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Clergy accuse vicar of holding ‘illegal’ Islamic prayer service in landmark London churchA Church of England vicar is facing a storm of protest from traditionalist Christians after allowing a Muslim prayer service to be held in his church. Dozens of Muslims took part in the “Inclusive Mosque” event at St John’s church, Waterloo in central London, in what is thought to have been the first time a full Islamic prayer service has been held within the Church of England. The vicar, the Rev Canon Giles Goddard, a prominent liberal cleric, joined in the event, reading a passage from the Bible...

My Fractal Symmetry balances The Father's Heart for He is the source of Love and I AM the Avenue to His Heart therein if you have seen Me, heard Me,listened and obeyed Me as your Shepherd then we are already one and the Kingdom is yours for in your obedience to Me "THE WORD" you dissolve into balance and I AM , therefore your quotient becomes Eternal and "We are one" . . . John 14:3 If I go and prepare a place for you , I will come again and will take you to myself , that where I...

LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters) - Bombs outside two churches in the Pakistani city of Lahore killed 14 people and wounded nearly 80 during Sunday services, and witnesses said quick action by a security guard prevented many more deaths. A Pakistani Taliban splinter group claimed responsibility. Islamist militants in Pakistan have attacked Christians and other religious minorities often over the last decade or more. Many Christians, who make up less than two percent of Pakistan's population of more than 180 million, accuse the government of doing little to protect them, saying politicians are quick to offer condolences after an attack but slow...

<p>Before there was Catholic Answers, there was John Henry Newman, the apostate from Anglicanism. On the issue of the infallibility of the Roman Church, there is surely some continuity between the two. Protestants, in response to Roman claims on the infallibility of the Church, rightly ask how one can be infallibly certain of that. Newman's response is to say that this same argument can be used against the infallibility of the Apostles and the Scripture, the former probably as a polemic against Anglicanism and the latter against Protestantism as a whole. Since the same argument can be used against other views, either one has to abandon all usage of the words "infallibility, necessity, truth and certainty," or the argument is to be discounted altogether.</p>

The Evolution of the Sacrifice of the Mass: Part 1 March 12, 2009 The most ancient writing depicting what early Christian gatherings looked like come from a work called the Didache, also known as “The Teachings of the Twelve Apostles.” But every Lord’s day do ye gather yourselves together, and break bread, and give thanksgiving after having confessed your transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure. But let no one that is at variance with his fellow come together with you, until they be reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be profaned. For this is that which was spoken by the...

1.) The King James Bible and/or Protestant Bible contains 39 Old Testament books and 27 New Testament books. Roman Catholics include all of these books within their sacred canon, with the addition of other books not included within the Protestant Canon. The Coptic Bible contains more books than all of the aforementioned (including the 27/39) and books that Roman Catholics believe to be canonical - and some other books. 2.) The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD issued the Nicene Creed, adhered to by almost all Christians (Roman Catholics, Greek Orthodox, Protestants and Coptics) with the exception of a...

I have given you My Children My access to the Kingdom of ZION(Heavenlies) and the Fullness thereof but many see this as a distant place but truly My Kingdom is more than near you for "I AM THE KINGDOM" and I reside "IN YOU" ( (( ZION ALIVE )) ) and so how can two walk together unless they agree as Enoch does even now ?! For I AM FOR YOU not against you and My Love is your Pathway to the Highway Of Holiness for I Command Love and I AM COMMANDER of You "MY ARMY". So Come Up...

This Sunday I preached at Watermark Church in Dallas under the title “A Tender Word for Pharisees.” There are not many tender words for Pharisees in the mouth of Jesus. Mainly his words to Pharisees are tough, even terrifying (see Matthew 23). The most moving words of tenderness for Pharisees are in Luke 15:25–31, the words of the father to the elder brother in the parable of the prodigal son. Luke 15 begins with Jesus eating with “tax collectors and sinners.” The Pharisees grumbled, “This man receives sinners and eats with them” (Luke 15:2). Jesus explains what he is doing...

Christian theology in the American Church has seen no greater evolution than in the last 10 years. In fact, what the American Church has faced, particularly the Mainline Church, has probably been best described as a devolution or deconstruction of the “faith once received.” Another first, the culture has followed the American Mainline, particularly the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and the Episcopal Church (TEC) in redefining human relationship, sexuality, and marriage. Dr. Del Jacobson, retired professor from Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, MN long ago outlined what the evolution of ideas or movements look like in Church and...

Morning and Evening Charles H. Spurgeon March 13, 2015 Morning Reading Why sit we here until we die? —2 Kings 7:3 Dear reader, this little book was mainly intended for the edification of believers, but if you are yet unsaved, our heart yearns over you: and we would fain say a word which may be blessed to you. Open your Bible, and read the story of the lepers, and mark their position, which was much the same as yours. If you remain where you are you must perish; if you go to Jesus you can but die. "Nothing venture, nothing...

Idolatry by J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)   This updated and revised manuscript is copyrighted Ó1998 by Tony Capoccia.  All rights reserved.   "Flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14)   Our text for today may seem at first to be hardly needed in our country.  In an age of education and intelligence, we might almost fancy it is waste of time to tell us to "flee from idolatry."   I am bold to say that this is a great mistake.  I believe that we have come to a time when the subject of idolatry demands a thorough and searching investigation. ...

For over thirty years I have been professionally and personally connected to the local church. I have served as a pastor, church consultant, author, seminary dean, and church resource provider. The most painful moments of my tenure have been those occasions where church dissension is great, and where church splits take place. There is little good that comes from church splits. The residual pain is lasting and the negative community impact is enduring. After reflecting on church splits over my thirty-year tenure, and after conducting an informal Twitter poll, I have nine major thoughts I would like to share with...

Early Church Evidence Refutes Real Presence Introduction The real presence doctrine is probably the most important doctrine to Catholics today because it is the nucleolus of the Catholic mass. The doctrine insists that the eucharistic elements of bread and wine become the glorified body and blood of Christ when blessed by the priest. The doctrine further asserts that the substance of bread and wine are no longer present and only the accidents (characteristics or appearance) remain. Thus, the name derived from the explanation becomes transubstantiation (a change of substance). It is this belief that compels devout Catholics to worship the...

Morning and Evening Charles H. Spurgeon March 11, 2015 Morning Reading Sin . . . exceeding sinful. —Romans 7:13 Beware of light thoughts of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender, that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear lest they should offend against God. But alas! very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: the sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in after life, too pliant, too easily yielding. It is...

The largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States is only seven votes away from having enough regional bodies favor changing its official definition of marriage to include homosexual unions. At last year's general assembly, Presbyterian Church (USA) approved an amendment changing their Book of Order's definition of marriage from being between "a man and a woman" to "two people, traditionally a man and a woman." Known as Amendment 14-F, the possible change to the Book of Order is leading with 79 regional bodies, or presbyteries, in favor and 37 opposed. These 79 regional bodies included the Presbytery of East Tennessee,...

Morning and Evening Charles H. Spurgeon March 10, 2015 Morning Reading In my prosperity I said I shall never be moved. —Psalm 30:6 "Moab settled on his lees, he hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel." Give a man wealth; let his ships bring home continually rich freights; let the winds and waves appear to be his servants to bear his vessels across the bosom of the mighty deep; let his lands yield abundantly: let the weather be propitious to his crops; let uninterrupted success attend him; let him stand among men as a successful merchant; let him enjoy...

As the chart ... shows, Catholicism is the most common religious tradition in 17 states, while white evangelical Protestants are first in 15 states, mostly in the South. The religiously unaffiliated are the most common religious group in 13 states, mostly in the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast. Three states are outliers: Utah, which is 56 percent Mormon, the largest percentage of one single religious tradition, and Iowa and North Dakota, where white mainline Protestants are the dominant religious tradition.

In verse 10 John sets out one practical application of how to defend the truth: If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house. Hospitality for traveling teachers was common in the culture (cf. Luke 9:1-6; 10:1-12). The prohibition here is not to turn away the ignorant; it does not mean that believers may not invite unbelievers—even those who belong to a cult or false religion—into their midst. That would make giving the truth to them difficult, if not impossible. The point is that believers are not to welcome and provide...

Why is this blog titled “ParkingSpace23”? Because in the burial plot of the great Reformer, John Knox, now lies under a parking space numbered 23 behind St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Knox’s grave is marked by a small, oil-stained plaque in the pavement. Nevertheless, although his burial place is less than honorable, his faithfulness to the Word of God has not been forgotten. We wish to continue his legacy of the bold proclamation of the Truth. In this blog, I want to highlight 7 marks of John Knox’s life which we ought to imitate as we seek to honor Christ....

I will here make some observations on offenses, what distinctions are to be made between them, what kind are to be avoided and what disregarded. This will afterwards enable us to determine what scope there is for our liberty among men. We are pleased with the common division into offense given and offense taken, since it has the plain sanction of Scripture, and not improperly expresses what is meant. If from unseasonable levity or wantonness, or rashness, you do any thing out of order or not in its own place, by which the weak or unskillful are offended, it may...