On Friday night, Justin Vollmar, a self-proclaimed preacher of the “Virtual Deaf Church” Facebook group, released a sub-titled video blog (“vlog”) declaring his departure from Christianity to Atheism. As he explained in the vlog, it marked the “culmination of four long years struggling with contradictions in the Bible and with Christianity.” He blatantly rejected the cardinal doctrines of Christianity (i.e., the Trinity, Jesus as the Son of God, the authority and veracity of the Scriptures, &c.). Near the end, he has declared his intent to create additional videos to attack Christian doctrines so that people can be freed from “the shackles of religion,” as some Atheists might describe it. He also joined the Clergy Project, a support group for 556-plus active and former professional clergy/religious leaders who have renounced Christianity.
Showing posts with label Scriptures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scriptures. Show all posts
February 11, 2014
How Ought I Respond to a Christian-Turned-Atheist?
On Friday night, Justin Vollmar, a self-proclaimed preacher of the “Virtual Deaf Church” Facebook group, released a sub-titled video blog (“vlog”) declaring his departure from Christianity to Atheism. As he explained in the vlog, it marked the “culmination of four long years struggling with contradictions in the Bible and with Christianity.” He blatantly rejected the cardinal doctrines of Christianity (i.e., the Trinity, Jesus as the Son of God, the authority and veracity of the Scriptures, &c.). Near the end, he has declared his intent to create additional videos to attack Christian doctrines so that people can be freed from “the shackles of religion,” as some Atheists might describe it. He also joined the Clergy Project, a support group for 556-plus active and former professional clergy/religious leaders who have renounced Christianity.
November 10, 2013
Jonah: An American Tale?
"Our God is a God of second chances!" (Rev. Rick McClain)
I discovered this morning that Dr. Rick McClain, a D.Min. graduate from Beeson, would be preaching at Deaf Calvary Church in Frederick, Maryland this morning. Deaf Calvary Church is an Assemblies of God congregation close to Deaf Fellowship at Frederick Church of the Brethren. He happens to be my mentor, a dear friend and colleague in Deaf ministry. He has been my source of encouragement and wisdom whenever I face difficult periods at Beeson or in ministry.
He is an exemplary preacher of God's Word, and I always listen to him whenever I get the chance to! With his gregarious and humorous personality, Rick has been endowed with a special gift to preach God's Word in a manner that is clear and accessible while not mincing his words at the same time. I was so blessed by his message this morning on Jonah 1-4 that I wanted to share it with you tonight because I think it is something that every American needs to hear in this present day and age.
A special thanks is in order for Deaf Calvary Church to make this video, "Jonah: An American Tale?" available for everyone!
October 27, 2013
Morning Star of the Reformation: A Concise History of John Wycliffe
"Englishmen learn Christ's law best in English. Moses heard God's law in his own tongue; so did Christ's apostles.” (John Wycliffe)
About John Wycliffe
John Wycliffe (c. early 1320’s, possibly 1324 – December 1384) was an English scholastic philosopher, theologian, lay preacher, translator, reformer and a professor (university teacher) at Oxford in England. He was born in Ipreswell (modern Hipswell), Yorkshire, England about 200 years before the Protestant Reformation movement began, but his beliefs and teachings influenced if not mirrored Luther and Calvin and other reformers during the 16th century.
John Wycliffe (c. early 1320’s, possibly 1324 – December 1384) was an English scholastic philosopher, theologian, lay preacher, translator, reformer and a professor (university teacher) at Oxford in England. He was born in Ipreswell (modern Hipswell), Yorkshire, England about 200 years before the Protestant Reformation movement began, but his beliefs and teachings influenced if not mirrored Luther and Calvin and other reformers during the 16th century.
October 7, 2013
Bonhoeffer on Reading the Scriptures
While collecting information for my doctrinal synthesis paper due by the end of the week, I read something from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together that privides an accurate reflection of what churches are facing in the modern age.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer completed Life Together in 1939 while teaching at the underground, or "illegal," Finkenwalde seminary during the heyday of Nazism. Here's what Bonhoeffer had to say concerning reading the Scriptures:
Dietrich Bonhoeffer completed Life Together in 1939 while teaching at the underground, or "illegal," Finkenwalde seminary during the heyday of Nazism. Here's what Bonhoeffer had to say concerning reading the Scriptures:
We must learn to know the Scriptures again, as the Reformers and our fathers knew them. We must not grudge the time and the work that it takes. We must know the Scriptures first and foremost for the sake of our salvation. But besides this, there are ample reasons that make this requirement exceedingly urgent. How, for example, shall we ever attain certainty and confidence in our personal and church activity if we do not stand on solid Biblical ground? It is not our heart that determines our course, but God's Word. But who in this day has any proper understanding of the need for scriptural proof? How often we hear innumerable arguments "from life" and "from experience" put forward as the basis for most crucial decisions, but the argument of Scripture is missing. And this authority would perhaps point in exactly the opposite direction. It is not surprising, of course, that the person who attempts to cast discredit upon their wisdom should be the one who himself does not seriously read, know, and study the Scriptures. But one who will not learn to handle the Bible for himself is not an evangelical Christian.
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