Dr Paul Allen

The Stages of Spiritual Maturity: Introduction by Robb Brunansky In my estimation, one of the most pastoral passages in the entire New Testament is 1 John 2:12-14, where the apostle John stops his flow of argument – where he has been giving tests of salvation – and speaks to his readers from his heart. We can see John speaking directly to his brothers and sisters in Christ, sharing his heart with them about their common salvation. Scholars and Bible students have often puzzled over the purpose of this passage, especially as it finds itself situated in 1 John 2 – after several tests of salvation and before the first imperative in the letter in verse 15 (do not love the world). The passage seems quite repetitive, where John addresses children, fathers, and young men – and then he addresses all three groups again. Why does he call out these three groups? Are there three groups, or are these all designations for every believer looking at Christianity from various angles and lenses? And how...

3 Ways to Cultivate Spiritual Health by Clint Archer  In his peculiar short story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, F. Scott Fitzgerald supplies a disturbingly fresh look at maturity and social development. What is so curious about Benjamin is that he is born old and, with time, becomes young. The novella is a fascinating take on how people mature, love, and grow up and the ironic infantile state of the infirm elderly. Sometimes, we encounter the curious case of the well-churched immature believer in the church. Often we find that when a person is a baby believer, freshly saved from their sins, their formerly lacklustre life suddenly morphs into an Incredible Hulk of natural enthusiasm. They evangelize zealously, pray constantly, read their Bible devotedly, and enjoy serving in the church. But sadly, it is not uncommon to witness that this verve is a fleeting sugar rush of novelty. The preciousness of salvation begins to grow commonplace, the church becomes a routine, Bible rea...

We hear a lot these days about dechurching, deconstruction, and decline. Church attendance in America is dropping. Is this a crisis or merely a correction? Is it more of a problem or an opportunity? What can we expect for the future of the American church landscape? I’m not a prophet or the son of a prophet (Amos 7:14), but I was asked recently to speak to some church leaders about that question. Here are six answers I proposed. 1. The church’s future is certain.  Amid much hand-wringing and prognostication, we must start with one absolutely sure truth: the church has a future. Our Lord Jesus Christ said so: “I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Because Jesus promised he will build his church, we should have profound optimism about the future. Yes, your local church (or mine) may fold, split, or shrink. Individual churches and denominations will rise and fall. But the church as a whol...

  JOHN 15:2–3 One of the most difficult tasks in translating the New Testament is rendering into English a play on words in the Greek text. When that play on words branches (pun intended) into metaphors and into the relationship between our salvation and a life of holiness, it moves from “difficult” to “almost impossible.” Then add in John’s use of double meanings and nuances, and many translators go screaming into the night. I was once asked about the relationship between “prunes” and “clean” in John 15:2–3: “Every branch [κλῆμα] of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away [αἴρει], and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes [καθαίρει], that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean [καθαροί] because of the word that I have spoken to you.” Several things are going on here.   First, κλῆμα is not the normal word for “branch,” which is κλάδος. Κλῆμα is more appropriate for the tendrils, the suckers that will never produce fruit and yet absorb life-giving nourishment. ...

Nebuchadnezzar, by William Blake (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.” Pr 2:10 NIV Personal growth leads to promotion. Stop and look at the people in your church, your company, or your circle of friends. Management consultant W. Edwards Deming said, “Learning isn’t compulsory…neither is survival.” In corporate culture , the higher your position, the less “doing” is involved, and the more “ critical thinking ” comes into play. Consider a corporate conference room during an important meeting. Typically, a cadre of foot soldiers sits around the table with laptops, briefcases, and boxes of files, while the president enters the room carrying very little. That’s because he or she wasn’t hired to run computers, maintain schedules, and manage files. They were hired for their expertise and the power of their ideas.  Organizations want people with the best ideas to be in leadership; consequently, promotions general...