Notes On James' Life Journey

Calvinism or Arminianism?</b></A><p> The debate between <A HREF=" http://gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/arminian.stm "target="_blank"><b>Arminianism</a></b> <A HREF=""target="_blank"><b></a></b> and <A HREF=" http://www.spurgeon.org/calvinis.htm "target="_blank"><b>Calvinism</a></b> , which concerns God's soverienty and man's free will, is one of the most devisive in the church today. Rather than being an honest, respectful dialogue among brethren, this debate has led to an unhealthy compartmentalization within the Body of Christ. Sadly, this has resulted in much vital truth being buried and neglected. <p> The Calvinist understanding of predestination stems from their emphasis on God's sovereignty, and the fact that He alone is the basis for our salvation. A key text in Calvinist doctrine is "Salvation is of the Lord...

Is reincarnation biblical? No, reincarnation cannot be reconciled with the Bible or the Christian faith in any way. Rather, it is a concept which comes from ancient Hindu texts such as the Upishads. At its core is the law of  karma , which teaches that we are rewarded or punished in future lives for the good or bad deeds we do in this life. Eventually the soul becomes "purified" and enters a vague state of bliss or Nirvana, which is often interpreted to mean that it simply ceases to exist. This is in stark contrast to the Bible's teaching. Our human identity begins when God forms us in our mothers' wombs (Isaiah 44:2; 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5). Once this life is over, then "it is appointed for men  once  to die, but  after this  the judgement" (Hebrews 9:27). Biblical Christianity centers on the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins (Hebrews 10:10-14, Romans 6:10, 1 Peter 3:18, Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 9:26-28). Reincarnation offers a false hope ...

It is true that the Bible tells us to dress modestly and that our true beauty comes from within, not from outward ornamentation (1 Timothy 2:9). But these verses are not saying that nice clothes, jewelry etc. are sinful in themselves. Keep in mind that Jesus wore a seamless robe, which was a very costly garment (John 19: 23-24). When Joseph went to meet with the Pharoah, he recognized that the proper ettiquette involved dressing in a respectful manner (Genesis 41:14). Furthermore, Proverbs 31:22 describes the godly, virtuous woman as wearing clothing of silk and purple. Those who claim that women should not wear pants base their concerns on Deuteronomy 22:5: "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God" The principle certainly applies in that a man should look like a man and a woman should look like a woman, but keep in mind that in Bible days me...

On occasions where my writing veers into the political arena, it is easy for some to assume that I am a Republican. The truth , however, is that I have not actively identified with any political party in well over twenty years. That decision was very deliberate and I have never, ever regretted it. At various times in my life , I have been both a "bleeding heart liberal" and a loyal "Christian right" foot soldier. But as odd as it may sound, my core beliefs really weren't that different in either phase. Even in my most liberal phase, I still knew that abortion was wrong. At my most conservative, I was still uneasy about the callous attitude many right wing politicians took towards the poor. So after a long period of inner turmoil, I finally decided that  I would look at individual issues on their own merits and do what I believed was right regardless. While it is true that my views remain right of center on most issues,  I want to see an end to war, poverty...

Regardless of what one believes about the presidency of George W. Bush, he does deserve credit for introducing a new concept into the American political conscience, one which politicians today would do well to revisit. That concept is known as  "Compassionate Conservativism."   In the president's own words: "I call my philosophy and approach 'Compassionate Conservativism.' It is compassionate to actively help our fellow citizens in need. It is conservative to insist on responsibility and results. And with this hopeful approach, we will make a real difference in people's lives." While the origin of the term "Compassionate Conservatism"  is debated,  World  Magazine editor Marvin Olasky is widely credited for popularizing its usage. In his book  Compassionate Conservatism: What It Is, What It Does, and How It Can Transform America,    Olasky gives an alphabetized list of seven characteristics of Compassionate Conservativism: 1. Assertiv...