A video to tell of the practice of modern evangelism and it affects on sinners. Enjoy!
Powerful!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
A Great Video on Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms.
Here is a great video on Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms. I was convicted by it and encouraged. Please watch it and take note.
Good stuff!
Good stuff!
Apologetics: 6 Pre-Answer Attitudes to Adopt
This was a post I found on another Apologetic Website. Enjoy!
Apologetics: 6 Pre-Answer Attitudes to Adopt
by Alwyn Lau
In a typical 'Christian apologetics' session at a local church group, the typical mix of questions (based on my experiences) would roughly consist of the following:
•60% Apologetics/Philosophy/History (e.g. "If God was good, why [fill in your favourate global problem]?", "How can we be sure that Jesus was raised from the dead?"),
•30% Christian Education (e.g. "What is the rationale for infant baptism?")
•10% Misc/Uncommon/Weird Questions (e.g."Why is God referred to in the Bible as HE and not SHE?").
Whislt it was tempting to focus on the answers to most of the above, I'm glad I didn't (and besides it was only an hour-long gathering). Instead I tried to target the pre-answer attitudes, especially when doing apologetics (i.e. 'defending' the faith intellectually). Here are some:
1. It's okay to remain silent or say, "I don't know" - especially if you don't know the answer (duh) or the malice/hostility index is too high, or you're too emotional or angry, and you just know it's no longer a debate but a debacle. We don't see Jesus arguing very much during his passion, right?
I still remember Glenn Miller saying that we can raise more questions in 5 minutes than we can answer in 50 years. Read: There is simply NO NEED to feel helpless when barraged with questions you can't respond to. Because if satisfactorily answering EVERYTHING asked was a criteria for legitimate belief, no one could believe anything!
2. It's more important to communicate lovingly than logically - basically an extension of no.1, and this wouldn't be worth saying if not for the fact that there are many apologists and theologians who are EXTREMELY logical but whose logic seem to correlate very well with their arrogance and unkindness.
Apologetics is about ministering to people. It's a good chance to prove not only that Christians have good reasons for their faith, but also to demonstrate that we care MORE about merely giving answers (and sometimes we make the 'point' that scoring argumentative points can be a bad way to live).
We're not mini-professors each one of us; we are mini-replicators of Calvary. And Calvary was one BIG BLOODY answer beyond answers and reason and even words.
3. Think about (or find out) the real question/charge being thrown, not just the presenting one - "Why do Christians have so many denominations?" may be a simple historical inquiry OR a thinly veiled insinuation (i.e. "Why are you Jesus freaks so messed up and always breaking away from each other?"). When we focus on the real issues, as always, time and energy is better spent.
4. Ask what you can learn from the question - it keeps your eyes fixed, if not on ministry to the questioner, then on self-development. Much better than aiming for just another intellectual triumph which usually comes along with the idea that, "Ah, this is just another ignorant anti-Christian attack by a dude who has an attitude problem and who's either stupid, incoherent, heretic or all three!"
5. Read 1st Peter 3:15 and 16 - take to heart the 'gentleness and respect' (15b) parts, the Christlike behaviour part (16a) and the slander-reversal parts (16b). Don't get carried by the 'always be ready to give an answer' thinggy, as if you just GOTTA respond like a pro if you're challenged (grin).
(Finally a more 'technical' one...)
6. With simply outrageous, near-illogical questions, refrain from answering and work on the questioner's logic - e.g. for something like, "If we're made for God's glory, does this mean we are puppets for His amusement?", it's best to ask - gently and respectfully - for the thought patterns and the process leading up to the conclusion. Like, "I'm really curious as to how you went from one point to the other...I'm really interested to understand why you would equate A and B, etc."
From the blog found at http://alwynlau.blogspot.com/2009/11/60-apologetics-e.html
Apologetics: 6 Pre-Answer Attitudes to Adopt
by Alwyn Lau
In a typical 'Christian apologetics' session at a local church group, the typical mix of questions (based on my experiences) would roughly consist of the following:
•60% Apologetics/Philosophy/History (e.g. "If God was good, why [fill in your favourate global problem]?", "How can we be sure that Jesus was raised from the dead?"),
•30% Christian Education (e.g. "What is the rationale for infant baptism?")
•10% Misc/Uncommon/Weird Questions (e.g."Why is God referred to in the Bible as HE and not SHE?").
Whislt it was tempting to focus on the answers to most of the above, I'm glad I didn't (and besides it was only an hour-long gathering). Instead I tried to target the pre-answer attitudes, especially when doing apologetics (i.e. 'defending' the faith intellectually). Here are some:
1. It's okay to remain silent or say, "I don't know" - especially if you don't know the answer (duh) or the malice/hostility index is too high, or you're too emotional or angry, and you just know it's no longer a debate but a debacle. We don't see Jesus arguing very much during his passion, right?
I still remember Glenn Miller saying that we can raise more questions in 5 minutes than we can answer in 50 years. Read: There is simply NO NEED to feel helpless when barraged with questions you can't respond to. Because if satisfactorily answering EVERYTHING asked was a criteria for legitimate belief, no one could believe anything!
2. It's more important to communicate lovingly than logically - basically an extension of no.1, and this wouldn't be worth saying if not for the fact that there are many apologists and theologians who are EXTREMELY logical but whose logic seem to correlate very well with their arrogance and unkindness.
Apologetics is about ministering to people. It's a good chance to prove not only that Christians have good reasons for their faith, but also to demonstrate that we care MORE about merely giving answers (and sometimes we make the 'point' that scoring argumentative points can be a bad way to live).
We're not mini-professors each one of us; we are mini-replicators of Calvary. And Calvary was one BIG BLOODY answer beyond answers and reason and even words.
3. Think about (or find out) the real question/charge being thrown, not just the presenting one - "Why do Christians have so many denominations?" may be a simple historical inquiry OR a thinly veiled insinuation (i.e. "Why are you Jesus freaks so messed up and always breaking away from each other?"). When we focus on the real issues, as always, time and energy is better spent.
4. Ask what you can learn from the question - it keeps your eyes fixed, if not on ministry to the questioner, then on self-development. Much better than aiming for just another intellectual triumph which usually comes along with the idea that, "Ah, this is just another ignorant anti-Christian attack by a dude who has an attitude problem and who's either stupid, incoherent, heretic or all three!"
5. Read 1st Peter 3:15 and 16 - take to heart the 'gentleness and respect' (15b) parts, the Christlike behaviour part (16a) and the slander-reversal parts (16b). Don't get carried by the 'always be ready to give an answer' thinggy, as if you just GOTTA respond like a pro if you're challenged (grin).
(Finally a more 'technical' one...)
6. With simply outrageous, near-illogical questions, refrain from answering and work on the questioner's logic - e.g. for something like, "If we're made for God's glory, does this mean we are puppets for His amusement?", it's best to ask - gently and respectfully - for the thought patterns and the process leading up to the conclusion. Like, "I'm really curious as to how you went from one point to the other...I'm really interested to understand why you would equate A and B, etc."
From the blog found at http://alwynlau.blogspot.com/2009/11/60-apologetics-e.html
Friday, March 18, 2011
Ever wonder about those "mythical" Animals in the Bible?
You know this is not an area where I have done much study but found this video very helpful. Christians keep doing good work and people will be blessed by it.
Pretty good huh? Spread it around.
Pretty good huh? Spread it around.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Apologists are you in a church?
Here is a word from James White on the problem with apologetics in America today.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
More Problems at New Birth. My Lord!
Bishop Eddie Long Congregation Is Shrinking Due To Scandals
By Ron Collins
On March 2, 2011 Fox 5 in Atlanta reported Bishop Eddie Long is laying off staff and cutting salaries of essential staff members. Bishop Eddie Long released a statement saying the cuts are due to the down turn in the economy, but sources within the congregations say attendance has bottomed due to all the scandals that have plagued New Birth Missionary Church.
According to a spokesperson from the Preacher Bureau of Investigation (PBI) who attended New Birth’s most recent service, the once filled to capacity balcony section of the church was pretty much empty!
“There is no doubt that all of the scandals have taken a toll on this once thriving congregation, there are now empty seats throughout the sanctuary. This lesson should go out to all Pastors who feel that they can exploit their members and get away with it because God knows their heart. The members of these congregations are no longer tolerating a lack of integrity in the pulpit.”
According to Dale Russell of Fox 5 in Atlanta - Bishop Eddie Long’s $1 million love offering has gone into the general operational budget for 2011.
“When Bishop Eddie Long spoke at his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the past, his 10,000-member congregation was often packed to the rafters and financial contributions flowed freely. But church sources say attendance is down, now forcing the church to make dramatic cutbacks.
The I-Team was first to tell you how Jamal Parris and three other young men filed a sexual misconduct suit against Bishop Long and his New Birth Missionary Baptist church. In all four of the law suits, Bishop Long denied any sexual activity.”
The announcement that Bishop Eddie Long and New Birth is making major cuts in staff comes on the heels of a donations letter sent to the members of Crenshaw Christian Center by Frederick K. C. Price also stating that their ministry donations are down $4 million from last year’s financials.
The PBI says Pastors will try to blame the drop in donations on the economy rather than face the fact that the members are no longer willing to finance their extravagant lifestyles and purchases.
For more coverage of this story and others concerning Prosperity Preachers please visit www.PimpPreacher.com
By Ron Collins
By Ron Collins
On March 2, 2011 Fox 5 in Atlanta reported Bishop Eddie Long is laying off staff and cutting salaries of essential staff members. Bishop Eddie Long released a statement saying the cuts are due to the down turn in the economy, but sources within the congregations say attendance has bottomed due to all the scandals that have plagued New Birth Missionary Church.
According to a spokesperson from the Preacher Bureau of Investigation (PBI) who attended New Birth’s most recent service, the once filled to capacity balcony section of the church was pretty much empty!
“There is no doubt that all of the scandals have taken a toll on this once thriving congregation, there are now empty seats throughout the sanctuary. This lesson should go out to all Pastors who feel that they can exploit their members and get away with it because God knows their heart. The members of these congregations are no longer tolerating a lack of integrity in the pulpit.”
According to Dale Russell of Fox 5 in Atlanta - Bishop Eddie Long’s $1 million love offering has gone into the general operational budget for 2011.
“When Bishop Eddie Long spoke at his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the past, his 10,000-member congregation was often packed to the rafters and financial contributions flowed freely. But church sources say attendance is down, now forcing the church to make dramatic cutbacks.
The I-Team was first to tell you how Jamal Parris and three other young men filed a sexual misconduct suit against Bishop Long and his New Birth Missionary Baptist church. In all four of the law suits, Bishop Long denied any sexual activity.”
The announcement that Bishop Eddie Long and New Birth is making major cuts in staff comes on the heels of a donations letter sent to the members of Crenshaw Christian Center by Frederick K. C. Price also stating that their ministry donations are down $4 million from last year’s financials.
The PBI says Pastors will try to blame the drop in donations on the economy rather than face the fact that the members are no longer willing to finance their extravagant lifestyles and purchases.
For more coverage of this story and others concerning Prosperity Preachers please visit www.PimpPreacher.com
By Ron Collins
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
BE a christian...
There are some stories that touch your heart at a very deep level. When I see people ACTING like Jesus in what they are doing it makes me cry. It should not be done so all can see but it is being done in small ways every day.
Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart...
Lord I want to be a Christian in my heart...
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