Stephen Jackson on The Sola Panel is dead; long live the Sola Panel!
Sam Freney on The Sola Panel is dead; long live the Sola Panel!
Marty Foord on The Sola Panel is dead; long live the Sola Panel!
Dianne Howard on The Sola Panel is dead; long live the Sola Panel!
Mike Bull on Daniel 2-7, Harry Potter and Narnia
The Sola Panel is dead; long live the Sola Panel! by Tony Payne (4 comments). Regular Sola Panel readers will no doubt have detected a little slowness and quietness over the past six weeks or so. … more
Kids’ culture watch spot: Facing fear by Gordon Cheng (3 comments). By popular demand (two people asked), here is my next script for a culture watch spot I did with the kids … more
Daniel 2-7, Harry Potter and Narnia by Gordon Cheng (1 comment). It's a Sunday as I write this, and I'm speaking on Daniel 2 and 7 later this morning at a friend's … more
A constituent on same-sex marriage by Sandy Grant (34 comments). Last year, the Australian Parliament agreed that its Members of Parliament (MPs) should seek the … more
A tribute to John Stott by Sandy Grant (2 comments). Friends, I'm not ashamed to say I shed a tear when I opened up my computer on Thursday morning to read … more
Talkin’ ’bout my generation (part 3): On giants’ shoulders by Scott Newling (26 comments). This is the third post in this series; you can read part one, and more
Bible reading with kids by Sandy Grant (0 comments). I was asked for recommendations for resources that would encourage parents to read the Bible with their kids, especially … more
Talkin’ ’bout my generation (part 2): Stepping aside (not out) so others can step up (not in) by Scott Newling (3 comments). This is the second post in this series; you can read the first post, Unassuming … more
One more sip of the coffee by Tony Payne (8 comments). Sandy Grant is a man of integrity. Back in the early days of Sola Panel, I wrote a post … more
Talkin’ ’bout my generation (part 1): Unassuming generations by Scott Newling (30 comments). There is a model of ‘intergenerational theological decline’ that has been doing the rounds of late, and perhaps you … more
Paul is one of the Staff Editors at Matthias Media. He is married to Cathy and has three fantastic kids. He loves student ministry, reading, writing music and playing the saxophone, and is looking forward to meeting Jesus face to face.
Thanks Lionel for raising this subject.
I’d like to add what I think is another element in the effects of Nowism on us.
There is a much greater pressure on preachers in our time to accentuate only the positive in what they preach. Whilst holiness preaching of the type you mention is now very rare, preaching on ‘values’ is very common and growing in popularity. Values to help my family, to help me make ethically sound choices at work and at the supermarket, etc. Preaching on values is seen as positive preaching.
However, refuting error is increasinly being criticised as divisive and unnecessary. Nowism means we lose sight both of the wonder of our future inheritance and of the horror of the final judgment on those who do not turn to the Lord Jesus in faith and repentance. As a consequence, Nowism places less emphasis on warning against false teachers and more emphasis on good Christian values.
In my view, this is a very serious problem we face within many churches right now. This trend is very deeply disturbing. We need to pray that our Father in heaven may deliver us from the insidious effects of Nowism and keep us steadfast in teaching both what is true and against what is false and misleading.
I agree Lionel, Christian distinctiveness is required, not just the polite, charitable sort, but also the loss-enduring, distinguishable value system, etc, so people will be able to see the hope that we have, which is beyond their understanding unless we explain to them.
Good post!
Commenting rules
If you would like your comment to be considered for publication, please observe the following rules:
Failure to adhere to these rules will result in your comment being quietly deleted.
If you want to give us feedback but don't want your comments to appear on the blog, DON'T use the form below. Instead, please send us an email or click on the button below.
Your Comment
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.