Welcome to our monthly feature Ask Anything Wednesday. While I am answering a question left for me earlier today, please keep the questions rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider answering it next month.
Question:
"I'd like to know if you are still on track to move to Uganda and have ACFAR be THE apologetics resource to that area."
Answer:
I appreciate the obvious passion you have for our ministry! Your encouragement is both encouraging and humbling. I pray daily that our East African ministry will glorify Christ through the defense of His truth. Lord willing, our center will be used mightily for the advancement of His kingdom!
But I want to make sure that I directly answer your question. Are we on track to begin? I really cannot give you a simple "yes" or "no" answer. The Africa Center for Apologetics Research is built on faith and trust in our Savior. Therefore, we don't have a number of defined intermediate steps which we "pass" or "fail." We have established our goal to launch ACFAR by the end of May. To reach our goal, we still need 275 prayer partners, $5,600 in monthly commitments, and $30,000 in start-up support. Yes, this will mean a lot of new supporters in the next few months. But we are trusting in God to provide. Is raising awareness and support difficult in our current recession? Of course! But it is nothing that Christ cannot overcome if it is His will.
I am excited to see what our Lord will do in the upcoming months ahead. We continue to build momentum, regularly establishing more contacts and developing new partnerships. There is one fact that I am absolutely certain of: the challenges facing Christians in East Africa will only be met by advancing biblical discernment and apologetics. May Christ use ACFAR in Uganda to help our African brothers and sisters in Christ defend our common faith!
Showing posts with label Ask Anything Wednesday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ask Anything Wednesday. Show all posts
March 4, 2009
January 21, 2009
Ask Anything Wednesday
Welcome to our monthly feature Ask Anything Wednesday. Last week I received a question in a comment thread that I love answering, so I'll respond in today's post. At the same time, please keep the questions rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider answering it next month.
Question:
"Let me know how I can be praying for you."
Answer:
Thank you for asking (OK, this was technically not a question. But you obviously wanted to hear back from me, so I am going to bend the rules on this one!).
You can pray that my family will glorify God. Pray that my wife and I will grow in Christ, trusting and depending on Him completely. Pray that our children will receive the gift of salvation. And pray that He will prepare all of us to faithfully serve Him in Uganda.
You can pray for East Africa. Our brothers and sisters in Christ face many challenges daily. From syncretism to cults, from the prosperity gospel to missionary Islam, they need our daily intercession. Only our Savior can prosper our ministry in Africa. Let us pray that He will do so!
You can pray for more opportunities to raise awareness about our ministry. ACFAR is a unique ministry and very few believers know that we exist. More Christians need to hear about our vision to help fellow African believers stand firmly in the gospel. Pray that many more will not only learn about the need, but they will also get involved.
You can pray that God will provide for our financial needs. We still need many new monthly commitments as well as more initial support to begin. And to reach our goal we only have five months left! Nevertheless, we leave our needs in the Lord's hands. If He wants our ministry to move forward, then He will draw enough of His people together to advance His truth in Uganda. I look forward to seeing this happen!
Again, thank you for asking. And in case you do not know, the best way to keep up with our ministry as well as receive our latest prayer requests is by subscribing to our ministry updates. Simply sign up and let us know of your commitment to pray for us. I am always encouraged by the involvement of so many in our work. May Christ be glorified through the defense of His truth!
Question:
"Let me know how I can be praying for you."
Answer:
Thank you for asking (OK, this was technically not a question. But you obviously wanted to hear back from me, so I am going to bend the rules on this one!).
You can pray that my family will glorify God. Pray that my wife and I will grow in Christ, trusting and depending on Him completely. Pray that our children will receive the gift of salvation. And pray that He will prepare all of us to faithfully serve Him in Uganda.
You can pray for East Africa. Our brothers and sisters in Christ face many challenges daily. From syncretism to cults, from the prosperity gospel to missionary Islam, they need our daily intercession. Only our Savior can prosper our ministry in Africa. Let us pray that He will do so!
You can pray for more opportunities to raise awareness about our ministry. ACFAR is a unique ministry and very few believers know that we exist. More Christians need to hear about our vision to help fellow African believers stand firmly in the gospel. Pray that many more will not only learn about the need, but they will also get involved.
You can pray that God will provide for our financial needs. We still need many new monthly commitments as well as more initial support to begin. And to reach our goal we only have five months left! Nevertheless, we leave our needs in the Lord's hands. If He wants our ministry to move forward, then He will draw enough of His people together to advance His truth in Uganda. I look forward to seeing this happen!
Again, thank you for asking. And in case you do not know, the best way to keep up with our ministry as well as receive our latest prayer requests is by subscribing to our ministry updates. Simply sign up and let us know of your commitment to pray for us. I am always encouraged by the involvement of so many in our work. May Christ be glorified through the defense of His truth!
November 5, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: How Will We Prioritize
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. Normally this series is once a month, but I received two great questions last week, so I'm answering the second today. Nevertheless, please keep the questions rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in this monthly feature.
Question:
"With the need to counter the cults in Africa so great, how are you going to prioritize?"
Answer:
You’ve asked an important question—one that I’ve given much consideration. At the same time, I’ve only visited Uganda twice and would not presume to yet have enough knowledge or exposure to form a specific plan of prioritization.
With this in mind, for at least the first six months after arriving in Uganda, my focus will be on learning more about the overall religious situation through rigorous, in-depth research. During this process, I’ll seek to discern a specific strategy by asking several crucial questions:
• Which groups and false teachings do East African Christians feel are causing the greatest harm at this time? For example, are they most concerned about syncretism, the prosperity gospel, certain Western cults, and/or specific local groups (like the “abaikiriza”)?
• Which groups and false teachings objectively need the greatest emphasis and response, given the severity of their theological error and their success in proselytizing? Some movements, like the Branhamites and New Apostolic Church, are among the largest and most active, yet (strangely) seem to be among the most neglected.
• Which groups and false teachings have already been addressed by local apologists, and to what extent? In this blog I’ve described a handful of locally produced resources that are still in circulation; other Ugandan Christians are attempting to defend the faith as best they can. We want to complement—not compete with—them and, whenever possible, we will work alongside them.
• Which groups and false teachings already have Christian responses ready for use in early inoculation and training? Through materials we’ve developed and others available through our ministry partnerships, we can immediately place much-needed resources in the hands of Christian leaders and other leaders. (In fact, a shipment of materials for pastors in southeastern Uganda is leaving this week!) For example, we’re providing IRR tracts on Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormonism, a CFAR manual on practical discernment for pastors, a CD-ROM on relevant cultural issues from Stand to Reason, and pamphlets from Rose Publishing.
The needs before us are evident, and the opportunities to address them are numerous. Above all, as we develop a specific strategy we’ll need much prayer—both during the initial phases of research and outreach and throughout our years of establishing a regional apologetics ministry. Please share in the privilege of advancing biblical discernment among our African brothers and sisters through your daily intercession!
Question:
"With the need to counter the cults in Africa so great, how are you going to prioritize?"
Answer:
You’ve asked an important question—one that I’ve given much consideration. At the same time, I’ve only visited Uganda twice and would not presume to yet have enough knowledge or exposure to form a specific plan of prioritization.
With this in mind, for at least the first six months after arriving in Uganda, my focus will be on learning more about the overall religious situation through rigorous, in-depth research. During this process, I’ll seek to discern a specific strategy by asking several crucial questions:
• Which groups and false teachings do East African Christians feel are causing the greatest harm at this time? For example, are they most concerned about syncretism, the prosperity gospel, certain Western cults, and/or specific local groups (like the “abaikiriza”)?
• Which groups and false teachings objectively need the greatest emphasis and response, given the severity of their theological error and their success in proselytizing? Some movements, like the Branhamites and New Apostolic Church, are among the largest and most active, yet (strangely) seem to be among the most neglected.
• Which groups and false teachings have already been addressed by local apologists, and to what extent? In this blog I’ve described a handful of locally produced resources that are still in circulation; other Ugandan Christians are attempting to defend the faith as best they can. We want to complement—not compete with—them and, whenever possible, we will work alongside them.
• Which groups and false teachings already have Christian responses ready for use in early inoculation and training? Through materials we’ve developed and others available through our ministry partnerships, we can immediately place much-needed resources in the hands of Christian leaders and other leaders. (In fact, a shipment of materials for pastors in southeastern Uganda is leaving this week!) For example, we’re providing IRR tracts on Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormonism, a CFAR manual on practical discernment for pastors, a CD-ROM on relevant cultural issues from Stand to Reason, and pamphlets from Rose Publishing.
The needs before us are evident, and the opportunities to address them are numerous. Above all, as we develop a specific strategy we’ll need much prayer—both during the initial phases of research and outreach and throughout our years of establishing a regional apologetics ministry. Please share in the privilege of advancing biblical discernment among our African brothers and sisters through your daily intercession!
October 29, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: Material on Witnessing to Mormons
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. This month I received two great questions, so I'll answer the first this week and the second next Wednesday. At the same time, please keep the questions rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in our monthly feature.
Question:
"What do you suggest I read to learn to better witness to Mormons?"
Answer:
While I have responded to a similar question before, I appreciate the opportunity to expand my answer. In considering books, I highly suggest reading Mark Cares' Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons. Cares is a Lutheran pastor in Idaho who has faithfully witnessed to Mormons for years. His book is easily the best work that I have read on this topic. Additionally, his ministry's web site has a lot of helpful information and his blog is also excellent.
There are many helpful resources elsewhere on the web as well. James White's "Verse Memorization System: Verses Relevant to Sharing the Gospel with Mormons" is very useful. You could learn a lot from web sites such as Mormonism Research Ministry, the Institute for Religious Research's Mormons in Transition, the Mormonism section of 4Truth.net, and others.
If you would like to learn more about Mormonism in general and how their beliefs are different from historic Christianity, I suggest checking out Is the Mormon My Brother?, Mormon America, and Mormonism 101. And if you are firm in your faith and want to dig deep, nothing can replace actually reading Mormon sources themselves. I would start with Gospel Principles.
I could continue, but I'm afraid that this list has already become too long. Feel free to ask me additional questions on witnessing to Mormons. Praise God for your desire to bring the light of the true Jesus Christ to Latter-day Saints!
Question:
"What do you suggest I read to learn to better witness to Mormons?"
Answer:
While I have responded to a similar question before, I appreciate the opportunity to expand my answer. In considering books, I highly suggest reading Mark Cares' Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons. Cares is a Lutheran pastor in Idaho who has faithfully witnessed to Mormons for years. His book is easily the best work that I have read on this topic. Additionally, his ministry's web site has a lot of helpful information and his blog is also excellent.There are many helpful resources elsewhere on the web as well. James White's "Verse Memorization System: Verses Relevant to Sharing the Gospel with Mormons" is very useful. You could learn a lot from web sites such as Mormonism Research Ministry, the Institute for Religious Research's Mormons in Transition, the Mormonism section of 4Truth.net, and others.
If you would like to learn more about Mormonism in general and how their beliefs are different from historic Christianity, I suggest checking out Is the Mormon My Brother?, Mormon America, and Mormonism 101. And if you are firm in your faith and want to dig deep, nothing can replace actually reading Mormon sources themselves. I would start with Gospel Principles.
I could continue, but I'm afraid that this list has already become too long. Feel free to ask me additional questions on witnessing to Mormons. Praise God for your desire to bring the light of the true Jesus Christ to Latter-day Saints!
August 27, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: Christian Musicians in False Churches
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. This month I am answering another great question. Please keep them rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in our monthly feature.
Question:
"Is it ok if Christian Music Artists perform at the churches of false teachers?"
Answer:
To arrive at a biblical and wise answer to this question, additional questions must be asked first. Three questions to help think through an answer are:
1) How severe is the false teaching of this church?
2) In what context will I be performing?
3) What is the purpose of my performance?
Let us briefly look at these questions in order.
First, how severe is the false teaching of this church? While all doctrinal error is bad and harmful, there are degrees of falsehood. Christians may disagree over many issues, but some truths are so foundational to our faith that they cannot be rejected without denying Christianity itself. If a false teacher and his or her congregation spurns our Triune God, the God-man Jesus Christ, or His gospel, then they are not a true church at all.
Second, in what context will I be performing? If it is in a worship service of a false church, then the Christian artist needs to decline. A follower of Christ must never participate in idol worship. However, if the performance is simply a concert that is taking place in the building of a false church, then this could be acceptable.
Third, what is the purpose of my performance? Is it to worship God? Is it to evangelize? Or is it to glorify God through playing creative and beautiful music? Again, leading corporate worship with a false church is not an option. At the same time, singing about God and His redemption through Jesus Christ may be a means through which God saves people. But two conditions should be met in this case: 1) I must be upfront about my intentions with the church's leadership. While this would likely end any opportunity to perform in a false church, it is the only way to remain above reproach. 2) I must be clear enough in my proclamation of God's truth that those attending understand their need to repent and turn to Christ. Of course, I do not believe that Christian musicians always need to perform as a ministry. In this situation, it would be best to refrain from singing in any church building so as not to confuse people with my intentions.
Answering questions like these should help a Christian artist wisely assess where it is appropriate to perform.
Question:
"Is it ok if Christian Music Artists perform at the churches of false teachers?"
Answer:
To arrive at a biblical and wise answer to this question, additional questions must be asked first. Three questions to help think through an answer are:
1) How severe is the false teaching of this church?
2) In what context will I be performing?
3) What is the purpose of my performance?
Let us briefly look at these questions in order.
First, how severe is the false teaching of this church? While all doctrinal error is bad and harmful, there are degrees of falsehood. Christians may disagree over many issues, but some truths are so foundational to our faith that they cannot be rejected without denying Christianity itself. If a false teacher and his or her congregation spurns our Triune God, the God-man Jesus Christ, or His gospel, then they are not a true church at all.
Second, in what context will I be performing? If it is in a worship service of a false church, then the Christian artist needs to decline. A follower of Christ must never participate in idol worship. However, if the performance is simply a concert that is taking place in the building of a false church, then this could be acceptable.
Third, what is the purpose of my performance? Is it to worship God? Is it to evangelize? Or is it to glorify God through playing creative and beautiful music? Again, leading corporate worship with a false church is not an option. At the same time, singing about God and His redemption through Jesus Christ may be a means through which God saves people. But two conditions should be met in this case: 1) I must be upfront about my intentions with the church's leadership. While this would likely end any opportunity to perform in a false church, it is the only way to remain above reproach. 2) I must be clear enough in my proclamation of God's truth that those attending understand their need to repent and turn to Christ. Of course, I do not believe that Christian musicians always need to perform as a ministry. In this situation, it would be best to refrain from singing in any church building so as not to confuse people with my intentions.
Answering questions like these should help a Christian artist wisely assess where it is appropriate to perform.
July 30, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: Witnessing to Mormons
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. This week I am answering another great question. Please keep them rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in our monthly feature.
Question:
"We've had a lovely group of elders visiting for almost 4 months now on a fairly regular basis. They've come to church with us (my husband invited them and they said it was the first time they'd been to a Protestant church), and I've had many long hours of gracious conversation with them. I'm truly interested in hearing them explain their dogma and asking them questions. They know I'm a Christian and don't want to convert.
"So, my question is -- am I fooling myself in thinking that this is a good use of my time? I don't mean these young gentlemen are not worth it! They are. I'm wondering if asking questions, probing, being genuinely interested is a biblical approach AND an approach you've seen bear fruit."
Answer:
Developing friendships with Mormons (or other unbelievers for that matter) is always a good use of your time. There are many reasons why it is worthwhile to learn about their beliefs and to ask questions. Having them explain their faith allows you to better understand what they believe, which will help you to share the gospel with them as well as other Latter-day Saints in the future. And asking questions not only clarifies one's beliefs, they also can be used as an effective way to point out inconsistencies or plant seeds of doubt.
At the same time, as you can tell, I do not think a Christian may stop with merely having learned more about another faith. Our Savior has not called us to have a better understanding of what others believe; we are to reach out to them with His good news. Mormons are in rebellion against God and are rejecting Him through a false Christ and a false gospel. Apart from repentance and faith in God's One True Son, they face God's wrath for their sin. Thankfully, He has saved us from His wrath and has provided His people with propitiation for sin (which encompasses all who come to faith, including many Mormons). Who wouldn't want to tell Latter-day Saints about this wonderful redemption?
To learn more, I would highly suggest reading Mark Cares' book Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons. It is easily the best book that I have read on witnessing to Mormons. You can also check out Cares' ministry or learn more through Mormonism Research Ministry (I used to volunteer for this fine organization).
Question:
"We've had a lovely group of elders visiting for almost 4 months now on a fairly regular basis. They've come to church with us (my husband invited them and they said it was the first time they'd been to a Protestant church), and I've had many long hours of gracious conversation with them. I'm truly interested in hearing them explain their dogma and asking them questions. They know I'm a Christian and don't want to convert.
"So, my question is -- am I fooling myself in thinking that this is a good use of my time? I don't mean these young gentlemen are not worth it! They are. I'm wondering if asking questions, probing, being genuinely interested is a biblical approach AND an approach you've seen bear fruit."
Answer:
Developing friendships with Mormons (or other unbelievers for that matter) is always a good use of your time. There are many reasons why it is worthwhile to learn about their beliefs and to ask questions. Having them explain their faith allows you to better understand what they believe, which will help you to share the gospel with them as well as other Latter-day Saints in the future. And asking questions not only clarifies one's beliefs, they also can be used as an effective way to point out inconsistencies or plant seeds of doubt.
At the same time, as you can tell, I do not think a Christian may stop with merely having learned more about another faith. Our Savior has not called us to have a better understanding of what others believe; we are to reach out to them with His good news. Mormons are in rebellion against God and are rejecting Him through a false Christ and a false gospel. Apart from repentance and faith in God's One True Son, they face God's wrath for their sin. Thankfully, He has saved us from His wrath and has provided His people with propitiation for sin (which encompasses all who come to faith, including many Mormons). Who wouldn't want to tell Latter-day Saints about this wonderful redemption?
To learn more, I would highly suggest reading Mark Cares' book Speaking the Truth in Love to Mormons. It is easily the best book that I have read on witnessing to Mormons. You can also check out Cares' ministry or learn more through Mormonism Research Ministry (I used to volunteer for this fine organization).
June 25, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: Christian Satire
Ask Anything Wednesday may have been on hiatus, but it is now back as a monthly regular. I have received a few questions so far, but please keep them rolling in for future editions!
Question:
"Is Christian Satire wrong?"
Answer:
Maybe. I don't think satire is prohibited for Christians. After all, even our Savior used it! At the same time, we need to probe into the use of Christian satire. Why does one want to use it? How is it used? These kinds of questions must not go unanswered.
Douglas Wilson has actually written a book on this subject, A Serrated Edge: A Brief Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking (I admit that I haven't read it yet, but it has been on my reading list since it came out!). Since this book's release, there has also been some helpful interaction between Wilson and John Frame--see Frame's Review of Douglas Wilson, A Serrated Edge and Wilson's Response to John Frame’s Review of A Serrated Edge.
Used wisely (and Wilson lays out some excellent principles), Christian satire can be very effective. However, Christian satire can also be dangerous when not done properly. I personally enjoy good satire, but would be very careful in producing it myself. Above all, I would want to glorify God in all things, and that includes in exposing folly, vice, or stupidity.
Question:
"Is Christian Satire wrong?"
Answer:
Maybe. I don't think satire is prohibited for Christians. After all, even our Savior used it! At the same time, we need to probe into the use of Christian satire. Why does one want to use it? How is it used? These kinds of questions must not go unanswered.
Douglas Wilson has actually written a book on this subject, A Serrated Edge: A Brief Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking (I admit that I haven't read it yet, but it has been on my reading list since it came out!). Since this book's release, there has also been some helpful interaction between Wilson and John Frame--see Frame's Review of Douglas Wilson, A Serrated Edge and Wilson's Response to John Frame’s Review of A Serrated Edge.Used wisely (and Wilson lays out some excellent principles), Christian satire can be very effective. However, Christian satire can also be dangerous when not done properly. I personally enjoy good satire, but would be very careful in producing it myself. Above all, I would want to glorify God in all things, and that includes in exposing folly, vice, or stupidity.
March 5, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: Books I am Reading
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. Now that this is a monthly feature, I wanted to begin with a question that I am regularly asked (actually, a friend asked me at church last Sunday!). In any case, please keep the questions rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it next month.
Question:
What books are you currently reading?
Answer:
As you can guess, I am always reading something! Currently, depending on when you catch me, you'll likely see my nose buried in one of the following:
1) Iain M. Duguid, Esther And Ruth (Reformed Expository Commentary)
2) Harold O.J. Brown, Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church
3) Robert L. Millet and Gerald R. McDermott, Claiming Christ: A Mormon-Evangelical Debate
4) Thomas C. Oden, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Recovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity
5) Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
Don't be surprised if some of these books wind up being reviewed on this blog soon!
Question:
What books are you currently reading?
Answer:
As you can guess, I am always reading something! Currently, depending on when you catch me, you'll likely see my nose buried in one of the following:
1) Iain M. Duguid, Esther And Ruth (Reformed Expository Commentary)
2) Harold O.J. Brown, Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church
3) Robert L. Millet and Gerald R. McDermott, Claiming Christ: A Mormon-Evangelical Debate
4) Thomas C. Oden, How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind: Recovering the African Seedbed of Western Christianity
5) Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business
Don't be surprised if some of these books wind up being reviewed on this blog soon!
February 27, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: Change is Coming
I really enjoy answering questions on Ask Anything Wednesday. However, at this point it seems best to change it from a weekly series to a monthly feature.
In any case, I still look forward to hearing from you! Feel free to submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below. I will consider answering it next Wednesday.
Stay tuned for more changes to come!
In any case, I still look forward to hearing from you! Feel free to submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below. I will consider answering it next Wednesday.
Stay tuned for more changes to come!
February 20, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: New Apostolic Church
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. This week I am answering another great question. Please keep them rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in our weekly feature.
Question:
What is the "new apostolic church" and is it a problem in Uganda?
Answer:
Question:
What is the "new apostolic church" and is it a problem in Uganda?
Answer:
Well, I think I know who asked this question, since he obviously knows about the situation of false teaching in East Africa. Nevertheless, it is an excellent question. The New Apostolic Church (NAC) is not a well-known group, but they have been remarkably successful around the world, especially in Africa. They can be rather secretive, but some good research has still come out. One example is a brief introductory series by Eryl Davies in the Evangelical Times. Since I see no need to recreate the wheel in this blog post, I highly recommend reading these articles for an informative overview: Part 1 and Part 2.
As far as answering whether it is in Uganda or not, I guess I'll simply say that a picture is worth a thousand words.
This picture was taken in Kampala, Uganda's capital city. What else needs to be said? We have a lot of work ahead of us to counter the errors produced by cults like this!
As far as answering whether it is in Uganda or not, I guess I'll simply say that a picture is worth a thousand words.
This picture was taken in Kampala, Uganda's capital city. What else needs to be said? We have a lot of work ahead of us to counter the errors produced by cults like this!
February 6, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: Prayer for Upcoming Trip
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. This week I am answering another great question. Please keep them rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in our weekly feature.
Question:
How should we pray for your upcoming trip to Uganda?
Answer:
For those of you who may not know, our ministry is currently planning an upcoming preparatory mission trip to Uganda in April. Since this visit will likely be the last time my wife and I will be able to go before moving our family over there, there are many ways that you can pray:
1) Please pray for our planning. There is so much to work through and coordinate in traveling half way around the world. From working out our schedule to connecting with our contacts, we have a lot to get through in the next couple of months!
2) Please pray that the Lord will provide for our needs. We still need financial support for some of our expenses. At the same time, we thank God for His continued provision and for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have been very generous.
3) Please pray that we will be very productive during our brief stay. We have so many details to work out! Everything from our future living arrangements to the specifics of our ministry will need to be hammered out while we are in Uganda.
4) Please pray for my ministry opportunities. I always look forward to teaching and preaching the Word of God. While this may lead to a full calendar, I wouldn't have it any other way!
5) Please pray for God to be glorified. Obviously, this is the most important of all! We are not simply traveling to Uganda to keep ourselves busy serving God--we are serving Him for the advancement of His kingdom and for His glory!
I know that my wife and I are excited to see what our Lord will do through us on this upcoming trip. Thank you for your commitment to pray!
Question:
How should we pray for your upcoming trip to Uganda?
Answer:
For those of you who may not know, our ministry is currently planning an upcoming preparatory mission trip to Uganda in April. Since this visit will likely be the last time my wife and I will be able to go before moving our family over there, there are many ways that you can pray:
1) Please pray for our planning. There is so much to work through and coordinate in traveling half way around the world. From working out our schedule to connecting with our contacts, we have a lot to get through in the next couple of months!
2) Please pray that the Lord will provide for our needs. We still need financial support for some of our expenses. At the same time, we thank God for His continued provision and for many of our brothers and sisters in Christ who have been very generous.
3) Please pray that we will be very productive during our brief stay. We have so many details to work out! Everything from our future living arrangements to the specifics of our ministry will need to be hammered out while we are in Uganda.
4) Please pray for my ministry opportunities. I always look forward to teaching and preaching the Word of God. While this may lead to a full calendar, I wouldn't have it any other way!
5) Please pray for God to be glorified. Obviously, this is the most important of all! We are not simply traveling to Uganda to keep ourselves busy serving God--we are serving Him for the advancement of His kingdom and for His glory!
I know that my wife and I are excited to see what our Lord will do through us on this upcoming trip. Thank you for your commitment to pray!
January 30, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: Evangelizing Muslims
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. This week I am answering another great question. Please keep them rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in our weekly feature.
Question:
What is the best way to help a Muslim to consider the claim of Christ?
Answer:
Quite simply, the best way to help a Muslim consider Christ is to build a relationship with him or her, showing your Muslim friend the love of Christ. Fortunately, John Piper has just posted an excellent article on this very subject: "How Shall We Love Our Muslim Neighbor?"
But if you were asking me about the best argument to use when proclaiming the gospel to Muslims, I am not sure that I can provide you with an answer. Why? Because I do not believe that evangelism is best accomplished through a canned, one-size-fits-all presentation. Building a relationship and steering conversations toward Christ is the most valuable approach. Over time, you'll want to cover who God is (Trinity vs. singularity), how He redeems us (the gospel vs. our efforts and his judgement), and what His revelation to us is (Bible vs. Koran). I know these brief contrasts may be an oversimplification of our differences, but I am sure that you understand our need to clearly share the good news of Jesus Christ with Muslims. By God's grace and through His Spirit, may Christians commit to bringing Christ and His gospel to them!
Question:
What is the best way to help a Muslim to consider the claim of Christ?
Answer:
Quite simply, the best way to help a Muslim consider Christ is to build a relationship with him or her, showing your Muslim friend the love of Christ. Fortunately, John Piper has just posted an excellent article on this very subject: "How Shall We Love Our Muslim Neighbor?"
But if you were asking me about the best argument to use when proclaiming the gospel to Muslims, I am not sure that I can provide you with an answer. Why? Because I do not believe that evangelism is best accomplished through a canned, one-size-fits-all presentation. Building a relationship and steering conversations toward Christ is the most valuable approach. Over time, you'll want to cover who God is (Trinity vs. singularity), how He redeems us (the gospel vs. our efforts and his judgement), and what His revelation to us is (Bible vs. Koran). I know these brief contrasts may be an oversimplification of our differences, but I am sure that you understand our need to clearly share the good news of Jesus Christ with Muslims. By God's grace and through His Spirit, may Christians commit to bringing Christ and His gospel to them!
January 23, 2008
Ask Anything Wednesday: African Apologetics
Welcome to Ask Anything Wednesday. This week I am answering another great question. Please keep them rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in our weekly feature.
Question:
"I have a question about the similarities and differences in confronting cults and equipping the church when it comes to working within two different cultures (Western vs. African).
"Does it appear that there are going to be challenges in the apologetic work you will be doing in Africa that are unique to Africa? That is, do you perceive there to be any unique cultural issues bound up with the way Ugandans, for example, think or approach life that will present challenges for you that you don't face here?
"In the same vein, are there challenges that are unique to the west--ways of thinking that cloud our vision that are not so prevalent where you are going?"
Answer:
Let me begin by honestly saying that I have not spent enough time in Africa to provide a detailed or specific answer. At the same time, I am very much aware of the questions you raise and will take these issues into account as I seek to defend our faith in Africa. My goal is not to bring Western argumentation to Africa; my goal is to equip African believers themselves to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Essentially, this means that all apologetics is dependent on the context in which it takes place. Tim Keller often makes this point when talking about defeater beliefs. In his article "Deconstructing Defeater Beliefs" (in PDF format), Keller writes:
As you can see, the key to understanding how to defend the faith in Uganda and East Africa is to assess their implausibility-structures and defeater beliefs (as a side note, I am unsure of Keller's conclusion that the implausibility structures are eroding fast in Africa--Christianity is making great strides, but many challenges remain!). Once these beliefs are known, a Christian can effectively respond to them with the gospel and biblical truth.
One difference between the West and Africa that I already recognize has been pointed out by Philip Jenkins. As I mentioned previously to the ACFAR Network, he states: "Global South Christians, in contrast, do not live in an age of doubt, but must instead deal with competing claims to faith." This statement has tremendous implications for Christian apologetics. So much of our apologetic is geared toward doubt. But these usually aren't the primary challenges given against Christianity in Africa.
With all of this in mind, what do we do? We strive to understand the culture(s) that God has called us to minister to. I am in the process of learning more about East Africa and look forward to seeing how the Lord will use me!
Question:
"I have a question about the similarities and differences in confronting cults and equipping the church when it comes to working within two different cultures (Western vs. African).
"Does it appear that there are going to be challenges in the apologetic work you will be doing in Africa that are unique to Africa? That is, do you perceive there to be any unique cultural issues bound up with the way Ugandans, for example, think or approach life that will present challenges for you that you don't face here?
"In the same vein, are there challenges that are unique to the west--ways of thinking that cloud our vision that are not so prevalent where you are going?"
Answer:
Let me begin by honestly saying that I have not spent enough time in Africa to provide a detailed or specific answer. At the same time, I am very much aware of the questions you raise and will take these issues into account as I seek to defend our faith in Africa. My goal is not to bring Western argumentation to Africa; my goal is to equip African believers themselves to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Essentially, this means that all apologetics is dependent on the context in which it takes place. Tim Keller often makes this point when talking about defeater beliefs. In his article "Deconstructing Defeater Beliefs" (in PDF format), Keller writes:
Every culture hostile to Christianity holds to a set of 'common-sense' consensus beliefs that automatically make Christianity seem implausible to people. These are what philosophers call "defeater beliefs". A defeater belief is Belief-A that, if true, means Belief-B can't be true.
Christianity is disbelieved in one culture for totally opposite reasons it is disbelieved in another. So for example, in the West . . . it is widely assumed that Christianity can't be true because of the cultural belief there can't be just one "true" religion. But in the Middle East, people have absolutely no problem with the idea that there is just one true religion. That doesn't seem implausible at all. Rather there it is widely assumed that Christianity can't be true because of the cultural belief that American culture, based on Christianity, is unjust and corrupt. (Skeptics ought to realize, then, that the objections they have to the Christian faith are culturally relative!) So each culture has its own set of culturally-based doubt-generators which people call 'objections' or 'problems' with Christianity.
When a culture develops a combination of many, widely held defeater beliefs it becomes a cultural 'implausibility-structure.' In these societies, most people don't feel they have to give Christianity a good hearing -- they don't feel that kind of energy is warranted. They know it just can't be true. That is what makes evangelism in hostile cultures so much more difficult and complex than it was under 'Christendom.' In our Western culture (and in places like Japan, India, and Muslim countries) the reigning implausibility-structure against Christianity is very strong. Christianity simply looks ludicrous. In places like Africa, Latin America, and China, however, the implausibility structures are eroding fast. The widely held assumptions in the culture make Christianity look credible there.
As you can see, the key to understanding how to defend the faith in Uganda and East Africa is to assess their implausibility-structures and defeater beliefs (as a side note, I am unsure of Keller's conclusion that the implausibility structures are eroding fast in Africa--Christianity is making great strides, but many challenges remain!). Once these beliefs are known, a Christian can effectively respond to them with the gospel and biblical truth.
One difference between the West and Africa that I already recognize has been pointed out by Philip Jenkins. As I mentioned previously to the ACFAR Network, he states: "Global South Christians, in contrast, do not live in an age of doubt, but must instead deal with competing claims to faith." This statement has tremendous implications for Christian apologetics. So much of our apologetic is geared toward doubt. But these usually aren't the primary challenges given against Christianity in Africa.
With all of this in mind, what do we do? We strive to understand the culture(s) that God has called us to minister to. I am in the process of learning more about East Africa and look forward to seeing how the Lord will use me!
January 16, 2008
Ask Ask Wednesday: Next Week
With no incoming questions for this week, Ask Anything Wednesday will return next week.
I look forward to it! And you don't have to wait--ask away. Just type your question in the comment section below. I'll be curious to see what comes in!
I look forward to it! And you don't have to wait--ask away. Just type your question in the comment section below. I'll be curious to see what comes in!
December 19, 2007
Ask Anything Wednesday: Prayer Needs
Welcome to another Ask Anything Wednesday. This week an anonymous commenter asked a great question (honestly, it wasn't me!). Please keep the questions rolling in! Just submit your question--on anything!--in the comments section below and I'll consider responding to it in our weekly feature.
Question:
"How should we pray for your family?"
Answer:
First and foremost, you can pray that my family will glorify God. For my wife and I, this includes our own sanctification. We desire to have a faithful and loving marriage, to be good parents, and to serve our local church. Four our children, our daily prayer is for their salvation and their growth in the gospel.
Second, you can pray for our mission provision and preparation. Obviously, we need many people partnering together with us, giving their prayers and financial support. However, while we are in this time of transition, my family also has a lot to prepare for before moving halfway around the world. In any case, we are trusting in our Lord to continue blessing and equipping us!
Third, you can pray for Uganda and East Africa, where we will be serving. Our hearts are already there!
Thank you again for asking! I hope that you will also consider staying up-to-date with my family and ministry by subscribing to our prayer e-mail list. Simply send me an e-mail letting us know of your commitment to pray for us and I'll gladly add you to our prayer partners.
Question:
"How should we pray for your family?"
Answer:
First and foremost, you can pray that my family will glorify God. For my wife and I, this includes our own sanctification. We desire to have a faithful and loving marriage, to be good parents, and to serve our local church. Four our children, our daily prayer is for their salvation and their growth in the gospel.
Second, you can pray for our mission provision and preparation. Obviously, we need many people partnering together with us, giving their prayers and financial support. However, while we are in this time of transition, my family also has a lot to prepare for before moving halfway around the world. In any case, we are trusting in our Lord to continue blessing and equipping us!
Third, you can pray for Uganda and East Africa, where we will be serving. Our hearts are already there!
Thank you again for asking! I hope that you will also consider staying up-to-date with my family and ministry by subscribing to our prayer e-mail list. Simply send me an e-mail letting us know of your commitment to pray for us and I'll gladly add you to our prayer partners.
December 12, 2007
Ask Anything Wednesday: Cults in Uganda and Books
Welcome to another Ask Anything Wednesday. I am thrilled that two visitors this week took the time to write in asking great questions. So I have decided to answer both of them. Hopefully, the questions will keep rolling in!
Question:
"What cults are in Uganda?"
Answer:
Funny you should ask--we are in the process of cataloguing the many cults in Uganda. While our project has just begun and surely will not be complete until I am living in Uganda, we have found several kinds of cults in East Africa.
First, there are most of the well-known cults that you would expect. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons are two examples of many that are very active throughout the country.
Second, some lesser-known cults have also had great success in Uganda. The New Apostolic Church and the Branhamites have a surprisingly large presence.
Third, Uganda has its own home-made cults. Error is not simply imported from the West--religious opportunists from within will distort Christian teaching and claim exclusive spiritual insight and authority. Many of these groups are simply unknown at this point. ACFAR hopes to overcome this challenge!
Additionally, one of the biggest challenges Uganda faces right now is the prosperity gospel. Charismatic leaders preach "health and wealth" as promised to all believers who trust in Christ. This teaching is ripe in Uganda, but must be countered with the true hope found in the pure gospel of Jesus Christ!
As you can see, we have our work cut out for us. But I look forward to seeing what God will do as we seek to defend His revealed truth for His glory!
Question:
"What books will you review next?"
Answer:
I am always reading. But I have found that writing book reviews is an easy way to keep me accountable. If I write a book review a week, then that means I have to read a book a week, right? It also forces me to critically interact with what the author has written. I plan on regularly writing reviews as I read various books in preparation for my mission work.
With this in mind, I'll directly answer your question by saying that I'm going to write reviews of the books I am reading now. I am currently working through Joe M. Kapolyo's The Human Condition: Christian Perspectives Through African Eyes. You can expect a review of this book next week.
At the same time, there will be a great deal of variety in my book reviews. I love reading from different areas, so don't be surprised to see reviews of theology books, apologetics books, books on cults (and from cults!), missions books, books on Africa (especially Uganda and East Africa), etc.
If you can't wait, on the ACFAR site I have posted two previous book reviews written before this blog was started: Free Indeed From Sorcery Bondage and Who Are The Living-Dead? Just click on these links to read my reviews.
But my goal is for these reviews to be more than just for my benefit. I pray that they will help believers like yourself become more informed and involved with our ministry.
Question:
"What cults are in Uganda?"
Answer:
Funny you should ask--we are in the process of cataloguing the many cults in Uganda. While our project has just begun and surely will not be complete until I am living in Uganda, we have found several kinds of cults in East Africa.
First, there are most of the well-known cults that you would expect. Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons are two examples of many that are very active throughout the country.
Second, some lesser-known cults have also had great success in Uganda. The New Apostolic Church and the Branhamites have a surprisingly large presence.
Third, Uganda has its own home-made cults. Error is not simply imported from the West--religious opportunists from within will distort Christian teaching and claim exclusive spiritual insight and authority. Many of these groups are simply unknown at this point. ACFAR hopes to overcome this challenge!
Additionally, one of the biggest challenges Uganda faces right now is the prosperity gospel. Charismatic leaders preach "health and wealth" as promised to all believers who trust in Christ. This teaching is ripe in Uganda, but must be countered with the true hope found in the pure gospel of Jesus Christ!
As you can see, we have our work cut out for us. But I look forward to seeing what God will do as we seek to defend His revealed truth for His glory!
Question:
"What books will you review next?"
Answer:
I am always reading. But I have found that writing book reviews is an easy way to keep me accountable. If I write a book review a week, then that means I have to read a book a week, right? It also forces me to critically interact with what the author has written. I plan on regularly writing reviews as I read various books in preparation for my mission work.
With this in mind, I'll directly answer your question by saying that I'm going to write reviews of the books I am reading now. I am currently working through Joe M. Kapolyo's The Human Condition: Christian Perspectives Through African Eyes. You can expect a review of this book next week.
At the same time, there will be a great deal of variety in my book reviews. I love reading from different areas, so don't be surprised to see reviews of theology books, apologetics books, books on cults (and from cults!), missions books, books on Africa (especially Uganda and East Africa), etc.
If you can't wait, on the ACFAR site I have posted two previous book reviews written before this blog was started: Free Indeed From Sorcery Bondage and Who Are The Living-Dead? Just click on these links to read my reviews.
But my goal is for these reviews to be more than just for my benefit. I pray that they will help believers like yourself become more informed and involved with our ministry.
December 5, 2007
Ask Anything Wednesday: Are There Other Ways to Help?
Since no one has asked me any questions for this week's Ask Anything Wednesday, I'm going to cheat and ask a question that I often hear. But there's no need to feel left out; leave a question in the comments section or e-mail me and I'll consider answering it next week.
Question:
"I'm glad to hear about your East African ministry. Are there other ways that I can help?"
Answer:
I love it when people ask questions like this--It shows me that they are interested in getting involved! Obviously, both prayer and financial support are crucial for the success of the Africa Center for Apologetics Research. But the sky's the limit in thinking of other ways to help.
Let me give a couple of examples. First, we can use donated frequent flier miles to keep our costs down. For a businessman that travels often, this is an easy way to help us greatly while costing him very little. My trip to Belize as well as my trip to Uganda were partially possible because of generous people who gave me their extra flier miles.
Second, one way that I am preparing for the mission field is by reading a lot of relevant material. While I recognize that most of my knowledge will come from living and serving in Uganda, I am striving to learn all that I can now. Buying books for me helps immensely. Check out my Amazon Wish List for a small sample of what I hope to read over the next several months.
These are simply two specific and practical ways that others can help my family. Feel free to come up with your own ideas. I'd love to hear about them!
Question:
"I'm glad to hear about your East African ministry. Are there other ways that I can help?"
Answer:
I love it when people ask questions like this--It shows me that they are interested in getting involved! Obviously, both prayer and financial support are crucial for the success of the Africa Center for Apologetics Research. But the sky's the limit in thinking of other ways to help.
Let me give a couple of examples. First, we can use donated frequent flier miles to keep our costs down. For a businessman that travels often, this is an easy way to help us greatly while costing him very little. My trip to Belize as well as my trip to Uganda were partially possible because of generous people who gave me their extra flier miles.
Second, one way that I am preparing for the mission field is by reading a lot of relevant material. While I recognize that most of my knowledge will come from living and serving in Uganda, I am striving to learn all that I can now. Buying books for me helps immensely. Check out my Amazon Wish List for a small sample of what I hope to read over the next several months.
These are simply two specific and practical ways that others can help my family. Feel free to come up with your own ideas. I'd love to hear about them!
November 28, 2007
Ask Anything Wednesday: What Do You Believe?
One of the new weekly features on this blog is Ask Anything Wednesday. Every Wednesday I will answer a question that someone asks. With this in mind, feel free to leave a question in the comments section or e-mail me and I'll consider posting it. To begin this series, I want to start with a question that I recently received.
Question:
"Do you have a 'statement of faith' or 'core beliefs' that I may peruse?"
My Response:
Thank you for asking! To fully answer your question, I have to make some important distinctions. First, organizationally I am being sent through the Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR). I have included CFAR's statement of faith below.
Second, congregationally I am being sent by my local church, Parkwood Southern Baptist Church. Our church members covenant together using the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as our doctrinal statement.
Third, personally I am a confessional Reformed Baptist. I fully subscribe to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
As you can see, I recognize the importance of a solid and thorough doctrinal foundation. At the same time, I am open to working and ministering with those who differ with me on non-essential issues. I want as many fellow believers as possible to join with me in glorifying God through defending His truth!
I hope this answers your question and welcome any follow-up thoughts or questions.
The Centers for Apologetics Research Doctrinal Statement
Because of our desire to uphold and teach the truth of Holy Scripture, the Centers for Apologetics Research set forth the following statement of faith.
We believe that:
1. The Holy Scriptures, composed of the Old and New Testaments, are fully inspired by God, infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts and completely trustworthy in all areas in which they speak, the supreme and final authority in faith and practice.
2. There is one almighty and perfect God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — undivided in essence and co-eternal in power and glory.
3. Jesus Christ, begotten by a direct creative act of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, true God and true Man, is the only mediator between God and man. He alone was perfect in nature, teaching, and obedience.
4. The Holy Spirit is the Regenerator and Sanctifier of the redeemed, the Bestower of spiritual fruit and gifts, and the abiding Comforter and Teacher of the Church.
5. In Adam the human race was created in the image and likeness of God. Through the fall of Adam man became radically corrupt, alienated from God, and disintegrated at the heart of his being. The desperate need of man is restoration to fellowship with his Creator; yet without God's help, man remains totally unable to restore himself.
6. Eternal salvation is provided for man solely by God's grace through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Man is justified through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. The believer is saved unto good works; therefore the believer's obedience to God is an essential component of his progressive sanctification.
7. Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead; ascended into heaven; and will return at the consummation of the age to both resurrect and judge the just and the unjust.
8. Eternal, conscious punishment, including separation and loss of fellowship with God, is the ultimate destiny of unregenerate man, along with Satan and all his hosts.
Question:
"Do you have a 'statement of faith' or 'core beliefs' that I may peruse?"
My Response:
Thank you for asking! To fully answer your question, I have to make some important distinctions. First, organizationally I am being sent through the Centers for Apologetics Research (CFAR). I have included CFAR's statement of faith below.
Second, congregationally I am being sent by my local church, Parkwood Southern Baptist Church. Our church members covenant together using the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 as our doctrinal statement.
Third, personally I am a confessional Reformed Baptist. I fully subscribe to the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.
As you can see, I recognize the importance of a solid and thorough doctrinal foundation. At the same time, I am open to working and ministering with those who differ with me on non-essential issues. I want as many fellow believers as possible to join with me in glorifying God through defending His truth!
I hope this answers your question and welcome any follow-up thoughts or questions.
Because of our desire to uphold and teach the truth of Holy Scripture, the Centers for Apologetics Research set forth the following statement of faith.
We believe that:
1. The Holy Scriptures, composed of the Old and New Testaments, are fully inspired by God, infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts and completely trustworthy in all areas in which they speak, the supreme and final authority in faith and practice.
2. There is one almighty and perfect God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, eternally existing in three Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — undivided in essence and co-eternal in power and glory.
3. Jesus Christ, begotten by a direct creative act of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, true God and true Man, is the only mediator between God and man. He alone was perfect in nature, teaching, and obedience.
4. The Holy Spirit is the Regenerator and Sanctifier of the redeemed, the Bestower of spiritual fruit and gifts, and the abiding Comforter and Teacher of the Church.
5. In Adam the human race was created in the image and likeness of God. Through the fall of Adam man became radically corrupt, alienated from God, and disintegrated at the heart of his being. The desperate need of man is restoration to fellowship with his Creator; yet without God's help, man remains totally unable to restore himself.
6. Eternal salvation is provided for man solely by God's grace through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Man is justified through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. The believer is saved unto good works; therefore the believer's obedience to God is an essential component of his progressive sanctification.
7. Jesus Christ was resurrected bodily from the dead; ascended into heaven; and will return at the consummation of the age to both resurrect and judge the just and the unjust.
8. Eternal, conscious punishment, including separation and loss of fellowship with God, is the ultimate destiny of unregenerate man, along with Satan and all his hosts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
