Christian History, a look at the last 20 centuries.

90 & Out is a video commentary on the Christian Bible with new episodes uploaded periodically. 90 & Out is written, directed, and presented by Timothy Holt. Timothy Holt serves as youth pastor at Six Points Church in Parker, PA and is the former children's pastor at Westdale Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Timothy Holt believes the Christian Bible can be read easily but may take some effort to understand. With so many variations out there, how does one start their search for the truth? Hopefully, this channel will help you read and understand the Christian Bible more fully, as well as being entertained. "The pursuit of knowledge is the beginning of wisdom" -ancient Jewish proverb Get Merch @ https://www.stickermule.com/ce4c064d751047c Or https://holtscountertops.etsy.com Contact us @ [email protected] On other platforms: 90 and Out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15kWKTjtj6/ On Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-562805 On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@90out10 On Truth Social Truth Social Thank you for watching this video and I hope it has impacted your life. Please subscribe for more video content. Comment, like, and share. Or consider showing support with a monetary contribution using the PayPal link below. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VD7ZP9QZB728U All copyrights and trademarks are owned and retained by their respective holders. Music was produced by Timothy Holt and is his sole intellectual property. "Where to start? When discussing Christianity, the obvious place to start is with Jesus of Nazareth, aka the Christ. Born in relative obscurity, this carpenter turned rabbi changed the world. Within 3 centuries of his life, as recorded by the biographers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, the world of ancient Rome changed forever, as did all of mankind. When asked who “stands out the most in defining the early church…”, the life, death, and reported resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is the only real choice. Without this central fact, all of Christianity is a falsehood and grossly so. Everyone who follows for the next 3 centuries (even carrying on to today) must wrestle with this uncomfortable truth: Did Jesus of Nazareth actually rise from the dead and return to life? 2nd century Greek philosopher, Celsus, expressed criticism for Christains only seeking the poor or destitute, but why would this be a problem? Yes, many Christians helped the poor, but Jesus directly instructed his disciples to take care of the poor (see Matthew 25:31-46). Celsus had a problem with this because it went directly contrary to the main way of thinking at the time (and still today). Namely that of “get the most out of life” and “got to move up the ladder”. Celsus and others could not understand why these Christians were willing to be so generous and this generosity naturally impacts the poor more than the wealthy. But you see, it all goes back to Jesus of Nazareth. Without the resurrection, he would have been treated like all the other failed prophets or messianic figures before or after him. Why follow a dead “savior”? How can the dead save anyone? Naturally, this obscure start leads to differences in stories and interpretations of the events surrounding this “Messiah”. Yes, Christianity starts in Jerusalem (about 30-35 AD), but it becomes decentralized rapidly with Judean persecution and later Roman persecutions. Even in Acts of the Apostles, we read of Cornelius and others who are not Jewish coming to Christ (apart from the Apostles). So why would we be surprised to see differences in church governance as well. Yes, by the 3rd century A.D., we see the catholic (universal church) emerge, but how many offshoots or heretical groups also emerged and died out? Many. What we see in the first 3 centuries is a group of people getting sifted like flour. They try new ideas and often fail. Then it is rinsed and repeated. During this time, the books and letters of the New Testament (NT) emerge as authoritative. Others are discarded. Even by 150 AD the NT was intact as we have it today. Which leaves us with the same question they wrestled with: What do we do with this Jesus who is called Christ?"

Nothing happens in a vacuum of time nor space. In 301 A.D. Armenia adopted Christianity as its official state religion by its ruling king. Armenia is the first country to do so, but it won’t be the last. Nor is it alone in a shift in the geopolitical landscape of the 4th century A.D. Armenia converts to Christianity after Gregory the Illuminator successfully converts the reigning king Trdat. As the story goes, King Trdat was intrigued by Gregory and listened to his apologetics about Christ. Coming from Zoroastrianism, the spiritual realm was not alien to King Trdat. Once converted, the transition from Zoroastrianism to Christianity would take time. Only in the 5th century was the transition complete, long after Trdat’s death. Yet we see this throughout history where some plant seeds and do not see the full fruit of those seeds. Those who come after water and cultivate, and still others harvest the great reward. The seeds of Gregory and Trdat are still seen today. But you may ask, what about the vacuum of time and space? While Armenia was quasi-independent of Rome, Constantine was making waves in the first part of the fourth century, as well. A civil war had broken out between the backers of Constantine and Maxentius. Constantine became the victor after converting to Christianity with the X and P appearing in a dream before the great battle against Maxentius. This civil war started in 306 and ended in 324 A.D. Prior to Constantine’s reign in Rome, Christians were a persecuted bunch. However, after the Edict of Toleration and the call for the Council of Nicaea, Christianity began to be embraced in the Roman Empire, as well. Unfortunately, this brought heresies to the forefront and ultimately Constantine declaring, "Division in the church was worse than war." While, yes, the Council of Nicaea brought clarity to the nature of Jesus and the Trinity, more councils were coming, such as the Councils of Constantinople, Ephesus, and Chalcedon, long after Constantine and King Trdat were dead. I leave you, the reader with this: What have we learned, if anything, from the division in the church on the nature of God? 90 & Out is a video commentary on the Christian Bible with new episodes uploaded periodically. 90 & Out is written, directed, and presented by Timothy Holt. Timothy Holt serves as youth pastor at Six Points Church in Parker, PA and is the former children's pastor at Westdale Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Timothy Holt believes the Christian Bible can be read easily but may take some effort to understand. With so many variations out there, how does one start their search for the truth? Hopefully, this channel will help you read and understand the Christian Bible more fully, as well as being entertained. "The pursuit of knowledge is the beginning of wisdom" -ancient Jewish proverb Get Merch @ https://www.stickermule.com/ce4c064d751047c Or https://holtscountertops.etsy.com Contact us @ [email protected] On other platforms: 90 and Out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15kWKTjtj6/ On Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-562805 On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@90out10 On Truth Social Truth Social Thank you for watching this video and I hope it has impacted your life. Please subscribe for more video content. Comment, like, and share. Or consider showing support with a monetary contribution using the PayPal link below. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VD7ZP9QZB728U All copyrights and trademarks are owned and retained by their respective holders. Music was produced by Timothy Holt and is his sole intellectual property.

Monasticism came and went, but some vestiges of them remain. The hermit with their “crazy” and non-socially accepted ways and the monasteries with their closed doors and walls both provide insight into what we humans do in the name of righteousness. As Jesus is recorded saying, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees—hypocrites! —because you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean! In the same way, on the outside you also appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Mt 23:27-28 LEB) While reading and studying monasticism, this quote from Jesus came to mind repeatedly. The hermits and monks both believed they could live without being in the world, yet we are instructed to live in the world and be not of it. They left a legacy of solitude and vice. For as a pendulum swings so it did here. They desired to flee temptation from evil and replaced it with vain chastity and solitude, replacing one extreme with another. Gone were the threats of death and persecution, now entered the realm of who can appear the most righteous. Hermits used eisegesis to justify bizarre behavior (like living on a 30-foot-tall pillar). Did this help spread the Gospel, perhaps. We see stunts like this today and tend to call out those who do them as being not in their right mind. Now, do not read what I am not writing. All was not in vain with the monks and hermits. The hermits' extremism leads to the monasteries. Without these cloisters, we would not have the treasure trove of scrolls, parchments, and manuscripts from antiquity. When they weren’t working to make food, clothing, and lodging for themselves, the monks read, studied, and copied these texts. Not just the Canon of Scripture, but classics from all of antiquity. They excelled at scholasticism, at the expense of evangelism. May we find the middle ground. As stated before, no one and no thing exists in a vacuum. I’ve heard it said before: you can take them out of Egypt, but you can’t take Egypt out of them. Or in this case: Rome. The Roman Empire was dying but refused to yield to its death. The pantheon of gods and idols remained. Even as Christianity was spreading, Rome clung on. The Germanic tribes conquered Rome but lost their religion. Instead, they adopted this monotheism and changed it as they came in. By this time, the teachings of Jesus were being divorced from who He is. Oh, how things haven’t changed. We argue over the same things as they did. Whether it is the divinity of Jesus or His humanity, who is a Christian and who is not (aka the pure church), separating the who Jesus is vs what He taught, or who/ how the church is governed (plurality of elders vs one at the top/ papacy), New Rome and Old Rome stem from the same fallen humanity. Enter the Great Schism. Eastern vs Western. Which is right? Which is heresy? Who knows? Does Rome have the keys to the kingdom or do the church Bishops? Is the Bishop in Rome the first AMONG equals OR is he above all others? Let’s fight over it! Thus, the Great Schism. This conflict is still alive and well today. Oh, how far we have come. We fight over what we do not understand while claiming to have all understanding. (myself included). 90 & Out is a video commentary on the Christian Bible with new episodes uploaded periodically. 90 & Out is written, directed, and presented by Timothy Holt. Timothy Holt serves as youth pastor at Six Points Church in Parker, PA and is the former children's pastor at Westdale Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Timothy Holt believes the Christian Bible can be read easily but may take some effort to understand. With so many variations out there, how does one start their search for the truth? Hopefully, this channel will help you read and understand the Christian Bible more fully, as well as being entertained. "The pursuit of knowledge is the beginning of wisdom" -ancient Jewish proverb Get Merch @ https://www.stickermule.com/ce4c064d751047c Or https://holtscountertops.etsy.com Contact us @ [email protected] On other platforms: 90 and Out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15kWKTjtj6/ On Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-562805 On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@90out10 On Truth Social Truth Social https://spiritandlifeseminary.org/ Thank you for watching this video and I hope it has impacted your life. Please subscribe for more video content. Comment, like, and share. Or consider showing support with a monetary contribution using the PayPal link below. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VD7ZP9QZB728U All copyrights and trademarks are owned and retained by their respective holders. Music was produced by Timothy Holt and is his sole intellectual property.

When looking at history, one must ask themselves, “Why?” What is the motivation behind the inquiry? Is it to find the truth of what occurred or for a hidden agenda? Perhaps, it is to politicize or propagandize the past? Why look at history? And through what lens shall we look? I challenge that the only proper way to view history is with objectivity and maturity. While life lessons may come from looking at history, it should not be the primary goal. We should endeavor to view history in light of what actually occurred and allow the facts to dictate the response. In response to the lecture this week, I simply reply with, “In an effort to not offend Muslims, we may offend Christians.” Shall we not stand boldly and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ for even Jesus stated His message was offensive to the unbeliever? I am not concerned with offending others for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am an ambassador for Christ and will therefore offend those in sin as I was offended in my sin before coming to Christ. This is true regardless of what people, places, events, or time frames are in our purview. Case in point is the Crusades. They did not take place in a vacuum, nor were they conducted in isolation. They were a response to events before them and left marks on what occurred afterward. This may sound elementary, and it should, for we must always start with the basics before we can look at the advanced. If we are too caught up with potentially offending someone over something, then we cannot have an objective, nor rational, conversation on that something. The Crusades were a series of defensive wars waged by Christian kingdoms against Muslim caliphates during the 9th and 10th centuries A.D. They were direct responses to the aggressive wars initiated by the Muslim caliphates against predominantly Christian people and kingdoms during the rise of Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries A.D. If we are too worried about offending people with facts and truth, then we are too immature to have real intelligent conversations about this subject or any other subject in history. We are still feeding on our mother’s milk when we should be consuming the meat before us. In short, my view on the Crusades is the same as any other period of history: let us discuss what occurred with honesty and focus on pursuing the truth of the matter, regardless of how offensive it may appear to be. If I cannot keep control of my emotions in regards to the subject, then I have no business discussing the matter. As for the concept of a “just war” as postulated by Augustine, my response is similarly simple. When the enemy is at the gate, I can either lay down and die OR stand and defend. When there is nowhere to run and hide, then which will I choose? I choose to defend the Truth for it has set me free. If I fall on my knees, let it be in prayer before God. If I stand, may I stand on His Grace which has set me free. If I live, let me live for Christ for He has set me free. If I die, let me die proclaiming His kingdom come and His will be done. For I am not my own. I have been bought with a price. Only through Jesus Christ can men be saved. Defending the Faith is just and righteous. Even when it costs me my life. 90 & Out is a video commentary on the Christian Bible with new episodes uploaded periodically. 90 & Out is written, directed, and presented by Timothy Holt. Timothy Holt serves as youth pastor at Six Points Church in Parker, PA and is the former children's pastor at Westdale Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Timothy Holt believes the Christian Bible can be read easily but may take some effort to understand. With so many variations out there, how does one start their search for the truth? Hopefully, this channel will help you read and understand the Christian Bible more fully, as well as being entertained. "The pursuit of knowledge is the beginning of wisdom" -ancient Jewish proverb Get Merch @ https://www.stickermule.com/ce4c064d751047c Or https://holtscountertops.etsy.com Contact us @ [email protected] On other platforms: 90 and Out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15kWKTjtj6/ On Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-562805 On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@90out10 On Truth Social Truth Social Thank you for watching this video and I hope it has impacted your life. Please subscribe for more video content. Comment, like, and share. Or consider showing support with a monetary contribution using the PayPal link below. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VD7ZP9QZB728U All copyrights and trademarks are owned and retained by their respective holders. Music was produced by Timothy Holt and is his sole intellectual property.

Source text link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W745Cch8XkBf0ddeSRk2ni-_8musr2PrHJ3IxfjyXK0/edit?usp=sharing 90 & Out is a video commentary on the Christian Bible with new episodes uploaded periodically. 90 & Out is written, directed, and presented by Timothy Holt. Timothy Holt serves as youth pastor at Six Points Church in Parker, PA and is the former children's pastor at Westdale Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Timothy Holt believes the Christian Bible can be read easily but may take some effort to understand. With so many variations out there, how does one start their search for the truth? Hopefully, this channel will help you read and understand the Christian Bible more fully, as well as being entertained. "The pursuit of knowledge is the beginning of wisdom" -ancient Jewish proverb Get Merch @ https://www.stickermule.com/ce4c064d751047c Or https://holtscountertops.etsy.com Contact us @ [email protected] On other platforms: 90 and Out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15kWKTjtj6/ On Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-562805 On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@90out10 On Truth Social Truth Social Thank you for watching this video and I hope it has impacted your life. Please subscribe for more video content. Comment, like, and share. Or consider showing support with a monetary contribution using the PayPal link below. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VD7ZP9QZB728U All copyrights and trademarks are owned and retained by their respective holders. Music was produced by Timothy Holt and is his sole intellectual property.

This week we analyze sectarianism and denominationalism. Shelley defines sectarianism as a group who “claims authority of Christ for itself alone.” Also, Shelley describes denominationalism as different groups of Christians being members of the whole group, namely the church. (pg 360). I understand this clarification of terms and find the definitions similar to what some presbyterians I know use. They agree with Shelley; denominational theory “insists that the true church cannot be identified with any single ecclesiastical structure.” (pg 360) So, I ask, “What makes a Christian a Christian and not a heretic?” Is it the name on the sign outside or something more? I see some strengths and some weaknesses in denominationalism. But as far as the difference between sects and denominations are concerned, the difference lies with what is taught and adhered to within the walls of the group. Without looking at the specific group (and what they teach), how can we tell the difference between the two? We cannot. On the surface, they look the same. As Dr. Harper points out around the 30 minute mark in the lecture, both sectarianism and denominationalism create division. The very word, denominationalism, is derived from denominator meaning to divide. Therefore, the weakness of this system is not unity, but division. With so many denominations and their practices, how does one know the true Gospel for faith and practice? Denominationalism is a double-edged sword. The strength lies in the ability of those in the group to practice what they preach while remaining distinct, but the weakness lies therein, as well. Those outside the group, often, cannot tell the truth from lies. Denominationalism is a difficult subject to break down in a single short essay. Yet, that is what we, the students, have been asked to do. Just as the Reformation struggled with faith in practice (yes, “in practice”, not “and practice”), so do we. This shift in understanding from Holy Roman Catholic to the Reformers created fertile ground for denominationalism. Coupled with the expansion of exploration, how could a Great Awakening of the Church not occur? In the Americas, everyone could be self-governed (in theory, but in practice, they were simply removed from the powers in Europe). The Puritans were not satisfied with the Kings in England, so they moved to the Netherlands. Not satisfied there (after 10 years), they moved to Virginia. The Puritans were one of several groups who sailed across the pound with hopes of freedom. For the most part, these religious groups got what they were looking for. The dreams of freedom and being governed by one’s own convictions was not possible in the European social model. King James in England is one example of that. Yes, I am aware he was king in the early 17th century, but we must set the stage for the Great Awakening and revivals of the 18th century. Once the new settlers arrived in the Americas, they set up their own governments and social structures. For the most part, they created a new model of society, separate and distinct from those in Europe. This duality creates the environment for the Great Awakening in the Americas and the mass revivals in Europe in 1730s and 1740s. By now, we, the students, should be able to see history as a continuum. Nothing is isolated. The politics and social structures in Europe were different than in the Americas, and as such, the revivals were different. In the Americas, the emphasis was on the individual’s salvation and experience. In Europe the focus was on combating teachers like Voltaire and the Enlightenment. Both addressed the unique demands of the life and times of the people. In closing, what worked in the Americas may not have worked in Europe, and vice versa. We would do well to exercise situational awareness when preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As Paul instructs: let me be all things to everyone that I might win some. 90 & Out is a video commentary on the Christian Bible with new episodes uploaded periodically. 90 & Out is written, directed, and presented by Timothy Holt. Timothy Holt serves as youth pastor at Six Points Church in Parker, PA and is the former children's pastor at Westdale Church in Cedar Rapids, IA. Timothy Holt believes the Christian Bible can be read easily but may take some effort to understand. With so many variations out there, how does one start their search for the truth? Hopefully, this channel will help you read and understand the Christian Bible more fully, as well as being entertained. "The pursuit of knowledge is the beginning of wisdom" -ancient Jewish proverb Get Merch @ https://www.stickermule.com/ce4c064d751047c Or https://holtscountertops.etsy.com Contact us @ [email protected] On other platforms: 90 and Out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15kWKTjtj6/ On Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-562805 On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@90out10 Thank you for watching this video and I hope it has impacted your life. Please subscribe for more video content. Comment, like, and share. Or consider showing support with a monetary contribution using the PayPal link below. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VD7ZP9QZB728U All copyrights and trademarks are owned and retained by their respective holders. Music was produced by Timothy Holt and is his sole intellectual property.

When listening to any sermon, one should consider well what is being said and postulated. Does the speaker read the reference text? Does he provide historical culture or context for such text? Does he justify or give purpose for the text for today? Does he preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, insomuch as to show we are sinners separated from God and in need of a savior; Jesus of Nazareth being that perfect Savior? Lastly, let us look at the overall composition and presentation of the sermon. Does Johnathan Edwards meet or exceed these expectations with his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God? Let us look at the first question. While reading Edwards’ sermon, I found it inescapable how he reads and references various texts to support his premise. First is Deuteronomy 32:35, followed by Psalms 73, 18 & 19, continuing with Luke 13:7 and John 3:18. Edwards does not shy from the source text and bases his exposition on the text proclaiming God’s sovereignty and justice. Edwards insists everyone is, at any moment, subject to God’s judgement and it is only by God’s grace that anyone is not sent at any moment to hell and destroyed. I cannot list all of the texts Edwards quotes, reads, or references throughout this sermon without droning on and risking losing my audience. Edwards focuses on the divine judgement of God on ALL people in this sermon. We are all guilty before God’s throne and it is only by his divine mercy we are spared. Edwards does not spend much, if any, time on the historical context nor culture of the texts he uses. Instead, he insists the truth of our guilt is universal and not beholden to one people nor during one time. Edwards insists God’s righteousness is forever and eternal. His judgement is without quenching regardless of any human’s station in life. Kings and peasants are judged by God the same. Edwards spends the bulk of his sermon on building up the gravity of sin and the quilt of every listener. Each and every person is guilty of sin (rebellion against God) and deserving of death at any time. In this universal condemnation, Edwards does not need to exposit specifics of why Isaiah writes nor the preacher in Ecclesiastes. For the guilt of sin is universal, transcending time and culture. In this way, Edwards answers both the questions on context and purpose for his sermon. Does Edwards preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes. A resounding yes. Edwards systematically and charismatically preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ. From start to finish, Edwards shows the listener (reader) we are all sinners in need of saving. God’s divine Grace through Jesus Christ is what saves, and it is up to the individual to claim that Grace for themselves. Lastly, let us look at the overall composition and presentation. Edwards presents multiple points in quick succession at two different points in his sermon. I found this to be unhelpful and distracting. I felt these lists of points were not differentiated well enough to warrant being considered separate points, but rather, continuations of the same point, namely, all have come short of the Glory of God. Overall, I can see how this “fire and brimstone” style of preaching caught on and became the hallmark of the Great Awakening. Yet I found myself less convicted and more intrigued. I was expecting Edwards to refer to John 3:16 & 17 when he went to verse 18 of that same chapter, yet he did not. I found myself anticipating Edwards to reference Romans 3:23, as I just did, yet he does not. Edwards' sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, states God is merciful, but one could miss it with the distinct focus of the wages of sin being death and destruction. Only in the last moments, does Edwards point the listener to salvation through Jesus Christ. He paints a picture of God just waiting to send people to hell. This picture has persevered in Christianity ever since. This concept of God being full of wrath and vengeance. While we may error by ascribing God the attribute of being all loving, we may also error as ascribing God the attribute of being all wrath. God is sovereign in both his love and his justice. For it is by grace man is saved and not by our own will. Yes we are guilty before God. And yet he still chose to save us through his grace and meted out his judgement of the innocent for us. Jesus is the only way for he is both God and man. He is the guiltless who took my guilt away. 90 & Out is a video commentary on the Christian Bible with new episodes uploaded periodically. "The pursuit of knowledge is the beginning of wisdom" -ancient Jewish proverb Get Merch @ https://www.stickermule.com/ce4c064d751047c Or https://holtscountertops.etsy.com Contact us @ [email protected] On other platforms: 90 and Out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15kWKTjtj6/ On Rumble https://rumble.com/c/c-562805 On YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@90out10 Thank you for watching this video and I hope it has impacted your life. Please subscribe for more video content. Comment, like, and share. Or consider showing support with a monetary contribution using the PayPal link below. https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/VD7ZP9QZB728U All copyrights and trademarks are owned and retained by their respective holders. Music was produced by Timothy Holt and is his sole intellectual property.