The Pebble Blog

Go ye into all the world (Mark 16:15) includes seemingly crazy postmodern society And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. (1 Cor 9:20-23) there is allowance to "become as/like"/"as" them but there is also warning not to "conform" or "love" the world, or be decieved by "traditions of men"/"rudiments of the world". wear a business suit.  if the postmodern culture pays attention to business attire in the malls or tv news, then we don't...

Problems: Some people think: Mission comes first; Or that the church was established, then the theology came in; Or that some aspects of mission don't need be theologically correct/discussed; Or that some issues are missiological and not theological.   Theology First "In the beginning God..." Genesis 1:1 - even without sin, there is God (and theology - the study of God) "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isaiah 8:20 - mission is under theology (the Word). - mission should be derived from theology (the Word). - mission should be subject to theology (the Word). - mission should be tested / filtered by theology (the Word). "affliction shall not rise up the second time" Nahum 1:9 - even when sin is eliminated, there will still be God (theology) "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the ...

<Oct 24, 2024> possibility of sinlessness now (despite of unclaimability & unthinkability): "In our work, we are to remember the way in which Christ worked. He made the world. He made man. Then He came in person to the world to show its inhabitants how to live  sinless   lives" (Ev 385). "Paul writes to the Corinthians, 'Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.' When you come into this position, the work of consecration will be better understood by you both. Your thoughts  will be  pure, chaste, and elevated, your actions pure and  sinless " (3T 83). "To every one who surrenders fully to God is given the privilege of living  without sin , in obedience to the law of heaven" (RH Sept. 27, 1906). "But it is God’s purpose that man shall stand before Him upright and noble; and God will not be defeated by Satan. H...

forbidden tree: 1. sin 2. temptation to be smarter: "your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5) 1. "coffee drinking is a sin" {Ms44-1896 (December 4, 1896) par. 10} 2. temptation to be smarter: "The primary psychoactive chemical in coffee is caffeine, an adenosine antagonist that is known for its stimulant effects. Coffee also contains the monoamine oxidase inhibitors β-carboline and harmane, which may contribute to its psychoactivity." (wikipedia external reference)