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An Indian Christian features my occasional and idiosyncratic views of religion, politics, culture and tradition. It is specialized in understanding God and humanity from an Indian Christian perspective, It promotes on New Humanity through the principles of the Athma - Jesus
Devotion
Virtual library of this blog offers enormous number of resources for people from all walks of their Christian life. It also provides an annotated list of articles relating to theological studies.
Virtual Library
Virtual library offers enormous number of resources for people from all walks of their Christian life. It also provides an annotated list of articles relating to theological studies.
Current Issues
This is a blog about my living a journey within the context of being an Indian Christian. I blog about various topics from issues that affect the Church today to current political and cultural trends and even poetry.
Counselling
In this new age of cyber interaction, we provide counselling services through the Internet
Monday, July 8, 2013
Insider Movement: Followers of Isa Almasih
Friday, July 5, 2013
The Meaning of Freedom
To all my American friends and family members
Happy Independence Day to you all.
While many Americans will spend this holiday with family and friends enjoying summer weather, fireworks, and outdoor barbeques, thousands of people in other parts of the world are fighting for freedom. Today, in particular, we, the people of the world, pay tribute to those of our friends in all parts of the world for their strength, their courage, their willingness and their LOVE.
It is a time for every single people in the world to recognize that the blessings of freedom are not free. They come from courage, open minding and loving each other regardless of any nationalities and religions. We need to build a bridge between all people and this is now our responsibility to fulfill - so that our children can enjoy a better life.
May God bless you all
Shalom
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Research Paper on the Audience of Galatians
ethnically, referring to the descendants of the Gallic tribes and administratively, referring to the Roman province.2 However, Dunn notes that the issue largely revolves around the relation
between Acts and Galatians, whether Paul could be referring to the churches established during the first missionary journey (Acts 13-14).3
Iconium, Lystra and Derbe) were situated south of ethnic Galatia, but had been included in the
Roman province as its southernmost part.5 However, Brown argues that Luke never refers to the
southern region as “Galatia” and that the southern cities Antioch, Derbe, Iconium and Lystra
(Acts 13:14; 14:6) are not placed in the Roman “province” but in their “districts”6 Moreover,
Walter Hansen notes that by the third century A.D., the province of Galatia was reduced to
approximately its ancient ethnological dimensions, the original “northern” territory of the Celtic
18:23 Paul makes a passing reference to “Galatia and Phrygia.”10 Dunn notes that according to
Luke’s record of Paul’s missionary visit in Acts 16:6 the two cities “Galatia and Phrygia” are
different from the cities mentioned in Acts 14:1-5 (Derbe, Lystra).11 Hence Dunn argues that, for
Luke “Galatia” could be referring to the ethnic Galatians in the north which does not correlate to
his first missionary visit but rather to Paul’s initial mission work according to Acts 16:6.12
have argued for a northern position based on the grounds that the recipients were churches in or
near Ancyra, Pessinus and Tavium, three cities in northern Asia Minor (modern Turkey).14
and settled by a distinct “ethnic” group of Celtic (Gaulish) descent in the third century B.C.
Therefore they hold the view that in Gal. 3:1, Acts 16:6 and 18:23 Paul is referring to this
“particular race” that belongs to north Galatia.15 However, to take a pro-northern view is still
confusing in the light of Hansen’s comment that inspite of their ethnic origin, all the residents of the Roman province covering Pontus in the north to Pamphylia in the South were called
the Galatian country” inversely, scholars such as F.F. Bruce have suggested that “the region of
Phrygia and Galatia” was merely an exit route that Paul took whenever he left Lystra and
Iconium (Acts 16:2; 18:23) and thus is properly “Phrygio-Galatic territory.”17 However, Carson, Moo and Morris note that northern contenders still argue that Luke tends to speak of places in
geographic terms such as “Pisidian” Antioch (Acts 13:14) thereby suggesting that “the region of Phrygia and Galatia” must literally be taken as “geographic Phrygia” and “geographic Galatia”
as two different places.18 But, Carson, Moo and Morris conclude by saying that such a distinction is unlikely and thus pointing to a southern Galatia.19
Brown argues that the expression “the region of Phrygia and Galatia” could either mean that
Paul, Silas and Timothy during their second missionary journey “moved westward through the
Phrygian region of the province of Galatia (thus still not north Galatia), or moved northward
through Phrygia into the North Galatian territory proper? Brown argues that “geographically”
position, have noted that Paul’s usage is subject to change and therefore there is also a
probability that “Galatians” could still include the ethnic Galatians in the north.21
contributed from Berea and Thessalonica, scholars say that the two contributors from Galatia
could be “South Galatians” although this information is not directly derived from Luke’s
record.22
evidence more toward a southern position than a northern Galatia.25
been used to suggest that a similar welcome was given to Paul at Lystra (Acts 14:12). But as
argued by Carson, Moo and Morris this connection between Gal. 4:14 and Acts 14:12 is not a
position can be fully argued and a decisive decision made. However, says Dunn, the puzzle does
not in any way affect the fact that the recipients included both Jews and Gentiles. Dunn notes
that a mention in Gal. 4:8 clearly the inclusion of Gentiles in Paul’s address which places them
among the audience.30
are north or south Galatians is not possible at this point. While scholars such as F.F. Bruce have
suggested a northern position based on compelling evidence, as rightly noted by Dunn, it does
not make any impact on determining the particularity of the audience. For Paul, the more serious
issue was to address both Jews and Gentiles. Thus to be caught up with the geographic issue is to
miss the point of Paul’s address to a racial mix of audience which is more important in this letter.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Jesus is the Son of God and King, because he has all authority over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:16-20)
Sunday, January 20, 2013
WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO TEACH THE CATECHISM IN THE CHURCH?
IV. WHY IS IT NECESSARY TO INTRODUCE AND TEACH THE CATECHISM IN THE CHURCH?
This necessity may be urged,
1. Because it is the command of God: “Ye shall teach them to your children” etc. (Deut. 11. 19.)
2. Because of the divine glory which demands that God be not only rightly known and worshipped by those of adult age, but also by children, according as it is. said, “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.” (Ps. 8. 2.)
3. On account of our comfort and salvation; for without a true knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ, no one that has attained to years of discretion and understanding can be saved, or have any sure comfort that he is accepted in the sight of God. Hence it is said, “This is life eternal that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent,” And again, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (John 17. 3, Heb. 11. 6.) And not only so, but no one believes on him of whom he knows nothing, or has not heard; for, “How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?” “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10. 14, 17.) It is necessary, therefore, for all those who will be saved, to lay hold of, and embrace the doctrine of Christ, which is the chief and fundamental doctrine of the gospel. But, in order that this may be done, there must be instructions imparted to this effect and of necessity, some brief and simple form of doctrine, suited and adapted to the young, and such as are unlearned.
4. For the preservation of society and the church. All past history proves that religion and the worship of God, the exercise and practice of piety, honesty, justice, and truth, are of the greatest importance to the well-being and perpetuation of the church and of the commonwealth. But it is in vain that we look for these things among barbarous nations, since they have never been known to produce the fruits of Piety and virtue. Hence, there is a necessity that we should be trained to the practice of these things from our earliest years; because the heart of man is depraved and evil from his youth; yea, such is the corruption of our nature, that unless we early commence the work of reformation and moral training, we too late apply a remedy when, through long delay, the evil principles and inclinations of the heart have become so strengthened and confirmed, as to bid defiance to the restraints we may then wish to impose upon them. If we are not correctly instructed in our childhood out of the sacred Scriptures concerning God and his will, and do not then commence the practice of piety, it is with great difficulty, if ever, we are drawn away from these errors which are, as it were, born in us, or which we have imbibed from, our youth, and that we are led to abandon the vices in which we have been brought up, and to which we have been accustomed. If, therefore, the church and state are to be preserved from degeneracy and final destruction, it is of the utmost importance that this depravity of our nature should, in due time, be met with proper restraints, and be subdued.
5. There is a necessity that all persons should be made acquainted with the rule and standard according to which we are to judge and decide, in relation to the various opinions and dogmas of men, that we may not be led into error, and be seduced thereby, according to the commandment which is given in relation to this subject, “Beware of false prophets.” “Prove all things.” “Try the spirits whether they are of God.” (Matt. 7. 15, 1 Thess. 5. 21, 1 John 4. l.) But the law and the Apostle’s creed, which are the chief parts of the catechism, constitute the rule and standard according to which we are to judge of the opinions of men, from which we may see the great importance of a familiar acquaintance with them.
6. Those who have properly studied and learned the Catechism, are generally better prepared to understand and appreciate the sermons which they hear from time to time, inasmuch as they can easily refer and reduce those things which they hear out of the word of God, to the different heads of the catechism to which they appropriately belong, whilst, on the other hand, those who have not enjoyed this preparatory training, hear sermons for the most part, with but little profit to themselves.
7. The importance of catechisation may be urged in view of its peculiar adaptedness to those learners who are of weak and uncultivated minds, who require instruction in a short, plain, and perspicuous manner, as we have it in the catechism, and would not, on account of their youth and weakness of capacity, be able to understand it, if presented in a lengthy and more difficult form.
8. It is also necessary, for the purpose of distinguishing and separating the youths, and such as are unlearned, from schismatics and profane heathen, which can most effectually be done by a judicious course of catechetical instruction.
Lastly. A knowledge of the catechism is especially important for those who are to act as teachers, because they ought to have a more intimate acquaintance with the doctrine of the church than others, as well on account of their calling, that they may one day be able to instruct others, as on account of the many facilities which they have for obtaining a knowledge of this doctrine, which it becomes them diligently to improve, that they may, like Timothy, become well acquainted with the Holy Scriptures, and “be good ministers of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith, and of a good doctrine, whereunto they have attained.” (1. Tim. 4, 6.)
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Percentage of Christians in India