Search found 5424 matches

by Soloist
Fri Mar 29, 2024 8:25 am
Forum: General Theology
Topic: "Good Friday" and Matthew 12:40
Replies: 3
Views: 22

Re: "Good Friday" and Matthew 12:40

I would agree with Neto
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:02 pm
Forum: General Theology
Topic: Evil and Violence
Replies: 16
Views: 234

Re: Evil and Violence

I think that God does use unregenerate persons to do His will even when they have no desire to do so, but I'm not sure how a person can go to war and kill other people without being evil. Is it not evil to reject Jesus and his way? Yes, I think that could be one definition of evil. Does the same de...
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:01 pm
Forum: Current Events
Topic: War in Gaza
Replies: 314
Views: 63895

Re: War in Gaza

And yet, even when most nations cry out against this kind of evil ... sometimes we are the ones who cannot. Where is our outrage and compassion for these victims? Where is our voice? Our outrage? Why should we have outrage over any of this? Compassion yes. I think Jesus did express outrage over the...
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 12:09 pm
Forum: Current Events
Topic: War in Gaza
Replies: 314
Views: 63895

Re: War in Gaza

And yet, even when most nations cry out against this kind of evil ... sometimes we are the ones who cannot. Where is our outrage and compassion for these victims? Where is our voice? Our outrage? Why should we have outrage over any of this? Compassion yes. In practical application, there isn’t any ...
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:47 am
Forum: Anabaptist Theology and Practice
Topic: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!
Replies: 31
Views: 278

Re: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!

We do not have explicit Easter or Christmas church services (although oddly enough do have a Thanksgiving service). Nobody in the present era (well, almost nobody, and certainly not the average person) is practicing “pagan fertility rites”. Likewise as I said earlier, decorating a house for Christm...
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:41 am
Forum: Anabaptist Theology and Practice
Topic: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!
Replies: 31
Views: 278

Re: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!

Perhaps you can clarify what you are saying. What, exactly, is the “pagan” practice you object to? I don’t see a major problem with some gift giving at Christmas, nor of referring to the current season as Easter. I would also note I’m in the Anabaptist denomination that takes the strongest stance a...
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:11 am
Forum: Anabaptist Theology and Practice
Topic: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!
Replies: 31
Views: 278

Re: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!

Mardi Gras is actually a good example of how I prefer to deal with pagan holidays. If I lived in New Orleans I might take advantage of the day off by holding a meeting of prayer, praise and scripture. Mardi Gras is technically 1 day… although anyone who has experienced it knows it’s many days of ce...
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:09 am
Forum: Anabaptist Theology and Practice
Topic: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!
Replies: 31
Views: 278

Re: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!

Yet most of the practice of "Sunday" around me consists of a day off from work when people go out to eat and watch football games. Your point being? You think it’s fine to go watch football on Sunday? I disagree, but I would object to watching football on any day. Your objecting to Easter...
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 10:20 am
Forum: General Theology
Topic: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?
Replies: 66
Views: 1723

Re: Why aren't Mennonites Constantinian?

... My point all along is that we should be wary when using modern categories to work out teachings of 2000 years ago... I think it is wise to use categories from 2000 years ago to work out the teaching of Jesus and his apostles in their own time. The Greek word Jesus chose for "I will build m...
by Soloist
Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:36 am
Forum: Anabaptist Theology and Practice
Topic: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!
Replies: 31
Views: 278

Re: The Anabaptist perception towards U.S. Holidays!

My life experience is that almost all people I’ve known who kept claiming that Easter and Christmas are “pagan” eventually became pagans themselves. The simple fact is is that celebrating Easter and Christmas goes back a long, long time - Easter in particular to the time of the apostles. It is impo...