Terms of Service

"The terms, the terms, he doth accept the terms. He looks not smart..."

When essentially every motion of modern life involves a corporation, corporate "Terms of Service" (TOS) become the governing principle that overrides the Bill of Rights. This TOS Override has far reaching implications in the 21st century. If Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can say, "We're private. You can't say that on our private platform," while functioning as a public utility, then where does it end? If this precept is valid and consistently applied, then internet service providers can deny you web access and telecoms can deny you phone service for the very same reason. Indeed, every bank, insurance company, and health care provider can deny you service on the same basis as well.

We have all clicked the "Agree" button on the "Terms of Service" from numerous corporations without reading them, as the default initiation ritual for gaining access to some application, software, or service. This practice has catechized us on the principle that, "reading the fine print is unimportant, all that matters is meeting our immediate, short-term need." But we are beginning to see seeing the first, tangible, harvest of fine print negligence ripening before our eyes. Given that God controls the weather, let us pray for a crop failure. Moreover, let's take steps to plow the field under by eliminating our entanglements with corporations who use TOS to oppose the principles of constitutional liberty.

The picture for this blog post comes from The Court Jester - a film that my family and I have enjoyed for many years. I have often described it as a "perfect movie." It is a delightful, family-friendly respite from current events.

Social Media - I Shall Consider It

"I shall consider it."

I have two recommendations for Christian disciples as they interact with information in the fractured information maelstrom that surrounds us:

1. Assess information from a variety of alternative sources with different perspectives. A sober assessment of their claim and the underlying source material will be helpful in making well-reasoned inferences, allowing one to approach the truth of some current event. We should afford one another the liberty to share what we find with others, to discuss it, and to consider one another's opinions, alongside what scripture has to say on the matter (Proverbs 11:14). By this we may, "Prove all things: hold fast that which is good." (I Thessalonians 5:21). Approaching the truth may take some time given the sheer volume of information that surrounds us and the inconsistent or unreliable nature of many sources. 

2. Resist the zealous urge to quickly declare some new information"good." To credibly endorse something as "good" requires a measure of due diligence on our part to ensure we're not putting our stamp of approval on milk that's well past its expiration date or, worse still, offering it to others for a hearty swig. I've seen people reverse Paul's admonition to the Thessalonians by insisting, "Here's something GOOD!" long before they've proven any such thing. When encountering some idea on social media we should mimic Spock's measured response to Kirk in Mirror, Mirror: "I shall consider it."

"Coronavirus" is Well-Named

By Elder David Pyles

Considering Coronavirus Alongside Other World Statistics

According to statistics at www.worldometers.com, 1.264 million people in the world have died of coronavirus as of this writing (11/9/2020). To put this number into perspective, consider some other world statistics published at the same site. Thus far this year:

Broad is the Way

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:” (Matthew 7:13)

Elder C. H. Cayce on Hebrews 6:4-6

Introduction

I have often been asked of my interpretation of this somewhat enigmatic passage found in the epistle to the Hebrews, and have just as frequently directed people to this short article by Elder C. H. Cayce available on primitivebaptist.net. I believe he does a good job of explaining the passage in a way that is clear, and non-contradictory. 

TETH's Dictionary

Given that word definitions are essential to a proper understanding of one's written works, I submit TETH's dictionary for your examination. I hope that this will be instrumental in helping further clarify our meaning in the coming weeks and months. (TETH)

TETH's Refutation of Elder David Bartley's Anti Time Salvation Polemic

In a recent internet discussion with another Primitive Baptist who is very much opposed to the notion of Conditional Time Salvation (CTS), I was pointed to the following anti-CTS polemic by Elder David Bartley from 1905 entitled The Heresy of Conditional Time Salvation. Since this brother seemed to offer this up as a solid proof of the CTS "heresy" (of which TETH is an hearty and enthusiastic promoter) and since I found the article so riddled with unsustainable assertions, I have decided to publish Elder Bartley's article in its entirety  along with my refutation for your consideration. I believe it establishes the doctrine of Conditional Time Salvation as indispensable in avoiding contradictions in our handling of biblical truth.

Temporal Salvation: A Bogus or Biblical Concept by Elder Michael L. Gowens

An excellent biblical defense of Time Salvation by Elder Michael L. Gowens

“Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world...” (Galatians 1:4)

Stretch your mental muscles for a moment. Is there a difference between reality and a person’s perception of that reality? If I fail to perceive the reality, does my subjective failure to understand what is real affect whether or not it is real?

True and False Christians by Paul Washer and Tim Conway EXAMINED

I recently stumbled across this video compilation of Paul Washer and Tim Conway entitled True and False Christians. I believe it does a good job of revealing a number of problems lurking in their somewhat acerbic brand of Lordship Salvation Calvinism. Among those problems are:

1. An unscriptural view of regeneration,
2. A shallow, non-systematic approach to statements made in John’s first epistle,
3. A tendency to assert that they are able to discern another person’s state of grace, and
4. An unfortunate misinterpretation of the Lord’s intent in Matthew 7.

Responding to Mitt Romney's Letter to Trump

Mitt Romney (Motus Non-Sequitorum)

TETH (who explicitly detests and disavows Nazism, white nationalism, white supremacy, Antifa, BLM, and a host of other unsavory ideologies antithetical to Christian discipleship) has never strayed into the domain of politics on this blog, but Mitt Romney's letter to Trump was sufficient cause to publish a few thoughts in these distressing times. What follows is the perspective of one lone Primitive Baptist on Romney's facebook post:

ASK TETH Episode 05 - Saved Unbelievers

I’ll pose to you a question that I’ve asked several ministers along the way: Using the Bible, how do you prove that born-again unbelievers exist? 

ASK TETH Episode 04 - The Spirit, the Bride, the Gospel, and Regeneration

The bible says, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev 22:17 KJV) Can you explain why this cannot be characterized as an "offer" of eternal salvation?

ASK TETH Episode 03 - Hearing and Understanding the Gospel

Do you believe it is possible for people to understand the true gospel without ever hearing it? 

ASK TETH Episode 02 - Regeneration and Salvation

Lately, I've heard a Calvinist argue that “regeneration is not salvation” and that Primitive Baptists are wrong in how they refer to regeneration as salvation. What say you, TETH?  

ASK TETH Episode 01 - What Do You Think About 501c3 Churches?

A while back I received the following feedback on one of my videos…

I am anti 501(c)(3). I think it limits freedom of speech. What say you, TETH?

I am against churches being organized as 501c3 non-profit institutions as well. I believe that 501c3 is wrong on many levels:

Judging Others

Thoughts from TETH on Off the High Horse by Elder Ben Winslett

I have often found the writings at March to Zion very profitable over the years that I have followed that website. Elder Ben Winslett’s recent article entitled Off the High Horse particularly resonated with me and I wanted to take a moment to provide some commentary on it…

Christ The Only Mediator (Elder Michael L Gowens)

Most discussions of the 1832 separation within Baptist ranks focus on the practical issues dividing the two camps, i.e. mission societies, Sunday Schools, and various parachurch organizations. It is true that the Black Rock Address said very little about doctrine. Its focus was primarily practical. I suggest, however, that beneath the legitimate complaints they highlighted concerning some of the practical innovations of their day, a deeper theological chasm was developing. Successive history reveals that this underlying doctrinal disagreement concerned what is known as the “external means of grace” question.[1]

God's Love is NOT Unconditional?

One of the most fundamental truths of salvation by sovereign grace is that God’s love for his chosen people is utterly unconditional so far as any actions on their part are concerned. This is an unavoidable consequence of the well-founded doctrine of total human depravity in the scriptures. The moment one affirms the abject depravity of the human race as a result of the fall, they have likewise affirmed man’s total inability to meet any spiritual conditions whatsoever (Galatians 3:21). It is this observation that forms the basis for why eternal salvation must be totally by grace and not according to our works rather than by works through some conditional scheme. Salvation by sovereign grace insists that ALL of the conditions required for the salvation of God’s people were met by God himself, not by man (Romans 8:33). So I’ll pause here to state this as bluntly as I possibly can so that there can be absolutely no misunderstanding on the matter: Any man who does not believe that eternal salvation is unconditional so far as man’s actions are concerned, does not believe in salvation by sovereign grace, irrespective of how audaciously wrapped in sovereign grace language he may present himself. Those who insists that God’s love for his people is not unconditional while also insisting that this theological position should be called “salvation by sovereign grace” are evident Christian Irrationalist of the most egregious sort.

Should We Say "Jesus died for you" When Presenting the Gospel?

"Jesus died for you." Is this a legitimate statement to make in the context of presenting the gospel indiscriminately? The following biblical truths must be kept in mind in order to properly answer this question:

The Vanity of Earthly Pleasures - Elder James Oliphant

"Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities. All is vanity." (Ecclesiastes 1:2)