Happy Birthday, Jessie!

Jessie's 12th birthday bash was an absolute whirlwind of giggles and glitter, with a house packed to the brim with her younger friends, each one radiating pure joy and excitement.

 The air was thick with the scent of —chocolate,pizza and other delights of course—"while Ian and Kerrie floated like colorful clouds above the chaos of party games and laughter" I mean, who doesn’t love a good round of donut- hanging--from -a -string eating contest especially when the stakes involve a slice of that epic cake? Jessie, the birthday girl was practically glowing, her smile brighter than the candles on her cake,.

Honestly, it was a celebration that perfectly captured  the magic of childhood—full of friendship, fun, and a sprinkle of birthday magic that made everyone feel like they were part of something truly special. Happy Birthday, Jessie!

Bio- William Wilberforce.

WILLIAM WILBERFORCE,

 

 (1759–1833) 

 

 Antislavery Crusader: English Philanthropist.

 

  Born in Hull, Wilberforce studied at Cambridge, then in 1780 entered Parliament and became a strong supporter of William Pitt, who persuaded Wilberforce to devote himself to the abolition of the slave trade.

 In this cause he opposed many in the empire who had powerful vested interests, and he opposed those who regarded slavery as “a natural and scriptural institution.” 

The reformers finally triumphed in 1807 when the slave trade was done away with, though abolition of slavery itself had to wait until 1833. He devoted his whole career and life to the singular cause of the abolition of slavery.

 Wilberforce was the most famous figure associated with the Clapham Sect, which sought to do for the upper classes what Pastor Wesley had done for the lower. They used their wealth and influence in Christian outreach. He supported missions, fought to improve the condition of the poor and prisoners, and in 1804 helped to form the British and Foreign Bible Society.He also supported Catholic emancipation. Wilberforce, who was once described as “the authorized interpreter of the national conscience,” published in 1797 his Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System, which ran through many editions.

 My Gratitude

 

 

Here is my token of gratitude to Charles Haddon Spurgeon for faithful service to the  people who might have not shipwrecked their faith because of his role in the Downgrade  Controversy.

Pastor Charles H. Spurgeon,

I am writing to express my deep gratitude for your unwavering dedication to upholding the true teachings of Christianity in the face of opposition from unfortunately deceived preachers. Your steadfastness in defending the Faith and refuting their erroneous messages has saved many from falling into the trap of diluted Christianity.

Your powerful sermons and persuasive arguments have not only exposed the falsehoods of the liberal preachers but have also led many souls back to the path of righteousness. Your courage and conviction in standing up for what is right serve as an inspiration to so many of us.

Thank you, Pastor Spurgeon, for your tireless efforts in preserving the purity of the gospel and for leading others to the true light of Christ. Your impact on the lives of many cannot be understated, and I am grateful for your faithfulness in the face of opposition.

With thankfulness and admiration,

 

 

What was the Downgrade Controversy ? 

 

Tap or click for more on above link 

 

 

( Digital Anvil)

 

 

What was The Down-Grade Controversy? 

 

The Undoing of the Faith stopped by Preaching Sensation—Spurgeon.

 

 It's my contention that Pastor Charles Spurgeon by his public ministry speaking out of his pulpit delayed the decline of the Faith in the 19th Century Britain.

On the subject of modernism, Spurgeon, the 19^th century Pastor, aka "Prince of Preachers," was disinclined to moderate which became the center of a controversy that would mark his last years in ministry.

The “Down-Grade Controversy,” as it came to be known, was started in 1887 when Spurgeon began publicly claiming that some of his fellow Baptist ministers were “down grading” the Faith. This was the late-nineteenth century, when Darwinism and overly-critical biblical scholarship were compelling many Christians to re-evaluate their understanding of the Bible. Spurgeon believed the issue was not one of interpretation but of the essentials of the faith. He proclaimed in his monthly, The Sword and the Trowel, “Our warfare is with men who are giving up the atoning sacrifice, denying the inspiration of Holy Scripture, and casting slurs upon justification by faith.”

In the famous controversy, Spurgeon had four main grievances with the Preachers of his denomination, the Baptist Union. He summarizes them in one of the early articles that precipitated the Downgrade Controversy:

 

“We cannot hold the inspiration of the Word, and yet reject it; we cannot believe in the atonement and deny it;… we cannot recognize the punishment of the impenitent and yet indulge the ‘larger hope.’ One way or the other we must go. Decision is the virtue of the hour.”

To summarise: 

 Spurgeon was concerned that some within the denomination were either flirting with or in some cases openly promoting the following errors:

1. The denial of the infallibility of Scripture.
2. The denial of the necessity and substitutionary nature of Christ’s atonement.
3. The denial of the existence and eternality of hell.
4. The affirmation of universalism.

Essay initially based on  Mark Galli and Ted Olsen,  131 Christians Everyone Should Know