see one? Is it by what they eat? Their nationality? Their political party? Their race? Gender? Socio-economic status? Put another way, what’s the “mark” of the Christian? The first person to be...
To answer that question right up front: YES! Now to the details. I went to Asbury University where we had mandatory chapel three days a week (chapel was the most spiritually formative component of my time at Asbury). It wasn’t uncommon for...