Bible Study Archives - NowTHINK!AboutIt

7 Thoughts Explaining Repentance

June 20, 2025 by EnnisP 1 Comment

If Your Mind Doesn’t Change
Your Life Never Will

At one point in the early stages of American history, repentance was a word often heard in sermons, usually accompanied with lengthy arguments but also offered threateningly or with a demanding tone.

The arguments were essential. If the arguments were sound, the threats weren’t always needed. But, as you can imagine, if you can’t make a sound argument and no one seems to listen, demands make it possible to get results anyway.

That isn’t a well respected approach but it is true, threats can be effective in a pinch.

Tent revivals of the past, also called brush arbor or camp meetings, were known for this. These revivals were p;\opular in the early stages of US history. George Whitefield and John Wesley were remarkable for their ability to preach in open air settings to thousands, and be heard clearly by all.

There was a great deal of emotion in Whitefield’s preaching but his sermons also included arguments woven together convincingly.

I’m not saying that you would agree with Whitefield on every point but his arguments, right or wrong, were clearly articulated and he did what Calvinists of his time were loathe to do; he ended his sermons with an invitation to get saved.

His inaccuracies can be forgiven. Only God is known to be without error (and Christians are known more for what they disagree on) but his ability to project and to make sensible arguments, if not always absolutely correct, were well known and respected by everyone during his time and ever since.

People were known to go far out of their way just to witness Whitefield’s speaking ability. There’s no surprise there. Whitefield studied and performed in theatre at a time in history when vocal projection was the most important skill in theatrics and no one was better than Whitefield. It was in itself an attraction.

Attending one of his services in the 1700’s was like going to the movies today. It just so happened that his extraordinary abilities, that drew people in, were also used to preach the Gospel and repentance featured dominantly.

Whitefield understood that repentance is essential to any person’s coming to faith.

What Is Repentance

But what is repentance. We speak about it a lot without defining what we mean.

Repentance is nothing more and nothing less than a change of mind. A real, life effecting, lasting change of mind. Once this change occurs, it can’t be undone. There may be doubts, fears, and questions but there’s no going back. [Read more…] about 7 Thoughts Explaining Repentance

One-Worldism From A Different Perspective

May 25, 2025 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

The Outcome Of Loving Your Neighbors
Especially The Ones Who Are Enemies
Is One World

The topic of One-Worldism among evangelical Christians is considered anathema. Rather than an interesting topic for discussion, it’s an evil to be avoided at all cost.

On the odd occasion when the topic is broached, it’s spoken of from one side only and is associated with behind-the-scenes manipulation by Satan and endless conspiracy theories. Anyone tagged as a one-worlder loses all standing among Christian folks.

Pat Robertson’s book, The New World Order (which abounds with conspiracies and gives far more credit to Satan than he deserves), is a good example of how this concept is treated among evangelicals. Robertson’s approach is common and is the reason Christians are loathe to approach this topic in any other way than arms-length.

But is there a way to see a positive side to the issue?

I would suggest that social/political ideas are neither good nor bad and should be discussed openly and often if we’re to gain a useful perspective. The Devil is no more involved with one idea than another, is very willing to distort issues at the cost of humanity and he will gladly use evangelicals to advance his goals whenever he can.

If anything, the Devil loves to breed insecurity and provokes us to think emotionally, which is really just non-thinking. Pat Robertson’s book fuels that outcome. [Read more…] about One-Worldism From A Different Perspective

11 Reasons The Churches Of Revelation Don’t Represent Church Ages

January 25, 2025 by EnnisP 2 Comments

The Seven Churches Reveal Seven Problems
That Can Happen To Any Church
At Any Time

The book of Revelation fascinates everyone. From start to finish, the mysteries pile up. It mentions many things we haven’t seen or experienced personally, and because those novelties are represented in terms we can’t readily explain (four living creatures with six wings each and full of eyes), one of two things happens: we avoid the text completely or become so obsessed no rational outcome is reached.

That may be why the book opens with some words to encourage us to hold the line.

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

We’re told up front that this is prophecy, meaning it points to future events, things that haven’t happened yet. The perspective is very much forward looking, but it’s also important to note that it has a starting place. Jesus addressed Himself to people of that day, not ours.

What Jesus said does apply to anyone at any future time but He addressed Himself specifically to individuals who were living at the time the Book was written. Jesus delivered his message to real churches in real time.

Seven churches were targeted in the first three chapters and Jesus had a individual message for each of those churches. Those churches were located in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and all of them were started by the first generation of Christians. From their experience, today’s churches can learn a lot.

But what do these messages mean? How should we interpret this material?

One school of thought suggests that these churches, aside from being local and individual, also characterize periods of time or ages from the first century till now. The people who teach this say we are in the Laodicean period today which, obviously, is the last period characterized in this list.

Not only does that idea argue against the church age theory, there are also many other reasons to reject this idea. [Read more…] about 11 Reasons The Churches Of Revelation Don’t Represent Church Ages

Religion Breeds Good And Bad Spirits In Adherents

January 13, 2025 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

Repentance Reflects Your Mindset
Not Your Knowledge

Before we begin, a clarification.

When I mention the word spirit, I’m not talking about a personal being, like the Holy Spirit or a demonic spirit or even the human spirit. I’m talking about attitude, perspective or outlook.

In a word, mindset.

Your personal spirit is the core of your being. Your attitude reveals which way your spirit is leaning. Attitude is the barometer of how well you’re doing spiritually.

Attitude and spirit are, of course, inalterably connected but they aren’t the same. When people cheer loudly and excitedly at sporting events, they are said to have lots of spirit but that expression of spirit is different to the personal spirit from which it derives in the same way thoughts are different to the brain.

I’m focused on your attitude, not your personal spirit. [Read more…] about Religion Breeds Good And Bad Spirits In Adherents

9 Ways Religion Endangers Democracy

August 2, 2024 by EnnisP Leave a Comment

You Can’t Legislate
Pure Religion

The word “Religion” is used in conversations frequently and most often refers to organizations like churches that claim to represent God or spiritual issues.

Generally, religion is thought of as a good thing and it can be but we also know it has a bad side. According to the Global Center For Religious Research, as many as a third of all US adults have experienced religious trauma, and that’s just in the US.

Religious trauma is defined by Therapist.com as any religious experience that is stressful, degrading, dangerous, abusive or damaging.

It’s strange that those words should be associated with religion since the only Bible verse that comes close to defining the nature of religion paints a very different picture.

If any person thinks he is religious and does not bridle (control) his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Pure religion that is undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (James 1:26-27)

Many thoughts can be extracted from these two short verses but the most important point is religion done properly is helpful and encouraging. It solves problems and lends assistance.

It also means religion must be monitored at all times to make sure it’s staying on the right path.

The focus of this article is organized Christian religion and how we view it. I’m also focused particularly on the ways in which religion interferes with democracy. It goes without saying that there’s nothing in James or any other book that indicates religion should mimic political action groups. [Read more…] about 9 Ways Religion Endangers Democracy