Dr Paul Allen

There was an important truth behind that argument. Paul certainly appeals to “the signs of an apostle". W hile defending his ministry in 2 Corinthians 12:12, Paul and Hebrews 2:3–4 describe God bearing witness to the proclaimed salvation through “signs and wonders, and with divers miracles.” So there is good biblical reason to say that miraculous signs could have an authenticating or confirming function.  But we also found that miraculous activity was not confined to apostles. Stephen performed “great wonders and miracles” (Acts 6:8). Philip performed signs in Samaria (Acts 8:6–7). Paul discusses gifts of healing and miracles among the wider congregation in 1 Corinthians 12, and even distinguishes apostles from those who work miracles when he asks, “Are all apostles?... Are all workers of miracles?” (1 Corinthians 12:29). That leaves us with the next part of the original argument. The viral post claims that these gifts were temporary and “ceased when the written revelation was com...

We have entered a new era of modern history. This era is marked by a gaping void of leadership, but also by an antipathy toward the very notion of leadership. What’s more, there is a growing trend that celebrates self-appointed leaders who have demonstrated a lack of integrity and to ignore and dishonor faithful, aged leaders whose integrity has been proven over the course of decades.  Leaders of courage and conviction are despised and leaders of compromise and concession are idolized. We now live in a world that applauds Chamberlains and mocks Churchills. If this were true only in the world, it would perhaps be more bearable, but sadly it is also true in the church and in the home. Some Christians have even gone so far as to insinuate that leadership is not a biblical category, suggesting that servanthood should displace the notion of leadership.  However, such a proposition not only creates a false dilemma but undermines Scripture, which teaches us that the role of...