Andy Taylor

PhD student @MBTS Applied Theology Biblical Spirituality - @CCEF

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

@jaredhmoore True, but when they come here we must engage.

[Jen Wilkin @jenniferwilkin]

For women, choices about maintaining our aging bodies will be heavily influenced by how we understand their primary purpose.

The culture says: Our bodies are primarily decorative. Whose notice can we attract?

The Bible says: Our bodies are primarily useful. Who can we serve?

[Jared S. Poulton @jared_poulton]

We are less than two months away from the launch of my first book! Van Til's Counseling Movement, published by @HanoverPress and @LondonLyceum, comes out September 1, 2026.

Can you help me spread the word?

Like and repost this post!

I have created a Substack page dedicated to my book launch. You can find it here.

https://t.co/iSVoPigzpx

You can also find the final list of endorsements for this work on my Substack page, which includes Stephen Wellum and Timothy Paul Jones (@SBTS), William Edgar (@WestminsterTS), @BobKellemen, and leaders from @ccef, @GPTSeminary, @PuritanSeminary, @MidAmericaSem, and @CBTSeminary.

You can also keep up with any media promotion for this new book by subscribing to my Substack: https://t.co/mdWotMQF24

You can purchase the book here: https://t.co/BQCAxJb3MP

Final cover and Amazon page coming soon. 👀

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

The single most important literature for understanding the New Testament is the Old Testament.

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

@Paula_333 @howertonjosh Sorry for any confusion, please read my original post and my affirmations. As per my Kuyper post I would also include Matthew 25:36. Have a blessed day.

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

We pray for God to open up a way to share the Gospel with those in the 10-40 window. Many then migrate West. Then we pray for political power so we can send them back without ever attempting to share the Gospel with them…is that how it works now? No matter how they have arrived we need to remember the Great Commission and Greatest Commandment. @howertonjosh

Before commenting on top, understand I fully agree with the following:

1. Immigration laws need to be enforced.
2. National laws need to be enforced.
3. Non-assimilation can lead to Balkanization.

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

I appreciate you bringing Kuyper into the conversation. I believe on many of the points @howertonjosh made he would agree, especially the "think in categories." However, Kuyper's spheres and Josh's categories are not identical. Kuyper emphasized that distinguishing institutional responsibilities does not eliminate personal Christian witness and obligations. He never claimed that because the state wields the sword, the individual Christian is relieved of showing mercy or sharing the gospel. If we try to insert Kuyper into this discussion then we need to consider are we distinguishing institutional authority or limiting person Christian responsibility, albeit unintentionally. The New Testament never suggest that just because the state has authority over something the Christian is excused from his or her obligations.

I am not trying to argue the state should ignore Romans 13, I am arguing that if we are not careful, then there will times where the church becomes so invested in political outcomes that it neglects its missional obligations. We need to ensure that whatever the state does, the church remains the church and continues to obey Matthew 28:18-20 and Luke 10:25-27.

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

I completely agree with your distinctions between responsibilities. After all, Romans 13 gives the state a God-ordained responsibility to uphold justice and enforce laws.

My concern is with the church and the individual Christian. Regardless of what immigration policy is or should be, God has placed many people from nations who have never heard the name “Jesus” among us. Scripture repeatedly presents this as an opportunity for witness.

The Great Commission, “make disciples of all nations” (Matt:28:19), In Acts 2 the nations came to Jerusalem and heard the gospel in their own languages, and many returned to their lands. Paul intentionally preached where God placed him (Acts 17:26-27). Peter tells us to conduct ourselves honorably among nations so that they may glorify God (I Pet. 2:12).

Let the state determine the immigration policy and enforce it. Let the Christian participate in the process. BUT the church must not overlook the missionary opportunity God has brought to our neighbors. Believers can and should support lawful enforcement, but they should still ask: “Have I loved my neighbor enough to share Christ with them?”

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

@drantbradley @1WayPublishing @pj_schreiner Over 7600 congregations disaffiliated with the UMC. Some became independent but many split to form the Global Methodist Church which oversees over 7000 congregations worldwide.

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

Once upon a time I accompanied a person to a legal mediation. She had previously experienced a TBI and on two separate occasions she had panic attacks where she lost consciousness and an ambulance had to be called. After receiving O2 she normalized. So we attended this mediation she has to leave the room and falls down and starts hyperventilating. I calmly told her to look at me and breathe as I breathe. After several minutes she recovered. When I shared this episode in a doctoral seminar I was told I was dangerously approaching Zombie infection. This was completely refuted by one of MBTS BC professors who asked my motivation at the time. I explained I wanted her to get oxygen so she wouldn’t pass out. He agreed that had nothing to do with BC. So who was right?

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

Hey Josh @howertonjosh we do need to rethink our strategy. Are you aware of the number of ex-Muslims who have converted to Christianity and have dedicated their ministry to evangelizing these communities in the US? They face overwhelming challenges and opposition throughout Texas. If you are really looking for a way to impact the future I would encourage you and Lakepointe to help. I will be more than happy to introduce you to them.

[Josh Howerton @howertonjosh]

Christian pastors are going to have to think deeper than “welcome the stranger” and “love the immigrant among you” for their thoughts on immigration policy in the coming years with huge swaths of Islamic socialists actively seeking to gain political power and fundamentally reshape significant parts of America.

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

Wendell Berry
Walker Percy
Will Cather
Larry McMurtry
Marilynne Robinson

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

Agreed. I wonder if part of the reason is that much of modern evangelicalism has increasingly emphasized mission and measurable outcomes over communion with Christ. As mission became increasingly central in many church-growth models, the believer’s participation in Christ, which historically served as the foundation for both worship and mission, often received less attention.

[Malcolm Yarnell @MusingsOnChrist]

Spiritual authority in Christian proclamation belongs entirely and only to the Word of God. Any theologian who attempts to chain the Bible, God’s own Word, to his personal words, whether by person or by office or by function, is treading on holy ground. Take off your shoes, boys.

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

@ThomasSKidd I enjoy audiobooks as well - the only caveat I would give (imo) is that they are not sufficient for doctoral seminars. When discussing the book it is difficult to provide meaningful commentary on a certain page.

[Jared S. Poulton @jared_poulton]

I have many issues with this article, but I think that it reflects a growing concern I have within biblical counseling.

The problems of constructing an exegetical method based upon criticism.

A thread 🧵

[Jared S. Poulton @jared_poulton]

I have a book coming out on this topic for those who are interested.

Once you see it, it is fascinating how much biblical counseling rhetoric relies upon the building blocks of presuppositional apologetics. They also share many potential pitfalls.

https://t.co/lFILZzd8Pr

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

@suzania Given that criteria you might want to bookmark this post 😉

[Andy Taylor @andy570]

That's a long answer - briefly, rooted in Finney’s revivalism, a wedge was placed between justification and sanctification (although they are separate doctrines functionally they are inseparable). Finney believed in a form of instant (perfect) sanctification. He was credited with 500,000 decisions. Witnessing these numbers others started following his methods even if they disagreed with him on sanctification. In the 20th century McGavran and Wagner systemized this approach and developed metrics to measure success - all based on baptisms and church growth. Lovelace recognized that churches like Hybels, Warren, and Schuller might be growing exponentially but they were producing shallow disciples because the focus of discipleship had shifted almost exclusively to evangelism. This resulted in a lack of theological depth to engage with new generations under the influence of aggressive worldviews (postmodernism). He identified the same problem following Finney (Marxism, Freud, German higher criticism). The fait accompli came when Will Mancini argued that churches don't grow from a culture of worship they grow from a culture of mission. He told church leaders if they want to grow don't begin with Westminster SC Q1 - begin with creating a culture of growth. This is assumed in many modern church growth movements. One book recently published, argues in their training that Discipleship = The Great Commission + Light. All of this ignores the traditional view of discipleship expoused by Luther that man needs to be redeemed in three areas: the rational, the relational, and missional. These correspond to the greatest commandment, the second greatest, and the great commission. This is just a rudimentary outline but this subtle switch has led to far reaching consequences. BTW within 20 years after Finney began there were so few people going to church in the areas he originally preached that it became known as the “burned over area.” Similarly, Willow Creek conducted a study on 2009 and found that after two years their most committed members felt that they were not bring fed spiritually and often sought discipleship on their own outside Willow.