What Cessationism Is Not - by Nathan Busenitz

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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The author spends his entire presentation explaining what cessationism isn't, bolstered by quotes from theologians and historical figures. But he never provides us the affirmative biblical case for his own cessationism.

In fact, the author doesn't quote a single Scripture, very common for cessationists. He doesn't even bother to make a biblical argument.
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Two Types of Tongues? - by Nathan Busenitz

Found here. My comments in bold.

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We have given extensive treatment to the Tongues issue, so we will attempt to avoid repeating those points here. Instead we will address any new arguments.

As we have discovered in our critiques of cessationists, it is typical of them to avoid Scripture. This author supplies many scriptural references, and even a couple Greek words, but amazingly, doesn't quote a single Scripture.

We also note that the author makes a concerted effort to affirm his own preconceptions, sometimes to ridiculous lengths. For example, the author switches "translation" for "interpretation" when discussing the spiritual gift of interpretation. This is simply dishonest.

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I want to respond to the idea that the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians 14 is somehow qualitatively different than in Acts or even than in 1 Corinthians 12.

* * * * *

Is the gift of tongues in Acts the same as in 1 Corinthians?

Some Observations:

1. Acts – The miraculous tongues in Acts were directly related to the working of the Holy Spirit (2:4, 18; 10:44–46; 19:6). In fact, tongue-speaking is evidence of having received the “gift” (dorea) of the Holy Spirit (10:45). (The gift of the Holy Spirit is not synonymous with the gift of Tongues or any other spiritual gift. The gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts specifically manifested in Tongues, and later prophecy, as a sign to the Apostles that the gentiles were now included in salvation. 

But nowhere in Acts is speaking in Tongues referred to as a spiritual gift.) 

1 Corinthians – As in Acts, the gift of tongues in 1 Corinthians was directly related to the working of the Holy Spirit (12:1, 7, 11, etc.). Similarly, the gift of tongues is an evidence (or “manifestation”) of having received the Holy Spirit (12:7). (This is true for Acts, false for 1 Corinthians. Let's quote the Scripture: 1Co. 12:7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. Why did the Holy Spirit give gifts? For the common good, NOT as evidence of having received the Spirit.)

2. Acts – Along those lines, in Acts 11:15–17, Peter implies that the tongue-speaking of Acts 10 was the same as that of Acts 2, even noting that Cornelius and his household had received the same gift (dorea) as the apostles on the Day of Pentecost. (Perhaps the author doesn't quote Scripture because the Scripture he references does not say what he says it does. Let's start with the context of the cited passage:

Ac. 11:1-4 The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3 and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened...

Peter had finally learned the lesson of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which ironically he first explained when he quoted the prophet Joel [Acts 2:16-21]. But that lesson had to be repeated to Peter many times. It took him quite a while to understand that the gentiles could be part of the people of God.

So now we find Peter is being challenged by the circumcision group for hanging out with gentiles. He explains what happened, culminating in the passage cited by the author:

Ac. 11:15-17 “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16 Then I remembered what the Lord had said: `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?”

This passage is clearly not about Tongues. The reader will not find mention of Tongues here, because the gift of Tongues was not the subject. Peter's point was the fact of the gentiles receiving the gift of the very same Holy Spirit.)

Did You Go To Them Privately? - DEBBIELYNNE KESPERT

Found here. My comments in bold.
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It wasn't long ago that we commented on another blogger about the very same thing. Therefore, we will most likely reference our previous article in this critique.

We should note that we embrace the principles of Matthew 18 in our dealings, even with the Doctrinal Police. If we believe the polemicist has sinned against us, we privately contact them. Otherwise, we content ourselves with providing simple analysis of the content of their writings, evaluating it according to biblical principles.

In the case of this particular author, she provides us with her rules of engagement here. She writes, 

Although I have absolutely no objection to a husband investigating my writing to ensure that I don’t steer their wives toward false doctrine, I hope that they stop reading once they feel assured that they can trust me to instruct their wives according to Scripture.

Unfortunately, we do not trust her, based on our prior analyses here, here, and here. Thus we continue to operate according to her open invitation.
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Yes, God Still Performs Miracles - by Josh Buice

Found here.
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This is a puzzling article. The author sucks us in with a title, but does absolutely nothing to explain his beliefs regarding how God does miracles. In fact, this article was really written to criticize the prosperity gospel, not to explain miracles or biblical healing.

Sadly, the author manages to quote the Bible only once (which we edited out, since it was a not a Scripture about healing or the miraculous [Acts 8:20].)

Then he creates a false choice. Either we accept his views, or it's prosperity gospel. Of course there are more choices than these two. 

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Does it matter if we’re singing to God or about God? - BY JONATHAN AIGNER

Found here. My comments in bold.
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This is an older article, but it brings up a topic regarding worship we have not seen before. Of course, just because the topic is novel does not mean it is Biblical.

As is typical for the Doctrinal Police, not a single Scripture quoted, referenced, or even alluded to. We would expect that an author who is offering correction to the church ought to make a biblical argument. He does not.

We also note that the author himself answers the question he raises in the title: He begins with yes but ends with no.

And just for reference, we should roughly define the terms the author uses:

First person: Speaks of one's self
Second person: Speaks to the intended audience

Third person: Speaks about someone not present

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Cessationism - Episode 12 - What is discernment? Is there such a thing as a discernment ministry?

Our next Episode in the cessationism series.

Additional Episodes:

• Episode 1, the Perfect.
• Episode 2, the apostles.
• Episode 3, prophecy.
• Episode 4, the closed canon.
• Episode 5, extra biblical reasons.
• Episode 6, only the apostles had all truth.
• Episode 7, there were only limited periods of miracles.
• Episode 8, tongues.
• Episode 9, the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Episode 10, does God speak only through the Scriptures?
• Episode 11, what about impressions?
• Episode 12, what is discernment? 
• Episode 13, the sufficiency of Scripture.
• Episode 14, Was the purpose of miracles restricted to the authentication of the apostles?
• Episode 15, Is revival excluded because of apostasy?
• Episode 16, is prophecy subjective?
• Episode 17, Could only the apostles confer miraculous powers or gifts?
• Episode 18, are charismatics functional cessationists?

Our criteria for the cessationism debate is that the argument must

1. be from the Bible
2. Not appeal to contemporary expressions of charismata
3. Not appeal to silence
4. Not appeal to events or practices of history

That is, any defense of cessationism must be Sola Scriptura.

The Perils of Billionaire Philanthropy The ultra-rich are using philanthropic vehicles to shield their wealth—it’s time Congress acted. - By Chuck Collins

Found here. My comments in bold.
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This is a stark example of muddled leftist thinking.
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At this year’s World Economic Forum at Davos, billionaire Michael Dell, the 25th-wealthiest man in the world, weighed in on new proposals to tax the very wealthy. Dell said he was “much more comfortable” giving through his private foundation “than giving…to the government.” He’s not the first billionaire to confuse his obligations to society and conflate charitable giving with paying taxes. (On what basis does the author claim Dell is confused? Dell's statement is pretty clear. He would prefer to choose for himself where his money goes.

The author himself seems confused. He writes that Dell has an obligation to society. That is a moral claim. Dell does not have any obligation to society. He does have a legal obligation to the IRS. 

Dell does not conflate giving with taxes, the Left does. The Left continually claims that Christians, for example, are not Christ-like because they do not support leftist compassion programs. That is, if you're opposed to anti-poverty programs, you hate the poor.)

Indeed, the discussion about solutions to most social problems are too often sidetracked by stories of beneficent billionaires and their charitable deeds. Lost in a fog of generosity is the recognition that philanthropy is not a substitute for a fair and progressive tax system and robust public investments in poverty alleviation, infrastructure, economic opportunity, and social protection. (This is an astonishing claim. First, it is the tax system that substituted itself for charity, not the other way around. Government inserted itself and made itself the agent of compassion. 

Second, there is no comparison at all between people giving voluntarily to the recipients of their own choosing versus the government extracting money from people via coercion. The free choices of individuals determining for themselves where to spend or give their money is not a matter for government.

Third, the author biases the comparison by giving glowing descriptors to taxation, like "fair," "robust," "opportunity," and "protection." This is particularly egregious, since government programs are none of these, while charity is much more efficient and notably effective in achieving its goals.)

Retiring Congressman Duffy to rely on pre-existing condition protections he voted to repeal - JOSH ISRAEL

Found here. My comments in bold.
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Like many leftist causes, this issue of pre-existing conditions is based on a false understanding. We once thought that such misunderstandings were accidental or inadvertent. However, we see increasing evidence that this is actually purposeful deception, in order to advance an agenda.

This seems to be the case with today's article.
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Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI) announced on Monday that he will soon resign his House seat, citing family reasons. He and his wife, Fox News contributor Rachel Campos-Duffy, said their soon-to-be born ninth child will require heart surgery soon after her birth.

On Tuesday, Duffy explained that he had made sure the child will have access to health insurance despite her pre-existing conditions. (The child does not have a "pre"-existing condition. A pre-existing condition is a status that can only exist if one has a condition, but does not have coverage. 

If the person in question has insurance, then it is an existing condition, that is, a health issue is present and the person has coverage. "Pre" means a health issue "pre" coverage.)

It is laudable that the Duffy family is preparing to provide as much care as possible for a child with serious medical challenges. But as a congressman, Duffy voted to take away those same important protections for others with pre-existing conditions — directly contradicting his own campaign promises. (We don't know this is true, especially since it's a leftist stating it. We are unable to trust the honesty of leftists.)

Jesus Culture New Hit Calls the Lord an Uncontrollable, Voracious, Wolfish and Greedy God - by Rev. Anthony Wade

Found here. My comments in bold.
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We are surprised to find a point of agreement with the author. He tends to have a bit of trouble focusing, so we have deleted long passages that are unrelated to the matter at hand.

In addition, the author has in the past engaged in some incendiary rhetoric, a fault that continues below. But he is correct about this song, in our view.
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Audio link.

From time to time we run across worship songs that frankly cause us to pause. It isn't our intent to berate the songwriter or to throw charges of heresy around, but simply to apply analysis.

We would like to articulate our criteria for examining worship songs, which is something we would have thought the author might have taken the time to do.

• A worship song is an expression to God, and best addresses Him in the first person. There are some perfectly acceptable songs that address the people, that is, refer to God in the Third Person voice ("How great is our God, sing with me..."). While they might contain elements of worship, are generally not considered worship songs. Related faults: God/Jesus not mentioned.

• A worship song generally does not tell God what we will do. Songs about our commitment to Him or our statements about our intentions (Jesus, lover of my soul; Jesus, I'll never let you go...) are generally not worship songs.

• A worship song is doctrinally sound. It doesn't have to be a doctrinal treatise, but it cannot contain heresy. Related faults: vague theology, no theology.

• A worship song is better if it's not excessively metaphorical. (Like a tidal wave, crashing over me, rushing in to meet me here, Your love is fierce! Like a hurricane, that I can't escape, tearing through the atmosphere, Your love is fierce.) Related faults: flowery metaphor, contradictory metaphor, thematically unconnected or no theme.

• A worship song is better if it's not excessively repetitive. (There is power in the name of Jesus, there is power in the name of Jesus, there is power in the name of Jesus, to break every chain, break every chain, break every chain.)

• Facilitates congregational singing. Songs with a wide range are not singable.

• Jesus is not your boyfriend. (I wanna sit at your feet Drink from the cup in your hand. Lay back against you and breath, feel your heart beat This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand. I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming...)

• A worship song is not focused on self. (We're the forgiven, singing redemption's song, There's a fire that burns inside, A fire that burns inside, Nothing can stop us, We'll be running through the night, With a fire that burns inside, A fire that burns inside.

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A More Sure Word of Prophecy - by John MacArthur

Found here. My comments in bold.
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(Dr. MacArthur starts with a premise he never documents, and extrapolates on that to absurd levels. This is truly an astonishing article.)
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In the lead-up to the Truth Matters conference in October, we will be focusing our attention on the sufficiency, authority, and clarity of Scripture. One of our previous blog series, Looking for Truth in All the Wrong Places, strongly emphasizes those doctrines. The following entry from that series originally appeared on June 26, 2017. -ed.

Go with your gut.

That might be good advice when shopping for shoes online, but it’s not a reliable means for interpreting or understanding God’s Word. Too many people in the church today trust the inclinations of the upper abdomen to be the final arbiter that determines both when God is speaking and what He is saying. (A preposterous and undocumented claim.)

As we saw last time, (We evaluated that article here.)

that is a dangerous approach—one that will likely lead to spiritual confusion and chaos. (Dr. MacArthur constructs a straw man and deems it dangerous. Hmm.)

If we turn our faith into an entirely subjective exercise, ("Entirely?" Who does this?)

we’re left with no reliable way to determine what is actually true. (Well of course. If something is "entirely subjective" there is no way to evaluate it. This is a tautology. And it remains to be documented that anyone is actually "entirely subjective.")

THREE WAYS THE PROSPERITY GOSPEL HAS INFECTED OUR CHURCHES by Stephen Kneale

Found here. My comments in bold.

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The Doctrinal Police seem to be obsessed with looking for bogeymen under every rock. They have caused large parts of the Church to become suspicious, hair-splitting, doctrinal exclusionists. They insist on absolute doctrinal conformity. Miss a small point and you're a heretic. Use the wrong word and you're branded an apostate.

We believe there should be room in the Church for any who have been saved and call upon the name of the Lord. 

This isn't to say that we accept any and all no matter what they believe. Rather, those who are our brothers and sisters should be honored and prayed for, not bludgeoned and left by the side of the road.

If the author simply made his points apart from blaming things on the prosperity gospel, well, we might tend to agree with him at points. But the issues of our prayer lives, our service, and our worship, can be fully dealt with via encouragement, instruction, and exhortation.

In addition, the author never quotes a single Scripture. We can only conclude that either there isn't a biblical case to be made, or that these points are nothing more than the author's ax to grind.

Finally, we note that every issue the author chronicles pre-dates the prosperity gospel by centuries.

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Cessationism - Episode 11 - What about Impressions?

Our next Episode in the cessationism series.

Additional Episodes:

• Episode 1, the Perfect.
• Episode 2, the apostles.
• Episode 3, prophecy.
• Episode 4, the closed canon.
• Episode 5, extra biblical reasons.
• Episode 6, only the apostles had all truth.
• Episode 7, there were only limited periods of miracles.
• Episode 8, tongues.
• Episode 9, the work of the Holy Spirit.
• Episode 10, does God speak only through the Scriptures?
• Episode 11, what about impressions?
• Episode 12, what is discernment? 
• Episode 13, the sufficiency of Scripture.
• Episode 14, Was the purpose of miracles restricted to the authentication of the apostles?
• Episode 15, Is revival excluded because of apostasy?
• Episode 16, is prophecy subjective?
• Episode 17, Could only the apostles confer miraculous powers or gifts?
• Episode 18, are charismatics functional cessationists?

Our criteria for the cessationism debate is that the argument must

1. be from the Bible
2. Not appeal to contemporary expressions of charismata
3. Not appeal to silence
4. Not appeal to events or practices of history

That is, any defense of cessationism must be Sola Scriptura.
---------------------

The Removing of the Lampstand - When and How, The Apostasy - By Let Us Reason

Found here. My comments in bold.
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There is a small bit of good material here, interspersed with quite a lot of questionable, rambling commentary. We don't think there's enough value here to analyze everything, so we will jump in when appropriate.

The author writes thousands of words about a 200 word letter to the Laodicean church. Most of his presentation it is not connected to that letter and is little more than mere speculation.
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Beg God to Move Again: Seven Marks of True Revival - by Ajith Fernando

Found here. This expresses my heart so well.

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Revival means many things to many people. I mean it to describe a situation where large numbers of people are fired up to seek God fully, yearn for obedience, confess sin in their life, and experience the joy and freedom of walking with God.

History shows us that there is no exact prescription for revival. It is an act of the sovereign God, and we can’t dictate what he should do and when he should do it. I have been praying for revival in Sri Lanka since 1975. Only once, while attending a conference, have I seen something close to revival. But I continue to pray that, in my lifetime or after, the Lord would send his showers of blessing upon our people through revival.

Seven Marks of Revival

While we cannot dictate to God what he will do, history shows us that there are some things that happen before and when revival comes that are worth noting.

1. Faithful Preaching

As all the revivals in the history of the church show, the preaching of God’s word is a key ingredient. The Holy Spirit often lights the flames of revival when pastors systematically and faithfully preach the word. Often, pre-revival preaching is characterized by a call to total commitment to God, repentance, and the extolling of the beauty of holiness.

2. Unceasing Prayer

The great historian of revival J. Edwin Orr has made famous the statement, “No great spiritual awakening has begun anywhere in the world apart from united prayer — Christians persistently praying for revival.” This is what the disciples of Christ did before the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 1:14). People with a burden recognize others with a similar burden, so they join in and pray. Many of the great revivals were preceded by united, persevering prayer by people who shared a similar burden for revival.

3. Precious Unity

Unity is often the trigger for revival, and sometimes the result of revival. Once, when Ugandan Bishop Festo Kivengere was preaching in South India, his interpreter, Samuel Ganesh, felt convicted of the need to make peace with a person in the audience. He took leave from the preacher, went to the audience, and made peace. This triggered a process of person after person making peace with each other. Revival had come; there was no need to complete the sermon. Bishop Festo left room for the Spirit to do his work.

The Bible speaks of the urgency of believers being united (John 17:21, 23; Ephesians 4:1–3). One of the most important callings of leaders is to yearn and pray for unity and do all they can to facilitate it. The Holy Spirit can use a leader’s yearning to trigger revival. Those who pray for revival should make sure that they have done all to be at peace with others.

4. Earnest Seeking

The famous revival prayer, “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” (Psalm 85:6) suggests a tone of earnest desire. Revival is preceded by people seeking God with all their heart and wanting to see God’s glory among his people.

My favorite example of such praying is the students at Pandita Ramabai’s school in India. The students prayed fervently, and God answered by reviving them and many others through them. The young Evan Roberts, whose ministry triggered the Welsh Revival, often prayed, “Bend me, O God.” We are open to whatever it takes for God to be totally in control of our lives!

5. Pervasive Repentance

Some so-called revivals have been characterized by exotic experiences without much emphasis on repentance. People go like tourists to such places to see what is happening. I wonder whether we could call that revival. After the revival at Asbury College and Seminary in 1971, many students came to the bookstore to return things that they had taken without paying. That is a powerful sign that they had become right with God.

Preaching against sin before the revival often contributes to revival and influences what sins are confessed. In the history of the church, there were times when some sins were neglected in revival preaching — like sexual impurity; exploitation; and race, class, and caste prejudice. This has resulted in revived churches perpetuating sins that the revival should have addressed. In other revivals, like the eighteenth century Wesleyan revival in the UK, revival helped influence social reform and attack injustice.

6. Spectacular Phenomena

The revivals associated with the Wesleys and Jonathan Edwards had people falling down with somewhat violent reactions under deep conviction of sin. We need to be open to God’s surprising works and be careful about stifling them. But we also need to remember that, after some time, these phenomena can become rituals that have lost their original meaning. Sometimes these phenomena can be taken to extremes that make them unbalanced and unbiblical.

7. Effective Evangelism

While revivals usually result in the awakening of Christians, they are also accompanied by a powerful witness to those outside the church. Unbelievers see the power of God at work in the revived Christians, and these Christians are emboldened to share their faith. The result is that large numbers of people are saved. So, effective evangelism generally accompanies genuine revival.

Surprising Beginnings

In Wales, it was a group of young people under seminary student Evan Roberts, who came home from seminary to seek God, sensing that he had lost his fire. Roberts started a prayer group that grew and grew and became a nationwide movement, resulting in about 100,000 people being converted and joining the church.

In the Hebrides Islands of Scotland, two single, housebound ladies in their eighties prayed earnestly for revival. At the same time, in another part of their island, seven young men met regularly to prevail in prayer until revival broke. In Korea in the early 1900s, God spoke to the leaders of the church and revived them first, which then led to a national awakening. In an Indian girls’ school, it was the prodding of a devout leader, Pandita Ramabai, that fired up students to prevail in prayer and trigger revival. Five university students in the United States gathered at a haystack and prayed for missions and helped give birth to the great missionary movement of that nation.

Do not lose heart, dear friends. Keep yearning for a great visitation from God. The seven young people in the Hebrides Islands made Isaiah 62:6–7 their watchword as they prayed for revival: “You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth.” Let us take no rest, and give no rest to God until he sends revival to our people.

Rick Warren Tries to Defend His Unbiblical Practice of Small Groups - by Rev. Anthony Wade

Found here. My comments in bold.

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The more we read Rev. Wade the more perplexed we become. His rhetoric is so over-the-top, his presentation is so unfocused, and his conclusions are so off-the-wall, it's amazing he has any credibility at all.

So once again he is worked up into a lather, this time over Rick Warren. Or is it home groups? Or is it Rick Warren's home group ideas? We cannot tell.

The author will make seemingly endless unsupported assertions, he will hyperventilate over inconsequential things, and he will proclaim with certainty that anyone who does anything other than what the he prescribes is a heretic.

He will conclude his diatribe with some breath-taking statements, which we believe disqualifies him as a teacher and pastor. By his own testimony we deem him a false teacher. He needs to repent.

We need to note that we do not intend to defend Rick Warren, we simply shall examine the author's statements.
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So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. -- 1Peter 5:1-4 (ESV)

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/77607-what-the-bible-teaches-about-small-groups

Let me start with the obvious. I am not against small fellowship groups. Believers should spend time with other believers. Iron should sharpen iron. It is important to realize you are on this journey with other people who share your beliefs because the world can be a cold place that can make you feel alone as a Christian. (The author will later negate all of these benefits.)

This devotional is not about small fellowship groups. (A devotional? The author intends people to study this for its spiritual benefits and wisdom? No, it's a polemic, and a bad one at that, certainly not a devotional.)

Why Eschatology Matters - By Elizabeth Prata

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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A little more than a year ago Ms. Prata wrote another article with a similar title. The premise back then was also the same, and in a similar fashion she failed to connect the study of eschatology to anything relevant to one's Christian walk.

As you read this, imagine you know absolutely nothing about end times theology. Then ask yourself if the reasons Ms. Prata gives to study the end times really justify her point. We would say no. None of her reasons are bolstered by knowing eschatology. None of her reasons are impacted at all by knowing eschatology. Every principle she gives remains in existence apart from eschatology.

And there is a paucity of Scriptural documentation for her assertions.
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I am a fervent believer in the sufficiency of and the importance of all of scripture. (We don't think that  all Scripture is equally important. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful... [2Ti. 3:16] "God-breathed" and "Useful" does not mean all Scripture is equally important. 

In fact, no Christian reads the Bible in a way that puts equal importance on every part. No theologian makes the case for the equal importance of every passage to the others. No one approaches the Bibles this way. We all have favorite books or verses. We all admit that certain parts of the OT aren't terribly relevant. We all find varying degrees of relevance and power all throughout the Bible.)

Around a quarter to a third of all scripture deals with last things, known as the study of Eschatology. That's a lot. (The amount of Scripture on a topic does not indicate importance.)

I am also a believer in the clarity of the Word. This is known as the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture.

In other words, God didn't set down His clear revelations to us throughout the Bible only to purposely muddy Last Things. It's ALL clear, if one studies hard and remains submitted to the illumination of the Spirit. Eschatology can be understood, if not 100% just like any other doctrine, at least with a high degree of confidence, just like any other doctrine. (The author clearly does not understand the doctrine of Perspicuity:

So, what does this doctrine not mean, and what does it mean?

First, perspicuity does not mean that all of Scripture is equally clear as to its precise meaning... 

Second, the doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture does not mean that the teaching of Scripture is everywhere equally simple. There is a difference between clarity and simplicity... 

Third, perspicuity does not mean that interpretation, explanation, and exposition by a Bible teacher are never necessary...

There are a variety of views on the eschatology of the Bible, and its study can be profitable. However, the end times as a doctrine is not automatically high importance simply by being in the Bible.)

APOSTLES AND PROPHETS TODAY - Let us Reason Ministries (part 2)

Found here. Part one is here.
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Having taken on the gargantuan task of responding to the first part of the author's article, we now attempt to gather up the strength to deal with the second half.

As we previously mentioned, this is a long and inelegantly constructed article, with muddled prose and many unsupported assertions and undeveloped ideas. The author rarely quotes Scripture, which is a typical, though perplexing tendency in the defenses of cessationism we have read.

Many of the points presented have been dealt with at length elsewhere in our blog, so for those we will simply provide links. Our article on prophecy, and another on prophecy and the closed canon, address most of the author's points below.

Our criteria for the cessationism debate is that the argument must

1. be from the Bible
2. Not appeal to contemporary expressions of charismata
3. Not appeal to silence
4. Not appeal to events or practices of history

That is, any defense of cessationism must be Sola Scriptura.
--------------------

APOSTLES AND PROPHETS TODAY - Let us Reason Ministries (part 1)

Found here. Part 2 is here. My comments in bold.
-----------------

This is a long and inelegantly constructed article, with muddled prose and many unsupported assertions and undeveloped ideas. The author rarely quotes Scripture, which is a typical, though perplexing tendency in the defenses of cessationism we have read.

Many of the points presented have been dealt with at length elsewhere in our blog, so for those we will simply provide links. Our article on the apostles in particular addresses most of these points.

Our criteria for the cessationism debate is that the argument must

1. be from the Bible
2. Not appeal to contemporary expressions of charismata
3. Not appeal to silence
4. Not appeal to events or practices of history

That is, any defense of cessationism must be Sola Scriptura.
------------------

There are those who claim to be apostles and prophets by their own word. Others claim it by showing their signs, wonders and miracles. This so-called signs and wonders movement is part of an effort to restore what they understood to be the five-fold ministry described in Ephesians 4:11. The proliferators of the movement claim that these dynamics are what is necessary for the church to have power. In actuality, those who lay claim to this ministry today are operating under a misunderstanding of apostles and prophets of the Bible. (Appeals to contemporary expressions.)

The Lord confirmed His signs to the apostles' words to show a transition of authority from Israel and its priesthood to the apostles who were laying down the foundation for the church, a new entity. This unique anointing testified to Israel and to the gentiles a new order of leadership, the demonstration of spiritual authority was transferred to the church Christ body. (We hope the author demonstrates these undocumented assertions.)

Becoming aware of what the Bible says about these positions in the early church can help us guard against misleading teachings in the church today.

Validated by signs and miracles, the apostles deemed the faith for the whole Church and established the written word by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Once the scriptures were completed, the Church had all that was necessary in the area of revelational truth. (More undocumented assertions.)

The apostles' instructions were in words, then put to paper for all succeeding generations on how to live in obedience to the faith.

Once a foundation is laid down and a house is built, we don't rebuild the foundation.(Eph.2:20) Neither should we rip apart the house that the Lord has built.

A true apostle would point out the false ones. (More undocumented assertions.)

Yet today, not only do those who claim to be apostles fail to do so, but there are threats and manipulations for those who do not go along with what they are trying to portray. 'Jezebel,' 'Antichrist,' and 'Blasphemer of the Holy Spirit' are common terms used for those who speak against them.

Alarmingly, these impostor’s (sic) claim to be exclusively without error in their interpretations and teachings on these matters. They are to be questioned by no one. (The author continues to assert things as if they were self-evident.)

In reading the letter of Jude, we find him exhorting the believers to contend for their faith among apostates in the church. More specifically, verse 17 reminds the church of the apostles' warnings of mockers coming in the last days that are natural men not having the Spirit. Today we find those who claim to have more of it than others. (What is this "it?" The Holy Spirit is not an "it.")

Nowhere do we find the apostles preaching they are anointed (This is false. 

2Co. 1:21-22 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

"Anointed" is χρίω (chrió), which means to anoint by rubbing or pouring olive oil on someone to represent the flow (empowering) of the Holy Spirit. Anointing (literally) involved rubbing olive oil on the head, etc., especially to present someone as divinely-authorized (appointed by God) to serve as prophet, priest or king... Essentially, chosen. Which ironically is exactly what the author will assert later as being a unique characteristic of the twelve apostles.

And, we wonder what the point is about the apostles claiming or not claiming to be "anointed." To what is this relevant?)

and certainly did not imply they were more so than others.

Ac. 9:15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 

2Co. 12:11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles”, even though I am nothing.

Though the author doesn't want the apostles to be important at this point, later he will make a claim of superiority about the Twelve.)

The Case for a Coercive Green New Deal - by John Feffer

Found here. My comments in bold.
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This is a long, obtuse, and disturbing article, advocating for what would be a ruthless dictatorship never before seen on the planet. 

We would question the imperative the author asserts. What is the basis for the author's prescriptions? Is it moral? Political? Philosophical? He assigns value to some things, while impeaching others. But he never explains why we should agree with these valuations or why they are desirable or a justifiable trade-off.

For the author, climate change is The Problem To Be Solved At All Costs. The ends justify the means. Any means. In fact, the author implicitly or explicitly justifies the curtailing of human and political rights, the possibility of executing the weak, elderly, or sick, the rationing of food and other resources, and forced labor. 

The road to utopia is a bumpy one.
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Examining Discernment in Worship - by Rev. Anthony Wade

Found here. My comments in bold.
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But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things." Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am he." -- John 4: 23-26 (ESV)

As a discernment minister (There is no such thing in Scripture.)

I spend a great deal of time researching and reacting to the latest whims and waves of doctrine that can shipwreck the faith of my brothers and sisters or those who otherwise might encounter the real God. (That is, he spends inordinate amounts of time looking for people who aren't toeing his doctrinal line.)

I have several websites I monitor daily who hold great sway over the minds of the sheep and who are leading them down the broad path that can only lead to their destruction. Nothing brings me more joy than the occasional email from someone I do not know, who has come out from the darkness or sometimes cult like experience and into the glorious light of salvation and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Every now and again though, the Lord reminds me of an area I am overlooking. (This surely will be that he is overlooking something in his "discernment ministry," not a personal conviction regarding something lacking in his own spiritual walk...)

This past week I was visiting a church, where I had promised to meet some old friends. The main worship set consisted of two songs from Elevation Church and one from Jesus Culture. (No mention of which songs.)

The conviction from the Holy Spirit was thick that night. (Conviction that the author's heart is not right regarding his treatment of doctrinal opponents? Probably not...)

We just do not give proper consideration to the theology and topic of worship. There is no reason for this beloved as we spend more time worshipping collectively than listening to doctrinal sermons. (Given the above quoted Scripture, which says the Father is seeking such people to worship him..., one might conclude that spending time worshiping Him is of paramount importance.)

The average sermonette in a purpose driven church is probably about 20 minutes. The time spent worshipping God well exceeds that as that is the more entertaining portion for the goats the service is marketed to. (It's this kind of scorch-earth rhetoric that offends us. The author cannot know these things, but he's happy to pass judgment on them without any evidence at all. This is a surprisingly common attitude of so-called "discernment ministers.")