So What’s the Difference?

ctf • July 1, 2015

Forty years ago, Fritz Ridenour wrote a little book by the same title as above. It was a guide to the key differences in the world religions that one was bound to encounter in the walk and witness as a Christian. Nowadays, perhaps we need another such book to tell the differences between denominations or perhaps even between the factions within them. Better yet, we should have a guide to identifying the sources of errors versus sources of truth in the church of the world today. Oh wait. That guide is the Bible.

Essential to Christianity must be the virgin birth and the resurrection. But what good are these, unless original sin is also an historical fact? If there was no Adam, and he did not sell out our race, then why did Jesus have to die? If there are “many ways to God” or “ways to Heaven,” then why did Jesus say that He was the only way? Or is the biblical record of the words of Jesus false?

All of these are important questions, exactly because they define the tenets of the faith. But now, most churches and/or their members have rejected at least one of these essentials. Now is not the time for the Church to cave on the Gospel (which is the power of God unto salvation) when the world is burning and our race is dying. What race? Adam’s race. The human race. There is no other but this one. And it comes in all skin colors. (I’m not talking about a “rainbow.”)

All old-earth positions of compromise against a straightforward read of the Bible involve a denial of the doctrine of original sin. They include death as a part of the world but before sin came into the world. This goes exactly against the instruction of Jesus and the teaching of Paul. Time was, these heresies might have merited little more than a chuckle. Now they have become “bedrock” of many an anemic faith. Meaningless, powerless, and without the authority of God, these errors have robbed the church of her power (the Gospel) and many believers of their joy (yes, and even of their salvation!). I won’t mince words now, since the last battle has begun (just watch the news).

So, what do you do? “The Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible, so help me God” is still a pretty good mighty fortress against this toxic tide. So stick with what has worked as effect against the devil and his lies for thousands of years before our time.

Keep thinking and keep reading,  DrJ

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Over the course of time a person can accumulate many things. Most of the stuff we collect is meaningless to most everyone else, but when a person collects books, they can be treasured for a lifetime and even beyond. In this age of digital media, physical books seem to be less important to many people. Digital books are searchable, and copy/paste functions make it easy to use those great quotes. Yet, there is still something great about a physical book, things you can’t get digitally: the turning of pages, the feel of it in your hand, and the “book” smell. For our founder Dr. Sharp, physical books could never be replaced by digital. While my collection of books is growing each year, it is dwarfed by Dr. Sharp’s collection. Over the years he collected thousands of titles for research and enjoyment. Through the course of his ministry he had to sell his book collection a couple of different times to support his family, only to start collecting again when he was able to do so. When Doc passed his office full of packed bookshelves to me and said he would clear the shelves, I laughed out loud at the prospect of having loads of empty bookshelves. So I urged him to instead leave his books for my, and anyone else’s, use. Little did I understand that the four bookcases in my office were only a fraction of his entire collection. A couple of years back when Doc moved from his house, it was decided that his book collection would be stored at the office. Our thought was to establish a library, yet none of us had time to plan, organize and catalog all 79 boxes of books. They sat piled in his office until last year when my daughter Megan joined our ministry. She has a love of books, both reading and writing. So we offered her the task of cataloging and establishing Doc’s library. Can you picture me, a bbq lover, being offered a table full of succulent smoked offerings - brisket, sausage, ribs, pulled pork, chicken, turkey and all sides? Yep, that was Megan’s response to the library. For over four months she cataloged and organized the entire collection. The Dr. G. Thomas Sharp Library was completed earlier this year in his old office space, with overflow into my office. The entire 2700+ volume agglomeration is digitally cataloged for searching and locating. As you might expect, there is an extensive collection of creation and evolution subject matter, yet the library is full of many different categories. It very much reflects Doc’s love of gaining knowledge and research. An extensive commentary collection and multiple Biblical reference sections are invaluable to our ministry. There is even a whole bookcase housing books that are over 100 years old. Our desire was not to just house books but to also make a place of honor and inspiration. One wall exhibits Doc’s many diplomas, and throughout the library we have placed personal memorabilia of the mission trips he took over the years. Come, grab a book, relax in the sitting area and allow Doc’s handwritten notes from the margins or post-it notes bring a smile to your face. For those who may be more ambitious, Doc's office chair resides at the credenza for anyone to sit and be inspired to study. This is a place to honor Doc’s life and love for books. We at CTF have already utilized this great resource for further study, and we are so thankful to Diane and their family for donating these books for continued Kingdom growth. Blessings.
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