truth

Drifting Toward New Evangelicalism

Drifting Toward New Evangelicalism

The following paragraphs are excerpted from the final chapter of Ernest Pickering’s book The Tragedy of Compromise (Bob Jones University Press, copyright 1994). This important book documents the destructive nature of the New Evangelical movement.


“One young man who had been for years a member of a fundamentalist church suddenly left it to join a New Evangelical congregation. Upon enquiring as to the reason, the pastor was told that the New Evangelicals were more loving than the fundamentalists and that the young man was attracted to them for this reason. None of us can claim a corner on love, and no doubt it is true that many fundamentalist congregations could greatly improve in their love toward the Lord, toward one another, and toward the world in which they live. However, what some perceive of as love is, in reality, compromise. Many confuse a broad acceptance of various doctrinal positions, lifestyles, musical tastes, and methodologies as a demonstration of Christian love. In other words, if one is broader and more lenient, one is more loving. But this concept is not grounded in Scripture. Truth and love are not to be divorced. They walk together and are in perfect agreement. Some believe that if one is truly loving, one will not denounce error nor evaluate in a negative way the positions of others. Since New Evangelicals do not do this, they are perceived to be more loving than fundamentalists, to be kinder, more gracious, and more tolerant.” (p. 158)

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Posted by petra1000 in Apologetics, Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching, Church
Titus 1:12 – Epimenides’ Paradox: A Logical Discrepancy in Titus 1:12?

Titus 1:12 – Epimenides’ Paradox: A Logical Discrepancy in Titus 1:12?

Problem: Paul was a well-educated man. He was trained by the highly respected Jewish teacher, Gamaliel (Acts 22:3; 5:34), and was knowledgeable not only in Jewish Scripture and literature, but also in classical Greek literature. While lecturing a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Acts 17:22-34, Paul, in verse 28, quoted from Epimenides’ Cretica (“For in him we live and move and have our being”) and Aratus’ Phaenomena (“For we are also his offspring”), using these two pagan poets to make a point. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, Paul quoted from Menander’s comedy Thais (“Evil company corrupts good habits”). However, when Paul spoke to Titus concerning his mission on the island of Crete, some critics have suggested that the apostle committed a logical fallacy by quoting the Cretan poet Epimenides: “One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.’ This testimony is true” (Titus 1:12-13a).

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
2 Tim 2:15 – Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

2 Tim 2:15 – Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

Problem: This verse of Scripture ought to be very meaningful to those of us who are accountable to the Chief Shepherd of the flock. God has committed unto us sixty-six infallible, inerrant Books which we are to faithfully study, allowing the truth of His Word to become part of the very fabric of our being. We are then to teach others also (2 Tim. 2:2). “My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation (judgment)” (James 3:1). We are certainly not to take this awesome responsibility lightly.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
1 Tim 6:20-21 – Biblical Consistency and the Believer’s Treatment of False Teachers

1 Tim 6:20-21 – Biblical Consistency and the Believer’s Treatment of False Teachers

If Christians are to be kind and loving to everyone (Luke 10:29-37), some question why 2 John 10-11 teaches, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine (‘the doctrine of Christ’—vs. 9), do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”1 Also, why did Paul instruct Timothy to “shun profane and idle babblings” (2 Timothy 2:16; 1 Timothy 6:20-21)? Are Christians to shun those with whom we disagree, and even go so far as not to greet them or allow them into our homes?
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
Christ & Islam

Christ & Islam

On a cold November day in 1095, Pope Urban II roused a Christendom plagued by internal wars to take up the cause of holy war against Islam. “If you must have blood,” he exhorted, “bathe in the blood of infidels.” With the conversion of Emperor Constantine in the early fourth century, Christian leaders had gone from being dipped in wax to their necks as candles in Nero’s garden to being seated in regal splendor for imperial feasts. Increasingly, the kingdom of Christ’expanding by Word and Spirit’was identified with a civilization’expanding by sword and shield.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
Rome Woos Evangelicals

Rome Woos Evangelicals

Rome has always pushed for ecumenical unity, but in recent years the effort has intensified. The Vatican—and even the White House—are speaking in ways that make many evangelicals say, “Maybe the Catholic Church isn’t so different after all.”

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Posted by petra1000 in Apologetics, Bible Study, Bible Teaching, Church
Galatians 3:1 – Did Jesus Contradict Himself by Calling People Fools?

Galatians 3:1 – Did Jesus Contradict Himself by Calling People Fools?

Problem: Jesus proclaimed that “whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire” (Matthew 5:22). However, there are instances throughout Scripture where people are called fools. For example, David wrote, “The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1). Paul told the Galatians they were foolish (Galatians 3:1). Jesus even said the Pharisees and scribes were fools in Matthew 23:17.

So does the Lord’s claim in Matthew 5:22 contradict these other passages where people are actually called fool?

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
Gal 1:15-16 – Do These Verses Teach Reincarnation?

Gal 1:15-16 – Do These Verses Teach Reincarnation?

Problem: God told Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; and ordained you a prophet to the nations.” But if God knew Jeremiah before he was formed in the womb, then He must have preexisted as a soul before he was incarnated into a body, which is what reincarnation teaches.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
5 Myths About Jesus’s Birthday, Debunked

5 Myths About Jesus’s Birthday, Debunked

Thanks to the likes of decorative holiday manger scenes, Hollywood movies, and elementary school reenactments, the nativity story is now so ingrained in many of our minds that we could probably recite a fairly accurate version of it—including everything from the Three Wise Men to there being “no room at the inn.”

But given that this story now has a 2,000-year-old history behind it (and that it has been passed and translated from one language to another over the centuries, moreover), it’s only natural that some of the precise details of the birth of Jesus have become a little hazy, if not lost to the mists of time altogether. The truth behind five of these nativity myths and legends is explored here.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study, Bible Teaching
The Truth About Hell

The Truth About Hell

The Bible’s Teaching on Hell

“And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh” (Isaiah 66:24). “Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire” (Matthew 18:8).
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Study, Hell
What is Sin? Part 2

What is Sin? Part 2

Mankind has a natural predisposition to sin. Since Adam and Eve, sinfulness has been a habitual part of human behavior. Who among us can say they have never fallen? To sin is to rebel against God. Sin alienates us from our creator. It takes many forms, and all of them are an offense to God. Sin is any thought or action that falls short of God’s standards.
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Study, Bible Teaching, wisdom
American Churches ? Entertaining or Truth

American Churches ? Entertaining or Truth

I almost stopped first at a larger church only a block from away from the little church I visited. The large brick church had a parking lot fairly full of cars and several people were going in as I drove by. I can?t say what made me keep driving but only a block away was a little white church with two people sitting on the front steps. As I slowed down to look at the church the two people waved to me and smiled. They beckoned for me to come in. I did.
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Study, Church
Christian Tee Shirts – What Statement Are You Making?

Christian Tee Shirts – What Statement Are You Making?

Clothes make the man, or so the saying goes. There’s a certain amount of truth to that– the clothes you wear do make a statement. They tell people a little about the way you think and feel, and it’s definitely part of the first impression you make when you meet someone. If you wear all black, that says one thing; if you only wear bright colors, that says something else. So what if there were a way to make a conscious statement, a way to signal your faith in a trendy, cool way.

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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Evangelism, Misc, wisdom
Defense of Christianity Using the Resurrection

Defense of Christianity Using the Resurrection

Why is the death, burial, and subsequent resurrection of Jesus Christ such a big deal? Why didn?t Jesus just die like everyone else and go to Heaven and wait for us there? Why did it have to be so gruesome and public, His death, His burial, and His resurrection? Because it validates everything Jesus said while He was on earth, it validates everything he taught and shared for three years.
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Proof, Bible Study
1 Cor 11:10 – Because of the angels?

1 Cor 11:10 – Because of the angels?

Problem: Paul writes, “Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels” (1 Cor. 11:10). What does this difficult passage mean?
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Posted by petra1000 in Bible Difficulty, Bible Study