The sun rises every morning. I do not rise every morning; but the variation is due not to my activity, but to my inaction. Now, to put the matter in a popular phrase, it might be true that the sun rises regularly because he never gets tired of rising. His routine might be due, not to a lifelessness, but to a rush of life.
The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy. A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.
But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical ENCORE.
-- G. K. Chesterton, "Orthodoxy" The Ethics of Elfland (emphasis mine)
The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy. A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.
But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical ENCORE.
-- G. K. Chesterton, "Orthodoxy" The Ethics of Elfland (emphasis mine)
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Both Baptists and Presbies agree that children were included in the Covenant of Grace in the OT. Since those were God's standing orders up until the NT, the burden of proof falls on Baptists to affirmatively demonstrate a reversal.
This is because we can all agree God doesn't need to repeat Himself; once is enough. We obey until He explicitly directs us otherwise. And we see that when there is a major change of some kind (say the fulfillment of the ceremonial laws or the ingrafting of the Gentiles), God makes His new direction crystal clear.
This is because we can all agree God doesn't need to repeat Himself; once is enough. We obey until He explicitly directs us otherwise. And we see that when there is a major change of some kind (say the fulfillment of the ceremonial laws or the ingrafting of the Gentiles), God makes His new direction crystal clear.
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Being a pastor is no more special a vocation than being a plumber or a programmer. In fact, they should all be held to the same standard.
Meaning, if a pastor doesn't do a legitimate 40+ hours of work in a week, then let him not eat. If a pastor does not deliver excellence in his craft, his suitability for that role should be brought into question.
All too often, the expectations of pastors parallel those of public school teachers-- they are positions of authority but also comfy, air-condintioned, with low expectations and lots of time off.
Meaning, if a pastor doesn't do a legitimate 40+ hours of work in a week, then let him not eat. If a pastor does not deliver excellence in his craft, his suitability for that role should be brought into question.
All too often, the expectations of pastors parallel those of public school teachers-- they are positions of authority but also comfy, air-condintioned, with low expectations and lots of time off.
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Lately I've been seeing lots of misunderstandings about churches and taxes on Telegram, so I'd like to provide some clarification.
Churches are considered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, are not required to register with the IRS to obtain this status, nor required to file a Form 990. All fifty states follow Federal treatment here.
However, many churches choose to register with the IRS as 501(c)(3)s because state and local jurisdictions often require this registration to exempt churches from property taxes.
While virtually all jurisdictions freely grant property tax exemption, fewer - but still a majority - grant exemption from sales and use taxes.
Salaries and wages earned working for a church are never tax exempt. They are subject to both income and employment taxes (or self-employment taxes, if applicable), just like any other job. A parsonage allowance for a minister may be excluded for income tax purposes, but is still subject to employment (or self-employment) taxes.
Churches are considered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations, are not required to register with the IRS to obtain this status, nor required to file a Form 990. All fifty states follow Federal treatment here.
However, many churches choose to register with the IRS as 501(c)(3)s because state and local jurisdictions often require this registration to exempt churches from property taxes.
While virtually all jurisdictions freely grant property tax exemption, fewer - but still a majority - grant exemption from sales and use taxes.
Salaries and wages earned working for a church are never tax exempt. They are subject to both income and employment taxes (or self-employment taxes, if applicable), just like any other job. A parsonage allowance for a minister may be excluded for income tax purposes, but is still subject to employment (or self-employment) taxes.
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Focusing on news and current events is largely a waste of time for Christians. We can't impact global events or political situations; hence, it's fruitless to focus on that.
Instead, our primary objective should be to cultivate strong saints and take real action at the local/micro level. It's by cleaning one's room, disciplining one's kids, and strengthening one's church that real change begins to occur.
Instead, our primary objective should be to cultivate strong saints and take real action at the local/micro level. It's by cleaning one's room, disciplining one's kids, and strengthening one's church that real change begins to occur.
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Baptists frequently argue that, to be consistent, Presbyterians should give both New Covenant signs to their children, baptism AND the Lord's Supper. This, I think, is a fair critique from our Baptist brothers.
Very good summary on what's going on in the UMC disaffiliation. https://youtu.be/VjydUH-lfDo
YouTube
The United Methodist Church Split (2023)
The United Methodist Church is splitting. What does the situation look like in 2023?
00:00 Introduction
00:25 History of the United Methodist Church Split
02:10 Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation
02:39 Leaving the UMC Under the Traditional…
00:00 Introduction
00:25 History of the United Methodist Church Split
02:10 Protocol of Reconciliation & Grace Through Separation
02:39 Leaving the UMC Under the Traditional…
In your experience, which of the seven deadly sins have you heard condemned the most strongly from the pulpit?
Anonymous Poll
35%
Pride
10%
Greed
16%
Wrath (Anger)
4%
Envy
30%
Lust
1%
Gluttony
4%
Sloth (Laziness)
In your estimation (since obviously we can't be certain), is Tucker Carlson a genuine Christian?
Anonymous Poll
12%
Yes, a genuine believer
69%
Maybe, certainly a cultural Christian
19%
No, definitely not