The Wondering Eagle Review of 2018. The Top Stories and Posts and What is Coming in 2019

This is the final post for The Wondering Eagle for 2018. This article reviews the stories and situations covered in the year of 2018. From Acts 29, to the EFCA to the Sojourn Network, the atheist community and Harvest Bible Chapel. This is a wrap up of all the work this blog accomplished. Plus I discuss what is coming in 2019 as well.

The Wondering Eagle Book Review: Amanda Farmer’s “Once An Insider, Now Without a Church Home”

A recently published book looks at the growing problem of Neo-Calvinist theology inside the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA). Its the story of “Truth Evangelical Free Church” outside Minneapolis, Minnesota. This is a story of how a church goes from elder led to elder rule. Along the way you see how a traditional EFCA church was theologically flipped. In this heartbreaking story you will learn about how it became authoritarian. In the process the Neo-Calvinists are violating the “Significance of Silence” which is core to the EFCA.  This is a solid book that this blog heartily recommends.

EFCA’s Church Multiplication Sunday Occurs on October 7, 2018

On October 7, 2018 the EFCA is having Church Multiplication Sunday. Its a push through prayer for more church plants across the EFCA. In this post you can see the prayer requests for the EFCA districts across the United States. I also urge the denomination to proceed with caution as there are a number of internal issues inside the EFCA that need mitigation. From pastoral credentialing gaps to managing the Neo-Calvinist issue. If the EFCA doesn’t manage and deal with these issues then this will create additional problems for the EFCA. 

EFCA, Please Learn from My Mistake

On August 26, 2018 this blog made an error about D.A. Carson and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. This post is a follow up explaining what happened and how that error occurred. In addition I also use this mistake to teach the EFCA how to respond to errors that will happen inside the denomination. My hope is that the EFCA will learn from my mistake and become a better organization in time. 

Inside the EFCA are Neo-Calvinists Violating the “Significance of Silence” to Hijack Churches?

Greg Strand recently wrote about the “Significance of Silence” at the EFCA blog. A follow up response post featured a comment by the North Central District Superintendent Brian Farone and two key Neo-Calvinist churches in the EFCA – Bill Kynes Cornerstone here in the Washington, D.C. area and Josh Black’s First Free Wichita located in Kansas. Despite what is said about the “Significance of Silence” The Wondering Eagle believes that Neo-Calvinists are violating the concept as they hijack churches inside the EFCA. A painful story from Brian’s district in Minnesota as well as how Josh Black flipped First Free Wichita only validate the claim that in regards to Neo-Calvinism the “Significance of Silence” is failing inside the EFCA. 

How Should the Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) be Viewed? Well it’s Complicated

Someone from the western United States emailed me and asked what are the problems in the EFCA? They are new to the organization and are trying to figure it out. I decided to tackle their question and give an overview of my thoughts about the EFCA from the 10,000 foot level. The EFCA has some great people, churches and leaders. However, it also has serious challenges inside the organization. This post from The Wondering Eagle looks at the EFCA from a broad perspective and offers analysis on the organization. 

The Wondering Eagle’s Response to Jeff Loven’s Sermon, Plus the Responsibility Churches Such as The Bridge Fresno Have to Address Issues Inside the Greater EFCA

The Wondering Eagle visited The Bridge Fresno on Sunday December 31, 2017. This is my response to Jeff Loven’s sermon. In addition its time for churches like The Bridge Fresno to start to push back on issues that are hurting the national EFCA. In this post I raise the issue of D.A. Carson from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School who defended C.J. Mahaney by attacking a rape victim in a statement from The Gospel Coalition. Churches like The Bridge Fresno need to speak out and challenge the denomination leadership on acts of injustice. The days of being indifferent are now over. If churches like The Bridge stay silent on difficult issues then they are duplicating the behavior of the Jewish Priest who walks by the wounded Jewish man in the story of The Good Samaritan.