Conversational Theology and Other Stuff

We take a look at an of-quoted verse of scripture involving gaining the world and losing one's "soul." We look at verse 36 in light of the context of the Lord telling his disciples he will soon be put to death. Mark uses the same word translated "life" and "soul" four times. In context of the Lord laying down his life, he is asking his followers at that time to be prepared to lay down theirs. If you plug in "soul" for "life" in verse 35, applying how many generally use the idea of a "lost soul," it should jar us from theological complacency and make us reexamine our assumptions.

Evangelicals are abandoning the centrality of the work of Christ in the name of unity on the one side and in the name of politics on the other

God has declared that he is already reconciled to men through Christ. Men must now be reconciled to God through Christ.

The horrifying events from Saturday have churned up the worst in Christendom. Donald Trump is being called "the Chosen One" (the Messiah, the Christ). His followers are claiming some sort of divine protection (including protection from his deceased wide, Ivanka). Professed believers are pulling verses from anywhere in the Bible without regard to context to claim some eternal calling on Donald Trump. It's as heretical as it is frightening.

We continue to look at commonly "claimed" hopes and promises from scripture (eight total) that your pastor probably spoke on today but which no direct place in the current age. You will be blessed like Abraham You will be wealthy if you follow the biblical pattern You no longer have a heart of stone God has a wonderful plan for your life (here and now) All things work together for good (with good assumed) You can do what Jesus and the Apostles did Jesus was always talking to you There is no difference in anyone's eternal fate

There are two reasons I believe that there is no great spiritual awakening or revival coming, nor will one come before the next events on the prophetic time clock. The professing church right now is so confused and contradictory all it can offer are false promises and the trappings or holiness. We'll take a closer look at the state of faith in these last days.

Excerpt from Podcast Season 3, Ep 65-67: interpreting in context. Believers today cannot just grab any verse from anywhere in scripture and claim it for themselves.

We start with a quick final word (for now) on Real Catholic Inc. Then we examine the faith-destroying and dangerous practice of failing to rightly divide the Word of Truth. The practice in Christendom of grabbing any verse from anywhere in scripture and trying to claim it for ourselves will led to great disappointment and disillusionment.

Excerpt from out 2-part series on common verses incorrectly claimed by believers today. 2 Chron 7:14 has been the rallying cry of many ministries in the USA, but is that wise?

The Greek word ecclesia translated "church" is used of different companies. Just because a group is called an ecclesia, it does not mean they are the same thing. Israel was an ecclesia, the Body of Ephesians is an ecclesia, but they are very separate.

We reaffirm our hope in Christ's perfect work alone apart from anything else and remind ourselves that the vast majority of what calls itself Christian denies that finished work. Don't let The Chosen fool you.

So much truth is destroyed by Christian pastors threatening people with torture and by teaching the idea of the immortality of the soul

A Christian claimed he was unjustly charged and that God would not let it stand. The brother should pray for justice, but in the current age, it may not come. We are not Israel. We may be asked to die as was Paul. But our hope is not on the earth as is theirs.

A commenter dismissed 1500 years of Papal and Conciliar teaching because I put an Italian-American spin on the Archbishop's name. Hey, I'm fallible. If you have a point to make about my argument, feel free. But I'm not a fan of petty garbage. Capiche? (That's pronounced differently in America than it is in Italy)

And hilarity ensued! Now that Archbishop Vigano, conservative hero of Real Catholic Inc. (RCI), has been formally called a schismatic and excommunicated, RCI finds itself denying the Seat of Peter's "right" to bind and loose! The House of Cards again collapses. But then again, the Catholic Church is never quite sure exactly what the Pope's authority is. Nevertheless, the Catechism declares the faithful MUST bow both mind (intellect) and will to the Pope, in a special way, on all matters of fath ore morals, EVEN WHEN HE IS NOT SPEAKING EX CATHEDRA. RCI further attacks the foundation of Catholicism itself declaring The College of Cardinals appointed by Popes Benedict and "Saint" John Paul II apparently made an impossible error in their choice thus throwing the entire history of the papacy into doubt... and it's glorious to watch! If you're a Catholic who accepts the sentence placed upon Vigano, you can move on. This video addresses those "conservative" Catholics who believe Francis is not to be obeyed. So, RCI attacks the very idea of succession. RCI has spent 30 years browbeating me with the words of the Lord (ripped from their context in Matthew) stating that Peter could bind and loose only to find themselves denying Popes, Councils, and Catechisms just to defend an archbishop against a Pope! Pope (greater than) Archbishop, RCI.

We pause very briefly from theology to address the greater condition of humankind. There is a reason that politicians lie. They lie because it works. It works because people want to be lied to. Most people have convinced themselves that they have one set of values, but when push comes to shove, they really don't. Political junkies live and die by poll numbers, but they never bother to wonder why poll numbers don't move much no matter what "bombshell" story breaks. We explore why this happens. We will end up where we end up on issues of theology: "The majority of people think that they think; they acquiesce, and suppose that they argue; they flatter themselves that they are holding their own, when they have actually grown up to manhood with scarcely a conviction they can call their own. So it was, so it shall ever be." -E.W. Bullinger

We talk about those who may not ever hear the gospel of the free grace of God. Are they without hope? Is God so dependent on us that he has no other way to reach them? Scripture teaches that God is never without a witness. This is a foundational part of Paul's argument in the Book of Romans. We continue also chat about the point of the the Law (Ten Commandments, etc.) and how we can (must) apply rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Tim 2:15) to all of our Bible Study. We touch in the parable of the Sheep and Goats again in Matthew 25. Finally, I explain why I'm opposed to the Kansas proposal of putting a chaplain in every school. Talk about putting a fox in the henhouse! The demise of the West is not because we took the Bible out of the schools, we took the Bible out of the schools because of the demise of the West... and professed Christendom's dependence on tradition over God's truth made that all possible.

We examine Paul's account in Acts 13 of Israel's history to his brethren, the Jews, and look to Israel's future. We note that God has periods in Israel's history from the time of the Exodus to the building of the Temple that he doesn't count. These are the time when Israel was temporarily "Lo-Ammi" or Not My People. We then note how things changed after the Acts Age with Paul's revelation of the Mystery of Ephesians 3. We are once again living in one of God's parenthesis. This time, however, the parenthesis will close with the bright appearing of the Lord (not the Second Coming and not with the so-called Rapture).

We briefly examine Pentecost and the New Covenant against tradition. We find again that these are part of the prophecies, promises, and covenants that are part of an earthly hope for Israel. The hope of the current age is heavenly.

We ponder a video by a YouTuber who believes the King James translators left out a whole lotta books and purposely altered Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood..." etc. so as to obscure his own ruling power. This leads us to address the principalities and powers "in the heavenly places" (Young's Literal) PS: Go Pack!

After we walk through some (hopefully) upcoming publications, we talk briefly about the basis for fellowship. Sure, I hold to a theological and exegetical system held by few professing believers, but I can gather around Christ... but only Christ alone. No sacraments or hope in anything else is welcome. We shortened up the opening. Season 4 pilot intro!

I heard a radio preacher this morning teach an entire message on half of 1 Samuel 17:29. This sort of thing plagues the pulpit as men try to find heaven/hell and direct application in every verse and believe everything is for us today.

We visit the Book of Ecclesiastes and ponder the idea of aging and the wisdom that comes with age as we look at own pasts.

We cover Michael's imaginary friend, the Libertarians crippling themselves again, Christian bands that aren't Christian, the miracle of evolution, the Resurrection to come, evolutionary miracles, and what's left of the kitchen sink!

We drop in on Paul in Acts 17. We talk briefly about his witnessing pattern. We look at a recent podcast comment and reference the Catholic Church preparing to make a statement on apparitions... again. We note that many pagan beliefs are distortions of true doctrine and biblical history. Because of this, ironically, some professed Christians who attack certain pagan beliefs fail to see their own pagan beliefs and fail to distinguish biblical truth that may be present, although distorted (as Paul does in Acts 17).