Author Archives: Shawn Stamp

Predestination (Part 2) – Are We Able?

Read Part 1 – Overview There is a wealth of information available on the topic of predestination, and so rather than try to re-hash everything as part of this series, I would encourage you to do your own investigation into the perspectives on this contentious doctrine.  That way, as we grapple with the thorny issuesContinue reading “Predestination (Part 2) – Are We Able?”

Predestination (Part 1)

When you consider the vast array of Christian denominations that have come into existence over the past 400 years, one thing becomes clear: just about any issue can be perceived as sufficient justification for creating yet another faction within the Church. Every doctrine is a potential source of discord, and rather than clinging to theContinue reading “Predestination (Part 1)”

My body, my choice?

“My body, my choice.” There. I said it. Who would’ve thought that as the epitome of everything that’s supposedly wrong in 21st century America (I’m white, male, middle class, conservative, Christian, “Pro Life”…need I go on?) that this “deplorable” would suddenly embrace the mantra of the “Pro Choice” movement? In fact, there are many “ProContinue reading “My body, my choice?”

A Mighty Fortress “for” Our (Triune) God

Part 5 of the video series, “Understanding the Trinity,” is now available on YouTube. It picks up where Part 4 left off, as it seeks to unravel the reasons why this doctrine persists as the arbiter of Christian orthodoxy…in spite of the vast number of Scriptures that appear to (and in fact, do) invalidate it.Continue reading “A Mighty Fortress “for” Our (Triune) God”

Caution: FRAGILE! Handle with Care…

Part 4 of the video series, “Understanding the Trinity,” is now available on YouTube. It explores just how well this extra-Biblical doctrine stacks up against actual Scripture… This may sound like an odd and/or pointless exercise, since most Christians tacitly assume that the Bible is the de facto source of this enigmatic doctrine, but asContinue reading “Caution: FRAGILE! Handle with Care…”

Where does the Trinity really come from?

Part 3 of the video series, “Understanding the Trinity,” is now available on YouTube. It provides a brief overview of the Trinity’s connection to the philosophy of Aristotle, whose theory of “substances” heavily influenced the early church and eventually found its way into official doctrine via the doctrine of the Trinity. Granted, the Trinity certainlyContinue reading “Where does the Trinity really come from?”

Testing the Trinity (Part 3 of 3)

In part 1 of this series, we looked at several passages of Scripture that are inherently problematic for the doctrine of the Trinity. Then, in part 2, we considered an alternative view of “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” which proposed that this three-fold designation isn’t the New Testament’s way of revealing “three persons in aContinue reading “Testing the Trinity (Part 3 of 3)”

Testing the Trinity (Part 2 of 3)

In part 1 of this series, we considered several passages of Scripture that are inherently problematic for the doctrine of the Trinity. And as perplexing as these verses are vis-à-vis the Trinity, though, they are really just the “tip of the iceberg.” Because whereas the Trinity affirms that Jesus is divine by virtue of HisContinue reading “Testing the Trinity (Part 2 of 3)”

Testing the Trinity (Part 1 of 3)

When I first started reading through the Gospels, I was shocked to discover how often Jesus clashed with the “religious” people of His day, particularly the scribes and the Pharisees. After all, if anyone in Israel should have “gotten it,” it should have been Israel’s religious leaders! Yet not only were most of them obliviousContinue reading “Testing the Trinity (Part 1 of 3)”