Mastodawn

Samuel Crothers—Presbyterian, Ohio, 1854, preaching against slavery’s corrupted gospel—makes a pointed comparison. Jesus also called himself Master. But what did he do with that title? Instructed, clothed, fed, protected. The disciples gloried in calling themselves his servants. They’d have refused Caesar’s title in exchange. It humbled and cheered them simultaneously. Slavery took that word and made it monstrous. Crothers noticed. Apparently this required pointing out.
#presbyterian #christian

Bicycling Monterey 💚🌎🌍🌏3d ago

First Presbyterian Church of Monterey, a Presbyterian Church USA congregation (e.g., https://pcusa.org/about-pcusa/who-we-are/social-witness), had a presence at #NoKings event in Monterey. Photos courtesy of Elaine Cole.

Solar-powered, bike-friendly FPC-MRY (fpcmonterey.org) is our home church of 36 years. Its Jay Bartow Memorial Garden is a peaceful rest stop near downtown: https://bikemonterey.org/rest-stop-tip-jay-bartow-memorial-garden-monterey.html

#PalmSunday #NoKingsMonterey #Presbyterian #Christian #Christians #WWJD #WhatWouldJesusDo

Greg Johnson 4d ago

Nicholas Byfield was a Calvinistic, Puritan minister. Here he speaks of compassion as being a proof of our spiritual state, citing bible passages about generosity, watering other peoples, aiding those needing warmth, visiting orphans and widows. These qualities in us prove that we are true neighbors and good Samaritans

Are you following religious leaders who point to other spiritual metrics at the expense of the biblical ones?
#chistian #puritans #calvinist #biblical #colossians #presbyterian

Greg Johnson Mar 23

Adolph Saphir—Jewish convert, Presbyterian missionary, not a man hedging his bets—makes a sharp observation: secular modernity’s cherished values of fraternity, equality, human dignity? Borrowed. From Israel’s scriptures. Without a receipt. He inverts Exodus: Israel once took Egyptian gold; now the world takes Israel’s moral furniture and acts like it invented the stuff. Revelation first. Enlightenment later.
#presbyterian #christian

Greg Johnson Mar 16

John McDowell, Presbyterian preacher, noted that oppression often looks quite respectable: lawsuits designed not to win justice but to exhaust the other party into surrender. One might say this still happens. Yet mention “oppression” in church and people gasp—as if the Bible itself hadn’t brought it up first. The question, then, is awkwardly simple: are we defending justice, or merely protecting our profits?

#presbyterian #reformeddoctrine #law #holiness

Gay Curmudgeon Mar 9

The WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CEMETERY, off North Street in Mifflintown, was our favorite playground as children, particularly during sledding season. It is the resting place of local shero Nancy Kulp, "Miss Jane" of "The Beverly Hillbillies;" '60's kidnapper of Peggy Ann Bradnick, William Hollenbaugh; and my parents. Sunset, 1973. #cemetery #cemeteries #graveyard #graveyards #burialground #burialgrounds #westminsterpresbyteriancemetery #northstreet #mifflintown #presbyterian #nature

Greg Johnson Mar 9

Matthew Anderson, a Presbyterian pastor, arrived in a new town hungry and weary, asking where he might find food. He was told the town had no place for anyone without work—the very reason he had come. He later reflected on 1 John 3:17: if we have plenty yet shut our hearts to a brother in need, how does God’s love dwell in us? The danger is explaining compassion while need stands before us.

#christian #presbyterian

Greg Johnson Mar 7

William Swan Plumer, a big Presbyterian voice in the 1800s, told pastors something quite shocking: better to be fooled by a few freeloaders than accidentally send away someone truly desperate.

Today we’ve flipped it—terrified of helping the wrong person, so we help… practically no one at all. Brilliant system, really!

#presbyterian #charity #reformeddoctrine #christian

Greg Johnson Mar 2

Albert Barnes, Presbyterian expositor, reads James and addresses the wealthy with sober gravity. Let every rich man ask how his estate was gained. What we applaud as success may summon heaven’s displeasure. This life is probation, not indulgence. Self-examination is not class warfare; it is Christian duty. Will you search your ways before the Lord?

#christian #rooted #presbyterian #bible #presbyterian

Greg Johnson Feb 22

John Livingston Nevius, a Presbyterian missionary in China, observed that Chinese hearers judged Christianity partly by Western conduct. The Opium Wars—forcing opium trade at gunpoint—undermined gospel credibility and hindered evangelism. Nevius asks us to consider whether tolerated injustices today likewise weaken Christian witness.

What are you supporting?
#evangelism #presbyterian