Christian Life
WHAT ABOUT POLYGAMY? A Response to “One Man and One Woman: Not the Only Biblical View” (American Atheist, 3rd Quarter, 2013)
© 2020, by John Tors. All Rights Reserved. In “One Man and One Woman: Not the Only Biblical View,” published in American Atheist (3rd Quarter, 2013)[1], Drs. Hector Avalos, Robert Cargill, and Kenneth Atkinson, who identify themselves as “academic biblical scholars,” claim that the biblical texts do not support the frequent claim that marriage between one man and one woman is the only type deemed acceptable by biblical authors. However, …
THREE GOOD REASONS TO LEARN NEW TESTAMENT GREEK
© 2020, by Sonya Tors. All Rights Reserved. Introduction There are many different translations of the Bible into English, some of which are very good (e.g. the KJV, NKJV, and EMTV).[1] What is better even than the best translation is the text in the original language.[2] You can, of course, gain an excellent understanding of the Bible by reading an English translation, but learning New Testament Greek does provide certain …
SALVATION BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE: What about James 2:24?
Prima facie, James 2:24 seems to say that works are needed for salvation. However, careful exegesis of the original Greek text shows that James is not, in fact, saying “that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only,” but that a man is justified by acts of commitment, and not by intellectual belief alone.
SALVIFIC BELIEFS: Salvation by Grace Alone through Faith Alone
Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in the true Christ alone is a salvific belief. The verses adduced by those who teach the necessity of water baptism for salvation all align with salvation sola fide. The only baptism necessary for salvation is the baptism of the Spirit.
“WHAT SHALL I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?”: A Closer Look at the Parable of the Good Samaritan
The common interpretation of the Parable of the Good Samaritan is that it means everyone is your neighbour, love your neighbour by helping him. According to our understanding, the Samaritan is Jesus, the One who has mercy upon us, and He is the One we are to love and so inherit eternal life.
OLIVER AND HARDY AND HAHN: Debunking Greg Hahn’s Attempt to Salvage His Attack on Complementarianism
Hahn’s conceit that “the question will bring down complementarianism” is a pipe-dream, without any hope of succeeding with anyone who thinks at all about the issue; his approach is even weaker than the usual egalitarian gambits.
WHICH EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES? A Response to Greg Hahn’s Attack on Complementarianism
Hahn’s argument against complementarianism has been examined and found to be wanting in every conceivable way. His statement that “Complementarianism is bankrupt because it has no coherent biblical foundation” has been shown to be fatuous.
IS IT UNJUST OF GOD TO SEND PEOPLE TO HELL?
It is not unjust of God to send people to hell. God gives us life as a gift and has the right to end it. Jesus is the ticket of admission to heaven. Those who refuse this ticket cannot get into heaven. They cannot build their own eternal house and so can only live in a house God provides. “His house, his rules.”
CAN CHRISTIANS DO YOGA? Do Not Be Bamboozled!
Christians should not practise yoga. The purpose of yoga is to yoke with the Hindu Brahman and achieve enlightenment by doing exercises and emptying the mind.
A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN? An Assessment of “Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back”
The claim in Heaven is for Real that little Colton Burpo went to heaven is not credible. The evidence offered as proof is insufficient. The little boy’s descriptions of what he allegedly saw in heaven do not match what Scripture says, while they do match common images he could have seen here on earth.
THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS AND THE TESTIMONY OF GOD IN OUR DAYS
Fact 1: Today the reader is a witness to the fact that a Christian Church exists Fact II: The Lord’s Day / The Christian Day of Worship – First Day of the Week (Sunday)Fact III: NT writings, over 5,800 Greek Manuscripts, Tens of Thousands of NT Manuscripts Other than Greek and …
CAN A CHRISTIAN VOTE FOR A MORMON?
God has appointed governing authorities, who may or may not be Christians, for specific tasks. Citizens, including Christians, have the right and duty to vote for the best possible candidate to lead their nation, which could be a Mormon such as Mitt Romney.
GOLIATH WAS THE BAD GUY, REMEMBER? An Assessment of Henri Nouwen’s Teachings
According to the author, Stephen Bede Scharper, Nouwen was a “remarkably influential spiritual explorer” who remains “a spiritual goliath.” He had found “professorial landing sites” at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard, and entered communities with Gustavo Guttierez, the founder of “liberation theology,”[2] and Jean Vanier of the L’Arche community.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS “EMPTY THEIR MINDS” THROUGH MEDITATION?
Many Christians who teach meditation as an element of “spiritual formation” insist that this has nothing to do with emptying the mind. But in fact, when one concentrates on or repeats a phrase, such as a line of Scripture, over and over again without rational thought, the brain tends to go into “neutral”. This is not meditation as it is meant in the Bible, which involves rational, logical cogitation with critical thinking.
WOMEN AND CHURCH LEADERSHIP: An Inquiry and a Response to Pastor Keith A. Smith’s “Can Christian Women be Pastors and Preachers?”
Pastor Keith A. Smith brings up most arguments adduced to allow women pastors and preachers. The key passages are in 1 Corinthians (the context of which is judging prophetic utterances) and in 1 Timothy. Smith confuses evangelism and prophesying with holding authoritative teaching roles.
NOT SO FAST: Why Fasting Is Unnecessary and Inappropriate for Christians
God did not command or even show approval of fasting. Fasting is a sign of mourning, an inappropriate demeanor for the Christian. “As long as they have [Jesus] with them they cannot fast … [Jesus] is with [them] always...” Fasting is not only unnecessary, it is inappropriate and sends the wrong message.
SHOULD CHRISTIANS PRACTISE MEDITATION?
It seems not long ago that the greatest perceived spiritual threat in the minds of Evangelicals was the New Age Movement, an amorphous constellation of beliefs and practices focused on developing the divine potential of human beings. In essence, it was the basic worldview and practices of the Eastern mystic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism) packaged for a modern Western audience. The degree to which the different packages delved into the concept of attaining to godhood varied widely, with much of the offerings simply talking about mastering limitless power, which many Western consumers …
WHAT IS FAITH?
We all have to have faith in many ways, including your atheist friend. The wise man will base his faith on facts and evidence. Faith in the Christian understanding is not believing Jesus blindly, but putting “complete trust and confidence” in Him because He has proven that He is God.
