Category Archives: Theology

Culture, Current Events, Debate, False Religion, Politics, Pop Christianity, Theology

Obama, Apostasy, and the American Dream

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Well, I can hardly believe that Obama did what he did tonight in his DNC acceptance speech… But with everything I’ve seen so far, I cannot say that I’m too surprised. For starters, I would like to point out two very important references that Obama made during and at the end of his acceptance speech. I quote from Collin Hansen over at the Christianity Today Live Blog regarding “Obama’s Code Language“:

Obama’s Code Language
Democratic nominee borrows from New Testament
By: Collin Hansen

I doubt any commentators will accuse Sen. Barack Obama of using religious code language in his acceptance speech. Yet two famous New Testament passages made an appearance. As is typical of civil religion today, God was replaced by the “American promise.”

“Instead, it is that American spirit – that American promise – that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend,” Obama said, borrowing from 2 Corinthians 4:18.

Obama then concluded his remarks this way: “Let us keep that promise – that American promise – and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.”

This statement comes from Hebrews 10:23. But the context of this passage explains something far more beautiful than the American promise. “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:19-22).

This is truly to most ironic part about the whole Speech. Though every thinking Christian should realize that Obama is promoting the idolatry of “the American Dream”, I would like to point out that, based on one of my previous posts, the subsequent verses of Hebrews chapter 10 that follow verse 23 apply directly to Barack Obama and his apostasy from the faith once for all delivered to the saints.

The verse in Hebrews that he quoted was talking about holding fast to our confession of Christ as Lord and Messiah, not the American Dream! I wonder what people would think if he continued to quote the passage? I wonder if the speech write even bothered to read the context of the verse or if he just Googled it in from an online Bible and a vague memory he had about the wording of that particular sentence?

So, for those of you thinking about it now… here is the passage in full from verse 23 to verse 31:

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has spurned the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

So, you decide now who you will vote for in the November election. These are just some crucial thoughts we need to be having as Christians who are citizens in this great land of freedom and liberty and justice for all. Does Obama’s speech convince you of something? Talk back to me about it in the comments.

In Christ and In Defense of the Faith,
Glenn Jones

Apologetics, Church Fathers, Debate, History, Politics, Science, Theology

Quotes on Abortion from the Early Church

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“You shall not kill the child by obtaining an abortion. Nor, again, shall you destroy him after he is born.” (Barnabas, 70-80 AD, 1.148)

“You shall not murder a child by abortion nor kill one who has been born.” (The Didache, 80-140 AD, 1.377)

“We say that those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder. And we also say that we will have to give an account to God for the abortion.” (Athenagoras, 175 AD, 2.147)

“In our case, murder is once for all forbidden. Therefore, we may not destroy even the fetus in the womb, while as yet the human being derives blood from other parts of the body for its sustenance. To hinder a birth is merely a speedier way to kill a human. It does not matter whether you take away a life that has been born or destroy one that is not yet born.” (Tertullian, 197 AD, 3.26)

“Indeed, the Law of Moses punishes with appropriate penalties the person who causes abortion. For there already exists the beginning stages of a human being. And even at this stage, [the fetus] is already acknowledged with having the condition of life and death, since he is already susceptible to both.” (Tertullian, 210 AD, 3.218)

“Are you to dissolve the conception by aid of drugs? I believe it is no more lawful to hurt a child in process of birth, than to hurt one who is already born.” (Tertullian, 212 AD, 4.57)

“There are some women who, by drinking medical preparations, extinguish the source of the future man in their very bowels. So they commit murder before they bring forth.” (Mark Minucius Felix, 200AD, 4.192)

“The womb of his wife was hit by a blow of his heel. And, in the miscarriage that soon followed, the offspring was brought forth, the fruit of a father’s murder.” (Cyprian, 250AD, 5.326)

“The soul is not introduced into the body after birth, as some philosophers think. Rather, it is introduced immediately after conception, when the divine necessity has formed the offspring in the womb.” (Lactantius, 304-313AD, 7.297)

“You shall not slay your child by causing abortion, nor kill the baby that is born.” (Apostolic Constitutions, 390 AD, 7.466)

[HT: James Grant]

Book Reviews, Books, Promotionals, SBL, Theology

Review of Biblical Literature – August 2008

Recently I joined the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL). I’ve seen other blogs mention the following type of book reviews, but now I’m actually getting the E-mails each month when the book reviews are released. So, I thought I would spread the word too and mention some of the book reviews that I found interesting from this months newsletter. Here they are. Enjoy!

=====================

Lester L. Grabbe
Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?
Reviewed by Brian B. Schmidt

Leslie Houlden, ed.
Decoding Early Christianity: Truth and Legend in the Early Church
Reviewed by Robert M. Bowman Jr.

Tom Thatcher, ed.
What We Have Heard from the Beginning: The Past, Present, and Future of Johannine Studies
Reviewed by Cornelis Bennema

Francis Watson
Paul, Judaism, and the Gentiles: Beyond the New Perspective
Reviewed by James D. G. Dunn

Eschatology, Misc, Theology, Videos

Building Demolition and it’s Theological Imagery

As a full time Structural Engineer, I get to design buildings every day. But given this demolition video of an existing building in Japan, I cannot help but post about this awesome new technique! 🙂

Theological Analysis:

God is de-constructing the old, sinful world through the preaching of the Gospel and the redemption of all the nations, by means of His Church empowered by His Spirit. The only insufficiency of the video is that demolition is not all that is occurring. God is building a new world in Jesus Christ and all who take part in this new world, here and now, will one day inherit a consummated new world where Heaven and Earth are finally one (seen in Revelations 21 when Heaven (the new city Jerusalem) comes down to the Earth causing John to say, in verse 1, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” ESV). So, this type of demolition (in the video above) helps us to see the slow and progressive work of God in de-constructing the old world through the preaching of the Gospel and the work of His Church. The Church, empowered by God’s Spirit, is like the construction company doing the demo work in the video, gradually and surely taking out all the foundations and supports of the old world in anticipation of the new world that Jesus is preparing for all who love Him and trust Him! That is why Paul said, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (ESV, 2 Cor. 10:3-5)

[HT: GIZMODO]

Current Events, Debate, Politics, Theology

Obama: The Apostate Christian

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Well, I don’t care what he says about himself being a “Christian”. Barack Obama is not a faithful Christian and therefore an apostate. This man is twisting ever which way to gain Evangelical and Catholic voters, but if people merely read his interviews about his faith and know what denomination he originates from, faithful Christians will know that he’s a universalist and does not believe in hell and questions the reality of an afterlife. To put it simply, Barack Obama is a practical atheist.

Check out this Baptist Press article for some further details. If you don’t want an atheist as your president, you know what to do this coming election. 🙂

Culture, Current Events, Prayer, Theology

One order of sin please, hell on the side

This is essentially what Canada thinks they are asking for here. But, on the contrary, within a few years the wrath of God will be completely revealed on this nation unless God miraculously shows them mercy. Please pray for the children of Canada and the wicked indoctrination being forced upon them and their parents. May God do His will.

Romans 1:18,26-27,32: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.”

Excerpt:

The Vancouver board of education says it plans to enforce a ministry policy that prevents parents from pulling students out of classes that deal with alternative sexuality.

A recent staff recommendation from the Vancouver board of education says parents can pull their children out of sensitive lessons in health classes because of religious or family beliefs, but can’t opt their children out of gay-friendly lessons in any other classes.

The recommendation, released Friday, sets out detailed guidelines and procedures the district intends to distribute to schools. (more…)

Apologetics, Atheism, Books, Funny, Historical Jesus Debate, History, Interviews, Theology, Videos

Master Christian Apologist: Stephen Colbert

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This is an awesome example of GOOD Christian Apologetics being applied against an agnostic scholar (Bart Ehrman). The best part about it is the fact that it is Stephen Colbert telling Bart Ehrman that an agnostic is just an atheist without balls! 🙂

Here it is… Enjoy! Please comment and share your thoughts and reactions.