Dangerous Compromise Churcha-Cola Revisited (Original publication 2012) Robert Wurtz II And be not conformed to this world... (Romans 12:2a) Our text, be not conformed, could be translated as, "be not fashioned" (Greek mē sunschēmatizesthe μὴ συσχηματίζεσθε). This is the present passive imperative with mē; that is, stop being fashioned or do not have the habit of fashioning to... Continue Reading →
Conforming to the Culture (Edward Bernays, Popular Culture, and Christian Worldliness)
Conforming to the CultureRobert Wurtz IIAnd do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2 NKJV)Our Greek word for "conformed" is syschēmatizō and it is in the present passive imperative with meœ,... Continue Reading →
Standing Against the Tide (sunapachthentes)
Standing Against the TideRobert Wurtz IIYou therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being carried away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:17–18) Peter had been discussing end-time events in 2... Continue Reading →
Gospel Vaccination (The Sin of Syncretism or synkretismos)
Gospel VaccinationRobert Wurtz IIThey are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John... Continue Reading →
What is Culture?
What is Culture?Robert Wurtz IIDo not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but... Continue Reading →
Dealing With Lust
Dealing With LustRobert Wurtz IIWhere do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your lusts that war in your members?” You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not... Continue Reading →
The Spirit of Antichrist
The Spirit of AntichristRobert Wurtz IIAnd he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (Daniel 7:25)Irregardless of how deceived... Continue Reading →
Have We Lost Christianity?
Have We Lost Christianity? Robert Wurtz IIThus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ (Jeremiah 6:16)I shall never forget how disturbed I was several years ago attending a... Continue Reading →
Commercial Christianity
Commercial ChristianityThe 'selling' of ones self Robert Wurtz IILet nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. (Philippians 2:3 NKJV) In our previous study entitled Televangelicalism, we gave an overview of the rise of mass communication as it has been employed by evangelical Christian ministers. In... Continue Reading →
Dropping the Torch
Dropping the TorchRobert Wurtz IIAnd also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. (Judges 2:10)Our passage is a sobering look at a generation that came along after the generation of Joshua and... Continue Reading →