In the Bible, God outlines various desires for humanity, including repentance, obedience, love for Him and neighbors, trust, and commitment. Conversely, Satan aims to destroy mankind by leading individuals away from God. Recognizing Satan’s tactics is crucial, as he exploits our weaknesses, often targeting the mind. Seven common harmful mindsets and habits influenced by Satan include doubting God’s existence, living in fear, prioritizing the temporary…
Story Category: Miscellaneous Topics
Dante Alighieri and The Divine Comedy – Daniel Tompsett, Donald Winchester vision.org
Ryan Welsh
2 years ago in Paganism
Dante’s Divine Comedy has significantly shaped the Christian belief in the immortal soul. This epic poem, authored by Dante Alighieri in the 14th century, remains a pinnacle of Western literature, blending theology, history, and allegory. The poem’s setting is Easter in 1300, though it was written over the next two decades. Dante’s exile and his disputes with the Church, particularly Pope Boniface VIII, lent the…
Dropping The Ball On New Year Celebrations – Gayle Hoefker ucg.org
Ryan Welsh
2 years ago in New Year's Eve
For much of the world January 1st is the accepted and celebrated start of a new year. At the stroke of midnight, a new day and new year is brought in with cheers, singing, drinking and fireworks. What could be the harm? Through its pagan roots, its traditions closely tie it to that of Christmas. The problem with these celebrations is that they act as counterfeits…
Christmas: Does It Matter? – Brian Orchard vision.org
Ryan Welsh
2 years ago in Christmas
Most never question the traditions they keep. For many, their personal enjoyment of a holiday is all the convincing needed in whether they partake in a day or not. Is that enough? For example, are the neatly wrapped and packaged traditions of Christmas, that are enjoyed and loved by so many, enough to embrace a day that’s pagan customs are at odds with the person…
Are You Going to Heaven? Who Really Knows? thebiblesaysthat.com
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Heaven & Hell
So what of heaven? is that where we go when we die? Most of what is taught is mere speculation – The opinions of those without any actual knowledge. There is one that can speak from experience so what does He say? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven…
The Origins of Halloween youtube.com
Have you ever questioned why Halloween? Why is it so popular, why the traditions, where did it come from? As for the origins and traditions it would be hard to miss the pagan influence. Its Celtic origins go back 2000+ years. These ancient peoples held a summers ‘ end pagan festival (Samhain) to highlight the new year. This was a time of year to take…
“Cults” and Real Christianity! – Dexter B. Wakefield thebiblesaysthat.com
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Gospel, Cult
To be labeled “cultish” today carries a similar stigma as being labeled a “heretic” in the third and fourth century…minus the horrific torture and death. These terrifying labels purposefully sway many from questioning mainstream orthodoxy. Rightly so especially for those living under the fear of torture and death. In today’s world, to be thought of as “part of a cult” or “cultish” carries an extreme…
The Queen of May – Adam J. West tomorrowsworld.org
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in May Day
It’s quite interesting and telling to consider how many modern “Christian” holidays and traditions have their origins rooted deep in paganism. May 1, shares in this heritage. Many Roman Catholics in particular celebrate Mary, Jesus’ mother, as Queen of Heaven or Queen of May on this day. A title also held by the pagan goddess of fertility known as Diana by the Ephesians or from…
What Is Mardi Gras? Should Christians Celebrate Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday)? ucg.org
Marshall Stiver
3 years ago in Paganism
Mardi Gras, also known as Shove Tuesday, is a name of near instant recognition. It is associated with excess in everything from eating and drinking to scant clothing and illicit behavior. Built within the celebration is the idea of sinning heartily before deciding to do anything about it. That’s why Mardi Gras is followed by Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Lent,…
A Day of Lust, Not Love – Martin G. Collins cgg.org
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day has become widely accepted by the religious and non-religious as a day to celebrate their significant other. For most its history is unknown or dismissed as unimportant in its currently celebrated state. To those that profess to follow God, its origins shouldn’t be so easily dismissed. Historically it’s often traced to the Roman festival Lupercalia. This festival honored the god Lupercus. Lupercus, like…
Vaccine Policy – Richard T. Ritenbaugh cgg.org
Marshall Stiver
3 years ago in Miscellaneous Topics
To take the jab or not is a very divisive issue in our modern culture and Covid 19 has really turned the heat up on personal opinions and attitudes. One of the main reasons for such a sharp polarity is the sheer volume of information that has been offered up so “authoritatively” in clear support of either taking the jab or not. Who is a…
New Gods, New Sins – Wallace G. Smith tomorrowsworld.org
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Miscellaneous Topics
As many today wish to rid the world of the God of the Bible, they in turn, set up their own gods. With these new gods come new orthodoxies, dogmas, and sins. Truth becomes whatever supports these new gods and compliance is forcibly compelled. Four such gods are highlighted in this article. First, the god of science. With the absence of a true God, humanity…
Would Jesus want us to remember or celebrate His birthday? thebiblesaysthat.com
Ryan Welsh
3 years ago in Christmas
Throughout the Bible God is very clear about what he wants us to do and what he doesn’t. Pagan traditions aside, the Bible is very silent on the exact date of Christ’s birth. At the same time enough information is available in the gospels to know that He wasn’t born in December but more than likely around the month of September. What is clear, within…
The Root and Fruit of New Year’s Eve lifehopeandtruth.com
Marshall Stiver
3 years ago in New Year's Eve
What are you doing on New Year’s Eve? A more intriguing question might be, do you know where the traditions associated with New Year’s Eve originate from? There are many customs and superstitions associated with the celebration that vary around the world. The one thing they all have in common, however, is a pronounced focus on human reasoning. So, from a Christian perspective, it is…
A Right Christmas – Edwin Stepp & Robert Boraker vision.org
Steven Orchard
4 years ago in Paganism, Christmas
The early Christian Church didn’t keep Christmas. Christ wasn’t even born in winter. However, a solar feast commemorating the Persian god Mithra, whom the Romans also worshiped, was historically observed on December 25th around the winter solstice. Gift-giving and unrestrained revelry were also features of the Roman Saturnalia, another solstice festival that anchors modern Christmas traditions. Roman emperor Constantine saw the tension between emerging Christianity…
What Is the Mark of the Beast? tomorrowsworld.org
Ryan Welsh
4 years ago in Mark of the Beast, Sunday Worship
The Mark of the beast as described in the book of Revelation has been a subject of wild speculation. This whiteboard video clearly lays out what it is and what it isn’t. Within the context of scripture, the mark is not something physical. It is not a vaccine, tattoo, barcode, chip, or anything else that can be forced upon someone against their will. This mark on the hand and…
Hell: Origins of an Idea – Richard Burky, Jeannette B. Anderson vision.org
Ryan Welsh
4 years ago in Heaven & Hell
The authors of this article set out to answer a simple question – “how can anyone worship a god who sets up fallible humans to be forever tormented in hell?” The idea of perpetual torment for the dead that in some way fell short in life is held by most of this world’s religions. This includes two of the three Abrahamic religions (Christian and Muslim)…
Halloween – Bill Butler vision.org
Steven Orchard
4 years ago in Paganism, Halloween
Halloween is rooted in ancient pagan rites and customs. Why do those who claim Christian identity keep it? Paul told the followers of Christ to disassociate themselves such customs when he said “…what accord has Christ with Belial? …‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord’” (2 Corinthians 6:14–17). Christians ought to reject this overtly pagan festival. Halloween’s history goes back 2,000…
Halloween: Treat, or Trick? – Richard A. Wilson tomorrowsworld.org
Ryan Welsh
4 years ago in Halloween
There is a Gaelic tradition that says, at Samhain, the doors to the underworld open— allowing dead souls and harmful spirits to enter our world. Modern Halloween costumes originated as an attempt to mask one’s identity as protection from those harmful spirits. This tradition melded with the practice of “souling”. This was a practice where children and the poor would go house to house offering…
Proverbs 26: When Should You Answer a Fool? – Mike Hanisko lifehopeandtruth.com
John Grabara
4 years ago in Miscellaneous Topics
There is a Proverb that at first glance might seem contradictory (Proverbs 26:4-5). It reads, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly.” Yet, the very next verse reads, “Answer a fool according to his folly.” Actually, these two verses are not contradictory, but a closer study shows that they are complementary. When to apply either verse, the principle taught by what either verse teaches, depends on the…