Marbaniang, Domenic

Did you know that there are two ways people look at time? 1. The Eternalist View. The universe is viewed as a block in which past, present, and future are already just there. In this popular view, the Terminator can travel back and try to kill John Corner or Harry Porter can travel back and save Harry Porter!! Similarly, you can travel into future... or perhaps just see it?? Not that time-travel is possible, but this is the theoretical setup for such views. 2. The Presentist View. Time flows here. The universe is only the present which flees as soon as we can catch the present. The past and the future don't exist in the moment, though the past is fixed, and the future indefinite. Did you know that St. Augustine tried to locate the point in time where the universe is said to be present? Well, divisibility is infinite, so better not try it. No doubt, Kant called the grapes sour by taking refuge in idealism - time for his is just mental. Also , 1. Linear Time: Time is a line that beg...

Some tend to confuse the incarnation of Christ with the avatars of Hinduism. There are a few who even consider Christ to be the tenth avatar or the Kalki avatar. However, there are significant fundamental differences between the incarnation and the avatars. Following are a few of them: THE INCARNATION THE AVATAR 1. Real. Christ truly incarnated in flesh, real flesh. 1. Appearance. The avatar appears to be in flesh. The physical body is a mere garment that the soul puts on and puts off (Bhagavad Gita 2.22). 2. Permanent. The incarnation was permanent and irrevocable. Christ continues to be in flesh. 2. Impermanent. The avatar returns to its former form after the fulfillment of its mission. 3. Complete. Christ became full man. He is full man and full God. 3. Partial. The avatar is semi and partial. It is never fully incarnated. The avatar is considered to be purna (full) when the divine is fully manifested in the human; however, it does not mea...

‘Whom having not seen, ye love.’ (Peter, 1 Peter 1:8) The crowd watched in desperation as the old man was violently conducted into the stadium. Old Polycarp, pastor of the Church at Smyrna and disciple of John, walked silently as the tumult grew greater. ‘Think of your old age. Swear and I will let you go: deny Christ,’ the Proconsul said. ‘Eighty and six years’ replied Polycarp boldly, ‘have I served Him, and He never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King and my Savior?’ There was exchange of words, persuasive and compelling; but old Polycarp stood adamant in His faith. The Proconsul realized that more words were futile, so he threatened to throw him to the beasts. The old Christian wasn’t intimidated. Finally, the sentence was passed: Polycarp was to be burnt at stake. The customary Roman practice of executing criminals by fire was to first nail them to the stake to prevent escape. However, Polycarp was not nailed but simply bound as he assured the executioners that h...

© Dr. Matthew K. Thomas, 2010 President of Central India Theological Seminary, Executive Board Member of Pentecostal World Felloship, Chairman of the Fellowship of Pentecostal Churches in India © डॉ. मैथ्‍यू के. थॉमस, 2010 नए वर्ष के प्रारंभ ही में हमने ऐसे त्रासदी भरी घटनाओं के बारे में सुन लिया है, जिससे संसार आज भय के चपेट में आ गया हैं। हाल ही में एक भयानक भूकम्‍प ने हायती देश की राजधानी में ही एक लाख से अधिक लोगों की एक ही दिन में  जान ले ली। फिर कोई आतंकवादी संघटन का मुखिया ने कल ऐलान कर दिया कि उसके पास इतना परमाणु शक्ति है कि वह सारे विश्‍व को पंद्राह मिनटों में नाश कर सकता है। संसार स्‍वयं मौत एवं आतंक का ऐसा खतरनाक समुद्र बन चुका है जिसमें जीवन और भविष्‍य हर वक्‍त समाप्ति के कगार पर ही पाए जाते हैं। ऐसे परिस्थितियों में परमेश्‍वर का वचन हमारे लिए दैवीय सच्‍चाई का वह सीख देता है जो हमें भय के बंधन से मुक्‍त कर ईश्‍वरीय भलाई और करूणा के साथ हमें इस नववर्ष में प्रवेश दिलाता है। इब्रानियों 13:5,6,8 के अनुसार: 'जो तुम्हारे पास है, उसी पर संतोष किया करो; क्‍योंकि उस ने आप ही क...

© Domenic Marbaniang,   Epistemics of Divine Reality (2007). D OUBT   is the frustration of rationality. It is not the threshold of knowledge. It is the exit-door of knowledge. Doubt precludes knowability by assuming the attitude of will-to-doubt. The will-to-doubt leads in a different direction from that of the will-to-believe. For instance, the problem of pain, of evil and disorder in the universe may be confronted with either a will-to-doubt leading to despair or a will-to-believe leading to hope. [1] Hindu devotee: It is difficult to express. The dumb cannot tell the taste of a laddu [sweetmeat]. Religion is my isht [my choice]. I believe in faith. A son was born to me, and when he died I did not feel the least sorrow for him. That was due to my faith. [2] According to James W. Fowler, the opposite of faith is not doubt but nihilism, ‘the inability to image any transcendent environment and despair about the possibility of even negative meaning.’ [3] But this is a confusi...

© Domenic Marbaniang, Epistemics of Divine Reality (2007). CHARLES S. PEIRCE (1893-1914) coined the term ‘pragmatism’ from the Greek word pragma (meaning act or deed)[1] for the philosophical position that defined truth in terms of workability. According to pragmatism, the test of the truth of any proposition is its utility. William James defined pragmatism as ‘the attitude of looking away from first things, principles, ‘categories,’ supposed necessities; and of looking towards last things, fruits, consequences, facts.’[2] According to the pragmatist view, ‘reality is hardly a single thing: It is pluralistic.’[3] The only thing that matters, therefore, is not what ultimate reality is but what is ultimately useful . Thus, the end decides the validity of the means. In this sense then, it is not important whether God exists or not. The only thing that matters is whether belief in God’s existence is useful or not. Following are certain characteristics of truth as understood in pragmatism:...

The Example of Paul. A Man of God; A Man of... 1. Clear Mission (1:1) 2. Pure Conscience (1:2) 3. Unceasing Prayers (1:3) 4. Selfless Love - Rejoices in the Good of Others: Encourager (1:4) 5. Proactive Lifestyle, Motivator (1:6-8) 6. Suffering for the Gospel (1:8) 7. Faith in Divine Sovereignty - Grace & Calling (1:9) 8. Faithful Communication (2:1-2) 9. Diligence in Study (2:15) 10. Excellence in Art of Ministry (2:15) 11. Care Regarding Doctrine and Lifestyle (2:16) - Avoids Worldly Wisdom and Vanity 12. Godly Pursuit (2:22) 13. Humility and Gentleness (2:24) 14. Understanding Regarding Times and Age (3:1-9) 15. Depth in Scripture (3:15-17). 16. Readiness to Preach the Word (4:2)

"Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and He cause me to eat that scroll." (Eze. 3:1,2). By this the Lord qualified Ezekiel for the prophetic ministry. 1. Apprehension:  The servant of God must fully apprehend the meaning of the message he preaches. If he's not clear about the message, then neither can he communicate it to others. The Lord tells Ezekiel to feed his belly and fill his stomach with the scroll (v.3). It's only after Ezekiel has eaten it and known its taste to be as sweet as honey, that he's able to stand boldly and proclaim what he knows about what God means to say. 2. Assimilation: The word became internal to the servant. The word and the servant became one. Only when the word is mixed with faith will the result be divine perspective and divine fulfillment (Heb. 4:1,2). Therefore, God commands Ezekiel his prophet saying, "Son of man, rece...

Aspire, Acquire, Attire! (Col. 4:12-16)

dOWNLOAD OUTLINE OF THEOLOGY An Overview of Theology by Domenic Marbaniang CONTENTS Introduction Bibliology (Bible) Theology Proper Trinity Christology (Jesus Christ) Pneumatology (Holy Spirit) Creation Angelology (Angels) Demonology (Demons) Anthropology (Man) Atonement Soteriology (Salvation) Ecclesiology (Church) Eschatology (LastThings) Read Online

If I love You less, Then how can I call You "Lord"! If I love You less, Then how can I say "I'm not lost"! If I love You less, Then what I'm supposed to be After all You've done for me If I love You less. Did You love me less That you gave Yourself for me? Did You love me less That You bore my pain for me? Did You love me less That You proved You cared for me? You came to set me free! No, You didn't love me less. I can never ask You to love me more It's Your love that really makes me whole The love that's best Can I love You less, You're my eternity! Can I love You less, You paid the price for me! Can I love You less, For all that's mine is Yours, You won me through the cross. How can I love You less!

How quickly do the cycles run, Summer, rainy, winter, return. But life is not a cycle - If it were, we could always mend our yesterday. Yet, one awaits the future to somehow mend his today. How weird such futile hopes deceive us into wrong each day. How long will it be before The truth vanquishes all vanity. But man is a vapor - Yet, all that he needs is a bit of heaven's fire. A coal from the altar, or else life slips down into hellish mire. How meaningless to reject what is fact to make room for feelings. Lord, sanctify! Sanctify.......!!!

by Domenic Marbaniang THE APOLOGETIC TASK 1. CLARIFICATION. Define terms. Clarify misunderstandings, doubts, meaning. 2. JUSTIFICATION . Defend terms. Justify belief with appropriate reasons. * The point of focus is truth-statements; not religious identity, but beliefs. THE NATURE OF BELIEFS 1. SYSTEMIC . The statement "Killing is wrong" is connected with other statements within a system. In Humanism, for instance, the rationale is "Everyone has a right to life", "Human life is precious" etc. In Buddhism, the rationale would be "Ahimsa is the greatest rule", "Desire is the cause of suffering", etc. 2. SIMPLE . Beliefs are simple; therefore, basic. They can be stated in simple statements that are understandable. 3. SURE. Beliefs are held because the adherent is sure that what he holds to is true. Uncertainty cannot be the quality of beliefs. It is the quality of doubt.

Awaiting the awaking of the daystar on the other end The night keeps its radiance still glowing through the morn It stands still over the horizon, over the expanse of sky and sea Gently, quietly, beaming in fullest vigor Your night may be long, but nights do end Your moon keeps the watch through the night And still remains when the dawn begins. Poem (c) Domenic Marbaniang , January 2010.

The heart of faith has no presumption, It simply trusts His Word. It stands secure, and in His Promise Finds eternal worth. The eyes of faith will never tire, Though deeper gets the night; They hope ignited by the fire Of God’s Eternal Light. The dreams of faith are dreams of glory; Not earthly name or fame. A child may write another history, If he’s of God ne’er ashamed. Faith will worship God forever; For faith alone, in truth, sees Him. Faith is an unceasing river Of praise and worship to the King. Faith listens and faith obeys, Faith moves on and never stays, Faith is strong and faith grows stronger And never falters in His ways. Faith offers its all to God Not a thing to itself left; For faith’s true rest and meaning Are in the bosom of His chest. (c) Domenic Marbaniang, Explorations of Faith , 2008

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE ORIGIN AND WORLDWIDE GROWTH OF THE PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENT Domenic Marbaniang The Pentecostal Movement is one of the largest movements within Christianity. Since its beginning in 1901, it has grown to become one of the largest religious groups in the world. By the year 2000, the Pentecostal/Charismatic constituency is considered to have accounted for 8.7 percent of the world’s population, larger than the percentage of all Buddhists, and made up 26.7 percent of all Christendom. [1] This movement has also been called as the “Third Force” and the harbinger of “a revolution comparable in importance with the establishment of the original church and with the Protestant Reformation.” [2] Surprisingly not, this movement was looked at as heretic and fanatical in its incipient period. For instance, the Los Angeles Times reported in 1906: Breathing strange utterances and mouthing a creed which it would seem no sane mortal could understand, the newest religious sect has star...