jojo thomas

Imperfect Christ follower, blessed husband & dad, servant to churches, pastors, & church leaders in NE Georgia

[Ryan Burge 📊 @ryanburge]

The most politically engaged religious groups in 2024:

The Episcopal Church
The United Church of Christ
Jews
Atheists

Respondents were asked which of these political acts they had participated in over the prior 12 months:

Attend local political meeting,
Put up a political sign,
Work for a candidate,
Attend a protest or march,
Contact a public official,
Donate money to candidate

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

What actual oppression looks like vs. what's merely called "oppression" (to advance a political/ideological agenda): https://t.co/75DHSPCBVg

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

Welcome news! https://t.co/5w1LP3zuj5

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

"Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it". An ignominious anniversary https://t.co/Wkdt1qWae8

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

Excellent take on how conservatives can/should draw moral lines right now within their own group - https://t.co/7fgWrDclaR

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

A glimpse into the future… & why the Gospel is hope: AI and the crisis of truth https://t.co/7DI3PvHhUw

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

“Freedom from God is not really freedom, but slavery to some other master; slavery to God is not really slavery, but profound liberation” - Tim Keller

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,”
Titus 2:11-12 NASB1995 https://t.co/faaw8Yi2sT

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

Observing the ironies of current reactions… & the cost of (supposed) freedom via the sexual revolution. The 4B worldview https://t.co/btXOPNfJIE

[Heyholtz @heyholtz]

@AnnCoulter

[Breakpoint @BreakpointCC]

The Case Against the Sexual Revolution

Some feminists are seeing why sex only for fun harms women.

Read the full article: https://t.co/hZXdL8olXq

#sexualrevolution #feminism

[Trey Hildebrant @TreyHildebrant]

This is the true story of what went down with the #UMC this week. Read every word below. Just so sad and honestly, infuriating.

I hope these African UMC churches are able to unite and form their own Biblically orthodox, strong and healthy, denomination. (Or join one!)

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

“If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.”
Psalms 139:11-12 NASB1995 https://t.co/4LWfhK21kv

[Andrew T. Walker @AndrewTWalker]

I was able to listen to Andy Stanley’s messages from today on the topic of same-sex attraction and marriage.

What’s clear from Stanley’s teaching is that he’s drawing a distinction between doctrine and pastoral practice. What does that mean? It means the doctrine has not *officially* changed which is why he can technically affirm a “Biblical view,” but for all practical purposes, there is a pastoral accommodation that allows for LGBT-identified persons to disobey Scripture and remain in good standing as a Christian. What Stanley considers as a failure to live up to an unattainable ideal, Scripture calls sinful. Nowhere in the messages was there any expectation that someone would turn from their same-sex relationship. This is an example of unbounded empathy that listens (which is good) but never invites toward transformation (which is not good). For Stanley, if there’s a general commitment to Jesus, that is sufficient. Ethics takes a backseat to empty affirmations of “belief.”

This may sound like a way to split the baby, but it is simply another way of saying that Andy Stanley and North Point Community Church are implicitly affirming of LGBT identities and behaviors as consistent with Christian faith. This explains why Stanley valorizes the Christian faith of LGBT individuals and why, perhaps, no reliable or well-known conservative voice was platformed at the Unconditional Conference. What’s most subversive about today’s messages is Stanley’s gaslighting of anyone who disagrees with him, as though dissent from North Point’s ministry model is soaked in animosity, contempt, and hatred toward LGBT family and friends.

A textbook move of theological liberalism is to sever doctrine from ethics, a severing that the Bible in no way, shape, or form justifies (John 14:15). Stanley is attempting to be more compassionate than Jesus, which is impossible. Scripture embraces truth and love as mutually reinforcing (1 Cor. 13:6). This sort of third-way “quieter middle space” is neither biblically faithful nor practically sustainable.

I should say: Andy Stanley is an acquaintance I’ve spoken with about these issues over the past several years. He’s never been anything less than kind and respectful, so I have no personal animosity in saying this; in fact, I say it with much grief and lament: Andy Stanley is in error, and based on reports I’ve heard of what’s encouraged and promoted at North Point itself through its counseling ministries, the church is leading people down a grave pathway that is unbiblical and therefore harmful to those it claims to serve.

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

@ChristPlacePJ PTL!!

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

@ChristPlacePJ Great crew!

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

@edstetzer Bet Olan Mills (are they still around?) misses Olan Mills church directories too!

[jojo thomas @cbamissions]

“No journey is too long or too arduous if the end of the journey is home.” Thx @OsGuinness