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  1. alton3

    What Are the Must-Read Books for Presbyterians/Reformed?

    A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life by Beeke and Jones is an essential introduction to systematic theology from a Puritan perspective.
  2. alton3

    Baptism with bottled water?

    I had a mind to post this excerpt before I saw that you'd already found it. I've struggled a bit with the modes ever since I've been a Christian but, for some reason, "pouring out thrice" really speaks to me. The only reservation I'd have is the question of whether or not the recipient would...
  3. alton3

    Theocracy

    The history of pre-modern Europe, from the crowning of Charlemagne (c. 800) to the Reformation, could be considered a study in Catholic theocracy.
  4. alton3

    Understanding the KJV

    The 1611 Authorised (or, "King James") Version, so called because it was authorised for use in the Church of England (and for no other reason), was a revision of the revised Bishops' Bible (1568/1602), the 2nd translation authorised for use in the C.o.E., which was commissioned in 1602 to...
  5. alton3

    Recommend Bible Version

    I use the HCSSB and KJV almost exclusively. The Holman Christian Standard Study Bible primarily, and the KJV when I want to compare translations or read certain passages rendered in classical literary language for extra inspiration and/or familiarity.
  6. alton3

    Baptist to Methodist?

    Methodism and the Baptist churches as they exist today are both the product of the Second Great Awakening, hence their similiarities. However: 1) If you're absolutely convinced that baptizing infants is wrong, you'll always be a Baptist. 2) Methodists are amillenial. Baptists tend toward...
  7. alton3

    Quakers

    First, a preamble: I am, in this order: 1) a Quaker; 2) an orthodox Quaker; 3) a "Gurneyite;" and 4) an Evangelical Quaker. Unlike our liberal, unprogrammed cousins (who seem to be the first to come to mind when Quakers are mentioned, hence the qualification*) we are, as a general rule...
  8. alton3

    Another Quaker thread

    Yep. There's no such thing as an "anti-Meeting" Quaker. In my situation as a "pastoral" orthodox Quaker, the nearest like-minded Meeting is 120 miles away in either direction. There's an 'unprogrammed' meeting of liberal Friends here in town with the usual "not everyone here is a Christian"...
  9. alton3

    Pastor too Christian for Obama Inauguration

    Pastor Chosen for Inauguration Benediction Bows Out - WSJ.com The Rev. Louie Giglio, scheduled to deliver the benediction at President Barack Obama's swearing-in on Jan. 21, has withdrawn from the inaugural program after reports surfaced detailing remarks about homosexuality and gay rights he...
  10. alton3

    Is it really that bad?

    A couple of things to look for, not necessarily in this order: 1. If a church advertises itself as a 'reconciling congregation' or a 'welcoming congregation,' you've got liberals. There's no other way around it. I doubt very much there are more than a handful of these - if any - in the LCMS...
  11. alton3

    Question please

    Do United Methodists believe "once saved, always saved" or can we "lose our salvation"? - UMC.org A short, but very incomplete answer, is that our Church teaches we can end up “losing” the salvation God has begun in us, and the consequence of this in the age to come is our eternal...
  12. alton3

    What are you listening to?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMABVIMHPkc
  13. alton3

    Independent Methodist Churches?

    The Free Methodist Church, generally speaking, is more conservative than the UMC.
  14. alton3

    Worst books ever?

    Anything by Ayn Rand.
  15. alton3

    2012 General Conference of the United Methodist Church

    Anyone else fearing the worst on this?
  16. alton3

    why have children if there is a chance they will end up not being one of the elect?

    Calvinism has always cautioned against overconfidence in one's own election. Rather than stress over your children's salvation "knowing," perhaps falsely, that you're safe - always strive to question and improve your own salvation and the Godly example you give to your children. If you truly...
  17. alton3

    What do you believe about the Sabbath?

    The 1st day Sabbath as instituted by God the Father: And the Son: And the Apostle: As the New Covenant supersedes the Old, the first day supersedes (as it follows) the seventh. The Risen Christ is greater than the Temple; the Lord's Day was instituted when God sanctified the first and...
  18. alton3

    Pictures of Jesus?

    I agree with this, for the most part. If images absolutely must be used in worship (i.e., to adorn churches; stained glass, etc.), they would ideally be limited to depicting Scriptural themes. The trouble with imagery is that it is culturally relative and thus can be divisive rather than...
  19. alton3

    Atonement Theories

    The "moral improvement" theory smacks of secular humanism. Those who would deny Christ's divinity do not always shy away from using examples from His ministry and the 'symbolism' of His sacrifice to further their own ends. "Jesus was a good guy and we should try to be more like him" philosophy...
  20. alton3

    Questions for Protestants

    The Scriptures are quite clear that the body of believers - that is to say, Christians, are the saints - and not just those so-called 'exceptionally holy' individuals "beatified" and "canonized" by Rome. First, let us consider some Biblical proofs: Ephesians 4:11-13 And He Himself gave some to...