Links!
Are some sins worse than others?
Sexual abuse scandal could leave church leadership in jail…
The top 250 Christian blogs…we made it in this morning.
An interesting new site from Jason Stellman…
How to help without hurting in the Philippines…
Are Calvinists creating a new religious right?
Are our smartphones killing us?
How can we help the tormented among us to know they are not disposable?Â
Excellent piece on leadership…
The support missionaries really need…
The punches ministers never see coming…
Matt Redmond defends youth ministry…
Free PDF book from Piper on the “five points of Calvinism”...
Sin is sin amd anyone who thinks their sin is less than others have fallen into Pride
The some sins worse guy made a train wreck of Romans 1 which simply deduces that all who are in Adam are rebels and that when we hear the voice of the creature rather than the creator we are doomed to be given over to ALL KINDS of sin not to a worse sin than others.
But I do agree that some sins are worse than others. Mass murderers are worse than people who exaggerate stories. Aren’t some things obvious? And as for the inevitable “in God’s sight” argument. Let me know when you get his sight.
We just got added to the top 250…thanks for the correction, Jared.
In answering the first question from Challies, JM said: “While paedobaptist and amillennial distinctives have been variously held by orthodox theologians throughout church history, charismatic theology has a much more sinister spiritual heritage: from the Montanists of the early church, to the Zwickau prophets and MĂĽnster radicals of the Reformation, to the
Quakers, Shakers, Jansenists, and Irvingites of more recent church history.”
Once again, he generalizes Friends Church doctrine. Sinister? While SOME early Quakers were so moved by the Spirit, a judge called them “Quakers”, and SOME chose further manifestations, the majority did not. I wonder if JM is aware that John Wimber was at one time a pastor in a Quaker Church but was removed due his charismatic beliefs?
I was this same type of generalization, over another doctrine, back in 1985 that caused me to lose respect for JM. My associate pastor even mailed JM a copy of the doctrine of the Quaker Church seeking a retraction. Never received one.
I’m sure JM must have forgotten back in 1965, went he was still working with his dad and had a gospel team that held evangelism services at churches. The Friends Church where I served had he and his team come for a weekend youth rally. Perhaps I should remind him that he stood behind the pulpit of a sinister church.
Bob,
Equating Quakers and the Munster radicals is enough to disqualify Mac on the subject.
Very cool personal story about he and his dad at your church…
Congratulations Michael.
Ixtlan,
Thank you.
We were ignored for so many years when we had an even a bigger readership that it does feel good to be noticed.
The critics said we’d be gone by now…and that feels pretty good too.
Sin does three things. Separates us from God, Hurts us or others (or both), Results in judgment
The question about greater sins needs to be asked in one of those contexts.
Jesus Himself actually used the expression “greater sin”
Happy to see that you were deemed sufficiently Christian to make the list. 🙂
To my shame, the last point in the missionary article somehow missed my radar. I need to add this to my to do list.
Redmond is describing a youth ministry that I’ve never seen. Perhaps when my kids were teens, I was looking in the wrong places.
Jim,
I think Matt is getting a lot of feedback similar to yours…
The best thing about Matt Redmond’s article is that while he was excited when 20 people came the first night, he didn’t abandon ship when only 4 came the second night. How many people would have said “This isn’t working!” and would have decided to bring in a rapper or plan a trip to the local mall in their pajamas. Matt decided that young people were capable of a serious weekly meeting, not the infantile foolishness that passes for youth ministry in so many places. Good for him. I, personally, would not have spent two years discussing the Protestant theory of the atonement but the general idea of study-prayer-food-companionship is very good.
Thanks for the shout-out!
Jason,
My pleasure…looking forward to your site “filling in”…
I think the Atheist mega church may actually catch on. If John MaCarthur is right, a large majority of churches now are filled with non believers anyhow. So we may already be there.
The wheat and the tares have always grown up together…but being a charismatic does not make one a tare…
John MaCarthur never said being a charismatic makes one a tare. He has sad these remarks long before the strangefire conference.
See the interesting thing is that I think evangelicalism is filling the church with functional nonbelievers. People are taught to defend a Bible but not to encounter the God of the Bible. The God of the Bible talks, intervenes, intrudes, judges, blesses, heals and completely interacts with the people. The God we encounter is a Bible study with lessons of endurance and interpretation so we can survive the absence of God.
MacArthur is the unbeliever.
Michael,
Yeah, me too. And I’m pretty sure there’ll be some stuff we post that will be right up your alley.
I appreciated Matt Redmond’s article. That being said, I am not one who will bash youth ministries who do silly things or do events that cater to the likes of teenagers. Yes, if the main focus or drive of a youth ministry is conducting entertaining events and activities, then there is a problem. However, if these type of silly things are supplementary to the main focus of bringing teenagers to Christ and discipling them as they grow in their faith and relationship with Christ, then I have no problem. I think there may even be some wisdom in doing the “silly”. Wasn’t it the apostle Paul that said something about becoming all things to all people so that some may be saved? If doing some silly stuff with teenagers helps you to forge a relationship with them, then go for it I say.
Jason, since we have your attention: I am curious as to why you chose the RC over the EO?
Just a quick clarification to my last comment. I’m not accusing Redmond of any bashing. While I think he made it clear that the way he was conducting youth ministry was certainly very low on the “silly scale” compared to many others, I also don’t think he was out to bash those who were different in their approach.
Xenia,
That’s good question…maybe I’ll prod him a bit… 🙂
Xenia,
Because steeples are cooler than onion-domed cupolas? Something tells me I’m not getting off the hook that easily….
Been dealing with some friends who in these hard times are refusing to work at jobs that are “beneath them” and I’m trying not to get stinky in my attitude towards these fellows.
This was a good article, I thought
http://cbmw.org/men/manhood/men-as-providers/
The main reason many people give for choosing the RC over the EO (apart from aesthetics) is the papacy, which they prefer to the jurisdictional chaos seen in the EO churches here in the US. They appreciate the papacy because they believe it’s representative of the premise that the RC is the One True Church and the EO are the rebellious break-aways, whereas the EO see it exactly opposite. There are some significant theological differences between the two Churches but I have seldom met a person who made the decision based on these differences.
JJS,
I’ve wondered the same thing…enquiring minds want to know.
I was not interested in an event-driven youth ministry but one that revolved around the teaching and prayer and relationships formed on a designated night each week. Yes, we would go to camp and have some events but the anchor would be a midweek Bible Study. I sold them on it but they were skeptical enough.
————————————————————
A loud Amen to Matt Redmond.
Michael,
A question, if you will, on the last link to Piper’s book on “the five points”.
I know in the past you have posted some stuff showing some differences in modern Calvinism and what Calvin actually believed.
You got any resources to share in looking up those differences?
Derek,
I’m not home right now, but I’ll post some sites tonight.
Thank you.
Baby’s, your number 17…..bravo!
Dang auto correct! That was suppose to be Babs, not Babys
Derek,
This is one of my favorite sites on that topic.
It is pretty academic, but it has a ton of great material.
http://calvinandcalvinism.com
Thanks! I added it to my bookmarks.
http://whoisrobdavis.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/the-real-acts-29/
and
http://storify.com/RachelHeldEvans/this-is-what-patronization-looks-like
BrianD,
Thank you…good to see you here!
I totally forgot that first link…and it is a good one.
Good to visit, Michael!
It’s supposed to be the first in a series, or said the author on FB.
In North Korea, possessing a bible is a capital crime it seems.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/11/12/north-korea-publicly-executes-80-for-crimes-like-watching-films-owning-bible/
Awesome stuff in Iran!
http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjI1&featuredstory_ID=NDA1&clickfrom=ZmVhdHVyZWRzdG9yaWVz
And sobering stuff from Syria..
http://www.persecution.org/2013/11/12/reports-of-torture-from-christian-survivors-in-syria/
Supporting the rebels in Syria was one of the biggest foreign policy mistakes I know of.
“I have no artistic ability and am not the least bit creative. If, however, you’re looking for logic or sarcasm, I’m your guy. I also cannot write my way out of a paper bag.
I used to be a depressed malcontent waiting for my tragedy of a life to end, but then I gave up religion, got divorced, and started making money. Fortunately, I’m shallow enough for that to turn me into a happy person.
To be honest, I’m not sure what I’m doing here other than Jason knows I’d give him shit if he didn’t include me, so he has chosen the path of least resistance. . . again.”
That is some funny s***t LOL. Well done. The others were pretty predictable.
Ricky Bobby,
Yeah, that one made me laugh as well. But read Sky’s and Justin’s, there’s nothing predictable about those!
http://heavyforthevintage.com/misfits-malcontents/
The sour grapes of wrath.
JJS, not hating, I just read all sorts of stuff and love originality. I’ve read similar to those many times. It’s not authentic, not like Kingery’s.
The others are like hipsters in skinny jeans drinking a Starbucks from a wine glass.
Kingery’s is like a homeless man in West Hollywood sporting a skin tight blue jumpsuit with a banana down his pants…while he sucks on a bottle of Grey Goose he just scored after beating up a wealthy transvestite in front of the liquor store.
Actually, Sky is an actual homeless man in Orange County….
Change a couple of names in Brian D’s link and you have SGM.
Cool, then I send him a blue jumpsuit…and a banana. 🙂
..and I’m assuming you are kidding about Sky.
No, he’s living on the streets right now for reals.
But there’s always money in the banana stand.
Why is he living on the streets? Is he on drugs?
Has he applied for all the Govt. assistance that is available? Food Stamps? 0bamaphone? Rental Assistance? Medicaid? Home Energy Assistance (they help pay your energy bills)? Earned Income Credit? Disability Benefits? Unemployment? I thought 0bama fixed all that “poor” and “homeless” nonsense.
Your friend needs to get off his arse and fill out some forms or something, seriously.
California or Washington and the Fed’s have a ton of free money available. It’s hard to be homeless (unless you are on drugs, have mental issues or are stuck w/o the ability to get the benefits b/c you have a jerk Calvary Chapel husband situation that keeps you from qualifying for some of the benefits like a friend who posts here faces).
Your buddy, as a single male (I’m assuming from the pic) should qualify for a ton of loot…and there are Rescue Missions and Food Banks and all sorts of private-sector charities as well.
http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Benefits.shtml
This link explains the rights of the homeless and expresses the fact they have more rights under the SNAP/Food Assistance program and shows how they can get the help.
http://frac.org/federal-foodnutrition-programs/snapfood-stamps/homeless-persons-rights-under-the-snapsnapfood-stamp-program/
If your buddy is truly homeless, he probably has some sort of disability (mental disorder and/or physical issue). Disability is a pretty low bar these days.
Here’s a link that shows homeless dudes how to get disability money:
http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/PG2266.htm
What other special help can homeless people receive?
Duty to extend special help to the homeless: Food stamp offices must have special procedures that serve homeless people (as well as the elderly and disabled, for that matter). [7 C.F.R. § 273.2(a); MPP § 63-601.11.] The food stamp office must help get the food stamps to the recipient each month. [7 C.F.R. § 274.2(a); MPP §63-601.11.] While this is less of a problem with the emergence of the Electronic Benefit Transfer system for distributing food stamp benefits, counties still must help recipients get their EBT card. For example, the food stamp office may help the recipient by finding him or her an authorized representative, or by mailing the EBT card to a shelter, or by allowing the recipient to pick up the EBT card at the office, or by using “any other appropriate means”. [7 C.F.R. § 274.2(a); MPP §63-601.11.]
Outreach to the homeless: State food stamp agencies can get federal money to do outreach to homeless people to help them get on food stamps. [7 C.F.R. § 272.5(c).] California has adopted a homeless outreach program. [Welf. & Inst. Code § 18904.2 et. seq..] The law requires that the state agency develop materials on expedited service (emergency food stamps) for the homeless, and give the materials and the shortened application to homeless shelters for use with their clients. [Welf.& Inst. Code § 18904.25.] The law also requires local county welfare departments to offer annual food stamp training to homeless shelter staff. [Welf. & Inst. Code § 18904.25(b).]
Here is who your buddy needs to contact for help. Our Government/Big Brother has a specific Agent in his area (I’m assuming the OC) who will help him…and this is just the Gubmint options, then your buddy can leverage the many resources available through “the church”.
http://www.hudhre.info/index.cfm?do=actionCocContactsSearch&st=CA&optThree=CA-602&all=y#poc
Poverty sucks, homelessness sucks, no doubt. Sometimes, however, I think folks simply don’t leverage the huge safety-nets we already have in our System (not commenting Philosophically on the right or wrong of such a huge Socialist safety-net, just pointing out that it exists and that it’s really hard to starve to death in the United States of ‘Merica).
Is it just me or is there an ongoing overstating of casualty numbers in major disaster areas. I have read 10,000 times about the 10,000 dead in the Philippines. Then I look for official tallies and find a fraction of the number. Is this intentional and is this helpful?
Dread, apparently there have only been 600 or so confirmed, but they estimate up to 10,000 being dead. The countries systems aren’t stellar anyway, and then to have been devastated by the storm makes it even harder for them to get exact numbers.
I do not think the 10,000 number has anything to do with estimates or with problems counting and communicating. I acknowledge those things exist. I think the number is a report from a hurting person who said something like, “Oh no, this thing probably killed ten thousand people in our province alone.” Then it suddenly becomes newswire fodder. I think it has no basis in truth whatsoever.
There was a huge controversy over how many died in Haiti in the earthquake. The official numbers being half or a third. This is not to minimize the horror or to diminish aid. Just something that I keep noticing.
The same things happened in Katrina
Got to love this Pope.
http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2013/11/07/426976.jpg
ESV Study Bible Web App free until the end of November.
http://www.crossway.org/blog/2013/11/a-free-gift-to-celebrate-crossways-75th-anniversary/
A little something to make the blood boil.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2013/11/14/barton-and-copeland-the-bible-says-soldiers-should-not-suffer-from-ptsd/
Found this article interesting also.
http://thefrontporch.org/2013/11/what-i-love-about-the-people-in-prosperity-gospel-churches/
Derek… thanks for the link to that ESV App
And YES treating soldiers that way is evil
I have found the app pretty useful.
Those two numb skulls have no idea what they are saying and haven’t ever had to deal with war or PTSD.