Category Archives: Theology

Christian cliches – all sins are equal

Posted on January 21, 2013 by christopher fisher

So is Jesus saying that all sins are equal or that all sins lead to hell? These are different concepts. As we have shown earlier, some will be judged with many stripes and some with few. Lusting after a woman in your heart, while it is adultery, is less of a sin then actually committing it. Calling your brother fool, is different than murder. Though all sins lead to separation from God, not all sins are equal. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christian Cliches, Morality, Theology | Leave a comment

jewish proselytization and proselytes

Posted on December 22, 2012 by christopher fisher

In summary, early Judaism had already gained a large following from the Gentiles by the time Paul showed up on the scene, with both converts and God-fearers. The pagan historians described this massive conversion, and there is ample evidence in Acts of this fact. Paul leveraged this receptive audience to his advantage. The God-fearers is where most of Paul’s success was found. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Dispensationalism, History, Theology | 3 Comments

why was paul persecuted and by whom

Posted on December 19, 2012 by christopher fisher

Paul was primarily persecuted by religious Jews who were offended that he taught:

1. Jesus was the Christ
2. Not to follow the works of the law
3. That gentiles and Jews were equal Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Dispensationalism, History, Theology | 8 Comments

cannibalism as necessity

Posted on September 19, 2012 by christopher fisher

In the midst of our present civilization, with all its abundance, the idea of enslaving and cannibalizing other people (including children and babies) is horrific and revolting, but it is a reality of human nature that this can come about under dire circumstances. What protects us from this result is the accumulated capital of the past, and our capacity to protect that capital by formulating an appropriate moral order to guide our actions. If we are reckless about the connection between our moral order and the accumulation of capital, then we are asking for disaster.

Continue reading →

Posted in History, Morality, Standard of Living | 2 Comments

dating the biblical book of mark

Posted on September 19, 2012 by christopher fisher

One must therefore, I believe, be prepared to take seriously the tradition that Mark, at whose home in Jerusalem Peter sought refuge before making his hurried escape (Acts 12.12-17) and whom later in Rome he was to refer to with affection as his ‘son’ (I Peter 5.13), accompanied Peter to Rome in 42 as his interpreter and catechist, and that after Peter’s departure from the capital he acceded to the reiterated request for a record of the apostle’s preaching, perhaps about 45. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, History, Textual Criticism, Theology | 2 Comments

John Eldredge “sometimes I like writing nonsense”

Posted on September 16, 2012 by christopher fisher

“As with every relationship, there’s a certain amount of unpredictability, and the ever-present likelihood that you’ll get hurt. The ultimate risk anyone ever takes is to love, for as C. S. Lewis says, “Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal.” But God does give it, again and again and again, until he is literally bleeding from it all. God’s willingness to risk is just astounding—far beyond what any of us would do were we in his position.” Continue reading →

Posted in Calvinism, Open Theism, Theology | Leave a comment

intro to paul v the platonists

Posted on April 4, 2012 by christopher fisher

The Apostle Paul wrote his epistles between 50 and 60 AD. By this time Platonism had already been infused into both secular culture and popular religion. Both Paul’s writing and the writings of the other Apostles reveal a world entrenched in Platonic philosophy. Paul establishes a stern warning against the philosophy of the day Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Open Theism, Theology | 2 Comments

matthew was the first gospel written

Posted on January 10, 2012 by christopher fisher

Mark is not the earliest Gospel. Mark was written during the waning of the Hebrew mission and the rise of the diaspora and Greek mission. It was written as a Readers Digest version of Matthew, shedding very Hebrew centric ideas in favor of more broadly accepted ideas. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Bible Critics, Dispensationalism, Ehrman, Textual Criticism | 36 Comments

is getting drunk a sin?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by christopher fisher

Pro 31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
Pro 31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Morality, Theology | Leave a comment

the book of life of the lamb slain

Posted on November 14, 2011 by christopher fisher

Calvinists who maintain that God is timeless or eternal (in the sense of being above time) sometimes point to Revelation for evidence. They consistently state throughout their sermons that all events are forever happening at all times in God’s mind. Christ is forever crucified, being crucified, in God’s frame of reference. They point to Revelation 13:8 as support for this… Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Calvinism, Textual Criticism, Theology | 1 Comment