Subjects in the Labels List (Labels Which Begin with the Letter A, with a range of am to ar)

This blog is ακωλυτως, unhindered. (Acts 28:31) Any subject is fair game. Below is a listing of the LABELS which begin with the letters am to ar. All can be searched from the list which follows the last posted article on this page or by using the SEARCH button at the top of the page. Most will call up multiple postings in which they appear.

            Amaziah, Amazing Grace, amazon, ambition, AME Church, Amelie, America, American Civil War, American football, American Idol, American Indian, American Sign language, Amharic, amillennialism, Amin al-Rihani, Amish, Amos, Amoz, Amsterdam, Amy Grant, Anabaptists, Ananias, anarchism, anathema, anatomy, ancestors, Andrew, Andy Kauffman, angel, angelology, angels, anger, Anglican, Anglo-Saxon, Angola, animal cruelty, animal intelligence, animal rescue, animals, animation, Ann Coulter, Annabel Chong, Annas, Anne Frank, Anne Rice, Ant Man, Antarctica, anthropic principle, anti-christian, Anti-Defamation League, anti-intellectualism, anti-rejection drugs, antibodies, Antichrist, Antigua and Barbuda, antihero, Antikythera Mechanism, antinomianism, Antioch, Antiochus Epiphanes, antipope, antiquity, Anton LaVey, Anto Szandor LaVey, apathy, aphorisms, apocalypse, apocrypha, Apollos, apologetics, apostasy, apostle, Apostles, apple, April Fools joke, Aquaman, Arabia, Arabic, Arabs, Aramaic, archangel, Archbishop of Canterbury, archeology, archery, archetypes, Archimedes, architecture, Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?, Argentina, argument, Argument from Design, arguments for God, Arianism, Aristarchus, Aristobulus, Aristophanes, Aristotle, Arius, Ark of the Covenant, Armenia, Armenian, Arminianism, Armstrongism, arrogance, art, Art Linkletter, Artaxerxes, Arthur Balfour, artificial intelligence, Aruba.

Christian Heresies: In a book titled The Word's Way

I frequent used bookshops and one of my favorites is the enormous warehouse-sized 2^nd and Charles, the used book outlet for Books-a-Million.  I find many excellent older Christian books there in their religion section.  This is a secular national bookstore chain and they sell books.  Since the chain has no religious orientation or affiliation they do not screen the books they sell.  As they said in Latin, “Caveat emptor!”  (“Let the buyer beware!”)

I, for one, do not think there should be official censorship except for pornographic books and books which explicitly advocate pedophilia, and political or sexual violence (yes, books such as this exist).  Sometimes, you can learn things from people with whom you totally disagree.

In the bookstores, there are “Christian” books which cause me to raise a skeptical eyebrow.  Some of the books advocate ideas like the heretical Prosperity Gospel, reincarnation, social justice as the meaning of the Gospel, viewing a religious group’s founder as a near deity, and even Marxist interpretations of Christian theology.

The Word’s Way, by Victor Paul Wierwille, published in 1971 by the American Christian Press, is one book which orthodox Christians should anathematize. ἀνάθεμα is a Greek word meaning “cursed” or “rejected.” A book which is anathematized can be read and understood but should never be the basis for any formulation about doctrinal matters.

You will not get far into The Word’s Way before you will see why this book is to be rejected.  On pages 26 and 28, this appears,

“God is eternal whereas Jesus was born. …How was Jesus with God in the beginning?  In the same way that the written Word was with Him – in God’s foreknowledge.  God knew that Jesus Christ would be born and that He would redeem man.”

This is classical Araianism.  Arius (ca 250 -336) was a Christian bishop in Alexandria, Egypt who denied the deity of Jesus.  He declared that Jesus was a created being (”born”) and not of the same nature and substance as the father.  Arius was excommunicated by his fellow bishops but had many followers and the doctrine he advocated was widely accepted by many for many years.  The controversy was one of the factors which led to the formulation of the doctrine of the Trinity.  Roman Catholic Church councils rejected the doctrine of Arianism in 325, 360, and 431. In other Councils, they rejected other heterodox ideas about the nature of the relationship between God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.   Protestants do not accept the doctrine of the Trinity solely on the authority of the bishop’s councils, but we do agree with their decisions about the nature of the Trinity.  We believe that the doctrine of the Trinity is clearly taught in Scripture. 

Mainstream vs Traditional

Recently, I have spoken several times about Christians who hold to the traditional faith being thought of as outside the “mainstream.”  We are often portrayed as “odd,” “eccentric,” “wrong-headed,” “extreme,” “bigoted,” or “fringe.”  Most often the insults are subtly delivered.

Religious denominations are spoken of by the “mainstream media” as “mainstream” (meaning progressive or liberal) or “outside the mainstream.”  This places those who are “outside the mainstream” into the same general category as the numerous obscure or strange sects and cults. It is an insult and I believe that it is a form of persecution which seeks to force us to “evolve.”  This is another insult which assumes that we are “cavemen” or “neanderthals.”

Persecution is not always of the “throw them to the lions” sort.  It also exists in the sideways snicker, in the assumption that traditional Christians are “simple” or intellectually inferior, or that we are socially backward, or that we are totally outdated dinosaurs not relevant to the modern world.

AND SADLY … this patronizing and insulting (I say heretical) thought often comes from the “mainstream’ churches and from movements such as the Emerging Church.  Listen to what the Bible clearly says.

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 1:3.  Jude was Jesus’s brother.

“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”  Romans 12:2

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”  Galatians 1:8.  The word which the translators have rendered as “accursed” is, in the Greek, ἀνάθεμα (anathema), from ἀνά (ana), meaning "on", and τίθημι (tithēmi), meaning "I put."  Originally this referred to a gift to God or to the pagan gods.  Echoes of the  Hebrew word "herem" (חרם) referred to something forbidden or off-limits, because it was dedicated for religious use and not useable in the common world. (Numbers 18:14; Leviticus 27:28-29); and hence the idea of “exterminating” or “dead” was connected with the word.  Various translations of the words anathema and herem have included "cursed," "disliked," "loathed," "banned," "excommunicated," "excluded," "denounced," "vehemently rejected," "off limits," and "devoted to evil."

Deuteronomy 7:26 calls a pagan idol a herem. Here it is: “Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.”

Statements of Faith

Yesterday, in my post about Christian Translation,  I suggested that you check out their Statement of Faith.  This is an excellent idea for every religious website you visit.  Not every Statement of Faith is equal.  Not everyone who says "Christian" is Christian.  Jesus said so: “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:22-23


What could Jesus have been talking about?  True Christians obey Jesus' teachings.  True Christians stay true to the faith "once delivered."  Jesus is not just talking about false prophets who are like hungry wolves disguised as sheep.  He is talking to each believer.


This is not about the eternal salvational security of the Christian.  This is about who is a Christian.  Jesus is warning us about being deceived by "false Christianities."  There are many "Christianities," not all of which are Christian.


If you read a group's Statement of Faith, or their publications, keep your mind and a discerning eye open for these RED FLAGS!!!!!!  ( I did the RED FLAGS!!!!! on purpose.  I know it is "shouting" and is frowned on on the internet, but the Christian's powers of discernment should begin to tingle when they encounter these non-Christian ideas, especially the subtle ones which seem reasonable on their surfaces.)  Paul said that if anyone, even an angel, even Paul himself, comes to you with a different Gospel, they should be rejected.  Paul said it forcefully in Galatians 1:8-9: ἀνάθεμα (anathema), "accursed."


There is room within the Body of Christ for disagreement and discussion over some matters of doctrine.  Remember the hierarchy of doctrines (convictions, persuasions, and opinions) discussed earlier.  The doctrinal beliefs listed below are, at best, highly suspect.  Some are completely non-Christian even if they are declared by "Christians."  All of them should set off your alarm system.


1.  Any denial of the deity of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or the Father.
2.  Any denial of the full humanity of Jesus.
3.  The idea that the Gospel is about making you materially rich.
4.  Certain questions about sexuality.
5.  Denial of any cardinal Christian doctrines.
6.  Mention of "secret teachings."
7.  A focus on the leader of a group rather than on Jesus.
8.  Emphasis on social justice at the expense of, or the elimination of, the Gospel.
9.  Mentions of "self-actualization" and discovery of one's "true inner self."
10. Rejection of portions of the scriptures.
11. Any idea of works salvation or self-salvation.
12. Addition of new doctrines for which no clear biblical support exits.
13. New Age ideas, reincarnation, ascended Masters, occultism, UFOs, fairies, elves
14. Hate-based teachings such as racism, extreme nationalism, etc.
15. Ghosts, spiritism, channeling
16. "Our group is the only true Christian church." A denial of the universal Church, the ekklesia.
17. Mixtures of other religions, such as Hinduism, with Christianity.  Numerous churches have "Christian Yoga" classes, seeing Hatha Yoga as secular.  This completely misunderstands that the underlying basis of all types of yoga is Hinduism.


This list could be greatly expanded.


  

Arguments Within the Church Over Homosexuality

Yesterday, I posted about newspaper columnist Leonard Post having insulted conservative, traditional Christians by, at least indirectly, saying that they are bigots for opposing same-sex marriage.  Homosexuality is one of the many subjects which cause intense arguments within the Church.  My understanding is that the subject of homosexuality falls under the category of a Persuasion.  Very few doctrines should fall under the category of Conviction, doctrines over which we should utterly break all fellowship and, in effect, to use an old theological term, declare anathema (ἀνάθεμα, Greek for "cursed" or "accursed.").  Anathema applies to the doctrine or attitude, not to the person, who, of couse, can change their mind.

Convictions: Examples include the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the Virgin Birth of Christ, and salvation by grace through faith; matters crucial to salvation. Acts 10:1-35 is an example of a conviction level argument, over the doctrine of salvation by grace and not by works.  These are matters over which Christians must be willing to fight and permanently separate if necessary.


Persuasions: Examples include millenial views, the age of the Earth, the exact nature of Heaven and Hell.  In Romans 14:5, Paul talks about Persuasion level beliefs, in which each man may "be fully persuaded in his own mind" but remain in unity with other believers who disagree. "Persuaded" or "convinced" is a translation of plerophoreistho (πληροφορείσθω), from the verb plerophoreisthein, "to be fufilled," "to be fully convinced." The believers may choose to worship separately while recognizing that the others are also Christian, because we "all stand before the judgement seat of God." 


Opinions: Individual preference. Examples include the best Bible translation, the proper model for church government, whether or not to use music in church services, whether or not women should "cover" their heads in church, whether or not to use real wine in the Lord's Supper, where Cain got his wife, should Christians smoke. Paul speaks of this level of belief in 1 Corinthians 7.