Dr. Carl Trueman on No Compromise Radio

Good interview with Dr. Carl Trueman. Dr. Trueman discusses the problems with Para-church Ministries, Mega-Churches, Multi-site Churches, Independent Churches, James MacDonald and the Elephant Room Conference.

Carl Trueman is a Professor of Historical Theology and Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, and is Pastor Mike’s guest on today’s NoCo.

Mike asks Carl to summarize the recent topics of James McDonald, the Elephant Room, TD Jakes, etc. using a church history perspective.  Part of the problem that Carl sees is that in modern reformed evangelicalism, mega-church “successful” pastors are being placed beyond criticism.  There is also a broadening of the terms “confessional” and “reformed”.  Something that is happening now and has happened before in church history is that numerical success has become an end unto itself.  This contributes to a watering down of doctrine and a lowering of the standard for who is/isn’t a false teacher.

Just who should be able to criticize a mega-church pastor and/or mega-parachurch leader?  Only other mega-church leaders?

Carl and Mike also discuss the possible future direction of the Gospel Coalition.  What kind of doctrinal tests are used to evaluate leaders in the Gospel Coalition?

See more from Carl here at reformation21, and listen in to his interview with Mike.  (and stay away from TD Jakes, BTW)

Calvinism, Celebrity Preachers, Charismatics, Cult of Personality Preacher, culture wars, Dr. Carl R. Trueman, Independent Churches, James MacDonald, Mark Driscoll, Mega Church, Mega Churches, Missional, Multi Site Churches, No Compromise Radio, OPC, Orthodox Presbyterian Church, para-church ministries, Pastoral Ministry, Perry Noble, Podcasts, Pragmatism, Revivalism, Steven Furtick, T.D. Jakes, The Elephant Room Conferences, The Gospel Coalition, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia