Author: Texas Gospel

Pre-conceived ideas should not change your standard of judgement

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When I was growing up there were studies in the news by various scientists whose research was touted as “proof” that cigarette smoking was not harmful, or at least not as harmful as some would have you believe. Those scientists, we later learned, were funded by large tobacco companies. From time to time when research grants were in jeopardy, there have been those caught faking results to keep the grant money heading their way. None of this should be a surprise. Scientists, after all, are people too.

Research faked to please big companies, or to protect the interests of those who stand to make or lose money based on the outcome is nothing new. And the presence of con men is not exclusive to science. So-called scientists who fake results for reasons other than science are no different than so-called ministers who will say whatever it takes to keep the donations coming in. To echo my previous statement: ministers are people too. Individuals in the lab and in the pulpit are subject to temptation.

What I find interesting in all this is that while some people are quick to understand that you don’t ignore science simply because results have been faked for financial gain, they are eager to condemn Christianity because some so-called minsters proclaim falsehoods for the same motivation.

Shouldn’t the standard by which a discipline is judged remain the same?

What are your thoughts?

Are Christians “almost” skeptics?

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When Christians reject the claims of all religions but their own, aren’t they doing the same thing Atheists do? That is, aren’t they skeptics, but just not as skeptical as atheists? This question is often posed by anti-theists seemingly trying to demonstrate that Christians are close to the truth, but not as close as the atheist.  It is also a question that sidesteps something very important.

Christians do not reject other religions from the same skepticism as that expressed by anti-theists.  False doctrines are rejected by Christians because they have had their eyes open to the realities of sin, and God’s gift of redemption. Christians reject false doctrine because of a posteriori knowledge; that is, knowledge only known by experience.  In this case, it is secondary to God’s gift of salvation. It’s understandable that an atheist, especially anti-theists, would be skeptical because a Christian cannot share his or her first-hand knowledge.  It’s like trying to tell someone what a broken bone feels like.  You can tell someone it hurts, you can show them how the body functions to experience pain, but you cannot KNOW how a broken bone feels until you’ve had one.  But it seems the skepticism of anti-theists is very different than that expressed by Christians.

The skepticism of anti-theists, at least those with whom I have had dialog, amounts to rejection of anything that would lead to even the possibility that there may be a God.  Too be clear, Christians reject that which contradicts his or her own first-hand experience with God, atheists usually reject other people’s a posteriori knowledge, but anti-theists reject anything that results in a conclusion they don’t want to reach.  Take a moment to scan social media debates with a critical mind.  It’s clear there are those who change their standard of acceptable evidence depending on to what conclusion that evidence would lead. There is a difference between the type of skepticism.

God calls everyone to repentance. Everyone has the freedom to accept or reject His offer of salvation and forgiveness of sin through the blood of his son Jesus.  It doesn’t matter what I’ve experienced, or what an anti-theist wants you to accept or reject.  The most important question is: Will you accept His gift, or reject it without consideration?

Texas Gospel Canada to be blocked from U.S. listeners on Jan.12

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The online audio of TexasGospel.org will be geoblocked from U.S. listeners beginning Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019.  This is the result of a demand made by music license holders within the United States.

Texas Gospel Canada is a Torontocast stream.  It is fully licensed by SOCAN to play music online in Canada.  Licensing entities within the U.S. have requested that Torontocast either geo-block the U.S. or purchase a U.S. music streaming license. The cost involved, which is several times that of our streaming costs within Canada, make it cost prohibitive.

Texas Gospel Canada began broadcasting in late 2017. Some basic guidelines for programming have been in place since the beginning; one of which is to never to ask for donations or broadcast commercials.  The reasoning behind this is simple.  We want to avoid any impression that the volunteers and operators of the station are motivated by anything other than spreading the Gospel.

If you know of a good Southern Gospel station streaming within in the U.S., feel free to post the web address on our facebook page or on the bottom of TexasGospel.org for U.S. listeners.

To be clear, Texas Gospel Canada is NOT going off the air, but listeners in the U.S. will no longer be able to hear our station after January 12.

 

Oregon man accused of intentionally driving into side of church building

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An Oregon sanctuary was packed for Christmas services in spite of damage caused by a man accused of intentionally driving into the side of the building.

The Bulletin reports more than 500 families crowded into Our Lady of Lavang’s damage building on Christmas Eve.

“We have a very strong community and support here,” Henry Tran told the paper, as more than a dozen young musicians from the Lavang Youth Chamber Orchestra took to the stage, playing a jolly rendition of “Sleigh Ride.”

KOIN6 Television on Wednesday reported Hieu John Phung, the man accused of causing the damage, is freeon on a personal recognizance bond.  He is due in court Wednesday afternoon to be arraigned on a first-degree criminal mischief charge.

Police say Phung is not a member of the church.  Officials have not released a motive for the attack.