Category Archives: Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank

“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 8C (Everyone Else Goes to Hell, Part 2)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. This idea that the Church of Christ denomination is the only saved denomination is wrong on so many levels that I have to say a few more things before we … Continue reading

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“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapters 6, 7 & 8A (Everyone Else Goes to Hell)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. And having spent far too much time in chapter 5, dealing with baptism, we finally move on to — Chapter 6 Shank soon found that his studies with Randall resulted … Continue reading

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“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 5, Part 4 (James)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. And we’re continuing to consider the Bible’s teaching on baptism and faith, in particular, whether James teaches a works salvation that damns all who fail to be baptized in the exactly … Continue reading

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“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 5, Part 3C (Further on Baptism)

In the comments, Gary asked, Jay, is not baptism the re-enactment of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection? No one in the Ole Test. could be baptized for that reason. Are you saying we don’t need to be baptized. Maybe I … Continue reading

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“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 5, Part 3B (Reconciling baptism and faith)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. And we’re continuing a consideration of the Bible’s teaching on baptism and faith. [Two posts today and nothing on Muscle & Shovel tomorrow. I figured the readers needed to read both … Continue reading

Posted in Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank, Uncategorized | 49 Comments

“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 5, Part 3A (Reconciling baptism and faith)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. As promised, here’s how I reconcile the dozens of verses that promise salvation to everyone with faith in Jesus with the many other verses that teach that water baptism is … Continue reading

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“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 5, Part 2 (What is faith?)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. Up to this point, I’ve tried to keep the arguments free of Greek and such like, trying to learn from Shank’s popular (and effective) style. But sometimes, you just can’t … Continue reading

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“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapter 4 & Chapter 5, Part 1 (Saved by faith through grace?)

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. You’ll begin to notice several typos here and there in the text quoted from the book. I cut and pasted these electronically. They are all in the original. I’ll not … Continue reading

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“Muscle & Shovel”: Chapters 1, 2 & 3

[Click here for a table of contents to all my posts regarding Muscle & Shovel.] We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. As I’ve said before, Shank has an obvious talent for story telling, and it’s a … Continue reading

Posted in Muscle & Shovel, by Michael Shank, Uncategorized | 85 Comments

“Muscle & Shovel”: On the Solution to It All

We are considering Michael Shank’s book Muscle and a Shovel. I begin republishing a post from February 2, 2008 — (1 Pet 5:5b-6) All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives … Continue reading

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