The first recorded separation of the Christian Church occurred in A.D. 251. Novatian, bishop at Carthage (near the location of the present day city of Tunis) in North Africa, insisted that members who had renounced Christ during the persecution of Diocletian could no longer be recognized as members of the Church of Christ. He was … Continue reading Early Church History
Bible
Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of
It seems that the internet has enabled a decline in civility in society and even among Christians. In the days before the internet, the letters to the editor column in the newspaper was one way that people could make their voice heard. The letters were generally quite civil in tone, perhaps because the newspapers required … Continue reading Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of
The Key of Knowledge
For many people, the Bible seems to be a closed book, concealing its message within layers of mystery. Many teachers and writers have claimed to unravel the mysteries of the Bible, yet the teachings they have gleaned from the Bible are so varied and contradictory that it seems it must be possible to find support … Continue reading The Key of Knowledge
The French Foreign Legion and the Church
(My wife has written about the nature of an army and you can read her posts at christineevelynvance - see link at lower right. This is a supplement to what she has written.) The Légion Étrangère was founded in 1831 as a unit of the French Army that would be open to voluntary enlistment by … Continue reading The French Foreign Legion and the Church
Does the Bible say black skin is a curse?
The short answer is no. What follows here is a very abbreviated version of the longer answer. The book of Genesis tells of curses on Cain and Canaan. In ancient Jewish folklore the curse on Cain was linked with slavery and the curse on Canaan, somehow transferred to his father Ham, with a black skin. … Continue reading Does the Bible say black skin is a curse?
English Christianity – Part 7
SO WHAT’S THE POINT? What is there to learn from this tracing of the tangled threads of church history? First, that God is able to work in wonderful and mysterious ways to bring the Gospel to people. This would accord with our Saviour’s statement in Luke 9:50 that “he that is not against us is … Continue reading English Christianity – Part 7
English Christianity – Part 5
ENGLISH MENNONITES IN HOLLAND In May of 1610 there was a conference between the Waterlanders and John Smyth’s congregation. At this time a confession of faith was drawn up and signed by those participating and it appears that the Englishmen were now accepted as part of the Mennonite church. It may be that they were … Continue reading English Christianity – Part 5
English Christianity – Part 1
PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY The exact time when the Christian faith first reached the British Isles is lost in the mists of time. Traditions that the Apostle Paul or Joseph of Arimathea first brought the Gospel to England seem somewhat dubious, but cannot be proved or disproved at this distance in time. There is evidence, though, that … Continue reading English Christianity – Part 1
The Bible is One Book
There was one more thing I needed to do before I left for Manitoba — find a Bible. I knew where there was a small stack of nearly worn out Bibles, looked through them when no one else was around, selected one that seemed the right size and stashed it in my suitcase. My employer … Continue reading The Bible is One Book
Vacation Bible School Memories
Two weeks ago it was announced in our congregation that one more Vacation Bible School teacher was needed, for the oldest class. That sounded like something I could do, so this 70-year-old grandpa spent the past week teaching Bible lessons to a group of twelve and thirteen-year-old girls (no boys in that age group came … Continue reading Vacation Bible School Memories
Flatlander Faith 