Comments for joelgillespie.org

Comment on The Problem of Evil by Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:04:02 +0000

The existence of evil in the world is an effect of the fall of Adam and Eve and human races free will. Also, if there were no evil in the world, how would we know good? There had to opposition for us to know the joy of Jesus Christ. If there were no despair we wouldn’t know hope, if there were no anger we wouldn’t know happiness. In addition, if there one never sinned then they would never know the joy of repentance and forgiveness through Christ’s atonement. Like Joel said that comes back to an individual’s choice.

Comment on Why I Am a Christian by Jimmy Brown

Jimmy Brown — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:48:55 +0000

Joel, As to say Why am I a christian. I too decided to follow Christ 1978. 2 Cor 5:17. I became a new creation the moment I said yes! As to comment about Jesus s existence. Even the muslims teach his existence. They say he was a prophet, not mesiah. Isaiah spoke of his existence before he came to this earth. Most people who have tried proving that he was not have found more evidence that He was. He is the Alpha Omega, beginning and the end. I do have one question for you. Why are you not pastoring any longer? The pastor who lead me to the Lord in 1978 is still pastoring Shandon Baptist Church. That church has grown over the years, and never ceases to amaze me what God can and will do. You probably would not recognize my name, but I’m sure you would remember my brother from AC Flora. John Just wanted to let you know it is good to see someone on here I recognize who has had a personal experience with the Lord. My life has not been the same since. Grace that is greater than all my sin!

Comment on Why I Am a Christian by Lanny Hoskins

Lanny Hoskins — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:02:52 +0000

It’s an interesting thing that based on the writings of Matthew, Mark and Luke in particular that a man could have lived and done what he was purported to have done during his brief time here and no one, not a soul, took enough notice of really what was quite FANTASTIC to jot a few words down somewhere and mention his name during his lifetime. Your explanation is quite probably the answer in that he was just a “nobody”, but there were “historians” in his day, and I’ve always found this an interesting aspect in that to have done what he did with no one writing a word about it during his life.

Comment on Why I Am a Christian by Joel Gillespie

Joel Gillespie — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:32:29 +0000

Lanny, Jesus was a nobody during his life, a nobody in a backwater of the Roman empire. Even toward the end when he was a bit of a phenom, he was just one little phenom among many, barely a blip on the screen. Had there been media and had he been noticed he would have been buried in section D page 12, maybe a story about the crazy who caused a stir in the temple one day.

Comment on Why I Am a Christian by Lanny Hoskins

Lanny Hoskins — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:05:17 +0000

Joel…you have said A LOT here and one could take issue with a lot of it, but I’ll just take one idea at a time…first of all, I’d like to get a question answered and you have an answer. I have little doubt that a person we now know as Jesus Christ historically lived, but what has always bugged me a little is that I have never been able to find any evidence of his existence during the years he supposedly lived on earth (just for the sake of my question, let’s say between 5 BC and 40 AD which should cover the most reliably known years he would have lived among people on this earth). My question is this…is there any historical mention of the person of Jesus Christ between the years 5 BC and 40 AD in WRITING? Obviously there is plenty of mention of the personage after his death and supposed resurrection, but I’ve never seen any during the time of his actual life…is there any?

Comment on Hopkins, Ehrman, Being Human, Genesis, Politics by Carlos

Carlos — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:12:43 +0000

Hey Joel-
Looking forward to seeing much of these topics!

Comment on I Know What Christmas Is, But What is Advent? by Edwin Sineath

Edwin Sineath — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:33:40 +0000

I love your first paragraph! That is the answer to the “Christ-Mass” question that I have been longing to hear from someone who has a pulpit. The only tweak I’d have is that it’s not possible to “keep” Christ in Christ-Mass because he’s never been in it. In my experience, Christmas is the time of year when it’s difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish Christians from Pagans. Pagans rightfully adore Christmas. It’s their holiday, always has been, always will be. I find myself on the side of John Calvin when it comes to Christmas. He said that anyone who celebrates Christmas is “a rabid beast.” But I also remember to be circumspect about discussing Christmas, remembering also what happened to Calvin. He was asked to leave (kicked out?) Geneva partly because of his view of Christmas.

Comment on All Creatures of Our God and King by Edwin Sineath

Edwin Sineath — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:24:40 +0000

Joel,

I agree with everything you say. But an environmentalist (or algore-ophile), if he were to be intellectually hones, would disagree with everything you say. He would disown your conclusions, even though he probably would agree with them, because of the arguments you used to reach them. IMHO, the essence of the Sierra Club type of environmentalism is hatred of God.

Comment on A Christian Country? by admin

admin — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:39:52 +0000

Oops – I fixed the link, sorry.

Comment on A Christian Country? by Henry Neufeld

Henry Neufeld — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:17:49 +0000

Joel,

Is there a link? I didn’t find any linked text. If I’m just not seeing, give me guidance! Thanks!