tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85418062011-05-20T15:34:59.890-07:00<a href="http://gospelunion.com">GOSPELUNION.COM</a> - <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/thegospelunion/join">Subscribe</a><br><br><br> Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined...<a href="http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012:24-26;&version=31;">Matthew 20:24-26</a><br>Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. - <a href="http://biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%204:1-3;&version=50;">Ephesians 4:1-3</a>Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1121100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1152410252676304542006-07-08T18:44:00.000-07:002006-07-15T20:14:42.190-07:00

Awhile back, I began to suspect that there was a flaw in the theory, sometimes called the Law of Silence, that the Bible's silence on a subject is always prohibitive. I've found cases where it indeed appears to be, but also cases where it appears not to be.I'm convinced that figuring out which is which is largely a matter of personal growth. If I adopt children into my home (as I have!), they are

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1144079441277471822006-04-03T07:46:00.000-07:002006-04-06T11:27:38.720-07:00

There are some things so ridiculous--and in fact, so evil--that only intellectuals could believe them. Like doomsday University of Texas professor Eric Pianka's intentionally shocking idea that a 90% reduction in the human population is not merely an eventuality (as headlines spin it), but a solution to the "problem" of an overcrowded planet.Actually, the real problem, as he states it, is

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1143339042777448012006-03-25T18:07:00.000-08:002006-03-25T20:26:52.190-08:00

After years of trying to train my kids not to fight over being first in line at the dessert table, we recently encountered an interesting twist. They were fighting over being last.That's right, instead of arguing about who was going to be first, they began arguing over the right to be last in line. And they apparently thought this would get them big kudos from Mom and Dad.This new phase was only

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1143227005612757592006-03-24T10:53:00.000-08:002006-03-24T11:03:25.706-08:00

I don't know who compiled these "One Anothers," but they illustrate how important our relationships are with people. All of the "book knowledge" in the world can't replace the value of our one-on-one relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ.Knowing how we ought to behave is quite different from actually doing it.be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50) wash one another's feet (John

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1141574173160465282006-03-05T07:47:00.000-08:002006-03-05T07:56:16.140-08:00

I originally put these scriptures together to have a little chat with two of my kids who have been having a little temper problem lately. Then I realized they would make good reading for a discussion that our group does frequently involving all the kids. Then I realized they would be great for us adults as well. And finally, I realized they'd be great for the blog.So enjoy, and I hope these

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1137888473974140122006-01-21T16:06:00.000-08:002006-01-27T21:13:09.813-08:00

Speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where it’s silent. This has long been my motto, but I have not always lived up to it. Like many reformation denominations, which with one mouth subscribe to the Nicene Creed, and with another mouth sing a different tune, I too have given lip service to my motto without being true to its ideals.The motto, I believe, is a good one. If the Bible speaks on

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1137797413150071222006-01-20T14:38:00.000-08:002006-01-20T14:50:28.286-08:00

I just thought I'd post the words of a song that really resonated with me recently. I've done a search on the Internet and can't find the songwriter's name, so if anyone knows, please leave a comment on this page. I heard a beautiful rendition of it done by a group called Smalltown Poets, and spent some time on the computer arranging it for four-part harmony to sing in group settings. But I'm

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1136311434662545082006-01-03T10:00:00.000-08:002006-01-03T18:11:08.440-08:00

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the blinding nature of pride. It is so easy to see it in someone else, but we Christians must be honest that it is amazingly difficult to see it in ourselves. The moment we think we’ve reached maximum humility is the exact moment we’ve topped the charts in pride. After all, a truly humble person believes, or at leasts suspects, that he is actually quite proud

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1134942154509827342005-12-18T13:38:00.000-08:002005-12-19T20:41:35.013-08:00

As any adult can verify from personal experience, words change meanings over time as their contemporary usage changes. As fewer and fewer people use the word “skater“ to describe someone who roller skates (as opposed to rollerblading or skateboarding), so fewer and fewer people use the word “Christian” to simply describe someone who is Christlike. In fact, most of us probably have never

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1134745290657348172005-12-16T06:46:00.000-08:002005-12-16T17:53:10.990-08:00

My lovely wife sat down at the computer the other day with a tune in her head and wrote a beautiful little song from Psalms 14 and 15. I downloaded Finale (notation software) for the Mac and spent a couple days learning it and working out the four-part harmony. Diane handled all of the timing, melody, and alto harmonization.If anyone is interested in giving it a shot for your congregational

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1131737441031621672005-11-11T11:29:00.000-08:002005-12-16T08:38:31.140-08:00

Humans, with few exceptions, are social creatures. Since God was the author of our genetic code, which predisposes us to social interaction, it is no accident that the Author of our Salvation designed the Christian faith to resonate with the basic human desire to engage with other human beings.Unfortunately, though, in almost any social setting it is human nature for cliques to form. Similar

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1130354955930255602005-10-26T12:26:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:38:49.613-08:00

Never before in history has the absence of judgment been glorified as a virtue—the virtue of non-judgmentalism. So says Thomas Sowell, a man I admire for his economic and political philosophy. I must confess, though, while it might make a punchy bumper sticker cliché, it’s rather lacking in judgment when it come to spiritual matters.You see, Christians have been confusing the different

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1129446514360886062005-10-16T00:02:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:39:52.676-08:00

I stumbled upon an interesting newspaper article about the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur this week. I was surprised to find that there are still some traditions in modern Judaism that offer a bird as a sacrifice for their sins—a chicken, to be exact. I was under the impression that all animal sacrifices had ceased since the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D., but apparently not.Of course, the

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1129338054846118822005-10-14T17:19:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:40:07.436-08:00

For those not familiar with him, George Barna is considered the top pollster in the "big business" of the church growth movement. He has had his finger on the pulse of trends and demographic shifts among church-goers for years, and his research has been used by mega-church "entrepeneurs" to grow their enterprises through more effective marketing and communication than has traditionally been used

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1125600310283805912005-09-01T11:41:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:40:23.750-08:00

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” Jesus said. But do we Christians really take that to heart as a call to action, or is it just an abstract beatitude that we have our kids memorize?I never thought I’d identify in the slightest with the “peace movement.” When it comes to politics, I’m a law and order kind of guy who sees the need for peace through strength and for good to confront evil in the world.

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1123701322513175962005-08-10T12:13:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:40:44.880-08:00

I have, for all of my Christian life, considered myself non-denominational--maybe even un-denominational or anti-denominational. I still do, actually. I never believed (and I still don’t) that Jesus meant for his disciples to be divided up into this or that faction or “flavor” of Christianity.What has evolved is my understanding of the word “denominationalism.” Contrary to popular usage in some

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1122789457802496002005-07-30T22:53:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:41:21.026-08:00

Whenever I feel I’ve been wronged or somehow offended, I try to remember to ask myself how it compares to the wrongs inflicted on Jesus Christ. If we are to be truly Christlike, we have to ask this question, because it puts forgiveness in a whole new perspective.Has someone hurt my feelings? How much more were the feelings of the Son of God trampled when His own creation rose up against Him and

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1120781300921517562005-07-07T16:46:00.000-07:002005-07-07T17:08:20.946-07:00

Pardon my absence from blogging while we finish settling into our new house in Idaho! After arriving at the new house, we promptly packed up the kids again to visit some Christian friends in Oregon over the July 4th weekend. We really are beginning to love the freedom of road trips and seeing God's beautiful country. The kids travel remarkably well and are loving it as well. We are also very

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1118338626561466632005-06-09T10:02:00.000-07:002005-12-16T07:50:11.466-08:00

These verses have been very meaningful in my studies. I thought others might benefit from them in this form with as few editorial remarks as possible.Studying the Scriptures brings eternal life because they tell us about Jesus Christ: John 5:39-42 - You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1117381632352475452005-05-29T08:45:00.000-07:002005-12-16T07:50:43.890-08:00

Freedom is one of the blessings we most take for granted in America. Our forefathers and many servicemen have died for it—for us. By not appreciating their sacrifice and doing something valuable with that freedom, we do the unthinkable. We squander it.In that sense, freedom for us can be a little like old money. It’s been inherited, not earned or sacrificed for, and there is always something less

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1117131741371506092005-05-26T11:17:00.000-07:002006-05-25T09:31:55.843-07:00

Are you skeptical of those who talk about Christian liberty? To many of us, freedom in Christ seems too good to be true. It just doesn't seem possible that the same God who struck down Uzzah, Nadab, and Abihu for breaking rules and regulations under the Old Law could shake heaven and earth with a new covenant not involving such outward rules and regulations. After all, the God of the Bible is the

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1116383223810048262005-05-17T19:25:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:16:05.256-08:00

Some media elites have trouble relating to middle America. The only people they know come from a humanist, left-leaning worldview. They wine and dine only with people in that crowd, they seek to curry favor with them for career and social advancement, and they bestow awards only to them. To these people, the heartland of America is an enigma, because frankly, they know nothing about the heartland

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1116317630818358952005-05-17T01:05:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:15:39.586-08:00

Have you ever noticed the abundance of pop psychology books and self-help tomes on marriage that all seem to focus on getting what you want from marriage rather than supplying what your spouse wants and needs? Does it never occur to these people that the human soul is most satisfied when it is serving others, not manipulating them for its own purpose? But I guess a self-centric view of marriage

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1116309061183596552005-05-16T22:42:00.000-07:002005-05-17T01:16:37.586-07:00

I have to offer my apologies for being offline for several weeks. I've had a lot of thoughts incubating in the back of my mind while trying to manage the relocation of my family from Orange County, California to South Idaho. (Shhhh, don't tell my neighbors there are more Californians moving in.)Now that both escrows seem to be lined up properly, I should be able to get more writing time in.

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1114188548306083572005-04-22T09:41:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:14:15.190-08:00

As a dyed-in-the-wool, red-blooded conservative, I have always valued decisiveness and conviction. When I vote for a politician, I want a politician in office who agrees with my policy, holds most of my opinions, and will do in office what I elected him to do. After all, I figure, I hired him, so I have a right to hold him to a certain standard--mine. If he doesn't meet it, then maybe I won't be

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1113947808623893302005-04-19T14:52:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:12:51.000-08:00

Since my wife and I adopted two beautiful girls several years ago into our family, I know something about being an adoptive parent. As a Christian, I know something about being an adopted child. Put the two together, and I know something about love. What does that have to do with pure and faultless religion? Think about the greatest command there is, to love. From the perspective of an adoptive

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1113588587550632672005-04-15T10:58:00.000-07:002005-04-15T11:10:07.340-07:00

I will be leading a discussion on being a good spouse and parent soon, and I thought I'd get feedback from Christians reading this site on the subject.This is an experiment and we'll see how it goes! I hope you will enjoy reading everyone's input and scriptures on the subject. I know I will.Please add your two cents on the subject, if you're so inclined using the "Comments" link below and check

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1113492698760156692005-04-14T08:29:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:12:16.380-08:00

I’m not a big sports fan, but as Paul was fond of using analogies from the popular sports of his day, so it might be helpful for us to use them as well. Let me suggest that if our individual Christianity is a lot like running a race, I think our Christian relationships are a lot like moving the ball upfield in football (or rugby, for you European readers). How so?In football, the team on offense

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1113035885880757782005-04-09T01:33:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:11:56.576-08:00

Think about the fact that it is possible to have loveless agreement on the hotbutton doctrinal issues of the day, but it is impossible to have loveless unity. Sure, it's easier to love someone I agree with. But while I can fail to love a person I agree with, I cannot fail to love a brother in Christ whom I am in unity with. Without love, agreement is meaningless. Love covers a multitude of sins,

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1112830830161932852005-04-06T16:46:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:11:28.450-08:00

Some good conversation has come up lately about baptism. For the sake of clarity, I'm simply going to refer to it as immersion, because that is what the word meant to the first century believers. Why it has been transliterated in most Bibles rather than translated into English, I don't know. But the meaning of the word is really not in dispute by anyone. The semantics of Christian immersion is

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1112819027599522552005-04-06T13:16:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:59:07.216-08:00

Are our sins washed away when we're added to the right body, or are we added to the right body when our sins are washed away? Do we meet together for the purpose of taking the Lord's supper, or is edifying one another by remembering and proclaiming Jesus' death the goal for our gathering? Do we go to church, or do we meet with the church? If worship starts at 10:00, when does it end? Should it

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1112719822914506282005-04-05T09:47:00.000-07:002005-12-16T08:59:30.846-08:00

One thing I've been thinking about is where the blame lies for the current state of factionalism in Christianity. As a parent, I don’t tolerate my children blaming someone else for their own unloving actions. “He started it,” I hear. When I follow up on the story, I usually find out a little more than I wanted to know about the ability of children to think like lawyers, and present the facts as

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1112289235620964332005-03-31T09:05:00.000-08:002005-12-16T08:59:48.833-08:00

I had the song "Shout Hallelujah" (sung beautifully by the a cappella Zoe Group) running through my mind yesterday evening, and for good reason. Another sweet niece of mine (Jamie) was baptized into Christ last night!God is so good, and real faith in Him is so infectious. I'm absolutely confident her gift for conversation will be a huge asset in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ throughout

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1112126943359184402005-03-29T15:40:00.000-08:002005-12-16T09:00:43.123-08:00

After yesterday's earthquake off the coast of Indonesia, I read an article quoting a scientist who stated that there was a 100% chance of a tsunami in the region:"My personal view is that a tsunami has a 100 percent chance of happening," US Geological Survey earthquake expert Kerry Sieh told journalists in Los Angeles.Whoops! Now there's this article today: Scientists Puzzled No Tsunami After

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1112111652344403902005-03-29T07:53:00.000-08:002005-12-16T09:01:08.640-08:00

If creeds are so useful for the truth they may contain, but are not authoritative for our salvation, then we might as well call Moby Dick by Herman Melville a creed. Scripture is quoted in the novel, so it contains some inerrant truth, right? People view creeds as watchdogs to protect a group from heresy, but if the creed has no real authority, then it is a toothless watchdog. One bit of prose is

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1112023802997211672005-03-28T07:17:00.000-08:002005-12-16T09:01:48.020-08:00

My first exposure to the singing group Acappella was their album "Sweet Fellowship" about 15 years ago or more. The title track is a great song, and very encouraging. I thought I'd post the words to it here, since the subject of fellowship features prominently around here: Fellowshipping with one another as we're walking in the light(We keep on walking when we're...)Fellowshipping with one

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1111712571665404982005-03-24T17:00:00.000-08:002005-12-16T09:02:16.686-08:00

It's my experience that one of the most kind and useful things we can do to facilitate edifying relationships with other believers is to assume they have good motives. When I don't recognize that a fellow Christian is sincere in what I perceive to be his error, it is far too easy to dismiss him or demonize him. Too often, I've treated a brother in error as if he is a brother wanting to be in

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1111535018515434142005-03-22T15:27:00.000-08:002005-12-16T09:07:28.533-08:00

I think President Bush's use of "coalitions of the willing" as a replacement for rigid treaties and lines of demarcation between allies and enemies makes an interesting application to our Christian cooperation with each other. This is particularly true in the sense that modern believers in Christ have factionalized themselves with their own rigid and outdated creedal "treaties," whether written

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1111515995409417222005-03-22T10:12:00.000-08:002005-12-16T09:07:47.656-08:00

It's interesting to think about the Terri Schiavo case as it relates to a law of ordinances vs. a law of love. It seems that it is impossible to create a set of legal regulations that would deal justly with every contingency in life. The husband has legal standing, as well he should: Genesis 2:24 - For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1111087307460269442005-03-17T12:19:00.000-08:002005-12-16T09:09:14.990-08:00

I just saw a copy of the LA Times laying around and noticed a headline on the Home section: Bickering, bloodsport of siblings by Robin Greene Hagey. As a parent it caught my eye. As a Christian, the parallels were obvious. The caption under the headline reads: "You should worry if your kids aren't squabbling, say the experts. Home is the lab where children can try out behaviors." So does God

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1111077670449415002005-03-17T08:09:00.000-08:002005-03-17T09:20:28.966-08:00

Joe over at EO posted an interesting article today entitled Micromotives and Macrobehavior: How Diversity Leads to Homogeneity. He is writing about how even the extreme diversity of thought represented in the blogosphere tends to coalesce along standard political or religious lines. (I like Joe's quote from Montaigne: "There were never in the world two opinions alike, any more than two hairs or

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1110916384103544962005-03-15T11:49:00.000-08:002005-03-16T13:59:31.040-08:00

In recognizing the brotherhood of all who have put on Christ, one sincere concern of some good friends has been that I may be tolerating error--that I may come to accept the errors of denominationalism or the deeply divided "religious world." Rest assured, I'm not. I still remain just a Christian, not a hyphenated or a sectarian one. But there is a world of difference between tolerating an error

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1110906819837780512005-03-15T09:09:00.001-08:002005-03-15T09:38:40.266-08:00

Ponder for a moment what makes sin sin. Is murder wrong because it is listed in the Decalogue? Is it wrong because it is listed in the new testament scriptures as sin? Or is it wrong because it violates our "social contract," or the law of the land? No, forgive the circularity, but murder is wrong because it is wrong, just as God exists because--well, because He exists. Theologians have spent a

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1110820315520124952005-03-14T09:05:00.000-08:002005-03-14T09:41:06.776-08:00

Wow! Yesterday was another awesome day of fellowship and encouragement with my church family. From the songs to the morning discussion on Acts to the lesson (good job, Dennis), from breaking bread together at lunch to discussing the fruits of the Spirit together in the evening, the day was packed with uplifting interaction between brothers and sisters in Christ. I am more convinced than ever that

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1110568755625653152005-03-11T11:13:00.000-08:002005-03-15T10:13:58.886-08:00

Too often, I've made the mistake of thinking that God is binary--that He can only be "for" something or "agin it." Fortunately, he's more merciful than that. Often times, there is a third option that may be in play that we haven't considered--"I don't care, as long as you act in love." I see this so clearly as a parent. When my kids were younger, I had to make laws for them, explicit rules that

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1110490690531143612005-03-10T13:16:00.000-08:002005-03-11T11:45:04.743-08:00

There is an interesting article in BusinessWeek Online about whether bloggers are journalists: So is a blogger a journalist? Certainly, some organizations have begun to legitimize Web logs as a valid grassroots form of journalism. In 2004, bloggers for the first time received press passes to cover the conventions during the Presidential elections. They have broken major news stories. Several

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1110401891548626892005-03-09T12:43:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:34:50.436-08:00

I appreciate the sentiments expressed by Rey over at Bible Archive on God and the subjugated role of our opinions about Him. After writing a great parody piece on the need to worship God on the mountains, he followed up with a post about the Syrian assumption that the God of Israel was the God of the plains. God, of course, made it clear to the Syrian army that He was not merely the God of the

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1110216370811023412005-03-07T09:22:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:34:31.790-08:00

I read through Hebrews recently and was amazed by the relentless optimism of the "heroes of faith" in chapter 11. Granted, the word "relentless" doesn't usually have a positive connotation. But what word better explains the persistent faith of people like Noah, Abraham, Moses, and the others listed in that chapter? And what is faith if it is not optimism about the goodness of God and his promises

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1109954894993786002005-03-04T08:36:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:33:49.966-08:00

OK, so Scott Ott of Scrappleface wasn't writing a parable about Christian peace, liberty, and unity. But, as Alexander Campbell might say, "The parable is just, and the interpretation thereof, easy and sure." In a post entitled "Annan: Bush Destroying Arab Unity," Scott writes with tongue firmly planted in cheek: (2005-03-04) -- The Bush administration's foreign policy blunders threaten to "drive

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1109784762213691072005-03-02T09:28:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:33:31.386-08:00

We've probably all heard the expression "might doesn't make right." We can probably agree that right makes might, at least morally speaking. But does right make fight?Too often, I've felt the need to fight for every scrap of truth. Sometimes, like a dog fighting for a meaty bone, I was fighting to protect what I saw to be a truth, and other times I was fighting for ownership of it, as if it

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1109715444654986272005-03-01T14:03:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:33:10.493-08:00

I found a very funny and useful parody about "prooftexting" our beliefs, written by a blogger named Rey at BibleArchive.com. I disagree with Rey on some important points of theology, like "eternal security" and insisting that being immersed into Christ is trying to be saved by our "works." Rey, my friend, keep reading those Scriptures for yourself, and ignore the old seminarians who are forcing

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1109700899754074862005-03-01T10:09:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:30:02.413-08:00

What is a follower and what is a leader? Jesus blurred the distinction in many ways. Was He a forceful leader, or a meek follower? Or, perhaps, was he a meek leader, not a forceful follower? As I think about these questions, I realize now that at times I've been a forceful follower. All of us who are disciples of the Son of God are called to be followers of Him. The sheep know His voice and

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1109612878310203572005-02-28T09:25:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:32:32.606-08:00

There's a good article entitled "CH__CH: What's Missing?" in the March issue of The Gospel Message. Brother Tom Woody and I undoubtedly share a profound love for assembling together with the Lord's people, and his essay ought to get you fired up for it. The goal, of course, is not simply "attendence," which is worthless by itself. The actual building up, or edifying, of the ekklesia is the true

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1109351322668035672005-02-25T09:01:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:31:33.813-08:00

I was listening to a talk show recently where the discussion was centered on patriotism and love of country. Most were calling in talking about their appreciation for the freedoms they have in America. One person called in to say that, although he considered himself patriotic and felt that he loved his country, he didn't feel the need to express it. Dennis Prager, the normally mild mannered,

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1109112898040280102005-02-22T14:37:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:31:07.290-08:00

In most wars, a good percentage of the casualties comes from "friendly fire," or ammunition that hits the wrong target due mostly to inadequate communication and misunderstandings about the orders given. I was surprised at the start of the current Iraq war that the number of casualties from these kinds of accidents, including overturned trucks and crashed helicopters, seemed to outnumber

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1109098367543134892005-02-22T10:43:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:30:46.323-08:00

I am filled with awe that my niece was baptized into Christ this weekend and that she got to share in an exciting day of fellowship, singing, and good will with close to a hundred other believers from all over Southern California. It's amazing how joy in Christ can be so contagious. I tried to explain some of this to my kids the other day, but unfortunately words fall far short. After all, the

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1108751999043858172005-02-18T10:31:00.000-08:002006-01-10T08:30:24.830-08:00

What is the New Testament? Of course, this question could be tackled from a number of different angles, but I want to look at the most basic one. Does the New Testament consist of the books of Matthew through Revelation? Hold your breath...no!Words and phrases take on new meanings as humans use them. For instance, the word "bible" just means "book." Common usage has given us the term "Bible" in

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1108490759733802212005-02-15T10:02:00.000-08:002005-02-22T15:24:56.526-08:00

What are the deep things of God? Sometimes I lose sight of what's deep and what's not so deep in the scheme of things. Was tithing of mint, rue, and other herbs a good thing for the Pharisees to do? Yes. Were those things the deep things of God? Forget about it. Luke 11:42 - "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God.

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1107892320085711112005-02-08T11:45:00.000-08:002005-02-08T13:56:06.136-08:00

Is enjoying the friendship and mutual edification of all of our brothers and sisters in Christ an "all or nothing" proposition? Too many of us seem to think that if we can't approve of all that another brother does, we can have nothing to do with him, "religiously" at least. This is just not the case, scripturally speaking. How can we change the world for Christ if we don't associate with it, and

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1107821262144590432005-02-07T16:02:00.000-08:002005-02-08T13:54:44.150-08:00

Another good essay off of Living Waters... --KH The "Best" of Religious Society http://www.livwat.com/articles/10042.html by Charles Fry Every human society seems to have some sort of honored elite (sometimes more honored by themselves than by anyone else), the special in-group, the privileged few, the informed and superior inner circle. There are religious elites, political elites, power elites,

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1107819972383017702005-02-07T15:38:00.001-08:002005-02-08T13:55:15.296-08:00

Good essay, Charles.--KHFirm and Flexible http://livwat.com/articles/10048.html by Charles Fry Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1:45, NIV, -she was Mary) No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. (Rom

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1107808585476194202005-02-07T13:30:00.000-08:002005-02-19T00:09:12.573-08:00

Where exactly is the Church that Jesus died for? All admit that He only died for one Church. It seems that Christians spend a lot of time trying to figure out which one, of the choices we have before us in our neighborhood, is the "right one," the "best one" or "the true one." What you're about to read may come as a shock, but none of the organizations you see around you are the Lord's "One True

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1107461821552937712005-02-03T13:10:00.000-08:002005-03-08T00:16:35.016-08:00

It occurs to me that if one or two commandments are the greatest, that others are lesser in importance. As difficult as this is to swallow, given our desire to obey all that Jesus commands, He had no problem prioritizing the commandments of God. Granted, the Old Law is the specific context of the Pharisee lawyer's question to Jesus, "Which is the greatest commandment in the law?" But Jesus'

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1107279827033680072005-02-01T09:25:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:28:12.203-08:00

One of the toughest things to wrap our minds around is distinguishing between opinions and inerrant truth. Until we do that, though, we'll continue on the path of discord, because opinions are responsible for all the division we see in Christendom, not inerrant truth. It is not possible to force ourselves to hold the same opinions. That is authoritarianism. But we are commanded to be of the same

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1107205066577314712005-01-31T13:51:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:28:50.513-08:00

This essay is worth reading: http://2or3.homestead.com/files/fam.html. Here's a snippet: THE INSTITUTION VS. THE FAMILY By George DavisThe word paradigm speaks of any mindset received by tradition and social conditioning which shapes our private and world view. At one time the world was thought to be flat, having boundaries, and the fear of sailing off the edge of the earth plagued the seafaring

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106846013593620182005-01-27T08:42:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:29:27.456-08:00

The following are excerpted quotes from Ketcherside, compiled by Lloyd A. Boyll in 1989 under the book title of A New Spirit. --KH---------------------- CHRISTIANS AMONG THE SECTS by W. Carl Ketcherside"I am convinced that there are many Christians among the sectarian parties of our day.""Mind you, I do not believe that there are any Christians outside the body of Christ." 1Answering the charge

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106844138147384982005-01-27T07:57:00.000-08:002005-02-03T15:46:42.613-08:00

Here's some speculative theology produced by creeds: The Western form of the Nicene Creed differs from the Eastern in what it says about the Holy Spirit. The Eastern form, following that adopted at Constantinople, says that the Holy Ghost "proceedeth from the Father." The Western form of the Creed adds the words, "and the Son" — in Latin, the single word Filioque. The Western Church confesses a

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106786481489721302005-01-26T16:17:00.000-08:002005-02-03T15:47:32.186-08:00

The following is an excerpt from Alexander Campbell's Foundation of Christian Union. I'll put the last paragraph first to entice you to read the whole thing and bear with our brother's generous use of commas: Let THE BIBLE be substituted for all human creeds; FACTS, for definitions, THINGS, for words; FAITH, for speculation; UNITY OF FAITH, for unity of opinion; THE POSITIVE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD,

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106781200096496692005-01-26T14:38:00.000-08:002005-02-03T15:48:48.103-08:00

Maybe it's too intuitive, but the first rule to prevent division in the churches ought to be to stop dividing. Overly simplistic? Maybe not. Provided our brother hasn't departed from the gospel, is not engaged in immoral conduct or character, and is not being divisive (advocating division), there is no reason that brotherly love can't overcome all other scruples. 1 Corinthians 12:24-25 - But God

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106683149769875892005-01-25T11:55:00.000-08:002006-01-27T21:35:25.476-08:00

Some may be wondering why I write. I suppose there are a whole host of reasons that motivate me to keep recording my thoughts, not the least of which is the desire to communicate with others about my faith in Jesus Christ and my studies of the Word. Koinonia, the word that is frequently translated fellowship in our English Bibles, literally means sharing, and corresponding with other believers is

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106676725120331072005-01-25T10:09:00.000-08:002005-02-03T15:52:54.753-08:00

Whenever I encounter other believers, I find myself ashamed at all of the critique that automatically flows like a river through my mind. I'm painfully aware that I've prided myself on being able to find something doctrinally wrong with any religious person or group I've ever encountered. What was I thinking? Of course, I can find something wrong with anyone, because we are all human! When out of

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106114207912246412005-01-18T21:56:00.000-08:002005-02-03T15:54:12.130-08:00

Sometimes it is uncanny how easily kids grasp things that adults, because of our philosophies and ideologies, have trouble grasping. My middle son, Jaden, who isn't exactly known for liking dinner, noticed tonight that he liked this one (an Italian dish called a frittata) because the eggs hid the flavor of the green herbs and seasonings that were in it. (He likes scrambled eggs, but is pretty

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106091389053935072005-01-18T15:08:00.000-08:002005-02-03T15:54:44.683-08:00

The whole Bible is our creed, but what does that mean? This is one of the most difficult issues for any Christian to think through, as evidenced by the number of debates over creeds through the millennia. Campbell, in the Parable of the Iron Bedstead, was gently urging his brothers at the time to give up their human creeds and take the whole Bible instead. What he meant by that, though, is not at

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106076376419773832005-01-18T11:26:00.000-08:002005-02-03T15:55:39.786-08:00

The following is from Carl Ketcherside's "In the Beginning," Chapter 19 (Thoughts on Fellowship #7). Fellowship is not a fruit of agreement but agreement is the fruit of fellowship! Does the Bible teach that? Do we come to be in the fellowship because we are of the same mind, or do we come to be of one mind because we are in the fellowship? Much depends upon the answer you give. If we come into

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1106075340069271192005-01-18T11:09:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:18:30.486-08:00

I know I've written about this before, but I need someone to help me see how the popular view of Romans 14 isn't spinning in circles. Romans 14, remember, deals with the issue of two brothers whose consciences are in different places on the subject of meat offered to idols or observing days in honor to God. One does it in all good conscience, the other cannot. The opinion I keep hearing is that

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1105468766726352772005-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:21:13.180-08:00

In a zero-sum world, where the books must be reconciled each month, there is a fixed supply of love. In this model, when one feels it and expresses it toward new acquaintances in his life, there is less love available to the people who have always been there. It should be readily apparent to Christians that this is not God's model of love. With God there is an endless supply of love and concern

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1105378072999529332005-01-10T09:25:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:21:32.626-08:00

One of the greatest concerns in associating with Christians of diverse opinions is that it is somehow unsafe to do so. The idea is that we are in some way compromising our beliefs to enjoy Christian communion with folks who do things or understand things differently, and that we ought to play it safe and segregate ourselves. The problem with this philosophy is that it is not playing it safe at

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1105370312856270292005-01-10T07:16:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:23:08.480-08:00

Good people have made the point that those who argue against drawing lines in the sand with regard to Christian associations have lines themselves and they are really just arguing about where the line goes. Not so. Lines in the sand provide security and a comfort zone. On that basis, it may scare some of my brothers who I care deeply about when I say that we ought to obliterate lines in the sand,

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1103664416547996672004-12-21T13:24:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:25:13.173-08:00

God forbid that we ever water down our faith. Unfortunately, though, sometimes we have an inverted idea of what it means to do that. You see, when you water a mixture down, you decrease its strength. You add things to the mix that make it less effective at doing what the full-strength solution was intended to accomplish. This is precisely what we do when we take the opinions and deductions of men

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1103389564719371412004-12-18T09:04:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:38:24.156-08:00

The problem with unity is that there are too many opinions that didn’t exist in the formative days of the church, we say. Things are different now. The church in its earliest state didn’t have denominations vying against each other, we are quick to point out. Factions didn’t battle each other for supremacy, and a million divergent opinions weren’t warring against themselves. That’s right. Things

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1103240512885323582004-12-16T15:40:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:40:09.596-08:00

A church is a local gathering of the citizens of Heaven intended to work together as a factory for godly men and women. It is not so much a factory for creating saints, per se, but for them to have some value-added work done on them. They are to be taught and encouraged to live for their King and should be trained to bring new citizens into His Kingdom. It is a factory whose raw material is

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1103044477204938242004-12-14T09:05:00.000-08:002005-02-03T16:41:03.213-08:00

Sometimes I think those of us who find ourselves wanting to restore the "ancient order" of the New Testament church don't really want to bring the church back to its most primitive state. It is much more comfortable for us to bring the church back to the almost-ancient order of things--perhaps the end of the 1st century--rather than the day of Pentecost. What do I mean by that? Well, consider

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1102636454191339652004-12-09T15:45:00.000-08:002004-12-09T15:54:14.193-08:00

Here's another Campbell quote that I will probably put in the sidebar. And just a reminder...no human contrived words are authoritative, but we are to encourage and edify one another. That is the only purpose in quoting voices from the past. "But men cannot give up their opinions, and therefore, they can never unite, says one. We do not ask them to give up their opinions--we ask them only not to

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1102618426995193532004-12-09T10:31:00.000-08:002004-12-09T11:50:57.200-08:00

Is accepting brothers as brothers without dividing into sects a slippery slope? Some of the most clarifying thoughts are the simplest ones--like the fact that the slippery slope argument itself can be seen as a slippery slope fraught with danger. "Where will it lead?" is the question most often asked. "Look at the slope you will be sliding down!" But ask that question about the question

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1102533418454200492004-12-08T11:08:00.000-08:002004-12-09T11:25:31.566-08:00

I may have to at some point! Here's another excerpt (from a Ketcherside book called "In the Beginning"): Q: It would probably take too long to enumerate all ten of these [areas that need further investigation to effectuate the restoration], but I wonder if you might mention a few of them which you consider to be of greater importance. ... A: The means of induction into Christ....The idea of a

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1102531761012593222004-12-08T10:44:00.000-08:002004-12-08T10:49:21.013-08:00

Here is another gem from this interview. Q: What has been the end of all previous reformation and restoration attempts? A: Every such attempt has invariably ended by producing another sect, generally more narrow, intolerant and uncharitable than those which have preceded it. As men concentrate on what they have discovered, they build a wall around it to protect it. All sectarianism is built upon

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1102531030797613592004-12-08T10:16:00.000-08:002004-12-08T10:37:10.796-08:00

This is from an interview transcribed in a Ketcherside book I just ran across called "In the Beginning." I'll try to post a PDF of the book in the near future. Q: Has progress in restoration been as rapid in the last fifty years as before? A: Not at all! Those who were the spiritual descendants of the men mentioned[Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Walter Scott, Barton W. Stone] made the

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1102104483568801852004-12-03T11:55:00.000-08:002005-03-15T10:19:17.523-08:00

One of the most divisive doctrines restoration movement churches have had is the notion that the treasury--the money donated by congregants--is somehow a sacred fund, or the "Lord's Treasury." This belief naturally creates an explosive cache of ammunition with which to shell "the enemy" over every difference in opinion on the use of this fund. Unfortunately, the enemy becomes fellow brothers and

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1100874575339233522004-11-19T06:10:00.000-08:002004-11-19T11:55:16.533-08:00

There is historically some disagreement on the application of Romans 14, and it appears to be a dispute over what Paul means when he writes about receiving brothers who hold "disputable" opinions. In verses 1-3, he writes:"Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. Let not him who

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1100873177704406442004-11-19T05:54:00.000-08:002004-11-19T06:10:20.346-08:00

Last night's study at my congregation was a great experience even though we were not all in agreement. There was a genuine love and concern for each other in the attitudes of all. No one became bitter, no one walked out the door. That is the point of unity. Greater is He who binds us together than the petty issues which sometimes divide us.

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1100630463456689672004-11-16T10:34:00.000-08:002004-11-27T15:25:17.156-08:00

Believe me when I say that I have wrestled with the paradox of rejecting "pattern-finding" in the New Testament scriptures while accepting the self-evident notion that we ought to obey the instructions we find there. What makes this seem paradoxical is merely the presupposition that the examples and instructions we find recorded in the sacred pages are somehow a legal precedent to follow and bind

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1099153568406203692004-10-30T09:15:00.000-07:002004-10-30T09:29:15.766-07:00

It seems clear to me that koinonia signifies a much closer, more intimate meaning than our modern English word fellowship. As such, we can fellowship with someone (in popular usage, to associate with or jointly participate in an activity with them) without having koinonia, or close, intimate communion. In this way, Jesus could attend weddings and even gatherings of sinners where he was not having

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1099107816550073582004-10-29T20:43:00.000-07:002004-10-30T19:24:59.683-07:00

This post comes directly from Chapter 11 of Carl Ketcherside's The Twisted Scriptures, which completely changed the way I looked at the New Testament scriptures and my own faith. I started reading the book determined that he was wrong and that I was going to prove to myself why. Instead, when I honestly re-examined the scriptures, I found amazingly simple truths that should have hit me over the

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1099005728670572562004-10-28T16:11:00.000-07:002004-10-28T16:25:20.736-07:00

I contemplated posting the whole eighth chapter of Carl Ketcherside's The Twisted Scriptures, but that would get a little cumbersome in this format.Instead, I'll just post a clip here and point you to the PDF of the entire book where you can scroll down to the eighth chapter to read for yourself.I realize Ketcherside's name will turn some readers off, but bear with me. I started reading the book

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1098219238747096062004-10-19T13:53:00.000-07:002004-10-19T13:55:40.970-07:00

Calling a church a church, or declaring a church not to be a church doesn't make it so. As form follows function, so the reality of what constitutes a body of the Lord's people follows the key question of whether or not that body is made up of the Lord's people, and if they meet together for the purpose of edifying one another and praising God. If so, it is a church, or ekklesia. It is a

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1098210900551727232004-10-19T11:35:00.000-07:002004-10-19T14:27:13.306-07:00

I thought this was an interesting clip from an Alexander Campbell article in The Christian Baptist. The article is a fictitious dialogue constructed by Campbell to illustrate the fallacy of thinking that one must be re-baptized for the remission of sins if they were not aware of this blessing of regeneration when first baptized. This teaching has caused many of us to conscientiously but wrongly

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1098134764258454982004-10-18T14:26:00.000-07:002004-10-19T14:29:11.500-07:00

I don't want to lock myself in a box of only posting formal essays on this site. Beginning with this post, I will comment a little more casually on things as I see them, but I will probably not maintain permanent links to these posts in the sidebar menu. Some of these posts will be more applicable to the small segment of restoration movement churches that I'm familiar with (Church of Christ), but

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1097789036586743152004-10-14T14:23:00.000-07:002006-01-10T08:49:44.030-08:00

Yes or no? Did the new testament church do it or did they not? This was always my litmus test for church practices. If the new testament church didn't support Bible colleges, it seemed self-evident that it was wrong to do so. If they didn't hire professional pulpit ministers, then it seemed obvious that this, too, was wrong. Likewise with musical instruments, and a host of other controversial

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1097258891887727352004-10-08T11:08:00.000-07:002006-01-10T08:49:27.720-08:00

There is a difference between uniting saints and uniting sects. One task is possible, the other, not. Organizations are just that; organizations. They are not people. The objective of any organization, especially one incorporated as a legal entity, is to preserve itself, and any individual fighting against such an organization will die trying.But people are a different matter altogether. People

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8541806.post-1097104130700843812004-10-06T16:08:00.000-07:002006-01-10T08:49:04.716-08:00

We often call the Christian assembly "worship" or "worship service." But is the congregation a forum for worship and service to God, or is it to strengthen and build up believers? Is it for Him or for us? These are two very different philosophies that lead to two very different conclusions about church practices. I have long been in the former camp, looking to decipher the New Testament pattern

Kevin Harper, SEOnoreply@blogger.com2