Linkathon!
Jury awards grand daughter 2 million from Crouch estate…
More on the TBN scandal from Jackie Alnor…
Covenant theology isn’t replacement theology…
The importance of preparing young Christians for doubt and dissonance…
Uncertainty opens the door for faith…
Coptics show us what forgiveness is…
Christians should repent of fake news…
Eight strategies for lifting women into ministry…
The meaning of the image of God…
What to do with Rob Bell’s book…
Jesus poured out the Spirit…so what?
Cambodian sex industry shrinking thanks to Christians…
Would you be angry if hell is empty?
David Barton and teaching the Bible in public schools…
Michael Vick says prison showed him that God is real…
Reflections on being the dumbest man in the room…
The awful pleasures of spiritual pornography (a scathing review of “The Benedict Option”)
The Archbishop of Canterbury takes on Islam…
A new Bible app for LGBTQ believers…
Huge thanks as always to EricL for the link help…support his work at top right!
in the news recently, for those into the show, Peter Sallis, the voice of Wallace from Wallace & Gromit, has died.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/jun/05/peter-sallis-obituary
I don’t know who that is…
Good article on uncertainty.
JoelG,
That’s our old friend Dave Rolph…good piece.
Wallace & Gromit is a stop motion animated series (for want of a better word) that was made by the studio that more recently did Shaun the Sheep. Wallace is the dimwitted affable inventor and his dog Gromit is the brains of the operation. At least on the US side rather than the UK side that’s what Sallis would be known for.
I’m a Wallace and Gromit fan! Sad news about Sallis’ passing.
looks like another great list of thought provoking links to read
i have to make one question on the seamy links that start the list – why wasn’t the perp arrested and jailed way back when?
and one comment: never report anything to the head of a corporation expecting them to do anything about something if it will make the corporation look bad … sigh
interesting mindset all around there
Good article on christians needing to repent of spreading fake news. Unfortunately will probably fall on deaf ears and hard hearts to many Christians.
MLD has mastered one of these. Which one, I wonder?
Although Rob Bell has lost his way he has found a platform. Concierge unbelief masquerading as compassionate and emotionally mature scholarship sells well today .
Come to think of it Rib still has a purpose . He us used by God to test my patience and self control.?
The empty hell article is interesting. I believe Christs work on the cross goes further than we understand. I think it was C.S. Lewis that suggested that hell is locked on the inside. Why not hope and pray that it’s empty?
JoelG,
Well said, my friend…
once in a while here i’ll see someone quote Mark 9:24… and how often that is something i’ve had to confess… so glad someone commented on the uncertainty link or i might have missed some good words on the subject
snippet from said article:
“Mark Twain said, “Faith is believing what you know ain’t so.” That isn’t Christian faith. Our faith is not ignoring or pretending we don’t have doubts. Our faith is trusting despite our uncertainty.”
have to say… empty hell isn’t the point for us here on the earth now… the fact that it IS waiting there in eternity is all the reason we need to pray for our enemies… while i confess to having done so, shame on us for wanting anyone there (still working on that 🙂 )
“Our faith is trusting despite our uncertainty.”
Amen Em. He will not leave us in despair, I know that.
#14,
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
All people…
His Will be done…
JoelG
You are becoming one of my theologians of choice…
If by unfathomable grace to many, when Jesus led the the captives from hell, the doors to hell were indeed locked, would not the deliverance from living a life of hell on earth in a future hope be good news truly without condemnation? Just pondering as Lady Em so often does by example 🙂
Duane, thank you. I am humbled…. 🙂
I remember you writing somewhere here that we will be surprised who we see in heaven. I truly believe you are right, thanks be to Christ.
That video of the Coptic Christian’s forgiveness makes me cry every time. Seeing what great impact a Christ-like response has on our world fills me with hope. That’s why more and more, I am praying for Christians to respond to the violence and hatred in a manner that brings glory to God.
Praise God for such an incredible witness in Egypt!
Re the article – Covenant theology isn’t replacement theology… Scott Clark’s 2008 message Hits the nail on the head.
But I take it further — as I usually do — an point the finger at the dispensationalist / general rapture theologian etc, and say that their thoughts actually make them the ones who hold to rapture theology as they have replaced Jesus as the central theme of scripture and prophecy with the nation Israel.
2 minutes with John MacArthur will make the point – no matter what kind of damage control will come from the rapture crowd, this is the teaching. MacArthur will say that the role of Israel in God’s economy is not only central but that there is no more historical theme in all of scripture (yes he includes the NT) than the role of Israel. More of a theme than Jesus Christ?, more of a theme than the gospel?, more of a theme than the Church?
https://www.tms.edu/news/tms-distinctives-israel-and-the-church/
“make them the ones who hold to rapture theology as they have replaced Jesus as the central theme of scripture and prophecy with the nation Israel.”
Should read “make them the ones who hold to REPLACEMENT THEOLOGY as they have replaced Jesus as the central theme of scripture and prophecy with the nation Israel.
MLD is incorrect as usual. I just figured someone from the rapture crowd ought to to say so.
From the Baptist Faith and Message – See in particular the last line:
I. The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Damage control as I predicted. 😉
Hey it isn’t me that’s wrong – it’s the rapture guy in the video.
Post wildly inaccurate claim…check.
Say that refutation of that claim is damage control…check.
Must be another post from MLD.
Josh, I am sure that all of the rapture people have documents that say one thing and teach it in a different light.
I have pointed out 100s of times over the years, when you read the end times books that fill evangelical bookshelves they all mention Israel a 100 times to each time they mention Jesus.
Not only do rapture people worship Israel, but they lie about it in their belief statements! It’s a conspiracy, I tell ya!
conspiracy NO — inconsistency YES
Lutherans, however, are consistent across the board, right?
Josh
Through the years, I’ve been through the rapture, dispensational, covenant ways of thinking (although I do not hold those positions now). An honest question, in terms of your faith what is the significance of dispensational/rapture theology? By this question, I mean how does it inform your life in Christ, understanding of the Bible, etc.?
For me, if I knew that the Rapture was taking place tomorrow at 3:00 in the afternoon, I think I’d still say my prayers, go to work, thank my wife for cooking supper, etc. Am I missing something here or is it just, for lack of a better phrase, an academic exercise? I’m not asking this in any pejorative sense…
Josh, I made commentary on a Linkathon article and backed it up with a video clip.
Your the one mentioning Israel worship and conspiracy theories.
Duane, it’s my best understanding of what the scripture teaches. I recognize that many Godly men come to different conclusions on this issue, and I don’t think it hurts their standing with the father one bit.
I don’t imagine that my belief in a rapture affects my life in any way different from anyone who understands that life is fleeting and we aren’t promised tomorrow. If Jesus comes back tonight, or if I’m hit by a bus…I need to live my life a certain way. If I live to be 100, it will be a life well-lived.
Amen Josh.
Josh, that’s really helpful. I guess that is pretty much the way I feel about most of eschatology. Does God have a special plan for Israel? Possibly. Does he have a special plan for France? Possibly. Do either of those “plans” speak to my life as a Christian? Not significantly. As you say, if Christ returns today, wonderful. If the Lord tarries, wonderful. Our life in Christ remains, and at the end, that is what matters.
Bingo.
#34 Xenia
Doing some research and found this. I thought it would be of interest to you…
http://www.hartfordinstitute.org/research/evolvingvisionsfullreport.pdf
But that is not what Rapture Theology teaches. There is no rest or peace in rapture theology – the main thing for the Christian is to “be ready” — well the Christian is already ready as the work of Jesus on the cross did all the ‘ready work’. But what we see in rapture theology is that you must ready yourself and be constantly measuring that state of readiness. We all see this in the “be right or be left” slogans or the rapture ready websites, the Larry Norman songs etc.
But worse, it shows great disrespect to Jews and Israel – God does not work today with Israel, that comes later when the church is gone – Israel, Jews are left on their own for now – I still don’t know how the Apostle Paul, the Apostle Peter, me or Marty Goetz broke through that barrier that the general Jewish population must wait for.
I believe that a multitude of Jews will come into the kingdom during the last days – however, I believe that we are currently in those last days – God IS dealing with Israel as we can see there are currently more Christian Jews than there are Jews in the world today.
Larry Norman has been dead 20 years.
Thanks, Duane. Very interesting.
Bach has been dead 300 years – so? 🙂
You’re talking about “Rapture Theology” guys by referencing Larry Norman. Wish we’d all been ready came out 50 years ago. I doubt that it is front and center of “rapture theology” right now.
I’m teaching through Isaiah in church …and it’s easy to see why dispensationalists have a prominent view of Israel in the end times.
I won’t be angry with God if they’re right about some things…
Here’s my bottom line on this…while I disagree with dispensationalism, I would rejoice if someone I cared about was under Josh’s pastoral care.
He loves Jesus and he loves people and we need more like him.
If he were here, I’d drag him to the skatepark for the kids and we could argue eschatology at a later date…
I never…and I mean NEVER argue eschatology in real life. Probably only on this blog, and mostly with MLD.
If you took me to the skatepark, the emergency room would be next…because I can’t help myself and I’m not 13 anymore 🙂
Furthermore…these rapture theology people get a lot more people saved and baptized than we theological “sophisticates” do… most of the growth in traditional churches are transfers from someplace that held to these theologies…
Much to learn from one another.
Josh,
We’d make sure you had pads on…and the hospital is only three minutes away… 😉
“and it’s easy to see why dispensationalists have a prominent view of Israel in the end times.”
But we are in those end times – so Jesus is working with Israel today – that’s how I slipped in. So tell me why the church needs to be evacuated out to make room for a work with Israel that is already being done?
I used to get it, but I don’t any longer.
Michael (and to Josh) – my beef wasn’t with Josh. Josh had a beef with me and my initial post at #21.
The “beef” usually starts when the amil get accused of replacement theology – as Clark’s 2008 article addresses and as JMac implies in his video clip.
It’s OK that you don’t. At least you admit that you don’t. It won’t condemn you.
MLD,
I understand your position and I understand dispensationalism.
I also believe that the church has bigger issues to contend with and tertiary doctrines need to stay in their lane.
My fellowship with folks is not dependent on eschatological agreement.
#45 Josh
I’d not discussed the subject in probably 35 years, until arriving here at PP! I simply assumed that people of good faith hold different views on a subject, that to be honest, has little impact on my life in Christ.
BTW, Larry used to tell me that he got REALLY tired of having to sing that song…
MLD,
The term “replacement theology” is almost always proof that the one who uses it misunderstands amill doctrine.
I still want Josh to come hang out with the lost in my town…
I thought that some people self-identify with Replacement Theology. Much as I know some who hold to Covenant Theology and some to Dispensational.
I have an acquaintance who is a convert from Evangelicalism. She has nothing good to say about anything in the Evangelical world. I think she is close to saying they are all going to hell although she hasn’t come right out and said this, to me, at least. I tell her about the dear old Baptists ladies on my Meals on Wheels route and she just shakes her head sadly.
Here’s the thing: Where were the Orthodox missionaries when I and these elderly southern ladies were growing up in rural North Carolina and the rest of the South? They were hiding in their ethnic enclaves. They certainly weren’t reaching out to the African American population. Who reached out to them? Those Rapture-loving sacrament-denying Baptists, that’s who. Same goes for just about everyone in the south or in rural areas.
Now things are changing in Ortholandia and the ethnic enclave mentality is beginning to break up. We now have outreaches like Ancient Faith Radio and local parishes are starting to wake up. But am I to fault an 80-year old black lady for not being Orthodox when there was no Orthodox presence in Georgia 70 years ago and she would not have been welcome in an EO parish if there even was on locally? I thank God for those Rapture-loving Baptists who told her the Gospel and showed her the way to heaven.
I think the Orthodox Church, “the” Church, was God’s A-team but we dropped the ball big time in this country and he said “If you guys are going to hide out in your pretty little churches and eat baklava and pirogis, I am going to send the Baptists in to save those people because I am in the business of saving people.”
That’s what I think.
Michael,
When the label or accusation of “replacement” theology is brought up it is a great slur. Just within the last 30 or so days on this very blog, one of your learned brothers accused MLD or me (maybe both) of not caring about the Jewish people by not believing in their dispensational theology. I mention it because to the highly committed dispensationalists this is not a tertiary doctrine.
Josh,
In my experience “replacement theology” is only used as a pejorative against non dispensationalists by dispensationalists.
” “replacement” theology is brought up it is a great slur. ”
I did not realize this, and if I have used the term, I will be more careful in the future. ( I know I wasn’t the one who claimed you didn’t care about Jews)
Xenia @56… gold.
Jean,
I do know it is used almost as a swear word by some.
I know that some believe that not believing in a Rapture is proof of apostasy.
If we speak to each other irenically, we may be able to help folks agree to disagree agreeably and without condemnation.
I have never heard the words “replacement theology” come from lips that were not curled in a sneer.
Practically, what’s the difference in being raptured and dying unexpectedly?
Your clothes fall off when you are raptured. 😉
it seems to me that our scholars read/study the Bible, think they have a breakthrough and give it a label… for me, for the most part, these breakthroughs are all theories and, like evolution, have interpretations and shades that waver or worse, get stuck mindlessly attached to the label, becoming articles of faith
MLD’s call to keep Jesus in the center of all our thinking on the Faith is a good one IMHO
Xenia’s #56 is so well grounded in good Christian common sense – worth hanging onto iMHO
@ 64 – Could happen in certain kinky death situations too 🙂
#64 and #66… ahem… when you die someone else takes your clothes off and hoses you down, so pray for the rapture LOL
Wow! That agnostic’s slam on the Benedict Option was very thought-provoking. Spiritual Pornography is a good diagnosis of the true problem.
Thanks for that link, Michael. If I can grasp what he is teaching, then I will have come a great distance in respecting the lost, even while urging them to salvation.
Michael — Thank you for taking John to task on your facebook page. I don’t think Carra Crouch can even get closure on the evil she suffered at the hand of Jan Crouch until this case is totally behind her. Perhaps she can grapple with forgiveness when restitution is paid for the damage done to her psyche. Jan never repented — she refused to speak to her granddaughters to her dying day — shunning them and disinheriting them and their brother and dad – Jan’s own son. The vileness of their defense to this sunk to such low levels — parading Carra’s troubled teen years and all the sins she lived as some sort of judgment seat in which she had to defend her life to a bunch of slimy lawyers. They accused her and her sister of being in a conspiracy theory with yours truly just because I tried to comfort them and encourage them. The church is running scared — they’ll only rehash secular published reports because they fear the litigious behavior of TBN using the courts as their own whipping post to any who get in their way. They behave like Scientology and all fear crossing them so they turn a blind eye. Anyway – thanks.
Ms. ODM,
You’re more than welcome.
You did fine work on this story…well done.