Do you agree with Brian Abasciano's corporate election theory? Why or why not? With regards to corporate election, well of course there is such a thing as corporate election (church, nation) and yes, definitely there is individual election. Even Dr. Abasciano acknowledges this as you quoted above. However I do not subscribe to Dr. Abasciano’s view because for the following reasons:1.) Dr. Abasciano engages in word play, argues on semantics and argues fallaciously – No matter how he states it either way, the group and the individual are inseparable. There is no group without the individual, no “ekklesia” without the “called out ones.” His insistence on somehow drawing a fine line between corporate election and individual election borders on committing the fallacy of equivocation. Trying to make a distinction when there should be none and then saying that both views are logically coherent, borders on the fallacy of circular reasoning. Of course, it is logically coherent because … [Read more...]
Steering Clear of Online Scams: How to Protect Yourself from Digital Fraud
Scams and get-rich-quick schemes have been around for as long as money has existed. But in today's fast-paced, hyper-connected digital world, scammers have more opportunities than ever to trick people out of their hard-earned cash and sensitive information. There are all sorts of scams out there, from fake emails and identity theft to Ponzi schemes and bogus investment opportunities. Scammers are getting smarter and more creative, using a wide range of tactics to fool people. The scary part is that these scams are having a huge impact on people's lives. A recent survey by the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and Scam Adviser found that a whopping 40% of people worldwide have lost money to investment scams. Even worse, most of them (69%) didn't even try to get their money back because they didn't know how. These scams are hitting people where it hurts - their wallets. About 66% of people said that getting scammed had a big impact on their finances. Surprisingly, 32% didn't try to … [Read more...]
Understanding the Differences Among Calvinists: 3-Point, 4-Point, 5-Point, and Hyper-Calvinism
Well, there are some points in Calvinism that some people who label themselves "Calvinist" don't accept. However, for me, one can't consider himself a Calvinist if one does not accept the five points. The five points work seamlessly and are logically flawless together and supported by Scriptures. Further, they have a basis in Church history as they are the ones laid down by the Synod of Dort in response to Arminianism. (A side note: The most famous five-point Calvinist among independent Baptists was probably Charles Spurgeon.) You can't take one point away and still call it Calvinism. It's the whole package. You can't call yourself a Calvinist if you don't accept the five points. But that's just me; I can't impose labels on people if they insist on calling themselves a Calvinist if they only accept three or four points. But if we are to be technical about it...Most Calvinists do not consider somebody to be a Calvinist if he/she only adheres to three points, and there are a lot of … [Read more...]
Difficult Talks on Money with Family and Friends (And How to Deal with Them)
In any social gathering, engaging in conversations about politics or religion is often considered taboo if you want to avoid making enemies quickly. However, when it comes to family and friends, one of the most challenging topics to discuss is money and finances.A Wells Fargo survey found that 44% of Americans consider personal finance the most difficult subject to talk about with others, even more so than death, politics, and religion. Despite money being a leading cause of stress in relationships and commonly cited as the primary reason for divorce, Time magazine reports that 40% of couples don't discuss how they would manage their finances before getting married.The dire statistics above are definitely similar in the Philippines. A survey by a major insurance company shows that money matters are the number one cause of quarrels among Filipino couples, a fact confirmed by other research on the topic. Herald Cruz, a counselor at the Center for Family Ministries at the Ateneo de Manila … [Read more...]
The Pitfalls of Using Analogies to Describe the Divine Nature: A Theological Perspective
There is probably no other greater theological concept that requires that use of analogical language to describe the divine nature than that of the Trinity. The mysterious truth about the triune nature of God has been fiercely debated upon throughout church history and oftentimes analogies are used in order to somehow try to thresh out its truths but somehow nothing seems to be enough to explain such profound and mysterious truths. A common analogy about the Trinity is water wherein it can manifest itself into either solid as ice or frozen water, liquid and as gas in the form of water vapor. These three are in different forms and yet they are still the same, it is basically water. Similarly, the analogy goes that God manifest himself as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit but they are the same God. The problem with this analogy however is that it would lead to a heretical understanding of the Trinity which has been combatted by the early church known as modalism. This heresy has … [Read more...]