Greg Johnson
LightNews LightNews
banner
pteranodo.bsky.social
Greg Johnson
@pteranodo.bsky.social
700 followers 1.3K following 660 posts
"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
Posts Replies Media Videos
pteranodo.bsky.social
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.
JEAN TAFFIN (1529-1602) The AmendMent of Life "They exceed in rich & costly attire: in unordinary and sumptuous diet: to be short, in all superfluous, unprofitable, carnal and worldly expenses: but if there be any speech of helping the poor, there is nothing to be had, they have never a whit too much to satisfy their own prodigality and ambition. But what account can they give of their administration in the day of judgement?"
January 1, 2026 at 8:06 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
WILLIAM CAREY (1761-1834) Serampore Letters "It is also a melancholy fact, that the vices of Europeans have been communicated wherever they themselves have been; so that the religious state of even heathens [in Asian countries] has been rendered worse by intercourse with them!"
January 1, 2026 at 12:09 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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.
JAMES GRANGER (1723-1776) Apology for Brute Creation "In a word, Tom, I advise thee to fall upon thy knees, and ask God forgiveness for thy cruelty and thy oaths; and to be careful for the future not to sleep upon the road; to drink less ale, and no drams; so shalt thou save thy whips and thy horses, thy body and thy soul"
January 1, 2026 at 12:40 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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.
JOHN MOORE (1595?-1657) The crying sin of England "But must we give to Beggars? Questionless we must. 1. It’s Christs precept, Matth. 5.24. Give to him that asketh thee, &c. Secondly, Christ heals a Beggar, and never reproves him for begging, Joh.9.8. Thirdly, good Lazarus was a Beggar at the rich mans gate, and he is in hell that denied him the crumbs, or scraps that fell from his Table, that was left after meals."
December 31, 2025 at 11:05 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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.
THOMAS DOOLITTLE (1632?-1707) A spiritual antidote against sinful contagion in dying times "DUTY XII... Consider you are also in the flesh, and that which is the condition of others, may you know not how soon be your own. Heb. 13. 3. Remember them that be in Bonds, as bound with them: And them that suffer adversity, as being your selves also in the Body."
December 30, 2025 at 11:31 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
ROBERT MACCULLOCH (1740-1824) Lectures on the Prophecies of Isaiah "It is indeed a sore evil, that those whom divine providence hath exalted to the most eminent station, to whom God hath given riches, honour, and power, that they may protect, and do good to those that are destitute, should no withstanding harass, vex, and injure them."
December 30, 2025 at 1:11 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
JOHN CALVIN (1509-1564) Calvin's Commentaries Jeremiah 22 "Was not this to know me, saith Jehovah? The Prophet [Jeremiah] shows again whence proceeded the liberty which King Jehoiakim took in luxury and superfluous display, as well as in plunder, cruelty, and oppression, even because he had cast away every care and concern for religion; for where a real knowledge of God exists, men must necessarily have regard to uprightness and moderation."
December 30, 2025 at 2:22 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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.
DAVID DICKSON (1685 - 1752) SERMON I. AT A HUMILIATION BEFORE THE COMMUNION "And where sin and temptation so prevail, as injuries mutual are done, there, woe is annexed. Therefore covet not that which is thy neighbours; deceive him not in weight, measure, price, bargain, neither take any unrigh-teous vantage; neither wrong thy neighbour in any sort, else woe to thee!"
December 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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.
JEAN-HENRI MERLE D'AUBIGNÉ (1794-1872) "THE DUTIES OF MASTERS TO THEIR HOUSEHOLDS" "If you make your servants feel the inferiority of their condition, it will be out of your power to do them any good; but if, impressed with the great law of equality, you treat them with that affection which the Gospel requires, as brethren, as children, and as friends, their hearts will be already gained over to the influence of the law that annuls the sentence of servitude which the world has passed."
December 28, 2025 at 9:55 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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.
JAMES CRAIG (1669-1731) SERMON VII "Now that which renders the Salvation of rich Men so diffi-cult, and as it were next to an impossibility, is not their having Riches, for many rich Men have been good Men : But their not having a Disposi-tion, through their covetous and selfish Love of their Riches, their not having a Disposition of Heart to exercise a Charity proportioned to their Riches."
December 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
WILLIAM MACKERGO TAYLOR (1829-1895) "DEBTORS" "The highest of all, by virtue of his very elevation, is to be the servant of all. The power of the strong is, shall I say ? divinely mortgaged in the interests of the weak; the sufferer whom I have the means of relieving has a God-given claim upon me for that relief; and the ignorant, whom I am able to instruct, is by God entitled to that instruction at my hands."
December 28, 2025 at 2:13 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
GEORGE HUTCHESON (1615-1674) An exposition of the book of Job "It is not enough that men be just in their publick actings in Judicatories, unless they be just also to these who are under them, in their more private relations; For, as Job was courageous in the publick administration of Justice, [Ch 31] v. 34. So here he makes conscience also of justice in his dealing with his inferiours."
December 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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?
ALEXANDER MURDOCH MACKAY (1849-1890) A.M. McKay, pioneer missionary "My heart burns for the deliverance of Africa, and if you can send me to any one of those regions which Livingstone and Stanley have found to be groaning under the curse of the slave-hunter, I shall be very glad." — letter to C.M.S., Dec. 12th, 1875."
December 25, 2025 at 11:49 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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?
ARTHUR DENT (d. 1607) The Plain Man's Pathway to Heaven "For the poor are afraid of them. They quake when they see them; as the beasts quake at the roaring of the lion. Many poor farmers, poor husband- men, poor herdsmen, poor labourers, poor widows, and hirelings, do quake and tremble, when these greedy wolves come abroad. And, as Job speaketh, xsiv. 4, 'The poor of the earth hide themselves together."
December 24, 2025 at 10:13 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
JOHN CASTELMAN (d 1761) Sermon before Bristol Infirmary "God is kind to all, even to the Unthankful, and the Evil; -- and our Redeemer died for Sinners; -- tho' then a thousand Express Commands are disregarded--the Example of God and Christ may yet fix our Love to our Neighbor, nay our Enemies; especially if we take along with us the Consideration, that at the Great Day of Account, our Charity to our Brother will be made the Test of our Love to God."
December 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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?
WILLIAM ARNOT (1808-1875) Laws from Heaven "The Americans are so situated with respect to their slaves. They cannot push the Africans aside from the best condition of humanity on the one hand, without pushing themselves as far from the best condition of humanity on the other."
December 22, 2025 at 12:06 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
JACOB MERRILL MANNING (1824-1882) "CHRISTIAN CHARACTER" "All that is gentle in human inter-course, all that is pure in thought and speech, all the possibilities of tenderness to the poor, sympathy with the sorrowing, forbearance towards wanderers, patience under ill-treatment, serene fortitude amid sufferings, loving efforts to benefit and bless the outcasts of society, shine out in the life of Christ, so as to make any other goodness seem tame and worthless. Do you recognize this beauty in Jesus Christ? Do you justify His wisdom ? Is He your soul's ideal, which you are daily striving to realize ? Would you gladly give all that you have, if your great longing to be like Him might be filled ?"
December 21, 2025 at 11:28 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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?
SAMUEL CROTHERS (1783-1856) Presbytery of Chillicothe to the churches under their care "The very head and front of their [slaveholders] offending is rioting on the labours of men who are defrauded of their hire, and have none to whom they can tell their sorrows but the Lord of sabaoth. He [James] calls upon such men to begin their howling now, for their everlasting weeping and howling would soon begin. And must we still be told that the Apostles tolerated the sin of slave- holding in the church, and prudently said nothing about it?"
December 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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?
JAMES MEIKLE (1730-1799) MEDITATION VIII. THE PROMISES A DIVINE TREASURE "Once, with the unthinking world, I esteemed the poor miserable, and called, if not the proud, yet the rich, happy. But now, since I glanced the volumes of revelation, I am of another mind. If we compare poor and rich in scripture- account, we easily see a mighty odds; for while a threatening is dropt here and there against the one, to the other pertain the precious promises. 'Woe to you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation! 'Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you."
December 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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?
SAMUEL HOPKINS (1721-1803) Address to the people of New England "As unjust and abusive Treatment of the Indians tends naturally to alienate them from us, and to turn them off to the French, so a Series of just and faithful Dealing with them would be likely to attach them to us, and to make them our fast Friends."
December 20, 2025 at 10:14 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
HANS EGEDE (1686-1758) A description of Greenland "When they see our drunken sailors quarrelling and fighting together, they say we are inhuman; that those fighters do not look upon one another to be of the same kind. Likewise, if an officer beats any of the men, they say, such officer treats his fellow creatures like dogs."
December 20, 2025 at 1:08 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
WILLIAM WHATELY (1583-1639) Caveat for the Covetous "This nearness, & immoderate saving, shows that a man's soul hath the dropsy, and that not alone when it grows to such extremity, as a man will pinch and deprive his own person, and his wife, children, and servants of those comforts and benefits that he might enjoy, but even then also, when a man is pinching towards the poore, and so close| fisted, that he will not part with a part of his substance for the relief of those which are in need and necessity..."
December 19, 2025 at 10:22 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
JEREMIAH BURROUGHS (1599 - 1646) Saint's Happiness "... 'The Lord God, gracious and merciful.' And the chief design that God hath in the world it is to glorify his mercy. In Eph. i. 6, the Lord he delights to glorify his power, his wisdom, and his justice; but he delights to glorify his mercy above all. When the power of God is exalted, when the wisdom of God is declared, God is glorified; but when mercy is glorified, then God is exalted."
December 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
pteranodo.bsky.social
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
JAMES WILLIAM MASSIE (1799-1869) Slavery, the crime and curse of America "Have you seen the place of negro worship in your largest city torn down, the church of one of your most distinguished preachers rifled, his house assaulted, and his person endangered, because he had advocated the claims of humanity, and pleaded for the negro?"
December 17, 2025 at 9:34 AM