There were three churches in the town where I grew up. The doctrinal position of each was well understood and inflexible; none of them would have been considered evangelical. About the time I began high school, an itinerant evangelist held meetings in a rented hall and people’s hearts were sufficiently stirred that a Baptist congregation … Continue reading Where have all the doctrines gone?
baptism
True Christianity is neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic
"And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch" (Acts 11:26). Well, they had to call them something, didn't they? Some of them had once been Jews, but that label didn't really fit anymore. Others had been pagans, probably worshippers of Apollo and others of the Greek gods. That label didn't work for them anymore. … Continue reading True Christianity is neither Protestant nor Roman Catholic
Circling the wagons is not an option
The Western movies of my boyhood often contained a scene where Indians attacked a wagon train of settlers. The settlers would draw their wagons onto a circle to form a protective wall, then try to fend off the attackers with rifle fire. This would go on until the ammunition was gone and their doom appeared … Continue reading Circling the wagons is not an option
Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
To put it very briefly, homeopathy is a branch of alternative medicine that treats diseases with natural substances that are diluted well past the point where any trace of the original substance can be detected. Some call it quackery, others say that it works where other methods fail. It does have this much going for … Continue reading Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
Two or three gathered together doth not a church make
Why do people stop going to church? Could it be because so may churches are not really churches? Matthew 18:20 does not speak about Christians gathering for worship. It is a continuation of the passage beginning at verse 15 and speaks of the testimony of two or three witnesses in discipling a wayward brother. A … Continue reading Two or three gathered together doth not a church make
Eternal security or insecurity?
Evangelicals of the present day are being taught a doctrine of eternal security, but most are not aware of the dubious foundation and history of this doctrine. Here is how it all began. In 312 AD Constantine was facing a battle with a rival whose army was twice the size of Constantine's. The story goes … Continue reading Eternal security or insecurity?
The last best hope of mankind
Twenty-five years ago, as I walked the dirt streets of Plimoth, Massachusetts, Samuel Fuller fell into step beside me and began to visit. “The churchmen in England say that we have no church here because we have no ministers. A church is made up of Christian people; they don’t have a church over there. Who … Continue reading The last best hope of mankind
Can anyone join the Church of God in Christ Mennonite?
The above question was typed into a search engine and brought someone to my blog yesterday. It seems to me this is a question that merits a straightforward answer, so here goes. Perhaps the best place to start is with the questions asked at baptism. The first three questions deal with belief in the Father, … Continue reading Can anyone join the Church of God in Christ Mennonite?
Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand – conclusion
True prophets of God have always told people the things they needed to hear, not what they wanted and expected to hear. John the Baptist taught that being a natural descendant of Abraham did not qualify one to belong to the kingdom of God, only repentance that brought forth good fruit would do. The Pharisees … Continue reading Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand – conclusion
The significance of baptism
This post consists entirely of excerpts from the chapter on Baptism (pages 81 to 88) in A Third Way, by Paul M Lederach, © 1980 by Herald Press. In essence, baptism is the means through which the reborn believer commits himself or herself to a life of obedience, in the fellowship with other believers, and … Continue reading The significance of baptism
Flatlander Faith 