Where Are They Now? RTS Charlotte Alumnus Alex Mark
Over the last year or so, we have been working our way through a number of RTS Charlotte alumni in the Where Are They Now? series. For the complete series, see here.
In this installment, we interview Alex Mark (class of 2013). Alex embodies many values of RTS Charlotte, but we particularly appreciate his work in the area of church planting. Here at RTS Charlotte we believe that the church, the bride of Christ, is the best way to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Even more than this, Alex places a special emphasis on the preaching of the Word. If a church is going to … Continue reading...
Were Early Churches Ruled by Elders or a Single Bishop?
There is a (seemingly) never-ending debate amongst theologians and pastors about the proper form of government for the church. For generations, Christians have disagreed about what leadership structure the church ought to use. From the bishop-led Anglicans to the informal Brethren churches, there is great diversity.
And one of the fundamental flash points in this debate is the practice of the early church. What form of government did the earliest Christians have? Of course, early Christian polity is a vast and complex subject with many different issues in play. But, I want to focus in upon a narrow one: Were the earliest churches ruled by a plurality of elders or … Continue reading...
Should You be a Pastor or a Professor? Thinking Through the Options
Since I am a professor at a seminary, it is not unusual (indeed, it is very common) for students to come to me for advice about whether they should enter the pastorate or seek to be a professor. While many of these students may have entered seminary with the intention of entering pastoral ministry, they have found themselves falling in love with a deep study of theology and the Bible. And so, they think, perhaps the academic world is right for them.
I confess that I am often torn when students come to me with this question. On the one hand, I want to discourage students from pursuing the Ph.D./professor … Continue reading...
Can the Ethiopian Change His Skin or a Leopard His Spots? How Postmodernity Has Led to a Culture of Hypocrisy
There has been a lot of chatter the last few weeks about Rachel Dolezal, civil rights activist and the former head of the NAACP in Spokane, WA. Although she presented herself as African American–a bit of a prerequisite for heading up a chapter of the NAACP–it turns out that she is not black after all. Indeed she was a blonde, freckle-faced white girl born to two white parents. She has merely changed her outward appearance.
Of course, objective facts regarding biology, genetics, and ethnicity have not proven to be a deterrent to Dolezal’s insistence that she is black. “I identify as black,” she told Matt Lauer. In other words, I … Continue reading...
Melissa Kruger Interviewed on NBC Charlotte
In prior posts, I have already mentioned my wife’s excellent new book, Walking with God in the Season of Motherhood (Waterbrook, 2015). As an 11-week Bible study for moms, it is really something unique. There are many books for moms. And there are many Bible studies. But, Melissa’s new book combines both together.
I was excited to see that Melissa’s book was highlighted on the NBC morning show here in Charlotte. Although it is not a Christian program, they asked her to come talk about how to think about being a mom during the summer months when the kids are out of school. You can watch the clip by clicking … Continue reading...