The Narrow Path Ministries

Steve, I have a hard time believing that the Holy Spirit would lead someone in the church to do something in the public worship that other Spirit-filled believers would find controversial. In every generation someone proposes something new for public worship. They almost always claim the leading of ...

Steve, There would seem to be a third option: The leading of the Holy Spirit in the congregation. What do you do when two people are claiming the Holy Spirit is leading, and they are led in opposite directions? Do you have a certified Prophet of God who can speak authoritatively? Short of that, I ha...

Homer, We have attended an instrumental church for over 24 years, but I have been not much impressed with the singing in most churches, large and small (including our own). I have mixed feelings about this remark. I have attended a cappella churches where the congregational singing was very impressi...

Homer, Are you in sympathy with the advocates of a cappella singing? It does seem like a quirky position these days, but I've read that it may be the all-time majority position when you add up the Early Church (until the 10th or 12th century), the Eastern Church (until recent times), the Swiss Refor...

Mort,

Point noted. Still it seems that enthusiasm is easier to generate than spirtual maturity. There must be 101 ways to rev up a crowd, but only God can sanctify the soul.

Homer, I am no help in this at all. I was raised in a very "un-charismatic" church. I was 15 years old before I heard anything I would recognize as a personal testimony. I found it contrived and unconvincing. I still routinely disregard anything that sounds like personal testimony. Show me something...

Homer, you have struck the nail squarely. The word "regeneration" is most commonly applied to an act of God that is deemed necessary because the concept of total hereditary depravity has been accepted without question. It seems to me that regeneration is about being made clean or being made new. To ...

When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord; and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Acts 13:48 - NRSV How one understands this statement depends upon how far one presses the word “destined.” Let me illustrate with a parallel statement. ...

It is not quite as rosey as you have presented. The highly skilled, disciplined player may have a slight edge. I have not done a mathematical analysis so I am not willing to endorse this as a fact. The casino will sell you a card indicating your best play for every situation. Even doing this they st...

This may be irreverent ...

Is it possible that denominations are created and sustained by professional clergymen to provide employment and retirement pensions for themselves?

That may be a bit harsh.