This Sunday at Church: Train your kids to learn to listen to others

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Train your kids to learn to listen to others.

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Is “then their eyes were open” in Genesis 3:7 resultative? Looking at the Hebrew and an Application

 

Someone on social media asked me about the Hebrew in regards to Genesis 3:7.  

Genesis 3:7 in the NASB read “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves waist coverings.“

The question is “the word “then” in Genesis 3:7 temporal or resultant in the Hebrew context?”

Here’s my answer and I also thought it be worthwhile to think about the application of his grammatical point.

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Bible Contradiction? Who brought Joseph into Egypt?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Who brought Joseph into Egypt?

Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

The Midianites

“Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.” (Genesis 37:36)

The Ishmaelites

“Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him out and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. So they brought Joseph into Egypt.” (Genesis 37:28)

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him [a]from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.” (Genesis 39:1)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

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Antonio Gramsci is not a Marxist? Response to Joel McDurmon

 

There’s been a lot of debate among Christians these days about Critical Race Theory.  Voddie Baucham has written a book titled Fault Lines.[1]  Author and law student Joel McDurmon have done a series of videos critical of Voddie’s book.  Over at Youtube McDurmon’s first video can be found titled “Review of Voddie Baucham, Fault Lines – Definitions and Meanings – Part One” and I want to address something he said in minute 19:30-21:29.  Specifically my post will examine Joel’s claim that Italian pre-World War Two Marxist Antonio Gramsci is not a Marxist. 

The reason why McDurmon is talking about Gramsci is because McDurmon points out Bauchman has written about how some of the ideological influences of Critical Race Theory are Marxists. While I have not read Bauchman’s book I have seen online how Voddie have referenced Gramsci before during his talk about cultural Marxism.[2]  I do think from the literature of Critical Race Theorists themselves acknowledge that among their many influences that does include Antonio Gramsci.  In the third edition of the book Critical Race Theory: An Introduction under a paragraph titled “Relationship to Previous Movements” the authors wrote “critical race theory builds on the insights of two previous movements, critical legal studies and radical feminism, to both of which it owes a large debt. It also draws from certain European philosophers and theorists, such as Antonio Gramsci, Michel Foucault, and Jacques Derrida…”[3]   How much and what kind of influence Gramsci has on Critical Race Theory is an issue of debate but in this post I will focus more narrowly on McDurmon’s challenge against Voddie that Gramsci wasn’t a Marxist. 

Here’s the video:

Here’s the transcript of the video:

Antonio Gramsci is not some great hero that we all need to follow. We would critique him, we critique him on many points. But he was not a Marxist. And in fact this is a story that needs to be told more widely. He didn’t just tweak Marxism. He literally turned Marxism upside down on its head. And he was a hated man. Who hated him the most? Marxists. Who hates Antonio Gramsci the most? Marxists. Who hated Antonio Gramscianism the most? Marx. Think about this for a minute. What is Antonio Gramsci’s most, ummm . . . prominent contribution? Literally? Literarily? It’s his prison notebooks, correct? His prison notebooks is what he is known for. It’s where he wrote most of this controversial stuff. Why were they written in prison? The reason they were written in prison is because, because he was a radical in terms of changing society. His, his home nation, Italy, wanted to, wanted to get rid of him. What was going on in Italy at the time? Fascism. Mussolini. He was an intense critic of fascism. But he couldn’t escape to the East. Or to the North. Or to some other places. Because if he did it was all communist blocked controlled country. And guess what they would have done there? You think they would have put him in prison? No. They wanted to kill him. So in the end, Antonio Gramsci had a decision between being killed or being put in prison. In the homeland he chose prison.

Here are the claims that I find problematic that McDurmon made:

1. Claim: He’s not a Marxist: “But he was not a Marxist.”
2. Claim: Marxists hated Gramsci the most: “And he was a hated man. Who hated him the most? Marxists. Who hates Antonio Gramsci the most? Marxists. Who hated Antonio Gramscianism the most? Marx”
3. Claim: Communist Countries wanted to kill him: “But he couldn’t escape to the East. Or to the North. Or to some other places. Because if he did it was all communist blocked controlled country. And guess what they would have done there? You think they would have put him in prison? No. They wanted to kill him.”
4. Claim: Gramsci choose prison instead of being killed by Communist countries: “So in the end, Antonio Gramsci had a decision between being killed or being put in prison. In the homeland he chose prison.”
5. Claim: Gramsci turned Marxism on its head: “He didn’t just tweak Marxism. He literally turned Marxism upside down on its head.”

Part of the reason why I’m responding to these claims is because McDurmon said “in fact this is a story that needs to be told more widely.”  I also have seen these kind of claims and those similar to the ones listed above so this might be helpful for some Christians.

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God’s attribute: The Mercy of God

This is a series on the attributes of God.

 

The Mercy of God

Purpose: In this session we shall explore the attribute of the mercy of God.

1. What is the mercy of God?
2. What does the Bible teaches about the mercy of God?
3. How does the mercy of God relate to other attributes of God?
4. Implications

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Review: Presup Shark Polo Shirt

Now for something fun!  I’m reviewing something I haven’t done before on this blog: a Christian polo shirt!

If you can tell from yesterday’s post and different posts on my blog I love Presuppositional Apologetics.  I love it enough that I got something related to Presuppositional Apologetics besides books.  I got a polo shirt!  

The above is a picture of the shirt I ordered that is on this online Christian shirt shop called “The Powerful Christian.”  You can go to the store directory by clicking here.  (Its not me lol).  The shop have merchandise related to Presuppositional Apologetics and also Reformed theology.

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Greg Bahnsen’s Lectures: Answer to Frame’s Critique of Van Til

Many years ago as a young Christian I wanted to purchase this lecture series. So the fact that this is now available for free is a treat.

But let’s back up. A few months ago our blog mentioned that all of Apologist Greg Bahnsen’s MP3 Lectures now free for download!

He’s my favorite apologist and has shaped me in so many ways.  He’s one of my role models with his example of scholarship, intellect, boldness to defend the faith, his desire to be biblical and also his pastoral heart.  And everything he did was so intense.

Here is a quick bio of Bahnsen:

Greg L. Bahnsen, (1948-1995), was an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and a full time Scholar in Residence for the Southern California Center for Christian Studies. He received his Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Southern California, specializing in the theory of knowledge. He previously received the B.A. (magna cum laude, philosophy) from Westmont College, and then simultaneously earned the M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from Westminster Theological Seminary. Dr. Bahnsen lectured to a broad range of evangelical Christian groups at many colleges and conferences. He was an experienced apologist and debater, a clear and cogent teacher of the Christian worldview who was devoted to training believers in understanding and applying the Christian faith to every area of life. He published numerous scholarly articles, a number of well-known books, and has over 1,500 recorded lectures and sermons.

Among those 1,500 lectures Bahnsen taught a four part series titled “Answer to Frame’s Critique of Cornelius Van Til.” It was just loaded this month on July 7th!

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This Sunday at Church: Pray for Members’ Meeting

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Pray for Members’ Meeting.

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Bible Contradiction? Who was Anah?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: Who was Anah?

Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Anah was the daughter of Zibeon

“Esau took his wives from the daughters of Canaan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite;” (Genesis 36:2)

“And these were the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah, the granddaughter of Zibeon: she bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.” (Genesis 36:14)

“And these are the sons of Esau’s wife Oholibamah: chief Jeush, chief Jalam, and chief Korah. These are the chiefs descended from Esau’s wife Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.” (Genesis 36:18)

“And these are the children of Anah: Dishon, and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.” (Genesis 36:25)

Anah was the son of Seir and the brother of Zibeon.

“These are the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah,” (Genesis 36:20)

“And these are the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah—he is the Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness when he was pasturing the donkeys of his father Zibeon.” (Genesis 36:24)

“The sons of Seir were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.” (1 Chronicles 1:38)

And Anah was also the son of Zibeon.

“The sons of Shobal were Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.” (1 Chronicles 10:14)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

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God’s attribute: The Wrath of God

This is a series on the attributes of God.

 

Session 29: The Wrath of God

Purpose: In this session we shall explore the attribute of the wrath of God.

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Free PDF and Review: Psalm 139 by Charles Spurgeon

Note: For fans of Spurgeon have you checked out my Review: Charles Spurgeon Framed Art Print?

Charles Spurgeon. Psalm 139.  Pensacola, FL: Chapel Library, June 22nd 2017. 20 pp.

3 out of 5

Free: Chapel Library

Purchase: Amazon

Do you want to learn about God’s attributes from the well treasured Psalm 139 and wonder what the famous preacher Charles Spurgeon has to say about this famous chapter?  This booklet is an excerpt from Spurgeon’s Treasury of David, Spurgeon’s classic commentary on the Psalms.  I picked out this booklet to go through it with our church youth (pre-teens and teens) as I want them to think about God’s attribute and also because I have benefited from other booklets by Charles Spurgeon that was published by

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The Church during 2021: Pray for Cuba’s, Haiti’s and South Africa Situations

For this Sunday here’s what you can do: Pray for Cuba’s, Haiti’s and South Africa Situations.

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Bible Contradiction? How did Saul die?

For today’s post we will tackle the question the Skeptic Annotated Bible asked: How did Saul die?  According to the Skeptic Annotated Bible their page said there is no Christian answer yet.

Here are the answers which the skeptic believes indicate a Bible contradiction:

Saul committed suicide.

“Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised Philistines will come and pierce me through, and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was unwilling, because he was very fearful. So Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him. 6 So Saul died with his three sons, his armor bearer, and all his men on that day together.” (1 Samuel 31:4-6)

“Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised Philistines will come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.” (1 Chronicles 10:4)

Saul was killed by an Amalekite.

“Then he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ And I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Please stand next to me and finish me off, for agony has seized me because my life still lingers in me.’ 10 So I stood next to him and finished him off, because I knew that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown which was on his head and the band which was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”” (2 Samuel 1:8-10)

Saul was killed by the Philistines.

“then David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hanged them on the day the Philistines struck and killed Saul in Gilboa.” (2 Samuel 21:12)

God killed him.

“and did not inquire of the Lord. Therefore He killed him and turned the kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse.” (1 Chronicles 10:14)

(All Scriptural quotation comes from the New American Standard Bible)

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The First 7 Mp3s of our Posts concerning methods dealing with Bible Contradictions

 

Brother Eriko Mendez of the Powerful Christian T-shirt Shop has turned into audios of 4 of our posts from Collection of Posts Responding to Bible Contradictions.  These 4 audios are related to method and approach with dealing with Bible contradictions.

I appreciate brother Eriko as a fellow solid brother in Christ who loves the Lord, and is someone who loves Presuppositional apologetics and sharing the Gospel.

I thought this is might be helpful too as these days having the ability to listen to things helps one to redeem the time and allow one to read other materials.

Here are the 4 audios which I also have linked to the original article:

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God’s attribute: The Righteousness of God Part 2

This is a series on the attributes of God.

 

Session 28: Righteousness of God Part 2: Forensic Justification by God’s grace alone

Review: Last session we defined and demonstrated that God is righteous and we also explored what that means for our lives. We often think of God’s righteousness as God treating the righteous righteously and punish the unrighteous.  But there is a third way that God’s righteousness is expressed and that God’s work of forensic justification of sinners.

Purpose: In this session we shall explore what is the doctrine of forensic justification followed by three reasons why we need the forensic justification of God and also explore some implications

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