Mountain Man Trails
I’m the enemy, ’cause I like to think; I like to read. I’m into freedom of speech and freedom of choice. I’m the kind of guy who likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder, “Gee, should I have the T-bone steak or the jumbo rack of barbecued ribs with the side order of gravy fries?” ...Why? Because I suddenly might feel the need to, okay, pal? -Edgar Friendly, character in Demolition Man (1993).
Disclaimer: Some postings contain other author's material. All such material is used here for fair use and discussion purposes.
Friday, April 26, 2024
Can I Tell an Unbeliever ‘Jesus Died for You’? - by JUSTIN DILLEHAY
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Responding to Dr. Michael Brown's Questioning of Discernment Ministers - By Anthony Wade
"Discernment" ministers don't like to be discerned. They bristle at being questioned, held to their own standards, or subject to any sort of evaluation.
- Here's a fellow who seriously wants all charismatics to die of COVID (from Protestia's predecessor "Pulpit and Pen").
- Karen Swallow, an admittedly questionable Christian, was "discerned" (by Protestia) as follows:
hideously uglypost-menopausal womanbizarre wardrobe choicesa penchant for cacklingno personal charismaa face that scares childrena voice that sounds like nails down a chalkboardpugnaciousunladylikeuglier on the inside than she is on the outsidethe personality of a Roombathe personal charisma of fetid corpseunpleasant and evil woman
- Here's a "discernment minister" (also from Protestia) who thinks it's appropriate to rank the worst Christian of the year.
- Here's one who accuses a person of committing the unforgiveable sin.
- This man feels it's within the bounds of proper discourse to call someone an imbecile (also from Protestia's predecessor "Pulpit and Pen").
- T.D. Jakes might have some problems, but here's what a Rev. Wade himself wrote about him: TD Jakes deserves no honor among bible teaching, God-fearing men. Like you, he deserves nothing but our contempt and the working end of the shepherd's rod.
- Rev. Wade also says we don't have to pray for people who are false teachers.
Monday, April 22, 2024
The Mailbag: Potpourri (Women Bible Translators… Doctrinally sound deliverance ministry… Brain fog and Bible/book reading) - by Michelle Lesley
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Ms. Lesley is back, once again parsing 1 Timothy 2:12, which she doesn't even bother to quote:
1Ti. 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
Friday, April 19, 2024
Wayback Wednesday ~ Risky Business - by Michelle Lesley
The author takes issue with what some people supposedly say about taking risks in faith. But she then concedes that walking in faith is indeed risky.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
His sheep and the doctrine of election
Our questions include, how did we arrive at our doctrines? Does the Bible really teach what we think it teaches? Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched?
It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.
Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.
We should note that we are not Bible scholars, but we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to understand the Word of God.
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Both Worm and Worthy - by TREVIN WAX
The author wrestles with the dichotomy between our prior lost status vs. our position as new creations. He thinks that God previously regarded us as the lowest of the low, but the Bible never records God saying anything like this.
1Co. 6:20 you were bought at a price.
Monday, April 15, 2024
The Battle for Grace Alone - by R.C. Sproul
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In the article Dr. Sproul discusses the difference between predestination and pelagianism, and mentions a position half way, which he calls semi-pelagianism.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
SACRED NAME OF GOD? or BLASPHEMY? - by R.H., July 2005
I genuinely appreciate that many people are attempting to take a sincere religious position by honoring a sacred name for God, like Yahweh. I think it is being done somewhat in reaction against the organized Christian churches which are nothing more than painted sepulchres. Unfortunately, most people are not aware that such "sacred?" names originated in non-Israelite pagan cultures of the Ancient Near East. There is evidence that YHWH was the name of a god worshiped by neighboring races but there is no evidence that such a name was used by true Israelites in ancient times. From the historical evidence, it appears that the Edomites have given true Israelites one more fraud which some of our people have claimed with enthusiasm, even making it central to their religion. Here are some details of the history of the word YHWH.
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Only Bad Calvinism Abandons Souls: The Story Behind a Missions Revival - by Ryan Griffith
The author offers Andrew Fuller's critique of "high Calvinism." "High Calvinism" is a doctrinal position which is simply the logical conclusion of the Calvinistic view of God's sovereignty, taken to the nth degree.
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Teen girl speaking at a conference? - By Elizabeth Prata
But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. (1 Timothy 2:12).
Since the prohibition in scripture is against women speaking during church to a congregation (and by extension in parachurch ministries/conferences) teaching men or usurping their authority by exegeting scripture, I think the teen’s talk is fine.
...it’s fairly clear that sharing thoughts or testimonies to an audience is fine.
A woman sharing knowledge, testimony, or expertise when not under ecclesiastical authority is fine. Or at church but not during the Sunday services, say, during a Saturday conference where the church becomes a venue.
...A woman or teen standing in the place where scripture is exegeted during church services, even if she’s just giving announcements, is part of that slippery slope.
Dear reader, take another look at 1 Timothy 2:12. Does the reader see any of these commands, provisos, or prohibitions in this short verse? No? Then how does Ms. Prata arrive at her endless list of rules?
Well, it's convoluted series of assumptions and false premises:
- Paul's letters to Timothy are deemed to be "pastoral." But Timothy wasn't a pastor.
- A "pastoral" letter therefore consists of instruction on how to be a pastor. But actually, this is a personal letter to Timothy containing a variety of advice, instruction, and doctrinal teaching
- Since the letter is presumed to be about how to be a pastor, it is presumed 1 Timothy 2:12 must be about Sunday morning church order. But Paul doesn't talk about church order until chapter 3. Chapter 2 is in fact general instructions about Christian conduct.
- If 1 Timothy 2:12 is about Sunday morning church order, then "woman" and "man" need to be changed to "women" and "men" in order to force 1 Timothy 2:12 into the congregational setting.
- Then, since most contemporary pastors are teachers and pastors are the boss, that makes teaching into an authority role. However, the biblical authority in the local church is not the pastor or teacher, but rather the elders (1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Peter 5:1-2)
Monday, April 8, 2024
The biggest contrast in the upcoming election (other than democracy vs. "blood in the streets" fascism) - By Robert Reich
Today Dr. Reich is more incoherent that usual. If he didn't have his bumper sticker slogans handy he would be completely unintelligible.
Friday, April 5, 2024
Why The Unbiblical IHOP 24-7 Prayer Model Has to Go - By Anthony Wade
Rev. Wade has now written in excess of 20 "devotionals" about the IHOP debacle. Astonishing. Today he writes almost 1700 words, but 1520 of them are employed to simply rehash his previous "devotionals" about IHOP. That leaves only 177 words spent actually discussing the subject.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Your Body Is Not the Temple, But THE Body Is - By Nicholas G. Piotrowski and Ryan Johnson
The authors are making a big deal out of whether or not our individual bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit or if it's the universal body of Christ. The authors want it to be a binary choice, either/or. It's not.
Monday, April 1, 2024
Why Is Good Friday Called “Good”? - by Karrie Hahn
Friday, March 29, 2024
How do Calvinists explain Satan? The illusion of free choice
Our questions include, how did we arrive at our doctrines? Does the Bible really teach what we think it teaches? Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched?
It's easy to be spoon fed the conventional wisdom, but it's an entirely separate thing to search these things out for one's self. In the past we have read the Bible with these unexamined understandings and interpreted what we read through those lenses. We were lazy about our Bible study, assuming that pastors and theologians were telling us the truth, but we rarely checked it out for ourselves.
Therefore, these Rethinks are our attempt to remedy the situation.
We should note that we are not Bible scholars, but we believe that one doesn't need to be in order to understand the Word of God.
Woman “Pastor” Claims That Names in the Bible Have Been Changed to Hide All the Female Apostles - by Publisher
The unnamed "Publisher" cannot be bothered to quote or reference the Bible. He hyperventilates about some woman making various claims, but cannot seem to tell us exactly where in the Bible she goes wrong.
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Hell to Pay: What Truly Happened to Jesus on the Cross? - By Nick Batzig
We don't intend to disrespect the author, but his article is a contender for a top ten position as the worst Bible teaching we have ever read. It has all the indicators:
- Lengthy quotes from theologians
- Lengthy quotes from pastors
- Lengthy quotes from statements of faith
- A quote from a hymn
- No Bible quotes
- No Bible verses referenced
- Cherry-picked opposition position