An argument for a closed-minded skeptic October 26, 2006
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : blog , 2 commentsPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
There are many arguments for the existence of God. Most of them rely upon rational arguments—lines of reasoning that seek to demonstrate either the probability or the proof for God’s existence. However, there is one group of people who have made themselves nearly impenetrable to these sorts of arguments because they assert skepticism. Now, open-minded skeptics simply say that they haven’t found convincing arguments yet, but continue the pursuit of this knowledge. On the other hand, closed-minded skeptics believe, on principle, that it is impossible for there to be an argument either for or against the existence of God. They assert that it’s impossible to get to the truth of the matter when looking at whether or not God exists because truth is largely unattainable. So, Blaise Pascal, the 15th century French mathematician, physicist, and religious philosopher, developed an argument that can pierce even this skeptical coat of armor.
Did angels have sex with women in Genesis 6? October 23, 2006
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : blog , 9 commentsPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
There are few things quite as intriguing to many as the thought of what some new hybrid species might be like. I remember watching the ‘80s hit television show “V” (at least it was a hit to me), about “visitors” from outer space who masqueraded as human-like creatures, but who were, in reality, alien-lizards intent on farming humans for their consumption! Wow! Now that was a show! But I think I was most drawn into the plot when we, the viewers, discovered that one of the male “visitors” had mated with a young human girl. My brother and I waited with baited breath to see what their love-child would be like—half human, half space-reptile. It was awesome!
I think that many have the same sort of imagination when reading Genesis 6:1-8, the account of the Nephilim. How should we interpret these “sons of God”? Fallen angels? Sinful humans? Or something else? (more…)
How to test a prophet–by what fruit? October 19, 2006
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : blog , add a commentPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
Though upon first glace, Matthew 7 may appear to be telling us not to judge others (people, ministries, etc.), Jesus’ purpose here is quite the opposite. Rather than advising his listeners not to judge, he’s instructing them to judge rightly, as opposed to hypocritically or inappropriately (using a bad test to judge). For instance, in this passage Jesus tells us that we should use a prophet’s “fruit” to judge whether or not he is a prophet from God or if he speaks one his own behalf. However, in looking at a prophet’s fruit, we often ask, “Well, does the person have good works (fruit)?” This seems to be a good test until we realize that we’ve just ‘opened the door’ to Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and many others in deviant religions who seem to have good works. What went wrong in this test? (more…)
Is Jesus a pacifist? October 16, 2006
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : blog , 17 commentsPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
It is my opinion that war is a dreadful thing. I wish that wars did not need to take place. But reality is they do. At least, they do need to take place so long as there are wicked people committing atrocities who need to be stopped. While this post is not meant to support any particular war, I do want to help clear up some common misconceptions about what the Bible teaches on related issues. There are many unintelligent bumper stickers driving around out there, but some of the most mind-numbing are those that make it sound as though Jesus is, across-the-board, anti-capital punishment and anti-war (he ends up looking more like Mr. Rogers than like the revolutionary we see on the pages of the Bible). Some of my favorites are, “What would Jesus bomb?” “A war against evil is a contradiction in terms.” “When God said, ‘Love your enemies,’ he didn’t mean ‘Kill them.’” “Jesus is a pacifist” “What part of ‘Thou shalt not kill’ don’t you understand?” Obviously, there are fuller arguments behind each of these bumper-sticker assertions which I won’t address, but I would like to sort out a bit of the general confusion behind several of them.
Gospel Under Attack (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries) October 8, 2006
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : Upcoming Events , 1 comment so farPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
How do we defend Christianity against common attacks from within today’s culture?
With a relevant apologetic that understands the current cultural landscape, Christianity’s relationship to science, the personhood of Christ, and the nature of the Bible…..
Gospel Under Attack (www.rzim.org)
Thursday, November 02, 2006
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Lunch on your own)
Woodmen Valley Chapel
290 E. Woodman Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Phone: 719-599-8652
Website: www.woodmenvalley.org
Prior to October 15:
Adult - $25; Student - $10
After October 15 and at the door:
Adult - $30; Student - $15
4 MATH patterns of Christian cults October 7, 2006
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : blog , 8 commentsPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
Though I wish it were, the catchy way in which these four points are put together in a mathematics theme is not original to me. And unfortunately, I don’t know who first presented this so I’m unable to give the appropriate credit. Nevertheless, each time I’ve taught a class on deviant Christian religions this has seemed to be a helpful way to help people remember the essentials of the Christian faith that are all too often compromised by the cults. (more…)
What’s wrong with the Mormon test for Scripture? October 4, 2006
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : blog , 6 commentsPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
If you’ve ever spoken to a friend who is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), or to a Mormon missionary at your door, you’ve probably been asked by them to read the Book of Mormon (BOM) and then pray about its divine authenticity. They will often times give you a BOM with Moroni 10:4 underlined, which reads,
“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.”
However, there are a couple reasons why this is a poor test for determining the truth of the BOM. (more…)
Against Scientific Materialism
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : mp3 , add a commentPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
Alvin Plantinga is one of the worlds most respected philosophers, known especially for his work in epistemology, metaphysics, and the philosophy of religion. Although theologically he is a Calvinist, he is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, a Roman Catholic University. Plantinga is a graduate from Calvin College. He also received his M.A. degree in 1955 from the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1958.
Source: The MacLaurin Institute.
Understanding Islam & Loving Muslims (1 of 4)
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : Conversations That Count , 1 comment so farPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
Part 1 of a conversation with Wes Tucker of Arab World Ministries. Arab World Ministries is an international and evangelical mission dedicated to reaching the Arabic speaking Muslim world with the Gospel. Wes joined in 1987 and worked from 1988 to 2004 in France among North African Muslims. Wes continues his work with AWM in Ft. Collins, is married and has two teenaged boys.
Email: contactus@timberlinechurch.org
Understanding Islam & Loving Muslims (2 of 4)
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : Conversations That Count , 1 comment so farPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
Part 2 of a conversation with Wes Tucker of Arab World Ministries.
Understanding Islam & Loving Muslims (3 of 4)
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : Conversations That Count , 1 comment so farPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
Part 3 of a conversation with Wes Tucker of Arab World Ministries.
Understanding Islam & Loving Muslims (4 of 4)
Posted by Brent Cunningham in : Conversations That Count , add a commentPrint This Post | Email to a Friend
Part 4 of a conversation with Wes Tucker of Arab World Ministries.
Loading ...