Doctrine: a word of Latin origin meaning a teaching, or collectively, a set of teachings. Pure Christian doctrine then is a set of teachings whose sole source is the Bible. In accepting the Bible is the Word of God, this means that its teachings come from our Creator, who has a full understanding of the … Continue reading Pure doctrine
Faith and life
Confused churches
Louis Riel, the 19th century Métis leader, was troubled by the things he experienced from the churches of his day. He read in the Bible about a Church of Jesus Christ that was characterized by love and peace. What he saw in both the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches was oppression and pride. The churches … Continue reading Confused churches
The presence of God
The funeral was in the church that was the city's most famous landmark. Inside, there were vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows on each side and tiered rows of seating. The music from the Casavant Frères organ that filled the east wall, its largest pipes stretching from floor to ceiling, completed the atmosphere of reverence. The … Continue reading The presence of God
Antichrist
The following passages are a brief summary of a writing entitled Antichrist which is at least 900 years old. It originated among the Albigensian Christians of southern France, around the time of Pierre de Bruys, and was preserved by the Waldensians. Readers who have a copy of the Martyrs Mirror will find a brief excerpt … Continue reading Antichrist
The weapons of a Christian
The whole world is in a mess. What can we do about it? The answer Jesus gives is : Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. That's counter-intuitive isn't it? Our intuitive response is to answer … Continue reading The weapons of a Christian
So Send I You
After the resurrection and before Jesus departed from this world, He told His disciples "As the Father hath sent me, so send I you" (John 20:21). Just a few simple words, so clear and plain that we are apt to miss their implication. The Father sent Jesus into the Jewish nation to teach and portray … Continue reading So Send I You
Uncomfortable truths taught by Menno
Yes, dear reader, true Christian faith as it is required in Scripture, is so living, active and strong in all those who through the grace of the Lord have rightly obtained it, that they do not hesitate to forsake father, mother, wife, children, money and possessions for the Word and testimony of the Lord; to … Continue reading Uncomfortable truths taught by Menno
The affliction of Joseph
Judah and Ephraim were the largest tribes of Israel. Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim; perhaps the Ephraimites carried from that some sense of entitlement that they should play more of a leadership role. When Jeroboam of the tribe of Ephraim rebelled against King Rehoboam, Mannasseh and all the other northern tribes followed his … Continue reading The affliction of Joseph
Practical Christianity
For the past two months my head has been occupied with number crunching to the point that there was little opportunity for wordsmithing. Income tax season officially ends tomorrow and I think I have finished anything pertaining to that for this year. Now I can try to capture and organize the thoughts that have been … Continue reading Practical Christianity
Henny Penny and her kindred
The story, as I heard it in my childhood, goes like this. Henny Penny, a rather ordinary hen, is contentedly sleeping in the warm sunshine when an acorn falls on her head. She awakens in a flap and begins squawking, "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" The other hens are alarmed and one … Continue reading Henny Penny and her kindred
Flatlander Faith 