I attended the GC Session in Atlanta this year, both weekends. I had to return to 3ABN to finish a project in between, so I did a lot of driving! Thankfully I was able to rest at my mom’s place in TN coming and going, which shortened the trip somewhat.
3ABN's booth at GC
Where we came from has profound implications for the meaning of life, our purpose, and our ultimate destiny.
This chart (download in PDF format) depicts the seven ceremonial sabbaths of Leviticus 23, which were part of the various Jewish feasts, and shows how they were fulfilled (the antitypes) in the New Testament era.
Here is a mini-view of the chart. (The PDF version is much larger, designed to print on 11 x 17 inch paper.)
Church conflicts — whether over doctrines, matters of lifestyle, or policies — are often described as conflicts between “conservatives” and “liberals.” Given the Bible’s call to unity, this factioning of the church should be cause for concern.
The factioning of the church into conservative and liberal camps is a fascinating process. To the casual observer, it may seem that the many specific points of contention between the two camps are over unrelated issues. For example, what does a theological position on the human nature of Christ have to do with the length of women’s dresses? Though both are conservative positions, a studious observer would find little direct relationship between the points. Indeed, there are many who freely hold to only one or the other of those two points, and see no contradiction in doing so. Yet despite widespread exceptions over specific points, there is a noticeable polarization. Something draws church members towards either of these two groups, each representing a collection of diverse issues. In the end, people tend to adopt a collection of related ideas and practices, which could be classed as either liberal or conservative. Put another way, people who hold doctrinal views deemed conservative also tend to adopt conservative lifestyle choices and policies. Those who favor liberal church policies tend toward liberal theological and lifestyle stances. Of course, individually people tend to take various exceptions to their party platform.
Back in January 2003, I read this intriguing article in World magazine, ”Scholarly legends” by Gene Edward Veith (access requires payment for non-subscribers), in which the author compares a few common errors about history to contemporary so-called “urban legends.”
I had the good sense to clip it from the magazine and file it, and just recently found it again. It deals with three specific legends that have circulated in the scholarly world and washed over into popular culture: (more…)
