The Super Theologian

Loaded Question. I think I would first engage with you on the presupposition/assumption you make concerning "Christians killing heretics" We know that the Papacy killed heretics (and Christians) and various magistrates killed heretics (Servetus). But I would challenge the notion that genuine Christians killing heretics happened enough to consider it a trend or worthy of a generalization. I would say we should handle heretics the same way the early church did. We should call it out, pronounce God's curse against them for perverting the Gospel as Paul does in Galatian 1:8-9. We should also continually warn the church against them while also praying for their repentancen as Peter did for Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:9-25). Nowhere in Scripture are we ever encouraged to Kill heretics. God has killed them but we are called to pray and seek the salvation of all, even heretics. As a Super-Hero Theologian, I never end a fight without called for the false teacher to repent and believe in the Gospel. That is why I only Laser-Beam false writings and never the false teachers themselves. I have been tempted tho! #Confessions

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Check out Thabiti Anyebwile's book "The Decline of African American Theology: From Biblical Faith to cultural captivity. I gave you a link below. In short, I don't think your portrayal is completely accurate. The Hispanic nations are certainly influenced by Benny Hinn but most African Americans would not find him appealing at all. They are more influenced by Pentecostalism specifically over the Charismatic kook-aid of the Benny Hinn type. Therefore, to answer your question, we would actually have to look at the Historical development of pentecostalism and its influence separately from TBN personalities and their influence in the Hispanic nations. In short, Pentecostalism speaks to more to the African American experience, specifically in the area of emotional expressiveness in worship than the typically dry Cessationist church experience does. Also, White Reformed brethren generally desire for greater ethnic diversity in their churches but they seek in in a "Come only on our terms" kind of mentality. They expect Minorities to reject all aspects of their culture and submit their ethnic diversity to the caucasion majority. This is seen Primarily in the areas of music and leadership. I know of only 2 Reformed churches that are predominately white who actually have any minorities in positions of leadership (elders). If Caucasian churches want more ethnic diversity in their churches, they should be willing to be more intentionally broad in their music choices and seek to train up qualified ethnically diverse men to take positions of leadership rather than only other Caucasian brothers. Until this is done, it is the few Reformed ethnic minorities who have to pick up the slack and the harvest is plentiful and laborers a few. One of my Super Powers is keeping it "Super Real". I don't mean any offense but I think the issues I speak about are a reality that no one wants to touch out of fear of sounding prejudice. Race and ethnicity are still a hot topic in the church.

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http://www.amazon.com/Decline-African-American-Theology-Captivity/dp/0830828273/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402764461&sr=1-1&keywords=the+decline+of+african+american+theology

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Apologetics are extremely important! I do believe they are primarily for the firmer grounding of the believer in their faith but they are also critical in how the church engages in the public square. We are commanded to be ready to give a reason for the faith we have (I Peter 3:15). I think all Christians should study apologetics. Not only for their own faith but to be able to give answers when asked of those outside of the faith. Apologetics are extremely important but it is secondary to the Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation and no one comes to faith simply by learning a piece of secondary information. Information may however assist the evangelist in removing barriers to the Gospel but apologetics can never do the healing power that the Gospel itself can do. Personally, I love apologetics. Foundationally, I would consider myself a presuppositionalist though I wed all the various schools together in my approach.

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Great Question! The ESV Study Bible would be helpful for new believers and for those wanting a little more clarity in their Bible reading. However, there are some tremendous Commentaries that are extremely deep & Cheap for those who want greater depths. First off, every Christian should have "Matthew Henry's Commentary set. MH was a Puritan Christian who has written the greatest Devotional Commentary set EVER! You can buy the 6-Volume set for ONLY $29.99 at ChristianBook.com. Any Christian who desires to go deeper in the Scriptures in a way that appeals the mind and heart needs that set! And at $29.99 for 6 volumes why not?? I cannot underestimate the value of Biblical Theology for the Christian. It is SO critical!!! So many Christians base their theology on a few key passages. Biblical Theology requires you to have a comprehensive holistic theology as it engages the entire Bible. The most accessible resources for Biblcal Theology is Thomas Schreiner's "The King and His Beauty". The first book I would recommend to someone who no understanding of the Covenants or Biblical Theology is "Far As The Curse is Found: The Covenant Story of Redemption". It is the most excellent introductory word on Biblical Theology that I've found. Links provided below.

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Matthew Henry Set
http://www.christianbook.com/matthew-henrys-commentary-whole-bible-volumes/9781598564358/pd/564365?product_redirect=1&Ntt=564365&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

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Schreiner's Biblical Theology
http://www.amazon.com/King-His-Beauty-The-Testaments/dp/0801039398/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402763147&sr=8-1&keywords=King+and+his+beauty

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Introductory Work on Biblical Theology and Covenants
http://www.amazon.com/Far-Curse-Is-Found-Redemption/dp/0875525105/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1402763172&sr=8-1&keywords=Far+as+curse+is+found

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Ha, well as A Super-Hero Theologian I am not permitted to Mortal Kombat my opponents. I must pray for my enemies. However, when I am debating someone who holds to some form of a false Gospel or false teaching, my favorite apologetic finishing move is to demonstrate to them how their Gospel or false truth is less glorious than the real Truth as revealed in Scripture. Mormons, JWs, Propserity Preachers, Oneness Pentecostalism, regardless of the false system, they are all less glorious than the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and the accurate telling of the Biblical Story of Redemption. If you have a robust Biblical Theology, one of the best things you can do with someone who holds to a false Gospel is narrate for them the accurate Biblical Story of Redemption, and in so doing demonstrate to them that their Theological system is far less beautiful, glorious, and compelling than the Historically Orthodox faith that has been once and for all delivered to the saints!

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Great and important question. When a saint joins a church they are joining a faith family. Church membership should not be taken lightly by any means. As every family has a crazy uncle, every church church is made up of people who are at various degrees of spiritual maturity. A person should never leave a church because they have been offended by other Christians in their faith family, they should seek to reconcile. A person who leaves a church because of an offense is not really leaving because of an offense. They are leaving because they do not love the Bride of Christ enough to overlook an offense. Here are valid reasons to leave a church.

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1. Gospel-less preaching. If a pastor refuses to preach the Gospel, and you have spoken to the pastor about this and he still refuses. You must be careful here. There is a difference between a pastor seeking to preach the Gospel and needing growth in preaching vs. a pastor who refuses to preach the Gospel. The church is not made up of a preacher and you shouldn't leave a church just because the preaching pastor isn't the most gifted Gospel preacher. You should overlook this and continue encouraging him in his growth as a preacher.

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2. The Character of the Elders. If the pastors do not pass the qualifications laid out in the Pastoral Epistles and are bringing a reproach to the gospel, you should leave. I am not referring to Gossip but true verifiable character issues.

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3. Heresy or sanctioned false teaching. If the leaders of your church are promoting heresy or false teaching you should leave. There is a difference between being ignorant and having a teachable Spirit and being given over to false teaching and teaching others. If your Pastor is a false teacher, leave

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4. There are many more reasons but let me conclude with this. If you cannot serve in the body without undermining the convictions of the Elders you should leave. To clarify, if you are part of say an Arminian church but are able to faithfully serve in the body as a Calvinist, you should stay and serve the body and not make Calvinism the Gospel. Even graciously seek to change the Pastors mind through respectful conversations. If however, you have to undermine the Elders in order to serve due to theological distinctions, it is better for you to leave than to cause a church split. Those are some thoughts in a nutshell. Feel free to ask any clarifying Questions, there is a lot of nuance regarding this issue.

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