I. Introduction Angelic beings have been a major (we mean major!) subject of art, architecture, music and literature in Western Civilization, especially during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Currently, angels are making a comeback. A. The Current Popularity of Angels According to Time Magazine (12\27\93) 69% of Americans believe in angels. 46% believe in personal guardian angels. 32% […]
Author Archives | Bill
The Star of Bethlehem: What Was It?
December 10, 2012
Introduction One of the most important aspects of the Christmas story is the Star which lured the Wise Men from their homeland to visit the Christ Child. The emblem overwhelms us; it appears on Christmas trees, cards, decorations, at nativities, and is the subject of carols. It is a prominent feature in the story of Christ’s birth. Was the […]
The Bible Code Review
November 1, 2012
The Bible Code. By Michael Drosnin. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1997. The Signature of God. By Grant R. Jeffrey. Ontario, Canada: Frontier Research Publications, 1996. Cracking the Bible Code. By Jeffrey Satinover. NewYork: William & Morrow, 1997. Reviewed by Bill Crouse Tea leaves, stars, the entrails of sheep, and crystal balls have all been used as […]
The Gift of Tongues
October 9, 2012
INTRODUCTION In a list of the Evangelical church’s greatest controversies of the 20th Century, the gift of tongues would have to be near the top. This conflict abated somewhat during the mid-eighties when some leaders of the charismatic movement downplayed the importance of the gift. The controversy arose over three main questions: Was it a […]
The Preterist View of New Testament Prophecy
October 9, 2012
INTRODUCTION A. Interest in Biblical prophecy intensifies as we near the end of the millennium. (If Christ was born in the spring of 4 B.C. it is already 2002!). Along with an increase in sensationalism we are also witnessing a revival of a view of Biblical prophecy that was popular in previous centuries but almost […]
Miracles
September 24, 2012
I. Introduction A. The miraculous assumptions of Christianity are a major stumbling block to its critics. This anti-supernatural view was pretty well summarized by the philosopher, Spinoza in the 17th century: Miracles are violations of natural laws. Natural laws are immutable. It is impossible for immutable laws to be violated. Therefore, miracles are impossible. B. […]
Fascism
September 24, 2012
Introduction A. When most people think of fascism today they think of an egomaniacal fuehrer, or possibly an ideology that was defeated in WWII and more recently espoused by uneducated skinheads. The most common, but largely false and simplistic answer given to the question, What is fascism? is: The extreme right wing of the political spectrum, […]
Mormonism
September 19, 2012
The cult of Mormonism was founded by Joseph Smith on April 6, 1830 in Fayette, NY. It was known as The Church of Christ. Later, the church became officially known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1834. According to the LDS Church, Joseph Smith was visited by God the Father and God the […]
Christianity and Culture
September 19, 2012
by J. Gresham Machen This address on “The Scientific Preparation of the Minister” was delivered September 20, 1912, at the opening of the one hundred and first session of Princeton Theological Seminary. It is found in the Princeton Theological Review, Vol. XI, No. 1, 1913, p. 1. One of the greatest of the problems that has agitated the […]
The Biblical Flood: New Thoughts, New Questions
September 19, 2012
A flood of great proportions is described in Genesis 6-9. The text never indicates that it was anything other than a historical event. The Flood, and, or Noah, the builder of the Ark, are mentioned 7 more times in the OT. These passages are Gen.10:1,32; 11:10; I Chron. 1:3; Isa. 54:9; and Ezek.14:14,20. The NT also assumes that […]
December 10, 2012
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