LEST YOU THINK WE AREN'T IN A MENTAL GHETTO

Before my hiatus, I did a series on the abysmal state of biblical knowledge in the religious clubs we most often call churches. I hit pretty hard, but recently I did something I've had in mind for sometime. I downloaded the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Westminster Confession of Faith of 1646, the Baptist Confession of 1689, and the Canons of Dordt.

They make great reference material for a number of reasons, one of which is to get the perspective of men not tainted by the spirit of our times. (They were tainted by the spirit of their times, of course.)

One great lesson, though, came to me in spades: WE KNOW NOTHING!!!!!!

Some of these documents were hundreds of pages. The Westminster Larger Catechism had 1303 sets of proof verses with which to be familiar. Yes, that's right. Not 1303 proof verses, but 1303 SETS of proof verses. Each set varied from 1 to maybe 4 or 5 verses. Some had more. Yet, we're told by so many that we know too much Bible and should stop studying so much and all the yada yada about "knowledge puffs up" (the only verse memorized these days, it seems).

That's a lie.

Be Holy,
Phil Perkins.

HIATUS OVER

This is part apology and part explanation. Mostly explanation. This spring in April, my work schedule was hijacked. I worked 60 hours a week. At that point I was told to expect that for two weeks to two months. Well, here we are. I'm back down to 40 hours and have been for some time, but I had a choice. I could blog or I could study Scripture.

And to be honest, while the blogging simply stopped, the studying of Scripture suffered as well. Currently I am in I Samuel and Luke. I read some in Hebrew Bible and some in Greek Bible, trading off to keep practiced and fresh in both languages. I am expanding my vocab in Hebrew, learning a lot of Modern Hebrew.

Phil Perkins.

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT TO COME FOR JTB INSTITUTE

Blogging is one thing. Teaching is another. So, in preparation for starting classes in Just The Bible Institute, it would be wrong not to offer a doctrinal statement. My doctrine is right in line with the Baptist Confession of 1689, with two exceptions. First, I don't believe that Christians are bound by Scripture to practice Sunday "sabbath" at all. And neither does any modern pastor. If one says he does, simply ask him at Sunday service who is going to make his lunch this fine "Lord's Day". Watch him squirm. It reminds of that passage about a man's belly being his god. Either he expects his wife to sin or he will pay a cook, waitress, and dishwasher to sin. In addition, I would recommend the following four passages for consideration:

1. Romans 14:1--6. This needs no explanation. Simply read it. The only commandment here in regard to the practice of keeping sabbaths is not to make it an issue one way or another. This is the kind of judging prohibited in Scripture.

2. John 16:2. This is a word from Jesus to His disciples. If they were kicked out of the synagogues, weren't they originally worshipping on Saturday? Were they sinning? At the very least, this shows convincingly that early Christians continued meeting on Saturdays with their Hebrew brethren until the unsaved Hebrews kicked out those who followed Jesus for their insistent worship of Him.

3. Acts 13--22. Here Paul met with his Hebrew brethren and worshipped God there. When it was the proper time in the service, he spoke of the Messiah Who came and was the Lamb. Did he sin? Was he feigning worship?

4. Heberws 4, especially verses 9--10 and compare to Hebrews 10:26--31. The sabbath of the New Covenant is rest from works for salvation. Forsaking this sabbath results in irrevokable eternal death.

Please note that I will not separate if someone disagrees with me here and neither will I argue about it beyond what is necessary to make clear that I am following my conscience, guided by my best current understanding of Scripture and this post should do that. Also note that I do NOT deny the Scriputral command to meet regularly with other holy ones and if one wished to do so on Sunday, that's absolutely fine. Why not?

Second, I don't believe that baptism has to be by dunking. Any washing will do. For this, I would remind you that if following the exact mode of this ritual is essential, did you wear sandals to your baptism and do it outside in a pond, lake, or river? If not, are you ready to do a redo? And do you reenact the Last Supper? Do you make everyone get on one side of the table for pictures?
For positive biblical indication that baptism includes washings that are far less that total immersion, read Mark 7:4 and Luke 11:38. But do so in the original. You may be surprised.

In Christ,
Phil Perkins.