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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Monday, August 4, 2025

Opus 2025-361: Monday Pulpit: Just a Passing Fad?

I am often agitated by the way in which people interpret the Bible to reinforce the ideas they came loaded with.  It also makes me wonder how often I do the same thing.

My current radar blip is a reference to the passage in Mark 16 that might have been left out of your modern translation or at least put in brackets.  It contains some really strange ideas as well as standard truths.

Our pastor was commenting on it for some reason.  I don’t remember it having anything to do with whatever topic we were on.  He made two mutually exclusive statements.  The first was a response to this.

(Mar 16:17 KJV)  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
He said that these signs were only for the disciples.  They do not apply any more.  He says this because his theological system must put the power gifts in a category that has passed away.

For some reason he was okay with the next verse,
(Mar 16:18 KJV)  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
I cannot understand why one is no longer in effect but the other is in force.  There is no note in the text that says one applies and the other doesn’t.

It would seem to me that they are either both still in operation or they are both no longer in effect.

But that is just me.

homo unius libri

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.