Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Monday, July 15, 2013

Church Violence

I suspect that your fellowship or church probably would not like to talk openly with the congregation about this particular topic.  I envision this type of question being asked at a congregational meeting:  to the elders;  “do we have in place a “home security plan” or a security plan of some sort in the event that a “crazie” comes into our midst with violence on his/her mind”?  I would not expect an in depth answer from the leadership but would be satisfied with a simple “yes” or “no”.  And...in the event of a negative answer, an inquiry into the leadership’s desires to pursue a plan would be in order.

I sent the linked article to a dear friend whose advice I cherish.  He and I attend different churches that both preach repentance and turning to God.  His summation was that all “violence should be repented of ”.  This particular thought in my warped mind created this topics cartoon “du jour”.  I told him that I would split the profits for this cartoon with him since it was his inspiration that brought it about. ($0.00 / $0.00 = $0.00)

Click on this link to read this very interesting article on “The Heidelblog
      (click cartoon to enlarge)

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Born Againism

There are two concepts that are scripturally true regarding salvation that can be deduced from the Bible. The first is that salvation IS of the Lord. The second concept is, “you must be born again”.  What?...born again? Is that still a valid theological term in this day and age?  Richard Ochs has written an enlightening article on the subject and you can find and download it here:
http://lakeroadchapel.org/~lakeroad/cms-assets/documents/87865-426487.born-againism.pdf

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Photoshop

'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.' This forbids not making an image for civil use. 'Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, It is Caesar's.' Matt 22: 20, 2I. But the commandment forbids setting up an image for religious use or worship.  'Nor the likeness of any thing,' etc. All ideas, portraitures, shapes, images of God, whether by effigies or pictures, are here forbidden. 'Take heed lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make the similitude of any figure.' Deut 4: 15, 16. God is to be adored in the heart, not painted to the eye.

Quest. 1. If it be not lawful to make the image of God the Father, yet may we not make an image of Christ, who took upon him the nature of man?

    Response:  No. Epiphanius seeing an image of Christ hanging in a church, broke it in pieces; ’tis Christ’s Godhead, united to his manhood, that makes him to be Christ; therefore to picture his manhood, when we cannot picture his Godhead, is a sin, because we make him to be but half Christ; we separate what God hath joined, we leave out that which is the chief thing, which makes him to be Christ.

Thomas Watson (1620-1686)