Brethren Apologist

The question about Bible translation is a rather large study. It is the debate between Traditional Text verses the Critical Text. There must be a preliminary understanding of these two different texts. The Traditional, or received, text is the text that is copied from the originals. Those who hold to the Traditional Text stand on the position that God's Word is known, preserved, and handed down to us through the halls of time. Those who believe in the Critical Text approach the Bible as a source...

At this conclusion of our proof for the Bible, it should be noted that we barely scratched the surface. Much more could have been said, and even more can be studied. However, enough evidence was given to prove the Bible is factual and accurate. Enough truth has been shared to give all who are reading a base upon which they can build their own study. How many reading this will ignore these truths? How many will decide this nameless blog and author is crazy? This does not affect this author in any...

If we were to ask about manuscript support for the most ancient of writings, could we produce that? If I were to say, "I do not believe Homer wrote Illiad." would I not be thought foolish? Why? Because of manuscript support. Here are some interesting things to note about some of the most well known writings from ancient times. Please note, this is not my list but I am reiterating what has already been done by others. Lucretius died around 55 or 53 B.C. We are not aware of the date for earliest...

Evidence for the Bible is not limited to only looking at artifacts and Science. Prophecy itself is evidence for the validity of the Bible. Prophecy, in this post, will have two parts. The first is prophecy, speaking to the present, and the second is prophecy speaking to our future. Of course, not being in the future, it will be substantially harder for us to validate this point, but by using logic and reason, we are able to do so. As we look at prophecy from the past, we have an unbelievable r...

In a previous post, it was mentioned that our knowledge and understanding of people and places may not be 100%. There are questions regarding where ancient cities were located or how far some old civilizations extended. Does this remove the authority of Scripture? Is this enough to make the case the Bible is not true? No. When we look at the Archaeological developments that have taken place over the course of the last one hundred plus years, it is exceptionally profound how much has been validat...

Science has become the catch all in today's society. Anyone wishing to appear educated believes in Science. Anyone who wants to appear to have a grasp of reality, they hold to Science. Anyone who wants to be intellectual, they are proponents of Science. For many, this means the Bible is no longer worthy of consideration because Science has replaced it, or has it? The belief that Science can speak to the truth of God is a misuse of Science in the first place. Second, the belief that Science can...

One of the strongest points for proof of the Scripture is the Historical proof of the Bible. The World has made several claims regarding the Bible in its Historical claims. Those attacks have been not only refuted but reversed against the attackers. What are some of these attacks? 1) Many doubted the existence of King David and even the nation of Israel before Solomon. This lasted until 1993 when the ancient mound called Tel Dan, was discovered to have these words carved, "House of David" and ...

Over the next six weeks, we are going to look at the evidence for the Bible. These blogs will never answer every question, nor will it anticipate every possible objection. What is desired is to put enough information in the hands of all the readers to go deeper with their own questions and study for themselves. The six points to be discussed are: The Historical Proof Scientific Proof Archaeological Proof Prophetic Proof Manuscript Proof Summation leading toward proof Each one of these poin...

Brethren are highly influenced by two major movements, Pietists (covered in another post), and AnaBaptists. What is it? Who were they? What was their main stance they are known for? These are the tree questions explored today. AnaBaptist is not a word that is used often, but many Christian churches are AnaBaptist. It does not mean we are against baptism, instead we believe in Believers baptism. Following the Scriptures, every time someone was baptized, it was to receive faith but because of fa...

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,...