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
faith
Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, spoke of the corruption of Judah and Jerusalem and a coming day when the Lord, the Sun of righteousness would set all things right. In the last two verses of the Old Testament God declares that He will send Elijah before this day. The kingdom of Israel … Continue reading Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
Sanctification and Revival
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
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
