CultureWatch

Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day...

How Is That ‘Best Life Now’ Working Out For You? Joel or Jesus?

Jan 5, 2017

If you really love someone and want to help them, you tell them the truth. If you don’t really care about others and just want to help yourself, then you tell them a lie. Regrettably this can happen even in

How is Your Hardship List?

Dec 10, 2016

Your what? OK, let me explain. If one reads through the 13 epistles of Paul in the New Testament, one will often find Paul presenting a list of the many hardships he has had to endure for the sake of

Was Jesus Ever Sick? A Theological Exercise

Dec 1, 2016

It may appear to some folks that a piece like this might indicate someone has too much spare time on his hands! But there are a few good reasons why this topic can make for a serious and legitimate investigation.

Ours is Not a ‘Nice’ Gospel

Oct 3, 2016

I have lost track of the number of times I have been accused by other Christians of being unloving, judgmental and ungracious – usually when I seek to share biblical truth, or even just quote from Scripture or a mighty

Beware of Satisfaction

Sep 19, 2016

When the Rolling Stones sang about not being able to get any satisfaction back in 1965, that may in fact have been a good thing. And when they sang about how ‘you can’t always get what you want’ in 1969,

Habakkuk, Trust, God and the Nations

Sep 18, 2016

The book of Habakkuk is as amazing as it is brief. Three short chapters totaling just 56 verses contain so much theological, pastoral and apologetic richness. In many ways it is a lament (Habakkuk taking his complaints to God) as

Jeremiah 29:11 and the Health and Wealth Gospel

Aug 19, 2016

There are so many memorable passages in Scripture, but they can be misused and abused if not handled correctly. Jeremiah 29:11 is one such passage. It is not really a difficult passage to understand, provided it is read in context.

God’s Suffering Servants

Jul 9, 2016

Jesus said quite explicitly on various occasions that the servant is not above the master (Matthew 10:24-25; Luke 6:40; John 13:16; John 15:20). The disciple of Christ cannot expect to be exempt from what his Lord has gone through. And

Christians Dishonouring Christ

Jun 1, 2016

Non-Christians are trashing Christ and the gospel all the time – that is fully to be expected. What should not be expected – and what is far worse – is when Christians end up doing exactly the same thing. Far

You Can Visit But Not Stay: Avoiding Theological Excess

Sep 18, 2015

There are plenty of things in life that may be worth visiting, but you really would not want to stay there for too long. When I pass a Krispy Kreme donut shop I am often enticed to pay a brief

Difficult Bible Passages Jeremiah 29:11

Aug 27, 2015

Is this in fact a difficult passage? Well, not so much – the difficulty arises when it is rather misused and abused by various believers today. The difficulty arises, as usual, when context is ignored and the passage is used

Osteen’s Wide Road To Hell

Jun 24, 2015

It is not my desire to always point out the dangerous teachings of mega-preachers. Indeed, I take no pleasure in it. But when they keep coming out informing us just how proud they are of pushing lies and falsehoods which

Your Best Life Now – Not

Apr 3, 2015

All over the world Christians are being persecuted for their faith. They are being imprisoned. They are being tortured. They are being killed. They are being horrifically assaulted, persecuted, attacked and targeted by various anti-Christian groups, chief of which is

The Consumerist, Market-Orientated Church

Mar 28, 2015

Sadly much of Western Christendom has fallen into two related traps: most Christians are just as consumeristic and materialistic as any non-Christian; and much of our church promotion centres on secular marketing methodology and a fixation on entertainment.

We are

Fleecing the Flock of God

Mar 14, 2015

One of the most shocking passages in all of the Old Testament is Jeremiah 5:31: “The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the

Misappropriating Old Testament Blessings and Curses

Jan 3, 2015

One set of passages often appealed to by those pushing the prosperity gospel are the Old Testament texts which speak of the promises of material blessing in such places as Lev. 26 and Deut. 28-29. It is said that these

Your Worst Life Now

Dec 20, 2014

It can be said quite assuredly that America, along with so much of the West, is the home of the most materialistic, consumeristic, self-centred, money-hungry and hedonistic people on earth. Sure, such folks can be found elsewhere, and have been

The Osteens and Another Gospel

Sep 4, 2014

I have penned many pieces on megachurch pastor Joel Osteen. But people say, “Oh, leave them alone” or “Don’t be so judgmental” or “We should not criticise other Christians” or “Do not touch the Lord’s anointed” etc, etc. Are they

Positive Confession and the New Age Movement

Jun 20, 2014

I have written before about aspects of the Positive Confession movement, in which a sort of mind-over-matter approach is taken. Also known as the Word of Faith movement, or the name it and claim it theology, this says we basically

Warnings About Riches: Old Testament

Jun 10, 2014

Let me say at the outset, in order to avoid any misunderstandings, that I am a firm believer in wealth creation and the free market. Time and time again it has lifted the masses out of poverty like no other

About CultureWatch

We live in an age where we see evidence of cultural decline, the erosion of values, the decline of civility, the denial of truth and the elevation of unreason. Many people are asking, “Where is our culture heading?” This website is devoted to exploring the major cultural, social and political issues of the day. It offers reflection and commentary drawing upon the wealth of wisdom found in the Judeo-Christian tradition. It offers reflective and incisive commentary on a wide range of issues, helping to sort through the maze of competing opinions, worldviews, ideologies and value systems. It will discuss critically and soberly where our culture is heading. Happy reading!

Bill Muehlenberg

Commenting Rules

Readers are welcome to post comments on the material posted here, but some simple rules apply:

No trolls allowed
I reserve the right to refuse comments.
This site is meant to express my point of view. If you are looking for a soapbox to promote your own views, create your own website or blog site.
Comments should be brief (preferably under 100 words), polite, constructive and informed.
Comments which are simply attacks on myself, or are done in bad taste, or use rude language, or are possibly defamatory will not be posted.
You must state your full name to have your comments posted.
I may reply to some of your comments but will not be able to respond to all.

If you are happy to abide by these rules, then by all means, send in your comments. Happy writing!

CultureWatch

Bill Muehlenberg's commentary on issues of the day...

How Is That ‘Best Life Now’ Working Out For You? Joel or Jesus?

How is Your Hardship List?

Was Jesus Ever Sick? A Theological Exercise

Ours is Not a ‘Nice’ Gospel

Beware of Satisfaction

Habakkuk, Trust, God and the Nations

Jeremiah 29:11 and the Health and Wealth Gospel

God’s Suffering Servants

Christians Dishonouring Christ

You Can Visit But Not Stay: Avoiding Theological Excess

Difficult Bible Passages Jeremiah 29:11

Osteen’s Wide Road To Hell

Your Best Life Now – Not

The Consumerist, Market-Orientated Church

Fleecing the Flock of God

Misappropriating Old Testament Blessings and Curses

Your Worst Life Now

The Osteens and Another Gospel

Positive Confession and the New Age Movement

Warnings About Riches: Old Testament

Copyright

Useful Links

Newsfeeds

Billmuehlenberg.com