Believe it or not, there are a number of people who are posting things like, “If your church doesn’t have services on Christmas Sunday, find another church.” Now I will admit that it seems ironic that churches cancel services on a holiday that we claim celebrates the birth of Christ. I can’t imagine anyone doing…
Tag: Church
Christmas & the Archko Library
Every Christmas and Easter, I get tons of hits on The Archko Volume, or Archko Library by the Rev. W. D. Mahan. Proponents of this work of pseudo-apocrypha, including televangelist Benny Hinn, claim that the Archko Volue is an authentic historical work recovered from the Vatican Library which authenticates many of the events of the…
…In Which I Become a Sunday School Teacher (Come and See)
If you don’t have a home church (or you don’t have a home church that is giving your kids a solid Biblical foundation that will give them the tools they need to give a reasoned defense of the faith), I encourage you to come visit us at Gateway Church (270 Staunton Ave. South Charleston, South Charleston, WV).
Reflecting the Light
Our reflected light is the result of beholding His face. As the moon reflects the light of the sun, but has no light of it’s own, we reflect the glory of God. When the moon is full, we see the most of the sun’s reflected glory, but what’s going on during a new moon or a crescent moon or a gibbous moon? The moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts a shadow on the Earth. Have you ever heard a more perfect description of our walk with God? Whenever God’s glory is reflected imperfectly, it’s because we’re standing in the way. The more we get in the way, the less light we reflect. How many of us are gibbous? half moons? crescents? How many of us would have to be honest enough to admit that if anyone were to look your way they would only see a black disc in the heavens, barely discernable against the starlit backdrop? How many of us could honestly say we’re at full reflection?
The Everlasting Gospel: Christ the Creator
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” – Colossians 1:16, 17 “In…
Why USAmerica Is Still The Mission Field
In my youth, I recall seeing a banner stretched across the back of the sanctuary of an old country church, directly over the exit, which warned (usually in big, bold, red letters!) that: “You are now entering the Mission Field!!” For the vast majority of Appalachian Protestant fundamentalists and charismatics, when you mentioned the mission…
Reasonable Enough: Why Reason Does Not Compel Acceptance
It is COMPLETELY WRONG to say that I think atheists or any other non-Christians would agree with me if they would just open up their eyes and see reason. I do not believe reason could infect someone [profoundly affect someone] so as to compel them to see my position as truth. I don’t think that…
Doubting God’s Word from the Very First Word
So many times, I’ve engaged Christians who doubt Genesis and don’t really see any consequences for their disbelief. Oh, I know. They wouldn’t call it disbelief. They’d just say that we’ve just misinterpreted it. Yet it is clear to even the smallest child that the intent of the Author of Genesis [and of the remainder…
Chariot House: The Kanawha Valley’s 1st Come-as-you-are Biker Church
Eleven members of four different Christian biker ministries [The Road Riders for Jesus, Christian Motorcyclists Association, Highways & Hedges and Bikers for Christ] are opening a bona fide Biker Church called Chariot House. Their inaugural church service will be January 11, 2009 @ 2:00PM at 1401 4th Avenue [The Corner of 4th Avenue and Florida Street], Charleston, WV. …
What’s Wrong With Church 9: The Edifice Complex
There was once a man who decided quite abruptly that he and his family should attend church. He wasn’t a Christian. He wasn’t raised in church. It was simply a notion. So he and his family got dressed up in their best jeans and T-shirts and went off to the local sanctuary. He enjoyed the…
Why I Am A Creationist 3
Inevitably, someone accuses me of being a Creationist simply because I was raised that way. If I’d been born into the Muslim world, I’d be a Muslim, they say. If I’d been born into one of USAmerica’s Coastal Ignorance belts, I’d be a godless liberal. Et cetera ad nauseam. The problem with this analogy is…
What’s Wrong With Church 8: Fellowship in Neat Little Rows
I believe that Fellowship is one of the more crucial keys to a reality-based Christian life. In Hebrews 10:19-25, we are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, so that we can help each other to “hold fast the profession of our faith” (ie. – to NOT give up!). A lot of folks…
Defending Genesis 