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pteranodo.bsky.social
Greg Johnson
@pteranodo.bsky.social
690 followers 1.3K following 610 posts
"The Church of the present day has as yet much to learn in the carrying out of the principles underlying this verse."
- Revere Franklin Weidner
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pteranodo.bsky.social
James Balmford was a #Presbyterian elder. Here he discusses the plague, and the appropriate Christian response. He says the one thing you must not do (and would this be swearing?) is to deny that it is contagious.

Any modern parallels?

How can you affirm truth?
#humanity #christian #reformed
Great care is to be had of that bloudy errour, which denieth the Plague to be contagious." JAMES BALMFORD (b. 1556) A short dialogue concerning the plagues infection Published to preserue bloud, through the blessing of God.
December 1, 2025 at 10:33 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Jeremy Taylor, #CoE minister, says holy living involves taking less for yourself, so there would be more for the poor, “according to the manner of Christianity”. Thus we’ll need less of an inheritance tax.

How can you make your proportions moderate and easy?
#christian #kindness #taxes
JEREMY TAYLOR (1613-1667) The Rule and Exercises of Holy Living "But I propound it to the consideration of all Christian people, that they be not nice and curious, fond and indulgent to themselves in taking accounts of their personal conveniences, and that they make their proportions moderate and easy, according to the order and manner of Christianity; and the consequent will be this, that the poor will more plentifully be relieved, themselves will be more able to do it, and the duty will be less chargeable, and the owners of estates charged with fewer accounts in the Spending them."
December 1, 2025 at 9:25 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
John Calvin, a #Calvinist, says that by “neighbor” (Good Samaritan), God meant the whole of the human species.

A conservative preacher was saying to care about mistreatment of foreigners was to neglect your family.

How can you consider the whole of the human species?
#Christian #reformedtheology
November 30, 2025 at 10:28 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Daniel Dana, #Presbyterian, quotes Senator Henry Clay. Slavery is a curse to the master, and a grievous wrong to the enslaved person. It is all wrong, and no contingency can make it right.

Facebook friends were calling it a literacy program.

How can you excise yourself from grievous wrongs?
DANIEL DANA (1771-1859) Sermon before MA Legislature, 1837 "In the language of the great Orator of the West, it [slavery] 'is a curse—a curse to the master; a wrong, a grievous wrong, to the slave. In the abstract, he adds, 'it is all wrong, and no possible contingency can make it right."
November 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Granville Sharp founded a #Bible Society. He says Isaiah 10:1-3 applies to those who promote the African slave trade or would oppress coal miners. It‘s worse if a comfortable legislator approves these.

Any of these on the radar today?

How can you advocate against unrighteous decrees?
#christian
GRANVILLE SHARP (1735-1813) The law of retribution" “... 'unrighteous decrees' ... Laws like those whereby the AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE is promoted and encouraged, or like those whereby MARRIAGE is restrain-ed; like those also which tolerate the Oppression of the poor Colliers, Salters, and Miners in Scotland, or like those diabolical DECREES OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS and GRIEVOUSNESS, which, some of our American assemblies have wickedly PRESCRIBED against their poor Negro Slaves...’"
November 28, 2025 at 12:11 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
James Walker Hood, #AMEZion bishop, says the two parables from Matthew 25 both warn of not working out salvation with repentance, repentance, faith, practical godliness, nor charity.

Faith without works, amirite?

How can you heed these duties?
JAMES WALKER HOOD (1831-1918) TWO CHARACTERS AND TWO DESTINIES "These, who have no oil in their vessel, (grace in the heart); he, who has not improved his talent, (has not worked out his salvation by repentance, faith, and practical godliness); and 'these' who have neglected the demands of charity, shall depart from the divine presence, and abide in perpetual distance; shut out from the marriage supper of the Lamb, forsaken, abandoned..."
November 27, 2025 at 11:53 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Theodore Dwight Weld, seminary founder, says that slavery so corrupted the culture that it spilled out into hate and violence to all. He commiserates with the plight of Mormons in MO.

How can you reevaluate or tweak your primary causes based on the character of the people associated with it?
THEODORE DWIGHT WELD (1803-1895) American slavery as it is "The Mormons upon the approach of the mob, sent out a white flag, which being fired on by the mob, Jo Smith and Rigdon, and a few other Mormons of less influence, gave themselves up to the mob, with a view of so far appeasing their wrath as to save their women and children from violence. Vain hope ! The prisoners being secured, the mob entered the town and perpetrated every conceivable act of brutality and outrage ... "
November 26, 2025 at 11:55 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Matthew Henry, English minister, encourages communicants to examine their charity and affection for all people before communing (1 Thessalonians 3:12).

Would some object to this today?

How can you grow in love?
#eucharist #communion #christian
MATTHEW HENRY (1662 - 1714) Communicant's Companion "Yea, after such an ordinance as this [love one another], our catholic charity must be more warm and affectionate, more active, strong, and steadfast, and more victorious over the difficulties and oppositions it meets with; and, as the apostle speaks, we should 'increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men;' and in all the fruits and instances of that love."
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
John Charles Ryle, #evangelical bishop, says some will roast for not feeding Jesus (M 25:41). Even Archbishop James Ussher (1581-1656) repented of sins of omission.

Some today are a bit too aroused by idea of hell, w/o the M25 reasons for getting there.

How can you consider your sins of omission?
J. C. RYLE (1816 - 1900) Holiness "The solemn words of our Master in the Gospel of St. Matthew place this point also beyond dispute. It is there written, 'Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire:--for I was an hungered, and ye gave Me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink! (Matt. xxv. 41, 42.) It was a deep and thoughtful saying of holy Archbishop Usher, just before he died-- 'Lord, forgive me all my sins, and specially my sins of omission."
November 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Tinker Reuben, #Presbyterian, says bible so opposed to freedom, that the RC hierarchy, as well as enslavers, forbade free access to it.

How can you learn about oppression and #freedom, and try to see cases where your opponents have valid, even biblical arguments in their grievances?
TINKER REUBEN (1799-1854) "THE GOSPEL THE HOPE OF OUR SALVATION" "The Bible is so opposed to oppression, that the Pope and his ministers condemn it; keep it from the people; burn it; forbid it to be read. The Bible is so much the patron of freedom, that the planters of the South withhold it from their slaves."
November 24, 2025 at 12:16 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
David Bogue, #missionary leader, says the divine authority of the New Testament shown in that it declares war against all evil dispositions: adultery, murder, and injustice.

Some today would say no inheritance for meddling kids.

How can you have enmity with the evil dispositions of your own heart?
DAVID BOGUE (1750-1825) "Essay on the Divine Authority of the New Testament" "But here is a religion which declares open war, and irreconcilable enmity with every evil disposition in the human heart. It tolerates none: it denounces an anathema against all. Of the most odious sins, disobedience to parents, dishonesty, injustice, murder, and adultery, it speaks with abhorrence: it says they ought not even to be named among christians."
November 23, 2025 at 11:06 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
John Flavel, English #Puritan, says you may imagine reasons an enemy needs pabacyk, but God says to feed them. How can you break God’s command?

Today, it seems more prone to warn you of shirking your duty as protector if you won’t make a preemptive strike.

How can you repress such sinful motions?
JOHN FLAVEL (1627 - 1691) Saint Indeed "Thus, and thus, hath [my enemy] done, and so he hath wronged me; but what hath God done, that I should wrong him? If he dare be so bold to break the peace, shall I be so wicked to break the precept [Romans 12:20]? If he fears not to wrong me, shall not I fear to wrong God? O let the fear of God's threatenings repress such sinful motions."
November 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Thomas Fuller, #Anglican, says he cannot heal all those with impediments, but he can offer a tongue to those with speech difficulties, not only amplifying their voice but offering his own pleading for their cause.

Is advocacy generally unfavored today?
How can you amplify a voice?
#christian
THOMAS FULLER (1608-1661) "The Infant's Advocate" "For though I cannot with Job be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame; that is, relieve their poverty out of a plentiful estate; yet I will endeavour to be a tongue to the dumb, and plead as well as I may in their behalf."
November 22, 2025 at 9:53 PM
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Richard Allestree, #Anglican, says charity requires relieving, not gazing at the sick & imprisoned. He who did this was not accepted by God.

Do we today even try to get the poor away from us, so that we don’t even have to look at them?

How can you comfort and relieve them? #goodsamaritan #bible
RICHARD ALLESTREE (1619-1681) "DUTY OF CHARITY" ... what are the particular acts of this kind which we are to perform?... clothing the naked, and visiting the sick and imprisoned; by which visiting is meant not a bare coming to see them, but so coming as to comfort and relieve them; for otherwise it will be but like the Levite in the gospel, Luke x., who came and looked on the wounded man, but did no more, which will never be accepted by God."
November 22, 2025 at 10:39 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Albert Barnes, #Presbyterian, says that Hebrew slavery, unlike the American system, had no restriction on learning to read, separation of families, killing escapees.

Today, we have leaders of conservative Christendom saying that slavery was not that bad.

How can you speak up for the oppressed?
ALBERT BARNES (1798-1870) "Inquiry into the Scriptural Views of Slavery" "In Egypt, there was no withholding of the Bible; there is not known to have been any prohibition to learn to read; there was no separation of husband and wife, and parent and child, to be sold into distant servitude; there was no arrangement for confining in prison those who attempted to escape; there was no shooting down the poor man who endea-voured to assert his freedom; there was no pursuit of those who fled for liberty, with bloodhounds."
November 16, 2025 at 3:49 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Daniel Atkins Tyng inspired the hymn, Standup for Jesus. He says liquor sellers have a moral culpability for those they kill.

But maybe not when it’s pesticides or tobacco, according to conservatives today?

How can you consider the effects of that which you buy and sell?
#christian #productsafety
DUDLEY ATKINS TYNG (1825-1858) "Voice of Blood" "And they [liquor-sellers] are engaged in this business simply for the sake of making money. They are willing to do all this for filthy lucre. Under no compulsion save of their own haste to be rich! How can they answer that voice of their brother's blood which crieth unto God from the ground? How will they face the lost souls of their victims and endure the reproaches of wives and children robbed of husband and father, in the day of judgment?"
November 15, 2025 at 2:54 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Donald Sage Mackay, #Reformed pastor, suggests a devotional life of prayer, self-examination, daily acts of #kindness. Could also heal class resentments.

Could we complain less about the other, and go help, even if you’re in the lower ones?

How can you strengthen faith, conscience, and love?
DONALD SAGE MACKAY (1863-1908) "RELIGION OF THE THRESHOLD" "Strengthen your faith in God by daily prayer and fellowship with the living Christ, and that will bring spiritual revival. Strengthen your conscience by daily self-examina-tion as to the Tightness of every action you do, and that will bring the ethical revival. Strengthen your love to your fellowmen by daily acts of kindness and charity, and that will bring what perhaps we need the most, — the social revival, the healing of the sores of suspicion between class and class, and the deepening of our sense of brotherhood in Jesus Christ."
November 14, 2025 at 1:54 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Martin Luther, a #Lutheran, says a Christian must serve the undeserving, evil-doers, enemies, and ungrateful, like God does (Mt 6:32-4).

Today, simply ungratefulness is reason to cut one off.

How can you let your liberality serve underserving and evil-doers?
#christian
MARTIN LUTHER (1483 - 1546) Treatise on Good Works "As Christ teaches, Luke vi, even a wicked man does that to another who is his friend. ... Therefore a Christian must rise higher, let his liberality serve also the undeserving, evil-doers, enemies, and the ungrateful, even as his heavenly Father makes His sun to rise on good and evil, and the rain to fall on the grateful and ungrateful."
November 13, 2025 at 10:52 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Matthew Newcomen, nonconformist pastor, appeals to House of Commons for “poor decayed men” who rot in prison. He prods the body to act on their justice & goodness.

Today, do conservatives argue for inhumane prison conditions?

How can you take pity on the woeful condition of prisoners?
#christian
MATTHEW NEWCOMEN (1610?-1669) The all-seeing vnseen eye of God "Nor will I urge you to a compassionate sense of many poor decayed men, who lie in our prisons rotting (as it were) alive: You have begun already to take pity upon their woeful condition, and have appointed a Committee to consider of some way for their relief, as may stand with the justice and goodness of this Honourable house. Only I humbly pray you, what may be done for these poor creatures, let it be done speedily"
November 12, 2025 at 10:51 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
James Levi Barton, #Congregationalist, says during the Armenian genocide, missionaries suffered alongside, and distributed relief.

Do free-love libruls do this? Do gospel-primacy Xians get mad at distractions about genocides?

How can you call for comfort and assistance?
#christian
JAMES LEVI BARTON (1855-1936) Daybreak in Turkey "In addition to these marked cases of violence and murder, the same process has gone on upon a much smaller scale for the last thirty years, causing terror, distress, and poverty, and calling for comfort and assistance. In the last three instances of general massacres reported above, the missionaries were upon the ground, facing no little of the peril and hardship with the people, and afterwards acted as agents for the distribution of relief to those who were left in abject destitution."
November 12, 2025 at 11:08 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Justin Perkins, #Presbyterian missionary, says nonbelievers were created by the evils of American slavery. Likewise, tyrants are encouraged to reject faith and democracy.

Some point to unpopularity of US at the UN as evidence that the countries hate God.

How can you witness to Christ?
#Christian
JUSTIN PERKINS (1805-1869) "OUR COUNTRY'S SIN" "How many infidels and skeptics are made by these causes in our own country; and how many scoffers and tyrants are thus armed and panoplied against freedom and Protes-tantism, throughout the world!"
November 11, 2025 at 12:55 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Anthony Farindon, #Anglican, says that justice gives every person their own, but ”locks up” goods. Mercy opens up these treasuries, and make others the beneficiaries of our gathering, or co-gatherers with us.

Do we instead celebrate miserliness?

Do you have any co-gatherers?
ANTHONY FARINDON (1598-1658) "SERMON IX THE LOVE OF MERCY" "Justice and honesty give every man his own; but mercy openeth those treasuries which justice might lock up, and taketh from us that which is legally ours, maketh others gatherers with us and partakers of our basket, and bringeth them under our own vine and fig-tree."
November 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Llewelyn John Evans, #Presbyterian, says we must bear each other’s burdens, and fight the indulgence and apathy to other’s problems as long as we are okay. We must keep our hearts tender and soft.

Contrast w/ modern teachings on manliness.

How can you keep your heart tender and soft?
#christian
LLEWELYN JOHN EVANS (1833-1902) "BEARING EACH OTHER'S BURDENS" "We must fight this tendency to apathy and self-indulgence, this fatalistic selfish acquiescence in the crushing out of others, provided only that our own burdens are easily borne. We must keep our hearts tender and soft."
November 9, 2025 at 11:46 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Charles Spurgeon, #Baptist, says Job based his compassion (chapters 29 & 31) upon God’s own mercy (23:11).

It seems too many Christians today have taken to defending churlishness and a lack of liberality as The Way Things Ought To Be?

How can you observe the steps of God’s mercy?
#spiritualjourney
CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON (1834 - 1892) "The Fair Portrait of a Saint" "Job had observed the steps of God's mercy that he might be pitiful and compassionate. He had observed the steps of God's bounty that he might never be guilty of churlishness or lack of liberality."
November 8, 2025 at 11:30 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
Peter Randolph, #Baptist pastor, cites outrages of slavery, and then points a finger northward. No one should be content when another’s rights are disregarded, as the North has been.

Do you set aside tiny outrages for the advancement of your “larger” agendas?

How can you not be content?
#christian
PETER RANDOLPH (c1825-1897) From slave cabin to the pulpit "While speaking on this subject of southern outrages, permit me to say this also : that I believe much responsibility rests on the North in regard to this whole matter. The North should not be content as long as one man is oppressed, and his rights disregarded."
November 7, 2025 at 9:59 AM