Mixed Martial Arts Ministries


Here is a link to a New York Times Article concerning a growing trend to base church ministries on the violent sport of mixed martial arts.

Here are a couple of interesting excerpts with commentary:

The young man was a member of a fight team at Xtreme Ministries, a small church near Nashville that doubles as a mixed martial arts academy. Mr. Renken, who founded the church and academy, doubles as the team’s coach. The school’s motto is “Where Feet, Fist and Faith Collide.”

A church that doubles as a MMA academy?  What a perfect example of the marriage between the contemporary church and the world.  Hey, I love the sport of football but would absolutely abhor the idea of starting a church that doubled as a facility for teaching football fundamentals to youth.  You cannot mix the spiritual with the flesh and remain true to the call of the gospel.

The goal, these pastors say, is to inject some machismo into their ministries — and into the image of Jesus — in the hope of making Christianity more appealing.

This is the fruit of the Seeker Sensitive/Church Growth movement.  These ministries attempt to lure in a specific demographic of ‘unchurched’ people by catering to their perceived felt needs and wants, then molds an idolatrous facsimile of Christ that appeals to them so that they make some sort of ‘commitment’ to it.

The lack of faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ as a savior from sin is staggering.  The fact that this ministry confesses it is trying to make Christianity more appealing is quite revealing.  They believe the message of God’s perfect, holy, immutable, soul transforming word somehow needs an extreme makeover to win converts in today’s sophisticated and enlightened culture.  This kind of philosophy toward ministry is devastating to the visible church and soul destroying to those who buy into it.

The idea of injecting machismo into the church and altering our perception of the person of Jesus Christ into a big and buff bouncer of religious hypocrites is an extremely dangerous trend.  I dare say that the world’s ideal of machismo and God’s view of godliness are two entirely different entities. I don’t recall Jesus doing any chest-thumping or choking  Pharisees into submission the last time I read through the gospels.

As the article reveals, a decade ago MMA was denounced as too bloody and violent.  It was illegal in most states.   Now it is legal in 42 states and embraced by recognized Christian ministries such as the National Association of Evangelicals.  How quickly the culture’s perception of right and wrong changes.   I shudder to think what American evangelicals will embrace next in order to win the culture over.

Without Law There is No Sin?


Q: In Romans 5:12-14 the apostle Paul states, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

What does he mean when he writes, ‘for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law’?  Is the apostle implying that people who have not heard the word of God are not considered sinners because they have never heard the Decalogue or Christ’s commandments? Continue reading →

Is Doubt a Sin?


A member of my bible class last night night posed a question that sparked a short discussion.  I don’t feel that I answered adequately. As a result, I’ve decided to use this medium to address questions that arise in class that can’t be given a full treatment because of time constraints. My new category shall be called Bible Study Q&A.

I was asked if having doubts is a sin. The person wondered specifically if having doubts about salvation is a sin.  The context comes from our discussion on the definition of sin.  I had someone read from Romans 14:23 which states, “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.”  The person who asked the question zeroed in on the first part of the verse that explains that a person who doubts whether or not a certain action is right or wrong (In this case, whether eating certain foods is permissible).  Continue reading →

The Fall of Man


The Theology of Redemption


Study One – Man’s Need of Redemption

The Fall of Man

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This lesson introduces the first study of the series, Man’s Need of Redemption.  It will consist of two lessons.  First, man’s creation as a perfect image bearer of God’s glory and subsequent fall into sin and corruption will be discussed.  The next lesson will focus on the extent and depth of that corruption and how it has effected our being.

Our study of Redemption begins at the creation account on the very first pages of the very first book in the bible.  As I’ve stated previously, redemption is the story of God as he relates to man, who corrupted himself at his initial trial of faith and obedience.  It begins in Genesis and weaves its way throughout both the Old and New Testaments.  So, the reason I’m starting here is because this is where God starts. In the creation account we learn of man’s original blessed state and the events that led to his fall from the state of innocence into a state of corruption.

It is vital to note that in the beginning God created everything good.  All things were made for his glory. ‘And God saw everything that he had made and behold, it was very good‘.  (Gen 1:31A)  This clearly demonstrates that man in his created state was ‘very good’.  He was not flawed in character or sinful in nature. Continue reading →

The Theology of Redemption: Intro – The Necessity of Theology


Welcome to the first study on the theology of Redemption. Today’s lesson will focus on the discipline of theology and why we as Christians need to embrace it.

Disgracefully, the study of doctrine and theology has declined in God’s visible church over the last few decades at an alarming rate.  An ever-increasing number of churches have adopted a seeker-centric approach to ministry in lieu of sound biblical teaching.  According to so-called church growth experts, the unchurched masses are generally open to believing in God and accepting Christ.  It is the church as an institution that drives them away from commitment.  This type of person is called a ‘seeker’. In order to get these people to come to church and make that saving commitment church leaders must lure them in by appealing to their flesh.  Learning theology and doctrine doesn’t interest them so it is laid aside as a primary ministry of the church.  In other words, entertainment in all of its forms: music, dramatic performances, movie clips,  light shows, media montages, etc.  can be utilized to make the church a more comfortable, less intimidating place for seekers to find refuge. Psychological manipulation replaces the preaching of the word as a means to salvation.  Sermons are often centered around felt-needs messages that ‘meet people where they are at’.   Ministers may preach on topics such as strengthening marriages, gaining financial freedom, finding a stress-free lifestyle, even having a better sex life.  This is all done to ‘ease’ the seeker into the fold before presenting him the gospel. It is a sandy foundation which collapses upon close scrutiny. Continue reading →

The Theology of Redemption: Syllabus


Below, I have posted the curriculum for my study on the doctrine of Redemption through Jesus Christ.  My first study will appear tomorrow morning, followed by weekly updates.  Note:  I may break up a single study into multiple posts, depending on the length. I pray that this study will bless, inform and edify my readers as well as bring glory to God.

The Theology of Redemption

Study One: Introduction – The Necessity of Theology.

Part One: Man’s Need of Redemption

Study Two: Creation and the Fall

Study Three: The Effects of the Fall

Part Two: God’s Plan of Redemption

Study Four: Election and Predestination

Study Five: Jesus Christ the Redeemer

Part Three: Christ’s Accomplishment of Redemption

Study Six: The Nature and Triumph of the Atonement

Study Seven: The Extent of the Atonement

Part Four: God’s Application of Redemption

Study Eight: The Ordo Salutis (Order of Salvation)

Study Nine: Union with Christ

Study Ten: Calling

Study Eleven: Regeneration

Study Twelve: Conversion (Repentance and Faith)

Study Thirteen: Justification

Study Fourteen: Adoption

Study Fifteen: Sanctification

Study Sixteen: Perseverance

Study Seventeen: Death and Glorification

Note:  I reserve the right to add, delete, rearrange or otherwise alter studies listed in this curriculum as I see fit.

A Three Year Pilgrimmage


I can hardly believe it myself but A Peculiar Pilgrim has reached the ripe old age of three.  In blog years that probably makes it eligible for retirement.   Many blogs flame out after a year or two and while it certainly hasn’t been stoked into the roaring fire I’ve intended for it the last couple years, at least my flickering light hasn’t been snuffed out completely.  I only posted about 30 articles in 09.  That’s barely more than 1 post every two weeks.  I hope to improve on that in 2010.

In the flesh and blood realm I will be teaching a class on Redemption starting the first week of January.  I’ve been hard at work preparing the outlines for the course.  I’m thankful to God for this opportunity and I pray it will bless those that God brings into my classroom.  My plan is, if time avails, to post articles based on the outlines I’m preparing for the class.  I’ll likely post the corresponding articles a week  before I teach the lesson.  This will also help in articulating and unifying what I’ve written in my outlines.  I have about 17 lessons prepared (as of right now) so I would expect at least that many articles on the doctrine of redemption over the first quarter of the year.

As has been the tradition the last two anniversaries, I am posting links to my favorite articles of 2009.  In no particular order, they are:

The Justice of God and Are we Saved by Belief or by Actions? – These two articles are responses from the comment section of my post, Will Atheists Go to Hell? by (shockingly!) a couple of atheists.  The interaction was cordial and enlightening: A good read.

Grasping God – An article that explores the difficult to comprehend doctrine of God’s omnipresence and my personal struggle to grasp it.

AW Pink on Erroneous Evangelism – A quote from the esteemed theologian (with some personal thoughts added in) that pinpoints the deficiency of the modern church’s proclamation of the gospel.

Is Christianity a Crutch for the Weak? – An article based on a Sunday School discussion that posed this very question.

Four Views of Salvation Throughout Church History – A helpful chart that shows how Calvinism, Arminianism, Semi-Pelagianism and Pelagianism are contrasted in regard to the roles both God and man play in redemption.

Classics from the Comment Section


I discovered this gem of a remark from an atheist buried in the middle of the comment section of the post referenced in my last article, entitled ‘Does God Send People to hell?’  It may well be the best comment I’ve ever received on this blog.

Here it is:

I was just randomly surfing the web and ran across this blog. I totally disagree with about everything you said, but thanks for saying it honestly. I get so fed up with the patronizing tone of Christians who say “God wouldn’t send people to hell, people choose to go to hell”. What complete and utterly patonizing BS. Christians believe God will send people to eternal and neverending torment. And God made the rules. I think it’s totally absurd and barbaric, and I don’t believe a word of it. But thanks, at least, for sparing me the BS.

-an atheist

My response:

You’re welcome.  We here at ‘A Peculiar Pilgrim’ strive to provide a 100% BS-free environment for all our visitors. Any BS you may encounter will quickly be scoured away by the glorious truth of God’s word.

I’m sorry that you think God’s decrees are barbaric and absurd, but I do understand your dismay.  I pray that God will reveal to you the depths of his love and mercy and that you would reconsider your position.

Thanks for your honest input.

A Peculiar Pilgrim

Can We Send God to Hell?


Provocative title, I know.  But I didn’t come up with it!  Read on for details.

I just received a drive-by comment on an old post I wrote a couple of years ago that demands an immediate response.  The post is titled ‘Does God Send People to Hell?’  In it I dispelled a popular myth in the modern church that God does not send people to hell.  This denial of God’s responsibility in condemning sinners takes two equally heretical forms.  First (and the issue primarily dealt with in the article) is that many people deny that God ‘sends’ anyone to hell, they simply go there by the free exercise of their will.  The other false teaching is that there is no hell at all.  The orthodox Christian teaching of eternal punishment is a misinterpretation of the text.  Neither position holds weight under the full testimony of scripture. God executes his judgment on all unrepentant sinners; he sends them to a place of eternal misery.  Apparently several readers disagree with my position, some vehemently. Here is the comment in full that I just received. Continue reading →