Dear Theophilus

This is by far the most sensitive blog so far. I have words for both sides that neither will like but this is how I see it. Those of you who call yourselves Christ-followers these words are for you. We all know scripture's stance on homosexuality. There are few verses but they are clear. It believes that it is a mal-socialization and the world has told you this was a stupid stance. But what was your response to the world? Was it love or war? Peace or punishment? Sympathy and Empathy or Judgment? Grace or hate? I think we know the answer to this. "Well," you might say, "We can't let them steal our institution." There is more wrong with this statement than I care to argue and this is complex but I will bring Christ words in to it like we always should. "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: th...

The origins of Memorial Day are unclear. It seems that the country was in collective mourning and some how the idea rose out of the people. It was originally called "Decoration Day," but this only made official and national the independent outpouring of those who remained, even if they remained wholly broken. First the North decorated the tombs of their soldiers. The South refused to participate officially but there were great stories that came. There is a story of two women who brought flowers on the same day to honor their loved ones. They saw each other and decided to put some of the flowers they brought on the other woman's intended grave. They developed a friendship in that "Friendship Cemetery" in Mississippi but mourned the graves of those who had no one and decided to return to decorate the other graves. They did, and in a rare moment not even seen in the North, they decorated all the graves of soldiers, both Union and Confederate. The day was placed on ...

What I have been talking about is called Kingdom Eschatology! This is the belief that basically we don't have to experience the world coming to a harsh and crashing end, that the world doesn't have to go to hell in a hand basket. That we as Christ followers do not have to fear anything, in part because we have power over dreadful things and in part because nothing worth fearing is going to rise up and destroy us (i.e. antichrist). Don't quote me as saying that no bad things will effect us. Christ is very clear, "Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also" (John 15: 20). So why is this a big deal? Many of my brothers and sister in the Lord have been apart of an ideal that is not accurate and is only less than 200 years old (Dispensationalism). It wouldn't be such a big deal to let inaccuracy remain except it causes irrational and unfounded behavior. I see in the Church ...

The main idea that there is impending doom or "tribulation" comes from Matthew 24/ Mark 13. This has been summed up as the "Olivet Discourse" as it takes place on the Mount of Olive after coming out of the temple area. Most Christians believe that this future prediction is not fulfilled yet and therefore anything predicted by Jesus is for us; today. Again, this happens because people mash other verses with this one. We have already talked about how they do this with the antichrist and so I will use it again here. When Jesus says, "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,'spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains" (Mt. 24:15-16) then those mashers of scripture (dispensationalist and those not willing to study) say that this must be THE antichrist as described in Revelations 13 (which we already proved has no connection to the real a...

(This image is the least offensive one I can find which makes this blog all the more important to dispel the awful and unfounded notions out there). The Anti-christ has been a terrifying picture for many believers and non-believers alike. But where does the notion come from and how has it evolved to become the distortion it is today? Before we begin, we must first look at how Christians determine doctrine and beliefs. Protestants have their saying, "Sola Scriptura " which is easily translated, "Only Scripture" or "By Scripture alone." This is the mindset that all discernible beliefs and practices should be derived from Scripture. It is the belief that I ascribe to and the one from which I will argue. The other side of the coin that comes into play is Tradition which Catholics allow. We Protestants believe we are purer but we also have tradition mixed in as well and I will use tradition but only as a support for proper interpretation of scriptura. Th...

These are going to be weird posts for those who aren't in the faith and may even seem like bickering about unimportant things. It may sound like pure nonsense to some and you know what; that's ok! Dispensationalism and Futurism is the common eschatology (end times belief) of most evangelical churches. The more conservative they are the more prevalent and hyper it is and there are even some elements of it in the Catholic church. Of course these things are far more complicated then I will be able to delve into and the nuance between each holder will be different but we will over-view some things here. Let me paint the picture I have been told in so many words. The world has to get worse before Christ comes back. This includes more wars and natural disasters. This includes there becoming a one-world government. This includes an Anti-Christ to rise as a super-military politico. He will be very powerful and even do miracles to the degree that Christians follow him instead of Christ....