Posts filed under ‘emergent church’
Are Patriotism and Christianity Essentially the Same?
We cannot emphasize this enough. It is not about saving America because according to the Bible, an evil one is coming who will completely take over and rule the entire world. America might still be called “America” at that point, but it will most certainly not be the America that was founded by our founding fathers. When Jesus returns physically to this earth, do we actually believe He’s going to allow America to remain as America? In point of fact, He will set up His Millennial Kingdom over which He Himself will rule from His father David’s throne in Jerusalem. There will be nothing throughout the earth that He does not control. He will reign supreme for 1,000 years and nothing will deter His rule. There will not be a “president” of the United States and if is very possible that the U.S. won’t even exist at that point. Yet, patriots and Christians alike continue to spend endless hours fighting for a country while people die into eternity to the tune of 150,000 per day. Does this make any sense?
Continue Reading November 28, 2016 at 7:35 AM Leave a comment
Eschatology in Romans Related to Israel and the Church, Part 2
Unfortunately, in today’s religious climate, many even within Christendom see Israel as a problem rather than the source of blessing from God’s perspective. They point to the nation’s rejection of Jesus as Messiah and God’s judgment upon that nation in AD 70 by Rome. This, they believe, is when God not only judged the nation, but chose at that time to cut all ties with Israel forever. While God certainly judged, He most certainly did not cut all ties with Israel. Only through incorrect exegesis and allegorical maneuvering can God’s Word be said to teach that. The whole of the Bible does not support such an untenable position.
What Can We Expect or Hope For Now that Election is Over?
Why did God speak (through prophets) so far ahead of events to prophesy that they were coming? For two reasons. First, God wanted everyone in Israel (and oftentimes the world itself), to know that what He said would come to pass would come to pass and He would use prophets to foretell these events way before the actual events themselves so that no one could claim to have seen it coming through situations of the times. Second, because it gave plenty of time for Israel to repent, turn around, and begin seeking God’s face again.
What Does It Mean to Understand or Interpret the Bible Literally?
Let’s take the phrase that is often seen on highway signs, “Fine for littering.” Now, most people understand that to say that if a person is caught throwing garbage out of the car window (littering), they will be subject to a fine payable to the court that has jurisdiction over that area.
Continue Reading August 31, 2016 at 10:22 AM Leave a comment
Christian: Our Need to Renew Our MINDS
The problem with many Christians today (and therefore, Christendom), is that too many of us simply fail to use our God-given brains. We have become complete strangers as far as reason is concerned, as if God wants us to put our critical thinking skills on the shelf and go through life blindly using what we think is faith to determine truth. Even if things don’t make sense, we tell each other to continue on the path that will eventually lead us to understanding. Faith doesn’t determine truth. Faith accepts truth in spite of how it may seem at first. The only way to know truth is to study His Word. This is an act of worship.
Too Many Televangelist Phonies and Cronies Prove Tares Exist
Over the years, there have been many televangelists who have made a name for themselves because they have deliberately co-opted Christianity for their own benefit. Certainly, not all televangelists are guilty of this, but too many of them are and it is aggravating to say the least. I’m really not sure that the average non-Christian actually sees the difference, yet it some ways, it’s very clear that these non-Christians have far more common sense than many who call themselves Christians and get sucked up into the morass created by con artist televangelists.
It’s All About Dominionism, Kingdom Now, and the New Apostolic Reformation, Part 8
As I’ve stated before, the overall problem with human attempts to institute a “Christian theocracy” especially using Old Testament laws to do so, is that the concept of grace is gone. Beyond this, people involved in this movement are actually declaring that God is incapable of doing it Himself. Moreover, the question of who – or which group – would actually be in charge of such a system also needs to be asked. Unlike Israel of old, we do not have an “urim and thummin” as was used by the Old Testament Jewish priests. Even if we did, we have no clue how the priests determined God’s will from using it. Colossians 2:17 tells us these things were merely a shadow of the things that were found in Jesus. They are gone. North wants to bring them back.
Signs, Wonders, Tongues, and Miracles of Today, Part 1
If you look carefully at the many spiritual movements that are afoot today throughout society, they all seem to have one thing in common, in my opinion. They cause people to turn inward. Admittedly, my involvement in the Charismatic Renewal movement was because I wanted to draw closer to God and I thought that to do that, I needed to learn how to worship properly, speak in tongues, and be around other people who were more sensitive to the workings of the Holy Spirit. In the end, as I look back at that, I fully realize that I was becoming very “me” centered. I wanted the experience of knowing God because I thought that would grant me the power to witness and to live a life that pleased God and brought Him glory. In the end, it didn’t and that’s not from a lack of trying. The reality is that whatever little bit you manage to receive in that movement, it’s never good enough and you must press on for more.
It’s All About Dominionism, Kingdom Now, and the New Apostolic Reformation, Part 6
But today, people like Wallnau want us to believe that God’s 45th chapter of Isaiah references Donald Trump, but how does this tie in with Donald Trump? If the Donald is elected, he would become the 45th president of the United States (Isaiah 45 – get it?). Obviously, the two numbers mean there is a godly connection, at least to Wallnau and others who see it his way. But let’s hear it more. I’ll remind everyone that when Isaiah was originally written, no chapter or verses numerical references were given. Those were added much later by translators. By the way, never mind that Cyrus was an actual king over the Persian Empire. Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Cyrus, Darius, the Caesars – all of them were either kings or had dictatorial powers over the nations/empire they ruled. This is not the way America was founded, yet too many Christians have made the mistake of thinking that America should be a theocracy. It’s not. It never will be and the difference is lost on the people who gullibly believe the Lance Wallnau’s of this world.
Sensuality in Today’s Christian Music
In my opinion, this is what our church services are becoming and people see nothing wrong with that because of the fact that their emotions are involved in the worship experience and they fully believe that they feel the way they do as a response to the truth of God’s Word or His Presence in that service. In reality, it is the music itself (not necessarily even the lyrics) that promotes the type of swaying and/or dancing that so many churches excel at these days. Unfortunately, when people start swaying to the music, it promotes a sensuality that should not be part of the worship experience.
StudyGrowKnow 