About Your Questions . . .

I don't mind answering your questions . . .   I really don't!

But I am amazed at how many questions I am now getting from this weird, quite narrowly-focused blog.  I read (and enjoy) all your comments, constructive criticism, and words of encouragement.  Keep 'em coming.

I also appreciate those of you who send me various links to stories of interest, and quotes for "who said that?"  Keep those coming also!

As you can imagine, I'm pretty busy with my church duties (I am a full-time pastor), with denominational committee work, with the White Horse Inn, and all of the other stuff I have going on.

All of that is to say, go ahead and email me your questions, but please understand that it might take some time for me to get around to answering them.  Also, many times, people ask me questions which you should be asking your pastor--personal, pastoral, and counseling matters.  I'll direct you back to him.  And please understand that I can't answer the typical "Bible Answer Man" kind of question, "where in the Bible can I find a verse which says . . ."  Get a concordance and look it up!

Because I get so many questions, I do have to prioritize them.  Christ Reformed members get top priority, then come questions raised by recent White Horse Inn broadcasts.  Riddleblog readers come last.  So, I'll get to you when I can, but please be patient in the meantime.

One last thing . . . if you have a question on eschatology, consider asking it here:  Click here: Riddleblog - Ask A Question About Eschatology

Comments

[Lloyd]

Thanks for graciously always letting me post my Lutheran viewpoints on theological issues!

It's great to be able to read good, clean and hard hitting comments from everyone on this website. I think that we are all tired of reading and hearing the shallow, boring, goose bump Christianity that is all around us!

After all, our theology is not only our life in Christ -- but a hobby for us! It drives us. We still love to meditate on the great hymns and feast on the rich liturgy! We really get into the Advent season, Christmas season, Epiphany season, Lenten season, Holy week, Easter season, Pentecost season, and the End Time season, our Christian church year!

We take our communion, and hear these great words, "Take and eat. This is the true body of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for all your sins. Take and drink. This is the true blood of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for you for the remission of all your sins. May these, the true body and blood of your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen and keep you in true faith unto life everlasting. Go now in peace, sins forgiven. Amen." Communion and Baptism -- not ordinance's to be obeyed, but means of grace, sacraments, where we receive forgiveness of our sins. (Christ's body and blood are under, in, and with the elements of the bread and wine!) We can't explain it. And the disciple's never even questioned it -- it's a miracle! It's Biblical! Christ is the author of biology! Believe His words in the sacrament!

Baptism, where the Lord creates and sustains our faith (John 3:5, Titus 3:5 and 1 Peter 3:20 and 21). Baptism also washes away our sins, (Acts 22:16). Ahhh. God feeds us His means of grace every Sunday. It is our life. It is what we live for. Theology, deep and profound, and yet so simple (justification).

Law and Gospel preaching: Law: God's wrath, judgment and hatred of sins. Gospel: God's love, grace mercy, comfort and salvation. SOS for law -- show's our sins. SOS for Gospel -- show's our Savior. Law: do and don't, Gospel: DONE! Simple, good old fashioned Lutheran hermeneutics.

Amen!!

[Wayne Rohde]

Rats.

I was going to ask you where the verse is that says, "Every self-respecting Calvinist should be a premillennialist."

It is in the Bible, isn't it?

Isn''t it right next to that verse which says, "The Lord helps those who help themselves?"

[Timinator]

Wayne, It must be in the gospel of MacArthur.

[Philip Walker]

So presumably, the trick is to try and work our questions round so they sound like they're WHI-related. Or find a pliable Christ Reformed member and slip 'em a question and a twenty… ;-)

[Rev. Z. Bartels]

Dr. Riddlebarger-

I think I might be lusting after my own wife!! HELP!!!

[Matt]

Narrow is the way. Thanks for being there (here), Kim.

[George]

"...Christ Reformed members get top priority, then come questions raised by recent White Horse Inn broadcasts. Riddleblog readers come last..."

This kinda reminds me of the old saying that used to circulate around before algore invented the Web:

"...A Reformed theologian is said to be a man who begins by knowing a great deal about very little and goes along knowing more and more about less and less until he knows practically everything about nothing, wheras...

A Baptist starts out knowing very little about a great deal and goes along knowing less and less about more and more until he knows almost nothing about everything.

A Lutheran begins by knowing everything about everything, but winds up knowing nothing about anything due to his association with the Reformed and Baptist theologians.

A Roman Catholic knows nothing to begin with and stays that we due to his refusal to associate with anyone else..."

*note: Reformed and Lutheran may be interchanged according to your point of view. The Baptists...well, I'm sorry. And the RC, forget about it.

[Robin]

Kim,

You probably don't hear it enough - the gratitude from your flock for being a true pastor and REALLY being there for us!

This last weekend saw some extraordinary activity by one "pastor" who thought it a duty to forum a political campaign. (Where is that in the Bible?)

With all the wierd, wacky and gut-wrenching questions/issues the flock experiences on-going...who has time for the Leaders of the Nation?

He forgets the verse: "My Kingdom is not of this earth..."

Thank God you haven't!

Robin

[John Yeazel]

Where did you find these guys? They all have a sense of humor- and they are ever funny at that. I am with you brother Lloyd- I think your the Bostonian if I remember correctly. Did you get to smoke your cigar in remembrance of Red when the Celtics won?

I want to extend my gratitude to Rev. Riddlebarger also- his materials have been extremely helpful to me in my Christian life. If any of you have not read his doctrinal thesis on B.B. Warfield I would recommend that you do. It helped to clarify a lot of issues for me. The appendix on Scottish Common Sense Realism is terrific. Very helpful for debates occurring among unbelievers these days and theological debates which have not been clearly resolved. Parts were difficult to get through but well worth the effort.

[John Yeazel]

I meant even not ever- in regards to them being funny

[Lloyd]

Hi John:

Actually I am a huge Celtics fan from Los Angeles. Now I live in the Phoenix area. My all time favorite Celtic is Kevin McHale. (Although they are all great.) I felt sorry for the great Ken Samples (a huge Lakers fan), while the C's won their 9th title in 11 finals against the Lakers -- and 17th overall.

The Celts have won 36% of all the championships in the history of the NBA. ESPN already has the C's favored to win their 18th title next year!

They have an even higher championship winning ratio than the great Dr. K's New York Yankees!

[Lloyd]

By the way -- in football I like the Raiders. Within two years, the Silver and Black will be back!!

[PB]

Lloyd - As a Bostonian I was with you until your second post, which has convinced me that you are in need of treatment for delusions <grin>. Now being a Celtics fan with LA connections must have been interesting this year!

[Lloyd]

Hi PB: Nothing gives the Laker's fans more of a nightmare than the sight of the green and white! (Except the Celts coming back from 24 points down in one game, and winning the last one by 40.)