Fidei Defensor

Indeed. Worship isn’t worship anymore, its entertainment, with worship bands hoping to become the next Chris Tomerlin or Hill Song or being obessed with preforming perfectly, when worship is suppose to have spontaneous moments like The New Song if the Holy Spirit wants! Its a shame. I find myself gravitating to hymns like “Holy, Holy, Holy.” At least they are theologically rich l, reinforce belief, and have choruses the congregation can sing unlike sone of these complex modern worship songs that require a Juliard degree to preform.

I attended a Thursday service at a Slavic-English Orthodox Church, and have read Bishop Kallistos Ware’s The Orthodox Church (I have theological issues with Part II, his claim that you can’t know God or be close to Him when God lives in us and we in Him 1 John 4:15, and that God draws near to us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” -James 4:8). I have read Katherine Clark’s Orthodox Church, watched The Jesus Prayer, watched The Island, read St. Antony of Egypt’s writings, and watched a plethora of Youtube Orthodoxy videos. I am currently using an Orthodox Study Bible. I love how Orthodox Church takes not changing an iota of the Scriptures seriously. That said I remain Protestant, enjoying some Orthodox fruits, and spitting out seeds of error from the grapes.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.” -Matthew 10:16

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ..” -Ephesians 4:15

Orthodox means “Right Belief” so that term applies to all Trinitarian Christians. However, The Orthodox Churches or Eastern Orthodox (Slavic, Syrian, Greek, Armenian, Ethiopian, and etc) are churches that claim to have been founded at Pentecost (Acts 2), and that schismed from Roman Catholic Church in 1054 A.D. over the Filioque (adding from The Son to Nicene Creed), dispute over the Pope being First Among Equals or the Sovereign Heir of St. Peter who is superior to all bishops, and etc. The Eastern Orthodox disagree on many matters such as Soteriology, Primacy, Authority, Doxology, and so forth from Roman Catholics and Protestants.

I didn’t add the parentheses. Besides the Vision of St. Peter suffices: “Acts 10:9-16 Peter’s Vision [9] The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. [10] And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance [11] and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. [12] In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. [13] And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” [14] But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” [15] And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” [16] This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.”

I often mediate on the Suffering of our Savior. That he bore many sorrows and pains for our sake. I agree He’d have sufferee through it all if it only meant one of us would believe. That is the kind of God Jesus is. I like how the apostles tell us that Christ’s suffering is a model for us, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

Part of the problem is most churches follow The Reformation method of centering around the sermon, which allows one teacher to participate, making all congregants spectators, when we are all meant to be participators: “Orderly Worship [26] What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. [27] If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. [28] But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. [29] Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. [30] If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. [31] For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, [32] and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. [33] For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints..” (1 Corinthians 14:26-33) The reason people are falling for eastern beliefs is Yoga and etc [which I pissapeove of] lets people participate, while Church save for worship is passive. We gotta start letting all the saints in Church participate per 1 Corinthians 14!

Some details. Kosher eating laws protected the Israelites. Pork has worms and has to be cooked at high temp, which Hawaiians knew how to do by making a pit and cooking in the ground for days. Also not mixing dairy and meat does help your digestion, meat does not digest well with cheese and milk. Shellfish are bottom feeders, and again to make them healthy you gotta have high temp cooking methods. I have experienced the benefits of a Kosher diet. That said, I agree with my Lord Jesus who said “Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.)” (Mark 7:19) I say leave it to each person’s conscious on what they eat and be willing to bear with those who forgo certain foods, “Do Not Pass Judgment on One Another. As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.” (Romans 14:1-3)

Huzzah! Brother in Arms. I am glad its being recommended. And Amen about the Battle is already won!

Because The Eastern Orthodox-Greek Orthodox do not believe salvation is by grace and faith as Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:3-18, Acts 15:11, John 3:16, John 6:40, Philippians 3:9, and other verses of Holy Scripture affirm. The Eastern-Greek Orthodox Churches believe salvation is a processes (regeneration being integral), they do not believe salvation is certain, when salvation is absolutely certain upon confession and belief (Romans 10:9-10). Luther thus having read Romans which “opened the gates to heaven,” wasn’t going to exchange Roman slavery for Eastern-Greek Orthodox slavery. Sources: Bishop Kallistos Ware’s The Orthodox Church Orthodox Church, Simple Guides, Katherine Clark The Reformation, Diamand McCulloch The 95 Thesis and Other Works, Martin Luther, Penguin Publishers

I highly recommend Pastor Chip Ingram’s “The Invisible War.” He is very balanced Spiritual Warefare teacher, “Be prepared to battle, but do not be preoccupied with it, looking for a demon behind every bush.” Many have been led astray in Deliverance ministry like Bob Larson who does Necromancy (I saw him do this in person!), calling up dead ancestors in people, which is forbidden by The Lord in Leviticus, “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.” (Leviticus 19:31) Interestingly, Exorcist means to “caste demons in to people” not out, source, Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, Zodathianes Spiro. True deliverance leads to the same result as the Man who had Legion, “And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.” (Mark 5:15). If a deliverance does not lead to you in your right mind, then its charlatan like Bob Larson and a false deliverance minister. I have found in Deliverance ministry and spiritual warefare teachers “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” people who glorify demons not the Lord Jesus. So use discernment.

They wail and ask the mountains to fall on them because of the Wrath of the Lamb, “They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” (Revelation 6:16), interestingly The Mark of Beast in half of the manuscripts is 616 rather than 666. While we who confess Jesus as Lord God and Son of God, shall be spared of all wrath: “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9) “And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment/who rescues us from the coming wrath..” (1 Thessalonains 1:10) “Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to lIfe.” (John 5:24)

Jesus our Lord was treated the same by his family: Mary and Joseph’s other children they had after He was born (Matthew 1:25): “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things.” (Matthew 13:55-56). Mary and Joseph’s other children who weren’t Conceived by Holy Ghost called Jesus crazy: “One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon He and His disciples couldn’t even find time to eat. When His (Jesus’) family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away by force. “He’s out of his mind,” they said.” (Mark 3;20-21) Its why Jesus responds this way later when his family arrives, “Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. They stood outside and sent word for him to come out and talk with them. There was a crowd sitting around Jesus, and someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” Jesus replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he looked at those around him and said, “Look, these are my mother and brothers. Anyone who does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:31-33). His step brothers mocked Him, “Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!”For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.” (John 7:3-5) Only James and Jude, the authors of the books James and Jude in The New Testament came to believe in Jesus as the Lord and Messiah, and that was after His Resurrection.

I say pray for people, that whither they be LGBT or not, they come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.

“while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ..” (Titus 2:13, NIV)

And yet we are Fools for Christ, “We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!” (1 Corinthians 4:10) But I know the context is different. There is fools, and being a fool for Christ, willing to seem foolish to the world.

God is interfering through his people. There is a Pastor taking supplies and getting people put of danger zones. There are Pastors and Congregants praying with a giant cross at areas and The Ukrainians are having major military victories.

Those who still are alive will be changed: “But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

I have been persecuted. I had Landlord email me that “I couldn’t share my faith with neighbors, vendors, or anyone.” Even though ironically, I didn’t go on evangelizing campaigns, I mostly at that time was only ministering online and hadn’t been sharing the faith with neighbors. In cerain restaurants here, if I wear my cross and its visible, my food gets burnt or dirtied. I take heart that the apostles tell is this is normal: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:2)

Marvel is debuting a Gay Spider-Man: https://www.them.us/story/marvel-is-debuting-a-gay-spider-man/amp

I totally agree! Art glorifies God. We can convey truths of Scripture and the Lord in art, because it is visual. I miss this method of sharing the faith. Yes Scripture and preaching are key, but art also serves as means to inspire, awaken, and reveal The Lord’s mysteries.

Ah the Nephilim. They are getting a lot of publicity these days (movies like Prometheus). A hybrid lifeform who are children of women and angels (sons of god), “[4] The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown [probably Hercules, Thor, and etc]. [5] The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. [6] And the LORD regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. [7] So the LORD said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” [8] But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:4-8, ESV). There was a reason God flooded the earth, because humans in their depravity were breeding with another species! Not something they tell us at Sunday school or even Sunday service. Word of caution however, people who get too into Nephilim studies have lost sanity (I know a person directly affected). That is why its key we keep our eyes fixed on Christ, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2, NASB 1995) Note: I realize you quote Genesis 6, but I wanted the larger passage to make a point.

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” -Luke 9:23

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”-John 6:40, NIV