Writing to Christians in imperial Rome around A.D. 56, the apostle Paul urged, “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” (Rom 12.2).  The renowned English translator, J. B. Phillips, expressed it this way:   “Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God remould your minds from within.” (The New Testament in Modern English).   Significantly, the...

As a teenager, I attended a Pentecostal church in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.  The pastor of the church was a retired Army officer who had served with distinction during the Second World War.  Understandably, given the pastor’s background, the church placed a lot of emphasis on ‘spiritual warfare.’  Every Friday morning, the ladies of the church would gather for a session of ‘prayer warfare,’ which to the uninitiated, sounded more like a shouting match with the devil.   It is virtually...

Several years ago, a well-known and highly controversial televangelist predicted that Fort Worth, Texas, would become “the revival capital of the world.”  (The fact that this individual lived in Fort Worth is beside the point.  Far be it from me to suggest a conflict of interest!)   However, far from being the revival capital of the world, Dallas/Fort Worth is fast becoming a casualty ward for damaged and disgraced preachers.  According to the Christian Post, more than a dozen North Texas...