Brethren Apologist

This argument finds its basis in Genesis 3. The serpent asked Eve, "Did God really say?" This challenge still carries forward, including those who claim to be Christian as well. They will find themselves in a field of study called "Biblical Criticism". If you, reader, have a reaction as a teacher running her nails down a chalkboard, then that is exactly how this is to sound. The mindset is to bring to bear a thought denying the existence of God's true word and we have to "discover" it. Of cour...

For many today, the older writings of the past fail to rise to the issues and constructs of today. Instead they are simply something to learn, and keep as a reference. This charge, however, does not explain how the Bible, when put into practice, is able to lift mankind from the pit of despair to the heights of hope. It also does not answer how the Bible, after almost two thousand years, still has the ability to tell us about what is going on today and how things will turn out in the future. ...

We will not argue that mankind wrote the Bible. That is not our point of contention. If God chose, a sea sponge could have written it. Our point of contention is HOW mankind wrote it. The answer requires the understanding of inspiration, preservation and transmission. Once we answer these three things, we will trace the Bible. Inspiration is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moved on the hearts and minds of mankind and led them to write what they did. Hebrews 1:1-3 tells us this. ...

The contradiction argument is not new. It goes back to the beginning (Genesis 3). Satan introduced doubt, Eve was deceived, Adam chose to sin. All who try to cast doubt on God's Word follow Satan's attack. From then till now, mankind has tried to destroy God's Word by undermining and casting doubts in rebellion against God. Let us address this argument with a series of questions and conclusions. First, if the Bible has so many contradictions, why do non believers, and even some claimed "beli...

Piety affects all of our life. It controls our public and private life, our existence, our entire being. Piety demands from us a way of living, a way to think, a way to act. No stone is left un-turned, no thought undisturbed. No point of our existence, whether physical or metaphysical, is left alone. What is Piety? Piety is our faith demanding and dictating how we live our life. In turn, our life, reflects our faith we claim to believe. One dictating to the other, and the other showcasing the ...

Love Feast is one of the most special parts of being Brethren, but for majority of Christianity, the most unusual and unknown. Having not been raised Brethren, the idea behind it was so foreign from anything heard before. However, having been Brethren, there is no way this amazing and humble service should be skipped. For those who may not know what Love Feast (LF) is, this will be an explanation. Like many other denominations and Christian circles, the Brethren do hold to two ordinances. Ordi...

One question, often thrown at Christians, especially in our political day, is, How can you vote for Trump or the Republicans? Good question. As Brethren who are A political, the question is mute. But, we do have a right to ask, How can a Christian vote Democrat? To do so is a betrayal of a professed faith, it is against a Holy God, and conscience itself. To vote Democrat, a Christian must Ignore what the Bible teaches. Deny the faith they confess. Deny their own conscience Ignore the godl...

The third key is the local church. If a church is ran Biblically, the body of Christ acts as a sounding board, a frame, a structure upon which we climb Spiritually. Most do not go to church. The reason unbelievers and many professing "Christians" do not go is because: "I don't need the church. I can worship on my own." "I would rather be on a boat fishing and thinking about God, than be in church thinking about fishing." "The church is full of hypocrites." "I have my own church at home becau...

How do we navigate the trials and struggles of life? No one answer solves this, and absolutly no one blog post will bring full clarity. The spectrum of trials are vast, requiring more than a simple answer. There are the emotional, physical, and mental struggles. Each one caused and affected by a multitude of underlying instances. The best way, especially for a short post like this, to help is to give ways Brethren work through these trials and struggles. There are three foundational keys we ...

Early on, Brethren were separatists, living in the world, but being sanctified out of the world (John 17:14-19). Trends, fads, popular positions, conflict, gossip, anything worldly, the Brethren desired to be out of that fray. Today, many Brethren have mired themselves in society, losing their identity in Christ. The focus has shifted from winning souls for salvation through Jesus Christ to more social justice work. There are, however, Brethren who separated, and reclaimed the positions of old...

There are several great books on pain and grief. These are some of my recommendations: 1) C.S. Lewis' "The Problem of Pain". 2) F.B. Meyers, "Peace, perfect peace", and finally, 3) "Good Grief" by Granger Westberg. Why do I mention these things? As I write this, a terrible destructive flood hit Tennessee and North Carolina. Both areas are reeling from major carnage. I wish to address the topic of pain, suffering, and a good God. This event shows us that pain and sorrow does exist. But ...

In this last installment, we are looking at why Christianity is unique and should be considered above all other beliefs is that: Christianity offers to everyone grace. Unlike all other religions where grace must be earned, in Christianity, grace is GIVEN, from God to mankind. We have to make the free will choice as to whether we will receive it or not. Other religions says we must find a way to merit grace. This makes it hard to be settled in the mind, whether grace has truly been found or not...

We are continuing our reasons for why Christianity should be chosen. Christianity is the one belief that affords assurance of Salvation. This differentiates Christianity from all other religions and belief systems in the world. In the other beliefs, the goal is to, hopefully, work enough to have the good outweigh the bad. But even the most ardent follower of these systems, if they are honest, will admit that they hope they will make eternal bliss but can't be certain. A. In Christianity, sinc...

Why Christianity? The desire is to articulate some major points to consider as to why Christianity is true compared to other beliefs. It should be noted that many things labeled “Christian” is anything but and we will devote an entire post on that. For this post, we will take into account the general answers and beliefs of Christianity itself. Before thinking of the different opinions, thoughts, teachings, beliefs and branches of Christianity there are, and then labeling Christianity as too con...

As we went through the eight main points which a true Brethren stands upon, it is important for me to share a few thoughts. Truth is not based on feelings or relevancy. Objective truth, which we should all desire to have, does not care if we are offended or not. The purpose of presenting these eight truths from our position as Brethren, is not to appear cold, listless, and heartless. It is to get the basis of the truth out. We as Brethren do love all. We want all to come to Salvation. The go...

The concept of love is highly desired in our society and has morphed into a religion itself. The religion of love allows no descent from the ranks. Proof? The tolerant gay culture. They are tolerant, until their lifestyle is called out for what it is, sinful and unnatural. These "tolerant" people become the most vile, intolerant people imaginable. They truly show that homosexuality is not a sign of freedom or bravery, but a sign of God turning them over to a depraved mind! They are everything bu...

One of the hardest values, for me as a Brethren, is this concept of non resistance. In our nation where we have a right to self defense in the Second Amendment, the idea of not meeting violence with violence, is very hard to grasp. The times we find self defense in the Scripture is when God commands it, or an earthly king gives permission (the Jewish feast of Purim). But how do we view this value? As hard as it to grasp, we must establish, briefly, a truth that is often missed in our American cu...

"We have no creed but the New Testament". That is, or in some segments of Brethren, was, our creed. The Brethren were anti creedal from the start. Early on, we saw how the creedal churches engaged with their creeds. They saw the church recite empty words, and hollow meanings. The statements meant nothing, and did little in moving them to a deeper and holier walk with God. Instead, the members, including many pastors, would go to church, recite the creeds, listen to (or preach) the sermon, and sh...

How does a church respond to the needs surrounding her? How about the needs from within? Some churches extremely claim all money given is only for ministry and nothing else. Other churches go to the other extreme and become a social organization that cares only for the social issues. There are many shades in the middle and the Brethren are no exception. The Brethren, themselves, adopt a both/and approach. The Brethren are very aware of needs within their own local body of faith, within the great...

One of the hardest and most painful things the Brethren have to do is to discipline members for sin. Following Jesus' principal of keeping the church pure, the Brethren were very strict. While we may think this chased many away, it actually brought people to the church because of the standards and the love they had for one another. Church discipline, in our culture today, takes such a negative connotation. Churches talk about being a “no judgement” zone. There is no “churchianity” and everyone...

Conformity, according to the world's system, is the mark of success. Being part of the group and fitting in, the goal. Brethren were very quick on rejecting uniformity to the world to be in conformity with God. This is not to say they ignored all societal expectations, so far as it was Biblical. What conformity did Brethren practice? Let us view non-conformity through the lenses of: 1) Rejection of oaths or swearing, 2) non political, 3) social expectations, 4) human sexuality, 5) Isolationist,...

What is meant by restitution today is nothing more than equivocating the definition of restoring. It has become a key word for legalized theft based on skin color. When the word "restitution" is used, what is meant is reparations. We, usually those who are white, according to them, have systematically oppressed others (often those of black, Hispanic, or some other non-white skin colored) and must step aside, give place and prominence, repent of our "whiteness" and restore to them from ourselves....

From the earliest Brethren, and even in Pietism and AnaBaptism roots, these two concepts, with the focus being on the New Testament, existed at the core. The Brethren believe true faith will bring forth true obedience, and a faith which does not produce such obedience is no faith at all. When many, who claim Christianity, live lives and possess actions which are antithesis of the Scriptures, the Brethren would, or should, wonder if true faith is even found. We are saved by faith, and faith deman...

“Who are the Brethren?” That is often a question I receive when I mention my denomination. I am caught off guard, not for a loss of words, but how to answer. As of 2024, there is 316 years of History with the Brethren. My standard answer is, “What specific questions do you have?” This allows me to zero in on the major questions while not wasting time with info not needed or wanted. But who we are is still not answered deeply. Our full history will not be presented here. Donald Durnbaugh did th...