THE WHOLE TRUTH

War of the Worldviews Part 4

2009-12-28T11:49:00.000-08:00

the Postmodern Worldview

Forced to face the inhumanity, destruction, and horror brought about by the Third Reich and the Soviet Gulag during the first half of the 20th century, a substantial group of Enlightenment humanists and neo-Marxists abandoned their worldview to create one they believed more fitting with reality, resulting in the Postmodern turn. By the 1980's, Postmodern professors were making significant inroads in humanities and social science departments around the world.

Christian philosopher J.P. Moreland notes that Postmodernism refers to a philosophical approach primarily in the area of epistemology, or what counts as knowledge or truth. Broadly speaking, Moreland says "Postmodernism represents a form of cultural relativism about such things as truth, reality, reason, values, linguistic meaning, the 'self' and other notions."

Though Postmodernism comes in many forms, there are three unifying values: (1) a commitment to relativism; (2) an opposition to metanarratives, or totalizing explanations of reality that are true for all people of all cultures; and (3) the idea of culturally created realities. Each of these commitments are designed to deny that there is a worldview or belief system that can be considered absolute Truth.

Postmodernism's most effective methodological tool, one used extensively in university modern language departments, is known as Deconstruction, which means (1) that words do not represent reality, and (2) that concepts expressed in sentences in any language are arbitrary.

Some Postmodernists go so far as to deconstruct humanity itself. Thus, along with the death of God, truth, and reason, humanity is also obliterated. Paul Kugler notes the ironic twist: "Today, it is the speaking subject who declared God dead one hundred years ago whose very existence is now being called into question."

To complicate matters even further, we must acknowledge that there even exists a variety of Postmodernism called "Christian Postmodernism." Such is the essence of mainstream Postmodernism-a worldview that claims there are no worldviews. This "anti-worldview" worldview is one that certainly demands the attention of thoughtful Christians.

Conclusion

We cannot overstate the significance of these five anti-Christian worldviews. The basis for much of what is taught in the public classroom today comes from Secular, Marxist, Cosmic Humanist, and Postmodern thinking and takes on a variety of labels: liberalism, multiculturalism, political correctness, deconstructionism, or self-esteem education. Or, as is often the case, the labels are dropped and courses are taught from anti-Christian assumptions without students being told which worldview is being expressed. Neutrality in education is a myth.

The first chapter of the Book of Daniel explains how Daniel and his friends prepared themselves to survive and flourish amid the clash of worldviews of their day. We believe that Christian young people equipped with a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the Christian worldview and its rivals can become "Daniels" who will not stand on the sidelines, but will participate in the great collision of worldviews in the twenty-first century.

Society will flourish in the light of truth only when the emphasis shifts back to a Christian perspective. This dramatic shift in emphasis can be brought about through the leadership of thousands of informed, confident Christian students who think deeply and broadly from a well-honed biblical worldview and emerge as leaders in education, business, science, and government.

*Most of the first four blogs were taken from David Noebel's article, "Understanding the 6 Wordviews that rule the world."

To be continued...

War of the Worldviews Part 3

2009-12-26T01:36:00.000-08:00

The Marxist Worldview

Marxism is a militantly atheistic, materialistic worldview. It has developed a perspective regarding each of the ten disciplines-usually in great detail. Based on the writings of Karl Marx in the late 1800s, Marxism has taken on some new looks in recent years-including debasing culture as a form of revolutionary activity. The latest Communist Manifesto, titled Empire, was published in 2000 by Harvard University Press. Marx's presence continues to be felt around the world.

Marxism predominates on many American university campuses. Recruited as college students in the 1950s and '60s, many Marxist "radicals" earned PhDs and are now the tenured faculty on many campuses. "With a few notable exceptions," says former Yale professor Roger Kimball, "our most prestigious liberal arts colleges and universities have installed the entire radical menu at the center of their humanities curriculum at both the undergraduate and the graduate level." U. S. News and World Report published a lengthy article in 2003 entitled "Where Marxism Lives Today," which states, "Marxism is so entrenched in courses ranging from literature to anthropology… that today's students are virtually bathed in Marx's ideas."

The "radical menu" Kimball referred to includes a large serving of economic determinism. According to Karl Marx, the key problem with capitalism is that it breeds exploitation. Therefore, capitalism must be replaced with a more humane economic system, one that abolishes free markets (private property and the free and peaceful exchange of goods and services) and replaces it with a government-controlled economy.

Marx's economic ideas and political policy go hand in hand. A Marxist style communism controls a large number of nations around the world, and traveling under the name of "social democracy," a Marxist inspired political philosophy has engulfed Western European nations. Further, many South American countries have also taken a Marxist turn in recent years, and many think that the current administration and congress of the United States is quickly taking America down the same socialist road.

In addition, some Christian groups have attempted to combine their Christianity with Marx's ideas of social equality. Because of the prevalence and subversive nature of Marxism, Christians must be aware of the goals of Marxist-thinking professors, politicians, and theologians.

The Cosmic Humanist Worldview

The Cosmic Humanist worldview consists of two interrelated spiritual movements. One is known as the New Age Movement (NAM), and the other is neo-paganism, which includes occult practices, Native American spiritism, and Wicca.
The New Age Movement mixes ancient Eastern religions (especially Hinduism and Zen Buddhism) with a touch of other religious traditions, adds a smattering of scientific jargon, and imports the newly baked concoction into mainstream America. "The New Age," explains researcher Johanna Michaelsen, "is the ultimate eclectic religion of self: Whatever you decide is right for you is what's right, as long as you don't get narrow-minded and exclusive about it."

The assumption that truth resides within each individual, however, becomes the cornerstone for a worldview. Granting oneself the power to discern all truth is a facet of theology, and this theology has ramifications that many members of the New Age movement have already discovered. Marilyn Ferguson, author of The Aquarian Conspiracy (a book referred to as "The New Age watershed classic"), says the movement ushers in a "new mind-the ascendance of a startling worldview."

This worldview is summed up by Jonathan Adolph: "In its broadest sense, New Age thinking can be characterized as a form of utopianism, the desire to create a better society, a 'New Age' in which humanity lives in harmony with itself, nature, and the cosmos."

While New Age believers make no serious distinctions between religions, considering that all are ultimately the same, John P. Newport explains that "neopagans generally believe that they are practicing an ancient folk religion, whether as a survival or a revival. Thus, being focused on the pagan religions of the past, they are not particularly interested in a New Age of the future."

Through best-selling books and popular television shows and movies,the Cosmic Humanist worldview is gaining converts in the West and around the world. Malachi Martin lists dozens of organizations that are either New Age or sympathetic to Cosmic Humanist views. Clearly, Cosmic Humanism, a transplant from the East, is a growing presence throughout the Western hemisphere.

To be continued...

War of the Worldviews Part 2

2009-12-23T16:26:00.001-08:00

The Islamic Worldview

It is estimated there are 1.3 billion followers of Islam. The Islamic worldview has been under the radar, for the most part, for the last 1200 years, but in recent years (post 9-11), it has gained attention and influence. Muslims believe that Islam provides an ideal framework for all of human existence -- individual and social, political and economic, intellectual and spiritual. He believed equally that in all these various aspects the religion had been obscured or distorted by an influx of alien influences.

Christianity and Islam have some teachings in common, including belief in a God, creation of the material universe, angels, immortality of the soul, heaven, hell, and judgment of sin. Likewise, Muslims accept Jesus as a prophet (one of many), his virgin birth, physical ascension, second coming and miracles.

The major differences between Christianity and Islam is Islam's rejection of the biblical Trinitarian God and the death of Jesus Christ for the sins of the world. Muslims likewise reject Jesus' physical resurrection from the dead and his claim to be the Son of God. Their idea of the fall of man is also very different. They also say that the Bible has been changed (Although they can not tell you when, where and how) because it completely contradicts the Qu'ran.

Another major difference between the founder of Christianity and the founder of Islam is that the Bible describes Jesus as living a sinless life while the traditions of Islam depict Muhammad having many flaws. Muhammad's practice and constant encouragement of bloodshed are unique in the history of religions. Murder, pillage, rape, and more murder are in the Qu'ran and in the Traditions. Furthermore, Muhammad's life seems to have impressed his followers with a profound belief in the value of bloodshed as opening the gates of Paradise. Thus, the history of Islam from 622 A.D. to the present has been a history of violence, submission, and war toward infidels (non-Muslims).

There are a number of Muslims, particularly those living in Western democracies, who do not believe the Qu'ran's violent passages regarding killing infidels and Islam's violent history should be applied literally today. Yet, in either case, Islam is a worldview with which Christians must contend.

The Secular Humanist Worldview

Secular Humanism refers primarily to the ideas and beliefs outlined in the Humanist Manifestos of 1933, 1973, and 2000. Secular Humanism is the dominant worldview on the majority of colleges and universities throughout all Western nations. It has also made gains in many Christian colleges and universities, especially in the areas of biology, sociology, law, politics, and history.

Secular Humanists recognize the classroom as a powerful incubator for indoctrinating students into their worldview. Operating under the educational buzzword "liberalism," a Secular Humanist agenda controls the curriculum in America's public schools thanks to the National Education Association, the National Academy of Sciences, and a host of foundations, including the Ford Foundation.
It is very ironic that this is the dominant worldview in America today and yet, almost 90% of Americans polled believe in God. This is also the dominant worldview in the church today.

The ideas of Humanism have gained prominent influence throughout modern society. B.F. Skinner, Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Erich Fromm, all former "Humanists of the Year," have powerfully affected the discipline of psychology. Scientists such as the late Carl Sagan, another "Humanist of the Year," preached his Humanism on a widely heralded television and high school curriculum series. More recently, the outspoken atheist and Oxford biologist Richard Dawkins has gained much attention through a number of popular books on evolution and, of course, his 2006 best-seller, The God Delusion. Clearly, Humanists are willing to support their worldview-often more faithfully than Christians. For these and other reasons, we must give the Secular Humanist worldview close attention.

To be continued...

War of the Worldviews Part 1

2009-12-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

Today, I am going to start a series on worldviews. I couldn't tell you how many parts this is going to be, but, my goal is to try to hit on the basics concerning worldviews and then turn to the Christian worldview and what it is to be. George Barna's research shows that 96% of professing Christians have a Biblical worldview. This is alarming. I want you to picture walking into your church on Sunday morning and thinking, for every hundred people in here, only four of us statistically have a Biblical worldview. Are you one of the four? You have to ask yourself this question. Ironically, most professing Christians have an atheistic/secular humanist worldview while at the same time claiming to believe in God. My hope through this next series is to help Christians get back to their first love, Christ, and possibly change your worldview.

What is a worldview? A world view is a way one views the whole world. It is our interpretation of the world and the things that happen in it. It is one's view of and for the world. It is compared to having glasses on. If you have red glasses on, you see the world as red. If you have blue glasses on, you see the world as blue. If you have on your Biblical glasses on, you see the world according to the Word of God. There are ten basic. Specifically, a worldview should contain a particular perspective regarding each of the following ten disciplines: theology, philosophy, ethics, biology, psychology, sociology, law, politics, economics, and history. What I will try to do is touch on each of these areas. I will spend more time on certain areas than others. This is why I don't know how many parts there will be in this series, but, I do know this, it will be a long series.

There are six basic worldviews that have real influence in the world. They area/an: Christian, Islamic, Secular Humanist, Marxist, Cosmic Humanist, and Postmodernist worldview. Other worldviews exist, but they hold very little influence in the world. For example, Buddhism, Taoism or Hinduism may influence some Eastern countries, but hardly sway the entire world. The major ideas and belief systems controlling the world, and especially the West, are summed up in the following six worldviews. I will briefly overview them here.

The Christian Worldview

Many people, including many Christians, do not realize that the Bible addresses all ten disciplines of a worldview. Theology (The Study of God), philosophy (The Study of Knowledge), ethics (The Study of Morals), biology (The Study of Life), psychology (The Study of the Human Mind), sociology (The Study of Society), law (The Study of Rules), politics (The Study of Government) , economics (The Study of Finances), and history (The Study of Past Events) are all found in the Bible and the answers to life's most difficult questions are found within this worldview. Christians are the only ones who can sufficiently answer the four most commonly ask questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Why is there evil in the world? What can I do to fix it? Christianity can be summed up in Christ's claim that He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He is THE Creator, THE only Redeemer and THE only way to God. There is no other way. If you believe otherwise, you do not have a Biblical worldview. This is the foundation for the Christian worldview. This is what separates us from everyone else. We are to think and act as Christ would think and act. He was and is our example, our standard in which we are to live by.

Dr. David Noebel, President, Summit Ministries, says, “The study of worldviews in general, and the Christian worldview in particular, is a wake-up call for everyone. A country seeking to promote human rights (including the right to be born), liberty, and the common good must adhere to the only worldview that can account for our existence and dignity. We contend that human dignity comes from the fact that human beings are created in the image of God, a uniquely biblical perspective. Abandoning this perspective has dire consequences, considering the rise in abortions, homosexual practices, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem cell research, and the move toward human cloning.”1

To be continued...

The Manhattan Declaration....My Two Cents

2009-12-03T00:10:00.000-08:00

For what it's worth, I am going to put my two cents in on this argument. Some may agree, some may not. Although there are some very respected names on both sides, I would like to present to you this: these issues are problems, but none of these are the root cause of the problem, but are effects of the cause. We need to get to the root cause of these problems and that is the Gospel (or the lack thereof). Christ and Christ alone can cure these ailments. Am I saying we should sit here and do nothing? No. Am I saying that I do not agree with the declaration presented? No. Although I am in agreement with the document’s opposition to same-sex marriage, abortion, and other moral problems, the document does not get to the root cause of the matter: the lack of the Gospel.

Since they are rallying support, why not throw Muslims in there too. They do not agree with abortion, gay marriage and such. Here is the point. What is a declaration in this instance. It is a written agreement of intentions in which all signers are in agreement. In the opening statement on the website www.manhattandeclaration.org, it states:

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them.

First, let me premise this by saying, should we be unequally yoked with unbelievers? Anyone that preaches another gospel than that of Jesus, Peter, Paul, John and the like, is a heretic. Orthodox and Catholics preach another gospel. What fellowship does light have with darkness?

Second, some argue that it is not doctrine we are agreeing on so it is okay. Let me ask you this, if it were the KKK and the Church of Satan rallying for the same cause, would you join them? You might say that this is extreme, but let me ask you what is more extreme, joining these groups or joining arms with groups that disguise themselves as sheep when they are ravenous wolves?

Here is how they end they opening statement on the website:

We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Please tell me, is the Jesus the Orthodox and Catholics believe in the same as the Jesus you or I believe in? Again, its great that people want to eliminate gay marriage and abortion, but, what about the truth of the matter? This truth is the need for Christ! This is the only thing that can cure this land. The Gospel. Nothing more, nothing less. We need repentance, starting first with the church and it's abandonment of its first love.

We also need to tell others about Christ. It was the "Prince of Preachers," Charles Spurgeon, who said the words, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that." Let me ask you, do you have a burden to see souls saved? Are you doing anything about it? If you want to see these problems eliminated, here is the only solution: the gospel. It starts with you! I challenge you to tell all you come into contact with the saving gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we are all sharing our faith as we are commanded, faithfully, then we can see the Lord move, but we have to be preparing for it.

It is best said in the movie Facing the Giants, when the coach is having a conversation with a prayer warrior and dear saint when this man tells the coach a story about two farmers in desperate need for rain. Only one is preparing his fields to receive the rain. Which one do you think is going to see rain? The one that is preparing for it! This is us saints! Are you preparing for rain, or are you sitting on the sidelines allowing everyone else to take your reward. It's time to prepare for rain!

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 12

2009-10-24T16:06:00.000-07:00

Finally, we've made it to the last post. This could be the most important post of your life if you take heed to what is being said. It is my prayer that those of you who don't know Christ or have made a false profession, would turn your heart and mind over to what is being said here.

Do you believe yourself to be a good person? Yeah. Just about everyone does. What we like to do is compare ourselves to people that we consider to be bad and justify our goodness that way, don't we? Like Hitler. All I ask is that you be honest with yourself today. Listen to your conscience.

Again I ask, do you consider yourself to be a good person? It only takes one sin to be a sinner. Have you sinned before? There is nothing you can do to take it back once you committed it. It's like murdering someone. Can you restore this life you just took? No. You can apologize to the family. You can feel bad about, but not only can you not bring them back, there is also punishment for the act that you have committed. It's the same with God. Let's see where you stand against the 10 Commandments, God's moral Law.

1.'You shall have no other gods before Me.' Is God 1st in your life?

2. 'You shall not make for yourself an idol.' What is your 1st priority in your life?

3. 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.' This is called blasphemy. You substitute God's Holy Name for a four letter filth word.

4. 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.' Do you keep it holy?

5. 'Honor your father and your mother.' Have you always honored your mother or father?

6. 'You shall not murder.' Here's the catch. In Matthew 5 Jesus says” It has been said of old thou shall not murder, but I say unto you if you even have hatred in your heart against your brother, he is a murderer.

7. 'You shall not commit adultery.' In Matthew 5 Jesus says” It has been said of old thou shall not commit adultery, but I say unto you if you look with lust you've committed adultery in your heart.

8. 'You shall not steal.' Have you ever stolen anything, value makes no difference?

9. 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.' Have you ever told a lie?

10. 'You shall not covet.' Have you ever wanted anything that anyone else has had?

How many of you have broke these? Everyone has right? So by our admission, we are lying, stealing, blasphemous, adulterers at heart and we have to face God on judgment day. Hebrews 9:27 declares: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Statistically 10 out of 10 people die. Do you think by God's standard you would be innocent or guilty? Guilty, right? Do you think that God will send you to heaven or hell? You will go to hell, right? Does that concern you?

This is how it works. Think about a court of law. Let's say a man murders your child. You would want revenge right? You would want justice served, right? Now this man is standing before the judge with this mound of evidence piled against them. Murder. He has confessed. There is no way out. He is helpless before him. What if he tells the judge, “But judge, I'm really a good person! I'm sorry!” Then the judge says, “You know, because I'm a good person, I'm going to let you go.” How would that make you feel? No justice and this guy says he's a good judge? A good judge will bring justice. Now, your standing before God on judgment day. Would a Just and Holy judge let you go? No. You will get what you deserve. What we deserve is hell.

Most of us know John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall have eternal life.” But you have probably never heard the two verses that follow this one: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” We are all condemned to hell already.

In Matthew 7:21-23 Christ paints a picture of them that think their works will suffice. He says, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

So as He says, people will see Him face to face in judgment and they will try to justify themselves by their works. You already know the outcome. An eternal sentence in hell.

Do you know what God did for you so that you do not have to go to hell? Christ died for your sin. He died in your place on the cross, taking your sin with it. He was then buried and three days later, rose again, conquering death and the grave! This is victory! That is the love of God. The truth of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Christ said this in John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” What love that God would come down from heaven, take on the flesh and die in our place. Now that is amazing!

Now, let me bring to life for you. We have just seen that your works will not suffice. Your works will not get you favor with God. Now let's go back to the courtroom. The gavel comes down. Bang! GUILTY! You are sentence to eternal death in hell. Then, a man walks in that you don't know and says, “Judge, I'll pay the penalty of his/her crime.” Then the judge says, “Why? You did nothing wrong to deserve this punishment? But if he/she will accept your gift, then I'll accept this payment for his/her penalty.” Now it's up to you. Would you turn down this gift? Only a fool would right? Will you accept this gift? It is called grace. The way you accept it is to repent, turn from your sin and place your faith in Christ and Him alone. Then he will look at you and say, “You may go.” And you get to walk out of this courtroom with no cost to you. This is what Christ did for you upon the cross. When you repent, that means to turn from your sin, and place your trust in Him, Christ steps in between and says, “Father, I paid his fine.” Then God the Father will say, “You're free to go.”

Do you now think your a good person? Repent, turn from your sin, and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Place your trust in Him is like a skydiver places his trust in his parachute. You see, as the skydiver is falling, he is totally dependent upon that parachute. His life is in the hands of the parachute. Everything he has and is is now in the hands of the parachute. This is the type of faith we are to have in Christ for salvation. He wants all of you, not just some of you. Your life depends on it. Place your life in His hands. Your works are as filthy rags to Him. You need Christ. I beg you, plead with you, do not die in your sin. Hell is a terrible place. God has just given you the keys to overcome it. I pray that you will use them. Do not delay, for today is the day of salvation, today is the appointed time.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to e-mail me at: operationcornerstone@ymail.com.

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 11

2009-10-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

So let's look at Sanctification.

The Period of Sanctification

1.Initial Sanctification – Occurring During the Same time as Conversion (1 Cor 1:2)This stage of sanctification is instantaneous and has a twofold aspect, positional and practical. It is synchronous with our acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior. The two aspects of sanctification included in this stage are very similar to – if not almost synonymous with – justification and regeneration, including conversion.

A. Positional Sanctification – as to standing morally, holy and perfect in Christ (He10:9,10,14)

B. Practical Sanctification – as to our state of being via a new nature with new desires and purposes (1 Peter 1:2)

C. Propositional Sanctification – as to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1,2)

2.Progressive Sanctification – Occurring through the Christian's Walk with God (2 Cor 7:1) Justification differs from Sanctification thus: the former is an instantaneous act with no progression, while the latter is a crisis with a view to a process – and act which is instantaneous and which at the same time carries with it the idea of growth unto completion. For He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Heb 12:2)

According to 2 Corinthians 3:18 we are being transformed from one degree of character or glory to another. It is because sanctification is progressive in that we are exhorted to “abound more and more” (1 Thes 3:12; 4:1,9,10) in the graces of the Christian Life. There is such a thing as “perfecting holiness.” God's Gift to the Church of pastors and teachers is for the purpose of the perfecting of the saints in the likeness of Christ until at last they attain unto that divine standard. (Eph 4:11-15; Phil 3:10-15)

So again, Sanctification is a process in which the Lord uses for the perfecting of the saints unto holiness. This is the evidence that separates the sheep from the goats. This is the problem with the “Carnal Christian” Heresy. You see no fruit in most of these people. Don't get me wrong, people still get saved in these false gospel churches, but that is in spite of the heresy. Eventually the Lord will bring them out of it. For the others, to tell them they are going to heaven because they said a prayer is as murder in the eyes of the Lord. You have convinced them that they are going to heaven when the are on the path of destruction! Do you call that love? Then, when they begin to doubt their salvation, you ask them if they wrote down the date of their profession and console them with this date as if it is their eternal security? The Lord wills that none would perish, but that all would have everlasting life. Yet, when you look at their life, there is no change. There is no conviction. There is no repentance. There is no fruit. Doesn't that concern you. We will be held accountable for these things.

3.Complete Sanctification – Will occur at the coming of Christ! (I Thess 3:12,13) This stage has to do with the completion and perfection of the believer's sanctification. He will then be entire, wanting nothing, like Christ in all things. He will be completely freed from sin and perfected in holiness. What a glorious day that will be, amen?

So again, to reiterate the point. Sanctification is the evidence of Salvation, not profession. Even Satan Himself believes in Jesus. In fact, so do the demons. This is not enough for salvation. Most peoples professions are just lip service to God. They say they know Christ, but the evidence of their walk with Him proves otherwise. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. When you talk to them about the things of God, they shun you or even get mad at you. Can the Holy Spirit that dwells in you contradict the same Holy Spirit that lives in them? No. Then why does the Gospel make those that “profess” to know Christ make them angry? I would then question their salvation.

1 Thess 4:7-8 states, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit.”

There it is. Scripture says it right there. How can you despise the things of God and call yourself one of His children? You can't. So let's get to the point. There are many, many people who profess the name of Christ, but despise the things of God, not only with there lips, but with their lives also. If this is you, I want to take the time now to share the Gospel with you.

To be continued...

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 10

2009-10-24T00:19:00.000-07:00

We have finally arrived! Thanks to everyone for their patience. I realized this has been a long, ongoing post, but, in order for you to see the point we have to see the purpose behind all of these things. Now it's time to get to the meat of the issue.

Sanctification- The act of God by which deals with our state almost entirely, just as justification deals with our standing. In Justification we are declared righteous so that in Sanctification we may become righteous. Justification is what God does for us, while Sanctification is largely what God does in us. Justification puts us into a right relationship with God legally, while Sanctification exhibits the fruit of that relationship experientially in a life separated from sinful world and dedicated unto God. Justification makes us safe; Sanctification makes us sound.

There is, however, an aspect of Sanctification called “positional” which should not be overlooked. Although it is similar to Justification, positional Sanctification views man from the moral rather than legal perspective. In Justification man is positionally righteous; on this phase of Sanctification he is positionally holy.

The Bread and Butter of Sanctification in which we will show refutes the “Carnal Christian” Heresy is that of Progressive Sanctification. This is the process in which God uses through our new nature, desires, purposes and the conviction of sin through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to make us Holy, as He is Holy. We are born of God after Faith and Repentance. Carnality is enmity to God. We are to judge believers by their fruit, for by their fruits ye shall know them. Sanctification exhibits the fruit of our relationship through the way we talk, walk, act and think. Do we still sin? Yes. The difference is our reaction to it. You now hate sin and do not glory in it! When someone is living out the same sin day after day after day, making no war with it, and shows no sign of conviction or repentance, NOT REMORSE, but repentance and conviction, you begin to wonder. These are the ones who make the profession and there is no change. What happened was at the turn of the century, the Church abandoned the preaching and teaching of the Law of God to reveal sin and bring conviction as Paul said, using it as a schoolmaster to bring people to Christ. They started preaching and teaching this false gospel of God is love, joy, peace and everlasting happiness. Why? Because warning people of the hell fire and wrath to come seemed “too harsh”. So this HERESY was created to justify all of these false professions that the Church was seeing, instead of preaching against sin, repentance, damnation and hell and exercising Church discipline. God is love, but you can't give people the cure before they know that they have a disease. This is the very thing that modern Evangelicals did and continue to do. They are to afraid to offend people. Well, the Truth of God does offend people. If you see a blind man walking towards a cliff, do try to be kind say “Excuse me sir. Sir, I don't mean to bother you but..” and then he falls off the cliff. Is that love? No. Love is showing someone you care by sharing with them the Truth of God. You are a firefighter, pulling people from the fire of hell by showing them that they are heading for the fire by reveling their sin through the Law and how it offends God. Then you share with them what God did for them to save them from the fire. These so called “Carnal Christians” use the Grace of God for an occasion of the flesh. This is enmity to God. You can't be a child of God and an enemy of God at the same time.

Ray Comfort describes this best with the parachute analogy. He says, “Two men are seated in a plane. A stewardess gives the first man a parachute and instructs him to put it on because it will “improve his flight.”

Not understanding how a parachute could possibly improve his flight, the first passenger is a little skeptical. Finally he decides to see if the claim is true. After strapping on the parachute, he notices its burdensome weight, and he has difficulty sitting upright. Consoling himself with the promise of a better flight, our first passenger decides to give it a little time. Because he's the only one wearing a parachute, some of the other passengers begin smirking at him, which only adds to his humiliation. Unable to stand it any longer, our friend slumps in his seat, unstraps the parachute, and throws it to the floor. Disillusionment and bitterness fill his heart because as far as he is concerned, he was told a lie.

Another stewardess gives the second man a parachute, but listen to her instructions. She tells him to put it on because at any moment he will be jumping out of the plane at 25,000 feet.
Our second passenger gratefully straps the parachute on. He doesn't notice its weight upon his shoulders nor that he can't sit up upright. His mind is consumed with the thought of what would happen to him if he jumped without it. When other passengers laugh at him, he thinks, "You won't be laughing when you're falling to the ground!"

Let's now analyze the motive and the result of each passenger's experience.
The first man's motive for putting on the parachute was solely to improve his flight. As a result, he was humiliated by the passengers, disillusioned by an unkept promise, and embittered against the stewardess who gave it to him. As far as he is concerned, he will never put one of those things on his back again.
The second man put the parachute on to escape the danger of the coming jump. Because he knew what would happen to him without it, he had a deep-rooted joy and peace in his heart. Knowing he was saved from certain death gave him the ability to withstand the mockery of the other passengers. His attitude toward the stewardess who gave him the parachute was one of heartfelt gratitude.
Now listen to what the contemporary gospel says: "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ; He will give you love, joy, peace, and fulfillment." In other words, He will improve your flight. In an experimental fashion, the sinner puts the Savior to see if these claims are so.
What does he get? Temptation, tribulation, and persecution. The other passengers mock his decision. So what does he do? He takes off the Lord Jesus Christ; he is offended for the Word's sake; he is disillusioned and embittered, and quite rightly so.
He was promised peace, joy, fulfillment, and all he got were trials and humiliation. His bitterness is directed at those who gave him the “good news.” His latter end is worse than the first - another inoculated, bitter backslider! (By the way, what is a backslider? It's a sinner that never slid forward in the first place. Another false conversion.)”
That is a great analogy. For Christ came to save His people from their sins, not in their sins (Matt 1:21). A holy life, sowing to the Spirit, must follow the salvation that God gives us in Christ or God’s purpose in saving us would be defeated, and this cannot be. Did we not read that God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world “that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Eph 1:4).

To be continued...

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 9

2009-10-21T22:31:00.000-07:00

I don't normally do this, but because this article hits the nail on the head, I am just going to post it. I left off in my last post stating that before we get into sanctification, I wanted to compare and contrast the differences in what each side believes about the doctrine of salvation. I believe this article speaks for itself. This is an article by John MacArthur entitled, "Clarifying the Lordship Debate, Part 1." So enjoy!

Clarifying the Lordship Debate, Part 1

Comparing the No-Lordship Views

The 9 specific tenets of lordship salvation have already been outlined in a previous post .

So what does theno-lordshipcampespouse? They agree with lordship proponents that: (1) Christ's death purchased eternal salvation; (2) the saved are justified by grace through faith in Christ alone;(3) sinners cannot earn divine favor; (4) God requires no preparatory works or pre-salvation reformation; (5) eternal life is a gift of God; (6) believers are saved before their faith ever produces any righteous works; and (7) Christians can and do sin, sometimes horribly. But they disagree on other crucial soteriological points. For example, the no-lordship advocates teach that:

1.Repentance is simply a change of mind about Christ (Charles Ryrie,So Great Salvation,96, 99).?? In the context of the gospel invitation, repentance is just a synonym for faith (SGS 97-99). No turning from sin is required for salvation (SGS 99).

2.The whole of salvation, including faith, is a gift of God (SGS 96). But faith might not last. A true Christian can completely cease believing (SGS 141).

3.Saving faith is simply being convinced or giving credence to the truth of the gospel (SGS 156). It is confidence that Christ can remove guilt and give eternal life, not a personal commitment to Him (SGS119).

4.Some spiritual fruit is inevitable in every Christian's experience. The fruit, however, might not be visible to others (SGS 45). Christians can even lapse into a state of permanent spiritual barrenness (SGS 53-54).

5.Only the judicial aspects of salvation--such as justification, adoption, imputed righteousness, and positional sanctification--are guaranteed for believers in this life (SGS 150-52). Practical sanctification and growth in grace require a post conversion act of dedication.?

6.Submission to Christ's supreme authority as Lord is not germane to the saving transaction (SGS 71-76). Neither dedication nor willingness to be dedicated to Christ are issues in salvation (SGS 74). The news that Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead is the complete gospel. Nothing else must be believed for salvation (SGS 40-41).

7.Christians may fall into a state of lifelong carnality. A whole category of "carnal Christians"--born again people who continuously live like the unsaved--exists in the church (SGS 31, 59-66).

8.Disobedience and prolonged sin are no reason to doubt the reality of one's faith (SGS 48).

9.A believer may utterly forsake Christ and come to the point of not believing. God has guaranteed that He will not disown those who thus abandon the faith (SGS 141). Those who have once believed are secure forever, even if they turn away (SGS 143).

Some of the more radical advocates of no-lordship doctrine do not stop there.

The "Free-Grace" movement further stipulates:

1.Repentance is not essential to the gospel message. In no sense is repentance related to saving faith (Zane Hodges,Absolutely Free,144-46).?

2.Faith is a human act, not a gift from God (AF 219). It occurs in a decisive moment but does not necessarily continue (AF xiv, 107). True faith can be subverted, be overthrown, collapse, or even turn to unbelief (AF 111).

3.To "believe" unto salvation is to believe the facts of the gospel (AF 37-39). "Trusting Jesus" means believing the "saving facts" about Him (AF 39), and to believe those facts is to appropriate the gift of eternal life (AF 40). Those who add any suggestion of commitment have departed from the New Testament idea of salvation (AF 27).

4.Spiritual fruit is not guaranteed in the Christian life (AF 73-75, 119). Some Christians spend their lives in a barren wasteland of defeat, confusion, and every kind of evil (AF 119-25).

5.Heaven is guaranteed to believers (AF 112) but Christian victory is not (AF 118-19). One could even say "the saved" still need salvation (AF 195-99). Christ offers a whole range of post conversion deliverance experiences to supply what Christians lack (AF 196). But these other "salvations" all require the addition of human works, such as obedience, submission, and confession of Jesus as Lord (AF 74, 119, 124-25, 196). Thus God is dependent to some degree on human effort in achieving deliverance from sin in this life (AF 220).

6.Submission is not in any sense a condition for eternal life (AF 172). "Calling on the Lord" means appealing to Him, not submitting to Him (AF 193-95).

7.Nothing guarantees that a true Christian will love God (AF 130-31). Salvation does not necessarily even place the sinner in a right relationship of harmonious fellowship with God (AF 145-60).

8.If people are sure they believe, their faith must be genuine (AF 31). All who claim Christ by faith as Savior--even those involved in serious or prolonged sin--should be assured that they belong to God come what may (AF 32, 93-95). It is dangerous and destructive to question the salvation of professing Christians (AF 18-19, 91-99). The New Testament writers never questioned the reality of their readers' faith (AF 98).

9.It is possible to experience a moment of faith that guarantees heaven for eternity (AF 107), then to turn away permanently and live a life that is utterly barren of any spiritual fruit (AF 118-19). Genuine believers might even cease to name the name of Christ or confess Christianity (AF 111).

What Is Really at the Heart of the Lordship Debate?

It should be obvious that these are real doctrinal differences; the lordship controversy is not a semantic disagreement. The participants in this debate hold widely differing perspectives.

Nevertheless, the issues have often been obscured by semantic distractions, distorted interpretations of lordship teaching, mangled logic, and emotion-laden rhetoric. Often it is easier to misconstrue a point than answer it, and sadly that is the tack many have taken. All it has done is confuse the real issues.

But, to be clear, the lordship controversy is not a dispute about whether salvation is by faith only or by faith plus works. No true Christian would ever suggest that works need to be added to faith in order to secure salvation. No one who properly interprets Scripture would ever propose that human effort or fleshly works can be meritorious --worthy of honor or reward from God.?

The lordship controversy is a disagreement over the nature of true faith. Those who want to eliminate Christ's lordship from the gospel see faith as simple trust in a set of truths about Christ. Faith, as they describe it, is merely a personal appropriation of the promise of eternal life.

But Scripture describes faith as more than that--it is a wholehearted trust in Christ personally (e.g., Gal. 2:16 ; Phil. 3:9 ). Not merely faith about Him; faith in Him. Note the difference: If I say I believe some promise you have made, I am saying far less than if I say I trust you. Believing in a person necessarily involves some degree of commitment. Trusting Christ means placing oneself in His custody for both life and death. It means we rely on His counsel, trust in His goodness, and entrust ourselves for time and eternity to His guardianship. Real faith, saving faith, is all of me (mind, emotions, and will) embracing all of Him (Savior, Advocate, Provider, Sustainer, Counselor, and Lord God).

Those who have such faith will love Christ (Rom. 8:28 ; 1 Cor. 16:22 ; 1 John 4:19). They will therefore want to do His bidding. How could someone who truly believes in Christ continue to defy His authority and pursue what He hates? In this sense, then, the crucial issue for lordship salvation is not merely authority and submission, but the affections of the heart. Jesus as Lord is far more than just an authority figure; He's also our highest treasure and most precious companion. We obey Him out of sheer delight. So the gospel demands surrender, not only for authority's sake, but also because surrender is the believer's highest joy. Such surrender is not an extraneous adjunct to faith; it is the very essence of believing.

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The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 8

2009-10-21T01:17:00.000-07:00

The Manner of Faith-There are two sides.

1. The Divine Side- Originates with the Triune God. God the Father – Originating Source (Rom 12:3), God the Son – Mediating Source (Heb 12:2), God the Holy Spirit – Energizing Source (1 Cor 12:4,8,9)

Faith, then, is obtained as the result of the enabling power and gracious work of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2. The Human Side – Secured by the use of Means:
The Word of God Heard and Heeded (Rom 10:17), Yielded Will (John 5:36-40) and A Right Motive (John 5:44)

These human elements enter into the production of faith and for them men are responsible.

What are the Results of Faith
1.Salvation (Eph 2:8-10) In it you receive Forgiveness (Acts 10:43), Justification (Rom 5:1), Son-ship with God (Gal 3:26), Eternal Life (John 20:31), Partaking of the Divine Nature (2 Pet 1:4) and the Indwelling of Christ

2.A Normal Christian Experience. In it you receive Sanctification (Acts 26:18), Keeping Power of God (1 Peter 1:5), Victorious Life (1 John 5:4,5), Rest and Peace (Matt 11:28), Joy and Satisfaction (1 Peter 1:8), Persecutions and Tribulations (2 Tim 3:12; John 16:33)

3.Holy Achievements (Heb 11:1,2) these are: Answer to Prayer According to God's Will (Matt 21:21), Wonder-working Power (Matt 2:21) and All Things Made Possible (Mark 9:23).

This basically sums up Regeneration. Wow, that was a lot. Next, we'll look at Justification. This one is shorter. Like seven and a half posts shorter.

Justification- The act of God by which, on the account of Christ, to whom the sinner is united by faith, He declares a sinner to be no longer under condemnation, but to have a standing of righteousness before Him. It is not a change in the moral state or character of its subjects. Justification does not deal with our subjective, but rather with our objective, salvation. It has to do with our standing before God judicially rather that our state of life morally and spiritually. It means to make conformable to a true standard. It signifies, not “to make righteous”, but to “declare righteous” or “free from guilt and exposure to punishment”. So, in layman's terms justification is the judicial act of God whereby those who put faith in Christ are declared righteous in His eyes and are free from guilt and punishment.

1. The Scope of Justification

A. Propitiation- The Atoning Sacrifice of Christ is Sufficient (Rom 3:25)

B. Restoration- We are Restored to Former Glory Because of Christ (Ps 23:1-3)

C. Forgiveness-We have been Forgiven our Sin Through Christ (1 John 1:9)

D. Reconciliation- The Our Relationship with God has been Restored Through Christ (2
Cor 5:21)

E. Redemption- The Work of Christ to Free Man From the Captivity of Sin by Payment of a Ransom (Titus 2:14)

2. The Method of Justification – It is divine, not human. Man justifies the innocent only; Go justifies the guilty. Man justifies on the ground of merit; God justifies on the ground of mercy.

A. Not by moral character (1 Cor 4:4)

B. Not by works of the law (Rom 3:20)

C. Judicially by God (Rom 8:33)

D. Cause of Grace (Rom 3:24)

E. Awarded by Christ by His Death (Rom 5:9)

F. Readily Perceived by His Resurrection (Rom 4:5)

G. Mediated by Faith (Rom 5:1)

H. Evidenced by Works (James 2:14,24)

3. The Results of Justification

A. Freedom from Incrimination (Rom 8:1, 33,34)

B. Peace with God (Rom 5:1)

C. Assurance and Realization of Future Glorification (Titus 3:7)

That's it for Justification. Next is Sanctification. Before we look at it, I am going to break down what each side agrees on and doesn't agree on.

To be continued...

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 7

2009-10-17T21:12:00.001-07:00

The Meaning of Faith

1. In Relation to Salvation

a. Believing the Gospel of Christ (Rom 1:16)
This is the power of God unto salvation.

b. Receiving the Christ of the Gospel (John 1:12)
Those that believe on Him will receive the power to become the son's and daughter's of God.

2. In Relation to God

a. To Believe God or Trust His Word (John 5:24)
We rely on the truth of God's testimony.

b. To Believe in God or Trust Him (John 14:1)
To rely on God Himself.

3. In Relation to Prayer

a. Assurance of God's Power to Fulfill His Word (Jer 32:17)

b. Assurance of God's Will as Revealed in His Word (John15:7)

c. Assurance of God's Answer Promised in His Word. (1 John 5:14,15)

4. In Relation to Works

a. Faith the Cause; Works the Effect (James 2:20-26)
This is likened to the domino effect. Faith is what tips the first domino. The dominoes themselves are our works. The action taking place is Sanctification. This is the fruit of salvation.

b. Faith the Claim; Works the Evidence (James 2:14,18)
One that professes to know Christ will show evidence through his works. This again, is why the “Carnal Christian” excuse does not work. Works are the evidence of your faith. You can give God lip service all you want, but believers will know by the fruit you bare. When you have no conviction when to things that are associated with filth like, drinking, fornicating, watching things that you know Christ would not watch or say things you know Christ would not say, I would check yourself. If the Holy Spirit dwells within you, as you claim, He will be appalled at what He sees, therefore convicting you of this filth in your life. You will see change. Do we occasionally stumble? Yes. Are we perfect? No. But there are some blatant things that you see these “so called” Carnal Christians doing that you know if the Holy Spirit dwells within them, He would be having a fit! And yet, they continue on and on with no conviction. What people don't understand is that it is God that does the work. To say that they (The Carnal Ones) can go on about their lives doing whatever they what renders our God powerless. He grants saving faith. He opens your eyes. He starts a work in you. He finishes His work in you. He grants you grace. He grants you salvation. It is all about Him. It has nothing to do with you. Then these people have this cute little saying to justify their sin, “Well, I'm just a backslider.” What they are saying is that that have no sorrow for sinning against God. When they do have sorrow, it's about how they look, instead of how they made God look.

5. In Relation to Its Possessor

a. Intellectual-Involving the Assent of the Mind (Rom 10:14-17)
The Gospel is not so much a promise or a covenant as it is a message, a proclamation. It is the “good news” of God concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. And true faith is the belief of that good news. This good news is historical and factual. Faith always follows fact. “Fact, faith, feeling – this is God's order...Fact leads, Faith with its eye on fact, following, and Feeling, with the eye on faith, bringing up the rear...Feed Faith with Facts, not with Feeling.” (A.T. Pierson in W. Evans, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, p 150)

b. Emotional-Involving the Response of the Heart (Rom 10:9,10)
An intellectual assent to Christ as Savior is insufficient. There must be a heart response to Him as my Savior which springs from a sense of realized need and deep-seated desire. The emotional element is essential.

c. Volitional-Involving Consent of the Will (John 1:12)
Faith not only receives the word of Christ, it reaches out and lays hold upon the person of Christ. There is a will to believe. Faith is not passive, but it is the consent of the will to the confession of the mind. It is putting the intellectual belief and the emotional desire into action along the line indicated by both.

No one or two elements are sufficient. All are necessary to the possession and the expression of a genuine faith.

To be continued...

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 6

2009-10-14T21:59:00.000-07:00

Faith- By definition there are two types, Natural Faith and Spiritual Faith. Natural faith all people possess in varying degrees. This is insufficient , however, to meet the moral and spiritual needs of man or the requirements of God. Spiritual faith is possessed by believers only. It is the belief or confidence, possessed by regenerate believers in varying degrees, which rest upon the knowledge of God and His will obtained through revelation and personal experience.

There are five essentials that show us the importance of Faith

1. Essential to a Right Relationship with God (Heb 11:6)
Why is it essential? Hebrews 11:6 says, without it, it is impossible to please him. For him that come to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

2. Essential as the Main Requirement in Christ's Dealings with Man (Matt 8:10;15:28)
He compliments man on his faith. It is required to come to Him.

3. Essential to Saving Man from the Wrath of God (John 3:36)
Those that believe on the Son have life. Those that don't, the wrath of God abides with them. How would you like God's Wrath on your head? Well, if you are not truly saved, His Wrath IS on your head!

4. Essential to the Normal Christian Life (Rom 1:17)
God's righteousness is revealed from faith and the just shall live by faith.

5. Essential as a Foundation of Character and a Fruit-filled Life (2 Peter 1:3-8)
You will know most believers by their fruit. This passage of scripture is another that contradicts the “Carnal Christian” heresy. Verse three says:”According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,” Let's look at this. He has given us, as true believers, all things that pertain to life and godliness. What things are those? Look at v. 5. Faith (as your foundation), add virtue.

What is virtue? It is a conformity to a standard of right; Morality. So if morality leads to life and godliness, what does immorality lead to? Death and wickedness. Which means we disobey His command of virtue if we are not obedient to His command of virtue. What after virtue? Knowledge.

What is knowledge? It applies to facts or ideas acquired by study, investigation, observation, or experience. So we will be in His word, gaining knowledge about Him and He will reveal His truth. Hmm. After knowledge is temperance.

What is temperance?Moderation; particularly, habitual moderation in regard to the indulgence of the natural appetites and passions; restrained or moderate indulgence. After temperance? Patience.

What is Patience? The suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness. Patience may spring from constitutional fortitude, from a kind of heroic pride, or from christian submission to the divine will. After patience? Godliness.

What is godliness? A religious life; a careful observance of the laws of God and performance of religious duties, proceeding from love and reverence for the divine character and commands; christian obedience. That is profound. Obedience to His way of life. That is godliness! Wow! After godliness? Brotherly kindness.

What is brotherly kindness? We have to break this one in two. First, brotherly. Pertaining to brothers; such as is natural for brothers; becoming brothers; kind; affectionate; as brotherly love. And kindness? Good will; benevolence; that temper or disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes, supplying their wants or alleviating their distresses; benignity of nature. Kindness ever accompanies love. After brotherly kindness? Charity.

What is charity? In a general sense, love, benevolence, good will; that disposition of heart which inclines men to think favorably of their fellow men to think favorably of their fellow men, and to do them good. In a theological sense, it includes supreme love to God, and universal good will to men.

Why were they given to us? Look at verse 8. “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

So what Peter is saying is if you are a child of God, you WILL bare fruit. There will be evidence. Your walk proves it.

1 John 2:3-5, (which is another passage that contradicts this heresy) declares: “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

To be continued....

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 5

2009-10-13T01:21:00.000-07:00

Wow! This one took some work, but by the Grace of God I am getting somewhere.

In order to really put this heresy to rest, we need to look at the doctrine of salvation, soteriology, and get a grasp on this comprehensive term and it's many aspects. There are six basic aspects that we need to look at: Regeneration, Repentance, Faith, Justification, Sanctification and Prayer.

Let's now take a look at the word salvation, and its meaning within the proper context. The word “salvation” is the translation of the Greek word soteria which is derived from the word soter meaning “savior.” The word “salvation” communicates the thought of deliverance, safety, preservation, soundness, restoration, and healing. In theology, however, its major use is to denote a work of God on behalf of men, and as such it is a major doctrine of the Bible which includes redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, conviction, repentance, faith, regeneration, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, preservation, and glorification. On the one hand, salvation is described as the work of God rescuing man from his lost estate. On the other hand salvation describes the estate of a man who has been saved and who is vitally renewed and made a partaker of the inheritance of the saints.

Regeneration- Both Faith and Repentance is required for Regeneration. Regeneration is God working in, and conversion is man working out, his salvation in repentance and faith. Repentance is turning from sin, Faith is turning to Christ. These two are inseparable. It has been best said that repentance is faith in action and faith is repentance at rest.

Repentance, by definition is a change in mind or view concerning one's obligation to the will and word of God. The Bible Dictionary quotes it as follows: repentance consists of (1) a true sense of one's own guilt and sinfulness; (2) an apprehension of God's mercy in Christ; (3) an actual hatred of sin (Ps. 119:128; Job 42:5, 6; 2 Cor. 7:10) and turning from it to God; and (4) a persistent endeavour after a holy life in a walking with God in the way of his commandments. The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Ps. 51:4, 9), of pollution (51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (51:11; 109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be. But repentance comprehends not only such a sense of sin, but also an apprehension of mercy, without which there can be no true repentance (Ps. 51:1; 130:4).

It is the first aspect of the believer's initial experience of salvation, i.e. conversion. True conversion is an essential part and proof of regeneration.

Proof of a True Conversion is a hatred for sin (Ps 97:10), sorrow for sin (2 Cor 7:9), Confession of sin (Ps 32:3-5) Its twofold: To God (Luke 15:21) and To Man (James 5:16) and forsaking of sin (Prov 28:13)

Method of Repentance

The Divine Side (Acts 11:18) God is the one who grants us repentance.

The Human Side: Accomplished Through Means:

Through the Ministry of the Word: The very gospel that calls for it, produces it (Acts 2:36,38,41).

Through the Goodness of God (Rom 2 :4)The goodness of God leads man to repentance.

Through Reproof and Chastisement (Rev 3:19) This is proof of God's love for us.

To be continued...

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 4

2009-10-10T22:31:00.000-07:00

They were all making idols out of secondary causes and forgetting the first Cause where the glory should lie. Instead of saying, "We are Christ's disciples" and uniting together in Christ they made parties and said, "We are Paul's--he founded the church." "But Apollos is more eloquent than the Apostle and he edifies us more. We have gone beyond Paul, therefore, we are of Apollos." And a third party said, "We are of Peter." Ah, but they were forgetting that these were men and only laborers in God's farm and they all labored together with God. This was causing "envying, strife and division"(3:3). They were carnal, they were acting like the unregenerate; therefore, in this area of their lives they were carnal.

The carnality evidenced itself in their factions over the different servants of Christ (cf. 1:11, 12; 3:3-5,21, 22). In 3:1-4 Paul charges them for their carnality and division. He then instructs them on how to correct that which was wrong.

1. Their ministers were only ministers (3:5).
2. All these ministers carried on the same design and purpose (3:6-10).
3. The ministers were building on the same foundation (3:11-15).
4. The great apostle exhorts them not to glory in particular ministers because they should have an equal interest in all true ministers. "All are yours and you are Christ's" (3:22, 23).

In 1 Cor. 3, the Apostle resumes the subject of contention mentioned in 1:11-13. Chapter 3 is a transition from the defense of his mode of preaching (chapter 2) to the subject of their divisions (3:1-5). The true relationship of ministers to the church is as servants and not party leaders. Their dissensions and divisions were in reference to their religious teachers. The Apostle tried to correct this by showing the true place of the ministerial office.

• Ministers were servants without any authority or power of their own. One may plant, another may water BUT ONLY GOD can give the increase (3:5-7).
• Ministers are one - they have one master, one work - just different departments in the great work- like fellow laborers on the same farm or fellow-builders building the same temple (3:8, 9).
• In discharging their duty they have a great responsibility as to how they build and what they build (3:10-15).
• Because the church of God is the temple of God ministers will be held accountable for the doctrine they teach and preach in executing their duties (3:16, 17).
• No minister should deceive himself. He cannot preach a higher wisdom than the wisdom of God, and to learn that wisdom he must renounce his own (3:18-20).

The Apostle is not setting up three categories of men. He knows only two classes of men--natural and spiritual. "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14).

Under the term "natural" the great Apostle includes all those persons who are not partakers of the Spirit of God. If the Spirit of God has not given to them a new and higher nature than they ever possessed by their natural birth, he puts them in one class of natural men.

Those who are "spiritual" may be but babes in grace and babes in knowledge. Their faith may be weak. Their love may be in its early bud; their spiritual senses may be little exercised; their faults may be in excess of their virtues, but if the root of the matter is in them they have passed from death unto life-- passed out of the region of nature into that which is beyond nature--then Paul puts them in another class--all of them are spiritual men. In 1 Cor. 2:14-16 he does not make THREE categories. The difference is that the spiritual receive the things of the Spirit, embrace them with delight, and feed upon them with intense satisfaction.

These Christians were imperfectly sanctified, as are all Christians. Paul is not setting up a third group that is characterized by carnality in every area of their lives, who demonstrate that the bent of their lives is not Christian.

The Scripture knows only two places--heaven and hell; two ways--the narrow way that leads to life and the broad way that leads to destruction; two principles of walk--the Spirit principle and the flesh principle. 1 Cor. 3:1-4 is not expounding a general doctrine but reproving a specific out-cropping of carnality in a certain place. Therefore, we must be true to Scripture and not misinterpret and misapply certain texts to accommodate miserable human performance. "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). This is a biblical description of a Christian: the essence of a Christian, "in Christ;" the effects of being in Christ, "a new creature;" the evidence of being in Christ, "old things pass away and all things become new." There is no place here for two categories of Christians.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 We will now consider 1 Cor. 3:10-15. There are a few passages of Scripture to which more numerous and more contradictory explanations have been given than this passage (1 Cor.3:10-15). In 1 Cor. 2 the great apostle is defending his apostleship; the whole context from 1 Cor. 2:1 to 4:15, however, has to do with ministers and how they are meant to build the church. In 3:7 he makes it very clear that the real cause of gospel success is not the instruments (preachers or teachers) "but God [who] gives the increase." In 3:10 and 4:15 he points out that he did the most important part on the human side--he laid the foundation, but he is quick to warn them not to glory in men (3:21-23).

So, as you can see, nowhere in in Scripture can you justify a Carnal Christian. But, the Bible does tell us what carnality is to God in Romans 8:4-8:

4That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Wow! That's powerful. That contradicts everything that these people believe. If you are one of the followers of this doctrine, I beg you to take heed to this warning from Scripture: The carnal mind is enmity against God!

Next, we will talk about Justification, Regeneration and Sanctification.

To be continued...

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 3

2009-10-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

We need to see the three important facts about the teaching. First, we note again that it divides all men into three classes or categories. With this fact none of its proponents disagree, though they may present it differently and apply it differently. Secondly, one class is the "Christian" who "walks after the flesh". The center of his life is self, and he is the same as the unrenewed man as far as his life is concerned. Thirdly, all those who accept this view use 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 to support it. Consequently, if it can be established that the Scripture teaches only two classes or categories of men--regenerate and unregenerate, converted and unconverted, those in Christ and those outside of Christ--the non-lordship position will be shown to be a heresy.

Allow me to stop right here and say what I am not saying: I am not saying that we, as believers, do not do In this study of the "Carnal Christian" theory I am not overlooking the teaching of the Bible about sin in Christians, about babes in Christ, about growth in grace and about the divine chastisement which Christians receive. I acknowledge that there are babes in Christ. In fact there are not only babes in Christ, but there are different stages of "babyhood" in understanding divine truth and in spiritual growth. I also recognize that there is a sense in which Christians may be said to be carnal, but I must add that there are different degrees of carnality. Every Christian is carnal in some area of his life at many times in his life--"the flesh lusteth against the Spirit" (Gal. 5:17). All the marks of Christianity are not equally apparent in all Christians. Nor are any of these marks manifest to the same degree in every period of any Christian's life. Love, faith, obedience, and devotion will vary in the same Christian in different periods of his Christian experience; in other words, there are many degrees of sanctification. The Christian's progress in growth is not constant and undisturbed. There are many hills and valleys in the process of sanctification; and there are many stumblings, falls and crooked steps in the pathway to the Celestial City. There are examples in the Bible of grievous falls and carnality in the lives of true believers. Thus we have the warnings of temporal judgment and of chastisement by our heavenly Father. These truths are all acknowledged and are not the point of this present study. The question we have to consider is: Does the Bible divide Christians into two categories? This is the issue at the heart of the "Carnal Christian" teaching.

The Strong's Concordance has two words in the Greek for carnal:

Sarkikos- Greek for carnal
1.fleshly, carnal
2.having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites
3.governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God
4.having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature
5.human: with the included idea of depravity
6.pertaining to the flesh
7.to the body: related to birth, linage, etc

Sarx-Greek for carnal
1.flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts
2.the body
3.the body of a man
4.used of natural or physical origin, generation or relationship
5.born of natural generation
6.the sensuous nature of man, "the animal nature"
7.without any suggestion of depravity
8.the animal nature with cravings which incite to sin
9.the physical nature of man as subject to suffering
10.a living creature (because possessed of a body of flesh) whether man or beast
11.the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God

Before we get into the text in which they justify carnal Christianity, we need to understand how to interpret Scripture. I shall quote a church father: "If you only have one Scripture on which to base an important doctrine or teaching you are most likely to find, on close examination, that you have none." This is the only verse they use. In light of all of this, you need to remember three things: Context, Context, Context.

Consider the context of 1 Cor. 3:1-4., "For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says,`I am of Paul,' or `I am of Apollos,' or `I am of Christ'(1 Cor. 1:11, 12).

"For when one says, `I am of Paul,' and another, `I am of Apollos,' are you not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase" (1 Cor. 3:4-6).

"Therefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come - all are yours. And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's" (1 Cor. 3:21-23).

"Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other" (1 Cor. 4:1, 6).

It is very important to see that this whole section of 1 Cor. 2:14-4:15 is dealing principally with one problem--schism. And like all the other problems in this letter, such as, defrauding one another, the disorder at the Lord's Table, etc., it is the result of carnality, or more accurately, a result of the remaining principle of sin in all believers.

These problems illustrate Paul's teaching in Rom. 7:21-23. "I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members."

Some of the Corinthian Christians had attached themselves to one of the great Christian teachers or preachers and some attached themselves to another, thus setting up rival leaders of opposing parties. Some would follow Paul, some admired Apollos, and others extolled Peter.

"Now I say this, that each of you says, `I am of Paul,' or `I am of Apollos,' or `I am of Cephas,' or `I am of Christ' (1 Cor. 1:12).

"For when one says, `I am of Paul,' and another, `I am of Apollos,' are you not carnal?" (1 Cor. 3:4).

"Therefore let no one glory in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come--all are yours" (1 Cor. 3:21, 22, cf. 1:12; 3:4,21, 22).

To be continued...

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 2

2009-10-09T23:04:00.000-07:00

2. Popularity. Pastors and teachers today are so caught up in this old high school popularity contest where it is all about your name and being accepted by everyone that you water down the Scriptures, give feel good messages, and motivational speeches rather than expounding on the Word of God. This is also the health and wealth teachers, like Joel Osteen, Rob Bell and Joyce Meyers. The sad part is that there are a lot of people who are now in hell because of the false gospel preached by these teachers. This so called “Christianity” is a business, not a ministry that pulls people from the fire of hell. These people make Jesus their Holy ATM or Holy Vending Machine. They make Jesus out to be their servant and strip Him of His Highness, His Sovereignty and His Glory . The Apostle Paul would be appalled. This gospel would be a disgrace to him. We see in Scriptures the judgment of God on the hearers of these teachers. He gives their followers over to these types of teachings because this is what they want. The Scriptures declare:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Most true believers know of these teachers and try to avoid them. These teachers are a concern, but not the ones that I am truly worried about. It is teachers that teach this “Carnal Christian” doctrine that concerns me. It is teachers like Tony Evans, Billy Graham, Luis Palau, Charles Stanley, Charles Ryrie, Chuck Swindoll, Chuck Smith, Bill Bright, to name a few. We need to take heed and separate from these teachers.

3. Fear of the unsaved sitting in the pews. Why would a pastor fear them? Well, let's look at the circumstance. First, in an average sized church in America, a pastor gets paid pretty good. They also enjoy outreach, missions, having a ton of staff and a huge building. Knowing this, they need a lot of members to give money. The more members, the more money. Now, statistically, most are unregenerate. So, if they preach the word as they are commanded to, demanding a Godly lifestyle, holiness, sanctification, prayer and fasting, they would lose the majority of the congregation. Thus, no money! So the unsaved control the pulpit. Let me just state I am not saying there are not some Bible Believing Churches with a very large portion of the congregation saved, but I'm talking about the other majority.

Let's look at the history behind this heresy. This doctrine that there were these two types of Christians - spiritual Christians and carnal Christians - gained popularity in the American evangelical world first through the notes of the influential Scofield Reference Bible.

In its note at 1 Cor. 2:14, the Scofield Bible taught this to generations of American evangelicals:

Paul divides men into three classes: natural, i.e. the Adamic man, unrenewed through the new birth…; spiritual, i.e. the renewed man as Spirit-filled and walking in the Spirit in full communion with God…; and carnal, i.e. the renewed man who, walking 'after the flesh,' remains a babe in Christ. … the carnal Christian is able to comprehend only the simplest truths of Scripture, 'milk.'

In other words, the editors of the Scofield Reference Bible thought that Paul was, in these verses at the end of chapter two and the beginning of chapter three, laying down a tripartite division of the human race: unbelievers and two types of believers, spiritual ones and carnal ones. In all of this, the Scofield Bible was building on the teaching about the Christian life that had become common in what was called the "Higher Life" movement. The teachers of that movement often made a distinction between spiritual Christians and carnal Christians, even if they didn't always use that terminology. Geoffrey Thomas wrote that it was the 1909 Scofield Reference Bible which popularized "an antithesis between law and grace so that the believer was alleged to be no longer under the constraints of the moral law. Those Bible footnotes made respectable the 'carnal Christian' hypothesis which has been so detrimental to godliness amongst those who profess the faith."

When Lewis Sperry Chafer wrote He That Is Spiritual (1918) it was extremely controversial. He wrote that a believer could be a new creation and yet remain a carnal Christian without any change in character. He stated that the carnal Christian is characterized by a walk that is on the same plane as that of the natural man. Today that teaching is commonly accepted.

That teaching and the name of the "carnal Christian," was further popularized in the second half of the 20th century by Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade International, in a number of books and pamphlets. This teaching of the two types of Christians became, as a result, still more controversial. When the idea of the carnal Christian was found prominently in the materials of a great evangelical organization devoted to campus evangelism, many felt the wrong signal was being sent to the unbeliever. If the unbeliever hears that he has a choice of becoming either a spiritual Christian or a carnal Christian - that is, that, if he wants to, he can secure the forgiveness of his sins and entrance into eternal life by bare belief without ever having to surrender his life to Christ or dramatically alter his behavior - many unbelievers naturally will opt for becoming carnal Christians, profess some sort of faith in Jesus, but never become his disciples. Are they not being told that they can have salvation and the world at the same time, they can have eternal life and their sins at the same time? They can have Christ as their Savior - and this is how it was often put - but not as their Lord?

Today you have scores of pastors teaching this very heresy from the pulpit, deceiving many and damning them to hell.

I have given you reasons as to why this heresy is taught, it's history and the teaching itself. Next we will get into the context of the single scripture verse in which this doctrine was built around.

To be continued...

The "Carnal Christian" Heresy and the Church Part 1

2009-10-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

This could turn out to be a very lengthy blog, so I will do my best to break it up into pieces. I've been told some of the entries are too long. Sorry for that. But I feel this topic is vitally important to the health of the Church in America. This teaching has spread like wildfire throughout the world now, and we as true believers need to know how to combat it. I will do my best to give you the history surrounding it, the teaching itself and the some of the results of it (although I know there are many, many more). So, thank you for your patience and your interest in this topic.

Over the last few weeks, I have been trying to nail down, through rigorous study, the reasons as to why there are few regenerate Christians sitting in the pews of our churches. It seems when a person teaches or preaches on topics that deal with our sin, people make excuses FOR their sin instead of making war AGAINST their sin. As I mentioned in the last blog, the world seems to know more about what the is required in the Christian walk more than the Christian does. One of the most common arguments against Christianity is this very thing: Hypocrisy. We say one thing and do another. The World is watching YOU & I!

Well, I praise the Lord in that He has graciously opened my eyes to the answer of this problem and now I am excited yet fearful to share it with you. First, I want to warn you. The answer is going to do one of three things: bring you to repentance because of your lifestyle, make you angry for exposing this heresy and quite possibly your need for true salvation or it will answer this question for you and make you say, "AMEN!" I really want to try to walk on eggshells here and say that I believe close to 99% or more of the Church either truly believes in this teaching or has been affected by it in some way. So, this is not a topic you can easily talk about without the fear of a backlash. But, I must press on, and premise this by saying that I fear the Lord and only want to communicate His truths. For James 3:1 says:

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

The word master means teacher. So those that teach are held to a greater responsibility and greater judgment. So, I teach this with all fear and trembling before the One Almighty God.

This teaching is the heresy of the "Carnal Christian." This teaching goes a little something like this and I will quote from Albert Martin's sermon, The Carnal Christian Heresy:

Now what is the doctrine? The doctrine is basically this, that there are three kinds of people in the world, and they generally take it from 1 Corinthians 2 and 3 where you find these three words occurring, natural man, carnal man and spiritual man. This is usually the way in which the doctrine is presented. People who have never received Jesus Christ are natural men. They are sinners by nature and by practice, they are dead in their sins and have no knowledge of God. This is true; this is the Bible doctrine of human depravity.

Then they say the next class of people is the carnal man. This is the man or woman who has received Jesus as his savior, he believes that Christ died on the cross for him, and believing that he has been made a child of God, but, (listen carefully), you never know he is a child of God because although he is saved by the blood of Jesus he lives just like natural man. He lives addicted to the flesh, to the world and to self. You cannot discern the fruit of the Spirit or any pursuit of holiness, but you must not ever call him an unregenerate unsaved man because he has accepted Jesus. He is a man who is saved from hell but who is not yet saved from himself. And so this is the carnal man, the man who is saved but still living like he was not saved.

Then there is the third man. He is the spiritual man, the one who has not only been saved, but the one who has received Christ as his Lord after he has received him as his Savior. He has learned how to walk in the Spirit and you can see real evidence of Jesus Christ living out his life in him. This is the spiritual man.

But when you ask them, well how about this carnal man? Suppose he should die? Oh well, he will be saved so as by fire, he will lose some rewards, but because he has accepted Jesus he'll go to heaven. And then when they try to deal with this carnal man, here is the way that they deal with it, they say listen, it is not right for you to be carnal. Don't you know you will be ashamed when Jesus comes? You ought to be a spiritual man. And they present holiness as a very nice thing, and as necessary if he is going to be a good testimony, and if he is going to have rewards. But holiness is not essential to his salvation. Holiness is not an essential proof that he is saved. And so this man called the carnal man is told he ought to be holy, but he really need not be holy. If he is not holy he might lose some rewards and lose some blessings here and now, but he will still sneak into the gate, and he will make it to glory. Now this is basically the Carnal Christian Doctrine. This, I believe, is an accurate portrayal of this doctrine, a man who is saved but still walks in the flesh.

So there it is. You can have justification with no regeneration or sanctification. Now my purpose is to seek to examine this doctrine in the light of the God's Holy Word because I feel in my own heart that you and I have been brought up in a generation when this doctrine has been popularized by many popular contemporary teachers. I don't believe for some intentionally, but for others it is an intentional teaching for one of three reason: numbers, popularity or fear of the unsaved sitting in the pews.

1. Numbers. There are churches in this country that are all about numbers and megachurch status. They believe that the more members they have, the more God is moving there. This is a false analogy. God can choose to use a church of three or a church of ten thousand. Size does not matter. Faithfulness, obedience and holiness do. I can almost guarantee if we examined the congregations in these churches in light of the Scriptures, there you will find many, probably most are false converts that believe in a false gospel. These are the ones that go to the teacher and/or preacher and complain about the "harshness" of the preaching or teaching. This takes place on both ends of the spectrum of Christendom, conservative to liberal.

Most people are thinking of the health-and-wealth-prosperity-gospel-type-churches as they read this. Yes, I am talking about them, too, but this is happening in the most conservative of churches, also. You see, numbers can have various motives. It could be money, health, etc. But it can also mean status and pride. Let me give you an example.

In a church I attended (and shortly left thereafter), it was a very conservative church, the pastor's 30 year anniversary of being pastor of that church was going to be celebrated. When asked what he wanted, he said,"I want to see thirty people saved and baptized every week for ten weeks." Wow! Can this happen? Well, if the Lord was truly moving there, it could. Was He? Well, let me finish the story. So ten leaders where chosen, each one given a week that was declared their responsibility for seeing the thirty souls saved and baptized. How would these leaders accomplish such a great feat? Maybe through evangelism, prayer and fasting, begging the Lord to move? No. It had nothing to do with the Lord. It had ALL to do with pleasing this man. Here is what happened. They would have big events, like carnival rides and helicopter rides and pizza and ice cream and direct it all towards children! What a brilliant idea! Then, in order for them to participate, all they would have to do is profess with their mouth the Lord Jesus and promise to be baptized and then they could partake in the events! Wow! Ice Cream for Jesus! What a concept! Actually, this is a great blasphemy! They wanted numbers to put another niche on there belts so they could brag of all the converts they had. You see this today with modern evangelist, also. You will look on there websites and see how many decisions for Christ they had at the last crusade. It is just something to add to the resume. Here in lies the problem with numbers. First, to my recollection, there was something like 450 decisions and baptisms during those ten weeks. Praise God, right? Wrong. Our congregation did not grow by one. Why? Because they were given a false gospel. They were told, "All you have to do is accept Jesus as Lord and be baptized and you can have some ice cream." Well, guess what? If I was 6 years old and told all I have to do is 2 things to get ice cream, you better believe I'm going after that ice cream! They just created 450 unregenerate sinners that believe they are going to heaven, never hearing a true Gospel message. This is what the motivation for numbers can do. Is it wrong to want a big congregation? No. Am I saying that? No. What I am saying is that it is in our motives.

To be continued...

The Church Walking with the World: A Poem By by Matilda C. Edwards

2009-10-02T00:42:00.000-07:00

The Church and the World walked far apart
On the changing shores of time,
The World was singing a giddy song,
And the Church a hymn sublime.
“Come, give me your hand,” said the merry World,
“And walk with me this way!”
But the faithful Church hid her gentle hands
And solemnly answered “Nay!
I will not give you my hand at all,
And I will not walk with you;
Your way is the way that leads to death;
Your words are all untrue.”
“Nay, walk with me but a little space,”
Said the World with a kindly air;
“The road I walk is a pleasant road,
And the sun shines always there.
Your path is thorny and rough and rude,
But mine is broad and plain;
My way is paved with flowers and dews,
And yours with tears and pain.
The sky to me is always blue,
No want, no toil I know;
The sky above you is always dark,
Your lot is a lot of woe.
There’s room enough for you and me
To travel side by side.”
Half shyly the Church approached the World
And gave him her hand of snow;
And the old World grasped it and walked along,
Saying, in accents low:
“Your dress is too simple to please my taste;
I will give you pearls to wear,
Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,
And diamonds to deck your hair.”
The Church looked down at her plain white robes,
And then at the dazzling World,
And blushed as she saw his handsome lip
With a smile contemptuous curled.
“I will change my dress for a costlier one,”
Said the Church, with a smile of grace;
Then her pure white garments drifted away,
And the World gave, in their place,
Beautiful satins and shining silks,
Roses and gems and costly pearls;
While over her forehead her bright hair fell
Crisped in a thousand curls.
“Your house is too plain,” said the proud old World,
“I’ll build you one like mine;
With walls of marble and towers of gold,
And furniture ever so fine.”
So he built her a costly and beautiful house;
Most splendid it was to behold;
Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there
Gleaming in purple and gold.
Rich fairs and shows in the halls were held,
And the World and his children were there.
Laughter and music and feasts were heard
In the place that was meant for prayer.
There-were cushioned seats for the rich and the gay,
To sit in their pomp and pride;
But the poor who were clad in shabby array,
Sat meekly down outside.
“You give too much to the poor,” said the World.
“Far more than you ought to do;
If they are in need of shelter and food,
Why need it trouble you?
Go, take your money and buy rich robes,
Buy horses and carriages fine;
Buy pearls and jewels and dainty food,
Buy the rarest and costliest wine.
My children, they dote on all these things,
And if you their love would win
You must do as they do, and walk in the ways
That they are walking in.”
So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,
And she heard not the orphan’s cry;
But she drew her beautiful robes aside,
As the widows went weeping by.
Then the sons of the World and the Sons of the Church
Walked closely hand and heart,
And only the Master, who knoweth all,
Could tell the two apart.
Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,
“I am rich and my goods increase;
I have need of nothing, or aught to do,
But to laugh, and dance, and feast.”
The sly World heard, and he laughed in his sleeve,
And mockingly said, aside:
“The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church;
And her shame is her boast and her pride.”
The angel drew near to the mercy seat,
And whispered in sighs her name;
Then the loud anthems of rapture were hushed,
And heads were covered with shame.
And a voice was heard at last by the Church
From Him who sat on the throne:
“I know thy works, and how thou hast said,
‘I am rich, and hast not known
That thou art naked, poor and blind,
And wretched before my face;’
Therefore from my presence cast I thee out,
And blot thy name from its place.”

I had to post it because it fits so well with the last post. But, it is the Whole Truth - Joe

The Church vs. The World - Is there a difference?

2009-10-01T22:58:00.000-07:00

To simply answer this question, there should be. Here is the real question, can the world tell us apart from them? I was reading my new Answers Magazine, and I came across an article by Ed Stetzer and Jason Hayes, entitled: Reaching Twenty-Somethings. In it, Jason is telling a story about being on an airplane and talking to three individuals about small talk, trying to warm them up to spiritual things. He said he brought up the issue of faith and the dialogue turned from positive to negative in a hurry. He says they began to share their experiences with the local church and he said that the sad thing is that their feelings often seemed justified. He said he just sat there and listened and wondered what he could do to reach this generation.

He says, "As I sat there, I wondered how we can reach their generation. Traditional approaches - like inviting them to church - don't seem to get very far. A quick chat on an airplane isn't very effective either. While I wanted to believe that an articulate argument or a heartfelt plea would suffice, I couldn't help but conclude that something more was necessary."

I can help but stop here and say that what he says next is so true, yet never taken serious. The problem is that people say Amen! when they should be saying Ouch!

He goes on to say,"In fact, I came to a very simple and yet profound conclusion. The thing that would draw this generation to Christ and His Church would be is His people were actually committed to Christ, and if the Church actually functioned how God intended it to."

He has hit the nail on the head. Here in lies the problem. 1.(This means myself included) The very persons reading this blog are probably the ones say Amen! May I say that YOU are the very person that this article is talking about. The Church in America is in a definite need of repentance. We need to get back to our first love. The few of us in this country that feel we are doing what we need to and the Lord will be pleased with our contributions to His kingdom are the very one's who need to repent! It starts with us. If the Church sees our examples, then maybe, just maybe, we can take back our country. Even if we don't, the worst case scenario is that we will have a greater reward in heaven.
What will it take? Well, first may I say when the world is surveyed and asked what there problem is with Christians today and the number one answer is hypocrisy, you know there is a problem. When the world knows what is required for Godliness and the Church can't seem to grasp it, you should know this is a huge problem! I understand the excuse and justification of the fact that we are all hypocrites, but, the world should notice a change in us. If the world can't tell you apart from them, I would question your very salvation. Look back on the last year. Are you still doing what you were last year as far as your dealing with and conquering sin? What about the last five, ten or even twenty years? No real change? Be honest with yourself. When someone preaches or teaches on a subject that deals with your sin, do you recognize it as a warning from God or do you justify your sin with a list of excuses? If you haven't truly seen fruit, I would honestly question myself. If these questions are answered in the negative, again I would seek God in repentance.

For those of you that think you squeaked through these questions with an affirmative answer, well I have a challenge to you. I ask you to take the Bible test of your Godliness. Start with reading my blog on suffering for His name. Then, be sincere and honest when reading Scriptures like 1 Timothy 3:12 which declares,"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.' All that live GODLY WILL SUFFER! Question yourself and your faithfulness to Christ! If you think you are truly living Godly than a good test is to see if you are suffering persecution. It's the same when you read the Beatitudes. Matthew 5:10 says:"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." A real test of your faith is persecution. Jesus' phrase in the beatitude, "for righteousness' sake," calls upon us to examine ourselves honestly before God both before and after we are opposed. In I Peter 4:12-16, Peter, like Jesus, perceives persecution as inevitable and therefore a Christian should expect it. Since a disciple is not above His Master, a follower can hardly expect to escape some form of what the Master received. Persecution is aggressive and injurious behavior carried out in a hostile, antagonistic spirit, normally by a group, but occasionally by one individual toward another. Jesus, the epitome of righteousness, is also the focal point of persecution. Are you following in the Master's footsteps? This takes a heart that is truly prepared to surrender all to Christ and to trust Him in all things. In today's self-centered, self-seeking, what's in it for me culture, this is a hard pill to swallow. If you have a burden to see the Church restored, then it is through suffering. Think about it. What was the largest factor in the growth of the Church during the time of the Apostles? Persecution. Can you picture it if we took these Scriptures serious? Can you just imagine what could happen? How powerful!

So, I plead with you and encourage you to prepare your heart and mind to complete submission to Christ. I just want to say, do it for your King. He died for you, are you willing to die for Him? Does this mean you are going to die for the faith? No. Can you expect suffering? You better believe it! Are you suffering for Him today? This is the Whole Truth - Joe

This is so good, I have to post it myself!

2009-09-29T15:13:00.000-07:00

Those of us involved in the pro-life movement probably won’t find this video all that shocking. However, pro-choice advocates (and those who voted for president Obama) will probably find this video offensive... and that’s okay. Those who support abortion must be challenged; they must be forced to answer the question posed by this video. Voddie Baucham

Check out the video here.

http://www.popmodal.com/video/3100/Shocking-unforgettable-Pro-Life-film-Its-The-Same-Thing

Seeing is Believing, or is it?

2009-09-28T21:49:00.000-07:00

As we talk to unbelievers about our faith, one of the most common things that you come across is that age old argument of empiricalism, that is "In order for me to believe, I would have to touch, taste, feel, smell or hear from God." Well, sadly this isn't the case. Even if a majority of people see with their own eyes a great manifestation of epic proportion they would still doubt. We see this very thing time and time again in the Bible. Let's look at the resurrection of Christ in Matthew 28:

Matthew 28:11-17 (King James Version)

11Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

12And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

13Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

14And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

15So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

16Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

17And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.

Wow! Let's look at this a little closer. Here we have Jesus showing Himself to people as The Christ, who has power over death, and some still doubted! These are people who have seen the miracles, they walked with Him and talked with Him, they even watched Him die on the cross! Knowing full well that he had died, was buried, and I'm sure they heard Him talk about His resurrection, and they still doubted when He appeared to them. How profound. Do you really think that if He was to do the same today that people would believe? They say "If only I had a sign, saw a miracle or showed Himself to me, then I would believe, then I would become a Christian." What nonsense. Think of being there with Jesus as whithered hands are restored, blind men healed, demons cast out, water turned to wine, walking on water, calming storms, raising the dead, and so much more! And you still doubt?!? Talk about a hardened heart! Think about how many people saw these things take place. Did they bow down and worship Him? No. They are the ones who wanted Him dead! How crazy is that! It reminds me of what Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:12, "If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?" It's not that they don't have the evidence. It's that they suppress the truth. God reveals this to us through the writings of the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:18-25:"

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

The key, therefore, is not merely to throw the evidence at the unbeliever, but to expose his suppression of the knowledge of God's existence! How do you do this, you ask? You do it through the use of the Law of God. You show them their need for Him, steering clear of the intellect by attacking the conscience. Romans 2:15 tells us:

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;

The conscience bears the witness of God's existence and His Law. Once they see that their works are unemployed because their works don't work, then you can show them the reason for Christ's sacrifice for us. It really is amazing if you think about it. We are in a constant state of sin. They need to know this. Show them they can't out work their sin. Let's quantify this very fact. Think of this: The 1st commandment is to put God 1st, above all things. Now, for every second of your life that ticks away and you are not thinking about God or the things of God, it is sin. So, that is 60 sins a minute, 3,600 sins every hour, 86,400 sins every day, 31,536,000 sins every year. Ouch! But wait, there's more! If you broke the 1st one, then you broke the 2nd one, too! Why? Well, it is idolatry to put anything else above God and since you do not put God 1st, then an idol has taken His place. So let's multiply that by two, which is 63,072,000 sins a year! This is only two of the Ten Commandments! There is still eight more were that came from! But, for arguments sake, let's say these are the only two you have broken. Compare this to your good works. All you have to do is 63,072,001 good works every year and your good works will out weigh the bad! That's easy to do right? Sure. Do you see how foolish it is to believe that your works will earn you favor with God? Not only that, but by doing a good work it doesn't erase the bad. You can fix it once it is broken. If you kill someone, can you restore his life? It is the same when you sin against God.
Now it's time for the Gospel, AMEN? Praise God for the gift of grace and the substitutionary death of Christ in which I am now seen as perfect! What a relief to not have to work for salvation! What an honor it is to serve Christ! And that, my brothers and sisters, is the Whole Truth! - Joe

What is Going on in Our Public Schools?

2009-09-26T19:45:00.000-07:00

75 Percent of Oklahoma High School Students Can't Name the First President of the U.S.
Posted: Sep 16, 2009 12:17 PM CDT Updated: Sep 21, 2009 9:09 AM CDT
News9.com
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Only one in four Oklahoma public high school students can name the first President of the United States, according to a survey released today.
The survey was commissioned by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs in observance of Constitution Day on Thursday.
The Oklahoma City-based group enlisted national research firm, Strategic Vision, to access students' basic civic knowledge.
Brandon Dutcher is with the conservative think tank and said the organization wanted to find out how much civic knowledge Oklahoma high school students know.
"They're questions taken from the actual exam that you have to take to become a U.S. citizen," Dutcher said.
A thousand students were surveyed by telephone and given 10 questions drawn from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services item bank. Candidates for U.S. citizenship must answer six questions correctly in order to become citizens.
About 92 percent of the people who take the citizenship test pass on their first try, according to immigration service data. However, Oklahoma students did not fare as well. Only about 3 percent of the students surveyed would have passed the citizenship test.
Dutcher said this is not just a problem in Oklahoma. He said Arizona had similar results, which left him concerned for the entire country.
"Jefferson later said that a nation can't expect to be ignorant and free," Dutcher said. "It points to a real serious problem. We're not going to remain ignorant and free."

Question and the % of Students Who Answered Correctly
What is the supreme law of the land? 28
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? 26
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? 27
How many justices are there on the Supreme Court? 10
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? 14
What ocean is on the east coast of the United States? 61
What are the two major political parities in the United States? 43
We elect a U.S. senator for how many years? 11
Who was the first President of the United States? 23
Who is in charge of the executive branch? 29

97% of the high school students surveyed wouldn't have passed the citizenship test. That means that foreigners have more knowledge about American history that our high school kids! What is sad is that we laugh at this and yet I bet most of the people that laugh can't answer these questions either. 86% of the high school students didn't know who authored the Declaration of Independence. This is sickening. What's worse is parents do not seem to care that this is going on.A strong foundation in American history and history in general will ensure that our young people grow up to have a sense of pride and direction. They know what we're about and where we are going. The Bible gives us the true history of the universe, and it is only in light of that history that we can interpret the evidence of the present, explain death and suffering, or offer true answers for the problems of mankind. The history as recorded in the Bible has been attacked by our increasingly secular culture. As a result, recent generations have been brought up to see the Bible as a book that contains many interesting stories and religious teaching but has no connection to reality. When you take that away, you can control them. The problem with American History and just about any history today is that the secular humanists are rewriting our history to leave God and the Bible out of it. This is a great reason why so many are leaving the faith. They have bought into a lie and we as parents and the church have failed to answer their questions concerning the Cristian Worldview. We need to get back to the basics with our children and raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Let's start right here. I challenge you to answer these questions for yourself and see how well you do. I will provide the answers below, but don't cheat! How well did you do? Are you still laughing? Now that's the Whole Truth!-Joe

Question /Answer /% of Students/Who Answered Correctly
What is the supreme law of the land? The Constitution- 28 ---What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? The Bill of Rights- 26--- What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? The House and the Senate- 27--- How many justices are there on the Supreme Court? Nine- 10--- Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? Thomas Jefferson -14--- What ocean is on the east coast of the United States? Atlantic -61 ---What are the two major political parities in the United States? Democratic and Republican -43--- We elect a U.S. senator for how many years? Six -11--- Who was the first President of the United States? George Washington -23--- Who is in charge of the executive branch? The President -29

International Blasphemy Day next Wednesday (Sept. 30)

2009-09-26T00:11:00.000-07:00

Atheists, skeptics, freethinkers and free-speech advocates around the world will mark Blasphemy Day by mounting their soapboxes—figuratively and literally—and uttering words and displaying images that may cause offense.

And they’re making no apologies.

“We’re not seeking to offend, but if in the course of dialogue and debate, people become offended, that’s not an issue for us,” said Justin Trottier, a Toronto coordinator of Blasphemy Day and executive director of the Ontario chapter of the Center for Inquiry. “There is no human right not to be offended.” {1}

BLAS'PHEMY, n. An indignity offered to God by words or writing; reproachful, contemptuous or irreverent words uttered impiously against Jehovah. Pointed profanity--this includes the words “God,” “Lord,” “Jesus,” “Christ” (unless used reverently), “Hell,” “S.O.B.,” “damn,” or every other profane or vulgar expression, however used--is forbidden.

Should this type of thing bother us as Christians? To me, it makes me angry. As I reflect on it I guess I'm like Peter at the betrayal and want to start chopping off ears to defend my Lord. But, what did Jesus do in this situation? Let's look at Matthew 26:52-53

But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

Ouch! I guess I would be rebuked by the Lord. Well, what should we do as Christians in this situation? We should be like Moses. Let's look at Hebrews 11:24-26

24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

You see, we should esteem the reproach of Christ, not bring reproach to Him. What does that mean? It means to suffer disgrace for the sake of Christ and not bring disgrace to His name. So for now we can comfort ourselves with these words:

Romans 12:19 (King James Version)

19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Hebrews 10:30 (King James Version)

30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Ezekiel 35:11-12 (King James Version)

11Therefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will even do according to thine anger, and according to thine envy which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them; and I will make myself known among them, when I have judged thee. 12And thou shalt know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all thy blasphemies which thou hast spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume.

Jeremiah 7:18-20 (King James Version)

18The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.

19Do they provoke me to anger? saith the LORD: do they not provoke themselves to the confusion of their own faces?

20Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.

Second, we need to be in prayer for these blasphemers that the Lord would draw them to repentance. As we have seen from these Scriptures, God will ultimately pour out His Wrath upon them. On that day, it will be too late for the blasphemers to repent. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. They desperately need prayer and repentance. Please, pray for them.

Third, remember that this day of blasphemy proves the existence of God. The very purpose in which they set out to achieve has back fired. They say there is no God, yet prove it by the very celebration they want to partake in! Glory to God! How can I say that? Because if there is no God, there could be no blasphemy!

As we know from Scripture, he has said in his heart there is no God. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

And AMEN! That my brothers and sisters is the Whole Truth-Joe

{1}By Leanne Larmondin September 24, 2009 RNS www.ReligionNews.com

Suffering For His Name

2009-09-25T10:02:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 1:6-7 (King James Version)

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

In Bible study today we discussed suffering. This has really had an impact on me. I really can't think of anything else at this point. I just keep contemplating the fact that is my obedience to God so great, that it brings me suffering in His name? God is a giving God. What has he given to us? He gave His Son for a ransom for our sin. He gave us forgiveness. He gave us Grace. He gave us salvation. He gave us the Holy Spirit. He gave us spiritual gifts. What about this spiritual gift: SUFFERING. Let's look at a few scriptures.

Matthew 5:10-12 (King James Version)

10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

John 15:18-23 (King James Version)

18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

We see here that we will be hated by the world IF we walk in righteousness. This really hit me today. Let's look first at the gift of suffering.

Philippians 1:29 (King James Version)

29For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

It is given to us the free gift of suffering. The really question is: Who wants that gift? Can I see a show of hands? This is a big OUCH for me. What about you?

Let's look at some examples of the joy the early saints had in suffering for the Lord. Acts 16:25 Paul and Silas and Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

Acts 16:20-25 (King James Version)

20And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Here are a few accounts of true suffering from Foxe's Book of Martyrs

At the martyrdom of Faustines and Jovita, brothers and citizens of Brescia, their torments were so many, and their patience so great, that Calocerius, a pagan, beholding them, was struck with admiration, and exclaimed in a kind of ecstasy, "Great is the God of the Christians!" for which he was apprehended, and suffered a similar fate.

Germanicus, a young man, but a true Christian, being delivered to the wild beasts on account of his faith, behaved with such astonishing courage that several pagans became converts to a faith which inspired such fortitude.

Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, hearing that persons were seeking for him, escaped, but was discovered by a child. After feasting the guards who apprehended him, he desired an hour in prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with such fervency, that his guards repented that they had been instrumental in taking him. He was, however, carried before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in the market place.

The proconsul then urged him, saying, "Swear, and I will release thee;--reproach Christ."

Polycarp answered, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, Who hath saved me?" At the stake to which he was only tied, but not nailed as usual, as he assured them he should stand immovable, the flames, on their kindling the fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without touching him; and the executioner, on seeing this, was ordered to pierce him with a sword, when so great a quantity of blood flowed out as extinguished the fire. But his body, at the instigation of the enemies of the Gospel, especially Jews, was ordered to be consumed in the pile, and the request of his friends, who wished to give it Christian burial, rejected. They nevertheless collected his bones and as much of his remains as possible, and caused them to be decently interred.

Now that's lifestyle evangelism! Do you believe that people will come to Christ because of the way you live? Probably not, but, these examples show you just what to do!

You see, we are to find our joy in suffering for Christ because we follow in His commands. What commands? There are four commands in which everything else can be attributed to after salvation, baptism and the Lord's Supper. There is Love God with all your heart, mind soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. There there is the Great Commission and Discipleship. Every other command can be attributed to these.

This means true joy comes from strict obedience in which will cause suffering. Let's look at 2 Tim 3:12.

2 Timothy 3:12 (King James Version)

12Yea, and all that will live GODLY in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (I added the emphasis)

Are we walking in such a way with God that we suffer persecution? Let me pose the question like this. Think of it as a test of Godliness. Are you suffering persecution for His name? Let's get serious for a moment. Are you doing, standing, protesting, vocalizing whatever it may be against ungodliness in this country? This is the way to see revival. Does your life look like that of John the Baptist, the weirdo in the wilderness, separated from the world and all you eat, drink and sleep obedience to His commands? (I'm not saying you're a weirdo if you live a separated life, this is the world's perception of truly separated believers) Are you so separated that the world knows you're a Christian? This is the problem with Western Christianity. We look, talk and act like the world so much that they can't tell us apart. When the #1 reason the world says they don't like Christians is Hypocrisy, well, that's saying something. I understand we are all hypocrites, but are we hypocrites so much that the unbeliever can't tell you apart from them? You would be surprised how much Scripture the world knows. They know what is required for Christian living, why can't we see that? Here is something else that struck me. (Thanks for the reminder Terrell) In Paul Washer's sermon on the Holiness of God, he says,

"What's sad about American Christianity is that even thirty years ago, the ungodly were more godly than we are today. If we were able to take the Church, in it's present state, back thirty years, we would be the one's seen as ungodly."

OUCH! When you live a truly Godly life, you will suffer. Again, are you suffering persecution? Maybe you're not living as Godly as you think. When your heart is right with God, suffering is a glorious, joyful thing. This is where we find the joy of the Lord. When your heart is not right, well, this is where you get the idea that Christianity is this gloomy, dismal, can't have any fun religion. How do you look at his commands? Are they burdensome or joyous? Do you stand up against sin and ungodliness? Do you protest what's on television? Do stand on the side of righteousness in all things? Is your heart prepared to at any cost, be beaten, stoned or burnt at the stake? What about sing praises to God in all of our persecutions? Here is the ultimatum that keeps running through my mind. Who do I fear more, God or man? Here you have two choices. Do you want to suffer for His name at the hands of men or do you want to deal with the Wrath of God being poured out upon you? You might say, "Wrath of God? I'm a believer!" Yes, I understand. But as God did with Judah, He can and most likely will do with the U.S. the same He did for Judah. Do you want to be found in the middle of God's Wrath being poured out on a nation and you are not found faithful, or would you rather suffer for His name at the hands of men? At the rate we are going as a nation, it won't be long! I would urge you, therefore brethren, to check your heart. I know I need to check mine! Are you ready? My prayer is that I will be, how about YOU? - Now that is the Whole Truth - Joe

The Reliability of the Bible Part 2

2009-09-24T20:10:00.000-07:00

“As a matter of fact, however, it may be clearly stated categorically that no archaeological discovery has ever contradicted a single Biblical reference. Scores of archaeological findings have been made which confirm in clear outline or exact detail historical statements in the Bible.”
Noted archaeologist Nelson Glueck

The power of Bible archaeology and historical research is not just the ability to confirm the history of the Bible and the accuracy of the Biblical record. Its inability to disprove Biblical accounts is an even more significant contribution to the credibility of the Scriptures. This is a very powerful point. Interpretation of archaeological evidence depends on a researcher’s presuppositions and worldview. Many researchers are openly skeptical of the Scriptures and hostile to its worldview. They can be tempted to reach conclusions that discredit Biblical accounts. Well, there is only one problem. No matter your worldview, the facts are the facts. The harder one tries to discredit the Bible, more credible it becomes. Again, its inability to disprove the Bible gives it even more credibility! People try to disprove the Bible to justify sin. If there is an Ultimate Authority, then they will be held accountable and that hurts! The problem with most people today is that they don't understand that the Bible is not just a "religious" book. It is a history book. It is a book of astronomy, anthropology, geology, paleontology, biology, meteorology, hydrology, physics, ethics, philosophy, and it explains things that science can't. People believe what they hear versus studying it for themselves. They are told over and over that “Science proves the Bible is wrong.” Where? You have heard it said, but where is it wrong? People can't answer this because they haven't studied it for themselves. Again, the stronger point is not that we have to prove it right, but they need to prove it wrong!

If the history and science is true in the Bible than this creates a problem for a lot of people. First for atheists. Why? Because it contradicts everything they stand on. There IS a Creator. OUCH! Second, for the muslim. If the history of the Bible is true than the Quran is false. Why? Because the histories of these two books are completely contradictory! Let me give you an example:

Surat al-Nisa (Women) 4:157-158
And because of their saying: We slew the Messiah Jesus son of Mary, Allah's messenger--They slew him not nor crucified, but it appeared so unto them; and lo! those who disagree concerning it are in doubt thereof; they have no knowledge thereof save pursuit of a conjecture; they slew him not for certain. But Allah took him up unto Himself. Allah was ever Mighty, Wise.

What this Sura is saying is that there was no crucifixion of Christ. Let's see what the Bible has to say:
Matthew 27:35-51
35And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
36And sitting down they watched him there;
37And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.
39And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,
40And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said,
42He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.
43He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
44The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.
45Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
46And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
47Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias.
48And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.
49The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Again if the Bible is true than Christ was crucified. This is just one of the many. Third, for everyone else! If the Bible is true, then when Jesus said in John 14:6 that "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" this would be true also. He is the only way to heaven. This is a problem for everyone, except the believer. And this is THE WHOLE TRUTH- Joe

The Reliability of the Bible Part 1

2009-09-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

The Bible is not true because it works for us, it works for us because it is true!- Voddie Baucham

It's (the Bible) a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eye witnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They report to us supernatural events that took place, fulfillment of specific prophecies and claim to be Divine instead of human in origin.

People say that the Bible has been changed or is just not reliable. That's good and all, but, there is just one problem (Actually there are many, but we'll focus on just this one). Let's look at just the New Testament. How did these zealous monks locate some 6,000 manuscripts (or pieces of manuscripts), change them all the exact same way, not allowed their ink work to show, then get them back where they stole them from before anybody saw them? 6000 manuscripts, no big deal, right? Most manuscripts were written within 40 to 150 years after Christ. During the lifetime of eye-witnesses! Interestingly, this manuscript evidence far surpasses the manuscript reliability of other ancient writings that we trust as authentic every day. Look at these comparisons: Julius Caesar's The Gallic Wars (10 manuscripts remain, with the earliest one dating to 1,000 years after the original autograph); Pliny the Younger's Natural History (7 manuscripts; 750 years elapsed); Thucydides' History (8 manuscripts; 1,300 years elapsed); Herodotus' History (8 manuscripts; 1,350 years elapsed); Plato (7 manuscripts; 1,300 years); and Tacitus' Annals (20 manuscripts; 1,000 years). Homer's Iliad, the most renowned book of ancient Greece, is the second best-preserved literary work of all antiquity, with 643 copies of manuscript support discovered to date. In those copies, there are 764 disputed lines of text, as compared to 40 lines in all the New Testament manuscripts. In fact, many people are unaware that there are no surviving manuscripts of any of William Shakespeare's 37 plays (written in the 1600's), and scholars have been forced to fill some gaps in his works. This pales in textual comparison with the over 5,600 copies and fragments of the New Testament in the original Greek that, together, assure us that nothing has been lost. In fact, all of the New Testament except eleven minor verses can be reconstructed outside the Bible from the writings of the early church leaders in the second and third centuries AD. Just a thought-Joe