From time to time, there are folks who propose that in order to achieve true liberty and happiness we need to do away with all laws and governments. This belief is called anarchy and a little more than 100 years ago it was quite popular. After anarchists assassinated King Umberto of Italy, King Carlos of … Continue reading The law of liberty
Holy Spirit
Leadership in the church
The church needs leaders to guide and teach the members and to be examples to them. Yet the ministers are servants of the church. Minister, bishop, elder, pastor and evangelist are not different offices in the church but describe the various responsibilities of a minister. The responsibility of deacons lies more in the area of … Continue reading Leadership in the church
Christian fellowship in the church
The New Testament depicts the church as a body where believers of many backgrounds are united in true brotherhood. The disarray in many churches should not cause us to abandon hope that this is still possible in our day. It is yet God's plan for His children. Are we humble enough to trust the Holy … Continue reading Christian fellowship in the church
Conservatism vs Liberalism?
There are two kinds of conservatism: a living one by which the faith is passed on intact and unchanged, always being kindled anew by the power of the Word and of the Holy Spirit; and a conservatism without life, that makes outward formalism the exclusive evidence of faith, with no reference to the condition of … Continue reading Conservatism vs Liberalism?
In praise of pilgrims and strangers
It is right and good to honour outstanding Christian leaders and missionaries of the past, and to follow their example. However, they are a very small part of the story of Christianity. Throughout the centuries since the time of the apostles, a vast number of unknown believers, led by the Holy Spirit, have kept the … Continue reading In praise of pilgrims and strangers
Dispensationalism Justifies the Crucifixion – Part 1
This is the first installment of a booklet written by Philip Mauro and first published around 100 years ago. Mr Mauro was a prominent US lawyer, who embraced dispensationalism at the beginning of his Christian life but then saw the inconsistencies in that teaching. He wrote a number of books on the subject, which today … Continue reading Dispensationalism Justifies the Crucifixion – Part 1
Not by might, but by my Spirit
The following paragraphs are found at the end of Jonathan Goforth's book By My Spirit, first published in 1929. Jonathan Goforth was a Canadian missionary to China from 1888 to 1935. During the late Manchu dynasty, scholars were expected to know the classics of their sages off by heart. How do the scholars of so-called … Continue reading Not by might, but by my Spirit
Anabaptism is not a lifestyle
The bishop got up to preach one Sunday morning and proclaimed to us that when a person wore plain clothes, that was proof that he or she was born again. An unconverted person could not get himself to wear such clothes. By “plain clothes” he meant the form of clothes that was mandated in his … Continue reading Anabaptism is not a lifestyle
Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of
At the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, Satan came to Him with this temptation: “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down … Continue reading Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of
Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand – conclusion
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
Flatlander Faith 