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  1. Striver

    Debating the Benedict Option

    Long time fan of Dreher, though I do have some disagreements. This is quite true. Rod sometimes seems to have issues getting the vision in his head to paper. He's definitely steeped in the narrative style of argument, which I think can confuse some. This is where the idea that the Benedict...
  2. Striver

    Legacy Standard Bible/NASB Update

    Mixed on this one. If you'll recall the HCSB (prior to becoming the CSB) used Yahweh over LORD. I found it refreshing, and it did contribute, somewhat in my mind, to making God more personal. One would generally say it is honorable, respectful, and proper to know someone's name, for instance...
  3. Striver

    new Baptist with idenity and faith isuses

    First off, I encourage you to continue to seek professional medical help. I know things are a little different on that side of the pond, but keep at it! I have a lot of family that has struggled over here, and one of the things I've learned is to keep praying and seeking for the right doctors...
  4. Striver

    "The Family" on Netflix...what's your thoughts?

    I've read most of the book. I saw this existed on Netflix the other day, but I have not watched it. One of the weaknesses in the book, at least to me, seemed to be the argument that because these folks attended various Bible studies together, they're in some sort of massive collusion. Part of...
  5. Striver

    Is 'KJV Only" a denominational issue?

    There are a couple reasons, and of course, I will overgeneralize in them, but this is a forum and our attention spans are slightly longer than a gnat at times. One comes to mind is the use of the word "tyrant" in place of the word "king" in the Geneva Bible. In addition the footnotes...
  6. Striver

    Personal Finance - How much does one need for retirement?

    I honestly don't plan on retiring, based upon my own understanding of staying active and the increasingly convoluted picture of retirement for my generation. But then, like another poster shares here, I am not even sure true retirement is sitting on a beach for the remainder of my life. As I...
  7. Striver

    Is 'KJV Only" a denominational issue?

    I've found, most of the time, the KJVO "branding" is present around the church. I've seen it on signs, websites, and bulletins. I say this tongue-in-cheek, but if you're ever unsure, just mention something about your favorite NIV and you'll know in two seconds... IFB are the most common, but...
  8. Striver

    What would it take to have a revival today?

    That's an interesting take on things. Were there any specifics given on not praying for revival? Even when Jesus earlier prophesied (and instructed his followers about) the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost, there was a clear sense of preparation. I cannot imagine from the other passages in Acts...
  9. Striver

    Will RCC scandal affect UMC's decision?

    I believe this to be a double-edged sword. Yes, liberal structures will traditionally upend some of the good old boys' clubs of yesteryear that endure. However, I recall a recent an article on Huffington Post involving a secular liberal himself who was quite adept at manipulating the same sense...
  10. Striver

    Will RCC scandal affect UMC's decision?

    I look at it this way, we Protestants have our own scandals and our own houses to clean. The RCC scandals sadden me because these will be projected onto Christians in general since this is one of the largest contingents grouped under the big umbrella, so I think it will affect the current UMC...
  11. Striver

    What Are You Going to Do When the UMC Splits?

    It's interesting to watch the crisis in authority compelling all of these churches to do this. The Baptists were seemingly first to start dropping the obvious denominational affiliations, but this seems to slowly be trickling to the UMC in some places. This also seemed to be associated more on...
  12. Striver

    What Are You Going to Do When the UMC Splits?

    I believe the political term for this would be Balkanization. Pragmatically, this would seem to be the most likely scenario at this point, I agree. It's difficult to imagine any of the via media solutions taking shape. I'm a bit on the outside of the UMC starting to work my way back in, but...
  13. Striver

    Difference between Methodist & Baptist

    I've had a foot in both denominations as well. Contrary to opinions, both Baptists and Methodists draw from Calvin. Arminius (for which Arminianism itself is named) was originally a Calvinist, just with some disagreements. Wesley came along with another flavor heavily influenced by Moravian...
  14. Striver

    What Are You Going to Do When the UMC Splits?

    I think that is a huge question. I'm not certain that I agree with your assessment, and I think this is why it's very difficult to have much of a calm discussion in many areas, because inevitably the positions retreat to the same ramparts with fundamental divergences of opinions and...
  15. Striver

    Missionary Baptists

    Look, I have some limited experience with these groups in background and I read a book on the subject, so while I don't claim to be an expert at all, there are some things I've learned: The term Missionary Baptist dates back to the 1800s as others have save regarding controversy on how church...
  16. Striver

    What Are You Going to Do When the UMC Splits?

    This question is still on my radar. We're unsettled on where our (my family's) future church home will be. I am a Conservative-leaning Moderate in orientation. My grandparents grew up first in Brethren Churches and Methodist Churches, and they had the sort of classic Conservative mainline...
  17. Striver

    Where will conservatives go if they leave the UMC in a few years?

    The most likely scenario, IMHO. I'd push back a bit against saying it's always just the conservatives. A via media way would be quite complex, but most of the time the issue comes when it involves an LGBT+ taking authority over a congregation/region/district/bishopric/etc which brings it to an...
  18. Striver

    Where will conservatives go if they leave the UMC in a few years?

    (Just recently went back to the Methodist Church of my youth so I guess I better pay more attention to UMC politics.) It's hard to say, Methodism does seem to be taking a via media when it comes to the issue. As somewhat of a Moderate or Moderate-Conservative, I have always liked that my local...
  19. Striver

    John Wesley on salvation

    Oz, I'd also suggest Wesley's sermon on Original Sin. This article on Seedbed is a short summary of how I've understood Wesley to theologically tick without too much oversimplification. There's also a podcast called Remonstrance which works (sorry...) to clear up some of the misconceptions...
  20. Striver

    Seedbed

    In the interest of full disclosure, I did write a single article for them after some discussion with a couple of the people behind Seedbed. Having been fairly widely exposed to the larger Christian blogger scene, I noticed that most websites in the Moderate-Conservative to Conservative range...