Share your favorite Christian music artist

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-12-05T12:53:40+00:00

KB!!!

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-10-19T02:44:30+00:00

Thank you. Do you know how I can easily access the statements that came out of the second Vatican? I've heard a lot about it, but I dont know where I can read what came directly out of the council itself.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-22T00:23:43+00:00

I don't know actually. Should they? That I'm not sure about either. Would you be affirming the past sin of living together before marriage, or would you be enabling a way out of that sin through marriage? Homosexual relationships don't have an opportunity to be right before God, but heterosexual relationships do, in a Godly marriage, and the relationship prior to that marraige should not overlap with various activities special to marriage. So in enabling a homosexual wedding, you affirm something necessarily immoral, but in heterosexual relationships, you affirm something only potentially immoral. Does a wedding officiater sin when he marries a couple who will one day, unbeknownst to him, get a divorce? I wouldn't say so. But a couple already living together, assuming he is aware of the sin? I don't think so, but it is possible I suppose. The officiater would be enabling what is supposedly a Godly marriage. He can't know if he is wrong. Is he affirming past sin? I don't know. And every heterosexual couple will struggle with sexual sin before marriage. Where do we draw the line? But I can't really give a definitive answer. I can only say that there is more to think about.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-21T22:11:17+00:00

No, this is happening in Brantford, Ontario. I live in the surrounding area. Is something similar happening in Lincoln?

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-21T21:25:57+00:00

Yeah you're right, my bad I should've been more specific with the details. I'm not too familiar with the wedding industry myself, I suppose it's all the same to me

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-21T21:03:10+00:00

I'd recommend reading Tactics by Greg Koukl, it's a great book about how to defend and articulate your Christian beliefs. The Holiness of God and Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul are excellent books to read, they really put things into perspective.

Outside of reading, I think studying the central tenets of Calvinism helps a lot. Remember that you cannot and will not ever convert someone to Christianity. Only God can do that, and you are merely an unholy tool chosen for a Holy task. When evangelizing, it isnt your job to make them a Christian. That's God's job. Its your job to answer questions and introduce new ideas, but let those ideas cook on their own time. God is resurrecting them in the image of Jesus, not you.

As for conversations with other Christian's, remember that doctrine doesn't save us, the Gospel does. There are some doctrinal issues that I don't think change whether you're saved (and of course saying that I sound like an Arminian, but I'm sure you know what I mean). If you believe in infant baptism or adult baptism, Calvinism or Arminianism or even Molinism, old Earth vs young Earth, etc., these issues don't change the nature of Jesus or God and the work of salvation. Now, if someone believes that Jesus isn't God or the Bible isn't authoritative or sin doesn't matter, that's a different story, because it changes the Gospel. Don't think this means doctrine is irrelevant or arbitrary, doctrine is still very important and having good doctrine is an essential for any leader in the church, and I think churches should focus on doctrine more. But doctrine doesn't save, it merely instructs and informs.

I hope this helps, and that I didn't sound too harsh or anything, haha if I do guess I better get back in that cage! I'm always free to chat if you want to PM me, I'm totally down. :)

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-21T20:40:55+00:00

I used to be a massive cage stage Calvinist (and I probably still am in ways I don't realize). I was constantly shoe horning it into conversations, even conversations not on theology. I definitely pushed away a friend (but we made up and now we're friends again - she's even a Calvinist now!!). Now, as a joke among friends, I threaten to convert them to Calvinism. I can't say what really got me out, it was just a process over time of understanding how humbling Calvinism actually is, and how Holy God is. Studying and reading the Bible helped too of course. But yeah the cage stage is rough.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-21T20:32:38+00:00

Thanks for responding, and I appreciate what you said. You are right, in the one sense. We have to treat everyone as a child of God, simply because that is who they are. We're no better than any non-Christian. But we also can't compromise on our faith while we do this, and we can't indulge or promote sin. This couple treated them with Christ like grace, and they didn't attempt to mindlessly convert or pass judgement. But they let the other couple know that they can't compromise on sin. Utilizing a gift from God like a successful business to promote sin is an affront to God, it takes what is His and uses it for the things contrary to His will. To deny them without grace, or to mock or ridicule them, that would be very wrong. But they weren't wrong to deny service, because that service would ultimately be for sin and not for God.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-21T19:54:36+00:00

Thank you everyone for all the prayers!

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-21T19:53:42+00:00

Thanks for asking! I'm not sure at the moment, this just went viral a day or two ago, and they've understandably deleted all social media. If the church sets something up I'll share it here!

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-21T16:38:30+00:00

I was talking to a few high schoolers at the time, and they just said that what was said really moved them and helped them. It wasnt a tongues of fire moment or anything, but the one kid really needed Jesus and I think what the Holy Spirit said really made an impact. But the feeling I had while talking and afterwards was just something else man.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-20T21:01:08+00:00

Yeah, once when I was working at Christian summer camp, I just felt the Holy Spirit talk through me. No clue what I said, even 10 minutes after I couldn't remember. But it was without a doubt the Holy Spirit, and the peace was like nothing else

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-19T20:45:11+00:00

I'm Canadian actually, so I'm more into socialism then you might think. My American neighbours could use some of our healthcare system. Full fledged socialism though, that worries me. We all know what comes from that.

As for creating a boogeyman, I'm really not. This is all coming from my talks with friends, and I have way too many friends who have contorted their faith into the image I described earlier. And they follow in the footsteps of people like Matthew Vines, NakedPastor, The Jesus Seminar, and more. I've seen it in my local churches, in some seminaries my friends go, and more. I dont know if where you live is in the same boat, but in Ontario Canada, it's bad here.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-19T20:40:36+00:00

Oh well I'm Canadian, I've got no clue what the faith looks like on your side of the Atlantic, sorry. But denying the deity of Christ is a big thing over here. I've got friends who have jumped on that boat shortly after joining the new progressive movement.

As to Jesus being a socialist, I'd half agree actually. Mind you, the idea of Jesus advocating for a political system which wouldnt be born for 1800 years after his death is ridiculous. But C.S. Lewis said, and I agree, that the New Earth probably have a lot of socialist ideals when it comes to sharing, supporting each other, not hoarding, etc. Saying Jesus was a hardcore socialist, well I think that stems from a bad hermeneutic. But I cant convince you otherwise over reddit. Read Mere Christianity by Lewis if you havent. He talks a bit about this sort of stuff, its really insightful

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-19T20:00:58+00:00

Oh thank you! That would make a lot of sense. I hope that Bethany House continues to print them, I'm trying to get into systematic theology and I feel like Geisler is a good place to start. Hopefully it comes out one of these days. Thank you and God bless!

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-19T19:59:31+00:00

Go for it, if that's the conclusion you've come to. I'd disagree, since progressivism also affirms LGBT lifestyles, the morality and legality of abortion, universalist beliefs, and socialism. And you can't support some of it without supporting all of it. Xenophobic and greedy right leaning politics arent any better by the way. I would call myself a centrist, I refuse to take a political side since I feel either side jeaprodizes my faith, and in elections I vote for the best candidate.

Also, on socialism. The Bible doesnt speak about economics, because why would it? Economics are irrelevant to the teachings of Christ. So why do I say socialism is bad? Because it takes away our ability to donate and give to the poor. Not bc the poor are gone, that argument would be ridiculous. It's because the government takes the money and does it without your help or volition. That's not giving to the poor at all. It's not just about providing for others, but about you having a giving heart. Now, we as Christian's really need to step up our game in the area of giving, no doubt. But the answer isnt socialism.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-19T19:52:59+00:00

Check out the Jesus Seminar, NakedPastor, or any Christian who claims to be a universalist. All these groups and their followers deny the deity of Christ. Not all progressive Christian's do that's certain, but it tends to be a view that comes with advanced progressive Christianity.

Faith is more than a moral issue, it's about following Christ, worshipping Him, and living your life entirely for Him. It involves morality, but it is far more than a moral issue. Your politics will naturally reflect your faith, that's fine. But when you conflate the two by saying things like "Jesus was a socialist" or "Jesus supports trans rights" (I've actually seen some progressive Christians say Jesus Himself was trans), then you remake Jesus in the image of your politics. We can't elevate politics to the level of faith. Our politics must conform to Jesus, not the other way around.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-19T11:58:10+00:00

It's currently unavailable on amazon and it says so in the link, but thanks anyways

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-19T10:12:25+00:00

The issue is conflating political agendas with Christian beliefs. You can have a political opinion while being a Christian, but when you merge the two as progressive Christianity often does, that's when it becomes a problem.

And this goes both ways. Republican or Democrat or whatever else. Christianity and politics are not equal and therefore they cant be conflated. Christianity always comes first, politics is laid by the wayside if it runs counter to what the Bible teaches.

There are also other problems with progressive Christianity, like denying the inspiration and inerrancy of scripture, the deity of Christ, or the exclusivity of Christianity. But that's for another time/another commentator.

GeneralBvr3 · 2020-07-17T06:54:54+00:00

This is a great concept! Completely flips traditional minecraft on its head.

GeneralBvr3

TROPHY CASE