What Is “A Different Gospel?”

by Jefferson David Tant In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatian churches, in the beginning, he deals with a serious problem in the churches concerning which he has knowledge, and that is “a different gospel.” “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for…

Read More

How did the Presbyterians and the Episcopals come by their names?

Question: Recently we studied the qualifications of elders and I mentioned the Greek words, Presbuterous (elder, presbyter) and Episkopos (bishop, overseer), and one of the members here asked if this is how the Presbyterian and Episcopal churches came up with their names for identifying their churches. I did some research and have been unsuccessful in…

Read More

If Christ Built Only One, Where Did They All Come From?

by Jefferson David Tant At the beginning of the gospel age, there was but one church, and now, 2000 years later, according to some reports, there are over 1,200. How did this happen? People wonder where they all came from. Is this division and confusion what Christ intended? Let’s examine this situation to see just…

Read More

Can I be an Episcopalian and a Taoist at the same time?

Question: I am an Episcopalian. I believe in the one true God, the heavenly Father, and Jesus Christ, our Savior. I would like to know if I would be able to continue and worship at my church while using the philosophy of Taoism. Answer: I’m a Christian who follows the teachings of God. “If anyone…

Read More

Fuzzy Doctrine

https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/FuzzyDoctrine.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Matthew 28:16-20   I.         God did not author confusion – I Corinthians 14:33             A.        But there are people running around today insisting that He did             B.        In July, 2012, the Episcopals approved transgender clergy and members, along with a service for blessing unions of homosexuals.                         1.         “We are entering into a time of…

Read More

Why the Episcopal Church Is Collapsing

Source: Rob Kerby, “Why is the Episcopal Church near collapse?” BeliefNet 12 July 2012. Losing Membership “Somehow slipping out of the headlines is a harsh reality that the denomination has been deserted in droves by an angry or ambivalent membership.” “Among the old mainstream denominations reporting to the National Council of Churches, the Episcopal Church suffered the worst loss…

Read More

Episcopals Approve Transgender Clergy

Source: “Episcopal bishops approve blessing for same-sex unions,” Associated Press, Omaha World-Herald, 10 July 2012. “In a separate vote Monday, the full convention approved new anti-discrimination language for transgender clergy candidates and church members. Some dioceses already ordain transgender people or elect them to positions of parish leadership. But advocates for the amendment argued that…

Read More

Episcopals Approve Blessing for Homosexual Unions

Source: “Episcopal bishops approve blessing for same-sex unions,” Associated Press, Omaha World-Herald, 10 July 2012. Episcopals have been permitting marriages for homosexuals for many years. Where local politics don’t permit such marriages they have been getting around the roadblock by saying it is just a blessing on the civil union of the couple. In 2009,…

Read More

An Open Door to Where?

by Jeffrey W. Hamilton The presiding bishop of the Episcopal denomination in the United States was in town this weekend. Katharine Jefferts Schori’s message throughout the day was an emphasis on an “open and not dogmatic” faith. “‘I read the Gospel to say that Jesus invited everybody into His community,’ she said in an interview.…

Read More

Ascetic Vows vs. Scriptural Liberties

by Bryan Matthew Dockens Members of religious orders of the Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches, most prominently priests and nuns, commit themselves to particular ascetic vows. Asceticism, by definition, is extreme self-denial. Self-denial, of course, is enjoined upon all those who would follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24). However, the Lord never placed such restrictions as…

Read More

The Bible Does Not Teach Praying to Dead Animals

by Bob Lovelace Various kinds of religions offer congregants and those at large opportunities to participate in “a blessing of animals” ceremony. This often comes in October in celebration of the so-called “saint” of Catholicism – St. Francis of Assisi. Myth has it that he preached to the birds rather than to man as Christ…

Read More

Apostolic Succession

by Bryan Matthew Dockens A number of religions practice so-called apostolic succession. Roman Catholics believe the man they call “Pope” is the successor of the apostle Peter. Mormons claim twelve to fifteen apostles at all times. Many Pentecostal congregations identify their preachers as apostles. Such claims are totally inconsistent with the scriptures. The Apostles of…

Read More

The Solution to Episcopalian Church Problems

by Steve Klein via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, October 7, 2007 For those unfamiliar with it, the Episcopalian Church in America is a denomination that has its roots in the Church of England. These churches, along with Episcopalian denominations in other nations, are collectively referred to as Anglican churches.…

Read More

When a church splits, who is right?

Question: I am a Catholic. I understand that my religion is kind of looked down on by the church of Christ. I am wondering how many churches of Christ are doing what is being asked for in the Bible? Recently a church in my town split up over an issue and I can’t help but…

Read More