DISCIPLE

No one eases into Christianity. You cannot gradually become a Christian. A good solid conversion is the starting point of the real Christian life.  You can't become a Christian because your family or friends want you to. It isn't a matter of making up your mind to "go to church" or behave better. And none of this halfway stuff will do either – praying some prayer in an emotional moment at the end of a retreat, summer camp or after some gospel message, and then stumbling along trying to have one foot in the kingdom and the other in the world.  Scripture records those who “believed,” but the Lord didn’t believe in them (Jn. 2:23-25; 6:25-26; 8:30-32).  This may upset your “weak” or “carnal Christian” theology, but the Lord Jesus tells us that the lukewarm ones will get spewed out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16).  So here’s some good advice.  Take the Lord Jesus Christ and Christianity seriously, or not at all! Someone called it "all or nothing." Well said!   ...

by Paul A. Bailey   In certain circles today it is fashionable to declare one's five point Calvinistic credentials with incautious pride. Having talked with many Calvinists, however. the writer has found very few who actually know what Calvin believed! It is not wise to use the label "Calvinist"' without knowing what Calvin taught, so before you declare yourself a Calvinist, please note the following:   I)  John Calvin believed and taught that Christ is present in the emblems of the bread and wine at the Lord's supper, and that spiritual life is communicated through partaking of these. Even the Calvinist R. l. Dabney admits this error of Calvin:   "We reject the view of Calvin concerning the real presence (recognising our obligation to meet and account for the scriptures he quotes in a believing and not rationalistic spirit): first because it is not onIy incomprehensible. but impossible ... The bread broken and wine poured out symbolise the body brok...