David C Pack's Lamentable Sabbath Day Confusion
The Spiritually Naive Continue to be Led Astray Who is David C. Pack Well, the question might well be asked, although don't tell Mr Pack this, who - from comments appearing on his website - appears to think that he is probably the second most important Bible teacher of the last several hundred years Mr Pack heads up one of the more extreme and confused offshoots of armstrongism, commonly known as The Restored Church of God.
MATTHEW 5:17-19; JESUS, CHRISTIANS AND THE LAW.
Is The Law Done Away With Or Should Christians Still Keep The Law What Did Jesus Mean When He Said That He Fulfilled The Law (in Matthew 5 17) The Time Has Arrived To End The Fruitless Arguments About Matthew 5 17-19. A Concise Exposition of Matthew 5 17-19. Does Matthew 5 17-19 say that Jesus 'did away with the law' What exactly did Jesus mean by His comments on fulfilling the law in these somewhat difficult verses Here is a vital subject which has caused much controversy lamentably it is also...
Why The New World Order Created Billy Graham
The New World Order doesn't feel they can fail when they can create men like Billy Graham. The New World Order has made him the most respected man in America. And he is their man consciously working for them. If he lives long enough he will be one of their most powerful assets to bring in a false Christ. Adam Weishaupt, organizer of the Bavarian llluminati, said in German, The most admirable thing of all is that great Protestant and reformed theologians who belong to our Order really believe...
The Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause
The two religion clauses of the First Amendment appear at the beginning of the Amendment. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religionor prohibiting the free exercise thereof (the Free Exercise Clause). As constitutional scholar George Goldberg stated, It was equally agreed that, just as the federal government should be prohibited from telling people how to worship, it should be prohibited from telling them how not to worship.
Was Early Christianity Corrupted by 'Hellenism'?
A common criticism of historic orthodox Christianity is the claim that early Christianity was corrupted by the intellectual forces of 'Hellenism.' (Hellenism, of course, refers to the influence of ancient Greek philosophy and culture, which spread throughout the Mediterranean world after the conquests of Alexander the Great in the fourth century BC.
Is Circumcision an Eternal Covenant?
A Question I Was Asked Is Circumcision an Eternal Covenant The Question Is the covenant of circumcision really an eternal covenant In asking this question, I am comparing Genesis 17 9-14 with Galatians 3 and 4 and also giving thought to Romans 4 9-12 and Romans 2 28-29. Thank you for your anticipated answer.
What is 'Righteousness' Under the New Covenant?
The word 'righteousness' still means holy, unspotted and unblemished character before God, a standard which none of us could ever measure up to - but now the requirement is fully met in Jesus Christ. First of all, what is 'righteousness' Probably the best definition is, 'the state of moral perfection and holiness of character required by God in order for people to enter heaven.' In the Old Testament we find 'righteousness' firmly associated with law-keeping.
Will God Forgive Men or Women Who Masturbate?
In a word, yes. Masturbation is not the unforgivable sin, but then neither are adultery, theft, or even murder. When I say that God will forgive men or women who masturbate am I saying that masturbation is an ideal practice Absolutely not, of course it is not. It is a sure sign that something is wrong in one's sexual life. God intended men and women to reach physical maturity then to enjoy loving relationships with each other within marriage.
Should Christians Eat Unclean Meat?
The Question Leviticus, chapter eleven, states that believers in God should not eat many things which Christians now eat. These things include pork, ham, crabs, lobsters and so on. Other verses show that undercooked still red meat should not be eaten. Is this why Christians are unhealthy Reply Okay, we need to be careful about how we use terms here. This law was given to Israelites but it is overturned in Acts 9.
Is There Any Contradiction Between Mark 9:38-41 and Matthew 7:21-23?
My Response Okay, let us look at these two Scriptures, (NIV throughout) Mark 9 38-41 38. ' Teacher, said John, we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us. 39. Do not stop him, Jesus said. No-one who does a MIRACLE in My Name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, 40. for whoever is not against us is for us. 41.
How Jesus Used Religion to Destroy the Power of Religion
You think my title a little strange or odd Please do not judge this article until you have read it right the way through and then I am confident that you, the reader, will discover that this is indeed biblical teaching, but perhaps explained in a slightly different manner. Intrigued Read on The truth is that the Lord God never offered Adam and Eve a religion, but a close walk with Him.
Masons Have Played Prominent Roles In The Presbyterian Church
This section must be prefaced by saying that the United Presbyterian church is very close to Freemasonry. There are more United Presbyterians than all the other 7 major Presbyterian denominations put together. There is in excess of 2 million American United Presbyterians in 9,000 churches. In contrast, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church had only 16,590 members in the 1982 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches and the Presbyterian Church of North America was listed having but 4,878.5 The...
Why Did the Lord Regret Making Saul King? Since He is God, Surely He Could Have Prevented It?
Okay, we need to look at 1 Samuel 15 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions. Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the Lord all that night. (1 Samuel 15 10-11). Saul sometimes showed a great reluctance to carry out divine orders from God, he tended to 'interpret' orders in his own way. Yes, this included his showing mercy where the Lord did not wish mercy to be shown.
Who Was the Mother of Ham's Son Canaan?
Nobody knows since Genesis 8 and 9 never tell us but obviously not every single child born to Shem, Ham and Japheth after they came off the ark are mentioned, the daughters are certainly unmentioned. Therefore, Ham would have married a sister or half-sister. According to The Book of Jubilees, Noah's wife was called Emzara, Shem's wife was called Sedeqetelebab, Japheth's wife was Adataneses and Ham's wife was Na'eltama'uk. And that is as far as we can go with it.
A Response to Dan Barker's “Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?”
Just as Dan Barker is a classic example of what can happen when Christians aren't given a strong intellectual foundation, so also his writings are classic examples of what can happen when a skeptic strays from the path of sound reason. As you may know, Dan was a Christian evangelist for a time, but he eventually became an atheist after finding himself unable to cope with some of the standard arguments against the Bible and theism.
Your Approach to Jesus - Is It Epistemological, Ontological, or Experiential?
Your Approach to Jesus - Is It Epistemological, Ontological, or Experiential There will be some elements of all the above in our approach to Jesus, but a heavy stress on 'ontological' is the most advantageous. Of the other approaches, 'epistomological' is best - as long as the study and learning is firmly Bible-based.
What Does 'Holy, Catholic Church' Mean in the Creed?
The Question How would you handle the following part of the Apostle's Creed I believe in the holy catholic church the communion of saints. As it says in those university things, discuss. Reply It means what it says. All Christians must support the concept of one holy catholic church. Always remember that 'catholic' simply means universal.
3 John 2; What is the Meaning?
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (3 John 2).It is indeed lamentable that this typical farewell message from the apostle John to Gaius the Elder has been picked up and distorted by so many during the last few years.The truth is, this message is little different to one which we use all the time today, 'I trust that this letter finds you well.' 'Prosper' here in the Greek simply means something like 'to go well with you.
Did Judas Take Communion Before Betraying Jesus?
A Few Say That He Did But What Do the Scriptures Reveal The very short answer to this question is no, Judas did not take communion. But some now insist that he fully partook. How may one employ Scripture to demonstrate the truth on this to others There are a few things to take into account here Judas Went To The Chief Priests Before The Last Supper. Then one of the Twelve - the one called Judas Iscariot -went to the chief priests (Matthew 26 14).
Did 'Neandertal Man' Ever Actually Exist?
Did 'neandertal man' ever actually exist Is there really any solid evidence of these creatures I suspect not. What is your opinion Does the Bible ever refer to what we might call cavemen Reply The Detail on Neandertals(We are grateful to Answers in Genesis for supplying this. Source and full bibliography Homo neanderthalensis was the scientific name given to an unusual ancient fossil (later to be called Neanderthal Man) found in the Neander Valley near Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1856.
What does if thy right eye offend thee pluck it out and cast if from thee mean
Opinions are divided among Christians as to whether Jesus is speaking literally or figuratively here, but nothing is to be gained by changing the literal meaning. It would be more profitable to do this literally and enter into eternal life with one eye if our eyes caused us to sin, than to be cast down to hell as a result of that sin, with two eyes.
What did Jesus mean by saying it is not meet to take the childrens bread and to cast it to dogs
The children referred to in these passages are the Jews - the lost sheep of the house of Israel bread symbolizes healing, deliverance and all the other salvation benefits God has provided in Christ dogs is a euphemism Jesus uses here for Gentiles - non-Jews. In this context it is not a harsh word, but refers to little dogs or puppies not meet (KJV) means not fair or not right. So in effect what Jesus is saying is that His first responsibility is to the Jews, and it is not...
What lesson do we learn from Jesus cursing the fig tree and causing it to die
This is the parallel passage to Mt 21 17-22. The fig tree in these passages is not to be confused with the fig tree in Lu 13 CP Lu 13 6-9 . This is called the parable of the barren fig tree. This fig tree symbolizes the fruitlessness of Israel see comment on Lu 13 6-9 . The teaching here is different altogether to what we learn from the fig tree Jesus cursed and caused to die in Mt 21 and Mk 11. What we learn in Mt 21 17-22 and Mk 11 12-14, 20-24 is a divine object...
Can we really know God How much of God can we know Explanation And Scriptural Basis A The Necessity for God to Reveal
If we are to know God at all, it is necessary that he reveal himself to us. Even when discussing the revelation of God that comes through nature, Paul says that what can be known about God is plain to people because God has shown it to them (Rom. 1 19). The natural creation reveals God because he chose to have himself revealed in this way. With regard to the personal knowledge of God that comes in salvation, this idea is even more explicit. Jesus says, No one knows the Son except the Father,...
Human Reproduction
Human reproduction is a famous crux of Aristotelian biology. Aristotle must explain not only how higher and higher states of actualization are brought about in the fetus, but also how an immaterial intellect if it is immaterial comes to be produced from or associated with an animal body. Thomas grapples with these issues in numerous places, but mostly from Aristotelian sources and in contention with Aristotelian interpreters. There are only a few other sources, and they had entered Aristotelian...
The Sanctuary Cleansed in 1844
We note that a remaining span of 1,810 years brings us to the end of the 2,300-year prophecy. The terminal year is a.d. 1844. According to Daniel's prophecy, that is the date for the sanctuary to be cleansed. The prophet had eagerly expected the yearly Day of Atonement services to be restored in the Jerusalem temple, but now he could see that Gabriel had properly placed it far into the future. It was obvious that the prophecy extended hundreds of years beyond the coming of the Messiah. But now...
Constantine and Sol Invictus
In contrast to Diocletian, Constantine was a tolerant monotheist. He seems to have inherited from his father a membership in the sun-god cult of Helios and his first recorded religious act was to consult the oracle at the temple of Apollo, the Greek god of the sun, at Autun in 308 C.E. On his coins he was depicted as Pontifex Maximus with representations of the sun god. He consulted haruspices and pagan priests, yet, after conquering Maxentius at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 C.E., he...
We Can Never Fully Understand God
Because God is infinite and we are finite or limited, we can never fully understand God. In this sense God is said to be incomprehensible where the term incomprehensible is used with an older and less common sense, unable to be fully understood. This sense must be clearly distinguished from the more common meaning, unable to be understood. It is not true to say that God is unable to be understood, but it is true to say that he cannot be understood fully or exhaustively. Psalm 145 says, Great is...
Confederal municipalism
Social ecologist John Clark writes 'If social ecology is an attempt to understand the dialectical movement of society within the context of a larger dialectic of society and nature, ecocommunitarianism is the project of creating a way of life consonant with that understanding.'47 Although 'confederal municipalism' is Bookchin's preferred term for his programme of anarchist politics, Clark's summary captures well the trajectory of Bookchin's political theory. Bookchin proposes a politics, a...
The Nature of Salvation
One of the basic themes of Scripture is that salvation restores man to his original purpose. In the beginning God created man in His own image, in order that man would have dominion (Gen. 1 26-28). That task of dominion began in the Garden of Eden, but it was not supposed to end there, for man was ordered to have dominion over the whole earth Adam and Eve (and their children) were to extend the blessings of Paradise throughout the entire world. But when man rebelled, he lost the ability to have...
What Is Five-Fold Ministry?
A Question I Was Asked What Is Five-Fold Ministry Five-Fold Ministry Confusion Explained The Actual Question What is this thing I have heard concerning the necessity of the 'five-fold ministry' Can you make any sense of it Reply Let us be sensible about this If Paul had been laying down a ministry pattern for every church of every age to follow, surely he would have made that utterly and unmistakably clear so that there could be no future doubt The ambiguity is only ambiguous because the...
What is the Difference Between the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and God's Granting of the Holy Spirit to Believers
A Question I Was Asked What is the difference between the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and God's granting of the Holy Spirit to believers now Reply Good question. In the Old Testament God only granted His Spirit to rare individuals who played a major part in His plan His effect was more dramatic and powerful but usually only to those individuals, people like Samson, Gideon, Samuel, David, Elijah and Elishah. God did not make His Spirit generally available to sincere followers at that time.
Problems in the Jerusalem Church
Was the Early Church at Jerusalem Deficient in Understanding Recently I received the following very interesting e mail First I studied Acts 15, then looked at Acts 21. Interesting Then, I read some of Paul's thinly veiled criticisms of the Jerusalem leadership in Galatians 2. Do you - like myself - get the feeling that everything was not well in the Jerusalem congregation Did the Jerusalem Elders really have the authority to start ordering an Apostle (Paul) around in Acts 21 23a I see signs...
Brief Biography of Herbert W. Armstrong 1892-1986
A Concise Look at the Founder of the Worldwide Church of God , Herbert W. Armstrong. Where Did He Come From What Did He Believe Herbert W. Armstrong (1892 1986) was the founder of the 1933 Radio Church of God which he later renamed Worldwide Church of God . He was chancellor of Ambassador College publisher of The Plain Truth magazine in several languages presenter of The World Tomorrow radio and television programmes father of radio-television evangelist Garner Ted Armstrong president of the...
What Is Swedenborgianism?
Who Was Emanuel Swedenborg Did He Really Receive A New Revelation From God Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) Emanuel Swedberg (later, Swedenborg) was born on January 29, 1688 in Stockholm, Sweden of devout Christian parents (his father was a Lutheran minister). His life, however, would follow a very surprising course and one which his father would hardly have approved. Emanuel was the third among the nine children of Jesper and Sarah Swedberg.
Herbert W.Armstrong; Facing The Facts
Armstrong)A page of countercult articles intended to be helpful for those who have come under the influence of Herbert W. Armstrong (Armstrongism) at some stage in the past.PLEASE NOTE We respect all members and adherents of other beliefs religions, but we sincerely believe that true Christianity has some utterly unique claims and verifications which we encourage all to become familiar with.
Can You Better Explain Peter's Use of Joel In His Acts 2 Sermon?
A Question I Was Asked Can You Better Explain Peter's Use of Joel In His Acts 2 Sermon The Question Can you clarify the Joel Acts connection for me In Acts 2, Peter seemed to say that at least a chunk of Joel is fulfilled in the preaching of the gospel, yet to look at Joel it would not be obvious. Reply Okay, let's look at Joel 2 28-32 28. And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Concise Exposition of Revelation
A Sound General Approach to The Book of RevelationWe should all take the trouble to try to correctly understand this great book of the Bible. It is a sad fact that this book has been abused by countless prophecy experts who have succeeded in confusing and deluding thousands of sincere people.
“...But I Surely Don't Have to Believe in Adam and Eve and the Biblical Creation Story in Order to Become a Christian
A Question I Was Asked But I Surely Don't Have to Believe in Adam and Eve and the Biblical Creation Story in Order to Become a Christian Do I In Fact, The Lesson Of Every Event in Human History Can Be Found in Genesis 1-4. My Reply Let me start out by saying a few things about the biblical creation story . It is a story which gives us great truths which we vitally need to know - moreover, these are truths which we could have learned in no other way.
Can You Explain Revelation 16:13 Please?
A Question I Was Asked Can You Explain Revelation 16 13 Please Can you please explain this verse better for me And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. Rev 16 13. Reply This is in section five of Revelation and the theme there is Judgement and Final Judgement. Maybe you understand that Revelation is divided into seven parallel sections, each with an overall theme.
The Law and the Gospel
Let me begin with a story told me some years ago by a Lutheran minister (who did not, however, reveal his own sources). Paul speaks repeatedly of believers as those who have died to the law, have been set free from the law, are no longer under the law, and have been redeemed from its sway (Rom 7 6 Gal 2 19 Rom 6 14-15 Gal 4 5).
Dead Sea Scrolls and the Gospels History and Propaganda
The new light shed by the Dead Sea Scrolls on the New Testament give us ground for believing that Christianity - or more accurately, Pauline Christianity - was the result of a successful power struggle waged by Paul against the sect known among other names as 'Keepers of the Covenant', 'Congregation of the Poor', and 'Ebionites'. Its leader, as we already saw, was James, known as the 'Righteous'. Jesus was, at best, peripheral to this movement and the struggle, while James was its real leader....
The Pleasure of God in Justifying the Wicked
Matt Perman 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
The Canons of the Coptic Church
Only fifteen years after its foundation, the church was already faced with the need to enact certain regulations for the Gentile converts to Christianity. These enactments, made at the Council of the Apostles at Jerusalem in 48 (Acts 15), may be regarded as the beginning of what was known later as canon law, and, in the centuries that followed, the church was forced on many occasions to enact such laws to establish correct belief, to regulate the performance of the Divine Liturgy and the...
A.j.appasamy Spirit Of Anteryamin
Thomas, The Secular Ideologies of India and the Secular Meaning of Christ Madras Christian Literature Society-CISRS, 1976 , pp. 241-84. A. J. Appasamy, Christianity as Bhakti Marga A Study of the Johannine Doctrine ofLove Madras Christian Literature Society, 1930 What is Moksa A Study in the Johannine Doctrine of Life Madras Christian Literature Society, 1931 . of Ramanuja. Accordingly, the oneness between Jesus and his Father was not ontological but moral, 'a union in love and work and...
The Word Translated Punishment Means Improvement
It is thus authoritavely defined Greenfield, Chastisement, punishment. Hedericus, The trimming of the luzuriant branches of a tree or vine to improve it and make it fruitful.Donnegan, The act of clipping or pruning restriction, restraint, reproof, check, chastisement. Grotius, The kind of punishment which tends to the improvement of the criminal, is what the Greek philosophers called kolasis or chastisement. Liddell, Pruning, checking, punishment, chastisement, correction....
Okay, I Admit It: I Have A Problem With 'church Socials'!!
QUESTION WHAT IS THE RITUAL WHICH CHURCH CONGREGATIONS GO THROUGH ANYTHING FROM 3-12 TIMES PER YEAR WHICH MAKES STRONG MEN QUIVER AND TREMBLE ANSWER THE CHURCH SOCIAL Men who never took a step backwards in Korea, Vietnam, the Falklands or the Gulf dread the onset of 'the church social' season.
What the Messiah is Supposed to Do
One of the primary ways that we know that jesus was not the Messiah was is simply because he did not fulfill any of the Messianic prophecies. Many people have written on this subject, both in books and online. This article will not add anything new to what they have written, but since so many people write me about this subject, evidently this article needs to be here at this site as well. The Prophets have written a great deal about what the Messiah will do when he comes. Likewise, the Oral...
The Problems Of Arianism And Of Sabellianism
Trinitarian theology is looking for an analogy which gives due respect to its subject, and which enables it to bring an authentic procession within God to light. Refining on what the analogy must do, St Thomas adds that it must enable one to grasp an 'immanent procession'. The starting-point of the Trinitarian treatise is the idea of 'immanent procession'. Thomas' reflection is based on an interpretation of the problems of Arianism and Sabellianism because they conceive procession like a...
Is the WT Society merely a religious faith or is it a
Government as it so often has called itself It may be the perfect scam call one's government a non-political religion -and then who can dare oppose you But the Witnesses know who rules them. They are told the WT Society is the voice of God WT 6 15 57, p.370 They are told that rejecting the WT Society is rejecting God. WT 2 15 76 p.124 They are told the WT Society is their mother. They are told that the God's sole visible channel is the WT Society and they must be submissive to it. WT They are...
Life In Christ
9.1 After baptism, a believer must make a reasonable effort to be separate from the ways of this sinful world, 9.2 and develop Christ-like characteristics. 9.3 Participation in occupations and pleasures which lead us to break the commandments of God, e.g. the use of force and excessive drinking of alcohol, are incompatible with a truly Christian life. 9.4 Baptized believers have a duty to meet with and fellowship each other, whenever and wherever humanly possible. 9.5 Baptized believers should...
General Lafeyette
The year was 1825 and the country's attention was focused on the famous french General Lafayette, a member of the Illuminati who was touring the United States. At every town the Masonic Lodges went to great lengths to prepare great festivities. General Lafayette had possibly been given his position in Washington's revolutionary army due to his Masonic connections, although initially the Americans had been somewhat cool to putting him on the staff of the Continental army. The foreign military...
Mircea Eliade the Sacred and Islam
Mircea Eliade was certainly aware of the religious and political significance of the founder-Prophet of Islam, Muhammad c. 570-632 . Indeed, the subtitle of the third volume of his A History of Religious Ideas is From Muhammad to the Age of Reforms. It is in this work that he provides one of the closest and most extensive insights into his thinking about Islam and the sacred.506 His sources are varied but, by the date of publication in i9 5, already somewhat dated. They range from A. J....
Islam as Counterculture
Once Islam was on the agenda, the main issue was to determine which form of the religion was likely to gain most support. For Muslims, as for immigrant Christians, authoritarian, charismatic, and demanding styles appeal to a particular market, namely, adolescents and young adults, commonly suffering from multiple social deprivation and moreover observing gender roles in the process of rapid transition. At a time of social upheaval and chaos, rigid forms of Islam offer an island of stability and...
How To Wear Your Armour Like A Warrior Princess
I poured myself a cup of coffee and opened up my email, my friend's subject header catching my eye Aimee, PLEASE PRAY . I quickly opened it up and all it said was The worst thing that could ever happen to my marriage has happened. Please pray. That's it. Nothing else. But I knew what the worst thing' was. Somehow I just knew. And my friend needed me. She needed me to tighten up my armour and do battle with her.
Did Jonah die in the belly of the whale
Jonah, being in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights and then being vomited up on the shore in the Old Testament, was a type of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection in the New Testament. A type is someone or something that God has preordained in the Old Testament to represent someone or something in the New Testament. Jesus said that what happened to Jonah in the belly of the whale was the sign of what was to happen to Him - He was going to die, be...
Is It Clear Whether Or Not God Destroyed Nineveh?
A Question I Was Asked Is It Clear Whether Or Not God Destroyed Nineveh I am trying to work out whether or not God destroyed Nineveh. I am comparing Jonah 3 4 with Jonah 3 10. Reply This is not a difficult question. After many years of Bible study and of frankly considering difficult Bible questions, I have no doubt that the Bible - when properly understood - NEVER contradicts itself.
Who is this woman who anointed Jesus here and when did this anointing take place
There is some confusion in the contemporary church over who the women were who anointed Jesus, and how many times He was anointed. There are three distinct and separate anointings of Jesus by women in scripture, and this is the third. The first took place in Simon the Pharisee's house in Nain early in Christ's earthly ministry (CP Lu 7 11, 36-39). This woman anointed Jesus' feet. Many in the church believe that this was Mary Magdalene, and or that she was a prostitute, but there is nothing in...
How To Teach Our Children Obedience
We were eye-to-eye in a struggle of wills me, the parent and he, the son. This young man would test my patience and my grace over the years. He brought the term strong-willed child into my life I had not known anything about it before him My daughter was the picture perfection of the compliant child. Teaching her obedience was a dream. But my son that was an entirely different story. I had my work cut out for me. Some of you many of you know exactly what I am talking about.
Is Bible Journaling Wrong? Or Even Evil?
You know how you read a post and the author sounds angry or judgemental (maybe both) and you leave the site feeling condemned Oh, my, if people ever felt like that after reading any of my posts, I'd be quite concerned about what I was writing Convicted yes (this comes from the Holy Spirit). Condemned never because it would come from me. But finding these kinds of posts is pretty easy even when you search for a topic as harmless as Bible journaling.
Ben Fulford Theology
Editing this volume for the third time has been immeasurably more enjoyable and less work because the labor has been shared with a fellow editor, Rachel Muers. My gratitude to her is immense, not only for the many hours she has put in, but also for her tracking of the various aspects of a considerably larger edition, and above all for her wise advice and judgment. She has accompanied this edition from its inception, and it has been a continual stimulation to look at The Modern Theologians...
Surely to be so Critical of Herbert W. Armstrong, You Can be no Christian. Where is Your Love?
A Question I Was Asked Surely to be so Critical of Herbert W. Armstrong, You Can be no Christian. Where is Your Love The Question I read some of your writings. I can see, so much of hatred towards Armstrong and his teachings. Maybe you forgot one thing, if you are a true christian then you should not hate your fellow men. I can see that level of your hatred in your writings. That itself shows you are not still become a follower of Jesus Christ.
What Are Your Thoughts on Matthew 7:21-23?
What are your thoughts on Matthew 7 21-23 I believe it is a warning to those that claim to be Christians, but are not followers and are fooling themselves. Reply Okay, we need to include a few more verses than those we are asked about in order to get a better context here Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.
Whatever Happened to Christian Discernment?
Whatever Happened to Christian Discernment If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work. Discernment is a most wonderful gift which the Lord grants to His people and it is needed because - let's face it - sometimes we Christians seriously misjudge things Let us recall what we are told in Hebrews 5 We evangelicals must stop 'rubber-stamping' and giving our approval to heretics just...
Truly Knowing Christ, and Better Discerning Between True and False Preachers...
A questioner recently asked us the following question What is the full meaning of the words to 'know' Christ. In particular I am thinking about when Jesus says He will say to some on that day that, despite their works, they should depart from Him, for He never knew them. Does the original language and context add anything to a simple reading of this text Perhaps a related concern is that His sheep know His voice, or that if we love Him we will obey His commandments, and this is not always easy.
Are We Still in Danger of Relying on Our Own Works??
A Question I Was Asked Question There are two judgments (i) The Great White Throne Judgment and (ii) The Judgement Seat of Christ. It is the latter that involves my question. In this judgment, believers appear and each one receives what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad (2 Corinthians 5 10). It is at this judgment that Christ will say, Well done thou good and faithful servant (etc.
Can Sinners and Unregenerate People Work Miracles?
Can sinners and unregenerate people work miracles How can you explain Matthew 7 21-27 If these miracle workers are not called by God how come that they can work miracles Why does God allow deceivers to work miracles Why does He authorize it Reply Okay, let us look at this section of Scripture Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Why Do Some Christians Reject 'Christian Apologetics'?
A Question I Was Asked Why Do Some Christians Reject 'Christian Apologetics' The Question I am at a loss to understand why some Christians don't like Apologetics and a few are really opposed to it. Where on earth can they be coming from Reply Hmm - that is a very good question. Let us consider it. First of all we need to understand that Christian Apologetics concerns the defence of the Christian Faith.
What is Donatism?
A Question I Was Asked What is Donatism What is Donatism Was it something like 'perfectionism,' or the 'holiness movement' I heard It was an ancient heresy Reply Yes, Donatism (not to be confused with Docetism which we cover here) was a heresy of the 4th century AD. The basic teaching was that a pastor or minister could not continue as such and could not administer the sacraments (communion and baptism) unless he were morally totally pure.
Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged
Introduction I have been concerned for some while that a few misunderstand Jesus' comment on judging. A few feel that Jesus' words mean that we should be very tolerant of the behaviour of others, even if their lifestyle is plainly a sinful one according to biblical standards There follows a brief article by Ken Mansfield which shows that the words of Jesus do not mean that we should condone sin I am grateful to Ken for making it available to us.
The Novatian and Donatist divisions
More serious were two schisms, one which began in the third century and which is usually given the name of Novatian, and the other which had its origin in the fourth century and is called Donatist. For both the primary source was dissatisfaction with what they regarded as the lax moral practices of the majority and both came into being as protests against the lenient treatment of those who had denied the faith in time of persecution. In its earlier days the Church maintained rigorous standards...
Archaeology and the Book of Exodus Exit From Egypt
In earlier issues, The Good News examined archaeological finds that illuminate portions of the books of Genesis and Exodus. In this issue we continue our exploration of discoveries that help us understand other aspects of the Exodus account, beginning with the incident of the Israelites' worship of the golden calf. After crossing the Red Sea see The Red Sea or the Reed Sea , p. 24 , the Israelites made their way to Mount Sinai. The account of Israel's appropriation of a golden calf to worship...
The Markan Community
In the introduction I emphasized the importance of the historical context for the interpretation of the theology of Mark. The above discussion illustrates, however, some of the difficulties which confront us when we try to reconstruct the historical setting by working back from the textual evidence. These difficulties are also apparent when we seek to answer the question of Mark's addressees. So far we have encountered evidence to support the view that Greek-speaking Gentiles were in view, but...
The Death Of Herod Agrippa
Flavius Josephus wrote the following account of Herod Agrippa's death which matches the account found in the Bible After Agrippa had ruled in Judea for three full years, he traveled to the city of Caesarea, which in the past was called Strato's Tower. There he put on an exhibition in honor of Caesar, declaring this to be a festival for the Emperor. And there came a large number of officials and those of a high-ranking status. At sunrise on the following day he put on a robe made of all silver...
Biblical, Charismata, Dispensationalism
Word DefinitionsWhat is meant by 'Biblical' biblical (also 'Bible-based', 'scriptural') 'according to the Scriptures'. Biblical is an adjective , that is, a term that describes something, instead of defining it. The main meaning, and the strictest sense, is simply that something is actually found in the Bible.
The Spirit Working In the Local Gathering ...the Spirit? In a Church???
The Heart of the Local BodyThe early church was special. It was new, different, excited from direct encounters with its first love. But it was far from perfect it had many conflicts, divisions, and even schools of thought which compared to those of today. (For instance, Peter's followers and John's followers were united at the core, but worked out their beliefs very differently.
Phisolophie of Evolution
In the 1800s, as scientific ideas triumphed over religious ideas, scholars stopped speculating about the existence of a soul and began speculating about the workings of the mind instead. By the end of the century, the formulation of theories about the mind and the search for evidence to support these theories had become the formal science of Psychology. There has been, however, no easy path to progress.
What Do You Mean You Don't Love Me?
During a recent senior girls Bible Study evening, one of the girls brought up the idea of love at first sight'. She wanted to know if Jacob experienced love at first sight when he saw Rachel. It says that he did love her right away We chatted about it for a bit in the group, the girls offering their thoughts.
Definition of Sovereignty
Sovereign is he who decides on the exception.1 Only this definition can do justice to a borderline concept. Contrary to the imprecise terminology that is found in popular literature, a borderline concept is not a vague concept, but one pertaining to the outermost sphere. This definition of sovereignty must therefore be associated with a borderline case and not with routine. It will soon become clear that the exception is to be understood to refer to a general concept in the theory of the state,...
Tips for Managing the Strong-Willed Child
Do you need encouragement and help with a strong-willed child Are you at your wits end and unsure of what to do Are you confused about all of the popular parenting advice out there Yeah, I know. I've been there sometimes I still am I have tow strong-willed children and I want to share with you what worked for me. Tips for Managing the Strong-Willed Child. Disclaimer I will not pretend to know everything about parenting.
Lecture 2 Moral Government
The primary idea of government, is that of direction, guidance, control by, or in accordance with, rule or law. All government is, and must be, either moral or physical that is, all guidance and control must be exercised in accordance with either moral or physical law for there can be no laws that are neither moral nor physical. Physical government is control, exercised by a law of necessity or force, as distinguished from the law of free will, or liberty. It is the control of substance, as...
How The Prieure De Sion Started The Scottish Rite
Charles Radclyffe was the Grand Master of the Prieure de Sion from 1727-1746.1 It is probable that Scottish Rite Freemasonry was originally promulgated, if not indeed devised, by Charles Radclyffe.17 It seems also most likely that Charles Radclyffe was one of the unknown superiors likely the head one of a German nobleman Baron Karl Gottheif von Hund18 1722-1776 who is well known to have created the Rite of Strict Observance.19 According to von Hund a Grand Master of a super secret order...
All Under The Authority Of The Great White Brotherhood
Elizabeth Clare Prophet has emphatically made a big issue that she is following orders from the Great White Brotherhood. The Great White Brotherhood is the same group that Bailey, H.P.B., the Rosicrucians and the Esoteric Masons follow. Note, they are following the same authority. The Masonic Book Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry, 1907 written based on information from the highest Masonic authorities, states on pg. 79, THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLE. 114 The Ancient Wisdom Religion is the Thread-soul'...
Does 'Straight Street' Actually Exist?
A Question I Was Asked The Question Does Straight Street in Damascus actually exist Did it ever exist Reply No need to have any doubts at all. Yes, Straight Street most certainly continues to exist. This, of course, is the street in Damascus where Paul the Apostle lodged after his vision of Jesus. In the house of Judas, he was baptized by Ananias and received back his sight (Acts 9 11).
Does God Really Know Everything We Will Do Before We Do It?
A Question I Was Asked Does God Really Know Everything We Will Do Before We Do It Hello, I'm just wondering what your thoughts are about coincidences in the life of a Christian. The website 'Got Questions' states that when Jesus said, 'by chance a Samaritan passed by' that comes from two Greek Words referring to 'supreme authority operating in the situation.' In other words, coincidences are God ordained.
Five Reasons Why Modern Liberalism Is Incompatible With Biblical Christianity
ARTICLE QUOTE Although our advice may be considered unashamedly right-wing, this does not imply that we are unaware of the foolish areas which some USA-based right-wing 'politico-evangelists' have sometimes gotten into, neither does it imply uncritical support of various groupings involved in such things as 'The Moral Majority' or 'The Christian Coalition.
Doing It Together -- Intercessory Prayer Groups
One of the most powerful ways to go about praying for others is to form a small group set aside for that purpose. The prayer time can be surrounded with other activities or be stripped of most else each group develops its own tone. It's best not to make a big fuss about praying together for others or for the Church or about any one prayer procedure or approach or strategy it's something which works best when it's just done .
Are the Jewish Nation Still God's People?
A QUESTION WE WERE ASKED Are the Jewish Nation Still God's People QUESTION Are the Jewish Nation still God's people and do they still figure in His plans My pastor says one thing but the apostle Paul seems to say something totally different. Didn't God reject the Jews - how then can they figure so largely in the prophecies of the future just as though they remain fully God's holy nation This is really puzzling me.
Are There Really Prophets In Today's Church?
Prophets, prophecies, prophesying, modern-day prophets Many are asking us questions on these topics.Here is my answer to a simple question which we were asked 'Are There Prophets in Today's Church A Growing Number Seem to be Claiming to be Prophets ' We witness a mushrooming of 'prophets' in today's more charismatic congregations.
Liberalism...or Christianity?
We here present some excerpts from Machen's famous writing on the great differences between liberal Christianity and real Christianity Here are some excerpts from J. Gresham Machen's famous essay in which he set out to show that liberal Christianity is really a different religion to Bible-believing evangelical Christianity. Here at Museltof, we heartily agree, and we strongly recommend the works of this writer.
Will Most Of The Human Race Go To Hell?
Will Most People Finally go to Hell Will Most of the Human Race go to Hell Many of my fellow evangelicals would answer this question in the affirmative, but I have long maintained that, in adopting this position, they are only focussing on certain Scriptures whilst being quite prepared to ignore many others.
Are Small Children Saved If They Die?
This has long been a source of worry and concern for those parents who have tragically lost small children.Does the Bible offer any clues as to the fate of such small children Can we hope that they are somehow saved despite never having grown to an age of responsibility The Christian denominations have differed here. Those who accept Baptismal Regeneration would not - at least theoretically - accept that any unbaptized infants could be saved.
The Truth About 'speaking In Tongues' At Last!
The subjects of 'Speaking in Tongues', 'Baptism of the Holy Spirit', 'Glossolalia' and questions on that momentous Pentecost come up regularly. If you have ever wondered about some of these subjects, the following article is essential reading The subject of speaking in tongues has probably caused more debate in the Church during the last 50 years or so, than any other subject.
Signs And Wonders; DON'T Believe Every Claim!
The Three Positions on the Spectacular Gifts in Today's ChurchHave you wondered about 'Signs and Wonders' in the Church today Have you wondered about 'Gifts of the Spirit' Should Christians expect divine healing from every illness How about Cessationism (the belief that the spectacular signs concluded with the conclusion of the mission of 'the 70' and the completion of the Bible canon).
About Our Articles Beware of Copyright Infringement!
Some have asked us about the subject of copying and re-distributing our articles.Any article on any one of the museltof christian ministries group of web sites may be freely copied and distributed if the article is written by Museltof or Robin A. Brace. In both cases such articles will be signed with one or another of those names at the end of the article.Yes, these articles are copyright, but we freely allow their use in order to correct biblical error.
Rooting Armstrongism out of Ex-Worldwide Church of God Folk
(A picture of Herbert and Loma Armstrong taken about 1965 and now believed to be in the public domain) Museltof Countercult and Apologetics UK are often involved in counselling former (and present) members of the Worldwide Church of God sect cult (usually referred to as the 'WCG').
Hypnosis And The Christian
While it is a personal matter and a personal choice as to whether a Christian ever submits himself herself to a hypnotist, we at Museltof Countercult and Apologetics UK and UK Apologetics are bound to advise very serious caution indeed in this matter. Hypnotism entails giving the control of your mind over to an outside influence, now while that influence could be benign and helpful, this whole area is even then fraught with dangers The following article comes from the Let Us Reason website and...
Is There A 'covenant Of Grace'?
At Museltof Countercult and Apologetics we are substantially 'reformed' emphasizing the doctrines of grace, yet we stand on the more open wing or left-wing of the movement, believing that there is occasionally a real legalism problem on what might be termed the reformed movement's neopuritan wing.
The Abomination of Desolation in Biblical Prophecy
While we at the Museltof Christian Ministries group of websites are famously cautious about the use of Bible prophecy, here is a deeply thought-provoking article written by David Haggith which we put here for your reaction. David reverses the way the Abomination of Desolation Prophecy is usually viewed in a most intriguing manner If David is correct, the Second Coming could be closer that we have dared to believe Read the article with due care.
From The Editor
Serious Problems in the 'New Perspective on Paul' It all started in 1977 with the publication of E.P. Sanders' Paul and Palestinian Judaism.The book came from a background of a widespread perceived need to rehabilitate the Jewish people following the great evil of the Holocaust. Soul searchings could be found almost everywhere had not Christians themselves occasionally been anti-semitic Was not even Martin Luther scathing in some of his comments about the Jewish people Was the New Testament...
Is Membership of a Local Church Congregation Necessary For Salvation?
A QUESTION I WAS ASKED Is Membership of a Local Church Congregation Necessary For Salvation I received this thoughtful and deep-thinking e mail recently Is membership of a specific local church necessary for salvation My pastor says it is not, but that I should still make a commitment to his congregation. I am reluctant because of previous bad experiences. Within the last 15 years I have twice been a member of a church but with a bad final outcome.
The Rise of the 'Liberal Charismatic'!
It was probably inevitable A few years ago, a few first started referring to themselves as 'liberal evangelicals' despite the fact that this is a fairly contradictory definition now one is starting to note some 'liberal charismatics'. With the huge growth of the charismatic movement over the last few years, this - perhaps - should not be too surprising.
Jehovah's Witnesses
A page of countercult articles intended to be helpful for those who have come under the influence of the Watchtower Society, or, Jehovah's Witnesses at some stage in the past.PLEASE NOTE We respect all members and adherents of other beliefs religions, but we sincerely believe that true Christianity has some utterly unique claims and verifications which we encourage all to become familiar with.
The Utter Folly Of Arguing Over Hell!
A few years ago Bible-believing Christians came to a sort of loose (but generally recognized) agreement Lets quit arguing over denominational distictions and concentrate purely on fulfilling the Great Commission of Preaching the Gospel to every creature - the new mood and attitude grew up in the wake of a widespread realization that the older sort of fundamentalists had occasionally not done themselves too many favours by appearing completely disdainful of all scholarship and learning, to say...
Avoiding Getting Prophetic Egg on our Faces!
At Museltof Countercult and Apologetics UK we have become somewhat noted for a cautious - dare one even say sceptical - approach towards the style of 'prophecy buffs'.Is this because we are sceptical about Bible Prophecy Absolutely Not. And it is important that all of our readers should understand that.
Theological Inclusivism, Exclusivism, Universalism etc, etc., What Do All These Terms Mean?
Very many are becoming confused by the increasing use of various theological terms which explain qualify quantify approaches to Eternal Life.Most writers well-seasoned in Christian evangelical theology use the terms (more or less) accurately, but an increasing number of writers appear to be misusing the terms.
“Is It Really Biblical, or, The Godly Way, For Me To Give All My Tithes and Offerings To My Local Church? My Minister
My Reply Oh dear, I really hate it when I cannot back up the authority of local churches or ministers, but when I started up this ministry (four years ago as I write this) I knew that I would always have to speak the truth as I saw it based on my honest understanding of Holy Scripture - and I will continue to do so.
Are You Looking At The Gospel Through....
The lady has been raised in a highly Calvinistic background and (because it has become so ingrained) she can now only view the gospel through Calvinistic-coloured glasses Once I said to her, 'Perhaps it would be helpful for your understanding if you occasionally viewed the gospel through different lenses so you could understand how some others view it that's going to increase your empathy for them.
Pure Language?
A typical Bible question which Museltof tackles. Zephaniah 3 9 says, For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, that they all may call on the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one accord What is this 'pure language 'Answer First of all we need to stand back a little to consider the overall meaning and approach of this prophetic book.Zephaniah prophesies in the days of king Josiah who was king over Judah.