Category Archives: Topics

September 1, 2012

Mormon Doctrine

By John Paine

Aren’t Mormons Christians? Mormons indeed claim to be “Christians in a very real sense.”  But don’t let me or anyone else answer that question for you—check out the Mormon.org site and see what you think.

Here’s a short video that gets to the heart of the are-they-or-aren’t-they question.

For details, check out the Mormonism page from CARM.  And here’s an interesting post from Justin Taylor.

We recently had a Mormon family (with seven young children) stay overnight in our home.  Every one of the kids was loving, personable, well-mannered, empathetic, enthusiastic, and happy.  Strikingly so—these were precious children.  Their parents were very nice, and we enjoyed their visit.

So what’s that got to do with anything?  Just that these were loving, personable, well-mannered, empathetic, enthusiastic, and happy people.

Personally, I confess to hating conflict.  I wish we could just all get along.  But I love Jesus Christ more than I hate conflict.  Much more.  Christ did not teach that anything goes, or that we should all just accept each other’s doctrines.  Love each other?  Absolutely.  Accept apostasy?  Absolutely not.

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.  For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God?  Or am I trying to please man?  If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Apostle Paul, Galatians 1:6-10  (ESV)

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August 29, 2012

Heaven In Simple Terms

By John Paine

Some biblical illustrations are harder to understand than others, particularly in the 21st century.  Consider Jesus’ words in John, Chapter 10.  John noted in this passage that the disciples had difficulty with the sheep and shepherd metaphors.

When we asked Bill Warrick what he would say if he only had five minutes to tell someone about Heaven, Bill shared that he told his own father about Jesus representing himself as the great shepherd.  Bill’s video continues to get steady play on this blog, so obviously people are curious about Heaven.

Here’s a beautiful video short that illustrates Jesus’ metaphors about the way to Heaven.  It’s perfectly clear—there’s only one gate.

HT: Sourceflix.com

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August 23, 2012

American Bible Challenge

By John Paine

So how well do you know the Bible?  The American Bible Challenge is a new game show debuting tonight on the GSN Network (channel 258 in Williamsburg, check your local listings).

Here’s a link to the show’s home page where you can get additional apps and information, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the show.

I’m certain Veracity readers will do quite well.  Enjoy!

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July 26, 2012

How to Pray

By John Paine
Arts of the South

“Arts of the South” by Thomas Hart Benton, 1939

Here’s an absolute gem on the subject of prayer, from Andy Stanley.

The Backstory

I had two shots (spiritually speaking) to the solar plexus this week. First, Clarke Morledge posted a comment about listening to podcasts from a British apologetics website, and secondly I came across the above podcast by Andy Stanley.

Stag at Sharkey's

“Stag at Sharkey’s” by George Bellows, 1909

Prior to Clarke’s comment, I knew very little about podcasts. I must confess to being a little jaded about every new technology—who has the time? These days nearly every website has RSS and/or podcast feeds. So what? But I figured if Clarke finds it useful I may as well figure out what all the hoopla is about.

After many, many hours (thanks Clarke!) of researching and resourcing I was able to boil down how podcasts and feeds work, how to get them on my iPad, and how to play podcasts in my car. (For those who spend hours in traffic good audio material is a welcome relief.) Again…so what? This is cool stuff, but I then found myself listening to hours of slow, please-get-to-the-point, mostly boring material. Until I hit upon Andy Stanley’s podcast.

Part of what we’re trying to do with this blog is encourage you to become an autodidactic disciple of Jesus Christ. Some of that involves sharing resources, and some of that involves tools. Look for a forthcoming video that can save you hours of stumbling and fumbling around, and get you painlessly into podcasts and RSS feeds.

In the meantime, meditate on the above message—it packs quite a punch. Enjoy!

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July 18, 2012

Process of Suffering

By John Paine

Do you ever think about why God works by processes?  After all, why doesn’t God just ‘poof’ everything to be the way he wants it to be?  Why take 13.7 billion years to get to today?  Why take 4.6 billion years to build the earth and shape its climate?  Why did Jesus have to suffer?

Why do people have to suffer?

Countless theologians have taken aim at that question.  Most dissect it from the standpoint of purpose—as in “What is the purpose of suffering?”  The realities of suffering remain among the biggest stumbling blocks for atheists and believers alike.

When it comes to suffeDick Woodwardring, I have no credentials.  But I do know an expert.  Here are two messages Dick Woodward preached on the topic (from among many cataloged here) that get to the heart of suffering.

Some questions we just can’t answer.  Other questions we should never even try to answer.  Just like the difference between knowledge (knowing the answers to questions) and wisdom (knowing which questions count), it’s really important to know when to keep our mouth shut.

Here’s a short video that illustrates the value of “showing up and shutting up.”

It also highlights the processes by which God redeems us from suffering—not just for the care receiver, but the caregiver, the pastor, and everyone else.  Redemption is a process.  For whatever reasons, God followed his own rules, and suffered ultimately for our redemption.  There was no way to ‘poof’ the redemption of mankind—God had to prove it.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8,9 (NIV)

“The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
Apostle Paul, Galatians 5:6b (NIV)

The above story has a happy ending.  All three men interviewed in that video are ministers—and very good ones at that.  All three will tell you when people are suffering the most important thing you can do is show up.  And don’t pretend to know the reason for their suffering.

Sometimes we see the happy ending.  Sometimes the ending is just too hard to bear.  It’s hard sometimes to understand that God makes the rules, knows what he is doing, has a plan for each of us, values sincerity, doesn’t need us to attempt to explain anything for him, and intends ultimately for us not to have an ending.  But let’s keep our mouths shut and just use our feet and ears and arms when people are suffering.  The process is important.

HT: Steve Flanary, John Green, Bill Warrick, Steve Hooge, Dick Woodward

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