How To Respond With Critics
As a pastor, I would say that it is probably normal to receive critics in your ministerial life. It is not normal though, if you keep on receiving critics all the time. It is very certain that we really won’t enjoy when someone send us a letter or a note that is not in favor for us. Thus, here are some tips on how to respond with criticism.
Sermon: How To Win Over Trials
1.Consider it pure joy whenever we face trials (v.2)
This is the very first step that we have to do in winning over trials. As we have said previously that we are to face trials with a smile, instead of facing it with a frown.
This is a complete different or is directly opposite approach in comparison to the world. This is the Biblical approach. Most of the things taught in the Bible are directly opposite to what the Lord is teaching.
Book Review: My Utmost For His Highest By Oswald Chambers
The best devotional book that I ever read is My Utmost for His Highest. Oswald Chambers made an extremely wonderful devotional book, which I highly recommend to deacons, pastors, and other Church leaders.
How To Read The Bible To Enhance Your Bible Experience
Introduction
In order to get interested in the Bible, it is best that we know how to use them. Many Christians do not enjoy their Bibles because they do not see anything enjoyable in it.
Objectives
To learn different Bible study styles in discovering truths in it.
To learn how to use other Bible tools.
To learn an enjoyable way in discovering truths from the Bible.
Christian Sex Issue In View of The Catholics
I got this email from a Catholic friend that responded with the “SEX” issue in Christianity. The post is all about artificial birth control. We all know that the Catholic Church is against all birth controls except the natural ones.
Here’s why the Catholic Church is against it.
The stand of the Church against abortion and sex-related action that tend to destroy human dignity from conception till death has been going on even before the Bible was written (see Church Fathers’ writings). Biblical or not, it goes against God’s plan for Man. As per the sexual act, it is truly a gift (pleasure and procreation) but if we change the “and” into an “or,” it becomes a destructive flame for mankind.
Christian Sex Issue In View of Born Again Christians
Just like my previous post, this is an answer from a Born-Again Christian friend who was asked by her own friend about the RH bill and why Catholics are so against it. The “SEX” issue over the church is a real big issue. I do hope that both the Catholics and non-Catholics will be able to understand each other’s reasons.
Here’s the excerpt of the letter:
My friend asks: “Would you enlighten me on your stance on the controversial RH bill? A lot of Catholics are very much against it.
What are your thoughts?”
Short answer: evangelical/born-again/protestant Christians are encouraged to plan their families…but oppose abortion. Contraceptives like pills and condoms prevent the sperm from fertilizing the egg. Abortion is murder (Christians and Catholics agree here.)
Long answer:
Earlier in my life, I had the sense that anything having to do with sex was evil, and having sex to have children was a necessary evil. I think that that’s the message being proclaimed by Catholic leaders, especially in the Philippines.
Sermon: Understanding The Process Towards Spiritual Maturity
Trials – Faith – Perseverance – Maturity and Completeness
Trials are testings through experience in order to prove something. Before anything else, the trials that we are talking here is not confined with sufferings, but also simple testings of faith as disciplines. In verse 2, the author is teaching us to “consider” it pure joy whenever we face trials. Trials are supposed to be treated with joy and not with worries. Sometimes we worry too much when we face trials.
As long as we live, trials will always be there and will never go away. This is a fact that we have to understand. All things that God created are good.
How To Interpret The Bible?: Exegesis vs. Allegory
There are two main schools of interpretation. One is call “Allegorical” while the other is “Exegetical”.
What’s the difference between the two???
Allegorical Interpretation is – “Giving” meaning to the passages of the Bible.
Exegetical Interpretation is – Extracting, or getting the “original” intended meaning of the author of the passages in the Bible.
I have read some works of Catholic writers who uses “Allegorical Interpretation”. I believe I have lost one copy of my document written by St. Francis of Assisi that interprets the passage in the book of Matthew about the good Samaritan. Anyway, I just want to point out that it is almost totally different from Exegetical point of view.
Authoritative Sources: Biblical vs. Extra Biblical
As you have said, “Catholic understanding of the true teaching can be mistaken including your personal understanding of it.” And that you believe that “however it changes, it’s part of God’s Divine Plan.” Your last statement is again a departure from the Biblical point of view. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow,
In Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33 (recorded in the 3 synoptic gospels) “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” As you see, God’s word is suppose not to be changing and definitely authoritative changes as you say is NOT a part of “God’s Divine Plan” in contradiction to what was already exposed in these passages. And please note that it is Jesus who have said these things.
As you have said Catholics are secured for they can always get the correct “version” by reading the written teachings from the “official release”. Really? Correct version or just a uniform version? How come that many of these official releases directly contradicts Biblical teachings. Is this what you call “security”??? You should NOT find this calming, but ALARMING. Hebrews 13:9 “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.”