Free Republic

Martin Luther said and wrote many heretical things, but here are a mere five quotes, along with Biblical passages that disprove them. 1. "For reason is directly opposed to faith. This is why you must let reason go. It must be killed and buried in believers." [1] (Answer: Proverbs 14:15, Colossians 1:9, Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22) 2. "..[A Christian] could not lose his salvation, however much he sinned, unless he refused to believe. For no sin can condemn him save unbelief alone." [2] (Answer: Hebrews 10:26-27) 3. "Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your...

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, very much. And, Martha Weisend, thank you very much. And I could say that if the morning ended with the music we have just heard from that magnificent choir, it would indeed be a holy day for all of us. It's wonderful to be here this morning. The past few days have been pretty busy for all of us, but I've wanted to be with you today to share some of my own thoughts. These past few weeks it seems that we've all been hearing a lot of talk about religion and its role in...

“Why aren’t Christian women interested in theology?” I often hear that question (usually from men), and I’m never sure how to answer. That’s likely because I can’t relate to the premise that Christian women aren’t interested in theology—the study of God...

One of the common misconceptions about the divine command to evangelize is that it only applies to those who are given the gift of evangelism (Mat. 28:18-20). Consequently there are many in the body of Christ who never enjoy the privilege of being an ambassador for the King of Kings. There is no higher honor than to represent King Jesus as an ambassador by proclaiming His message of salvation to a world that is perishing in sin. Paul informs us that every Christian is given this divine privilege and responsibility. He wrote: "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he...

Kirk Cameron introduced his latest live event through Fathom, Unstoppable, at Liberty University to a massive crowd, 700 movie theaters and over 100,000 viewers. Cameron’s message was very personal, motivated by the death of a close friend’s teenage son, and challenged even the strongest Christians to answer “Where is God when you are in the middle of the tragedy?” Confessing that the suffering in the world, the loss of life and death of children all bring us to our knees to ask God: “Where are you?” Not answering this question is one that can destroy the bond with God, drive...

Ravi Zacharias was recently in studio to record a radio interview for “Let My People Think”. At the end of the program, Bob Ditmer asked him about the conflicts and turmoil in the Middle East. What’s the big picture? What is it that we’re not seeing? What is happening to Christians and the church during these times? Ravi answers these questions and paraphrases Winston Churchill’s remark, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all other forms of government.”

Augustine stood by the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. He had heard of the hordes of barbarians that were moving as a juggernaut against Rome and the empire. The reports were ominous and foreboding, lending little reason for hope of the survival of the Roman culture. Augustine said a prayer in three parts. In the first part, he implored God to save the empire. In the second part, he asked for grace to accept the destruction of civilization as he knew it, if that should be the will of Providence. In the third part, he asked that in either case...

I'll be the first to criticize public education for not being challenging enough and simply passing kids on to the next grade without teaching them anything...but is this too much for first graders? Here's a partial list of what 6 year olds will allegedly be able to do after completing this lesson plan: 2. Explain the importance of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the use of canals to support farming and the development of the city of Babylon 4. Identify cuneiform as the system of writing used in Mesopotamia 6. Explain the significance of the Code of Hammurabi 9....

Waiting for that other shoe to drop And you swear this world's gonna come to a stop Drowning on dry land a can't come up for air Your knees are so weak and you look at that mountain Say there's no way over and no way around it And it feels like you're so far from home Even God's not there But Oh but every single sparrow flying And every broken soul that's crying He can see yeah you're in His reach If He can hold an ocean back with one little shore Then what's all this worry and...

Who is Jesus? Is He just a man? Is He just a Great Teacher? Is He just a Great Prophet, another in several sent by God over the centuries? The Biblical answer to these questions is found below. Some may believe that only the narrow-minded would not be ready to accept a universal Jesus; One popular with and accepted by all non-Christian religions. However this is not what the Bible teaches. True Belief in Christ allows room for none other. Let's look at the Scriptures and find out what the Biblical portrait of Jesus is. We learn Who Jesus is,...

One of the key elements in any contest is to understand the tactics of your opponent and to recognize the subtleties of the strategy or moves they may employ. In the spiritual battle of life we need to develop some sophistication in recognizing, naming, and understanding the subtleties of common tactics of the Devil.A 2011 book by Fr. Louis Cameli, The Devil You Don’t Know is of great assistance in this matter. Having read it recently, I think it would be of value to reflect on four broad categories of the Devil’s tactics that Fr. Cameli analyzes.While the four...

What if George Zimmerman had approached his “neighborhood watch mission” carrying Christ’s parable of the Good Samaritan in his heart? Did Zimmerman’s concept of “who is my neighbor?” correspond to Christ’s? What if foremost in Zimmerman’s mind had been Christ’s message of “blessed are” the meek, the peacemakers, the merciful? What if he had had the courage and wisdom to remember the Bible’s many admonitions to “fear not” and cheerfully engage Trayvon in conversation, giving the young man a chance to show his attitude without being put on the defensive? While the jury’s outcome may be in line with current...

There is an oft-quoted phrase in Christian circles that goes “faith begins where reason ends” and I’m perfectly fine with that statement as it is. The problem I have is that a lot of people who use this phrase to defend their faith do not really go to the end of reason. They stop short of the end, refusing to take reason past a certain point, and declare that faith is now the operative agent. I, myself, have been guilty of this many times in the past. When I reached a point when I wasn’t able to understand some theological...

...Christians find themselves in a fight they did not choose—facing overwhelming odds and fierce opposition—with a culture demanding we abandon the Bible on homosexuality and instead “celebrate diversity.” Unfortunately, believers often oblige. Faced with an apparent dilemma of fidelity to faith or fidelity to friends, they choose their friends. They may not abandon Christ, but they reject the Bible, at least on this issue, making it easier to compromise again on other inconvenient truths. With controversial issues, you have to start with facts before you start giving opinions.... Lady Gaga’s mega-hit song, “Born this Way,” expressed what many believe: Homosexuality...

Here’s an exerpt from Reaching Muslims with the Gospel of God, an interview with Abdul Saleeb from the June issue of Tabletalk. Tabletalk: Tell us how the Lord led you out of Islam to Christianity. Abdul Saleeb: My first encounter with the gospel and the Christian faith was through the ministry of a group of American missionaries in Europe. When I discovered that Christians did not believe that Jesus was simply a prophet but God incarnate who had died on the cross for our sins, my first reactions were: 1. Christians are insane. 2. How can anyone believe such blasphemies?...

Minority Christians in Somalia faced more violence Tuesday, June 25, after news emerged that Islamic militants publicly executed a young man because he was a Christian. The 28-year-old Hassan Hurshe, who had become a Christian while living in neighboring Kenya, was shot by fighters of the al-Shabab group earlier this month while returning to the Somalian town of Jilib, on the main road from capital Mogadishu, local residents said. After his June 7 execution, Hurshe's parents, widow and son reportedly fled the area. The reported execution undecrored al-Shabab's proclaimed intention "to rid Somalia of every Christian." Though many Somali converts...

Perhaps you saw the mention in Sunday’s Sports section about the Christian iconography on the mound at Busch Stadium. Apparently, somebody on the grounds crew etches a cross into the dirt.... Still, I look at photos of that cross etched on the mound and I get the same sort of uneasy feeling I get when I hear the phrase “homeland security.” It used to be “national security.” Why did “national” morph into “homeland”? It happened about the same time politicians started wearing American flag lapel pins. Besides, I’m scared about terrorism. I’m convinced that fanatical, dedicated people with access to...

After two days trapped in freezing cold water and breathing from an air bubble in an upturned tugboat under the ocean, Harrison Okene was sure he was going to die. Then a torch light pierced the darkness. Ship's cook Okene, 29, was on board the Jascon-4 tugboat when it capsized on May 26 due to heavy Atlantic ocean swells around 30 km (20 miles) off the coast of Nigeria, while stabilizing an oil tanker filling up at a Chevron platform. SNIP Somehow Okene survived, breathing inside a four foot high bubble of air as it shrunk in the waters slowly...

The Last Supper The last evening of His life, All sweetness crystallized, All tenderness condensed, He gives His All to me, to you, To the world till the end of time. He prepares the solemn meal with all yearning. The Food is His heart. The Drink is His love. The Invitation is His desire. With all His love, girding His loin, He waits on us. The divine Love deepens boundlessly only by scorns and rejections. Oh, what Agony of the greatest Lover! Pierce my heart, Lord, expose my soul; I am crying for You… I am crying with You... What...

<>

Warning: this is very obscure and somewhat turgid. Only read it if you are Biblically and historically hardcore. Dear Rev. Know-it-all, Apollos is said to have “vigorously refuted the Jews in public, establishing from the scriptures that the Messiah is Jesus.� Do you know any resource where the argument that Apollos made can be found? Thanks, Judy Eizer Dear Judy, First let’s look at the passage you quote from Acts the 18th Chapter (24-28):  Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in...

Is the Christian faith intellectual nonsense? Are Christians deluded? “If God exists and takes an interest in the affairs of human beings, his will is not inscrutable,” writes Sam Harris about the 2004 tsunami in Letter to a Christian Nation. “The only thing inscrutable here is that so many otherwise rational men and women can deny the unmitigated horror of these events and think this is the height of moral wisdom” (p. 48). In his article “God’s Dupes,” Harris argues, “Everything of value that people get from religion can be had more honestly, without presuming anything on insufficient evidence. The...

Are the Biblical Holy Days Christian Festivals? Why do most people keep holidays that are different from the festivals listed and described in the pages of the Bible? Why do most people keep holidays that are different from the festivals listed and described in the pages of the Bible? When were the biblical feasts abandoned, and why? How can we be sure which sacred days Christians should observe? Here are the answers! Jesus Himself set an example for us (1 John 2:6) in observing the sacred festivals commanded in the Holy Scriptures (Matthew 26:17; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:16, 31; John...

I have been a passive Freeper for a long time and have come to value the opinions and life experiences of many in the community. Now I hope that I can get your feedback on an issue I am facing. My dad is an alcoholic and just got his 16 year chip. He recognizes God as the one who helped him fight for his freedom from alcohol. However I am not sure he has ever recognized the person of Jesus Christ as his savior. He speaks of "spirituality" as it relates to his participation in AA, and it sounds to...

Sunday worship at Calvary Foursquare Church in Silver Spring, Md., starts in an empty parking lot. The congregants usually arrive on foot with well-worn Bibles in hand. They come in groups, Latino mothers and toddlers, grandparents and friends. "Que Dios te bendiga"--May the Lord bless you--each one says, offering hugs and kisses to everyone they meet. They board a refurbished school bus painted with a Bible verse and the church's Spanish name: Iglesia Cuadrangular el Calvario. When it pulls out into the busy street, I hop in my car and follow.

Introduction: The Church Jesus Built Jesus Christ said that He would build His Church and that it would never die out. Is today's Christianity, with its hundreds of denominations with widely differing beliefs and practices, the Church Jesus promised that He would build? "I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in...the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). Jesus Christ proclaimed, almost 2,000 years ago, "I will build My church." He declared that His Church would never die out, promising that "the gates of Hades [the...

In ancient Israel, including during the first century A.D., preparations for the Pesach or Passover feast took place on “Preparation Day.” In the middle of the afternoon (that is, at beyn ha’arbayim, often referred to as “twilight”) on that day, the Passover lamb was sacrificed at the temple in Jerusalem. After sunset, when Preparation Day had ended and the Feast of Unleavened Bread had begun, the lamb and other specific foods for the Pesach feast were eaten. Jesus was crucified and died on Preparation Day. Traditionally, this has been thought to have been on a Friday. I would like to...

 Today, the Monday of Holy Week, Father Steve Grunow shares his sermon about Isaiah, Christ, and the many complexities to a story that ultimately serve to simplify, redeem and illuminate. Our first reading for today is an excerpt from the Old Testament Book of the Prophet Isaiah. In this text, the prophet reveals a mysterious figure, which he names as the servant of the Lord. The servant of the Lord has been chosen by the God of Israel for a particular mission.  The mission of this servant is the restoration of Israel. The prophet Isaiah speaks the word of...

Easter customs mix pagan myths, rituals, symbols and practices with just a little truth. What's wrong with this picture? Link to YouTube video: How Christian is Easter?

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ (33 A.D.) is the most attested historical fact of the ancient world. In addition to the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, it is also widely attested by Greco-Roman and Jewish writers. Closely related, history also confirms that the tomb of Jesus Christ on that first Easter morning was indeed empty. Every vested party knew where Jesus was buried after he died. Yet on Easter, the tomb was found empty, and nobody has ever been recovered ...

Suspected Islamic extremists in Somalia shot a Christian to death this month on the outskirts of the coastal city of Kismayo, sources said. Two masked men killed Ahmed Ali Jimale, a 42-year-old father of four, on Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. as he stood outside his house in Alanley village, near a police station, they said. The killers were suspected to be members of the Islamic extremist Al Shabaab, a rebel militia ousted from the area four months ago but still engaging in hit-and-run tactics. A few of the four rival clans in Kismayo, 328 miles southwest of Mogadishu, are...

I have delayed writing this but those of you I call friends and supporters, who have prayed for me and this ministry need to know about this new battle that lies ahead. One week ago I was diagnosed with Myeloma Cancer. It is incurable and I've been given a 3-4 year window of time. Tomorrow I go in for my first bone biopsy and the process will start. I used to go to movies in the afternoon, now I go see doctors. I write these things for a few reasons. First, I want to put an end to all the...

I am going to try to say this without too much rambling. Last night driving home, I turned on the radio to listen to Mark Levin. He is in the middle of his rant against McDonnell of Virginia. He then talks about Scott of Florida and lists the Repub governors who have now accepted Obamacare. A few of those governors were Tea Party favorites – McDonnell, Scott, Brewer, Kasich, Martinez. It seemed so depressing. Every time we turn around, this guy in the White House continues to win his goals while our beliefs are constantly undermined. This Lent, I have...

<p>That’s what I was wondering over the weekend as I watched “Saturday Night Live” blaspheme Jesus Christ in a violent and bloody Quentin Tarantino parody – just three days after Ash Wednesday.</p> <p>The fake movie trailer for “Djesus Uncrossed” featured the Savior brandishing guns and blowing away Romans in classic Tarantino-style. Blood and gore and profanity spewed across flat screens from coast to coast; at one point Jesus sliced a man’s head in half.</p>

Starring Patty Duke (The Miracle Worker), Sean Astin (Rudy, Forever Strong), and Erin Bethea (Fireproof), Amazing Love: The Story of Hosea follows four teens who embark on a weekend camping trip with their youth group leader, Stuart (Astin), and his wife (Bethea). When an outsider, Ashley, unexpectedly joins Steve, Carrie, Cooper, and Gameboy, the materialistic and self-involved young woman's bad attitude leads to a confrontation with Carrie.

When Jonathan Edwards described the awakening in his church, he had to use words like “surprising,” “extraordinary” and “astonishing.” The Bible says of the early church that “awe came upon every soul” (Acts 2:43). We can’t program that into our worship: 10:45 am – Awe comes upon every soul. Since revival is of God, we should pray for it. But how? The Bible teaches us how to pray; Isaiah 63:15-64:12 is a biblical prayer for revival.

Some in the media have popularized the term "culture war," giving the impression that the war being waged against Christianity is the same thing as a war against everything that is traditional. But in 2013, let's change the term. Let's call it what it is: "A war against Christ." Certainly there are many American traditions rooted in Christian teaching and history. But mixing some traditions with what is purely Christ-honoring -- although it may recruit support from non-Christian traditionalists or conservatives -- dilutes the Christian dye. Take for example the ACLU's war against Christians praying in public schools while obliging...

Were the final resting-places of the family and disciples of Jesus discovered 30 years ago and then hidden as part of a religious-political conspiracy? The archaeological controversy swirling around two Roma-era burial tombs in Jerusalem refuses to die. Indeed, it has become something of an ugly academic slugfest. In one corner stands the Israeli archaeological establishment represented by the Israel Antiquities Authority and Professor Amos Kloner of Bar-Ilan University, backed by various respected archaeologists and scholars. In the other stands Simcha Jacobovici, the filmmaker and self-styled “Naked Archaeologist,” backed by another group of respected archaeologists and scholars.In 1981, Prof Kloner...

“Simeon’s Song: What a Way to Go!” (Luke 2:22-40)This month we have been spending the Advent and Christmas seasons in the Gospel of Luke. All of our sermons have come from there, particularly from Luke’s so-called “Infancy Narrative,” chapters 1 and 2, dealing with the events surrounding the birth of Christ. We’ve especially been looking at the canticles we find in Luke 1-2, those poetic, psalm-like pieces included there. We’ve looked at three so far: Mary’s song, the Magnificat; Zechariah’s song, the Benedictus; and the song of the Christmas angels, the Gloria in Excelsis. Now today we wrap up this...

The Perfect Depiction of Christian Love in Victor Hugo's Jean Valjean "Religions pass away but God remains..." Victor Hugo. It should be no surprise that the great French novelist Victor Hugo was a passionate believer in God and in the power of prayer for this powerfully comes across in his wonderful and inspiring novel Les Miserables, now, of course, also a successful Broadway and West End musical, with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and music by Claude-Michel Schonberg (original French lyrics by Alain Boubil)... Unfortunately, Victor Hugo has rarely been credited as being a Christian writer - partly because of his...

Les Misérables is the big-screen version of the world's longest-running stage musical (take that, Cats!). Since its 1985 debut, the show has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages. Mon Dieu! For this eagerly anticipated adaptation, the Oscar-winning director of The King's Speech, Tom Hooper, shifts his focus from stuttering British royalty to singing French paupers in the 19th century. Victor Hugo's epic tale follows fugitive Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) as he's hunted for decades by relentless Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), through the Paris Uprising of 1832. Whether you're a Les Mis...

Les Misérables is the big-screen version of the world's longest-running stage musical (take that, Cats!). Since its 1985 debut, the show has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages. Mon Dieu! For this eagerly anticipated adaptation, the Oscar-winning director of The King's Speech, Tom Hooper, shifts his focus from stuttering British royalty to singing French paupers in the 19th century. Victor Hugo's epic tale follows fugitive Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) as he's hunted for decades by relentless Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), through the Paris Uprising of 1832. Whether you're a Les Mis...

At Christmas we celebrate Jesus’ birth because no more important human being has ever been born. Jesus is the first-born of all creation, the one individual for whom everything else exists. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, who will rule the coming age as our sovereign ruler. Jesus is more than just a man; he is the translation of the very nature and sovereignty of God Himself into human form—the image of the invisible God, the fullness of God dwelling in human form. Jesus is the supreme prophet, the one whom God sent into the world to...

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Gospel of St. John 1, 14 ............... Today we celebrate a creator choosing to become creation. Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas.

The Byzantine icon representing this article is the work of the 16th-century iconographer Theophanes the Cretan. Many Muslims around the world today would consider it offensive and insulting to Islam. Muslims in the Balkans just a few years ago have entered churches and destroyed icons like this one for precisely that reason. How does this icon insult Islam? In many ways, including these: 1. It depicts human beings, which violates the traditional Islamic prohibition of images and would be considered idolatrous and blasphemous on its face. 2. It depicts Jesus not as a Muslim prophet. Instead, it depicts Jesus in...

n this time of worry about the future of our nation let us pause to remember the gift God gave us on the first Christmas morning. Here is the story of Christ’s birth as told to us by St. Luke @2: 1-20) 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. 2 This was the first enrollment, when Quirin’i-us was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to...

A song I wrote for Christmas.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Isuu9EiFU_E

Christianity faces being wiped out of the “biblical heartlands” in the Middle East because of mounting persecution of worshippers, according to a new report. The study warns that Christians suffer greater hostility across the world than any other religious group. And it claims politicians have been “blind” to the extent of violence faced by Christians in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The most common threat to Christians abroad is militant Islam, it says, claiming that oppression in Muslim countries is often ignored because of a fear that criticism will be seen as “racism”. It warns that converts from Islam...

For its Dec. 10, 2012 edition, Newsweek featured a story, "What Do We Really Know About Jesus?" A better title might have been, "What does Newsweek know about Jesus?" The gist of the article is that the gospels are full of historical errors; yet nevertheless, "for those with a broader vision, a more generous appreciation of literature, and a fuller sense of theological meaning, the story of the Christ-child and his appearance in the world can be founded not on what really did happen, but on what really does happen, in the lives of those who believe that stories such...

“A Blessed Visitation” (Luke 1:39-45)It was a meeting of the moms. Two expectant mothers, one old, one young. One was six months along; the other, newly pregnant. And the fact that they were expecting was totally unexpected! Both of them were pregnant when really neither one of them should have been, under normal circumstances. But these circumstances were anything but normal. What was happening was much better than normal. This meeting of the moms was the visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. Elizabeth was the older woman; Mary, the younger. Elizabeth was in her sixth month; Mary’s pregnancy had just started....