Selling Jesus

Countless sermons in churches across the country focus on moralistic concerns and personal transformation. But has Christ gotten lost in the shuffle? Have we inverted Paul’s warnings by intentionally preaching ourselves, and not Christ crucified? On this edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts introduce the new theme for 2008: Christless Christianity!

Many Christian leaders today point to Jesus as a good moral guide (WWJD), an inspirational figure of self-sacrifice, or one who resolves our problem with loneliness. And in doing so, these shepherds have managed to avoid one of the most central teachings of the entire Bible; namely Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for sinners.

Why is Joel Osteen so popular? Is he a faithful representative of the Christian Faith, or is his message more about self-help and personal motivation? On this edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts will examine the theology of this bestselling author as they continue their series “Christless Christianity.”

2008 is an election year and many churches will be distracted from their focus on the city of God, to the governments of men. What is the business of the church? Should it play a political role? On this edition of the White Horse Inn the hosts discuss the proper biblical relationship between church and […]

In order to attract larger numbers, many churches throughout America have made their services more upbeat and entertaining. On this edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts examine the history of this confusion between Church and Theatre, as they continue their series “Christless Christianity.”

At the core of just about every major religion is something we call advice, or a set of instructions intended to help you live a better life. But is that what lies at the heart of the Christian faith? Tips and instructions for personal transformation? Whatever happened to the Christian gospel?

Many Christians in our time read the Old Testament merely as a guide for moral lessons and instruction. But do the Bible heroes really provide good examples for good moral conduct? What is the best way to read the Old Testament? Tune in this edition of the White Horse Inn to find out.

Too often, churches in our day focus our attention on Christian experiences rather than Christ. In the process these bodies have emphasized the subjective over the objective, personal testimonies over historical facts, and self-centered spirituality over Biblical Christianity. On this edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts discuss “experience-centered belief” as they continue their […]

What are the gifts of the Spirit? Are they still for today? Even if they are, is it possible that Christians in our time have placed too much emphasis on individual gifts, all to the exclusion of the gift giver? On this edition of the White Horse Inn the hosts will talk about the ways […]

What is the proper role of tradition within the Christian faith? And at what point does traditionalism become a barrier to faith, or a distraction from the central message of Christ and Him crucified? That’s what is on tap this week, at the White Horse Inn.

In a humorous moment in the movie Fiddler on the Roof, the main character, Tevye, looks into the camera and remarks, “You may ask, how did this tradition get started? I’ll tell you—I don’t know! But it’s a tradition.” This sets the scene for the movie’s story of Tevye adapting to the changing world around him […]

“Here’s what I love about Jesus. Jesus actually knows that the church is broken and imperfect and falls short. But the difference between us and Jesus is we see that and we use that as a justification to abandon the church. Jesus sees the church, as broken as she is, and on the way as […]

Throughout history, people have appealed to the Bible’s teaching on slavery to justify their own practices. So is the Bible pro slavery? And what’s the difference between biblical slavery and the American slavery of the not so distant past?

Despite the fact that God allowed for slavery, embedded in the Scripture is a sobering rebuke of the institution, as well as an anthropology that teaches that all people are made in God’s image. So the objectification of an image bearer, seeing them as nothing more than an object or property that you can abuse, […]