Which of the 30,000 Protestant denominations is the true church of God?
In order to argue against Protestantism and Sola Scriptura, Roman Catholics will often ask, sarcastically, that if we are to only go by what the Bible says, not church tradition, which of the 30,000-plus Protestant denominations has the correct interpretation? The argument is essentially that, since the Reformation has resulted in thousands of denominations/divisions within…
Why do Christians worship on Sunday?
Most Christians traditionally worship on Sunday. Sunday worship is partly attributed to Sabbatarianism, the view that one day of the week should be reserved for religious observance and worship, as required by Old Testament laws regarding the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8, 31:12–18). In this view, man is to abstain from all labor except that which is…
Why are there some pastors who do not believe?
In recent years there have been several news features on the phenomenon of pastors who do not believe. The report has essentially been that, in anonymous surveys, some pastors admit to being atheists/agnostics. Why would an atheist/agnostic want to be a pastor? While some reported that they enjoy the control and authority the pastoral role…
What is the value of having a church family?
What value is there to becoming like family to other believers? Acts 2:42 could be considered a basic statement of quintessential church activity: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” The Bible places importance on the church family unit because of these reasons:…
Does God require Sabbath-keeping of Christians?
In Colossians 2:16-17, the apostle Paul declares, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” Similarly, Romans…
What is ministry idolatry?
An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God in our lives. Normally, we think of idolatry as involving statues, bank accounts, or some type of material possession. But even our service to the Lord can become an idol. If we allow our work for the Lord to become more important than our fellowship…
How can I overcome ministry burnout?
The word burnout means “the reduction of a fuel or substance to nothing through use or combustion.” It can also mean “physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress.” Both definitions are applicable when it comes to ministry burnout. Ministry can be all-consuming. A true spiritual ministry does not exist for the benefit of…
What does the Bible say about the role of youth pastor/minister?
Before discussing the role of a youth pastor/minister, it is important to first discuss the qualifications. Generally speaking, anything said about the role of bishop/overseer should be applied to any other church leadership position, including youth pastor/minister. Therefore, the biblical qualifications for a youth pastor/minister are found in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9. The…
Are any of the various worship styles unbiblical?
Before we can decide whether certain worship styles are unbiblical, we need to define worship. Worship is usually defined as “the act of showing reverence and adoration for a deity by honoring that deity with religious rites.” But worship can go even deeper than that. Worship can be more accurately defined as “the art of…
Is it biblical to call the wife of a pastor, elder, or bishop the First Lady of the church?
The practice of calling the wife of an elder of a local church “First Lady” (or “First Lady of the Church” or, for short, “Lady [first and/or last name]”) does not come from the Bible. No precedent for it can be found in God’s Word, and the practice is in fact antithetical to such principles…