Here are some links to resources regarding some of the "crazy" and "distracting" controversies in the "Christian world" that you and I may encounter in some church circles today. These links do not offer an exhaustive listing regarding all controversies or even an exhaustive discussion regarding each of the listed controversies. Some of the links to positions do not fully reflect my positions but are close to them or in the "ball park". Some are included to show contrast. These are important issues, but are not the "main thing". And sometimes they have been the motivation for division within the Body of Christ. Thus, I thought it best to provide some Biblical, thoughtful, and reasonable explanations regarding these issues with view of God's love and grace, yet seeking to find the Biblical answer to these topics. Enjoy!  In Christ’s Love,   Pastor Andy

Drinking Alcohol? Smoking and Tobacco Consumption? Church governance or polity? Women in Pastoral Ministry, Eldership, being a deaconess? Divorce and the pastor, elder, and/or deacon? Bible Versions? What about Christmas, Easter and other so-called “Christian” “holidays”? What does the Bible say about 'altar' calls?

• Can a Christian (or even a Pastor) drink an alcoholic beverage
  in light moderation? Or would that be considered a sin?
• Alcohol Consumption and the Bible (I personally lean toward this explanation)
• Does Scripture permit Christians to drink alcoholic beverages? (and.. this one too...)
• Does the Bible condemn drinking wine?
• Alcohol and the Bible, what is the answer?
• "Baptist history on alcohol: not totally teetotaling"
• The "Typical" Southern Baptist Perspective - The great alcohol debate (Baptist Press News - July 24, 2006)
• Healthy Benefits of drinking wine in moderation from Science Daily
• Red Wine Can Help Maintain Immune System, UF Researcher Finds
• Wine Keeps Women's Hearts Beating Healthily
• Red Wine Protects The Heart
• Alcohol Linked To Decreased Hypertension Risk In Young Women
• One Or Two Drinks A Day May Be Better For Women Than None
• Drinking Wine May Lower Risk Of Dementia
• American Cancer Society - "Can I Drink Alcoholic Beverages?"
• North American Mission Board's ("NAMB" of Southern Baptist's) view of alcohol
  (under "Step 2: Criteria:" and "4. Lifestyle Expectations:... Alcohol and Substance Abuse:..." - interestingly no mention of the use of tobacco products which have been abundantly proven to cause cancer and heart-related issues can be found in their criteria - interesting double standard, in my honest opinion - this seems to be SBC's little secret [no alcohol - but you can smoke all you want])
• SBC 2006 - Debate on beverage alcohol use dominates resolutions report time
  (by Southern Baptists of Texas Convention)
  
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• Can a Christian consume any type of tobacco product without sinning (such as smoking or chewing)?
• Cigarette Smoking and the Bible (I personally lean toward this explanation)
• American Cancer Society's site on Tobacco and Smoking (some real scientific facts to "chew" on)
• Testimony from a person who smoked for over 30 years and triple bypass
• CEO and Chairman of the Board of Philip Morris Companies admits that cigarettes might be addictive (deposition document)
• This link is of an opposing view - allegedly showing evidence that smoking is actually good for humans (I personally disagree with his whole premise and conclusion - but I include it for balance)
  
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• Church governance or polity?
• FIRST: What is a 'church'?
• What does the Bible say about the form of church government (polity)? (I personally lean toward this explanation)
• How much authority should a pastor have over a church?
• The Biblical pattern - brief explanation...
• Elders and Deacons...
• Children of Elders: What are the requirements?
  
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• What about women in ministry, such as a woman being a pastor or an elder? -
  What about a woman being a deaconess?
• Women pastors / preachers? What does the Bible say about women in ministry? (Amen brother...)
• Can women serve as deacons in the church?
• On women as deacons (i.e.: deaconesses)...
  
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• Divorce and the pastor, elder, and/or deacon? (I tend to lean toward these explanations more than others...)
• What does the "husband of one wife" phrase in 1 Timothy 3:2 mean? Can a divorced man serve as a pastor, elder, or deacon?
• Should a divorced pastor continue in his pastorate?
• What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage?
• Is remarriage after divorce always adultery?
  
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• Which English Bible version (translation) should a Christian use?
  
• The King James, Authorized, 1611 Version is really the only one, right?
• Is it true that "the KJV is the only English translation of the Bible that we should use?"
• The KJV Translators Said THAT?!?
• The KJV Bible - its translation exposed
• The Original Preface of the Original 1611 Authorized Version of KJV by the translators themselves.
• Research Page on this subject: Just the facts
• Research Page on this subject: Arguments from Both Sides
• Is the KJV Translation Inspired?
• By the way, today the King James version Bible you have in your possesion is the 1769 Dr. Benjamin Blayney revision of the King James Bible, NOT the 1611 version
• Changes in the King James Version.
• Just a small listing of some of the translation problems regarding the KJV translation(s).
   
• Some links that point to various translations of the Holy Bible in English that are very accurate to the original language documents:
• About the Bible
• The Bible Gateway (online)
• Why so many Bible translations?
• Comparing translations: Textual Criticism and Interpretation (quite educating and wordy).
• Comparison site for various versions and translations of the "English" language Bible

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• What about Christmas, Easter of other so-called “Christian” “holidays”?
• The Rise of Laodicea - the People’s Choice Church
• Pagan Catholic Doctrinal Origins
• Paganism in the Church by Scott Brown [mp3 audio] (National Center for Family Integrated Churches)  
• The Origins of the “Christian Calendar”, an examination
• The Difference Between Biblical Christianity and Roman Catholicism
• The 'Origin' of 'Christmas' celebrations and traditions
• The Origins of Christmas - by Koinonia House Publications
• The Pagan Origins and Rituals of Modern-Day Christmas
• The Pagan Origins of Christmas
• Article: Let's Keep Christ Out of Xmas?!
• Correcting many common misconceptions surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ
• Santa or Jesus Christ - Answers in Genesis article
• What day was Jesus Born on, December 25th?
• Pre-christian background of Christmas
• Origins of Christmas - CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS & RESEARCH MINISTRY
• Should a Christian Celebrate Christmas?
• The Two Babylons - by Alexander Hislop  
• Christ-Mass - a Hebrew/Jewish Christian's perspective
• EASTER - The Origins of Her Traditions
• The 7 Biblical Feasts Fulfilled in Christ and the church
• Yahshua's Birthday - a Hebrew/Jewish Christian's perspective
• The Unwrapping of Christmas (online video)
• "What is Truth?" - The Biblical Perspective

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