Predestination VS Arminianism

Posted on March 2, 2008 by timlyg

It is remarkable how one couldn't realize his pride when he believes that he could accept predestination and Arminianism at the same time.

It is obvious, he has not seriously studied the matter thoroughly.  For one is completely giving the glory and honor of election to God while the latter believes that God has to respect humans' free will in the matter of salvation.

As for those who believe they could accept both, since both sides provide scriptural references, as if they are priding themselves as peacemakers between these sides, as if the rest are more closed minded than they, are in for a big one:

They could accept both sides because of such:

Predestination, because they are so convinced of their own salvation and their persistence to the end.

Arminianism, because they believe others would not be such strong faith as they are, that there are others, who supposedly obtained salvation but lose it somehow later in life.

This is why, some could pride themselves of able to accept both theological concepts. 

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Being Nice Does Not Mean Being Effeminate

Posted on March 2, 2008 by timlyg

I find it remarkable easy for male Christians, particularly of Asian American to be effeminate when it comes to being nice.

although there is not a hint of homosexualism, it is still not right. A man should behave like a man. If one wishes to learn to be nice, there is such lesson in the Bible. Being a man doesn't mean to be rid of emotions, feelings. Nevertheless, being nice doesn't mean to be easy-going and tolerant by betraying the Truth.

I have no problem welcoming sinners. But I have problem with those who treat sins as nothing especially once they "claimed" they believe in Christ.

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Punishment

Posted on March 1, 2008 by timlyg

Where there is punishment, there is a lesson
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On Authority of the Church

Posted on February 28, 2008 by timlyg

Never be counted with a church that has no submission to the authority of God, of His Word.

Never co-work with a Christian who love to show his easy-going quality by throwing away certain authority pertaining to his position. Such is anthropocentric theism, not theocentric. 

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Pastoral Counseling

Posted on February 27, 2008 by timlyg

Many pastors find counseling hard due to lack of Biblical understanding, not lack of medical degrees.

Why lack of Biblical understanding? Ignorance. They have the knowledge, but fail to be humble enough to see the simplicity in the word of God. Just because of their Master of Divinity degrees, they think everything has to be complicated. Due to ignorance, cowardice, jealousy and selfishness, simple principles they have learned, gone out of the window just like that.

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Proper Attitude in Serving

Posted on February 27, 2008 by timlyg

Those who do not honor and fear God are not qualified to serve God.

Hence how can one serve God if he does not believe God in the first place?

How can non-Christians serve God?

Then one might ask:  What happens if non-Christians cannot serve properly? Or, sometimes even Christians serve with attitude, were it not the same as non-Christians?

This is not the question I should answer. It is the question for those who twisted the meaning of the word of God and His love, and love to carelessly confirm one's salvation and allow him to serve. 

As for those who think serving in the church can be open to non-Christians...mainly in the hope that they'll convert in the end, and consider those who oppose to this, close-minded; I have an answer for this: By not allowing non-Christians to serve in no way means we are not welcoming everyone to the Church, because they fail to see a fine line between non-Christians and Christians. On the contrary, I very much welcome non-believers to witness the glory of God in the Church. I would even invite Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. to the Church, so that they may see the real Truth, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now do we welcome these to serve with us also? Now look who's close-minded.

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On Helen Keller's My Religion

Posted on February 26, 2008 by timlyg

Helen Keller related her conscious experience to Swedenborg's spiritual awakening. On page 30, she wrote:

"For thirty years I have examined and re-examined that phase of my development in the light of new theories, and I am convinced of the correctness of what I am saying. I know I was impelled like an animal to seek food and warmth. I remember crying, but not the grief that caused the tears; I kicked, and because I recall it physically, I know I was angry. I imitated those about me when I made signs for things I wanted to eat, or helped to find eggs in my mother's farmyard. But there is not one spark of emotion or rational thought in these distinct yet corporal memories. I was like an unconscious clod of earth. Then, suddenly, I knew not how or where or when, my brain felt the impact of another mind, and I awoke to language, to knowledge, to love, to the usual concepts of nature, of good and evil! I was actually lifted from nothingness to human life--two planes as irreconcilable as Swedenborg's earth experience and his contacts with a realm beyond the cognizance of our physical senses!" 

How often have we wondered how we come to consciousness. Did everything made sense to us the moment we were born? How long did the world that seems the be without form, and void, a sense of deep darkness suddenly made sense to us? Some of us perceived it faster than others, some perceived it differently.

Were it not by the grace of God, how would we made sense of the right things in a condemned world? 

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Irresponsibility in Childcare

Posted on February 26, 2008 by timlyg

It is rather irresponsible to "punish" the rock which tripped your child, not even to cheer the crying human by doing so.

When we make a mistake we must learn not to make them. Thus a parent's role is rather important in these. He could either cause his child to grow up blaming everyone else for his own mistakes or even become so afraid of making mistakes that he don't dare to try.  Thus, proper delivery of guidance, teaching, rebuke and even temperance is crucial. It is imprinted permanently in the freshness of the young mind.

The same in Church. Many pastors love to be heroes as comforters that they ignore the need to rebuke, to sanctify a soul. 

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Are Butchers Really that Cruel?

Posted on February 26, 2008 by timlyg

The greater American population, perhaps under the modern Evangelical and Pentecostal Christians influence, treat holy anger and proper rebuke as if one stating he LOVES to eat beef steaks; but on the other hand, he criticizes how CRUEL are those who kill cows.

On one hand, they love the fruits of discipline, on the other hand, they do not want anything they feel uncomfortable in their way.

From certain point of view, it seems prosperous, enthusiastically seeking for blessings. But how long would this last, if true authority is not perceived?

It is widely known that the Americans have a reputation in the whole world for loving to boss other nations but not wanting to be bossed by others.

It is only natural, that other nations can teach the Americans a few things. But if the Americans only wishes to take the goods and mock the "strict teachers", not to mention giving credits back to the rightful foreigners, they would only end up building higher fences around their embassies everywhere in the world.

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Throw a Tantrum

Posted on February 25, 2008 by timlyg

I've looked up the dictionary on the chinese word: 撒娇

Seems that the closest match is "to throw a tantrum", "to act coquettishly" or "to act like a spoiled child". I would say the word "effeminate" from the Bible 1Corinthians 6:9 is most suitable.

男女做人不可撒娇. 男人更不该.

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