John MacArthur is a key player, respected by conservative evangelicals and often fundamentalists, too. I greatly respect the man.

I appreciate his resistance to fads and consider them a sign of shallowness and superficiality. Rather than pilgrims and strangers, we are more like Lot, settling in Sodom.

Fads often burn out, or involve “tokenism.” We say what we are supposed to say, participate in an event or two, and our responsibility in that matter has been fulfilled and we move on to the next fad, the previous fad soon forgotten.

When I was first saved, many of the people in my new (Bible believing) church held to the Gap Theory. As I began to study the terrain in 1974, I noticed many popular Christian authors held to theistic evolution or perhaps the day-age theory. The young earth creation movement had gained steam by then, and soon this became the predominant viewpoint, at least in my brand of Christianity.

It has been a while since we wandered into the nebulous aspects of theology. So let’s sharpen our theological swords and see what we can parse.

When it comes to the Persons of the Trinity and their relationship to the believer, is there a difference between being indwelt by the Spirit, the Son, and the Father?

When the Scriptures suggest we are indwelt by God (the Father), Jesus (the Son) and the Spirit, what does that mean?

In this poll, you can choose from a number of inspired writers.

It would make for a more edifying poll, however, if you would share what your very favorite psalm is. If you have two or three that are perhaps tied, you are free to share them, too.

My favorite psalm is written by David, Psalm 86, personally. I read this very often when I visit folks, along with 27 and 63.

Poll Results

Who was the human author of your very favorite psalm?

Politics are not really my forte. But, whether we love politics or no, sometimes political issues are also moral, ethical, or humane matters. In those arenas, Christians generally have deeper convictions.

So, when we deal with “Is it right?” we are not asking “Is it legal.” It very likely is legal.

We are asking at least one of these questions: Is it morally right? Are the consequences to the innocent too great? Is it prudent? Does it properly balance love and justice?

I believe we should be proud of who we are. Thought I do not pastor a Baptist Church (I pastor a non-denominational Bible oriented church), if our church were affiliated with a Baptist group, I would not hide that in the title. To me, if you are not proud of the group to which you belong, why do you belong to it?

I know of several Baptist churches that have removed the word “Baptist” from their name, I have known Methodist Churches and others to do this as well.

Many churches doe not have hymnals, and many rarely (if ever) sing hymns.

Other church continue to sing mostly hymns.

I am not asking you what you prefer, but the poll question refers to the church you attend. You are encouraged to comment about your preferences.

The subject is about congregational singing, not special music, offertories, etc.

Poll Results

Does your church’s main service usually include at least one hymn or vintage Gospel song?

I think it was C.S. Lewis who said, “The more the Bible is translated, the less it is read.”

There seem to be no end to Bible translations. The motive behind them is sometimes questionable, sometimes understandable.

Although most SI participants do need need to be cautioned, I do not want this poll to serve as an opportunity for long tirades and posting endless links about why all versions are bad except for the KJV. This is about which version your church uses.

The question is about the epistle you yourself favor. This is not about which epistle you think is most important. Many of us would probably say Romans on that score. This is about which is your PERSONAL favorite, the one you enjoy most or the one that speaks to you most.

Some of you may consider Hebrews to have been written by Paul, but our assumption is that it is not. I don’t want to create a dilemma for someone whose favorite epistle is Hebrews but yet does not believe Paul wrote it!

Prophecy. What is it? Is it preaching? Talking about how bad everything is and how angry God is because of it? Receiving and inspired message from God? Perhaps receiving an inspired message from God in raw-thought form (Grudem/D.A. Carson)? Being more sensitive to the Spirit’s leading than perhaps many other believers? Being able to predict the future.

There are several considerations, and we are here speaking about genuine prophecy (if it exists today), not Satanic, frenzy-induced, etc.