Worshiping well by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
What is labeled as Worship in our Churches today can take many forms. From pulsing lights to massive sounds and groovy beats to standing up straight orderly, focussing on a hymnal as we hear our fellows sing. Often people associate the quality of their Worship as they stirred their emotions or motivated themselves. Other times we associate the success of our offering with how it resonated with our appeal. Even though liturgical styles and musical [...]
Monolatry or Monotheism? Reflections on the Debate with Kenny Bomer by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(10-Minute Read) In my recent debate with Muslim author Kenny Bomer, we had the opportunity to discuss and look at his perspectives about the alleged influences and adaptions that were interpolated into the Bible from sources like the Ugaritic texts and other Ancient Near Eastern narratives. You can view the complete debate here: DEBATE! Was Israel Monolatrous? I am convinced by several scholars like Dr. Larry Hurtado and Dr. Richard Bauckham that Jewish Monotheism was strict. [...]
Analyzing attributes of the Creator (Allah and Yahweh)? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(10-Minute Read) In this discussion, I will start with two contrasting perspectives looking at the revelation and possession of the attributes of Allah and Yahweh. Time is limited, so I will gloss over some details that can be explained later for the sake of time. It should also be noted that I will use the names of God: “Allah or Yahweh” to distinguish the views from a Muslim and Christian perspective. I will first examine [...]
Jewish Paganism and its Ugaritic influence. Reflections on the Debate with Kenny Bomer by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(5-Minute Read) In my recent debate with Muslim author Kenny Bomer, we had the opportunity to discuss and look at his perspectives about the alleged influences and adaptions that were interpolated into the Bible from sources like the Ugaritic texts and other Ancient Near Eastern narratives. You can view the complete debate here: DEBATE! In this series of articles, I will look at some of the claims of Kenny and unravel some of the underlined [...]
Faith (Fake) Healing by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(10-minute read) Have you ever heard of the placebo effect? Believe it or not, but there is a sequence that can be used to create ecstatic experiences which is a form of mind control hypnosis. Stephen J. Pullum writes in his landmark article; “Hallelujah! Thank You, Jesus!”: Selling the Miraculous in the Preaching of Faith Healers” that; “faith healers believe that a divine, miraculous healing could and would occur upon their praying for a [...]
The Predictions of Jesus Christ the Messiah in the Bible and the Quran by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(5-minute read) Only Jesus is the Messiah in the New Testament! The common word used for Messiah in the New Testament, in the original Greek texts, is ‘ho Christos’. Twice it is said to be a translation of the word Messiahs (John 1.41, 4.25). Just as the Quran uses the definite article al to apply the title to Jesus alone, so in the Christian Scriptures he is constantly called ‘’ho Christos’’, that is, the Messiah. [...]
The Purpose of Jesus Christ the Messiah in the Bible and the Quran by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(5-minute read) From both Messianic expectations, we can now look at the affirmations and differences between the Bible and the Quran. For the sake of time, I will look at the revelatory purpose and the redemptive purpose of Jesus in the Bible and the Quran. The purpose of the Messiah is to reveal the relationship of Father and Son to us. Without the emphatic self-revelation of God, we cannot know Him! The Apostle John writes; [...]
A Divine Messiah by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(5 Minute read) In a previous post, we have already mentioned the Messiah's sinlessness and virginal conception. In this post, I would like to look at the Messiah who embodies two radical perspectives; one of transcendent infinitude & one of immanent finitude. As Christians believe, He was indeed God and truly man. Question on the Hypostatic Union. The hypostatic union is the personal union of Jesus' two natures. Jesus has two complete natures—one fully human [...]
Before you call out ‘God’s anointed’ by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(5 Minute Read). “Why can’t we all just get along?” Jack Nicholson asks the queen of the Martian Aliens after their hostile takeover of the earth in the 1996 cult classic, 'Mars Attacks'.[1] There seems to be an ever-increasing culture of offense growing in Churches where we are cautioned not to point fingers in the direction of any believer or leader. "Shame on you," or "touch not God's anointed," have become the normative response hurled [...]
Should Christians have out of body experiences? by Pastor Rudolph P. Boshoff
(5-minute read): There is an alarming trend amongst some influential televangelist and modern prophets. They relate subtle out of body experiences and visions relating to the same realities mentioned by the Old Testament patriarchs and New Testament Saints (Isa.6, 2 Cor.5:8). Recently, Prophet Leon Du Preez announced that he could leave his body and move into other household areas. These are but a small example of how these teachers promote vicarious practices described in the [...]