Gary Shogren's Blog
I agree with so much of the 9Marks paradigm. Sound doctrine? Check! Preach the gospel? Right! Biblical preaching? Oh, yeah! Missions? Amen! Baptism? Discipleship? Right on, right on!!No women in leadership? Hold on... You see, they had me, then they lost me. It's not so much that I disagree with them on the point. (Which... Continue Reading →
From a meeting of one of my classes on spiritual identity:It is only through confessing the Triune God that we can form our identity, because only then can we capture how God is eternally, essentially, a God of love. LOVE IS A VERB, and to affirm that God is love means, he loved for an... Continue Reading →
There is a subset of Bible teachers who are certain they have all the answers. “The Bible is God’s Truth!" they say. “I preach the Bible!” they say. “Therefore, I have all the answers!” they say. They do not say “I do not know what the Bible says” or "The Bible doesn't speak to this... Continue Reading →
I have written about this topic in the past. For example, Me, a hater of the King James Bible? Who in the world told you that?! I showed that the stricter King James Only people such as Samuel Gipp argue that if you don’t use it exclusively, you are on your way to spiritual disaster. Also... Continue Reading →
Taken from my commentary on 1 Corinthians: an exegetical-pastoral commentary, pages 213-15, Editorial Kerigma, also available on Amazon, Logos. Christian discipleship must encompass the sexual life. If anyone thinks that the Bible is shy about discussing intimate issues, they should look at the rules in Lev 18 or the frank descriptions of the sexual sins... Continue Reading →
James 1:19 applies to laypeople. It also applies to pastors, although some disbelieve it. Or rather, it should apply to pastors even more notably, to give an EXAMPLE to laypeople! Christian counselors? The same. The following is a bit gossipy, but I think justifiable. I was at a diner a couple of months ago. Two... Continue Reading →
It is fashionable to criticize seminary training. For example, Peter DeHaan argues that “Seminary delays ministry!” That is, the years you invest in training, are years wasting God’s time. He writes: “If God actually tells you to go to seminary, then go. Otherwise just start serving him and leave the advanced education to the academics.... Continue Reading →
This month we have a special treat from a dear friend. We have worked alongside of Nancy and her family since our earliest days on the field. She and her husband Paul provide member care for missionaries who go out from Latin America. It is from that vantage point that Nancy has published an article,... Continue Reading →
I grew up with that gospel chorus (by James M. Gray, president of Moody Bible Institute) and I think I know where he was coming from. But let’s carefully unpack its repeated motif: I 'm only a sinner saved by grace or we could say - I am [present tense] only [no more than] a... Continue Reading →
A speech I gave in January 2023, to celebrate Seminario ESEPA's 40 anniversary; several of the former rectors spoke during the week. Graduation speeches are a mixed bag at best. But I did hear a fine one at my high school in 1977; one of his counsels for the graduates was: “Extend your education, both... Continue Reading →
Open Our Eyes, Lord! 