[First posted 10 years ago.] The Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) gradually began to downplay some of the distinctive teachings of Daniel Warner, leading some of those who believed strongly in those teachings to leave the church. In 1980, Daniel Layne left the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana) and assumed the leadership of those who … Continue reading Echoes of invention
Bible
Humanism versus humanity
[First posted in August 2013.] If anyone is wondering what is happening to our society, a little time spent reading the Humanist Manifesto of 1933 will provide considerable illumination. Here are some excerpts: Religious humanism maintains that all associations and institutions exist for the fulfillment of human life. The intelligent evaluation, transformation, control, and direction … Continue reading Humanism versus humanity
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy … Continue reading Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy
Cultural Amnesia
[First posted nine years ago.] One hundred years ago, when the Social Gospel was well on the way to infiltrating and taking control of many of the major Christian denominations of North America, my father was already 24 years old. It has lately dawned on me that because I was born when he was 50 … Continue reading Cultural Amnesia
Strange Gospel
[First posted 10 years ago.] Approximately 300 years ago there arose a line of thought in pietistic Protestantism that God’s reign would progressively manifest itself through human action cooperating with God’s action. The belief that the gospel will gradually Christianize the world, bringing a reign of peace and harmony preceding the return of Christ, is … Continue reading Strange Gospel
Wells Without Water
For the past few days most of the posts on this blog have been articles that will find a place in a book I plan to call Wells Without Water, a title taken from 2 Peter 2:17. The book arises out of a concern that many people who are converted in their youth haven’t taken … Continue reading Wells Without Water
How to read the Bible
I grew up in a home where the Bible was read every day; my father often talked bout things he read in it. We attended the Anglican Church of Canada, where every service had a reading from the Old Testament, another from the New Testament, and several other passages from the Bible were spoken in … Continue reading How to read the Bible
Baptizing with too much water
I was visiting with a Baptist pastor and somehow the conversation got around to baptism. He felt the church to which I belong did not baptize correctly because we did not immerse. I referred him to two passages in the New Testament. In 1 Peter 3, Peter speaks of the ark as an example of … Continue reading Baptizing with too much water
Are you ready for the return of the Lord?
It was back in the mid-1970s and we were visiting with a distant relative of mine and he was expounding on the premillennial teaching. He said, with considerable assurance, “I believe the Lord will return by 1990.” I pondered that for a moment then asked, “And are you ready?“ “No,” he answered. I read in … Continue reading Are you ready for the return of the Lord?
Treasure in heaven
Treasure in heaven, what is it? How does one obtain it? It is recounted in the Gospels that Jesus told the rich young man to go and tell sell what he had and give to the poor and he would have treasure in heaven. This passage appears to be a key to understanding the question … Continue reading Treasure in heaven