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Are We to Take the Bible Literally?

With no direction from learned and skilled theologians, the Bible can be a very difficult collection of books to understand. The Bible is indeed a collection of ancient documents written thousands of years ago. Because the books are so old, many say they are antiquated, outdated and not relevant for today. Others are convinced the Bible contains numerous errors, and that it contradicts itself. The ones that have this attitude toward the Bible are those who do not want it to be true. For if it is, it will bring certain conviction and judgment on those who hate its truth. Social Media has allowed many to easily become critics of the God of the Bible. Many people no doubt are parroting others who discount its truth having never investigated the claims of the Bible for themselves. These individuals are the ones that are making a fool of themselves – thinking that somehow blaspheming God and His word is a virtue. It is important that the writer point out why so many are quick to ride on t

Touch Not My Anointed

  This phrase is often echoed by those in the charismatic movement. When their Pastor / Elder / Bishop is criticized for unbiblical teaching, they will cry out, “Touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm!” This phrase is referenced in 1 Chronicles 16:22 and Psalm 105:15. Who was in view when this phrase was uttered? Was it the Pastor Elder or Bishop? No. Let’s examine 1 Chronicles 16:22 in context. Starting at 1 Chronicles 16:19-22 (Amplified Version) we read from King David “When they (the nation of Israel, parentheses mine), were but few, even a very few, and only temporary residents and strangers in it; when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; He allowed no man to do them wrong; yes. He reproved kings for their sakes (Gen 12:17; 20:3; Exod 7:15-18). Saying touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm” (Gen 20:7). David is praising God and giving a brief history of his people; how they began very small in number when they were in Canaa

Do You Also Want To Go Away?

  In John chapter six Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand people with five barley loaves and two fish. This sign should have clearly shown them that He was the Messiah. Jesus has to get away from them because they try to make Him their King by force (vs 15). Jesus made it clear later to Pilate in John 19:36 that His kingdom was not of this world. Jesus and His disciples make their way across the sea to Capernaum. The multitude finds Him and inquires when He arrives there (vs 25). Jesus rebukes them and says, “Most assuredly you did not seek me because you the saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life…”(vv 26-27a). What the Lord was telling them is not to look only for temporary fulfillment, rather seek everlasting fulfillment which only He can provide. The conversation takes a drastic turn when Jesus tells them that He is the true bread come down from heaven that

Committed Any Murders Lately?

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  This question is more serious than it is satirical. This question will cause a professing Christian to check their heart. It should be obvious from the title that the writer is not talking about an actual murder. I am talking about murder of the heart. This is a matter Jesus relayed to His audience when He taught His sermon on the mountain in Matthew chapters 5-7.              “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you,   love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who   spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes     His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those  who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet  your brothers only, what do you do more than the others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?    

Becoming All Things To All Men

  The Apostle Paul makes the above statement in 1 Corinthians 9:22. To understand the flow of thought, we must read and comprehend the context. Paul is talking about proclaiming the gospel. Starting from 1 Corinthians 9:19 to verse 23 we read: For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win the Jews; to those who are under the law, under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without the law, as without the law (not being without the law toward God, but under toward Christ), that I might win those without the law; to the weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you. Paul is expressing his desire to save people from all walks of life. He is identifying with their status of being. There are many in the Church that s

Can We Prove the Trinity in the Bible?

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  T he  word Trinity is a compound word supposedly created by the church father Tertullian (160-225 AD). He invented the word to combat a man named Praxeus who promoted the Monarchian heresy . The prefix Tri means three. The suffix nity is shorthand for the word unity meaning one. In regard to God, He is one God manifested in three persons: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. Many argue that Christians worship three gods [1] thus making Christianity a polytheistic religion. Polytheism is a religious system where one worships multiple deities. Christianity is monotheistic; we worship one God only. In Deuteronomy 6:4 it says, “Hear, O Israel. The Lord our God, the Lord He is One!” The Hebrew word Elohim in Genesis 1:1 tell us that our God is plural in person and one in essence. The word Elohim is a compound word. El means God. The im suffix indicates a plural. An example would be a cherub is one angel, but cherubim indicate two or more angels. The name El

The Book of Jonah

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                                                                                  The Reluctant and Angry Prophet The name Jonah means dove. The Bible says Jonah was from a town named Gath-Hepher near Nazareth. This town according to Joshua 19:13 was in the tribal land of Zebulun in the north country. Jonah prophesied during the reign of Jeroboam II king of Israel (793-753 B.C.) according to 2 Kings 14:25. This would make him an eighth century prophet. God commanded Jonah to go east to Nineveh the capital city in Assyria and prophesy against it. Jonah is the only prophet in the Old Testament told to travel to a foreign nation to prophesy. Jonah refused and decided to travel far west to Tarshish which scholars claimed was in the region of Spain. Jonah simply wanted to get as far away from Nineveh as he could. A brief history of the Assyrians The nation Assyria gets its name from Asshur the son of Shem (Gen 10:22). Assyria was located on the west bank of the Tigris River which today