|
|
USER COMMENTS BY WALT |
|
|
Page 1 | Page 8 · Found: 500 user comments posted recently. |
| | | |
|
|
1/2/08 6:33 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
"Alan Clifford, Pastor of Norwich Reformed Church, explains how he came to change his views on baptism As a former Baptist pastor, I wish to explain why I no longer adhere to my previous views. In doing so, I have no wish to question the sincerity of those whom I still lovingly regard as brothers and sisters in Christ. I am simply motivated by the demands of truth. Therefore, in a spirit of honest enquiry, I should make it clear that the issue is not about believer's baptism versus infant baptism. Reformed believers who practice infant baptism also practice believer's baptism. Adult believers converted from a non-Christian background should be baptized upon their profession of faith. The missionary context of the Acts of the Apostles demands no other conclusion. The only question concerns their children: should they also be baptized?"The only reason Baptists refuse to baptize infants is because they believe water baptism is part of regeneration, and salvation. Since they believe that only adult believers can be baptised, and it happens upon profession, they hold it out as a means of salvation, not a sign and seal of the covenant relationhip between God and His visible church. |
|
|
1/2/08 5:23 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
"Baptists are very arbitrary... ...As it is through regeneration that we are brought into union with Christ 'he saved us...by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour' (Tit.3:5-6); and regeneration is often symbolised by the pouring or sprinkling of water 'I will sprinkle clean water on you...And I will give you a new heart' (Eze.36:25-26); 'unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God' (Jn.3:5) and 'I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh' (Acts.2:17). Therefore it is only logical to infer that Baptism by pouring or sprinkling is sufficient to symbolise union with Christ, because 'as Baptism brings us in contact with water, it expresses union.' (J. Pipa, in G. Strawbridge (ed), The Case For Covenantal Infant Baptism, p.118). So as the washing of the Holy Spirit brings us into union with Christ, so the washing of water upon us, by sprinkling or pouring, is entirely adequate to symbolize that union. Hence Baptism by immersion, while still a legitimate mode of administering the sacrament, is not necessary." (The Regulative Principle of Worship, Explained and Applied, Daniel F.N. Ritchie, pg. 310-312). |
|
|
12/31/07 3:01 AM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
Interesting. I did not know Gore was a Baptist. It seems I remember reading somewhere that he was a Presbyterian, and so I expected one of the liberal PCUSA or PCA churches. If he is a Baptist, and is getting an aware, that is interesting.And to think he could have been our last President, or maybe a future one, with his "Baptist of the Year for 2007" award on the wall. I wonder if this aware is all a means to raise money? I wonder what Baptist church he attends? Well, after I posted the above, I did a quick google search and found this article. It answers all my questions: http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e2247.htm At least from the opinion of the author. |
|
|
12/31/07 2:49 AM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Thread closed Report abuse
|
JD wrote: "So, the good news is you cannot believe and are condemned and the elect are not sinners like you. What am I missing here?"JD, please read your comments and tell me in english what you mean? Who is teaching this view that one cannot believe and the elect are not sinners? If you are seriously representing that Calvinists teach this view, and hold to this doctrine, I would like to see Calvin's source document on this teaching. Perhaps you are not referring to Calvin, but someone else on the site. I know of nobody that teaches that people cannot believe and the elect are not sinners. You might believe this is what is being taught, but since you pride yourself on rejecting all historical testimony of what Churches and Church Courts teach, beyond your local Baptist church, I'm not sure how to deal with this confusion. When someone rejects reading any of the source documents of history, and then goes about to explain history of various teachings, it makes it virtually impossible to defend against. If you really believe people on this site are teaching your views above, I'm at a loss as to how to change your mind. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor is still sin if this is what you are doing. |
|
|
12/30/07 8:22 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
For those interested to read on the doctrine of anti-toleration and pretended liberty of conscience, may I suggest:http://apuritansmind.com/GeorgeGillespie/GeorgeGillespieChristianLiberty.htm http://www.covenanter.org/Antitoleration/antitoleration.htm http://www.truecovenanter.com/anti_toleration/index.html Chapter XX. Of Christian Liberty, and Liberty of Conscience. III. They who, upon pretence of Christian liberty, do practice any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord, without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life[o]. (o) Gal. 5:13; I Pet. 2:16; II Pet. 2:19; John 8:34; Luke 1:74, 75. |
|
|
12/30/07 8:06 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Thread closed Report abuse
|
Hi Paul, you wrote:"Remember Whitfield and Wesley disagreed on this subject but both were believers and God used them mightily in preaching the gospel." Actually, I might have to disagree with you on this statement. From my study of both Whitfield and Wesley, I would say that Whitfield was preaching the true gospel of Christ and Wesley was preaching a false gospel. Galatians 1-3 gives us some helpful distinctions that there is a difference. Paul says, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ***Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?***" Wesley caused more division in damage to the true gospel than anyone possibly in the history of the Christian church. His effects are spreading globally and a false gospel cannot be considered the same as a true gospel. Perhaps as we look at the unity of the bride of Christ we will not see this massive division of the gospel in the future, and then in hindsight look back and see how damaging Wesley was in history by preaching a false gospel. |
|
|
12/30/07 7:53 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
For anyone that would like to read about Christopher Love's situation, and decide for themselves whether his death was somehow an acceptable "political act" by the Independent Oliver Cromwell, and his forces, read here:http://www.apuritansmind.com/Christopher%20Love/FalesChristopherLifeDeathOfLove.htm There is so much more evidence just now surfacing that will be published over the next few years on what happened during 1648-1651 and beyond, caused by Cromwell and the Independents, that will hopefully change many people's minds. Remember when anyone says, "(because Cromwell was most liberal and believed in liberty of conscience)" to justify his murderous behavior, I would encourage you to read Rutherford and others on what they called, ***"pretended liberty of conscience"***. The Independents and Erastians love Cromwell in the name of his "toleration" and "liberty of conscience", but beware of a lot more possible death coming in the name of "toleration" and "liberty of conscience" in the future. Beware of people who plead these terms that run government! |
|
|
12/30/07 7:21 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
Murray,Do you think that 1658-59 was still a period that could be considered after the time of Love was murdered, and Rutherford was writing this protest? "In the last place, we do also, as ministers of the gospel, testify our dislike, that the civil powers, who now bear rule over this nation, should engross into their treasury, the legal settled maintenance of all the vacant churches into the land, and put the disposing thereof into the hands of a civil judicatory, without whose interventing approbation and warrant (notwithstanding of their being called by the congregation, and approven and admitted by the presbytery) none shall be authorized or admitted to any such vacant living or benefice, as is due to the ministry in Scotland, and that they do not allow them this approbation and warrant, until first they do declare under their hands, their purpose and resolution to live peaceably under the present government. (1.) Because this way is contrary unto the word of God." http://www.truecovenanter.com/anti_toleration/testimony_against_cromwells_toleration.html |
|
|
12/30/07 7:08 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
Murray,Did you consider Cromwell an Independent or was he Angelican in your view? Many forget about what happened to Love and almost happened to Samuel Rutherford. "Love, a Presbyterian, obtained ordination in the Church of England after much difficulty. He would have had it easily in Scotland, but not without leaving England to live in Scotland, which he was loathe to do. Because of his political leanings and involvements, he was arrested by Oliver Cromwell's forces for his alleged involvement with a plan to raise money for the restoration of the monarchy, a charge Love denied. He was arrested along with six other prominent ministers in London (all Presbyterians, the venerable Thomas Watson being the most noted), for treason. The rest were released after six months; Love was beheaded on Tower Hill, London on August 22, 1651." http://www.apuritansmind.com/Christopher%20Love/ChristopherLove.htm Murray, what date do you place the persecutions started? Uh..Oh, until I have your writings I will not be responding. |
|
|
12/30/07 6:49 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
Uh.. Oh,Would you please remove the comments you made below about what I said? That is not what I said. What I said was, "Goodwin and Nye provided the seeds which gave Cromwell the time with the Army" and "As I watched, however, I could not help but think about what the Erastians and Independents did to kill almost 18,000 Covenanters during the "killing times" across Scotland." and, "...but people hate Calvin so much that they will kill as many as possible who subscribe to his teachings as we learned after the second reformation." Please remove what you said that I said below. I NEVER SAID the independents were haters of Calvin's teachings. I NEVER SAID the Presbyterians and Independents were at each others throats and in regard to what the Erastians and Independents did is not a subject for this thread. I can tell already you are a dishonest person without disclosing your name and making allegations of what I stated, and I if you want to get into a public debate on the topic let me know if you are a Pastor, an Elder or some sort of Scholar. I want to read your materials before I get into this information. Your three postings are not enough information to me to know who you are. |
|
|
12/30/07 1:41 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Thread closed Report abuse
|
"Acts 13:46-48 (NASB) And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 47 "For thus the Lord has commanded us, 'I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES, THAT YOU SHOULD BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'" 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. Who is said to have believed? Those who were appointed! Notice why it is that Lydia believes the gospel: Acts 16:13-14 (NASB) And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to a riverside, where we were supposing that there would be a place of prayer; and we sat down and began speaking to the women who had assembled. 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul." http://www.bereanbiblechurch.org/transcripts/colossians/3_12.htm |
|
|
12/29/07 6:35 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
RV, there is a lot of well done research on the Calvin and Servetus issue. This brief article is helpful for those who don't have access to the source materials:http://www.reformed-theology.org/html/issue02/c_vs_s.htm I've watched the argument on here for the past couple days but it is almost unwise to get back into the same facts and proofs. As I watched, however, I could not help but think about what the Erastians and Independents did to kill almost 18,000 Covenanters during the "killing times" across Scotland. If you search Covenanters on YouTube there are some interesting video's there done by researchers in Scotland. Comparing 1 man Servetus against 18,000 men, women and children is really no comparison, but people hate Calvin so much that they will kill as many as possible who subscribe to his teachings as we learned after the second reformation. |
|
|
12/28/07 11:06 AM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
In regards to the quotes Abigail is making from "A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David Bercot", a little research shows the following facts:"David W. Bercot, an Anglican priest and an attorney, graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University and Baylor University School of Law. He is the author of Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up and is a member of the North American Patristics Society." Some interesting comments from a few of the readers who make excellent points: "And among the many citations of Tertullian in the book, there is no information about when they were made (before or after his conversion), so the profane reader is given some texts of Tertullian saying that prophecy ceased with the apostolic times in the entry "prophecy" and the opposite in the entry on "montanism". So another problem is that one cannot make much with all these citations taken out of their context. Profane readers are being mislead if they think that they learn much with such a book, they will rather grossly misinterpret the citations and build erroneous views." and "A third major problem with the book is that all texts have no references to the original books and verses , but only to the pages in Robert's Antenicenes Fathers from the same publisher (10 volumes!)" |
|
|
12/28/07 5:23 AM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
Abigail,You will now begin posting quotes from Catholic dictionaries as fast as you do Scripture passages. You are bluring the distinction between the ideas of free will, free agency and (what the theologians call) "the power of contrary choice." Justin Martyr was absolutely consistent to what Calvinists teach when he concluded the passage you quoted, "I have proved in what has been said that those who were foreknown to be unrighteous, whether men or angels, are not made wicked by God’s fault. Rather, each man is what he will appear to be through his own fault." Again, Abigail, posting a bunch of quotes from Arminian web sites, or Catholic dictionaries is as foolish as you posting a bunch of Scripture passages without understanding what you are saying, or what the author is saying. I see you quote very small sections of people's quotes on here, and take them entirely out of context to try to make your point. If you can take someone's quote out of context on here, what makes you think that other Arminians are not doing the same? |
|
|
12/28/07 4:49 AM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
DB,This must be an enormous heartbreak for any family, and I expect this has really hit you after these discussions. What can one say? I will try to share some hope. As you know DB, it all boils down to Amazing Grace. As you might have seen with Abigail's posts, she believes that there is no original sin passed unto those born, but only a sin nature. She believes that we all have a perfect free will until we "choose" to sin, and infants cannot "choose" to sin without the knowledge of sin. They have to reach the age of accountability and before this point they are totally innocent and free from sin. This is the Pelagian, Arminian, Wesley and Finney error based upon Roman Catholicism. However, this view would guarantee your great nephew based upon his innocent and sinless soul, as it is likely he did not know what sin meant and could commit no actual sin, and since original sin was not passed through natural generation from Adam he is guaranteed heaven. On the other hand, those who put our trust alone in Christ's righteousness to save sinners, even original sin, can have faith that God called this baby into His heavenly kingdom. God saves you, me and the infants through Christ. If we can only believe in Amazing Grace of God, our joy and hope is unspeakable. |
|
|
12/27/07 4:36 PM |
Walt | | Michigan | | | |
|
Add new comment Reply to comment Report abuse
|
Abigail,Those quotes come from Wikipedia. Are you sure they are right? Who was the Wikipedia author, do you know? Pelagius was not in agreement with the early church fathers on free will, according to Wikipedia. The Council of Orange made its ruling clear on the issuel, not Jerome (Roman Catholic monk). "Pelagius' Doctrines of Sin and Grace Pelagius believed in the power of the human will. "If I ought, I can." "As often as I have to speak of the principles of virtue and a holy life, I am accustomed first of all to call attention to the capacity and character of human nature and to show what it is able to accomplish; then from this to arouse the feelings of the hearer, the he may strive after different kinds of virtue." He denied Original Sin inherited from Adam, and affirmed that all men now have the power not to sin. Adam's sin merely set an ill example and many have been quick to follow." http://www.aplacefortruth.org/creeds6.htm The comparison table at the bottom of page. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|