After I spoke at a church this past weekend, I was asked, “How is it that so many celebrity preachers, celebrity Christian authors, and celebrity pastors take the stage with known (and popular) false teachers?” There are, of course, many possible reasons. It could be they seek to maintain or add to their own personal popularity. It may boost their ego to speak to large crowds of 25-50,000, or it may boost their personal wealth … Continue reading
Category Archives: Gwen Shamblin
What is the cost of leaving a cult or false religious group? What does that even mean? Many well-meaning Christians are under the impression that being in a cult or false belief system is easily remedied by simply exposing bad theology and replacing it with correct theology. It isn’t so. My friend Jhan Moskowitz, perhaps one of the most gifted Bible teachers I have known, would sometimes start his talks at apologetics conferences by declaring … Continue reading
Creating a god in your own image can have many temporal benefits. Such a deity would reflect your views and sanctify your behavior. He or she might even make your own behavior look better in comparison. The ancient Greek and Roman gods, who could be extremely nasty and selfish beings, are good examples of this benefit. The gods of other pagan cultures were no better. These various gods and the God Who revealed Himself in … Continue reading
This has been a year of milestones, memories and mission. Joy and I celebrated our 48th wedding anniversary in September. In October we celebrated having met 51 years ago. And some years ago, way back in September of 1952, I was born. 44 years ago, also in September, I was born-again. It seems September is a good month for me. 😊 That is the month I was born, married and born-again. 24 years ago, we … Continue reading
Out of concern that the First Century believers were susceptible to deception, the Apostle Peter warned in chapter 3 of his second epistle to be careful of those who distort Scripture “…to their own destruction.” The ones Peter warns about here seem to be a different type than the false prophets in chapter two or the mockers in the early part of chapter three. In verse14-16 he writes: Therefore, beloved, since you look for these … Continue reading
(Originally printed in the Fall 2004 Issue of the MCOI Journal beginning on page 12) We live in a time and place where tolerance is considered more of a virtue than truth, and where truth is more highly valued in used-car salesmen than in the local Church. But the Word of God consistently values the necessity of absolute truth in doctrine and, in fact, professes to be truth (John 17:17). If for no other reason … Continue reading