by Bill Watson
In the beginning of the Church, back some 2,000 years ago, there was an awful lot of controversy surrounding this “Alien visitor” from another dimension of time and space. He was quite the disrupter of the status quo and caused a lot of questions with regard as to who this “Jesus” really was. Some even thought He was a prophet reincarnated from the dead to redress the times in which they lived.
By: Mike James
by Mike James
Dominionism is a theological and political belief system that wants to establish Christian governance based on biblical principles. It emphasizes the idea that Christians should exercise authority over all aspects of life, including politics, culture, and society.
This view is based on a specific interpretation of Genesis 1:28. Here is what the scripture says: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, ‘Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.'”
Continue readingI think everyone would agree that having debt is not a good idea. Obviously, with large ticket items like homes and cars most of us are going to have to go into debt to purchase these needed items. I think we would also agree that if we borrow, we should pay back what we owe.
The Bible has things to say about this topic and mostly from a personal point of view. Here are a couple scriptures to think about on this topic.
Continue readingby Mike James
Many of us in God’s Church can become discouraged in sharing our beliefs due to a lack of success in having others listen to us. It’s normal to draw inward after just a few unsuccessful attempts at sharing your faith with others. I want to encourage everyone to continue to share your beliefs with others because it is your duty as a Christian. Sometimes you may never even see the positive results that may flow from your sharing.
Let me provide an example from my own experience. In high school I first heard about the pagan origin of Christmas from a Jehovah’s Witness friend of mine. I asked my mom about what my friend related to me and she informed me not to concern myself with this new information. A few years later I began to read and study information on Christmas and Easter, and my initial interaction with the Jehovah’s Witness friend helped solidify my further study on the matter. What you tell others may bear fruit years later. Keep enduring to the end.
Continue readingby Mike James
Throughout my years in the Church of God, I have heard different ideas about the following scripture (Matthew 28:19):
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (KJV)
“Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: (ASV)
“having gone, then, disciple all the nations, (baptizing them — to the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, (YLT)
The Greek word used here for “in,” “into,” and “to” is eis. The word is a primary preposition and indicates the point reached or entered of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose.
Continue readingby Mike James
One of the great debates among Christians, philosophers, agnostics, atheists, and other believers in religion is the validity of the Bible. Many Christians would argue that the Bible is the inspired word of God. But even among Christians, there is disagreement. This is a deep subject, but I don’t have time to fully develop it here. I just want to provide a little information to support the Church of God International’s contention that the Bible is the inspired word of God.
Continue readingby Mike James
One area of supposed Bible discrepancies pertains to numbers. We will investigate one today.
Look at these two scriptures pertaining to the same event.
2 Samuel 8:4: “And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them for an hundred chariots” (KJV).
1 Chronicles 18:4: “And David took from him a thousand chariots, and seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: David also houghed all the chariot horses, but reserved of them an hundred chariots” (KJV).
Both of these scriptures pertain to David defeating Hadarezer and then taking booty from him.
Continue readingby Brian G. Bettes
What am I thankful for? I am thankful that I have been given more than I deserve.
In the United States of America, we just celebrated a national holiday called Thanksgiving. Summarizing the history of the day briefly, it is a day on which, in the fall of 1621 A.D. the Plymouth colonists, the remains of a group of religious separatists from England, hosted a three-day feast with approximately 90 Native Americans.
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The Church of God International Springfield, Missouri 