Don't buy Bell's statement that he believes in Hell; he doesn't believe in 'the' Hell. From Kevin Deyoung's well-written critique of Bell's book: "So why do I say Bell is a universalist if he believes in hell? Because he does not believe hell lasts forever. It is a temporary “period of pruning” and “an intense experience of correction” (91). Bell’s hell is like purgatory except his “pe...more

Don't buy Bell's statement that he believes in Hell; he doesn't believe in 'the' Hell. From Kevin Deyoung's well-written critique of Bell's book: "So why do I say Bell is a universalist if he believes in hell? Because he does not believe hell lasts forever. It is a temporary “period of pruning” and “an intense experience of correction” (91). Bell’s hell is like purgatory except his “period of pruning” is for anyone, not just for Christians who die in a state of grace as Catholicism teaches. For Bell, this life is about getting ourselves fitted for the good life to come. Some of us die ready to experience God’s love. Others need more time to sort things out. Luckily, in Bell’s scheme, there is always more time. “No one can resist God’s pursuit forever because God’s love will eventually melt even the hardest hearts” (108)."less

Madyar - I'm not sure if you're asking me or steveh20. If me, I can't reach out and grab anyone nearby, but typically if you here someone advocating 'reconstructionism', that is usually a clue they're a proponent of an Old Testament theocracy.

While I dislike the spirit in steveh20's post, if we're to be honest as Christians, we must admit there is a sliver of the Christian community that does advocate the application of Israel's/Old Testament theocracy to America. However, 3 key things to remember: (1) The founders of America clearly discarded a theocratic approach in favor of a 'Jeffersonian' position that used a belief in God and His...more

While I dislike the spirit in steveh20's post, if we're to be honest as Christians, we must admit there is a sliver of the Christian community that does advocate the application of Israel's/Old Testament theocracy to America. However, 3 key things to remember: (1) The founders of America clearly discarded a theocratic approach in favor of a 'Jeffersonian' position that used a belief in God and His Word to underpin our rights and moral law; thus those advocating a theocracy need some educating where our history is concerned. (2) The tiny minority in the Christian community wanting a theocratic government isn't practicing or advocating violence and death, or claiming that America is the enemy/a great evil. (3) The Islamic history is one that shows a consistent approach to theocracy and imperialism to this day, and no attempt to disavow the Qu'ran mandates of violence toward infidels. And don't get me started talking about the Shiites and Ahmadinejad's plans for Israel and us...less

Many thanks for posting!

I would respectfully disagree with your position. First, as to early extra-biblical writings of a pre-trib rapture, we have the testimony of Ephraem the Syrian (A.D. 306-373) who wrote, “All the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins”. But primarily,...more

I would respectfully disagree with your position. First, as to early extra-biblical writings of a pre-trib rapture, we have the testimony of Ephraem the Syrian (A.D. 306-373) who wrote, “All the saints and elect of God are gathered, prior to the tribulation that is to come, and are taken to the Lord lest they see the confusion that is to overwhelm the world because of our sins”. But primarily, there is plenty of Biblical evidence for a pre-trib rapture. Everything from 2 Thessalonians that Paul wrote to correct that church from believing they were already in the tribulation, to the imagery of the Jewish wedding week, to Daniel calling the tribulation the time of "Jacob's" (not the Church's) trouble, and more. See my presentation on the rapture here: http://www.slideshare.net/schumacr/the-parousia-the-rapture.less

Can we just say this is crazy. If you believe these idiotic beliefs about materialism, atheism, and naturalism then you are not a rational individual that can contribute to society. Get a grip people. These beliefs are parallel to all the crazy beliefs coming out of the wilds of Nietzsche and Sartre. No different.

I taught through a fairly extensive series on prophecy some months back. All the presentations are on slideshare with this one going over the various positions and concluding with a case for the premill stance (which I am): http://www.slideshare.net/schumacr/the-parousia-how-to-study-bible-prophecy.

Well said Mr. Colson. I continue to support your efforts as should all believers.

What's wrong with gay marriage? http://www.slideshare.net/schumacr/whats-wrong-with-gay-marriage-presentation

I thank God for courageous and Biblical leaders like Voddie who speak the truth in love!

I thank God for honest, truthful, and devoted leaders like John MacArthur who speak the truth about what Scripture teaches.

Something for the scoffers here: “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens exi...more

Something for the scoffers here: “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. ” (2 Peter 3:3–9)less

As honest evolutionists admit (and some who have posted below), evolution doesn't help you become an intellectually fulfilled atheist at all. It attempts only to explain the change in existing biological entities, so the survival of the fittest is addressed but not the arrival of the fittest. Gottfried Leibniz question as to why we have something rather than nothing at all is left alone by evoluti...more

As honest evolutionists admit (and some who have posted below), evolution doesn't help you become an intellectually fulfilled atheist at all. It attempts only to explain the change in existing biological entities, so the survival of the fittest is addressed but not the arrival of the fittest. Gottfried Leibniz question as to why we have something rather than nothing at all is left alone by evolution. It's also left alone by scientists like Stephen Hawking in his latest book The Grand Design who tries to redefine 'nothing' as the quantum mechanic energy filled vacuum. That isn't 'nothing'. Nothing, as Aristotle said, is what rocks dream about.less

Did you read the entire article or are you under the influence of something? If Angelina Jolie began supplying you with answers to your prayers in the manner Christ did with Chan, I think you could safely conclude she loved you.

Mclaren and his emerging church brethren are the type of false teachers Jude and Peter warned the Church about. See my 2 presentations on their background and teaching: http://www.slideshare.net/schumacr/reflections-on-the-emerging-church-part-1 and http://www.slideshare.net/schumacr/reflections-on-the-emerging-church-part-2 .

"lots of copies with errors." What kind of errors? Spelling errors (names, etc.)? Yep. Errors that call into question any teaching or doctrine? Not one. This isn't shooting from the hip either, but the conclusion of decades of scholarly higher/lower criticism. And the disciples stole the body? Sure, makes perfect sense unless you remember that no person dies for what they KNOW is untrue, and outs...more

"lots of copies with errors." What kind of errors? Spelling errors (names, etc.)? Yep. Errors that call into question any teaching or doctrine? Not one. This isn't shooting from the hip either, but the conclusion of decades of scholarly higher/lower criticism. And the disciples stole the body? Sure, makes perfect sense unless you remember that no person dies for what they KNOW is untrue, and outside of John, that's what happened to them all.less

I'm afraid that only those who disregard historical methods will dismiss Craig's arguments. See Mike Licona's new 700+ page work on the historiographical approach to the account of Jesus' resurrection as just one example. I go over the typical approaches to judging the veracity of historical works and show how they validate the Bible in this presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/schumacr/the-wor...more

I'm afraid that only those who disregard historical methods will dismiss Craig's arguments. See Mike Licona's new 700+ page work on the historiographical approach to the account of Jesus' resurrection as just one example. I go over the typical approaches to judging the veracity of historical works and show how they validate the Bible in this presentation: http://www.slideshare.net/schumacr/the-word-why-trust-the-bible-1638014 .less

Yep, no original autographs, but something a lot better - thousands of early copies, which no other work from antiquity has. As for eyewitness accounts, how does your logic apply to the empty tomb since enemies and friends alike were staring at a place where no one was home? With respect to the 'centuries after' claim, that has been debunked so many times it's amazing it's still repeated. In r...more

Yep, no original autographs, but something a lot better - thousands of early copies, which no other work from antiquity has. As for eyewitness accounts, how does your logic apply to the empty tomb since enemies and friends alike were staring at a place where no one was home? With respect to the 'centuries after' claim, that has been debunked so many times it's amazing it's still repeated.

In regard to the virgin birth, yep, without Jesus' body, no way to do DNA tests. And yes, isn't it great the Gospel accounts have different perspectives and don't report events verbatim? Removes the whole claim of collusion.

"exminister" - the title shows his bias but he has no *facts* to slant, just opinion...less

danielsmw - using the Bible is not circular at all, but linear. Can you prove the historical inaccuracy of the events recorded? Many have tried, but all have failed. Perhaps you have a new approach?

ilat - how do you know what the 'right thing to do is'? Is it something you personally come up with, is it what culture says, is it what government says? The fact is, without God you have no moral standard that's solid and unchanging. All you have is evolution, which isn't exactly known for acting kindly with living things.