The Fellowship Bible Church movement refers to a group of independent evangelical churches started by pastor and author Gene Getz in the 1970s. Getz helped launch the movement while serving as pastor of Fellowship Bible Church North in Dallas, Texas. The Fellowship movement seeks to follow biblical principles for church leadership and governance. Churches in the movement have opted out of denominational oversight in favor of a congregational approach with local church autonomy. This allows each Fellowship church to govern itself according to biblical directives under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Some key beliefs and practices of Fellowship Bible Churches…
Author: Erin Weitzman
Socialism is an economic and political system that advocates for collective ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods. It emphasizes equality, common ownership, and the elimination of socioeconomic hierarchy. As Christians, our views on any economic system should be grounded in scripture and an understanding of God’s desires for society. Here is a 9000 word exploration of how Christians can biblically approach the topic of socialism: The Bible does not explicitly endorse or condemn socialism, but it does provide principles that can guide our perspective. A few key considerations include: 1. God cares deeply about justice and…
The question of whether baptism is necessary for salvation is an important one that many Christians wrestle with. Acts 2:38 is a key verse that is often brought up in this discussion. It reads, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” So what exactly does this verse teach about the relationship between baptism and salvation? When examining this issue, it’s important to look at the verse in its broader context. Acts 2 records the first preaching of…
The phrase “God gave them up to worship the host of heaven” comes from Acts 7:42, which says: “But God turned away from them and gave them over to the worship of the heavenly bodies. This agrees with what is written in the book of the prophets: ‘Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?'” (Acts 7:42) This verse comes within the broader context of Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin in Acts 7. Stephen was one of the first deacons appointed by the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5). He was accused of…
How Jesus Fulfilled the Meanings of the Jewish Feasts The Jewish feasts were important celebrations in the life of the Israelite nation. God instituted these feasts as holy convocations, times when the people would gather together to worship Him and remember His goodness (Leviticus 23:1-44). While these feasts held great meaning for the Jewish people, they were also intended to point ahead to Jesus Christ and the salvation He would accomplish. Jesus fulfilled the meanings of the Jewish feasts in powerful and unexpected ways. Passover Passover was instituted by God to commemorate Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 12:1-28).…
The Bible speaks clearly about prostitution and condemns the practice throughout Scripture. Here is an overview of some key passages regarding prostitution in the Bible: Old Testament Teachings on Prostitution In the Old Testament, prostitution was strictly forbidden under the Mosaic law. Deuteronomy 23:17 states, “None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute.” This command prohibited Israelites from engaging in any form of cultic or pagan prostitution practices common among Israel’s neighboring nations. Likewise, Leviticus 19:29 states, “Do not profane your daughter by making her…
The Mosaic Law, also known as the Torah or Pentateuch, refers to the first five books of the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books contain God’s laws and instructions given to the people of Israel through Moses. While Christians are not bound by the Old Testament law in the same way as ancient Israel, there is still much to learn from studying the Mosaic Law. Here are some key things Christians can learn from the Mosaic Law: 1. The Mosaic Law reveals God’s holy and righteous character. The laws given to Israel highlighted God’s perfection, justice,…
Gargoyles are carved stone figures often seen on old churches, cathedrals, and buildings in Europe. They serve both architectural and symbolic functions. Architecturally, they act as rainspouts to drain water away from the sides of buildings. Symbolically, they are thought to ward off evil spirits and provide protection. The origin and meaning behind gargoyles is fascinating and has roots in medieval Christian tradition. The word “gargoyle” comes from the old French “gargouille” meaning “throat” or “gullet.” This refers to their function as waterspouts, draining rainwater from gutters. The English word itself dates back to around the 1360s. Gargoyles became prominent…
Young earth creationism is the view that the universe and the earth were created by God less than 10,000 years ago, over 6 24-hour creation days, as described in the first chapters of Genesis in the Bible. Here is an overview of some of the main biblical evidence that supporters of this view point to: Genesis Genealogies Genesis contains detailed genealogical records from Adam to Abraham, spanning approximately 2,000 years (Genesis 5, Genesis 11). Adding up the years of the patriarchs listed results in a timeline far shorter than evolutionary timescales. While there is debate about whether there may be…
The verse Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” This verse encourages us to focus our thoughts on what is good and praiseworthy rather than dwelling on negative or unhelpful things. Let’s explore the meaning and application of this verse more fully: The Context of Philippians 4:8 Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Philippi from prison (Philippians 1:13). Despite his difficult circumstances, Paul encouraged the Philippians…