Greg Johnson
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pteranodo.bsky.social
Greg Johnson
@pteranodo.bsky.social
"The Church of the present day has as yet much to learn in the carrying out of the principles underlying this verse."
- Revere Franklin Weidner
Jean Taffin, a #Reformed pastor, observes a small miracle of human logic: people gladly overspend on clothes and food, yet take grave offense at any mention of helping the poor. Nothing excessive, of course. Ring any bells today? Taffin merely asks what account they’ll give at judgment.
January 1, 2026 at 8:06 PM
William Carey, Baptist missionary, observes that European travelers spread grave moral corruption wherever they went, leaving peoples spiritually worse before the missionaries ever set foot.

His question is not about evangelism, but about Europe’s own vice as a counter-witness.
#christian #missions
January 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM
James Granger, an Anglican minister, rebukes a drunk man for beating his horse. The animal acted rightly; the man did not. Granger diagnoses no policy failure, but a wounded soul—too much ale, too much cruelty. Drink less, harm less, and consider how indulgence wounds beasts, bodies, and conscience.
January 1, 2026 at 12:40 AM
John Moore thunders that ignoring beggars is England’s screaming sin: Christ commands giving, heals without lectures, and sends the crumb-hoarding rich man straight to hell. Land values soared, commons vanished—and apparently so did Christian nerve.
December 31, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Thomas Doolittle, writing with the plague practically breathing down his neck, reminds Christians of an awkward fact: we inhabit bodies. The sufferers do too—and we may soon share their condition. Hence Hebrews: remember the afflicted, not abstractly, but as people made of the same flesh.
December 30, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Yes, I seriously would devote some of your year-end giving to charities that actively post here. Partial list:

bsky.app/profile/did:...

#charity #humanity #giving #donatenow #helpthem #leastofthese
December 30, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Robert MacCulloch, a Church of Scotland minister, calls it a grave wrong when people raised to wealth use it to press the poor down instead of help them — and when those who speak up are scolded.

The question remains: are we protecting the vulnerable?

#seekjustice #careforthepoor #walkwithJesus
December 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Calvin says if you know God, you don’t crush the poor. Jehoiakim did—big house, lots of cruelty, no God. And we’re like, “Let’s not mention injustice. Let’s just do piety and church.” Calvin goes, yeah… that’s not knowing God. That’s pretending.
#calvinist
December 30, 2025 at 2:22 AM
David Dickson, a Church of Scotland minister, says before communion we must admit it: coveting pushes us to skew prices, twist deals, and take quiet advantage — usually of those with the least. Cheat your neighbour and the woe is yours; as spiritual preparation, ask if that’s already in us.
December 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Swiss #evangelical Reformer, Merle d’Aubigné basically says: you’re the boss, not a Bond villain — don’t make people feel tiny. The Gospel says equality: treat them like family, and suddenly the whole “I’m important, you’re not” act looks a bit ridiculous.
December 28, 2025 at 9:55 PM
James Craig, minister of the #Gospel in Edinburgh, says wealth makes salvation nearly impossible — not because money is evil, but because it invites greed without matching generosity. An awkward doctrine… possibly because it still hits a little too close to home.
December 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
William Mackergo Taylor says Paul lived like he owed the world everything — and so do we. What God gives us is on loan: our strength for the weak, our resources for the hurting, our wisdom for those in the dark. It’s a holy debt — and we’re meant to spend ourselves paying it.
#congregationalist
December 28, 2025 at 2:13 AM
George Hutcheson, #Presbyterian, speaks of Job’s virtues (ch 31:13-15). Even if you speak justly in public, better also be just to your employees.

Others would “kiss up and punch down”.

How can you be just in publick dealings, as well has make conscience of justice? #christian #bible
December 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
The young A. M. Mackay, #Presbyterian missionary to Uganda, asks to be stationed where he could fight slave-hunters. With. The. #Gospel.

Slavery: it is that bad!. The preaching of the gospel: fighting enslavers.

How can you preach a gospel that delivers the oppressed?
December 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Arthur Dent, #Puritan, cites Job 24, where the poor fear an oppressor, as animals would a lion. Poor shepherds, labourers, and widows do tremble in the face of those who act out of greed like wolves.

This is in a book on spiritual development. Out of place today?

How can you help the working poor?
December 24, 2025 at 10:13 AM
John Castelman says to love neighbors & enemies, as Christ died for sinners. Matthew 25 also says love to brethren is a test of love to God.

Would we want some other test of our love to God? Do you hear other tests being pushed upon us today, like hours of bible reading? #christian
December 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
William Arnot, of the #churchofScotland, comments on revealed laws from heaven. He says enslavers cannot push African people away from humanity without also losing their own humanity.

Some nowadays are upset that the slavery was so bad.

How can you consider the humanity of all?
December 22, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Jacob Merrill Manning was a #Congregationalist minister and army chaplain. Here he extols qualities from the life of Jesus. Are mot every one the exact opposite of #ChristianNationalism and biblical #manhood? Are we reading the same bible?

How can you shine out in the life of Christ?
#Christian
December 21, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Samuel Crothers, a #Presbyterian minister, mocks idea that the apostles never mentioned #slavery. We got James. Read and weep, o slaveholders.

How can you say something about it?
December 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
James Meikle, Scottish #devotional writer, says after reading lots of scripture, he says the bible (Lu 6:24 and Ja 5) have warnings to the rich.

Are we all reading the same #bible?

How can you revel in God’s promises?
December 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Samuel Hopkins, #Congregationalist, says unjust treatment of the Indians by individual Americans harms national security. So be nice.

Today, simple decency and security are painted as being at odds.

How can you be just?
December 20, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Hans Egede, #Lutheran missionary, says Greenlanders rejected Christianity cuz saw fighting and abuse among Xians.

Voddie Baucham, OTOH, said you can’t love Christ and hate his Bride. IOW, circle the wagons.

How can you look upon one another to be of the same kind?
#christian
December 20, 2025 at 1:08 AM
William Whately, #Puritan, says the covetous hoard for another to take (Eccl 6:1-6). The miser shows their soul has dropsy.

Is failure to give still a spiritual problem, or is the problem in mentioning it today?

What comforts can your servants (your DoorDash drivers) afford? #christian #wealth
December 19, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Jeremiah was a #Puritan. God is exalted when mercy is glorified, as in the sharing of bread.

Have we met people who want to spend time glorifying God at the expense or indifference to the kind of mercy the Puritans were talking about?

How can you glorify mercy?
#Christian #mercy #glory
December 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
James William Massie, a #nondenominational #missionary, saw persecution of the Black church in the US. Same happened in recent Charlottesville riots: the black church was on their list.

Would your gospel upset those who’ve heard too much about humanity? Have you seen the places? #christian
December 17, 2025 at 9:34 AM