ERROR’S ECHO In this series we take a look back at some of the most notorious errors and heresies that have threatened the church over the centuries, as well as the subtle (and not so subtle) ways in which those false teachings continue to haunt 21st century thought and theology. Did you know that, by… Paulicianism Read More

ERROR’S ECHO In this series we take a look back at some of the most notorious errors and heresies that have threatened the church over the centuries, as well as the subtle (and not so subtle) ways in which those false teachings continue to haunt 21st century thought and theology. There is a reason why… Monothelitism Read More

ERROR’S ECHO In this series we take a look back at some of the most notorious errors and heresies that have threatened the church over the centuries, as well as the subtle (and not so subtle) ways in which those false teachings continue to haunt 21st century thought and theology. If you start with a… Pelagianism Read More

ERROR’S ECHO In this series we take a look back at some of the most notorious errors and heresies that have threatened the church over the centuries, as well as the subtle (and not so subtle) ways in which those false teachings continue to haunt 21st century thought and theology. You probably know more about… Arianism Read More

ERROR’S ECHO In this series we take a look back at some of the most notorious errors and heresies that have threatened the church over the centuries, as well as the subtle (and not so subtle) ways in which those false teachings continue to haunt 21st century thought and theology. You may not recognize the… Montanism Read More

“If your only tool is a hammer, every problem will look like a nail.” A similar thing could be said of Gnosticism. If you understand what Gnosticism is and how it works, you will see Gnosticism wherever you look. “Gnostic,” comes from the Greek word gnosis, which means knowledge. More specifically, it refers to experiential… Gnosticism Read More

UNDERSTANDING THE CULTS In this twelve-part series we are taking a brief look at some of the major cults, past and present, that have found adherents in the United States. Your pastor can help you if you’d like a more in-depth study of a particular group. This might be the perfect, modern American cult. It… Transcendental Meditation Read More

UNDERSTANDING THE CULTS In this twelve-part series we are taking a brief look at some of the major cults, past and present, that have found adherents in the United States. Your pastor can help you if you’d like a more in-depth study of a particular group. Imagine a world so ancient that even an evolutionist… Church of Scientology Read More

“My name is Todd Davis. This is my Social Security number: . . . ” Remember that? Davis is the founder of LifeLock, a company that protects against identity theft. He was so confident of his ability to protect sensitive information that he published his actual Social Security number on television, billboards, and the company… The Way International Read More

Some lies are so obvious they can’t be disguised. So, cults rely on a trick the Navy once used when trying to hide ships on the open seas. Vessels were painted in bright, bold colors, and covered with complex geometric patterns. The idea was not concealment but confusion. Confusion is a key factor in Christian… Christian Science Read More

READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER (RATIONALISM) Passages that will help you respond when people say… No offense, but the fact that you are reading this article means that you are probably an “irrationalist.” That doesn’t mean that you’ve lost touch with reality or believe the earth is flat. Nor does it mean that you are… “Religion makes no sense” Read More

READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER (FUNDAMENTALISM) Passages that will help you respond when people say… There’s a reason why no one talks about the Ecumenical Movement anymore. It’s the same reason why no one was pleading for God’s deliverance in the days of Samson. For forty years the Philistines had oppressed the people of Israel.… “Christians can worship together as long as they agree on the fundamentals.” Read More

READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER (AUTHORITY OF THE WORD) Passages that will help you respond when people say… It used to be that the most frequently-cited passage in America was John 3:16. The reference was visible at practically every NFL game you watched. As the football sailed toward the uprights, someone beyond the end-zone would… “Don’t Judge Me” Read More

READY TO GIVE AN ANSWER (GOSSIP) Passages that will help you respond when people say… As I write these words, I am seated at my desk, fully armed. I’m not expecting any trouble, it’s just that my weapon is with me at all times, even when I go to church. It’s so much a part… “Gossiping is no big deal.” Read More

“I’M GLAD YOU ASKED!” (THIRTY-SECOND IN A SERIES) Pastors Answer Frequently-Asked Questions I’m not sure why some churches hire their pastors, but I can show why we call ours. Our forefathers used the phrase von Gemeinschafts wegen to describe what a call is and does. It means “in behalf of the community or group.” Every… “Many churches just ‘hire’ a new pastor, but CLC churches ‘call’ a pastor. What is the difference?” Read More

There is incredible freedom in the New Testament Church. We are not bound to a certain style of music nor a particular type of worship service. Our brothers and sisters overseas are not required to use page five in The Lutheran Hymnal or page twelve in the Worship Supplement. Nor are we. But what is… “Is it okay to use music by groups such as Casting Crowns or Mercy Me in our worship services?” Read More

“I’M GLAD YOU ASKED!” (TWENTY-SEVENTH  IN A SERIES) Pastors Answer Frequently-Asked Questions Generally speaking, all Christian churches fall into one of three categories: Roman Catholic, Lutheran, or Reformed/Protestant. Though they share some teachings in common (think: Apostles’ Creed), there is disagreement in others, such as conversion, the natural condition of mankind, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper,… “How do Lutherans differ from other churches on the Lord’s Supper?” Read More

“I’M GLAD YOU ASKED!” (TWENTY-FOURTH IN A SERIES) Pastors Answer Frequently-Asked Questions If I started by telling you what it is, you might not read anything that follows. So let’s start by explaining its purpose and place in God’s plan. Near the end of Genesis 1, Moses writes, “So God created man in His own image;… “What is the ‘Headship Principle’?” Read More

Pastors Answer Frequently-Asked Questions No. Yes. “Conservative” means different things to different people. For some, a conservative church is one that uses a traditional liturgy or sings from the old hymnal. For others, conservative equals “strict,” as in, “You mean that your church is more conservative (strict) than the Missouri Synod?” A better word is… “Are We So Different from Other ‘Conservative’ Lutheran Churches?” Read More

This is something you should discuss with your pastor, because there are different types of birth control, different circumstances, different motives, and different preconceived ideas about the subject. When the Bible does not speak directly to specific situations, your pastor can help you identify the relevant biblical principles and how to apply them in a… Is It Permissible for a Christian to Use Birth Control? Read More