When I posted 898 I omitted a closing quote on the first link, thereby losing two links and the sentences in between. Kind of muddled the post. Excessive verbage is my tendency, but unplanned abbreviations are even less clear. The whole should be reposted below. Maybe, as inferred in Craig's post #900 I should have added a disclaimer about "The Bereans" et al. The links, as with most links I post, are offered as information, not endorsement. The Philippines today seem to be quite the hotbed of religious controversy and new movements (ie, The Bereans site) as is consistent with my own experiences and observations there.
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: essay wrote: I erred by saying the clergyman was not mentioned - he is mentioned in passing a couple of times, but doesn't seem to have had a major role in the proceedings.: And was that the only mis-statement? Do you really "have no idea whether the 'Missionary Church of Christ' mentioned in the third paragraph is affiliated with the Church of Christ that sponsors this board."? That sounds like balderdash to me, if you've bothered to read what we post, including past replies to you, Susan. The devil is a slanderer though, isn't he? Innuendo, guilt by association, whatever. A few minutes of research could have satisfied whatever curiousity you might have about that group, if you actually had any. : Those folks who call themselves Missionary Church of Christ apparently have a website (click here for Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ) . Feel free to read up on them as best you can. They seem to have a handful of congregations in California, and Canada and a couple of other places, and I surmise a strong Asian connection, probably a Filipino origin... In fact, looking a little further, here's a link that summarizes a few facts about the group (cult, I'd say) The Bereans including, yes, a Filipino origin and headquarters. That didn't take too long to find, maybe a search engine could help you fill in the blanks before you post? But then it wouldn't seem so sensational, I suppose, nor as abrasive. : Want an article about the fascination with blaming the devil for anything and everything among pentecostals, some charismatics, and some evangelicals? Here's one from a few weeks ago.
: Does The Devil Really Make You Do It? But no, we aren't Pentecostal or Charismatic. While we do believe in the devil, we also believe in personal responsibility and free will. : Isn't it funny that whether exorcism is undertaken as Catholic ritual or Pentecostal methodology, or even ancient Jewish rite, it is utterly different than what is ascribed to Jesus or to Paul in the New Testament, where with a word of command the demons were cast out? No ritual, no imprisonment, no starving. I will continue to be dubious about things done supposedly in the Lord's name, whatever label a church wears, that contradict any instruction or example of scripture, or invent procedures that were never there. I recommend avoiding exorcism by either members of the "Missionary Church of Christ" or Catholic clergy, and I surely do discourage kidnapping and imprisoning young men or women to beat or starve the devil out of them, even when you don't approve of their behavior. I can't seem to find the precedent for it in my Bible, which is where I look for guidance in matters religious and spiritual.
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