Posts have been kind of slow around here. I’ve been pretty busy with the start of the new semester and our youth ministry at church. This semester I’m taking OT criticism with Dr. Andrew Hill along with Greek and Hebrew. Hopefully I can start posting some more in a little bit.
I believe that the local church, as an extension of the universal church, is a distinct community of Christ-followers assembled together within a particular location (Matt. 18:17-20; Rom. 1:7; Rev. 1:11). The local church is marked by the preaching of God’s word, corporate prayer and worship, a recognized membership, and the administration of Christian ordinances—believer’s baptism and the Lord’s supper (Matt. 28:16-20; Acts 2:41-47; 1 Tim. 4:13; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; 1 Cor. 14:29-31; 1 Thess. 5:19-22).
Baptism is an outward sign of an inward covenant with God and is ideally by immersion, which pictures our union with Christ (Matt. 3:16; Acts 8:36-40; Rom. 6:1-5; Gal. 3:27). While baptism is necessary as a part of our obedience to Christ, Scripture does not teach baptismal regeneration (Luke 23:40-43; John 3:16; Acts 16:31; Rom. 3:25; 1 Pet. 3:20-22).
I believe that the bread and the cup of the Lord’s supper represent the body and blood of Jesus, which was given to us for the forgiveness of our sins (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; Jude 12). In the communion meal, Jesus is spiritually present with us through the person of the Holy Spirit.
I believe that Jesus is the head of the church, which is His body (1 Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:22-23). The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone (Matt. 16:13-20; Eph. 2:19-20). In other words, Jesus is the ultimate authority over the church and He exercises His authority through the teachings of the apostles and prophets as preserved in Scripture, God’s Holy Word (Gal. 1:11; 2:6-14; 1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 1:13-14; Jude 3-4).
So we’re in Colorado this week and next week we’ll be in Nebraska. It feels really good to be done with finals. I’m surprised how much warmer it is in Colorado in comparison to Illinois. We are enjoying our time hanging out with Shelley’s family and looking forward to seeing mine.
Here’s an interesting story from FoxNews. Evidently the second most popular boy’s name in the UK is Mohammed. It’s becoming quite obvious that Islam is filling a void in post-Christian secular culture. Does this remind anyone else of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 12:43-45?
”When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”
Here’s some more of my project for my Christian theology class.
I believe in one holy universal church, a diverse community comprised of all those who have truly trusted in Jesus Christ as Lord (Acts 11:1-18; Rom. 2:28-29; 4:9-12; 10:9-13; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:26-29; Eph. 2:11-18; 3:6; 4:4-6). The church exists to glorify God in all things, to train believers to follow Christ, to share in Christian fellowship, and spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus throughout the world (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 12:28-31; Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 4:11-13; 1 John 4:7-21). According to Scripture, the church is the family of God, the bride of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16-17; Gal. 6:10; Eph. 2:21-22; 3:15; 4:4-6; 5:22-33; Heb. 2:11; Rev. 19:7-8).
Baptist Press has released a great summary of differences between historic Christianity and the church of the Latter-Day Saints. Check it out.
I don’t like getting in politics too much on my blog, but I am frustrated with commentators who simply want to equate the church of the Latter Day Saints with orthodox Christianity. At least the Jehovah Witnesses realize that they have departed from orthodoxy. Just recently I ran across this on FoxNews. Here’s their defense of Mormonism. It is such a distorted picture.
For instance, the reason that Mormonism is considered a cult is because they reject orthodox Christianity as represented in the Nicene Creed. Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, and Catholics can all say a hearty amen to the Nicene Creed and yet the Latter-Day Saints cannot.
Mormonism is also a departure from orthodox Christianity because of its rejection of creation ex nihilo. In Mormonism, God is not the Creator. He’s only the chief craftsman. This makes matter out to be eternal. And as a result, Mormons believe that God has a physical body. The article says “an immortal body,” but the point is same. God is not incorporal as taught in Scripture and orthodox church tradition.
The article also says that “Mormons believe that all mankind are sons and daughters of God and should be loved and respected as such. The blessings of the gospel are available to all.” This might be what Mormons believe now as of post-1978, but it’s not what Mormon forefathers like Joseph Smith and Brigham Young believed. It is simply misleading for them to ask us to ignore what they have previously taught.
Update
Parchment and Pen has also addressed Fox’s 21 questions about Mormonism. Check out Rob Bowman’s answers. It’s a pretty good post.
Here’s a great link for those learning to read the NT in Greek. Check the Resurgence Greek Project out.
Bryan tagged me and asked me about my reading habits.
1. One book that changed my life: John H. Walton’s Genesis NIVAC commentary. I picked Wheaton because of his approach to the OT.
2. One book that I read more than once: Lord of the Flies. I read it several times for an English class at WNCC in Nebraska. Fantastic story. Are we really that messed up?
3. One book that you’d want a desert island: The Bible. I know that it’s a SS answer, but sorry, I can’t help it.
4. One book that made you laugh: Blue like Jazz. Enough said.
5. One book that made you cry: The Brothers Karamazov.
6. One book that you wish that you had written: anything by Flannery O’Connor or Graham Greene.
7. One book that you wish had never been written: Something written by Marx or Hitler.
8. One book you’re currently reading: Biblical Hebrew by Allen Ross. I know, boring.
9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: The Great Gatsby.
10. Now tag five people: I like being it.
