Blog Trolling: Are Calvinists less Passionate about Evangelism?

As I was perusing my various feeds this morning I came across this one by Nathan White on Strange Baptist Fire.

Over lunch the other day a friend of mine shared a rather common perception about many who label themselves ‘Calvinists’. Obviously, I am a Calvinist, and this gentleman was as well, but his opinion came out of a concern for what he sees within Calvinistic circles.

He said (paraphrased):

‘Have you noticed how Calvinists just aren’t as passionate about evangelism as the Arminians? Even when I was an Arminian, it seemed that I had such a greater fervor for witnessing and reaching the lost than I do now as a Calvinist.’

To read the rest of this go here.

Technorati tags: Gospel, Evangelism, Christian, Calvinism, Arminianism

Catechism Thursday

 How many persons are there in the Godhead? 
There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory.   

yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
(1Co 8:6 ESV)

I and the Father are one.”
(Joh 10:30 ESV)

Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
(Joh 14:9 ESV)

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
(Act 5:3-4 ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Mat 28:19 ESV)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
(2Co 13:14 ESV)

 

Technorati tags: Reformed Baptist, Theology, Catechism, Protestant

For A

I have to say that I was surprised to hear you say that you didn’t believe in once saved always saved.

Not that I hold to it either, it is the illegitimate child of the doctrine of perserverance of the saints. But to say that you can lose your salvation was not something I thought your former church taught.

C______ C_____ teaches:

“When a person repents of sin and accepts Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord, trusting Him to save, that person is immediately born again and sealed by the Holy Spirit, all his/her sins are forgiven, and that person becomes a child of God, destined to spend eternity with the Lord.”

Your quoting Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. (John 15:4 ESV) Seems to be pulling that verse out of the context of the entire bible. Taking the whole bible in context I don’t see how you can suggest that your abiding contributes to the salvation provided by Christ.

My friend you appear to be suggesting a works based salvation. How can that be grace? Let us talk about this some more.

Technorati tags: Gospel, Salvation, Theology, Christian

I get e-mails…

Most I classify as a Hormel product and place it in the appropriate folder.  Sometimes however, I get some from a dear brother in the Lord who tends to ask me questions that require me to spend some time in the word. 

So what do you do with false professors?  What do you do with those who confess Christ as Lord with their mouths but act as if he isn’t with their lives?

What if they are your sons?  What if after X number of years in so called Sunday School they reject the teachings and live as they want.  What do you do if the church you attend say:  “Oh boys will be boys thats normal.” 

So what do you do? 

Catechism Thursday

As I was getting ready to post today I realized that when I started this I don’t believe I said what Catechism I was posting.  And since I seem to be getting lumped in with the Roman Catholics (which I am not) it seems to me perhaps a little history is needed. 

I am posting Keach’s Catechism.  Who was Keach?  Well glad you asked, Benjamin Keach(c1640-1704)  joined a Baptist church early in life, and began to preach at age 18. For the next 10 years, he worked as an evangelist in towns and villages, often being persecuted for his principles as a Baptist and Nonconformist. Upon publication of The Child’s Instructor, he was fined, pilloried, and imprisoned.

He was the minister of the congregation at Winslow before moving in 1668 to the church at Horse-lie-down, Southwark where he remained for 36 years as pastor. It was as representative of this church that Keach went to the 1689 General Assembly and subscribed the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith. The signing of the confession was no mute doctrinal assent on the part of the church, for in the same year they entered into a Solemn Covenant which reflects, at the practical and congregational level, some of the doctrines of the confession. There was a secession from Horse-lie-down in 1673 and the Old Kent Road congregation was formed. From this congregation eventually came the New Park Street Church where C. H. Spurgeon became the Pastor, later moving to the new location at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Spurgeon republished the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith for use in the congregation

In 1668, Keach moved to London and became pastor of a Baptist church which met first in private houses, and later in Horselydown, Southwark. There a large congregation gathered around him, to which he ministered with great acceptance until his death. He was the first to introduce singing to Baptist congregations.

Keach wrote 43 works, of which his “Parables and Metaphors of Scripture” may be the best known. He wrote a work entitled “A Child’s Instructor” which immediately brought him under persecution and he was fined and pilloried in 1664. He is attributed with the writing of a Catechism commonly known as “Keach’s Catechism”, although it is most likely that the original was compiled by William Collins. Keach is also know to have promoted the introduction of hymn singing in the churches.  Benjamin Keach Home page

 Are there more gods than one?

 There is but one only, the living and true God.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
(Deuteronomy 6:4 ESV)

But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.
(Jeremiah 10:10 ESV)

Opera Man

I first saw this on the idiot box as my dear wife stopped me from rushing out the door to take a look at this marvel. Take a minute and enjoy.

Technorati tags: opera, Paul Potts, BGT

TNAIRSECCLKJMV Translation

ZONDERVAN PLANS RELEASE OF TNAIRSECCLKJMV TRANSLATION
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Zondervan Publishing announced on Monday that they plan to release yet another English translation of the Bible in 2008. The new translation known as Today’s New American International Revised Standard English Christian Contemporary Living King James Message Version will feature, what Zondervan calls “the best of every English translation out there.”
The TNAIRSECCLKJMV (called the ‘t-nair-seckle-k.j.m.-vee’ for short) began five years ago as an effort to produce the “absolute best and perfect translation of the Bible in English.”
“This is the culmination of many years of scholarship and study” said Kurt James, editor in charge of the translation. “When this comes out next year this will be the absolute best English translation that you can buy. I have no doubt that the t-nair-seckle-k.j.m.-vee will become the most popular and most widely read English translation in the world in just a few short years.”
The TNAIRSECCLKJMV claims to be the first English translation that accurately “captures every nuance and subtlety of the original languages” making it “the last English translation that will ever need to be done.” As a result Zondervan plans to also include a campaign to “trade in your old Bible.”
“Once you have the t-nair-seckle-k.j.m.-vee you will never need any other translation of the Bible” said James. “You will also never here another pastor who uses this translation ever reference the Greek or Hebrew again because this translation perfectly captures every meaning of every Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic word.”
Zondervan further claims that the TNAIRSECCLKJMV is also the first English translation in which all issues of translation that were once controversial in the past have been resolved.
“There were absolutely no disputes over any translations when we got done” said James. “We feel so confident in this translation that from now when we put the Bible into any other language we’re going to translate it not from the originals but from the t-nair-seckle-k.j.m.-vee. No other English translation can claim that.”
The TNAIRSECCLKJMV is set to be released in the last spring of 2008. The Bible will be available in bonded leather, genuine leather, calf skin, hardback, pew, wide-margin, extra large print, extra small print, and pocket sized in a variety of colors. Zondervan also plans to release multiple study versions of the Bible for teens, women, young men, old men, married men, single men, single women, married women, divorced men, divorced women, men contemplating marriage, women contemplating marriage, men contemplating divorce, women contemplating murder, teens contemplating dating, dating men, dating women, old people with pets, old people with teens, teens who live with old people, and people with lisps.

Catechism Thursday

I’m really busy trying to answer something that came up at Doxoblogy and so I’m going to do the condensed question of the week here.

 

 

What is God? 
God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.

(John 4:24; Ps. 147:5; Ps. 90:2; James 1:17; Rev. 4:8; Ps. 89:14;
Exod. 34:6,7; 1 Tim. 1:17)

 

Go one look up the scripture I’ll be waiting.

Blog trolling…

Dan Phillips over at the Pyromaniacs has let loose with 25 things I’ve learned faithful are the wounds of a friend, or at least a fellow christian blogger.  Evan May of the Triabloggers has given us a starter list for Bible Commentaries.  Evan has also posted an excellent quote from Alister McGrath from his book Dawkins Delusion.  Kim Riddlebarger has pointed out a nice piece of computer reconstruction at Rome Reborn.   Tom Ascol’s Resolution on Integrity in Church Membership has again been struck down by the SBC’s Resolution Comittee but I’m sure they are going to come out with something about dancing and going to movies at any moment that will pass with rousing success.  And last but not least John MacArthur has been named “runner up” by Keith Olberman’s “Worst Person” awards.   Pastor John’s crime?  He took a biblical stand on the homosexual issue.  You can read more here.

Anything to discredit

So it seems that the actor that played Adam in the Creation Museum’s film once owned or was affiliated with a website called “Bedroom Acrobat”. Now he says that he is no longer affiliated with it and the website also says this.

Now whether or not this is true (and I believe it is) isn’t the point. The point is that the secular media will do anything to discredit Biblical Creation. They’ll drag up any dirt they possibly can just to kill any good that the museum might bring. Because the point isn’t to present all views with regard to the origin of Man on earth. Its to crush any opposing views but theirs.