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
--------------
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
------------------
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
Monday, March 25, 2024
Was Jesus in the Grave for Three Days? - by Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer
Friday, March 22, 2024
For every player who credits God for the win, a player from the opposing team can logically blame God for the loss
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
How to Read the Pastoral Epistles - by William Barcley
Monday, March 18, 2024
Can Baptists believe in infant regeneration? Of course! But what is the state of infants? - by Steve Kneale
Interpreting doctrines through Calvinism creates many complicating factors that need to be explained, accounted for, worked around, and speculated upon.
Friday, March 15, 2024
Sad Pastor vs. Joyful Pastor - By Elizabeth Prata
1Pe. 5:1-2 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve...
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
The most troubling aspect of today’s Supreme Court decision - by Robert Reich
Monday, March 11, 2024
Does God impute righteousness to us?
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.
Thursday, March 7, 2024
THE GREAT MYTHS 14: “THE INQUISITION” – MYTHS AND HISTORY - by Tim O'Neill
Found here. An important article.
--------
Along with “the Witch Craze” and “the Crusades”, the violence and oppression of “the Inquisition” is part of a triumvirate of historical atrocities that is usually invoked by anti-theists as proof of the wickedness of Christianity in particular and religion in general. “Everyone knows” these things were evil, even though what most people know about each of these things is largely wrong. This is perhaps most the case with “the Inquisition”; given that there was never a single institution by that name and most people’s conception of inquisitions are cartoonish clichés based on popular media which are in turn based on centuries of deliberate distortion and propaganda. By modern standards, the various historical inquisitions were certainly oppressive, often deadly, and their aims and many of their methods are, to us, repugnant. But anti-religious polemicists tend to be largely uninterested in the facts of this complex historical subject, relying entirely on their own inadequate conception of “the Inquisition” and basing arguments on these erroneous ideas.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Does the Doctrine of Limited Atonement Undermine Evangelism? - by R.C. Sproul
It is refreshing that a Bible teacher actually quotes some Scripture. But if Dr. Sproul quoted them to prove his doctrine, these Scriptures do not do that.
-------------------
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
The Doctrine of Imputation - AN ESSAY BY J. V. Fesko
We think the author complicates and confuses simple concepts. Jesus' death on the cross was sacrificial, not something akin to a financial or legal transaction. There was no exchange, there was spilled blood, the agent of forgiven sin:
He. 9:22 ...without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.
Monday, March 4, 2024
1967 Pontiac Lemans budget build - episode fourteen, panel prep and block and prime - final update, 4/8/24
Episode one, introduction.
Episode two, trunk panel install part one.
Episode three, trunk panel install part two.
Episode four, door rust repair.
Episode five, tail light panel and rear crossmember.
Episode six, passenger quarter panel.
Episode seven, driver's quarter panel.
Episode eleven, radiator core support and miscellaneous rust repair.
Episode twelve, trunk repair and more miscellaneous rust repair.
Episode thirteen, fender and inner fender repair.
Episode fourteen, panel prep and block and prime.
This is our last official episode, having achieved our one year goal of fixing the rust, doing the bodywork, and priming the car. The car was listed on Faceborg marketplace on April 1st, and the new owner picked it up this morning, April 8th.
This last episode will cover the panel prep for block and prime. This is another big task, where all the gaps need to be checked and aligned, the door jambs, trunk jambs, the cowls and other untouched surfaces need to be sanded to accept primer, and the surface rust and degraded original paint must be sanded out.
But before I get to all this it's time for a pre-primer review of where we came from.
Did Tongues Cease or Not? - by Phil Johnson
This frustrating article is just short of 4000 words, yet the author manages to quote only three actual full Bible verses, none of which bolster any of the author's central claims.
Friday, March 1, 2024
Bad worship songs - Beautiful Exchange - Hillsong Worship
With the great volume and variety of worship music available, none of us should have to settle for bad worship songs. We should be able to select hundreds or even thousands of top notch songs very easily.
We should note that our title is about worship songs. A bad worship song can be a good song. What makes a song a good worship song? Is it enough to contain words like God or holy? How about vaguely spiritual sounding phrases? Should Jesus be mentioned? We think an excellent worship song should contain as many as possible of the following elements:
- A direct expression of adoration (God, you are...)
- A progression of ideas that culminates in a coherent story
- A focus on God, not us
- A certain amount of profundity
- A singable, interesting melody
- Doctrinal soundness
- Further, a worship song should not:
- contain lyrics that create uncertainty or cause confusion
- be excessively metaphorical
- be excessively repetitive
- imply that Jesus is your boyfriend
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Francis Chan Says God Wants Roman Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox All at the Same Communion Table - by Publisher
The doctrinal Police are at it again. The unnamed "Publisher" has an opinion about a statement made by Francis Chan about communion. Now, we don't wish to defend the unbiblical doctrines of various sects, nor do we intend to defend Mr. Chan, but we also don't want to dismiss millions of professing Christians (it's not within anyone's ability to know the eternal status of anyone) as far as who is eligible to receive communion.
Ac. 2:46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts...
1Co. 11:18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
The Emerging Republican Theocracy - White Christian nationalism is the creed of red America - by ROBERT REICH
Monday, February 26, 2024
WHAT DO WE DO WITH DREAMS AND VISIONS? - by Lovesickscribe
Ac. 2:16-21 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." [Joel 2:28-32]
Friday, February 23, 2024
Joyce Meyer Says Christians Should Never Feel Guilt for Sinning - by Staff Writer
Excerpted from here. Our comments in bold.
----------------------
Now, we have no intention of defending Joyce Meyer, but we shall examine the claim made by "staff writer" in light of what the Bible says. It's but a single sentence of commentary regarding this supposedly egregious explanation made by Ms. Meyer.
We begin our excerpt at the point in the article where "staff writer" actually turns to address the subject matter.
We shall comment at the end.
----------------------
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Why You Can’t Get to Heaven through the Mormon Faith - by Eric Davis
We fully agree with the author's assessment of the various errant LDS doctrines. But his whole presentation is predicated on the idea that what a person believes has something to do with them getting saved. Or, good doctrine is required to be saved.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
What Happened To The Asbury Revival? - SAMUEL SEY
This is basically a "see I told you so" article where the author feels vindicated that the Asbury revival didn't do what he thinks revivals should do. Rather than operate in faith and pray the the Holy Spirit causes people to get saved or Christians to bear fruit, the author celebrates being a nay-sayer.
Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Bad worship songs: Man of Sorrows - Hillsongs, Crocker, Ligertwood
With the great volume and variety of worship music available, none of us should have to settle for bad worship songs. We should be able to select hundreds or even thousands of top notch songs very easily.
We should note that our title is about worship songs. A bad worship song can be a good song. What makes a song a good worship song? Is it enough to contain words like God or holy? How about vaguely spiritual sounding phrases? Should Jesus be mentioned? We think an excellent worship song should contain as many as possible of the following elements:
- A direct expression of adoration (God, you are...)
- A progression of ideas that culminates in a coherent story
- A focus on God, not us
- A certain amount of profundity
- A singable, interesting melody
- Doctrinal soundness
- Further, a worship song should not:
- contain lyrics that create uncertainty or cause confusion
- be excessively metaphorical
- be excessively repetitive
- imply that Jesus is your boyfriend
Audio link.
-------------------
Friday, February 16, 2024
Is there generational sin/curses? - rethink
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, February 14, 2024
God Told Me: The Pentecostalization of Evangelical Theology - by SCOTT ANIOL
The author makes some astonishing claims as he presumes his premises. Problem is, one must accept these undocumented premises in order for any of this to make sense. It's a logical and Scriptural nightmare.
2Pe. 1:16-21 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Monday, February 12, 2024
Ed Stetzer’s Super Bowl He Gets Us Commercial is the Most Blasphemous One Yet, Depicts Jesus as Affirming of Homosexuality and Abortion - by Publisher
-----------------
Friday, February 9, 2024
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED-THE LOVESICK SCRIBE
2Pe. 1:16-19 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Hoax List - John C. Wright
Found here.
------------
I have maintained a list under the tag “Not Tired of Winning Yet” showing the various campaign promises by Trump made and kept. But I did not keep a list of the various lies, hoaxes, prevarications and gaslighting absurdities perpetrated by the mainstream Project Mockingbird assets known as the Fake News, but by the Men of the West called The Mouth of Sauron.
Fortunately, John Nolte of Breitbart has done my work for me:
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
What Does It Mean to Be Chosen in Christ? - By Jonathan Landry Cruse
The author is writing about the Calvinistic idea that there is a select group of people (the elect), whom God long ago chose to be saved. This is one of the five points of Calvinism, a rough summary known as TULIP:
T - Total Depravity
U - Unconditional Election
L - Limited Atonement
I - Irresistible Grace
P - Perseverance of the Saints
The "U," Unconditional Election, is also known as predestination.
Monday, February 5, 2024
The Mailbag: Potpourri (...Women giving pro-life talks in church) - Michelle Lesley
1Ti. 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
2Ti. 4:2 Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.
Mt. 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
2Ti. 4:5 ...do the work of an evangelist...
1Ti. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
Friday, February 2, 2024
Is Music Worship? - John MacArthur
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Leadership in the Church - by R.C. Sproul
Dr. Sproul completely misrepresents Paul's statement in the subject passage, 1 Corinthians 2:1–5. The word "minister" is diakonos, servant. Servanthood in the Kingdom is certainly in view in this word, but Dr. Sproul is not referring to general servanthood. He's talking about church leaders like pastors.
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Bad worship songs: Praise (feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore) | Elevation Worship
With the great volume and variety of worship music available, none of us should have to settle for bad worship songs. We should be able to select hundreds or even thousands of top notch songs very easily.
What makes a song a good worship song? Is it enough to contain words like God or holy? How about vaguely spiritual sounding phrases? Should Jesus be mentioned? We think an excellent worship song should contain as many as possible of the following elements:
- A direct expression of adoration (God, you are...)
- A progression of ideas that culminates in a coherent story
- A focus on God, not us
- A certain amount of profundity
- A singable, interesting melody
- Doctrinal soundness
- Further, a worship song should not:
- contain lyrics that create uncertainty or cause confusion
- be excessively metaphorical
- be excessively repetitive
- imply that Jesus is your boyfriend
Video link.
Monday, January 29, 2024
Is God's wrath appeased or transferred?
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.
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.
Social Security is not insurance: Faceborg conversation
Me: Not insurance.
Friday, January 26, 2024
The Doctrine of Original Sin and the Wrath of God - by Mike Ratliff
Thursday, January 25, 2024
The Lord’s Supper is Not a Pot Luck - by Ryan Higginbottom
We would hope the author demonstrate his premise from the Bible but he doesn't. In fact, he only manages to quote one Scripture, though a relevant one.
The NT does not contain a solemn communion ceremony, or in fact, any ceremony at all. Communion was a meal, with the whole church participating in fellowship.
The first mention of a meal after Pentecost is
Ac. 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
This is a critical understanding, that communion is a representation of the body as one entity. It is with this understanding that we approach the author's quoted passage regarding the practice of communion and what our obligations are:
1Co. 11:20-30 When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? Certainly not!Notice that this was a full blown meal, deemed "the Lord's Supper" (the author's quote omits this verse) ".Supper" is deipnon (δεῖπνον, ου, τό) From the same as dapane; dinner, i.e. The chief meal (usually in the evening) -- feast, supper. Clearly they were not just introspectively eating a little cracker and a tasting a bit of grape juice while sitting in a church building. The early church was eating together. It wasn't a sacrament, it was a time of regular fellowship together with a meal.
And we find out that the Corinthian church was in fact despising the Body (Jesus' sacrifice, and by extension, the Church body) by neglecting those who were there, and by getting drunk.
Next we read:
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”Paul was directly telling the Corinthian church what the elements mean. His Body, the church, was to remember the great sacrifice Jesus gave at the cross.
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord."Whenever." Every time we eat together we must proclaim His death. Every time we eat together it is communion. Every time we eat together we must consider His body and blood.
28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.
If we don't recognize the Body we eat and drink judgment upon ourselves. If we eat and exclude, diminish, or dishonor our brothers and sisters, we tear down the Body. It isn't about considering the state of our own souls in relation to unconfessed sin, it instead is about our regard for the Church and Jesus' sacrifice, as well as our care and honor for the Body!
It seems clear that communion is more accurately represented by the church potluck than by the little cracker and splash of grape juice during a solemn church service. Communion speaks of a much higher purpose for the church than is currently practiced, a togetherness and unity of vision and purpose that far exceeds the ritual.
Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Summary 2020 Presidential Election Fraud - By John C Wright
As best I know, no point-by-point rebuttal, answer, or explanation exists for these allegations.
The endnotes are extensive, and I hope were transferred here accurately. If not, please tell me.
Summary of Election Fraud in the 2020 Presidential Election in the Swing States
“Out of fraud no action arises.”
Georgia
Wisconsin
Pennsylvania
Arizona
Michigan
Introduction
It has often been repeated there is “no evidence” of fraud in the 2020 Election. In actuality, there is no evidence Joe Biden won.
Ongoing investigations in the Swing States reveal hundreds of thousands of votes were altered and/or not lawfully cast in the Presidential Election. Joe Biden needed them. On Election Night Nov. 3, 2020, President Donald J. Trump was sailing to reelection with landslide leads in numerous battlegrounds.
Monday, January 22, 2024
REVIEW – ALEC RYRIE “UNBELIEVERS: AN EMOTIONAL HISTORY OF DOUBT” - by Tim O'Neill
Alec Ryrie, Unbelievers – An Emotional History of Doubt (William Collins, 2019) 262 pp.
We unbelievers are often mentioned in passing in histories of religion, but there are only a few works of history that focus on those of us who reject religion or who never held religious beliefs at all. This one is by a scholar who is a Christian, but one who strives to give a balanced and nuanced view of how various modern Western strains of unbelief arose and where they came from. Unusually, Ryrie focuses on the emotional rather than the rational roots of modern unbelief and the result is an interesting analysis that leads to some surprising people and insightful conclusions.
Friday, January 19, 2024
Bad worship songs: Gratitude - Brandon Lake
With the great volume and variety of worship music available, none of us should have to settle for bad worship songs. We should be able to select hundreds or even thousands of top notch songs very easily.
What makes a song a good worship song? Is it enough to contain words like God or holy? How about vaguely spiritual sounding phrases? Should Jesus be mentioned? We think an excellent worship song should contain as many as possible of the following elements:
- A direct expression of adoration (God, you are...)
- A progression of ideas that culminates in a coherent story
- A focus on God, not us
- A certain amount of profundity
- A singable, interesting melody
- Scripture quotes or coherent allusions to Scripture
- Doctrinal soundness
- contain lyrics that create uncertainty or cause confusion
- be excessively metaphorical
- be excessively repetitive
- imply that Jesus is your boyfriend
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Why the hell is Trump rising in the polls? (Why American capitalism is so rotten, Part 6) The real choice ahead - by ROBERT REICH
--------------
Dr. Reich has no idea why Trump is polling better than Biden. He cannot fathom it. Or, he does know but would rather keep to The Narrative, that is, the leftist talking points promulgated throughout the media every day.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
We're All Muzzled Oxen Now. On pastoral salaries and the bigger picture - by RHYS LAVERTY
Almost 3700 words, and only two quoted (and misused) Scriptures. We deleted large irrelevant sections in order to distill the author down to his reasoning regarding pastoral pay.
Monday, January 15, 2024
Why Is the Lord’s Supper a Means of Grace? Jonty Rhodes
--------------
We previously reviewed other "means of grace" articles ("Why preaching is a means of grace") ("Why is prayer a means of grace?") from the same website. In each case the explanations seem to make things more complicated.
- Communion is an aide to remind us of Jesus' death
- Communion is a spiritual feeding
1967 Pontiac Lemans budget build - episode thirteen, fender and inner fender repair - updated 3/18/24
Episode one, introduction.
Episode two, trunk panel install part one.
Episode three, trunk panel install part two.
Episode four, door rust repair.
Episode five, tail light panel and rear crossmember.
Episode six, passenger quarter panel.
Episode seven, driver's quarter panel.
Episode eleven, radiator core support and miscellaneous rust repair.
Episode twelve, trunk repair and more miscellaneous rust repair.
Episode thirteen, fender and inner fender repair.
Episode fourteen, panel prep and block and prime.