[First posted 10 years ago.] Approximately 300 years ago there arose a line of thought in pietistic Protestantism that God’s reign would progressively manifest itself through human action cooperating with God’s action. The belief that the gospel will gradually Christianize the world, bringing a reign of peace and harmony preceding the return of Christ, is … Continue reading Strange Gospel
repentance
Anabaptists were persecuted because of their purity
The following statement was made in 1538 by an unnamed Anabaptist leader during a meeting between the Swiss Reformed and Anabaptists in Berne: “While yet in the national church we obtained much instruction from the writings of Luther, Zwingli, and others, concerning the mass and other papal ceremonies, that they are vain. Yet we recognized … Continue reading Anabaptists were persecuted because of their purity
Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
First posted ten years ago. To describe it very briefly, homeopathy is a branch of alternative medicine that treats diseases with natural substances that are diluted well past the point where any trace of the original substance can be detected. Some call it quackery, others say that it works where other methods fail. It does … Continue reading Homeopathic dilution of Christianity
Funerals I have attended
Image by Valerie from Pixabay Since many of our kinfolk are not Christian, the funerals that my wife and I have attended have varied widely in their approach to saying good-bye to the dear departed. There have been funerals where the one officiating, minister or layman left us with a very positive assurance that our relative was now … Continue reading Funerals I have attended
Humility: What is it?
The signification of the Greek word that is translated humility in the New Testament is “lowliness of mind.” That indicates a lack of pride, not thinking of myself as better than others, whether because of ethnic origin, economic status, education or because of anything that I might claim to have achieved. Jeremiah10:23 says: “O LORD, … Continue reading Humility: What is it?
The kingdom of God is within your reach
“A stand can be made against invasion by an army; no stand can be made against invasion by an idea.”-Victor Hugo John the Baptist and Jesus both began their ministry by saying “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” The effect of those words is the most remarkable example of Victor Hugo’s statement. … Continue reading The kingdom of God is within your reach
The affliction of Joseph
Judah and Ephraim were the largest tribes of Israel. Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim; perhaps the Ephraimites carried from that some sense of entitlement that they should play more of a leadership role. When Jeroboam of the tribe of Ephraim rebelled against King Rehoboam, Mannasseh and all the other northern tribes followed his … Continue reading The affliction of Joseph
Misunderstanding the Gospel
In 1655 the plague spread through London, killing a quarter of the population. The city was rife with reports of strange visions, prophecies and rumors. Daniel Defoe wrote about the happenings during the plague, writing in the first person although he was only four years old at the time. Nevertheless, the book is not fiction … Continue reading Misunderstanding the Gospel
Deathbed repentance
Many a person spends his life being right. He is frustrated that other people just can’t admit that he is right. Contacts with friends and family grow cool and infrequent. Despite his care to protect himself from dishonest business people, he has often gotten the short end of a deal. He is not happy, but … Continue reading Deathbed repentance
The Mennonite service ethic
Protestant work ethic is a termed coined by German sociologist Max Weber in 1905 in his book Die Protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus (The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism). The gist of Weber’s thinking is summarized thusly in Wikipedia: “Calvinist theologians taught that only those who were predestined to be saved … Continue reading The Mennonite service ethic
Flatlander Faith 