Scripture speaks of a time when the government “causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark.” (Rev 13:16-17 KJV). I have been vocal about the threat that corona-hysteria government overreach poses to religious liberty, but I now also see a grave eschatological danger.Continue Reading
A Pentecostal First Amendment Objection
I am not saying that face coverings should be worn nor am I saying that face coverings should not be worn; I am saying that governments must not compel it. You see, while I am a stalwart libertarian, I am also a pentecostal Christian. I contend that such mandates go against my sincere religious beliefs.Continue Reading
Online Census? Think Twice!
Completing the decennial census online probably seems like an easy task, but convenience comes at a price—a price that I am unwilling to pay.Continue Reading
On Judgment and Experience
Good judgment comes from experience which mostly comes from bad judgment. Jason Statham as Arthur Bishop in The Mechanic
On Ugly Truth
Nothing has an uglier look to us than reason, when it’s not on our side. George Savile
Just Because (wo)Men do(n’t)….
Just because women normally do (or don’t do) a-b-c and just beause men generally do (or don’t do) d-e-f does not mean non-conformity is inherently improper. After all, most people eat whatever they wish, but then there are vegetarians…..
On Plan A and Plan B
“There is no Plan B. You have Plan A, and you keep working at it until it happens. There is no Plan B.” Zac Baker, 60 Days In
“Plan B gets in the way of Plan A.” Ashleigh Baker, 60 Days In
Kelly Clarkson “Sober” (Sessions @ AOL 2007)
My Shield, My Strength…My Very Present Help
I found myself reflecting on the 2002 Hillsong lryic: I will bless the Lord forever, and I will trust Him at all times. He has delivered me from all fear… I will not be moved, and I’ll say of the Lord… You are my shield, my strength, my portion, deliverer, my shelter, strong tower, my very present help in time of need…
While largely a paraphrase of the 34th Psalm, it really boils it down to a kernel.Continue Reading
Carmen Carrera on Transgender Experience
On Vanity
Age-defiance vanity is underrated. Vox
Evolution as Religion
An exceeding number of evangelical Christians have long crusaded against Evolution Theory solely because it discredits Abrahamic teaching. But is this really the most appropriate doctrinal or theological battleground? It occurs to me today—and I hope to explore the idea in a future post—that Evolution Theory is a greater doctrinal threat to the premise of salvation than it is to scriptural inerrancy. Evolution Theory does not simply say that God did not create the universe, but that sentient life has no need of redemption. If homo sapien evolved from acephalic bacteria to amoral primate to cognitive human, then there is no inherent evil nature. Moreover—and more importantly—if the Evolution brought homo sapien from the innocent animal to the self-aware human then Evolution will continue to improve humanity to perfection. In other words, Evolution Theory cannot be understood as history but also as future and if engaged from an entirely secular mindset, Evolution supplants Abrahamic religion by foreclosing the need for redemption. In time, says Evolution Theory, homo sapien will continue to evolve into increasingly perfect creatures. There is therefore no need to hasten humankind’s improvement any more than there is to judge humankind because any present wretchedness owes to Evolution’s slow hand rather than an innately damnable soul. Evolution Theory implies, “we are saving ourselves” which is the absolute antithesis to Abrahamic faith and the very height of hubris to think that we mortals could aspire to moral equality with God.
Gnostic Theology
People like Ben Carson and Mike Pence shade intellectual Christians as much as they flame dogmatic Christians. As for me, yes, I can engage philosophical arguments without fear of sacrificing belief. Argument might alter my concept of God but argument will never change my belief in God.
Mine, Not Hers
— Garjan Sterk (@GarjanSterk) August 25, 2018
A Powerless Form of Godliness
Paul wrote to Timothy that “in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves [… h]aving a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; […e]ver learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Tim 3 KJV)Continue Reading