Two related issues formed the impetus of Shields’ fight with Roman Catholicism in Canada. The first was the theological and spiritual danger of Roman Catholicism which we have previously considered. The second was the Roman Catholic monopoly that separated Quebec from the rest of Canada and obstructed national unity. Donald Wicks presented the issue very [...]
On June 15, 1949, an article appeared in Maclean’s Magazine featuring Dr. T.T. Shields of Toronto; the title was “The Battling Baptist.” This perception of Shields as a controversialist, rightly or wrongly, has become the most defining feature of his life and ministry. In some respects, it is understandable how this perception has developed; there [...]
For two millennia, the Church has tried to steer a safe passage through the dangerous waters of ecclesiastical music. History shows us that this is no easy task and in hymnody, as in other areas, the Church has failed and repeated that failure. Often, in trying to correct hymnody, the church went to the extreme [...]
Hymns and hymn-writers are gifts to the Church. Throughout the history of the Church, just a few hymnists have distinguished themselves. Not all are as "gifted" as others and even these we identify as gifted writers, like Watts and Wesley, did not always write great hymns. Only a small percentage of their hymns are used today [...]
In 1 Corinthians 14 the apostle transitions into the final part of his discussion on the abuse of tongues. In the first verse he summarises the previous two chapters with two imperatives, just in case we missed it—pursue love (Ch. 13), desire spiritual gifts (Ch. 12). He comes now specifically to the gift of tongues, [...]
The Scripture uses many images to help us understand the nature and ministry of the Church. It is a family, a household of children, brothers and sisters, and a heavenly Father. It is a building, a body, an army, and a temple. Agricultural imagery is also used to describe the Church; as a field, and [...]
The modern practice of tongues, which claims a higher level of spirituality, has modeled itself on the most problematic congregation in all of the New Testament. This has been said often, but it is still an astonishing fact. Another interesting observation is that what was happening in Corinth is not even hinted at in other [...]
At this point, we need to remind ourselves that 1 Corinthians 12-14 is one cohesive unit dealing with the broad subject of spiritual gifts. In Chapter 12 Paul dealt with the gifts in general and only hinted at the tongues issue (12:10). Tongues was his target, of course, and this will become clearer in chapter [...]
Floral Fantasy, Gardens by the Bay, Singapore Six times in Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, he used the same phrase, sometimes translated in the AV, “now concerning” (7:1: 7:25; 12:1; 16:1), and sometimes, “as touching” (8:1, 16:12). It seems that he was addressing a series of questions that the Corinthians had asked in a previous [...]
Temple of Apollo (6th c. B.C.) in Ancient Corinth, Ancient Greece. Credit, istockphoto.com There are three tongue-speaking events recorded in the book of Acts. Pentecost (Acts 2), Caesarea (Acts 10), and Ephesus (Acts 19). While it is quite possible that there was also tongue-speaking in Samaria (Acts 8), only these three passages record [...]