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CHRISTIAN ARSENAL Newsletter |
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July & August 2002 |
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July &
August's Edition focuses on The Christian's Response to Gay
Theology |
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This Article was written by Rev. Michael Piazza of the Cathedral of Hope in
Dallas, Texas. In Black you will see Rev. Piazza's notes and research and
in Blue you will see the Christian Arsenal's response to what the Bible
really has to say about these issues.
In today's society Homosexuality and Lesbianism are being hailed by many
as a normal healthy life styles. Many laudatory and complimentary things
are being reported and circulated about individuals in these lifestyles. We
at The Christian Arsenal believe that the people in this life style are precious
in God's site just as we all are. We believe that they should be treated with
the same dignity as anyone. We however disagree with their position in the
matter of sexuality. We do not look down on them, we disagree with them.
Click here to see the Rest of this Article
http://www.christianarsenal.com/Apologetics/HomoChristian.htm
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Current Christian Issues and Concerns |
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Civil Unions Not Peachy in Georgia
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/7/222002c.asp
(AgapePress) - The State of Georgia has defended traditional marriage by
refusing to recognize the "civil union" of a lesbian couple. Many pro-family
advocates had feared that Vermont's legalization of same-sex unions could
lead to other states being forced to recognize them, and would open the
door to similar laws nationwide. But the George Supreme Court last week
ruled unanimously to let stand a ruling from the Georgia Court of Appeals
that a Vermont "civil union" is not the same as marriage -- and is not legal
in Georgia.
Click here to see the Rest of this Article
http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/7/222002c.asp
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New and Interesting on the Site |
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Messianic Prophecies of Jesus Christ Fulfilled
in the New Testament
http://www.christianarsenal.com/Apologetics/MessProphecies.htm
I stand indebted
to Dr. G. B. Chase Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at
Messiah College for his insights on this section of the Christian
Arsenal. In looking at the Christological Prophecies of the Old
Testament, I was always amazed at all of the prophecies that Jesus
Christ fulfilled. I figured the statistical odds on what the chances
were for a certain number of prophecies to be made and fulfilled. The
answers I came up with were totally unbelievable. Dr. Chase challenged
me to take this one step further for the skeptic. A hard core
skeptic could look at some of the prophecies and the life of Christ and
find many of them that could be self-fulfilling prophecies. For example,
Jesus' personality of being meek and lowly, the Triumphant entry into
Jerusalem, rejection by the Jews, the Gospel being preached to the poor
and so on. Any person could have done or arranged these things. Dr.
Chase challenged me to reconsider this list to make it harder for a
skeptic to find room to disagree with it. I removed the ones that a
person could do for them selves.
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How to Spot a Cult
http://www.christianarsenal.com/Apologetics/CultCharacter.htm
For the past 30 years I have
looked at cults and different religions with a view of trying to understand
then to be better able to witness and to communicate the Christian Faith. I
found, over the years, it is quite impossible to know everything about all
religions or even a minority of them. While it is good to be aware of
different religions and cults, it is much more valuable to be in touch with
the truth of the Bible. This is advice from not only my own experience but
from many who work with and have written books on the subject of cults.
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Christian Reading for the Month of July & August 2002 |
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Same-Sex Partnerships? A Christian Perspective - John Stott
No moral issue is more volatile than that of homosexuality. In this book
John Stott calls us to face the issue with compassion, wisdom and biblical integrity. Stott first reviews four key sets of biblical texts with their
contemporary challenges. He then sensitively responds to five principal
arguments advanced in favor of partnerships, concluding with a plea for
Christian compassion toward the homosexual individual.
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The Bible and Homosexual Practices: Texts and Hermeneutics
- Robert A. J. Gagnon
Gagnon appears to have left few stones unturned in his analysis of this
issue. He presents the most detailed and thorough exegetical case for
the traditional Christian view on homosexuality that I have seen. Yet what
is interesting to me is that Gagnon's methodology is certainly not "conservative," but reflects mainstream, "liberal" historical-critical
assumptions in his exegesis of texts. This is why so thoroughly a liberal
scholar as James Barr, who wrote the anti-conservative polemic FUNDAMENTALISM, can nonetheless commend the book despite the
"conservative" conclusions that the author reaches. Thus this is probably
the best book for a theological conservative (such as this reviewer) to
recommend to any theological "moderate" who is not yet completely decided on this issue. Gagnon is likely to gain a hearing where
conservatives will not. Theological conservatives too may read this work
with profit, though they will have to forgive Gagnon's adoption of critical
positions on matters of authorship and the like that we would find unacceptable. Fortunately such matters rarely affect the force of his
argumentation.
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Have you Registered for our Monthly Drawing |
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Our June winners are Shary L. from Phoenix, AZ and Robin R. from
Mansfield, OH Our
July Winners are Bill L. from Mastic, NY and Kim E. from Phoenix, AZ They
received copies of 'The
Case for Christ' and 'The Case for Faith' by Lee Strobel
You can't win if you don't register.
Click here to register
www.christianarsenal.com/Register.htm
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