The Jehovah’s Witnesses who have been visiting me, who are usually pretty good at coming up with at least some quasi-plausible answer to most Trinitarian passages I bring up, have simply fallen to pieces with the latest couple.
In the hope that some reasonably skilled Witness apologist out there will follow the keyword trail (Jehovah, Witnesses, Watchtower, trinity, cult)—I really hope I can reengage TJ— and can offer some response, I pose the following question:
How, from a non-Trinitarian perspective, is it possible to reconcile this passage:
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself…” Isaiah 44:24 (emphasis mine)
With this one:
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16 (emphasis mine)?
Or this passage:
Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, “…it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host. Isaiah 45:11-13 (emphasis mine)
With this one:
But of the Son he says… “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;” Hebrews 1:10 (emphasis mine)?
Whereas, on or about the night prior to Christmas, there did occur at a certain improved piece of real property (hereinafter "the House") a general lack of stirring by all creatures therein, including, but not limited to a mouse.
A variety of foot apparel, e.g. stocking, socks, etc., had been affixed by and around the chimney in said House in the hope and/or belief that St. Nick a/k/a/ St. Nicholas a/k/a/ Santa Claus (hereinafter "Claus") would arrive at sometime thereafter.
The minor residents, i.e. the children, of the aforementioned House were located in their individual beds and were engaged in nocturnal hallucinations, i.e. dreams, wherein vision of confectionery treats, including, but not limited to, candies, nuts and/or sugar plums, did dance, cavort and otherwise appear in said dreams.
Whereupon the party of the first part (sometimes hereinafter referred to as "I"), being the joint-owner in fee simple of the House with the parts of the second part (hereinafter "Mamma"), and said Mamma had retired for a sustained period of sleep. (At such time, the parties were clad in various forms of headgear, e.g. kerchief and cap.)
Suddenly, and without prior notice or warning, there did occur upon the unimproved real property adjacent and appurtent to said House, i.e. the lawn, a certain disruption of unknown nature, cause and/or circumstance. The party of the first part did immediately rush to a window in the House to investigate the cause of such disturbance.
At that time, the party of the first part did observe, with some degree of wonder and/or disbelief, a miniature sleigh (hereinafter "the Vehicle") being pulled and/or drawn very rapidly through the air by approximately eight (8) reindeer. The driver of the Vehicle appeared to be and in fact was, the previously referenced Claus.
Said Claus was providing specific direction, instruction and guidance to the approximately eight (8) reindeer and specifically indentified the animal co-conspirators by name: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen (hereinafter "the Deer"). (Upon information and belief, it is further asserted an additional co-conspirator named "Rudolph" may have been involved.)
The party of the first part witnessed Claus, the Vehicle and the Deer intentionally and willfully trespass upon the roofs of several residences located adjacent to and in the vicinity of the House, and noted that the Vehicle was heavily laden with packages, toys and other items of unknown origin or nature. Suddenly, without prior invitation or permission, either express or implied, the Vehicle arrived at the House, and Claus entered said House via the chimney.
Said Claus was clad in a red fur suit, which was partially covered with residue from the chimney, and he carried a large sack containing a portion of the aforementioned packages, toys, and other unknown items. He was smoking what appeared to be tobacco in a small pipe in blatant violation of local ordinances and health regulations.
Claus did not speak, but immediately began to fill the stocking of the minor children, which hung adjacent to the chimney, with toys and other small gifts. (Said items did not, however, constitute "gifts" to said minor pursuant to the applicable provisions of the U.S. Tax Code.)
Upon completion of such task, Claus touched the side of his nose and flew, rose and/or ascended up the chimney of the House to the roof where the Vehicle and Deer waited and/or served as "lookouts." Claus immediately departed for an unknown destination.
However, prior to the departure of the Vehicle, Deer and Claus from said House, the party of the first part did hear Claus state and/or exclaim:
"Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!" Or words to that effect.
Half my life is gone, and I have let __The years slip from me and have not fulfilled __The aspiration of my youth, to build __Some tower of song with lofty parapet. Not indolence, nor pleasure, nor the fret __Of restless passions that would not be stilled, __But sorrow, and a care that almost killed, __Kept me from what I may accomplish yet; Though, half-way up the hill, I see the Past __Lying beneath me with its sounds and sights,-- __A city in the twilight dim and vast, With smoking roofs, soft bells, and gleaming lights,-- __And hear above me on the autumnal blast __The cataract of Death far thundering from the heights.
To the elect, or the elected. It may be asked, how could this be found out, for the election of God is hid, and cannot be known without the special revelation of the Spirit; and as every one is made sure of his own election by the testimony of the Spirit, so he can know nothing certain of others. To this I answer, that we are not curiously to inquire about the election of our brethren, but ought on the contrary to regard their calling, so that all who are admitted by faith into the church, are to be counted as the elect; for God thus separates them from the world, which is a sign of election. It is no objection to say that many fall away, having nothing but the semblance; for it is the judgment of charity and not of faith, when we deem all those elect in whom appears the mark of God’s adoption. And that he does not fetch their election from the hidden counsel of God, but gathers it from the effect, is evident from the context; for afterwards he connects it with the sanctification of the Spirit As far then as they proved that they were regenerated by the Spirit of God, so far did he deem them to be the elect of God, for God does not sanctify any but those whom he has previously elected.
...till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ...
Do wet babies put you out of sorts? Do rapture gain-sayers get up your ire? Do you think that Calvin should be read only if he's accompanied by Hobbes? If so, I could use your help.
I'm planning a study series for this summer aimed at helping folks at our church better explain and defend from Scripture some of the distinctives of presbyterianism. I'd like to focus, in particular, on those reformed/presbyterian doctrines or practices which non-presbyterians find the most bizzare, mystifying, and perhaps even offensive.
What I could use from you, therefore, my non-presbyterian brethren, are your lists of these objectionable doctrines and practices. Perhaps I can phrase it this way: What are the top ten reasons you would not join a reformed and/or presbyterian church?
Hey Yocals, If you haven't yet been out to Englewood to the new and improved BRDhouse coffee shop/music store, you really ought. And for a perfect excuse, you can come out Saturday night, February 7th at 8:30 and hear Curt, Tom, and me sing. We ourselves are neither new nor improved, but some folks still find us tolerably entertaining.
Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Milton! thou should'st be living at this hour: England hath need of thee; she is a fen Of stagnant waters; altar, sword, and pen, Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower Have forfeited their ancient English dower Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; Oh raise us up, return to us again And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power. Thy soul was like a star, and dwelt apart; Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea: Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free, So didst thou travel on life's common way, In cheerful godliness; and yet they heart The lowliest duties on herself did lay.
When the first-century evangelists went out, they took the gospel message to the temple, to the synagogue, to the marketplace—places where people where accustomed to hearing public proclamations and engaging in public discourse.
Do equivalent places exist in our present society? If so, what are they? If not, how do we adjust our evangelistic strategies to compensate for the lack of such fora?
Enthusiasm for present topic appears to be waning (both in the readers and in the writer), so I'll offer one last installment and then move on.
Jesus revealed to John that those saints who were faithful unto death in the Great Tribulation would be arrayed in white garments (6:11; 7:13), that they would serve God continually in his temple (7:15), that they would not be hurt by the second death (20:6), and that they (and they alone) would be raised to sit upon thrones and reign with Christ for a thousand years (20:4-5).
Jesus promised the saints of the seven churches that those saints who were faithful unto death in the tribulation which they were experiencing would be arrayed in white garments (3:5), that they would serve God continually in his temple (3:11), that they would not be hurt by the second death (2:11), and that they would sit upon thrones and reign with Christ (2:27).
Why would Jesus have promised to give to the saints of the seven churches of Asia the blessings that were to be given to the martyrs coming out of the Great Tribulation?
