Today I ran across some information that makes me question some of the links in my blogroll (well not really question the links but the actions of the blog owners).

Without saying too much…take a look at this post and/or this post and decide for yourself (it isn’t a joke).

I realize there will always be a “line” there that “famous” people in the ministry will try to defend (I am talking about the spending of money on conventions/cruises and the like). However, I wonder how Christ-like and how (ir)responsible blowing money in such a way really is.

Steve Camp and Phil Johnson have been in my blogroll for a long time. Since they are in my blogroll, I felt it was important for me to point out that

having a link in my blogroll != support for said person and/or organization

(”!=” means “not equal to”). My blogroll simply consists of blogs that I read, visit, and/or find interesting. You may find blogs in my blogroll that I do not agree with so do your DD and always check everything against the Scripture.

AMDG

The last three or four posts at CAMPONTHIS have been on calvinism vs arminianism (TULIP). This is the great debate that will continue to rage on until the end of time but I did want to comment.

First off, I don’t consider myself to be a calvinist nor do I consider myself to be an arminian (though at times in my life I called myself by each)…I consider myself a Christian (follower of Christ) and that is all.

A few general comments about both sides…these are very general and by no means are they meant to be sweeping…I think there are excellent Christian teachers with good doctrine on both sides of the argument. Now on to the stuff that will make people mad.

It seems many calvists are elitists. They seem to think that they have somehow received some scriptural enlightenment that a non-calvinist could never attain. They seem to think that calvinism is the ultimate understanding (be all and end all) of the scripture. I suppose when they reach the next level they will understand that they are wrong.

Arminians, on the other hand, try to be too logical and rely too heavily on their feelings and what “they” think is right. If it doesn’t make sense to them then it can’t be. God must conform to their “feelings” and judgements on right and wrong.

Many people come into the Christian world as arminians or through arminian channels. I think the general progression may be for arminians to become calvinists (or partial)…the problem is that many people stop there…and all of a sudden they think they have reached the pinnacle of understanding since they have come from arminianism into calvinsim (sometimes kicking and screaming at first)…they view calvinism as the meat and armininism as the milk.

Keeping with the analogy above…the truth is…if arminianism is the milk, then calvinism is the baby food (cereal) and calvinsists won’t understand that until they are eating solid foods and eventually meat.

The debate will rage on I’m sure, however, the cool thing is that we will see both our arminian and our calvinist brothers in heaven…because it is not whether you hold to the Canons of Dort or the Arminian Articles of Remonstrance or any mix and match thereof…it is whether you trust in Christ as your Savior (and serve Him).

Since I didn’t really go into any doctrine on the subject…allow me to violate your conscience and leave you with this.

• Christ died for the sins of the world –that is, everyone. (and the arminians say woohoo)
• Only the elect will be saved –those whom the Father calls. (and the calvinists say woohoo)
• …and the clincher…Both of these statements are 100% true, there is no second step, no matter how much it violates your reasoning or your finite little mind. (and they both say boo)

While I’m at it I might as well throw this one out there too…

• Man has 100% free will.
• God is 100% soveriegn over everything (every little detail).
• …and the crowd cries, “That isn’t possible!”…bzzzt wrong answer.

When you start to reconcile the ideas above (that is, when you start to conform your mind to them instead of trying to conform them to your understanding) you are starting to eat more solid foods. The thing is, once you start to eat more solid foods, you will find that the amount (types) of solid food can be overwhelming…it isn’t just milk (one choice) or baby food/cereal (a few choices) anymore… The more you study the scripture, the more you realize you may not know as much as you thought you did.

AMDG

It seems there is quite an issue heating up in the Bible translation world (at least in the Christian blogosphere) about gender.

I would like to know what the big deal is.

Why is it only now that people are starting to have such a huge problem with “men” or “man” being used to refer to men and women or the human race?

Does the women’s lib movement have anything to do with it?

Where will it stop? Will we revise history to change Armstrong’s words (that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind)?

I have never been a fan of polictically correct terminology and the fact that it is now starting to wiggle its way into Bible translation is most disturbing.

AMDG

Yet another holiday has passed that I don’t celebrate (Valentine’s Day).

However, I ran across this post and I had to link to it.

The more we study Christ the more we should understand about His love (what love really means).

It is easy to get caught up in the tearing down of brethren because their doctrine may vary from your own. How many people lose site of love and what it really means in the process?

AMDG

I just had to comment on this because sometimes I find it hard to believe the lengths Christians will go into mediocrity.

My comment is prompted by a post at challies.com as well as many other blogs that have decided to post on the issue (it is a good time to post on it).

Just ask yourself a few questions and try to answer them honestly and scripturally. Can you see Jesus celebrating a holiday based in the occult? Can you picture the apostles giving in and partially celebrating an occult holiday just because everyone else is doing it?

I mean come on people (directed towards people making excuses to celebrate halloween), do you really believe the nonsense you are trying to feed yourselves?

I especially like comments like this one (sarcasm):

“I have seen too many Christian kids who were so sheltered from the world, that when they were inevitably thrust out into it, had a bad time.”

I can tell you my kids don’t miss halloween at all and they have never celebrated it. They aren’t going to have a “bad time” because they didn’t celebrate a pagan holiday (all hallow’s eve) either. I don’t think teaching your kids about Jesus and why not to celebrate such holidays is sheltering them at all, quite the opposite.

As far as the negative comments about Christians who turn out the light and don’t participate…I have to say I don’t really agree with those comments. The question is…does your “half” participation in the event further the Gospel and is it a witness for Christ? Putting a sign on your door with scripture (and not handing out candy or greeting people) may serve the same purpose…perhaps even to a greater extent since it shows that you are taking a stand on not celebrating the event.

In addition, I wanted to comment on one remark that Tim made.

“Perhaps the greatest fallacy Christians believe about Halloween is that by refusing to participate in the day we are somehow taking a stand against Satan.”

I honestly don’t think that this is a primary reason for not participating in halloween. I think it is more of a stand on Biblical principle and an attempt to be Christ-like, serving Him, in all that we do.

I will close with the question I already asked…would Christ and/or the apostles participate happily in an occult holiday?

P.S.
I suppose if you are going to stand at your door and preach the Gospel all night you would be doing pretty good. However, I somehow doubt that is what Christians who participate in this occult holiday are going to be doing.

AMDG