The Christian Worldview

Remember the talk about COVID vaccine “passports”… Like one would need to show proof of vaccination to go to work, eat at a restaurant, or go to a gym? Well, it’s now here. In the course of the last week, the dominoes have begun to fall en masse with businesses, colleges, the federal government, and other sectors instituting vaccine mandates. Work for a company and don’t want to lose your means of income? Then you’ll need to prove you’ve been vaccinated. If not, they might let you still work for them if you: wear a mask, social distance, get tested, and carve a “U” on your forehead to let everyone know how much of a fool you are (and “selfish” because you’re killing people). This weekend on The Christian Worldview, we’ll discuss the COVID mandates and what a Christian who chooses to not get vaccinated can do. Twila Brase, president of Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom, will join us for part of the program. We’ve entered a new frontier in America and Christians need to be aware and prepared.

Remember the talk about COVID vaccine “passports”… Like one would need to show proof of vaccination to go to work, eat at a restaurant, or go to a gym?Well, it’s now here. In the course of the last week, the dominoes have begun to fall en masse with businesses, colleges, the federal government, and other sectors instituting vaccine mandates.Work for a company and don’t want to lose your means of income? Then you’ll need to prove you’ve been vaccinated. If not, they might let you still work for them if you: wear a mask, social distance, get tested, and carve a “U” on your forehead to let everyone know how much of a fool you are (and “selfish” because you’re killing people).This weekend on The Christian Worldview, we’ll discuss the COVID mandates and what a Christian who chooses to not get vaccinated can do. Twila Brase, president of Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom, will join us for part of the program.We’ve entered a new frontier in America and Christians need to be aware and prepared.

Last week we discussed part 1 of our topic on the fracture taking place at McClean Bible Church just outside Washington DC where well-known Evangelical leader and author David Platt is the lead pastor. The story has been covered in national media, including Christianity Today which stated: “To some observers, McLean Bible Church’s conflict seems like a replay of other recent episodes from American evangelicalism, where leaders who appeal to Scripture to address social issues are accused of theological liberalism or secular influence even if they continue to hold traditional Christian views.” More succinctly, it appears that David Platt sees ethnic reconciliation and integration as a priority of the gospel while those in opposition see it as partiality and the road to compromise. On July 4, Platt called out a “small group” of people in the church for hindering the election of three new elders. Earlier this year, a 17-page letter was sent to church leadership, detailing their concerns about the direction of the church and its focus on social and racial justice. The goal of this program is to analyze how the issue of social justice is fracturing Evangelical churches, to understand where both sides are coming from, to compare their views against the final authority of Scripture, and to learn from both good and bad examples so our own churches can be more faithful to God. We’ll strive to do just that this weekend on The Christian Worldview in part 2 of our topic: What to Discern from the Church Fracture Where David Platt Pastors. We hope you can join us!

Last week we discussed part 1 of our topic on the fracture taking place at McClean Bible Church just outside Washington DC where well-known Evangelical leader and author David Platt is the lead pastor.The story has been covered in national media, including Christianity Today which stated:“To some observers, McLean Bible Church’s conflict seems like a replay of other recent episodes from American evangelicalism, where leaders who appeal to Scripture to address social issues are accused of theological liberalism or secular influence even if they continue to hold traditional Christian views.”More succinctly, it appears that David Platt sees ethnic reconciliation and integration as a priority of the gospel while those in opposition see it as partiality and the road to compromise.On July 4, Platt called out a “small group” of people in the church for hindering the election of three new elders. Earlier this year, a 17-page letter was sent to church leadership, detailing their concerns about the direction of the church and its focus on social and racial justice.The goal of this program is to analyze how the issue of social justice is fracturing Evangelical churches, to understand where both sides are coming from, to compare their views against the final authority of Scripture, and to learn from both good and bad examples so our own churches can be more faithful to God...

David Platt is one of the most influential evangelical pastors in America. He came to prominence after the release of his best-selling book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. He has served as president of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, one of the largest missionary sending agencies in the world, and since 2017, has been pastor at McLean Bible Church, a mega-church with four locations located just outside Washington DC in Virginia. His tenure at the church has not been smooth, at least not of late. Prior to his sermon on July 4, Platt called out a “small group” of people in the church for hindering the election of three new elders. A subsequent vote took place but allegations of voting impropriety has led to a legal challenge. It turns out this is the tip of the iceberg. A 17-page letter was sent to church leadership earlier this year, detailing their concerns about the direction of the church. One of the recurring charges is that church leadership is wrongly focused on social and racial justice. A Facebook group called “Save McLean Bible Church” has been actively pushing back against Platt’s leadership. Church divisions are certainly nothing new but there are things to discern and learn from them so unity that honors God can be achieved. We hope you join us this weekend on The Christian Worldview.

David Platt is one of the most influential evangelical pastors in America. He came to prominence after the release of his best-selling book Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream. He has served as president of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, one of the largest missionary sending agencies in the world, and since 2017, has been pastor at McLean Bible Church, a mega-church with four locations located just outside Washington DC in Virginia.His tenure at the church has not been smooth, at least not of late. Prior to his sermon on July 4, Platt called out a “small group” of people in the church for hindering the election of three new elders. A subsequent vote took place but allegations of voting impropriety has led to a legal challenge.It turns out this is the tip of the iceberg. A 17-page letter was sent to church leadership earlier this year, detailing their concerns about the direction of the church. One of the recurring charges is that church leadership is wrongly focused on social and racial justice. A Facebook group called “Save McLean Bible Church” has been actively pushing back against Platt’s leadership.Church divisions are certainly nothing new but there are things to discern and learn from them so unity that honors God can be achieved. We hope you join us this weekend on The Christian Worldview.

Guest: Matthew Fletcher, senior pastor, Webster Bible Church (NY)  Last week we discussed the very troubling situation that the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Ed Litton, plagiarized sermons for several years from the immediate past president JD Greear. What’s worse is that, as of yet, Litton hasn’t resigned nor has the SBC removed him for a transgression that would result in expulsion for any seminary student. The only guesses as to why Litton remains as SBC president is that Christian leaders don’t consider repeated plagiarism (a type of lying and deception) to be a disqualifying sin for a pastor or that plagiarism is so widespread amongst pastors that no one wants to “cast the first stone.” Whatever the reason, the state of Evangelical leadership is in dire condition. But lest we despair, Christ says, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). In other words, no failing of pastors or leaders will hinder God building His church, the body of true believers. In fact, as our guest Justin Peters mentioned last week, there are many faithful pastors laboring each day in little-known churches across the country. They may not have large social media followings, multi-site churches with thousands in attendance, and best-selling books, but they do understand the purpose of the church and their role as shepherd. Matthew Fletcher is one such pastor. In pastoral ministry for 30 years (senior pastor of Webster Bible Church near Rochester, NY), Matt joins us this weekend to discuss how a church can follow Christ’s prescription for His body and avoid the kind of mission drift so prevalent today.

Guest: Matthew Fletcher, senior pastor, Webster Bible Church (NY)Last week we discussed the very troubling situation that the new president of the Southern Baptist Convention, Ed Litton, plagiarized sermons for several years from the immediate past president JD Greear. What’s worse is that, as of yet, Litton hasn’t resigned nor has the SBC removed him for a transgression that would result in expulsion for any seminary student.The only guesses as to why Litton remains as SBC president is that Christian leaders don’t consider repeated plagiarism (a type of lying and deception) to be a disqualifying sin for a pastor or that plagiarism is so widespread amongst pastors that no one wants to “cast the first stone.” Whatever the reason, the state of Evangelical leadership is in dire condition.But lest we despair, Christ says, “I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matt. 16:18). In other words, no failing of pastors or leaders will hinder God building His church, the body of true believers.In fact, as our guest Justin Peters mentioned last week, there are many faithful pastors laboring each day in little-known churches across the country. They may not have large social media followings, multi-site churches with thousands in attendance, and best-selling books, but they do understand the purpose of the church and their role as shepherd.Matthew Fletcher is one such pastor. In pastoral ministry for 30 years (senior pastor of Webster Bible Church near Rochester, NY), Matt joins us this weekend to discuss how a church can follow Christ’s prescription for His body and avoid the kind of mission drift so prevalent today...

GUEST: JUSTIN PETERS, founder and preacher, Justin Peters Ministries Just days after our recent program on the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting, which in part focused on the election of new president, pastor Ed Litton, and where he stands on various issues, it was revealed that Litton had for many years been plagiarizing sermons nearly word for word from immediate past SBC president, pastor JD Greear, and that Litton’s church had removed over 140 sermons from their website. The story is receiving widespread coverage, even in mainstream outlets such as the New York Times. The dictionary definition of plagiarism is “the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.” Biblically speaking, plagiarism is stealing and is an egregious sin, particularly for a pastor and preacher of God’s word. While Greear says he gave Litton permission to use his content, Litton never publicly credited Greear. That is blatant plagiarism. So far, Ed Litton has not resigned, and based on a recent interview, doesn’t seem inclined to do so. More troubling, there has not been a universal call from the SBC or Evangelical leaders for him to step down. Justin Peters, evangelist and preacher of Justin Peters Ministries, joins us this weekend to discuss what is being called “Sermongate”. For if Christian leaders are now able to skirt past plagiarism, where does that leave the reputation and influence of the body of Christ?

GUEST: JUSTIN PETERS, founder and preacher, Justin Peters MinistriesJust days after our recent program on the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting, which in part focused on the election of new president, pastor Ed Litton, and where he stands on various issues, it was revealed that Litton had for many years been plagiarizing sermons nearly word for word from immediate past SBC president, pastor JD Greear, and that Litton’s church had removed over 140 sermons from their website.The story is receiving widespread coverage, even in mainstream outlets such as the New York Times.The dictionary definition of plagiarism is "the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own.” Biblically speaking, plagiarism is stealing and is an egregious sin, particularly for a pastor and preacher of God’s word. While Greear says he gave Litton permission to use his content, Litton never publicly credited Greear. That is blatant plagiarism.So far, Ed Litton has not resigned, and based on a recent interview, doesn’t seem inclined to do so. More troubling, there has not been a universal call from the SBC or Evangelical leaders for him to step down.Justin Peters, evangelist and preacher of Justin Peters Ministries, joins us this weekend to discuss what is being called “Sermongate”. For if Christian leaders are now able to skirt past plagiarism, where does that leave the reputation and influence of the body of Christ?