Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | November 21, 2024
What does one give up when leaving a “church of Christ” to belong to another church? 1. If they attend a denomination, then they give up the ideal like the churches in the New Testament of which none belonged to a denomination. 2. If they attend a church that doesn’t practice immersion but instead […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
In dealing with addiction, the following point was made in our meeting: There is a difference between regret and shame. We should always regret our sinful actions, but we shouldn’t forever live in shame. Here’s why: If shame comes from guilt. If guilt comes from sin. If sin is forgiven. Then guilt is removed. If […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
Encouragers can tend to hide their discouragement from others. Encouragers can be so busy filling up others that they become empty. Encouragers can become weary in doing good because they are overused and therefore abused. Encouragers themselves have times of doubt and hardship and need encouragement, but people don’t reciprocate not knowing they need it […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
10 Ways to Be a Modern-Day Barnabas 1. Be willing to change our ways and minds (Acts 4:36-37) 2. Be part of a culture of volunteerism (Acts 4:32-37). 3. Do the hard work of forgiveness (Acts 9:26-27). 4. Believe in people and stand beside them when others doubt (Acts 9:26-27) 5. Consider people more important […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
I had a conversation with a young man considering Roman Catholicism. Here’s how the brief conversation went: ME – “Can you find the Roman Catholic Church in the Bible?” Him – “I’m having trouble” Me – “That’s because it isn’t there” Him – Saying something about “Mother Mary”. Me – “She isn’t my mother?” Him […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
Hands in the Deborah Pericope (I’m writing a chapter on Deborah in my book on The Genesis of Gender Roles, and this is just extra thoughts not in the book) The word “hand” is one of the key words in the Deborah narrative, both metaphorically and physically. Hand means “power”. God’s hand is the ultimate […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
Are churches experiencing their own “Rumspringa”? Amish and Mennonite societies have their children, roughly from ages 16-21, leave their communities to experience the outside world. This is partly to solidify their decision to either leave or stay within their religious culture. This explanation of Rumspringa is an oversimplication, but let me rephrase for the purpose […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
1. Faith Alone (no works which is contrary to Romans’s emphasis on “the obedience of faith” – 1:6; 16:26). 2. Faith and Works (which seems contrary to being saved by faith). 3. Faith that works (which is our faith and is using “works” as a verb instead of a noun – Galatians 5:6 – “but […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
If there was anyone who was too busy, it was Jesus (Mark 1:29-34, 38-39, 1:40-42, 45; 2:1-2; etc.). If there was anyone who could worship anywhere, it was Jesus (Mark 1:35; Luke 22:39). If there was anyone who was better than those hypocrites, it was Jesus (Mark 1:23-26; 2:16; 3:2). If there was anyone who […]
PHall | November 21, 2024
I belong to a local congregation that is called, “Millersville church of Christ”. When asked what church I belong to, I often add, “But any other name in the Bible, we go by that one too”. That usually brings a smile. If speaking biblically, there is no official name or title for Christ’s church. When […]