Disqus - Latest Comments for JSSTAPL

Re: David Vanderveen answers, “What is an Evangelical?”

PASTOR JEFF — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:17:21 -0000

Yes. Did you decide to follow Jesus Christ or was there no judgment involved?

Re: David Vanderveen answers, “What is an Evangelical?”

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:27:42 -0000

We have the capacity to judge good and evil and have had it since the Garden. We "have the mind of Christ" so that the character of God is no longer a mystery to us as it was before His coming.
Under your logic, who are we to judge anything as evil?

Re: David Vanderveen answers, “What is an Evangelical?”

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:21:37 -0000

Well stated, laslanian. Have you given thought to the possible answers to your rhetorical questions stated here? What if there was a form of Christianity that focused on celebrating and mutual encouragement to be fully human as opposed to Platonic, other worldly, sin centered systems of spirituality? To begin with, I believe it would rejoice in the times in which you have felt that joy and beauty of living. Just wondering. Thanks for posting here.

Re: David Vanderveen answers, “What is an Evangelical?”

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 06:52:14 -0000

LJRD: why must your definition of God require "overcoming"? How can the infinite be reduced to winning and losing?

Jesse: I have heard the same argument put forth with regard to Sovereignty. Why pray, witness or strive against evil if everything is foreordained?

Sin-Boldly said: " But can one reject that which is given by God?" The will of humans is the one thing that makes God not omnipotent and not omniscient. It is the source of both the heights of goodness and the depths of evil.

Re: David Vanderveen answers, “What is an Evangelical?”

PASTOR JEFF — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 21:14:18 -0000

"If you truly believe in God’s sovereignty, then you believe that he doesn’t need us. He lets us participate in his will."

Can you be an evangelical and not "truly believe in God's sovereignty"?

Jesse: What is your definition of a Universalist? Is it your understanding that universalists all believe the same thing?

Re: Why Exclude Women from Ministry?

PASTOR JEFF — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:35:38 -0000

Kansas: Thanks for recognizing the difference. Let's see how long it takes for PastorJeff to become a member of the "Pastor Jeff is not a real Pastor Club" PJ

Re: Let Us Be Clear: The Debt Ceiling Crisis is Purely Artificial

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 22:58:22 -0000

JD: We are of the same mind here. When you say "I think even conservatives can stomach the notion of big government", for ANY reason, I find it an incredulous fallacy.

Re: Let Us Be Clear: The Debt Ceiling Crisis is Purely Artificial

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:32:42 -0000

Would this also apply, "The Larger the Corporation, the Smaller is God"?

Re: Spotting the Kingdom of God After the Tragedy of Death

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:22:31 -0000

"suffused with mercy"- What a beautiful phrase.

Re: Let Us Be Clear: The Debt Ceiling Crisis is Purely Artificial

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:08:52 -0000

"I think even conservatives can stomach the notion of big government if
it's big for the sake of safeguarding the interests of people who can't
afford to lose anymore."

To paraphrase Crocodile Dindee "Now, THAT"S a fallacy!"

Re: Let Us Be Clear: The Debt Ceiling Crisis is Purely Artificial

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:06:35 -0000

The founders are dead, as is the world in which they lived. The Biblical comparison for this is found in Joshua where God says to Joshua, who is on the brink of entering the Promised land, "Moses is dead".

Re: I Treat My Slaves Just Great!

PASTOR JEFF — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:38:28 -0000

You'd only have to knock off one ;-)

Re: I Treat My Slaves Just Great!

PASTOR JEFF — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:33:13 -0000

"The gospel -- the good news -- is not about universal approval, its about the universal availability of mercy."

Your gospel is not good news but the bad news that all are hopeless sinners except for the few chosen to be enlightened with the grace to ask for a forgiveness that is hopelessly elusive. The gospel--the good news--is God has eliminated the game of sin tag by granting forgiveness and mercy, yes, unilaterally and universally.

Re: I Treat My Slaves Just Great!

PASTOR JEFF — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:07:04 -0000

Have you consulted a Rabbi on your interpretation of the ban on homosexuality?

Re: I Treat My Slaves Just Great!

PASTOR JEFF — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:04:35 -0000

Acts 10 is not about dietary restrictions. It is about the Gospel going to the Gentiles

Re: Friday Links Round Up: The Onion. Palin. Pick Our Cover.

PASTOR JEFF — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 17:20:19 -0000

It may or may not be Biblical, but it's not Christian

Re: The Dark Underbelly of Fundamentalist, Charismatic Christianity

PASTOR JEFF — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 21:24:44 -0000

Well, it does say that one of the signs of the end times is that there will be false teachers that forbid to marry. ;-)

Re: The Dark Underbelly of Fundamentalist, Charismatic Christianity

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 17:07:02 -0000

Mozart:

BlueCollarTodd wrote: "Then in 20 to 30 years, Christians who remain
faithful will be persecuted by those who have embraced the sin of
homosexuality."

This is an example of a homophobic statement. You may be correct that this is not "mainline" and you probably wouldn't say that given the nature of your replies. Thank you for your levelheaded explanations.

Re: The Dark Underbelly of Fundamentalist, Charismatic Christianity

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 16:57:25 -0000

We don't serve the same God.

Re: The Dark Underbelly of Fundamentalist, Charismatic Christianity

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:41:51 -0000

Because you seem confused by my answer to your question re:homophobia. I guess, if you are not afraid of homosexuals and their "agenda", then you are not homophobic and any accusations of such would not be applicable to you.

Re: The Dark Underbelly of Fundamentalist, Charismatic Christianity

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:10:39 -0000

phobe: one who fears. Are you afraid?

Re: The Dark Underbelly of Fundamentalist, Charismatic Christianity

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:24:42 -0000

I can not overstate what an impact you could have for the Lord in strengthening your local rural church's mission. You may be surprised at the life you find there. You will be challenged and you will be heard.There is a local pastor crying out to God for a family such as yours. I know, I am that pastor of a small rural mainline church

Re: The Dark Underbelly of Fundamentalist, Charismatic Christianity

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:16:57 -0000

Some of the most biblically oriented and thoughtful theological conversations I've had are with those older people in mainline churches. I would encourage you and your family to explore your call to mission in this world and to find your theological predispositions and join a church that reflects those priorities. Please don't worry about your children having company in worship. Bring your friends with you and trust God to add to that church likeminded others. Most mainline churches have super resources and contacts for the development of a missional attitude in your family. For example, in my American Baptist church, we recently sent a family from another church to Haiti to work on building "rubble" houses. Cost for the trip: 1500/person. Scholarship from the church 500/each, scholarship from the Association/500. Net cost 500/person which included pre-trip acculturation, post trip-debriefing and assured organized work detail. Each person was "transformed" by the experience.

Re: The Dark Underbelly of Fundamentalist, Charismatic Christianity

PASTOR JEFF — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:16:21 -0000

Deac and Aaron: I encourage you to delve deeper into the roots of American evangelicalism, especially the Arminianism of the heart referred to in Roger Olson's book "Arminian Theology: Myths and Realities". I would also encourage you, Aaron, to ask yourself why it is so important for you to "get this right". Deac: Liberals do not completely ignore transformation. Perhaps you could describe, using your own parameters and definitions, why you would believe that about liberals.

Re: Zero Tolerance: Trump, Schwarzenegger, and Strauss-Kahn

PASTOR JEFF — Thu, 26 May 2011 21:54:49 -0000

For the Princess: Sex has always been and is about power/ownership/oppression/freedom. Morality is not a solution other than to repress and seek scapegoats. Tsk, tsking is man's efforts at self-justification. Appealing to the external divine for deliverance is an exercise in the irrelevant (deliver us from our evil selves?). Until men (Yes, this is primarily testosterone driven) learn to embrace their humanity and confront their insecurities and fears, we will always have a market for the fantasy "woman" and it's accompanying atrocities such as trafficking and brothels in Bangkok arranged by the age of the girl.