An older brother, a minister, once suggested to me that I should write about one portion of this chapter. He didn’t tell me what I should write, but appeared to have confidence that I would be able to cut through the misinterpretations of the apostle Paul’s words that are often repeated in our day and … Continue reading An exposition of First Corinthians chapter three
deception
The following reasons are therefore the cause of our separation.
May it be known to everyone that the cause of our separation has been such; for the essential truth of faith, and the interior knowledge of a true God in three persons in a unity of essence, a knowledge that neither flesh nor blood gives; the proper worship due to God alone, the love which … Continue reading The following reasons are therefore the cause of our separation.
Things by which the iniquity of Antichrist is covered
First and foremost, this iniquity is covered by an external profession of faith. With regard to which, the Apostle says: For they confess in words that they have known God, but they deny him by their deeds. It is covered, in the second place, by the long duration of time, by scholars, by religious orders, … Continue reading Things by which the iniquity of Antichrist is covered
Time to make a decision
At least I thought we had exhausted all the possibilities in trying to find a church that still believed and lived the old Anabaptist faith. Could I have missed something? Or had I misunderstood something? If I was honest with myself, I had felt more at home in congregations of the Church of God in … Continue reading Time to make a decision
Books I didn’t like
Among the thousands of books that I've read in my lifetime there have been books that were useful and informative, books that conveyed truths that have inspired me, books that were merely interesting, books that were so uninteresting that I never finished reading them and books that were well written but quite deceptive. Here are … Continue reading Books I didn’t like
A parable about a parable
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. The words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 13:45-46 Renowned investigative reporter Ernest Digger has just returned from a trip to the Middle … Continue reading A parable about a parable
The cackle or the egg?
The cackle of a hen is a promise that she has laid an egg. But my farm boy experience taught me that sometimes the cackle was a false promise – no egg could be found. Christians put a lot of emphasis on experiences, and rightly so. Christian life is a new life that must begin with … Continue reading The cackle or the egg?
Travelling home
It was pouring rain, with low-hanging clouds, when our friends drove us to the Vancouver Airport. Our holiday was over, we'd visited family and friends we hadn't seen for years, and now we were on our way home to Montréal. Eventually we were seated in our plane at the beginning of the runway. The jet … Continue reading Travelling home
The loneliness of the pathfinder
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. Isaiah 6:16 We have joined a grand throng of pilgrims and strangers, wending our way through a wilderness where we have never … Continue reading The loneliness of the pathfinder
Could this be idolatry?
Aaron, an elderly brother from the congregation whee we used to live, had been driving down a lonely highway in Texas. After an hour or two he saw a young man hitchhiking and offered him a ride. The young man got into the back seat and they chatted a little. All was silent for a … Continue reading Could this be idolatry?