Beginning in the latter part of the 19th century and the early 20th century a new movement began in the church which would literally impact the world. This was the Pentecostal movement. What first began in scattered and sporadic instances came to national and international attention with the Azusa Street Revival of 1906-1909. Soon the Pentecostal message was being carried around the globe. Continue reading
Question: “I have heard that the Jehovah’s Witnesses have made many false prophecies about the return of Jesus. Is this true?” (G. in Pennsylvania)
My Answer: Yes. Indeed, making false predictions about the Second Coming and Armageddon has become part of the culture of the Watchtower. This is not an insignificant issue. Remember what the Bible says in Deut. 18:22, “If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.” If someone makes a false prophecy, and they have claimed to be a prophet of God, then they are false prophets and are not to be listened to. Do the Witnesses claim to be the prophet of God? Yes, they do. Continue reading
Question: “If God created all things perfect, and without sin, then how could the Devil have possibly fallen?” (From S. in Roanoke)
My Answer: This question was posed to me at a small group meeting in Roanoke, Va. In clarifying the question, the issue was this: If everything was good, without evil at all, then how could it happen that a perfect, sinless being would possibly sin in the first place. Good question. Continue reading
I must confess that often the reason I write one of these small essays is when something ticks me off. And, you guessed it, again something has rubbed me the wrong way. Actually, it has been something percolating for a time in that part of my brain that registers frustration and irritation. A few things I have heard recently have now caused the percolation to increase to a boil. Here is what I am upset over…
I am pretty tired of any time a Christian makes a statement that a certain behavior is sinful, as defined by the Bible itself, then that person is branded as intolerant and mean-spirited. I am tired of preachers and teachers being labeled as judgmental any time they address the issue of sin, especially specific ungodly actions. I am tired of parents, teachers, and church workers being castigated as being legalistic whenever they expect Christians of any age, but especially children, to behave in ways that the Scriptures deem as righteous and godly. Bottom line: I am tired of being judged as unfair, unforgiving, and ungracious when I simply agree with what the Bible says about sin, wickedness and evil. Continue reading
Imagine that by just sitting quietly for 20 minutes two times a day and easily chanting a simple, “meaningless” word you can alter your heart rate, lower your stress level, change your thinking, revitalize your physical body, and achieve spiritual bliss. Wow! Sign me up. As overly simplistic as this sounds, it is one of the basic claims that Transcendental Meditation, or TM, has been making for the past 40+ years.
TM is a popularized and simplified form of Hindu practice that was brought to the West by a Hindu guru called Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The Maharishi (meaning “great sage”) was catapulted onto the world stage in the late 60’s by the Beatles. Soon TM was all the rage among rock musicians and film celebrities. Its claims to positively affect the physical and mental health of practitioners caused it to be taught in government institutions, from elementary schools to federal prisons. It main PR approach was that it was not a religious exercise, but a mental health discipline—available to anyone. Continue reading
TRUTH BUILDERS MINISTRIES 