An Independent Evangelical Church

The following questions were asked by me to a member of an Independent, Evangelical, Christian Church. The person to whom I sent the questions is named Luke, a 16 year old member of Ashwood Church, Kirby In Ashfield in England.

Ashwood Church is "a lively, informal and growing Church with people from a wide variety of backgrounds who love, serve and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord. We aim to be a Church that is friendly and for the whole family.

As a Church we seek to Love God, Love One Another and Love the World. We are a Church in the Community and are passionate in demonstrating Gods love, compassion and care for people who don’t yet know Him."

Here are the questions I asked Luke:

Who is God to you?
God is the almighty powerful being, omniscient, omnipotent and so on. He is a God of authority and we respect him. But at the same time he is kind, caring and loving. He wants the best for us. But the only way to him is through Jesus.

Who is Jesus to you?
Jesus is our saviour. He died on the cross to forgive our sins; he is also our best friend. Technically he is the earthly form of God. But also he is the word. He is the truth and the light, the way to God. Every day we aspire to be more and more like Jesus.

Who is the Holy Spirit to you?
The Holy Spirit is all around, and within us. He is a force of power, a spiritual form of God. He guides us and helps us along the way, a raging fire that grows inside us.

What's your position on what baptism is/means?
Baptism is a promise that you give your life to God. It is not necessary if you have accepted Jesus as your saviour but it is proving to yourself and others you’re living every day for him. Mostly we get baptised within a year or so after dedicating our lives to Jesus.

What's your view on salvation outside of the evangelical Christian movement?
Personally, I believe that as long as you have accepted Jesus into your heart you are saved! I don’t fully agree with some practises or views of other movement but, that is their own interpretation of the bible. Cast your burdens onto Jesus and believe he died on the cross to forgive our sins.

Do you hold a fundamentalist view on creation?
What are the chances of you throwing 10 ball-bearings on the floor and them all spinning around each other. Okay this may be elaborate but every day I look around and think how could all this ‘just happen?’ ‘Okay so maybe not in 7 days but 7 periods of time?’ – hold on! This is the almighty God we are talking about; he could probably do it in 7 minutes!

Please explain the happenings you think will occur in the second coming
Judgement day, we will all bow down to Jesus when he returns. Our eyes will be opened to the truth.

What is the name and website of your Church?
Ashwood church – http://www.ashwoodchurch.org.uk/

A Defence of Biblical Polygamy?

While trailing through the usual sources where I learn about different religions, sects and opinions I came across this website which promotes polygamy. Now, this website isn't associated with any "Mormon" sect of Christianity like the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints but is an independent promoter of polygamy.

From now on, everything quoted on this post will be directly from the website (with permission granted by the web master of the site).

Many Christians are unsettled about polygamy because of the widespread error constantly promoted by the denominational systems that polygamy is adultery. Polygamy is not adultery, is never called adultery by God and it is God who defines sin, not our favourite "church".

Traditionalists vainly attempt to argue polygamy as sin (from such passages as 1 Timothy 3:2, Genesis 2:24, Ephesians 5, Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7) despite the fact that neither these nor any other Bible passage clearly show God supporting such a stand.

Our God promoted polygamy and our God does not promote sin. Our God is a polygamist and does not engage in any form of wickedness.Our God made laws for polygamy. Our God destroyed a man who would not practice polygamy. Our God calls polygamy holy. I think it is time “Churchianity” ceased contradicting God.

Polygamy was not blessed by God in the O.T. then suddenly declared adultery in the N.T., then to be re-sanctioned and used in the future Kingdom. Our God is not as inconsistent as contemporary exegesis. Adultery remains adultery and polygamy was not so in the past, not now or in the future.

Is the Bible against polygamy? Absolutely not!

Is polygamy Biblical? Yes and we intend to compare Scripture with Scripture and pray our fellow believers will carefully examine this subject in the same fashion without the colouring of the imbalanced majority position.

Genesis 2:24
the two one flesh

Exodus 21
laws about
concubines

Deuteronomy 21
wives taken in war

2 Samuel 12
King David
& what is adultery

Ezekiel 23
God's two wives

1 Timothy 3
marriage for deacons
does not
condemn polygamy

Matthew 19
Gen.2:24
used against divorce,
not polygamy

1 Corinthians 7
Abused and chopped
by tradition

In the past the "church" has tried, condemned and murdered polygamists and one wonders what they would do with Abraham, David and many other friends of God if they were in the assemblies today. Missionaries are even now breaking up polygamous families, forcing mothers and children into desperate situations by religions cultural and non-Biblical views on marriage. Polygamists, both ancient and modern, are part of God's family as the day of glory will show.

If God calls polygamists holy it is time His children stopped contradicting Him.


You can view more on this biblical defence of polygamy at the Bible Polygamy home page