Cogitations

I am greatly troubled as some of the posts I am seeing on facebook in relation to congregations and how elderships and choosing to lead through this pandemic. If you are tender or thinned skinned then this episode might not be for you. If you like what we do consider becoming a patron supporter at www.patreon.com/nearchurches

Is the COVID-19 pandemic sent from God because of His anger? Short answer, no. Take a listen to the podcast to hear some logical reasoning about this topic. Also, I discuss a little about the chastisement of the Lord, suffering, providence, and strength of faith in relation to this pandemic. If you like what we do and want to help, www.patreon.com/nearchurches

This episode of Cogitations is actually pretty brutal. I start off trying to lay the foundation that we do not judge but only recognize where God has already judged Hopefully this episode doesn't come across like we are happy genuine and sincere folk are damned. We are not and if we are then we are not going to enjoy the eternity for which we so hopefully long. In the second part of the episode I run through four facts about denominationalism then I give a call to action for folk who are in a denomination get out of it. If you are listening to this and there is not a Bible believing anti-denominational church where you are then please contact me. I can put you into contact with someone or may be able to help myself. Jesus only built one church...that is the church (called out body) of (preposition denoting ownership) Christ (messiah, savior of mankind).  Please, at least, start with a congregation that has this moniker being aware of the sad truth that just because a congregation has "church of Christ" on its door does not mean it is actually of Christ. Here are the 4 facts mentioned in the podcast:

1) It is possible for one to be a Christian, a member of the Lord’s church, and not be member of any denomination.

a. People were doing what the New Testament said and were being added to the church hundreds of years before any denominations were in existence (Acts 2:38, 47; Col. 1:13)

b. People obeyed the gospel, became Christians and were added to the Lord’s church, not a denomination (1 Cor. 1: 10-13).

c. If the aforementioned was possible then, and it was, it is possible today.

2) The New Testament does not lead one into a denomination.

a. In order to get into, become a member, of a denomination one must do more than the New Testament says to do or less than the New Testament says to do. (Notice the creeds and manifestoes and catechisms contrived by man)

b. What did the first century Christians do that would put them into a denomination?

3) The only way to get into any denomination is for one to leave the teaching of the New Testament.

a. Leaving the teaching of the New Testament is sin (1 John 3:4; 2 John 9)

b. Those who say that the church of Christ is just another denomination must explain what those people have done to be added to anything other than the Lord’s body (Acts 2:47; Eph. 1:22-23, 4:4, 5:23).

4) Those who are in denominations must get out of them.

a. It has been shown that it is possible for one to be a Christian without being a member of any denomination.

b. It has been shown that the New Testament does not lead one to become a member of any denomination.

c. If all those who are in denominations would follow the New Testament and the New Testament only then there would be no more denominations.If you like what we do and want to help out, www.patreon.com/nearchurches

Location, location, location, is the mantra of many realestate agent and business owner. Why about Christians? Is location important for salvation? What about being able to do good works? Let me know what you think. How important is location to Jesus?If you like what we do, www.patreon.com/nearcnurches

I thought about titling this episode, a change of perspective. My buddy shared a meme about putting a board with a list of the good works the congregation was doing instead of a board with a record of attendance. The meme was attacked for being vain glory and such like. I think this is indicative of a larger problem. Take a listen and let me know what you think. 

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Have you even wondered what Paul's thorn in the flesh was? Have you ever wondered why its identity was not revealed? In this episode I let you know what my theory is and I also talk about why I think it is not revealed just exactly what it was. If you like what we do and want to help, www.patreon.com/nearchurches

This is really a part two. Part one wold be episode 182. In this episode I deal with the definition of intoxicate and how Paul uses it in Ephesians 5:18. Also, we look at Proverbs 20:1 and the difference between one who is wise and one who is not wise. Let us know what you think.IF you like what we do, www.patreon.com/nearchurches

In this episode we discuss the ramifications of Jesus' being accused of being a winebibber on us today as Christians when it comes to consuming alcoholic beverage. Let us know what you think.If you like what we do and want to help our be a bigger part of it, www.patreon.com/nearchurches

This episode comes from a post in the WTT group. The original question was, is it a sin to get a vasectomy or a hysterectomy for birth control. This gave rise to the question of birth control in general. Hopefully I have presented this information adequately in a way that allows you to make a more informed decision. We also talk some about the idea of how we never talk about taboo subjects. Let me know what you think. If you like what we do and want to help, www.patreon.com/nearchurches

There was an article released from Focus Press concerning modesty. The last part of the article was under the heading, "The qualifiers necessitated by online discussion these days." It is about this part of the article we cogitated and spoke today. Let me know what you think. Do you agree with the issues we bring up about modesty?Here is the link to the article, https://www.focuspress.org/2020/03/02/a-disturbing-trend-in-the-modesty-discussion/?fbclid=IwAR2FcLAxY7uIK9oFjcxVyskANN-115gmULN_EjnWJKY3spoSSVFE9ZtsGF0If you like what we do and want to help us out, www.patreon.com/nearchurches