Workman

We had been communicating with each other via the "message thingy". I left a couple of posts after his last communication.

"Arrabon" was his handle on this board. I haven't heard from him for 2 years. I'm afraid he may have went Home.

It's pretty obvious that "the fellow" you are referring to is Hank Hanegraaff, aka "The Bible Answer Man" radio show. The founder was Dr. Walter Martin, with whom I had the honor of speaking to during the program in the 80s. I don't know much about Eastern Orthodox Christianity, except that you're required to stand during the service, something this old guy couldn't handle. It's ok to use their names, just leave out the gossip.

I put them on the same level as bumper stickers. If people don't know you're a Christian by how you live your life and treat others, no amount of verses in the form of tattoos, bumper stickers, shirts, flags, trinkets, etc. are going to help. Pray and let God bring the people to you. Even Jesus had to introduce Himself to people, e.g. lady at the well. He did not stand out in a crowd (Judas had to kiss him when he was hanging out with the disciples because there was nothing about his appearance that stood out). "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him." Isaiah 53:2 In short, visible "ads" that you're a Christian are a waste of time.

I think a few people here are confusing the original discussion about Messianic Jews. There's "ethnic" Jews, and then there's "Judaism". If you go to a Messianic Rabbi and ask him about something in the Old Testament, he will consult the same Bible that Gentiles use. I would have no qualms about asking the Rabbi at the Synagogue I visited about meaning of scripture in the Old Testament because he is a Christian, but Jewish by ethnicity. I also have no qualms about blending in some Jewish non-theistic customs, clothing, dancing, and singing, or using a Bible that includes the New Testament, but it's in the Hebrew language. That's no different than any other ethnic church.

I'm just looking for a Bible-believing church that doesn't imitate the world. The most practiced worldly issue is the loud rock music that takes up the biggest part of the service. It doesn't even have to be rock, any over-amplified, ear-splitting, window-rattling, hear-it-three-blocks-away music that takes up at least half of the service is a deal-killer.

Apparently, it's complicated whether it's a race or religion or both. https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/142041 https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/are-jews-a-race/ https://bestmitzvahs.com/are-jews-a-race-or-religion/

Do you also think it's wrong to have other ethnic churches, where they speak their native tongue, study from a Bible that's in there native tongue, practice non-theistic customs of their culture? That's pretty much what a Messianic Jewish Synagogue does. Take a look at this website, it will tell you more about Messianic Jews. First Fruits of Zion: https://ffoz.org/

I was expecting something more like the Orthodox Shabbats I've seen on Youtube, with the shawls and dancing. The worship of Yeshua was there, but not the traditional customs I was expecting. Perhaps it varies from one synagogue to the next, just like regular Christian churches.

One of the things I'm looking for is REVERENCE! I'm sick of all the "good time rock-n-roll" garbage in a lot of churches. It's almost a given.

Thanks. This particular one doesn't have a statement of faith, at least not on their website. The Rabbi only has a Bachelor's Degree, but he has written a book titled "Jesus Never Said Anything New". I'll be going to the Shabbat tomorrow (Saturday), I'll find out more then. P.S. What is the "off doctrine" you speak of?

I just recently found out that there's one not far from me. From what I've seen online and heard about it, it sounds interesting. There are both Jews and gentiles attending. I'm wondering about what other gentiles have experienced.

No, but I looked it up. It was back in the 1920s. I don't mean to sound cynical, but it's ancient history about a fallen charismatic pastor. https://tedhaggardblog.com/2014/06/06/smith-wigglesworth-disqualified/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Wigglesworth

https://www.thecut.com/2016/06/pine-county-minnesota-sex-offender-victor-barnard.html https://www.fox9.com/news/victor-barnard-the-history-of-a-cult-leader There's lots more if you do a search.

I can't site chapter and verse off the top of my head, but I know that there's something about shunning alleged "Christians" who are apostate, and/or deep in sin and don't repent? Ever hear of Ravi Zacharias? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravi_Zacharias If you haven't looked VB up, here's a link: https://www.thecut.com/2016/06/pine-county-minnesota-sex-offender-victor-barnard.html If you know of a different Victor Barnard, please post a link.

I can only assume that the Victor Barnard that wrote the book is VB the sicko because I couldn't find anyone with the same name that is legit. As for David Barnhart, I watched a few of his Bible teachings on Youtube and they seemed ok, but when I was researching VB, I discovered what you just said, and it was another disappointment, but not as bad as the monster Barnard. Some of Barnard's books are on Amazon, but that doesn't surprise me either. https://www.thecut.com/2016/06/pine-county-minnesota-sex-offender-victor-barnard.html

I bought a book at a thrift store titled "Jesus Christ - The Apostle, Priest, and King". The author's last name was on the binding, which said "Barnard". I confused it with "Barnhart", as in David Barnhart. When I got it home and looked up the book by title and author, "Victor Barnard", I was shocked! Even if Biblically sound, it's still going in the garbage. Not sure what I'm expecting in the way of comments, just that I was sorely disappointed.

I'm unchurched, but regarding the vaccinations, it's no different than getting a flu shot. If the left hadn't made the covid mask and vaccinations a political statement from the get-go, more people probably would have got the vaccination and wore masks. Nobody likes being dictated to!

Ironically, I don't consider those twins even physically attractive. They look like dullards. No personality or brains, you can see it in their expression.

What do I think about that? Here's what I think: Nothing. The most beautiful women I've met in my lifetime were also the most ugliest people I ever met. Physical beauty does not impress me one iota.

Miss Muffet asked "Are you vindictive"? Vindictive: vĭn-dĭk′tĭv adjective Disposed to seek revenge; revengeful. Romans 12:19 Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. I can be at times, especially if you try to take my bacon!

I have to say this was a big disappointment. Most of it is the middle-age Lewis verbalizing the book (almost verbatim) with scenes of the young Lewis sandwiched between the older Lewis narrating, which made it unbearably boring. I realize that it's based on the stage play, but I didn't think they would mostly re-create the stage play on the screen, but that's what they did. From the trailer, I thought it would be like Chariots of Fire or Sgt. York, i.e. a biodrama. The first 15 minutes or so was a behind-the-scenes clip of the crew showing off their expertise on how they filmed it. Who cares?! They repeated it at the end. I sometimes like watching behind-the-scenes of movies I’ve already watched, but imbedding it in the movie itself like they did made it even more painful to watch. I've looked at a few reviews of this movie, at least one critic agrees with me in part, but only with the "behind-the-scenes" complaint. David C. Downing said this: I end my thoughts here with one quibble and with one compliment. The quibble is that the film begins and ends with the framing device—shots of the film-making process–reminding us that we are watching a movie about C. S. Lewis. I would have preferred to “suspend disbelief,” to immerse myself in Lewis’s life and his thoughts and not to be reminded that this is all an artifice. https://wadecenterblog.wordpress.com/2021/11/01/most-reluctant-convert/ As far as evangelizing, it missed the mark. My unbelieving spouse said that there were a couple of places in the movie (she did not specify exactly where) that came close to convincing her, but it was cut short by the narrator. The good news is she wants to read the book.

.