Andy Hynes

While teaching my Contemporary Worldviews class, we wrapped up the semester with Postmodernism. While Postmodernism may not necessarily be considered a worldview, as it is the absence of any absolutes, it is a common approach to life in 21st century America. With each successive worldview I sought to help the students think about engaging others with the Gospel. I think each class we teach should have a missiological bent. In concluding the course with postmodernity, we dove into the discussion on taking the Gospel to the postmodern generation. The one idea we all agreed upon was TIME. It … [Read more...] about Postmodern Evangelism

Identity Crisis This post does not take the multisite church approach to task. Skilled craftsmen in church planting can hash that out. This post does not seek to bash a single location containing multiple congregations, pending a differentiation between those congregations. Along with the differentiation, there are separate pastoral leaders. Many churches have multiple ethnic congregations within the same facility. I strongly encourage this approach. As pastors, we should allow like-minded linguistic groups to reach each other. As the “main” or “mother” congregation, we should seek to … [Read more...] about Identity Crisis

Let me preface my post by saying, I hope my thoughts are incorrect, but I do not think I am. You may be in an atypical ministry location that is not concerned about professing believers being “deistic” in their thinking and practice. However, the more I hear, see, and discuss the biblical foundations of Christian Theism, the more convinced I am that men and women in the church today do not have a proper foundation. The natural result is a tendency toward “practical deistic ideas.” Probably all our church members would deny a profession of Deism, but what if their thinking leans toward … [Read more...] about Are you a Kind-Hearted “Practical Deist?”

Paul’s Pastoral Landscape, Is it Like Ours? An alarming trend to give up   The American pastoral landscape today is bleak.  Fewer and fewer men are committed or sold-out to serving Christ.  By committed and sold-out, I mean willing to go through the greatest of difficulties, and not give up.  I’ll take it a step further and say, there is an unwillingness to go through those difficulties with Christ-like humility and honor.  It might be ministry did not turn out the way you expected; maybe you did not end up in the “hotspot.”  Whatever the situation and circumstances, I am concerned by … [Read more...] about Paul’s Pastoral Landscape; Is it Like Ours???

This semester I am teaching a course on Contemporary Worldviews, and also reading some of Abraham Kuyper’s works. He is one of the men attributed with the formalization of the “Christian/Theistic Worldview.” In view of some current controversy concerning Kuyper, and his ability/inability to “transform,” the Dutch culture in a more permanent way, I thought I might include some considerations. When thinking about Kuyper’s ability to transform the Netherlands, it might be beneficial grasp his perspective. The worldview dilemma has not always been so disjointed and confusing. Until the 17th … [Read more...] about “Kuyperian Worldview” in the Midst of Current Chaos

I was recently reading one of the prayers in Valley of Vision, page 336, as I do each morning with my Scripture reading. This was on the Monday after I had preached twice at our church the previous day. As I read this particular Puritan prayer, he gave some areas that he fell into. It appears that he might have often struggled with these. As I read them, I identified with all four. I was struck by the clarity with which they came off the page. I immediately thought through my last 10 years of ministry, and how each of these “evils” has been a part of my life. Below are the evils he said … [Read more...] about The Evils that Befall our Ministry

The Puritan’s distinguished a multifaceted union that every believer had with Christ. Do you think there is any validity to their teaching?????? Union with Christ and oneness with Him was the guarantee of eternal security. The idea did not depict a ‘moment’ in the application of salvation. Michael Horton said, “. . . it is a way of speaking about the way in which believers share in Christ in eternity (by election), in past history (by redemption), in the future (by glorification).” Union with Christ was a blessing from the Father. Without that blessing one could not see justifying … [Read more...] about The Three Fold Union with Christ

What an amazing time we live in. We have all the technology one could possibly need. One thing that is interesting is all the videos, whether on YouTube or for purchase, that help an individual imitate someone. Often a young kid picks a superstar athlete in his sport and he decides to pattern his swing, hit, or shot after that person. The culture accentuates and accelerates that through our technology. As pastors we are not exempt. We may not be as vocal or honest, but many have a personality in mind when they think of successful ministry; maybe preaching patterns, or voice inflections, or … [Read more...] about Imitation: The Greatest Form of Flattery

The Licentious vs. The Legalist Observations from the Prodigal Son The parable of the Prodigal Son has provided a plethora of instruction, application, and edification. To grasp the fullest understanding of the parable you must take a glance backward to verses 1-10. There is the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin. In the first, there is a shepherd who ventures off to look for the lost sheep. Noticeably, he is the only person who is aware the sheep is lost. The emphasis seems to be placed upon the lost sheep, but is that the most accurate portrayal of the passage??? In the lost … [Read more...] about The Licentious vs. The Legalist

Do we live in a theological bubble?  Are we failing to major on the main thing?  Has theology become the focus instead of obedience?  When did it become acceptable to let Calvinism or non-Calvinism determine our biblical approach to the call to make disciples?  Nate Akin wrote an article recently entitled The Conservative Resurgence, Calvinism, and Plurality of Elder (http://www.baptisttwentyone.com/2013/05/the-conservative-resurgence-calvinism-and-plurality-of-elders/). As I read the article I began to think of one idea. Is it possible that our theological systems dictate how we engage … [Read more...] about Commands Trump Interpretations