Some years ago my wife and I were in another city and attended a Pentecostal worship service. It was a large church and the congregation was multiethnic, with many black faces scattered throughout. It has been said that the most segregated place in North America is a worship service on a Sunday morning; this congregation … Continue reading He is not the show-off Spirit
New Testament
The rights of a Christian
There is no hint in the New Testament that a Christian has rights such as those the people of the world expend so much effort in demanding. Jesus told us not to expect those kind of rights:If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the … Continue reading The rights of a Christian
The Sabbath question
Q. Why is the first day of the week the day of rest, rather than the last day of the week? A. The keeping of the Jewish Sabbath is and has been quite a controversial subject, with much being written pro and con. The keeping of the day depends on which dispensation is had in … Continue reading The Sabbath question
The armour of God
As best as I can understand it, the theme of the Old Testament is that God created mankind and placed us on this earth with a great purpose in mind. There are hints, but only hints, that part of that purpose was that we would be a testimony of His love and kindness to the … Continue reading The armour of God
The church-state hybrid
Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay "We must begin by pointing out that with the launching of the New Testament vision a new idea was being broached; the world was being treated to a new and very revolutionary concept of society, namely, that men can get along peacefully in the market place even though they do … Continue reading The church-state hybrid
Four women named Mary, three men named James
I suppose there has always been a fashion in names. When I was a boy in school there were three Roberts in one classroom. To our teachers we were Bob, Bobby and Robert; to our classmates we were Bob, Professor and Goofy. I was Professor, I must have been a know-it-all. Goofy was the class … Continue reading Four women named Mary, three men named James
Leadership in the church
Three words are commonly used in the New Testament to describe leaders in the church: diakonos (servant or minister), episkopos (overseer or bishop) and presbuteros (elder). A careful reading shows that these words do not denote different offices in the church, but different areas of responsibility for the same person. Neither is there any sense … Continue reading Leadership in the church
The body of Christ
Let me begin with a confession: I am absent-minded. Worse yet, I often read or do a Cryptogram while eating. That has led to many a spilled glass of water. My mouth and throat tell my brain that I am thirsty, my brain tells my arm and hand to reach out, pick up the glass … Continue reading The body of Christ
Qualifications of a minister of the gospel
Many words are used in the New Testament to describe spiritual leaders in the church. Bishop, or overseer (episkipos); elder (presbuteros); pastor; minister (diakonos); evangelist; prophet; teacher; apostle (one sent out). All of these, except perhaps the last, are used interchangeably and appear to be but different functions or gifts of the same office. An … Continue reading Qualifications of a minister of the gospel
Five reasons Christian communes don’t work
1. They isolate members from other people Relationships with family and friends outside the community that do not further the goals of the community become suspect. 2. They disconnect members from the reality of the world around them People who don’t have to choose and pay for their own food, clothing and shelter can hardly … Continue reading Five reasons Christian communes don’t work
Flatlander Faith 