#reformed presbyterian church

[battleforgodstruth]

Eastern Orthodoxy,Refuting Perry Robinson - Pastor Patrick Hines Reformed Christian Podcast

Eastern Orthodoxy,Refuting Perry Robinson – Pastor Patrick Hines Reformed Christian Podcast ▶️My X (formerlyTwitter) page https://twitter.com/RichMoo50267219 ▶️Pastor Patrick Hines has recently had a brand new book published, called, “Earth’s Foundational History – Part 1: Genesis Chapters 1 Through 5.” (Paperback – May 4, 2023) https://cutt.ly/16RCeZ0 These two books are also available on…

[apilgrimpassingby]

Roman Catholics and Orthodox have got to knock it off with "Protestants have brutalist corporate churches". A particular modern strain of Protestantism has hideous modern churches. It's a depressingly common strain, and arguably the dominant one in America, but it's either ignorant or dishonest to pretend as though all Protestants have ugly churches.

Behold:

Clockwise from top left:

St. Peter's Church, Geneva, canton of Geneva, Switzerland (Swiss Reformed)

Barnes Methodist Church, London, England, UK (Methodist)

Dutch Reformed Church, Newbury, New York state, USA (Dutch Reformed)

St. Jude's Church, Glasgow, Scotland, UK (Presbyterian)

[idylls-of-the-divine-romance]

Writers with a more historic Protestant perspective have generally translated the Greek word charis as "grace" and understood it to refer to the idea that there is a lack of human effort in salvation because God is the controlling factor. Proponents of the New Perspective argue that "favor" is a better translation, as the word refers normally to "doing a favor". In ancient societies there was the expectation that such favors be repaid, and this semi-formal system of favors acted like loans. Gift giving corresponded with the expectation of reciprocity. Therefore, it is argued that when Paul speaks of how God did us a "favor" by sending Jesus, he is saying that God took the initiative, but is not implying a lack of human effort in salvation, and is in fact implying that Christians have an obligation to repay the favor God has done for them. [...] "charis" as "favor" [does] not teach that Christians earn their way to heaven outside of the death of Christ. Forgiveness of sins through the blood of Christ is still necessary to salvation. But, that forgiveness demands effort on the part of the individual (cf. Paul in Phil. 3:12–16).

[thisbibliomaniac]

I understand paedobaptists arguing that paedobaptism is indeed biblical when baptists claim that it's not, even if I don't agree. What I don't understand is them coming at us with "oh yeah?! Well I went to a Baptist church once that did something I consider unbiblical!" (even though in most cases it's extrabiblical at best) as if

1) I have to answer for any church other than my own (I don't)

2) one church's incorrect doctrine makes another's okay (it doesn't)

I usually respond with "You're right, you shouldn't do either of those things"

[scobbe]

I’ve just been confirmed by the laying on of hands from an Episcopal bishop so I’m officially Anglican now. Dreams really do come true.

[scarabesque-returns]

The full quote

[nerdemic]

some of y'all brothers and sisters folks know already

it is a tremendous blessing to sit under Peter Leithart's teaching for any amount of time

but when I say that he demands your complete attention, I am not exaggerating

my hand was sweating trying to take notes at the pace with which he poured out oceans of blessed instruction and encouragement

[minnesotafollower]

Cuban Expert: Cuba Progressively Closer to Implosion 

“Cuban economist and demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos believes that Cuba is suffering a cascade of crises that are bringing it progressively closer to ‘implosion.’”[1] “There is an emergency situation that is beyond a health emergency, it is a humanitarian crisis.” And “the loss of some two million inhabitants since 2022, out of a population of 10.5 million, places Cuba in the midst of a…

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"Not So Hot," St. Catharines Standard. October 31, 1933. Page 4. --- Striking headlines recently carried a despatch in which it was announced that the Kingston Presbytery, in session at Harrowsmith, had passed a resolution urging that a Royal Commission be forthwith appointed to probe penitentiary conditions in Canada, and those particularly at Portsmouth. Now it appears that the publication of the resolution is regarded as an "unfortunate accident,", although it represented the mind of the Presbytery at the time. The chairman of the drafting committee headed a delegation which visited the penitentiary after the resolution was adopted, Rev. J. M. Shaw, and he has written publicly as follows:

"After the resolution was drafted, however, and before it appeared in print, which it has done only by an unfortunate accident, the opportunity was given a delegation from this committee to visit Kingston penitentiary with a view to ascertaining the actual conditions that prevail.

"The report of this delegation will, first of all, be presented to the Presbytery at its next regular meeting, a fortnight hence. But in the meantime, I take the responsibility, as chairman of this committee, to state that, as a result of this visit, and with the more accurate knowledge of the facts now in our possession, we are commending the administration of the present warden and his staff as worthy of the warmest approval - an administration which has already introduced many desired improvements and is bringing about a new atmosphere in the institution, as is freely acknowledged by the prisoners themselves."

The Ottawa Journal takes it that the members of the Presbytery were directed by their natural sympathy for the underdog, and were led astray by statements of convicts and ex-convicts, some politicians and a few newspapers. Now their committee extend the "warmest approval" to the Warden and his staff.

The Prime Minister has virtually opened the door of Portsmouth or any other penitentiary in the country by inviting visits of people interested in the subject of prison maintenance or reform. Such visits may be made without notice. There is nothing to hide when such an open policy is pronounced by the Prime Minister; no preparation to be made inside the penitentiary for visitors some of whom might be anxious to find fault.

It is the old story. Public indignation is easy to arouse when only one side of the case is put forth and featured in the public print.

[uselesslyhopefulphilosopher]

So many younger / more liberal Christian forget that they need to let go of the idea that we're responsible for everyone's salvation (or at least the christian understanding of "salvation"). I remember the youth group leaders drilling it in to us to bring in friends or peers, specifically non-christian friends. It does not seem like people understand that some people just don't want Jesus and that's OK, like... you don't get to force people to believe things.

Op, I am so sorry you had to face a situation like that, maybe even multiple. You are not obligated to believe anything any one christian says (please don't believe southern baptists *especially* southern baptists). Your last line is well put, and something that might wake a few people up to how it looks from the outside, thank you.

Fellow Christ followers. Can we please chill out. God gave us free will for a reason. Are YOU going to be the reason someone walks away from the church?? Have you watched the things you say in front of your different-faith friends? Are we still not God's ambassadors tasked with spreading peace, fellowship, and community? If you read any line please read this one: You make Satan's goal of destroying the church so much easier when you shame and shoo people away from it AND when you pressure and force people into it!

It's better for you to be a silent Christian than a wrong one. Stay salty, and shine the light, but do it respectfully.

Drives me crazy how any time someone criticizes the church or talks about how it abused them, “progressive” christians start telling you the REAL Jesus was a kind and loving woke socialist who would have loved gay people and hated billionaires like shut up shut up SHUT UP!!!!! I didn’t ask!! I don’t care!! Stop fucking evangelizing!!!

All power to you if you can decouple christian teachings from their legacy of abuse and use them to better yourself. But the fact you feel the need to proselytize to *me* - a secular ex-catholic faggot - and insist, without me asking, that “Jesus loves you,” makes me think that no, actually, nothing about how you’re navigating this is different at all from the conservatives. You aren’t mad at mainstream christians for trying to create a theocracy, you’re mad that their sales pitch alienates potential converts.

[battleforgodstruth]

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18 - In Much Wisdom Is Much Grief - Pastor Rom Prakashpalan Sermon

Ecclesiastes 1:18 – For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. ▶️Reverend Romesh Prakashpalan (PLAYLIST): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzOwqed_gET3pu4Ot0iLKKKqUpDZ_NQ9D ▶️CHURCH WEBSITE: http://www.zion-presbyterian.com/ Rom is married to Maegan and they have four children. Rom was raised as a Hindu and became an atheist early in life. The…

[tmarshconnors]

"People in awe never complain that church is boring."

Robert Charles Sproul was an American Reformed theologian and ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America. He was the founder and chairman of Ligonier Ministries and could be heard daily on the Renewing Your Mind radio broadcast in the United States and internationally. 

Born: 13 February 1939, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

Died: 14 December 2017 (age 78 years), Altamonte Springs, Florida, United States

Founder of Ligonier Ministries: R.C. Sproul founded Ligonier Ministries in 1971, originally as a study center for college and seminary students. It has since grown into a global multimedia ministry offering books, teaching series, conferences, and an online academy.

Prolific Author and Speaker: Sproul authored over 100 books and numerous articles on theology, philosophy, and Christian living. Some of his most influential works include "The Holiness of God," "Chosen by God," and "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith."

Educator and Theologian: He served as a professor at various theological seminaries and was known for his ability to make complex theological concepts accessible to laypeople. He held degrees from Westminster College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, and the Free University of Amsterdam.

Reformed Theology Advocate: Sproul was a prominent voice in the Reformed tradition, emphasizing the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture, and the doctrines of grace. He was instrumental in popularizing Reformed theology among a broader evangelical audience.

Broadcaster and Media Presence: His teaching series, "Renewing Your Mind," became a well-known radio program that continues to broadcast daily, providing theological education to a wide audience. Sproul's lectures and sermons are also widely available online and have been influential in spreading his teachings.

[wutbju]

Pastor Stuart B. Latimer, age 84, of Taylors, SC, went to his heavenly home on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Stuart was born to George and Florence Latimer in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was active in Youth for Christ in Hamilton during his teenage years. He graduated Valedictorian from Saltfleet High School and decided to attend Bob Jones University. Stuart met his wife Charlotte Polk from Frostproof, FL at Bob Jones, and they were married in 1962. He went on to receive his Master in Biblical Studies and completed post-master’s studies at BJU while teaching at the university.

Stuart became a USA citizen in 1971. He was ordained to the gospel ministry in 1972 and helped found Peoples Bible Church in Greenville, where he pastored for 22 years and had significant ministries to Furman and Clemson students. Stuart and Charlotte hosted thousands of college students in their home for meals and discussions throughout their ministry. Stuart was a popular speaker at family conferences, youth retreats, college retreats, and pastoral conferences.

Stuart lost his knee to a shotgun blast from a robber on a mission trip to Trinidad in 1994, but one of his former Furman students was able to save his leg. For the rest of his life, he was known for his walking stick with a carved turtle at the top which he called a “great conversation starter” (as though he needed one of those!). He joined the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination where he pastored Devenger Road Presbyterian Church for 15 years. After retiring, he continued to preach at multiple churches in South Carolina and Georgia, including regular preaching at Living Hope Presbyterian Church in Greer, SC. During the last year of his life, Stuart and Charlotte were encouraged by the television ministry of First Presbyterian Church, Greenville and by the in-home ministry of the pastoral staff.

He was an honorary cheerleader at Shannon Forest Christian School in the 1980s where his children attended, and he was known for the bellowing cry “Go Shannon Forest!” He was a huge Clemson fan and proudly wore a bright orange jacket wherever he roamed. His love for his children’s school and university is only surpassed by his love for their children. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, talking to them, joking with them, grilling them, and other assorted adventures with Papa. Stuart and Charlotte loved traveling together during their retirement years, including two trips driving to Alaska, all the way to the Artic Circle.

Throughout his life, Stuart wrote “Letters of Encouragement” (and later emails) to waiters, store clerks, baristas, friends, visitors, relatives, strangers on the street—anyone he had the opportunity to meet, even briefly. God gave him the gift of encouragement and a warm smile which he used to influence many lives. He believed the Bible is God’s love letter to us and wanted everyone to know that they were “worth more than the whole world put together.”

He is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Charlotte; his daughter, Michelle, her husband Jay Case, their children Elena and Alexander; his son, Stuart Jr., his children, Grace Anne (Thomas) Henley, William, and Lewis; and his sister, Marion, her husband Dave Pyke, and their children and grandchildren. Stuart was a loving husband, brother, father, and grandfather—he will be impossible to replace.

Services for Stuart will be held Thursday, September 14, 2023. Visitation at 12:00 pm followed by a Funeral Service at 1:30 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 200 W. Washington St., Greenville, SC.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Foothills 390 Keowee School Rd. Seneca, SC, 29672 or to Samaritan’s Purse.

[theexodvs]

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in America. 🎉

Fun fact: the PCA congregation I attend was planted by Westminster Presbyterian Church, within whose sanctuary the PCA’s charter was signed.

[sgiandubh]

In which the Music Manager strikes again

I very honestly think it's time to try and sort out a very complicated question, that bothered this side of the fandom for a long while.

This comment summed it up perfectly and I promised a separate post to discuss some of it, bearing in mind that this is Just My Opinion:

I think the early days on this side of the fandom were the best of times and the worst of times, too. The best of times, because shippers had daily receipts and renewed confirmation. The worst of times, because fanfic or just wishful thinking did find a way to sometimes overlap with what obviously already was a very complicated reality.

By the time the Dreaded MC reached our shores, the shockwave was cosmic. People cried. People quit. Former friends started bitching on and about each other. But once the first shock was taken full front in, some tried to make sense of it, as I have already written. I maintain my position which is to never judge or discuss anything I was not a direct part of, and so I choose to remain silent on all the things that were done to that extent. It is not my call and it is not my intention. My intention is to try and correct some fantasies and plain untruths that have been taken for granted for many, many years, in here.

I have already explained here why the Ibiza marriage is, at worst, fanfic and at best, some sentimental-binding handfast ceremony on the beach, possibly: https://www.tumblr.com/sgiandubh/772076510404395008/hola-hola-pregunta-de-novata-asombrada-de-veras?source=share

To back it up, here are the applicable regulations, as per the UK Government itself:

[Source: https://www.gov.uk/world/organisations/british-consulate-ibiza]

The only problem is, you can get married in a British consulate if and only if the host country's legislation gives permission for it:

If you click on the link below, you will not find Spain on the list of the countries where a consular marriage can be arranged. The reason for it is that Spain does allow same-sex marriage (which is the main reason this type of ceremony is still being performed as such, in a handful of British consulates across the world) and also because it does allow two foreign citizens to marry on its territory, provided certain requirements are being met.

[Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-married-at-a-british-embassy-high-commission-or-consulate]

This is where things become impossible for that Ibiza marriage scenario, because there is no way they could have arranged a Tijuana marriage of sorts. While Spain does allow foreigners to marry on its territory, it leaves to the provinces the power to set the criteria of doing so. For Ibiza, you have to be a legal resident (which means, to have a residence permit issued by the Spanish authorities) there for at least two years prior to the date of your marriage:

This leaves, in theory, the possibility of a legally binding Catholic marriage, celebrated only in church, since C is a Catholic herself and, unlike the case of Anglicans (Presbyterians, in the US) not needing a prior UK civil marriage certificate (something which in theory, would have extended also to S):

[Source, for both of the above: https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/getting-married-in-ibiza/]

But we know that never happened, unfortunately. And we know it because on that damned Marriage Certificate both C and McGill wrote and signed, is that horrible little word: 'single'.

Sorry for hurting your eyes with this. Some say the best way to overcome your greatest fear is to face it - I wholeheartedly agree with them:

[Source: https://www.tumblr.com/hurleyburly/649158609642618880/arrived-this-morning-april-22nd-by-post-from-the?source=share - I used this particular one, because the legal watermark is very obvious on it and also, because it is the easiest to look for and find].

Before the 2004 reform of the UK marriage and civil partnership legislation (enforced starting December 2005), the appropriate mention on a marriage certificate was either 'bachelor' or, accordingly, 'spinster'. That meant none of the two future spouses were married before. This has been further clarified by the Registrar General of England and Wales, acting as sole competent authority in that field, in September 2005:

[Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/4141996.stm]

Therefore, all of the above beg the question: which scenario applies?

1. SC got married in Ibiza, the USA, or Atlantis (doesn't matter, legal case in point is entirely the same). In that case, C would have been already married to S, on August 10, 2019. That would make her a bigamous woman. The punishment for bigamy, in the UK, is 6 months (convicted) to 7 years (indicted) in prison and a fine of £5,000, according to the Offences against the Person Act 1861:

[Source: https://penmansedgwick.com/bigamy/]

On top of it, writing 'single' on that paper without it being legally true would also qualify her as a perjury. In the UK, the punishment for perjury, in the special case of marriage procedures, is 2 years in prison if convicted and up to 7 years in prison, if indicted, plus a fine of £100, according to the Perjury Act 1911:

[Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/6]

Does anybody seriously (I repeat: seriously) think C or anyone else involved, for that matter, would have risked that? Now, I know the integrity of the Authorized Person and/or the GRO people has been questioned. I am not going there, because I was not involved in that entire business. Corrupt officials exist everywhere, after all, and that is not entirely out of the question. However, without the misdemeanor being denounced as such, you can bet no investigation has been conducted on that particular point. As such (and one last time, for I shall not discuss this anymore, lest we'd have news about it) the Dreaded MC is still a legal paper, producing legal effects. You can choose to ignore it and go your merry way, but you cannot tear it apart in a fit of rage and hide the shreds under the carpet. It is there and it happened. What possessed her and why exactly, we might never know.

Finally, if C would have been (secretly) married to S (in Ibiza, the USA or Atlantis - legal case in point still the same) and divorced before August 2019, the appropriate wording would have been 'previous marriage dissolved', with no mention of any other specifics. The same we'd have if... but I'll stop here.

2. Second scenario and what I think might have happened (in Ibiza, the USA, or Atlantis - doesn't matter): a symbolic blessing ceremony, with no legally binding effects. There is an entire thriving industry of it, yes, in Ibiza:

[Source: https://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-planning/organising-and-planning/getting-married-in-ibiza/]

Again, you draw your own conclusions. I am not here to fuck your Sunday evening chamomile/Monday morning coffee to shambles. But I am here to tell you and all those idiots across the street that we are not naive and the fantasy, as wonderful as it might be, is exactly that: a dream. In real life, that horribly dull place with mortgages and taxes and responsibilities, things are infinitely more complicated and possibly even dirtier. And that is exactly what makes their story more interesting and endearing to me, in fact.

Many of you will probably be upset. If so, feel free to unfollow, by all means. I cannot and will not lie. I never did, because I think it is useless and idiotic. What bothered me the most is to see this witty community becoming the laughing stock of a bunch of brutal cowards, just because some thought it was easier to make believe than take the bull by the horns. And yes, accept the crooked reality of a paper that does not translate by any stretch of the imagination into a genuine relationship.

A relationship where the two spouses would publicly be glad for each other, celebrate their closeness, act like Mr. Tweedledum and Mrs. Tweedledee, invite the press to see the Taj Mahal, have joint interviews or at least offer some fucking snippet of normality. Because no, 'he is shy' is borderline insulting to McGill, who is a 48 year old man, by now. Because no, acting like deer in headlights every single time a more focused question is asked will only fuel further speculation. Because no, gaslighting in the mainstream press hundreds of people who questioned this entire mess is akin to PR suicide. And because no, you can't really hide forever a ridiculous arrangement, backed by a single piece of paper where the groom wrote himself, under oath, he was a 'music manager' (remember, BIF? you recently wrote a PhD thesis about it, isn't it ironic moronic?).

[kiragecko]

I keep hearing people say that Protestants don’t have Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, Mass, and the Blessed Sacrament¹). As a Protestant that has observed Communion in my church my whole life, this is somewhat confusing.

‘Protestant’ includes a lot of very different branches of Christianity. I want to find out which types of Protestants, if any, actually don’t have Communion.

So I have a set of polls for you! This one is the non-American poll². In a moment I’ll reblog with the American version. If you have ever attended a Protestant church enough to know if they did or did not practice Communion, please vote!

(If you don’t know what denomination you attend/attended, there’s some more info after the poll.)

Denominations include:

Lutheran

Anglican - also call Episcopalian, or the Church of England

Methodist - including Nazarenes and the Salvation Army

Anabaptist – including the Amish, Hutterites, Mennonites, River Brethrens, and Schwarzenau Brethren/German Baptists

English Dissenters – including Plymouth Brethren, Puritans, and Quakers

Reformed - also called Calvinists, and including Presbyterians, and Congregationalists

Baptist

United – including Free Evangelicals

Nondenominational - including E-Free and people who primarily describe themselves as Born-Again

Pentecostal - including people who primarily describe themselves as Charismatic or Evangelical (and, due to lack of space, also including Neo-charismatic and postdenominational groups like Vineyard, Newfrontiers, and New Life Fellowship)

Note - due to space restraints and my biases, major denomications may have been relegated to 'Other'. Especially non-North American ones. I apologize.

¹ Some of these terms have slightly different meanings – the goal here is to get across the general idea

² The United States has been isolated due to the unique evolution of terminology there. Ie. Your Baptists are weird, and I don't know how many other denominations also get weird when they cross the border. Plus there's lots of Americans on Tumblr, and I want to actually see other results.