Hey, I'm on Vacation

 

What more could you want?

A cool mountain breeze . . .

A good cigar . . .

An ice cold adult beverage . . .

A good book (a new biography of Constantine) . . .

And my snuggie . . .

And then we went on a nice hike out of Lake Mary.

Hey, I'm on vacation!

Comments

[Kim Riddlebarger]

Jeffrey:

What does "once saved, always saved" (which Reformed Christians reject--we hold to the "perseverance of the saints") have to do with Christian liberty?

I love how self-righteous individuals (who claim holiness and sanctity because of what they don't do) make such pompous pronouncements without any biblical support for those pronouncements.

If you understood Christian liberty, and you choose not to imbibe, that is fine. But you wouldn't post about why you don't imbibe, and why you think it wrong for others to do so. You'd simply let it go. But you didn't.

In fact, you couldn't help yourself. You think what I am doing is sinful. And so you just had to tell me about it. Yet, you cite no Scripture, just your own opinion.

Since you obviously don't understand Christian liberty, you fall into one of two classes--the weaker brother, or the Pharisee.

If you are a weaker brother (and you think things are forbidden which God does not forbid in Scripture), then I exhort you to become strong! Search the Scriptures and read about Christian liberty and the freedom of the gospel. Search the Scriptures to learn why these things are not forbidden and yet why drunkenness is such a great evil.

I would also exhort you not to drink a beer or enjoy a cigar as long as you think these things are wrong. You must never violate your own conscience, no matter what. And yes, it would be a sin under such circumstances for me to encourage you to enjoy an adult beverage or a cigar so as long as you think these things should not be done.

If you are a Pharisee--which seems most likely, given your judgmental and self-righteous tone--then I say to you, "brother, I will not let you impinge upon my liberty in Christ. In fact, I will enjoy another cold one tonight in your honor!"

[Jeffrey]

Dr. Kim Riddlebarger,

I enjoy your sermons on different books of the Bible.

Follow peace with all men Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. And I know we can’t live Holy without the Baptism on the Holy Spirit, this is given by Grace through Faith in obedience to Acts 2:38, 10:43-48 and 19:1-6

Thank You
Jeffrey

[Kim Riddlebarger]

Jeffrey:

Let me get this straight . . .

Because I occasionally drink a beer and enjoy an occasional cigar, you believe that I do not have the holiness required of me which the baptism of the Holy Spirit enables me to achieve? I think that is what you are saying . . .

You are so right about that! I don't have the slightest degree of holiness that God demands of me!

Thankfully, I have received the saving merits of Christ by grace alone through faith alone. Jesus' righteousness and holiness are more than enough to save even me.

And because that is true, I strive to live a life of gratitude for all that Jesus has done for me, including enjoying the liberty he gives me to partake of his good gifts (Psalm 104:15).

[Jeffrey]

Dr. Kim Riddlebarger,

Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and for ever. Amen (2 Peter 3:18) as I will also.

Have a good day
Jeffrey

[Deb]

Dr Kim,

1 Timothy 5:23


23 (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

I haven't found one for smokes yet. :) ( I smoke. )
Thank you for what you do. I really appreciate your lessons on A-Mill ,esp.

God Bless, Deb

[Tony]

With all respect Dr. Riddlebarger, you and Jeff are not even communicating on the same plane of existence. He is a oneness Pentecostal, which means he doesn't even understand the Trinity the way you do. The Holy Ghost and the third person of the Trinity are two different things to him (the latter not even existing).

[Jeffrey]

Tony,

You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free, Jesus Christ is the way the Truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but by him. Everyone of Truth hear his (Jesus) voice.

“Trinity” DOES NOT have a Biblical “Origin”

The Bible does not use “trinity” or “persons” for God

Holy Spirit is the Creator (Father) in action

Son is God manifested in flesh or true human without a sin nature (begotten)

Jesus said I and my Father are One

Jesus Christ is the One true God revealed

[Joe from Y.L.]

Love it...

[Sandy]

Smoking to the glory of God??? "Then uprose Mr. Spurgeon and, with quiet humour, remarked that he would not allow the congregation to separate without telling them that he did not consider smoking to be a sin, and that, by the grace of God, he hoped to enjoy a good cigar before going to bed that night.

http://www.reformedreader.org/spurgeon/smoking.htm

[Jeffrey]

What if Mr. Spurgeon was a wolf in sheep clothing? Give biblical examples. We are to follow Jesus he is Lord, Savior and King. Let God be true and every man a liar.

[Kim Riddlebarger]

Jeffrey:

First of all, you are not a Trinitarian . . . And you call Spurgeon a wolf in sheep's clothes? Dude, you are in a heretical Christian sect!

Second, you have not quoted a single passage to prove your point about Christian liberty. I've been very patient with you..

Third, let me put it plainly. Go have a "Jesus day" on someone else's blog!

[Lindy]

"Every snuggie is permissible—but not every snuggie is beneficial. Every snuggie is permissible—but not every snuggie is constructive. Nobody should seek his own snuggie, but the snuggie of others."

[Kathy Bergman]

I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this post! I laughed out loud when I saw the picture -- because after listening to your serious lectures (often)....and meeting you....well, it encouraged me to post the list to this post on my FB profile and say "Proof that Reformed pastors can be cool... :)"

[Jeffrey]

1. I did not call Spurgeon a wolf in sheep's clothes. I said what if?
2. Is the word "Trinity" in the Bible? Who is heretical?
3. Is "persons" referred to God in the Bible?
4. not only is the word "Trinity" not in the Bible it has no Biblical "Origin"


You can call me dude or whatever, they spit on and done other things to my Lord Jesus Christ I'm not greater than him.

Have a good day, Dr. Kim Riddlebarger
in the name of the One and Only True God the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ

[Patrick Yamada]

I'll have to remember to get our pastor a crushed velvet smoking jacket for Christmas so he can be freed from that snuggie.

[Jenny]

Constantine . . . Isn't he that guy who got the 2 Kingdoms REALLY confused? Kind of like the Pope of Rome still does? In fact, wasn't Constantine the real First Pope (As opposed to Peter)?

[Pa]

Jeffrey,
You’re right, that our liberty is not for an occasion of the flesh, and that some things may be lawful but not expedient.

Christians should refuse to use Galatians 5:1 as an excuse to live according to the flesh. I too came out of drugs, alcohol and smoking and know for a fact that no glory came from those things, except addiction, disease, and lusting after the desires of the flesh. Smoking and drinking may not be a sin in itself, but causing others to stumble is.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24
23"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. 24Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
……
31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

And I thought college kids were bad influence….it’s no joke…we should not use our freedom in that way.

May God change the hearts of people so they will know...so that they will love enough to care about their influence on the babes.