Free Republic

Pastor Chuck Swindoll has announced that he’s retiring as pastor from the 3700-member Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, at the age of 90. Swindoll is best known for his radio program Insights for Living, which plays on over 2000 stations, and for writing over 70 books. He previously announced in April 2024 that he was quitting the senior pastor but would still be preaching from the pulpit, but now he’s also retiring from that as well. An announcement posted to the church website reads: As I stand before you today, I find myself filled with a profound sense of...

In a recent interview with Mondo Gonzales on Prophecy Watchers, Pastor Billy Crone offered a sobering analysis of how UFO phenomena could be used to explain away the Rapture when it happens. Crone laid out several key points that illustrate how the secular world may seek to rationalize the Rapture by attributing it to alien abductions. Crone is not alone in this theory, as other voices such as Bishop Alan DiDio and Nephilim expert L.A. Marzulli warn about a coming “Great Deception” based on biblical prophecy. “One of the most cunning deceptions Satan could use to explain away the Rapture...

“But the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). Because He understands our struggles in this life, the Holy Spirit continually prays for us before the Father’s throne. In the midst of life’s many difficulties and stressful times, there is hardly anything more comforting than knowing you have a friend—someone on your side. In the legal realm, an attorney formally argues your case when you need to settle a judicial or financial dispute. This concept of friend and advocate is right at the heart of the Holy Spirit’s role as our Paraclete, one called...

“And if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow-heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him in order that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:17). The Holy Spirit confirms within our hearts the hope of eternal glory. I believe people today instinctively know they are devoid of glory (see Rom. 1:18-21), but they explore all the wrong avenues in seeking to regain it. They look for personal glory by building successful careers, spending many hours in community service, being generous to charities, and so forth. But such efforts only lead to jealousy and pride. Unregenerate...

“You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him” (Romans 8:9). The indwelling Holy Spirit gives us an assurance of salvation. Assurance of salvation is essential to our Christian lives, and I can’t imagine living without it. And we must have clarity about it from a truly biblical standpoint. This begins with realizing that a genuine believer is in the Spirit and has been given a new nature (see John 3:6). If the Holy...

These scandals have been increasing in the leaderships of Evangelical Churches lately. A Texas pastor known for his fiery preaching and frequent appearances alongside John MacArthur has been removed from ministry after an alleged "inappropriate relationship" with an unidentified woman. Steve Lawson, the 73-year-old lead preacher at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas and president of OnePassion Ministries, informed the church's elders about the relationship, according to a statement released by the church. "The elders have met with Steve and will continue to come alongside him and pray for him with the ultimate goal of his personal repentance," the statement reads....

Small town Arkansas Pastor Rocky Goodwin is facing 10 felony charges, which include distributing, possessing, and viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child. Editor’s note: This article contains details about child sex abuse that some readers might find disturbing and/or triggering. Goodwin, 86, is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Warren, Arkansas. According to the affidavit for the warrant of arrest, an Arkansas State Police (ASP) special agent started investigating Goodwin in 2023 after receiving a tip from Lenore Paladino, an analyst for the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force. Paladino was alerted when Microsoft reported...

The National Baptist Convention of America (NBCA) is one of the largest black religious organizations in the country, often hosting annual gatherings that draw prominent speakers. This year, Louisiana appeals court judge Sharon Wilson took the stage and delivered, unsurprisingly, an inflammatory and politically charged race-baiting speech. Wilson accused Donald Trump of harboring racist motivations and claimed his criticism of Haitian immigrants stemmed from his supposed anger over the Haitian Revolution—an event over 230 years old. Even I was dumbfounded by the sheer stupidity of that claim. The leap in logic here would be laughable if it weren’t so reckless....

“In order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4). If the Holy Spirit resides within us, we will be able to fulfill the demands of God’s law. Augustine once said, “Grace was given, in order that the law might be fulfilled.” When God saves us He, by His Spirit, creates within us the ability to obey His perfect law. Because we now live “according to the Spirit”—walking by the Spirit and being filled with the Spirit—we are able to do the...

This is indeed a heartbreaking piece of news for us to have to report. We are praying for the situation at the church and the Lawson family and will report back with any updates. UPDATE: The following statement was posted at the church’s website: The elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas regretfully announce that effective immediately, Steven J. Lawson has been removed indefinitely from all ministry activities at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas. Several days ago, the elders at Trinity Bible Church of Dallas were informed by Steve Lawson of an inappropriate relationship that he has had with a...

“Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ” (Ephesians 5:21). Spirit-filled believers will submit to one another. To the world, submission implies personal weakness or the coercive dominance of one person by another stronger, more intimidating individual. Such perspectives, however, are unbiblical. The noted expositor Martyn Lloyd-Jones describes submission’s original meaning in a military context, which helps us understand its scriptural definition: It is the picture of soldiers in a regiment, soldiers in a line under an officer . . . and if he [the soldier] begins to act on his own, and independently of the others, he...

“Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Ephesians 5:20). Sincere thanks to God will result at all times if we are truly filled with the Spirit. I’m convinced that gratitude is the single greatest act of personal worship we can render to God. And today’s verse plainly asserts that thankfulness should be a well-rounded, consistent response to whatever God allows to happen in our lives (see 1 Thess. 5:18). Such a thankful attitude is impossible in our own strength, but as the Holy Spirit indwells us, He graciously...

“Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). If we are Spirit-filled, we will have songs of praise in our hearts and on our lips. Once a Christian knows about being Spirit-filled and walking by the Spirit, it is still fair for him or her to ask, “But how can I know if the Holy Spirit is really at work in my life?” Ephesians 5:19 answers this question by declaring one of the unmistakable evidences of the Spirit’s full operation in our lives—we will have...

“Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). God wants every aspect of the believer’s being to be under the complete control of the Holy Spirit. Pleroo, the basic Greek word for “be filled,” offers three shades of meaning that illustrate what Paul’s command to be Spirit-filled means. First, the word describes the pressure of wind filling a ship’s sails and moving the vessel across the water. That parallels the Holy Spirit’s leading us down the pathway of spiritual obedience. We aren’t primarily motivated by our own plans and desires, but we allow the Spirit’s gracious pressure to move us in...

In the last days, Iran, Russia, China and Turkey will come after Israel. At the Battle of Armageddon, these armies fully intend to wipe out Israel completely, but angels will protect them. Those who do not believe in Christ when He returns will be turned into hell. Do you know Jesus as your Savior?

The New World Order isn’t coming to America. It’s here. From the day Satan was kicked out of heaven, he has attempted to create the New World Order. Evil can have a religious face and kill you. What is the deep state church, and how is totalitarianism creeping in? Wake up, America!

“Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Those who walk by the Spirit will lovingly bear one another’s burdens. The Lord Jesus presents love for God and love for our neighbor as the great summary of the entire Law (Matt. 22:37-40). It only makes sense, then, that love will characterize the life of any Christian who is walking by the Spirit. Love will also be an integral part of any Spirit-assisted ministry to others. Paul tells us in today’s verse that when we help other believers hold up their particular burdens, we are obeying...

“Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). Those walking by the Spirit are to restore sinning fellow believers. God never intended that the spiritual walk be an end in itself. Instead, He wants believers to have a positive influence on fellow believers so that the church will be purified and built up. Galatians 6:1 reveals how those who walk by the Spirit ought to minister to others within the Body of Christ. Paul says they are to restore other brothers and sisters...

Following our story of controversial NIFB pastor Steven Anderson’s son Isaac alleging years of violent abuse and beatings against them as children, including kicking and stomping on him, another of his sons, John, has come forward to corroborate the claims of vicious beatings, as well as allege years of domestic abuse towards his mother. Anderson is the firebrand KJV-Onlyist from Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ. He’s known for his rigorous Independent Fundamentalist Baptist theology, hatred of Calvinism, the infamous “pisseth on a wall” clip, and open glee at the thought of homosexuals being killed; at one point, he...

One day after being charged with aggravated sexual battery, a longtime Tennessee pastor died by suicide in a hospital bathroom, authorities said. David Mark Baker Sr., 57, was serving at Family Baptist Church in Columbia, had been a jail chaplain, and once ran for Maury County mayor. On Sept. 10, Baker was charged with aggravated sexual battery in a case that involved a minor, according to Sheriff Bucky Rowland. Baker, released from jail on $200,000 bond, was scheduled to appear in court next month. Columbia Police Chief Jeremy Alsup said Baker walked into a local emergency room on Sept. 11,...