Dan Greenfield

Category: Theology

  • The Tolling Bell

    Oft as the bell, with solemn toll, Speaks the departure of a soul, Let each one ask himself, “Am I Prepar’d, should I be call’d to die?” Only this frail and fleeting breath Preserves me from the jaws of death; Soon as it fails, at once I’m gone, And plung’d…

  • The Purpose of the Law

    From the time of the Exodus until the death of Christ, a believing Israelite’s relationship with God was regulated by the Mosaic Covenant (Exod 19-24). The law was never intended to establish a relationship between God and Israel, but rather to govern or regulate that relationship, which existed by faith.…

  • Strong Words About Church Membership

    It is high time for every Christian to consider well his relation to the church, and the duties which it involves. No covenant is more sacred or binding, than that which unites a member to this body. The matrimonial covenant has upon it the seal of God; to prove faithless…

  • Social Gospel Again

    “Again,” referencing an earlier post I made about social efforts by churches. Today’s is from the National Council of Churches’ letter to President Obama, urging him to cut poverty in half– There is no greater concern among the churches of Christ than for those in this nation who live in…

  • Who Said Liberalism is Dead?

    It’s been the opinion of some that theological liberalism is dead. Simplistically, theological liberalism describes those who call themselves Christians but deny many (if not most) of the doctrines that make Christianity Christianity. Some believe that liberalism’s sun has set and its dead and buried. I don’t think so. Come…

  • Idolatry

    If there was any doubt about idolatry in the Roman Catholic Church, the following from this news release should clear the fog away– A vial containing blood drawn from Pope John Paul II shortly before he died will be installed as a relic in a Polish church soon after his beatification later…

  • A Great Question and a Great Answer

    Once in awhile we’ll take our Wednesday Bible study for an “Ask the Pastor” session. It’s usually a lot of fun, in addition to being helpful. Occasionally someone will ask a real tough question that I have to answer with “Uh, I have no idea. I’ll have to get back…

  • A Social Mandate?

    What role should the Christian church have in helping the poor and downtrodden? This pastor says that it is a “biblical mandate” to spend our lives helping the poor, regardless of their response, for these reasons: The OT clearly expects it, Deut 15:7-8 “The sin of Sodom was their lack of…

  • Date Setting Gone Crazy

    I’ve mentioned before to our church folks about the kookiness of Harold Camping. He’s “discovered” the date of the rapture, May 21, 2011, and here’s his reasoning: By Camping’s understanding, the Bible was dictated by God and every word and number carries a spiritual significance. He noticed that particular numbers appeared in the…

  • Mystery

    The word “mystery” in the NT refers to truth previously concealed but now presently revealed. That definition is borne out in Matthew 13:11-17. Note especially verse 17– For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it,…

  • Sharing the Gospel with the Amish

    Here’s a great post on how one neighbor man (who happened to be a pastor) was concerned for the souls of his Amish neighbors, and the varied responses his witness had.

  • Evangelism

    What do you think about this statement? God’s primary means of evangelism is for people to see the hope of Christ in our daily lives and to ask us about it.  

  • The Incarnation of Jesus Christ

    I’m submitting the following for this week’s “Pastor’s Column” in our local newspaper. If you have thoughts or suggestions, let me know by noon today! 🙂 —————– We just finished what for many is their favorite time of the year, Christmas. Increasingly our culture views this season in purely secular…

  • God the All

    O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much about man’s creaturely power and goodness, when, if thou didst not hold us back every moment, we should be devils incarnate. Valley of Vision, p. 5.

  • Try This on Any Other Religion

    This Doritos and Pepsi commercial scheduled to air during the Super Bowl is abominable: As has been noted by many, if a similar commercial was made “just in good humor” with another religion in view–say, Islam–I doubt it would make it to the airwaves. Christianity? Oh, that’s different. And those…

  • Okaaaaay

    Gay churches don’t have the built-in ability to attract families with children, teenagers with youth programs, and young people with church services like rock concerts. There are no “crying rooms” for babies at Joy MCC or Sunday-school classrooms or a day-care center during the week. … “What I’m finding is…

  • The Second Advent

    Let these things sink down into our minds. In all our thoughts about Christ, let us never forget His second advent. It is well to know that He lived for us, and died for us, and rose again for us, and intercedes for us. But it is also well to…

  • Christ in the Old Testament

    There has been an effort among many to “find Christ in the Old Testament.” This has brought both good and bad results, and such from both covenant and dispensational perspectives. I unashamedly align with a “classic” dispensational approach to the Scriptures (a la Ryrie’s Dispensationalism), but I will be the…

  • Fellowship With God

    This morning I read 1 John 1; note verses 5-10– 5This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie…

  • Joy in Heaven

    I read Luke 15 early this morning, and especially noted verse 10– There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Of the things that bring joy to humanity (sports, elections, war victories, amazing feats), the fact is that none of them move…