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“I told my doctor he was counting my heart rate incorrectly.”

You ever heard that before?

Yeah, me neither.

People who know, know, and we trust them.

“It’s all about perception.” “Your church is unhealthy.” “We’re just trying to help.”

You ever heard that before?

Yeah, me, too. All the time.

People who don’t know are always vying for your ear.

What does it mean that a church is healthy? What does it look like for it to be sick? When it’s sick, is it flatlining, or does it just need a few days to recover? Does it still have the power of Jesus in its blood? Is it just malnourished, famished, or parched?

In this episode, Peter, Pastor Nate, and Kyle talk about how we measure church health and vitality. Our Triune God likes lines and numbers, but are the lines we are drawing and the math we are doing consistent with His? How do our evaluative measures measure up to His? Maybe our scientific ruler is way sharper or shorter than His?

Perhaps lot of numbers aren’t always a sign of health or strength. One doesn’t seem very much to us, but that’s all it took for a Savior to accomplish redemption. Twelve doesn’t seem like very much, but that’s all it took to spread the gospel across the globe.

Maybe death is actually life.

Welcome to another episode of The Parrhesians Podcast!

https://theparrhesians.com/

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In this three-part series, recorded at Beverly Heights Presbyterian Church in 1984, Dr. John Gerstner explores the depths of the riches of John 3:16.

But, Dr. Gerstner asserts that this "golden text" of scripture is oft misunderstood. To avoid misunderstanding, we need the whole context.

That's why Dr. Gerstner starts at the end of the story where Jesus answers the "why" question. Why did Jesus come into the world? He came because this is a perishing world.

Dr. Gerstner was a long-time professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, mentor to R.C. Sproul, and a straight shooter. His words were parrhesian then, and they are no less bold today.

https://theparrhesians.com/

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He’s got the whole world in His hands. Your mother. Your girlfriend. Even Kamala. He is the true "Govenator."

And He shares His power. He raises His people up and gives them responsibilities. He passes along His keys and expects His Church to use them (Matthew 18:18).

But the modern church just likes to swing them around her finger. She doesn’t even know which doors they open and close.

In this episode, Peter, Pastor Nate, and Kyle talk about the politics of the local church and using the keys—inside and out.

Christian Nationalism, anybody? Three cheers for excommunication? Or do you think Christ's Church should stick to whispering sweet nothings to fragile souls?

The modern church is afraid to make judgments to the State. To say, “Christ is King, and you will be held accountable . . . oh, and stop mutilating kids.”

She’s even afraid to make judgments within her own walls. To say, “Hey, you’re not acting like a Christian, and you’re poisoning the body—no bread for you!”

Whether they’re atheist politicians or previously ordained elders, it is the Church’s responsibility to name pagan and unfaithful behavior in her neighborhood.

Welcome to another episode of The Parrhesians Podcast!

https://theparrhesians.com/