In the congregation of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite where I am a member, we recently had a series of messages from two visiting ministers, one from Idaho the other from Québec. The messages pointed us to the roots of the malaise that has gripped the church for some years now. We call … Continue reading Sanctification and Revival
faith
What is Christian Stewardship? Part 3
The New Testament admonishes us to “redeem the time”. Our understanding of this phrase is closely bound to our concept of stewardship. Those who see stewardship primarily in material terms interpret this phrase as an injunction to occupy every minute with some gainful employment. Interestingly enough, if we look at the context, we find the … Continue reading What is Christian Stewardship? Part 3
What is Christian Stewardship? Part 1
The Christian lives in a world that is almost entirely governed by the pursuit of material gain. Governments that seemed untouchable have fallen because they could not deliver the material goods that their citizens coveted. Nominal Christianity long ago forged an alliance with the powers of materialism. The Catholic church maintained a teaching against usury … Continue reading What is Christian Stewardship? Part 1
The mommy cat did it
I was visiting with my neighbour’s one hot Sunday afternoon, sitting outside with them on the shady side of the house by the back door. Their children were playing around us and going in and out the door. After a while, a half-grown kitten came out the door and we all took note that the … Continue reading The mommy cat did it
Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
Maybe No The date and most of the customs associated with Christmas originated with the Roman Saturnalia, a winter solstice festival celebrating the rebirth of the Sun. Schools were closed, great feasts were prepared, gifts were exchanged, all in honour of a heathen god. Early Christians considered this an abomination, but somehow it has crept … Continue reading Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
Epistle from a Waldensian Barbe
[Barbe, meaning uncle, was the name given by the Waldensians to their ministers.] An Epistle of the Barbe Bartolemi Tertian to the Evangelical churches of Pragela, circa 1420 AD. Jesus be with us. To all our faithful and beloved brethren in Jesus Christ. I greet you all. Amen. This Epistle is to alert your brotherhood, … Continue reading Epistle from a Waldensian Barbe
Peter Waldo / Francis of Assisi
In the summer of AD 1160, a group of the leading citizens of Lyon was together at a feast when one of them suddenly fell over and died in front of the others. This caused Peter Waldo, another of the guests or perhaps even the host, to reflect on his own life and destiny. He … Continue reading Peter Waldo / Francis of Assisi
Conservatism / Liberalism
[I believe this writing must originate with Robert Friedman. There is a paragraph on page 92 of Mennonite Piety Through the Centuries which briefly states the same thoughts in almost identical words. I'm not sure if Mr. Friedman expanded on those thoughts in another writing, or if another writer did it. In any case, it … Continue reading Conservatism / Liberalism
The Essence of Pietism
Pietism has appeared in so many forms over the years, from the extreme asceticism of the hermit monks to the ecstatic antinomianism of some segments of the charismatic movement. The common thread running through all aspects of pietism is the conviction that I have attained to a level of spiritually and communion with God that … Continue reading The Essence of Pietism
The Perils of Pietism
Glenda Careless sat enthralled as the speaker told of the hundreds who had been delivered from sin and addictions by the blood of Jesus through his ministry. She drank it all in and realized that she needed that deliverance — she wanted it with all her being. He said God would do the same thing … Continue reading The Perils of Pietism
Flatlander Faith 