Alpha and Omega Ministries is a Christian apologetics organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. James White, director, is a professor, having taught Greek, Systematic Theology, and various topics in the field of apologetics for numerous schools.
While believers were attempting to explain the concept of substitutionary atonement, penal satisfaction, etc., to an atheist, good ol’ Paul Owen, former (sorry, not enough room to fill this list in anymore), pops in to help out: I don’t agree with “penal substitution” because God would simply not punish His Son for the sins of others. Christ was given up
I must have been sent half a dozen or more links to this article in the Jerusalem Post. While it is interesting, it is nothing new. Just the media begrudgingly admitting what we were saying from the start, actually, and what I documented in From Toronto to Emmaus. Specifically, we well know that Bovon and Matheson have, from even before
On Tuesday I noted in passing the importance of the relationship between theology and apologetics, and how a sub-biblical theology can only result in a sub-biblical apologetic. I have been a bit concerned about some of the replies I have seen. There is a lot of confusion about the relevant categories. One glowing example of completely missing my point (and
Started off with a brief discussion of some comments from C. Gordon Olson, and then went to the Licona/Ally debate on the death and resurrection of Christ from 2004. Discussed apologetic methodology differences at the start, and then went into Shabir’s opening presentation.
The next question is based upon the Carmen Christi of Philippians 2:5-11. You might find my article on this text from the CRI Journal useful, found here. The issue can be summarized in this section from my article: But how was this action of making Himself “nothing” accomplished? It is just here that we must listen to this hymn from
Regular readers of this blog know that for a couple of months now I have been posting clips from various debates. Why? Because I learned how, that’s why! I’ve done more than sixty such debates, and many of them have been video taped. The large majority of my readers have enjoyed watching clips of debates on a wide variety of
Now, a little behind the scenes information. I have often said that the best “the other side” has to offer is the best way to make sure your own arguments are strongest. Arguing on the basis of the Least Common Denominator, going for the “popular” viewpoint, may sell more books, but it is not the way to honor the truth.
I would like to request James White to use his knowledge to tame Islam – rather than wasting time on other christians like William Lane Craig, who frankly is doing a very good job. Let us focus on the MAIN doctrines like Divinity of Christ, his life and message, which we all accept cutting across different apologetic styles, cutting across
I was a bit taken aback by an e-mail wherein George Bryson said it was a “self serving self promoting fantasy” on my part that I have said he does not want to debate again. I read an e-mail I sent George back in January of 2006 explaining that a debate without cross-examination simply isn’t a debate. Then I moved
Here’s a test. Watch this exchange from the debate on the deity of Christ from December of 2003 in Tampa. Tomorrow I will begin posting a discussion of the exchange. But, watch this first. Also, make note of the two main questions addressed in this exchange, and the answers provided by Stafford. Assign a relative “strength” to Stafford’s response. Obviously,
Dear Sir: This is in regard to your article on Gail Riplinger. Just over a year ago the leader of the church that I had been attending condemned the AVKJ! This was shocking so ASAP I went into prayer asking our Heavenly Father thru His only begotten Son Jesus Christ of Nazareth to please show me His truth, not the
They’ve been threatening to do this for years. You always expect visitors on Easter Sunday, of course, but…this? Yes, good ol’ Lonnie, victim of old ladies on oxygen in wheel chairs, bravely stood outside the Phoenix Reformed Baptist Church, preaching to the…shrubberies. He only showed up right before service started, so most folks were already inside, and afterward we just
A thought about the work of Christ on this Resurrection Sunday from my debate against Richard Hopkins on the subject of LDS Temples.
I had wanted to use this picture in my blog article last night, but could not locate it. With a little help this afternoon I was able to find it. Since Dave Armstrong posted this one of himself, I figure he likes it, and I would not want to be one to use a photo of him that he would
The Arizona Republic ran a story on the Lonnie Pursifull “I am scared of little old ladies in wheel chairs” story today. JJ Hensley did the write-up. Rich and I are both quoted in the story, and now we know the name of the lady in the wheel chair, Anne Carlisle. Immortalized in print, however, are the words of Pursifull,
Those who monitor the comings and goings of Roman Catholic apologists on the Internet know of Dave Armstrong. I have not interacted with the man in quite some time on this blog. I took the time a while back to examine one of his books directly, demonstrate its utter lack of meaningful argumentation, and challenge him to defend himself. He
First, I need to officially change the name of the Street Abusers Cult. Though SAC fits quite well, I think the name suggested today in our chat channel is far better, “Street Screechers.” So, since you always have 72 hours to change the new name of a cult, I hereby dub them the Street Screechers Cult. SSC. Next, some folks
One of the leading names in the Street Abusers Cult (SAC) dropped us a note. I have said these men hate just for the purpose of hating. The objects of their abuse don’t matter. Note the end of his message, where he intimates they might protest a Baptist Church. JAMES I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT YOU RUN AWAY FROM THE
Here is the final clip I’ve recorded from the 1997 sola scriptura debate with Gerry Matatics on Long Island. This comes directly after the cross-ex I posted Monday, so they go together. I picked up the same theme and pressed forward with it here. Hopefully these clips have illustrated, in a way that only video can, the less than useful
Started off with a review of the attack of the SAC (Street Abusers Cult) in Mesa, and related some of the stories from nearly a quarter century of ministry at the Easter Pageant. Then callers took up the last half hour with discussions of the exegesis of Galatians 2:7 and then the natures of Christ.
Due to the invasion of the SAC (Street Abusers Cult), we will not need to move the Dividing Line on Thursday to the morning time slot. It will air at its normal time, 7pm EDT. Also, I will be joining Chris Arnzen on Iron Sharpens Iron at 3pm EDT as well (noon my time). Listen in and feel free to
As soon as the music ended, the screaming began. The band of street abusers (they call themselves preachers, but that has a particular biblical meaning that is utterly disconnected from their disjointed harangues) with their barely relevant signs held high began yelling out at those gathered on the front lawn of the LDS Temple in Mesa, Arizona, “Mormonism is a
Here is Gerry’s cross-ex portion, including the 18 seconds of silliness Porvaznik has turned into an “admission of defeat” on my part. To do this, of course, he has to seriously argue that for sola scriptura to be true, it must have been true at all times and in all places and in all situations. Hence, Jesus and the Apostles,
Today on the DL I made note of at least the majority of works we will be reading for The Cross: Theology and Historicity class on the cruise in October, and then replied a second time to a Roman Catholic correspondent. Then we went back to the Catholic Answers Live presentation on the “twin pillars” of Protestantism.
Looks like the blog flood has subsided a bit! Wore TQuid and cds and DV out, I do believe! By the way, I wanted to especially thank cds for that tremendous series on Qadar. If you missed it, head for the March archive and make sure you catch up! Speaking of that, I have been playing catch-up on “real life”
Here is the final portion of my cross examination of Gerry Matatics in 1997 on the topic of sola scriptura. In the next section I will present his turn, which will include the 18 second clip Porvaznik has posted. This portion ends with my giving Gerry a copy of the Soli Deo Gloria book on sola scriptura. Footnote 41 in
The Teaching of Major Western Theologians of the Middle Ages The perspective of the Glossa ordinaria is reflected in the views of the most influential theologians of the Church throughout the Middle Ages. They separated the Apocrypha from the canon, consistently citing the Hebrew canon and Jerome as authorities. Bruce Metzger affirms this reality: Subsequent to Jeromes time and down
Enough of demonstrating that you can find sophistry alive and well even in Texas. But I did notice this wonderful comment from Prejean that brings us full circle: Regarding Catholic responses to the Jesus Tomb story, that’s another example of laughable scholarship, so the most common Catholic response has been to laugh it off. If you follow the link it
Augustine and the North African Councils Since the Bible used by the North African Church was the Old Latin, a translation of the Septuagint which included a number of the books of the Apocrypha, Hippo/Carthage were confirming the traditional canon for the North African Church based on the Septuagint. Philip Schaff confirms the fact that the North African Church followed
Ah, it is a great weight off my shoulders. I am now irrelevant. I can now sit on my porch (if I had one) and rock the rest of my brief life away. At least, that’s what a Texas attorney who, to my knowledge anyway, has never taught a seminary class, never been published in book form, in a scholarly
