We have come to the month named after the Roman god of war. It is not difficult to understand why, as we are in for a month long battle between the increasing warmth of the sun and the lingering power of winter. Even little children know which force will eventually win this war, but there … Continue reading Warfare: meteorological and spiritual
Faith and life
Ministers, money, and Mennonites
Quote from Menno Simons: O my faithful reader, ponder this. As long as the world distributes splendid houses and such large incomes to their preachers, the false prophets and deceivers will be there by droves. I admit that this seems a little unjust when I think of preachers I have known in small towns and … Continue reading Ministers, money, and Mennonites
The many faces of antichrist
“They have brought it so far with this ungodly seduction, that they have arrogated to themselves all power in heaven, upon earth, and in hell; they therefore break the bread into three pieces. With the first, they reconcile God; with the second, they intercede for the world; and with the third, as they pretend, they … Continue reading The many faces of antichrist
Not by might, but by my Spirit
The following paragraphs are found at the end of Jonathan Goforth's book By My Spirit, first published in 1929. Jonathan Goforth was a Canadian missionary to China from 1888 to 1935. During the late Manchu dynasty, scholars were expected to know the classics of their sages off by heart. How do the scholars of so-called … Continue reading Not by might, but by my Spirit
In memory of Mauvereen
Uncle Gary is my mother’s second youngest brother, the last one still living of a family of fourteen. He will be 90 in August. My grandparents were members of a small congregation of Sommerfelder Mennonites in southwestern Saskatchewan that was somewhat isolated from other Mennonite communities. They spoke Plautdietsch and English at home; the church … Continue reading In memory of Mauvereen
Should Christians tithe?
Some Christians firmly believe that the Old Testament 10% rule is still in force for Christians today. They tell inspirational tales of someone who was struggling financially and could hardly find any spare change for the collection plate. Then they began to give 10% off the top of their income and, as if by magic, … Continue reading Should Christians tithe?
What is freedom?
This week the Canadian government announced the establishment of the Office of Religious Freedom and named Dr Andrew Bennett international Ambassador for religious freedom. Prime Minister Stephen Harper chose to make this announcement in a mosque of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam in Toronto. The Ahmadiyya movement began in India a little more than one … Continue reading What is freedom?
They that seek to be rich
The sinful woman [who anointed Jesus' feet] sought the company of the righteous; but these seek the company of the unrighteous. They visit each other to talk all manner of foolishness; to injure their neighbour's reputation; to defame and backbite; to speak disgracefully of one another, speak of costly furniture, houses, goods and handsome companions, … Continue reading They that seek to be rich
Humanism as the established religion
It appears to have began long ago with Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), the patron saint of Roman Catholic theologians. He studied Greek, Arabic and Hebrew philosophers and incorporated some of their thinking into Christian theology. His major innovation was the idea that God and truth are not solely revealed by the Bible, but that man by … Continue reading Humanism as the established religion
Idolizing truth
We make an idol of truth itself, for truth without charity is not God, but his image and an idol which we must not love or worship; still less must we worship its opposite, which is falsehood. It is false piety to preserve peace at the expense of truth; it is false zeal to preserve … Continue reading Idolizing truth
Flatlander Faith 