tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87953431281614769592024-03-13T16:08:14.150-05:00Letters to my ChildrenThe Lord speaks to us in His Word. Our view of the events taking place are our world view. I want my children (young adults) to develop a Biblical Worldview.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-35334602598493762072014-04-18T07:52:00.000-05:002014-04-18T07:52:31.116-05:00The Sign of Jonah - Three Days and Three Nights<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Three Days and Three Nights</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Scripture
states that Jesus rose THE third day, IN three days, and AFTER three days (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2016.21" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
16:21</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2026.61" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">26:61</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2027.63" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">27:63</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Only three
full days – seventy-two full hours – will satisfy all the numerous statements
of the New Testament.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus gave
only one sign, the sign of Jonah, to prove He was truly the Son of God – the time He would be dead
(</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matt%2012.38-40" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matt 12:38-40</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matt%2016.4" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">16:4</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus ate
the Passover with His disciples on the evening of the fourteenth by Moses' law. The first day of the Jewish year was the spring equinox. It has 12 hours of day and night. Passover was 14 days later, a Tuesday night.
(</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Ex%2012.6-8" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ex
12:6-8</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matt%2026.17-20" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matt
26:17-20</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mark%2014.12-17" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
14:12-17</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%2022.7-15" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke
22:7-15</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
crucifixion began at 9:00 AM Wednesday morning, and Jesus died after the darkness ended at 3:00
PM Wednesday afternoon. (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2027.45-50" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew 27:45-50</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mark%2015.25" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
15:25</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mark%2015.33-37" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">33-37</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%2023.44-49" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke
23:44-49</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus was
buried hurriedly as the preparation day ended and the high Sabbath day, Thursday, was
about to begin (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mark%2015.42" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark 15:42</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%2023.54" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke
23:54</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%2019.14" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
19:14</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%2019.31" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">31</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">,</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%2019.42" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">42</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The women
who followed Jesus rested the high Sabbath day, Thursday, of the Passover before buying
and preparing their spices on Friday. This was the only day they could do the preparations. (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mark%2016.1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
16:1</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
cp </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2012.16" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Exodus 12:16</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The women
bought their spices and prepared them on the regular workday between the two
Sabbaths days this week (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mark%2016.1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
16:1</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
cp </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%2023.55-56" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke 23:55-56</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The women
rested during the weekly Sabbath day, Saturday, after buying and preparing their spices
the previous workday (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%2023.55-56" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke
23:55-56</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
cp </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Exodus%2020.10" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Exodus 20:10</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus rose
from the dead as the weekly Sabbath ended – three days and three nights after
burial – as prophesied (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2012.39-40" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
12:39-40</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Mark%208.31" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mark
8:31</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While it was
still dark, the morning of the first day of the week, the women found the tomb
already empty (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matt%2028.1-6" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matt 28:1-6</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">; </span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Luke%2024.1-3" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Luke
24:1-3</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">;
</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/John%2020.1" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">John
20:1</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The gospel
record of Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection prove His identifying
sign of three days and three nights (</span><a href="http://biblia.com/bible/kjv1900/Matthew%2012.39-40" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Matthew
12:39-40</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<![endif]--><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-51806621886561606842014-02-20T09:23:00.000-06:002014-02-20T09:23:00.240-06:00If you were the devil, where would you attack yourself? by Tim Challes<div id="pages">
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<h1>
<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_0">O</b>ne Great Question to Ask a Friend<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_1"> </b></h1>
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<div>
http://www.challies.com/christian-living/one-great-question-to-ask-a-friend</div>
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February 19, 2014</div>
<br />
When I was a child my family owned a cottage—a beautiful cottage where I spent every summer of my childhood<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_2">.</b>
On those long, warm, summer evenings, we would sometimes have friends
and neighbors from up and down the road converge on our property for
giant games of capture the flag<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_3">.</b> Those were grand nights—the kind of nights that form indelible memories<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_4">.</b><br />
<br />
One of the things I loved to do when we played capture the flag was to set trip lines<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_5">.</b> I would string a rope between two trees and wait in the dusk for some unsuspecting person to stumble across it and go down<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_6">.</b>
Looking at it through adult eyes it sounds like a recipe for a cracked
skull or broken ankle, but it seemed like good, clean fun back then<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_7">.</b><br />
<br />
The memory of stringing trip lines flashed into my mind recently,
because something I read in a book took me out at the knees, so to speak<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_8">.</b> And down I went<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_9">.</b><br />
<br />
Vaughan Robert’s little book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GXJHHJ4?tag=dietofbookwor-20" target="_blank">True Friendship </a> has a lot to commend it, but there is one thing that stood out more than any other<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_10">.</b> Before I get to it, though, allow me a brief aside<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_11">.</b> I’ve thought often about this old blog post from Bob Kauflin:<br />
<blockquote>
If I glean two or three sentences from a book that affect the way I think and the way I live, that’s time well invested<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_12">.</b><br />
<div>
<a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=If%20I%20glean%20two%20or%20three%20sentences%20from%20a%20book%20that%20affect%20the%20way%20I%20think%20and%20the%20way%20I%20live,%20that%E2%80%99s%20time%20well%20invest%E2%80%A6%20http://challi.es/1c2qNj0" target="_blank">Tweet </a></div>
But even if I don’t read as many books as others, I read<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_13">.</b> If I’m not reading, I’m relying on my memory. Which seems to be decreasing daily<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_14">.</b> So I read. I once heard someone say that books don’t change people - sentences do<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_15">.</b> If I glean two or three sentences from a book that affect the way I think and the way I live, that’s time well invested<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_16">.</b> So I read<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_17">.</b> Books give me the opportunity to learn from and about godly, bright, insightful people I’ll never meet<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_18">.</b> So I read<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_19">.</b> What I know will always be dwarfed by what I don’t know<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_20">.</b> So I read<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_21">.</b> Books help me become more effective at what I do. So I read<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_22">.</b>
</blockquote>
I read for the same reasons. Like Bob, I forget almost everything I read<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_23">.</b>
But I don’t mind, because I don’t want or need to remember everything,
so long as I find those two or three sentences that will be resounding
in my heart and mind a week or month or year from now<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_24">.</b><br />
<br />
In Roberts’ book I came across one of those lines, one of those
sentences, that has stuck with me and, I think, will continue to do so<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_25">.</b> It was a question, a simple question aimed at doing what every Christian wants to do: Destroy sin and pursue holiness<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_26">.</b>
Roberts was talking about the kind of friendship men ought to have with
one another and the kinds of questions they should be asking each
another as they go through life together<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_27">.</b> Here is what he wants his friends to ask him: <em>If you were the devil, where would you attack yourself<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_28">?</b></em><br />
<br />
Yes, that simple question was the trip line<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_29">.</b> And it leveled me. It’s an obvious question, I suppose<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_30">.</b>
I feel like the guy who discovers that great television show when it’s
in its final season and everyone else has been talking about it for
years<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_31">.</b> Yet I don’t think I have ever asked the question of myself and I’m certain I have never asked it of a friend<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_32">.</b>
I’m equally certain a friend has never asked it of me (and I’ve got
some pretty good friends who ask me some pretty good questions)<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_33">.</b><br />
<br />
Here’s the thing: We know that Satan and his demons have made a long and scrutinizing study of humanity<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_34">.</b> They have had millennia to study us, to get to know us, to learn how to tempt us<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_35">.</b> They have had thirty-seven years to study me, to get to know me, to learn how to tempt me<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_36">.</b>
They have studied us as humanity since the Garden of Eden and I presume
they have studied me as an individual since the day I was born<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_37">.</b> And they must always be asking themselves, “Where can we attack him<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_38">?</b> Where is he weak? Where is he prone to sin<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_39">?</b> Where is he lax? Where is he undisciplined? Where is he giving up?”<br />
<br />
What I find so helpful about Roberts’ question is that it anticipates
an attack in my areas of weakness and calls me not only to identify
those vulnerabilities, but to involve a brother in strengthening me
right there<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_40">.</b><br />
<br />
Why don’t you consider asking the question next time you’re with a friend<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_41">.</b> If you were the devil, where would you attack yourself<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_42">?</b> The answer will show you exactly where you can help, strengthen, and pray for your friend<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_43">.</b><br />
<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_44"><br /></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-14848580679609346892014-01-23T08:25:00.000-06:002014-01-23T08:25:45.869-06:00Lord keep us from evil<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b><span style="font-size: 24.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">A
Calvinist and a Fundamentalist Walk Into a Bar...</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 24.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By Tim Challies</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">http://www.challies.com/articles/a-calvinist-and-a-fundamentalist-walk-into-a-bar#keep-reading</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s not a joke, you know<b>.</b> As we make our way through this life,
we face some powerful enemies<b>.</b> In the second chapter of Ephesians, Paul
describes the pre-Christian past of the people in this church<b>.</b> As he
does that, he tells them that three powerful forces were arrayed against them:
the world, the flesh, and the devil<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These people had a deep inclination toward evil that came from their
inmost parts (“the passions of our flesh”), they faced a powerful opponent from
outside themselves (“the prince of the power of the air”), and all the while
their whole environment was opposed to them (“this world”)<b>.</b> They were
outside of fellowship with God and, therefore, were “children of wrath<b>.</b>”</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked,
following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we
all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the
body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest
of mankind<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For some time now, and especially since I read Thomas Brooks’ Precious
Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, I have been pondering the way these forces
were, and in some ways still are, opposed to me<b>.</b> Though through faith in
Jesus Christ I have been delivered from the dominion of these forces, I have not
yet been fully and finally delivered from their influence<b>.</b> Each of them
continues to oppose me, and at times—too many times—I succumb, choosing sin in
place of holiness<b>.</b> No wonder then, that the Anglican Book of Common
Prayer leads Christians in this prayer: “From all the deceits of the world, the
flesh, and the devil: Good Lord deliver us<b>.</b>”</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have a theory about these three influences and the way different
Christians understand them<b>.</b> There are many theological tribes within
Christianity and I believe that each of them has an imperfect balance in their
understanding of the way these forces operate against us<b>.</b> Let me give
just three examples. Each example is imperfect, of course, but I believe there
is a thread of truth in each<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fundamentalists tend to have a deep suspicion of the world—a world
that is full of sin and adamantly opposed to God and his purposes<b>.</b> In my
experience, Fundamentalists are quick to look to the world and to hold the
world responsible for sin and the temptation to sin; hence, they battle hard
against worldliness and look to worldly pleasures and entertainments with deep
and lasting suspicion<b>.</b> If Fundamentalists are out of balance, it is
toward the evil influence of the world and away from the influence of the flesh
and the devil<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pentecostals tend to lay the blame for sin and temptation at the door
of the devil and demonic forces<b>.</b> They often have a heightened sense of
demonic activity and influence<b>.</b> When they face the temptation to sin, or
when they feel or discover opposition, they are quick to see the influence of
Satan and to find ways of standing fast in the face of that kind of power<b>.</b>
If they are out of balance, it is toward the evil influence of the devil and
his forces and away from the influence of the world and the flesh<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Calvinists have a deep sense of their own depravity<b>.</b> After all,
Calvinism begins with the T of TULIP—Total Depravity<b>.</b> We believe that
humanity is totally depraved, so that sin extends to our every part<b>.</b> In
his grace God restrains us from becoming as sinful as we could possibly be, but
we are all still sinful to the furthest extent; the heart, the mind, the will,
the desire, the inclination—all of it—is marked by the Fall<b>.</b> As we
consider the enemies of our souls, we tend to focus on the flesh, assuming that
temptation arises from within more than it arises from without<b>.</b> If we
are out of balance, it is toward the influence of the flesh and away from the
influence of the world and the devil<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All of us, I am convinced, need to understand that evil takes many
forms, that it arises from within and from without, that we face enemies
physical and spiritual<b>.</b> To emphasize one at the expense of the others is
to lower our guard<b>.</b> Perhaps the most helpful response is not to diminish
our own emphasis, but to elevate the others<b>.</b> When we understand the vast
array of forces against us, we better understand Christ’s power in conquering
them, we better arm ourselves to resist, and we better anticipate the day of
the Lord’s return when their influence will be finally and completely broken<b>.</b></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-10608634607120340882014-01-06T12:27:00.003-06:002014-01-06T12:27:58.989-06:00I'm Better Than You by Tim Challies
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<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I</b>'m Better Than You<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 32px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </b></h1>
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January 06, 2014</div>
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I’m kind of a jerk<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>For as long as I’ve been able to think about myself, my heart, my life, I’ve known that I’m a sinful person<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>I’ve never doubted the reality of my depravity. And if there ever had been any doubt, being married and having children and immersing myself in a local church has provided all the proof I, and they, need<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b></div>
<div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m just plain better than you. Somewhere deep inside I believe it’s true and too often I live and act like it’s true<b style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">But lately I’ve been considering one simple and disturbing aspect of this sin: I’m better than you</span><b style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span> </span>At least, this is what I believe in most of life’s situations</span><b style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">.</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span> </span>I’m just plain better than you. Somewhere deep inside I believe it’s true and too often I live and act like it’s true</span><b style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: white; border: 0px none; color: #333333; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">.</b></span><br />
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This is the old sin of pride, I suppose, the one we talk about so often but deal with so seldom, the one many people put at the root of all sin<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>And it’s amazing to me how much of my sin comes down to it<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>I think I’m better than you. Too often I’m just plain convinced of it<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b></div>
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When you choose to go left, my heart judges and condemns you because I am convinced it would have been better to go right<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>I don’t have nearly all the information you have, and probably only half the wisdom, yet in my heart I am convinced you would have made a far better decision if only you would have asked me to guide you<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b></div>
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When you lead your ministry, I have trouble following because I see all the things you are doing wrong, all the ignorant decisions you are making<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>I don’t know much about children’s ministry or music ministry or evangelism ministry or whatever else it is you lead, but I still have it all figured out<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>Come chat and I’ll be glad to set you straight.</div>
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When you are given a privilege or responsibility, something that puts you in a position of trust or authority, I am certain that the privilege should have gone to me<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>I suppose you will do okay, but I think we all know I would have done better<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>After all, I’m better than you.</div>
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This thread, this conviction of my own superiority, runs deep in the background of my life<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> This thread, this conviction of my own superiority, runs deep in the background of my life</span><b style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">.</b><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Helvetica, Arial; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span> </span>If you’re honest with yourself, you may well find that it’s in your life as well</span>.</div>
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It matters. It matters because while God calls us toward Christlikeness, we prefer to call others toward us-likeness<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>God calls us to hold all things up to the light of his Word, while we prefer to hold all things up to the light of our own judgments and our own determinations<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>Ultimately, we all long for conformity to us rather than to Christ<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b></div>
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This makes us useless counselors. We are useless counselors unless we can counsel<span> </span><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">from</em><span> </span>Scripture and<span> </span><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">toward</em><span> </span>holiness rather than from our own arrogance and toward conformity to us<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>This makes us miserable because we are always convinced life would be easier and better if only others were more like us<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>This lessens our usefulness to God and his kingdom because we spend so much of our time lamenting all the things others are doing wrong rather than joining them in doing things their way<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>This increases our sin and hinders our holiness.</div>
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I’m kind of a jerk, I know it, and still I have the audacity to want you to be like me<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>It’s baffling. It’s gross. It’s sin<b style="border: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">.</b><span> </span>It’s pride.</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-69309395688079780052013-12-27T11:26:00.003-06:002013-12-27T11:26:36.625-06:00The Violence of Christmas by Mike Cooper<div id="articleHeader">
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<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_0">T</b>he Violence of Christmas<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_1"> </b></h1>
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Do yourself a favor before Christmas<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_2">.</b> Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_3">.</b> Then read Genesis 1-3. Then read Revelation 12. Then throw in <a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Romans%2016.20" target="_blank">Romans 16:20 </a> for good measure<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_4">.</b><br />
That's the whole Christmas story.<br />
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<img alt="Christmas Violence" src="http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/files/2013/12/Christmas-Violence-300x225.jpg" /></div>
It's not simply the poetic and sweet story of a child's birth, welcomed by stars and angels<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_5">.</b> It's a violent war story. A cosmic war story. A conflict between fundamental forces of good and evil<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_6">.</b> As Mary labored in a place far from home, heaven and hell thundered and took up arms.
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I think of <i>The Fifth Element's</i> Leeloo, who descends to Earth at the beginning of the movie, pursued by evil forces bent on the planet's destruction<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_7">.</b> She is perfect and innocent, but she's also here to fight<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_8">.</b> To spend her life redeeming a planet. Read those passages and watch the film again; it's a Christmas story<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_9">.</b><br />
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I think of Alan Furst's spy novels, where whispers behind enemy lines invoke fury and danger<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_10">.</b>
Where the small, the unsuspected, the few pave the way for the forces
of good to erode and ultimately invade a land held captive by forces of
evil<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_11">.</b><br />
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And of course, I think of <i>Die Hard</i>,which we already knew was a
Christmas movie, but think a layer deeper: a hero travels to a far-off
land (McClane is a New York cop in Los Angeles) to reconcile with his
estranged bride (she's changed her name) and has to rescue her from evil
powers that hold her captive<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_12">.</b> Yippee-ki-yay.<br />
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Doomed by a Baby<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_13"> </b></h3>
In Genesis, a serpent slithers into a perfect world and begins lying, eroding its foundations<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_14">.</b> In Revelation, this evil one has grown into a furious dragon: his power and dominion are far more menacing<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_15">.</b> He fumes and rages and casts down stars from the sky<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_16">.</b> But he's still doomed.<br />
And the first attack against him isn't marked by the shout of warriors, the flash of swords, or the thunder of cannons<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_17">.</b> It's marked by the cry of a baby.<br />
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The world didn't welcome him. We only offered his laboring mother a reeking stable to protect her from the weather<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_18">.</b> The Christ child was born and laid in a manger, a place where animals eat<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_19">.</b> Later, while breathing his last upon a cross, he'd quote from a psalm that describes his death like this:<br />
Like lions they open their jaws against me,<br />
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roaring and tearing into their prey <b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_20">.</b> . .</blockquote>
My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;<br />
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an evil gang closes in on me<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_21">.</b><br />
They have pierced my hands and feet.</blockquote>
(<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2022.13" target="_blank">Psalm 22:13 </a>,<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Psalm%2022.16" target="_blank">16 </a>)<br />
The baby took his first nap in a feeding trough, and 33 years later,
his death would be likened to being torn apart by wild animals<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_22">.</b>
He would also tell his followers to feast on his body and blood, a way
of symbolizing and experiencing union with him; to taste and see that
he's good, that he's victorious over Satan, sin, and death<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_23">.</b> Think about that symbolism: only by tearing him apart and devouring him do we participate in his redemption<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_24">.</b><br />
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There should be no question that Christmas is the greatest cause for joy that the world has known<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_25">.</b> Imagine if Christ hadn't come. Imagine a life where there was no eternal hope, where we were left to try to redeem ourselves<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_26">.</b><br />
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Stop and Think<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_27"> </b></h3>
Christmas is also a time for us to stop and think<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_28">.</b> Remember the whole story of Christmas, not just the easily marketed warm-and-fuzzy side<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_29">.</b>
Remember that all of it—Jesus' condescension as a baby, his birth in a
filthy stable, his sleep in a manger—reminds us of the muck he found us
in<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_30">.</b> The nativity, so often depicted as cute and kitsch, is actually a painful depiction of our sin and fallenness<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_31">.</b> As Jerome once put it, Jesus was born in a dungheap because that's where he knew he'd find us<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_32">.</b><br />
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Remember, too, that the Christ-child's birth caused hell to erupt with fury<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_33">.</b> Remember that their resistance was futile.<br />
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And remember, most of all, that the violence and humiliation of
Christmas happened because God loved us enough to suffer all of it on
our behalf and by our side<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_34">.</b> In Christ, we never have to be alone in our sorrows, pain, and humiliation again<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_35">.</b>
The one who made the world entered it as a child and experienced all of
its hardships and injustices so that by God's grace, he could be our
comforter in the years to come<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_36">.</b><br />
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Which is why at advent, we proclaim:<br />
"Comfort, comfort my people,"<br />
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says your God<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_37">.</b></blockquote>
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem.<br />
Tell her that her sad days are gone<br />
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and her sins are pardoned<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_38">.</b></blockquote>
Yes, the LORD has punished her twice over<br />
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for all her sins<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_39">.</b>"</blockquote>
Listen! It's the voice of someone shouting,<br />
"Clear the way through the wilderness<br />
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for the LORD<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_40">!</b></blockquote>
Make a straight highway through the wasteland<br />
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for our God<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_41">!</b></blockquote>
Fill in the valleys,<br />
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and level the mountains and hills<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_42">.</b></blockquote>
Straighten the curves,<br />
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and smooth out the rough places<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_43">.</b></blockquote>
Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed,<br />
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and all people will see it together<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_44">.</b><br />
The LORD has spoken!"</blockquote>
(<a href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Isaiah%2040.1-5" target="_blank">Isaiah 40:1-5 </a>)<br />
Mike Cosper is pastor of worship and arts at Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, Kentucky<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_45">.</b> He is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rhythms-Grace-Churchs-Worship-Gospel/dp/1433533421/?tag=thegospcoal-20" target="_blank">Rhythms of Grace: How the Church's Worship Tells the Story of the Gospel </a> and co-author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faithmapping-Gospel-Atlas-Spiritual-Journey/dp/1433532530/?tag=thegospcoal-20" target="_blank">Faithmapping: A Gospel Atlas for Your Spiritual Journey </a><b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_46">.</b> He writes on the gospel and the arts for The Gospel Coalition<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_47">.</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-71102034070547094322013-12-23T08:50:00.001-06:002013-12-23T08:50:56.086-06:005 Things Christians Should Stop Saying - by Jason Johnson<div id="articleHeader">
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5 Things Christians Should Stop Saying — JASON JOHNSON<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_0"> </b></h1>
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<h2>
1<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_1">.</b> "It was a God thing<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_2"> </b>."</h2>
We say this to give God credit for something He has done and to deflect any attention from ourselves<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_3">.</b> The problem, however, is that biblically no single event is ever a "God thing"<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_4">.</b> Rather, <em>all</em> things are by Him, through Him and for Him (<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/Colossians+1%3A15-20/" target="_blank">Colossians 1:15-20 </a>)<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_5">.</b> <strong>To
say something was a "God thing" seems to draw lines of distinction
between what God is and is not involved in that Scripture itself does
not draw<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_6">.</b></strong> I rarely hear anyone use this phrase when speaking of a particularly difficult or trying or devastating circumstance<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_7">.</b> We generally apply it only to the victories. The truth is, <em>all</em> of those are His things<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_8">.</b><br />
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2. "God showed up in the end<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_9"> </b>."</h2>
We say this to put the power of God on display - to show that His will was accomplished and He came out victorious<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_10">.</b> The problem, however, is that it represents pretty narrow thinking on our part<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_11">.</b> The truth is that God doesn't just <em>show up</em> for us in the end - He walks with us from the very beginning<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_12">.</b> <strong>Faith
doesn't just celebrate the outcomes of God's involvement in our issues,
it learns to see and savor His presence in the midst of them<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_13">.</b></strong>
It demands we trust Him in the process, no matter the outcome,
believing that whatever He may allow to unfold He has both orchestrated
from the beginning and planned to be glorified through in the end<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_14">.</b><br />
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3. "God will never give you more than you can handle<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_15"> </b>."</h2>
We
say this to encourage people who are going through difficult
circumstances and to ensure them they are strong enough to handle it<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_16">.</b> The problem, however, is that this passage (<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/1+Corinthians+10%3A13/" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 10:13 </a>) actually teaches there <em>will</em> be times we find ourselves in situations we <em>can't</em> handle and that in those times the only way out is through Him<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_17">.</b> <strong>God's intent in this is never to push us away from Him but always to pull us into greater depths of intimacy with Him</strong>,
so that we might know on an entirely new level that His grace is
sufficient for us and His power is made perfect in our weakness (<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/2+Corinthians+12%3A9/" target="_blank">2 Corinthians 12:9 </a>)<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_18">.</b><br />
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4. "Where two or more are gathered<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_19"> </b>..<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_20">.</b>"</h2>
We say this to reassure ourselves that God hears our prayers or to justify why we don't attend church<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_21">.</b> The misapplications are endless. Examples: <em>Where two or more are gathered.</em>..<em>there's Church,</em> or <em>God will agree with us in prayer,</em> or <em>the Holy Spirit is among us</em><b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_22">.</b> <strong>The context of this passage </strong>(<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew+18%3A20/" target="_blank">Matthew 18:20 </a>)<strong>
depicts the appropriate measures to be taken in administering church
discipline - it s not a description of Sunday's service or Wednesday
night's prayer meeting<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_23">.</b> </strong>It's true that God is among us - <em>always</em> (see #2)<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_24">.</b> It's also true that Church is more than just a few people hanging out, and God can still be with you if you are all alone<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_25">.</b><br />
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5<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_26">.</b> "The Bible says don't judge<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_27"> </b>."</h2>
We say this for obvious reasons - we don't want anyone to call us out<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_28">.</b>
The problem, however, is that Jesus never says don't hold each other in
the Body of Christ accountable to truth and righteousness and holiness -
He actually commands that we do, but with humility and integrity (<a href="http://www.esvbible.org/Matthew+7%3A1-5/" target="_blank">Matthew 7:1-5 </a>)<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_29">.</b> We tend to have it backwards (see <a href="http://www.esvbible.org/1+Corinthians+5/" target="_blank">1 Corinthians 5:9-13 </a>) - we point fingers at "those sinners" outside the Church but excuse and brush under the rug the sins within<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_30">.</b> <strong>We
have a responsibility to call the speck out of our brothers' and
sister's eyes - this is love; but not to the detriment of recognizing
the log in our own - this is integrity<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_31">.</b> </strong>Let's not hide our sin behind the misapplication of this statement and miss out on the grace God wants to show us through it<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_32">.</b><br />
<br />
<b class="speechFragmentSeparator" id="speechFragmentSeparator__1_32">This article is at: http://jasonjohnsonblog.com/blog/5-things-christians-should-stop-saying#.UrhNg-J23TI</b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-30125078539845762832013-10-23T08:39:00.001-05:002013-10-23T08:39:47.706-05:00Why "Bouncing the Eyes" is Incomplete Advice by Mike Leake<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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http://www.mikeleake.net/2013/10/why-bouncing-the-eyes-is-incomplete-advice.html</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why “Bouncing the Eyes” Is Incomplete Advice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
October 22, 2013 18 Comments</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lust is like a nasty monster that lives in your heart. If
you feed it, he gets fatter and eventually overcomes you. If you starve it,
then he’ll waste away to nothing and you’ll win those battles with pornography
much easier. So, how do you win that battle with porn? You bounce your eyes—turn
and look the other way.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was the gist of how I was taught (and in turn taught
others) to battle lust and pornography. While I do believe there is some
warrant to this teaching, I believe now that it is largely incomplete.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, lust isn’t a monster that gets obese when fed
and skinny when ignored. He gets louder when you ignore him. He’ll make you
think more about porn and not less; at least until you feed him, then he’ll
mock you and go about his merry way. Lust is not a monster that needs to be
deprived, it is a rebel that needs to be actively slain.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Secondly, you lust and/or or indulge in pornography because
you have a problem with objectifying a person. It is impossible to look at porn
and not objectify a woman or a man. This is why “bouncing the eyes” is
incomplete advice. It continues to objectify people. All you are doing is
telling yourself “no” to an object.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We like to use Psalm 101:3 to remind ourselves of our
covenant to “set no unclean thing before our eyes”. The unclean thing, we
imagine, includes the objects of our lust.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Granted, those engaging in sinful sexual acts might be
“unclean”, but they certainly are not things. They are people created in the
image of God. Some of these “unclean things” aren’t who you think they are. They
are scared little girls thrust onto the screen, or in front of a camera,
against their desires.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She doesn’t need you to simply “bounce your eyes”. She needs
to be seen as a person, created in the image of God. Even if she is sinning of
her own accord. She needs rescue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Healing</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Listen, if you stop at “bouncing your eyes” and think you
have conquered your porn problem you haven’t. We aren’t fully healed until we
stop seeing men and women as objects. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Real healing is found in a Person.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You and I need Jesus Christ to pour His grace upon us. We
need forgiveness for the way that we’ve made shipwreck of God’s good gift. The
guilt of our sin needs to be removed from us as far as the east is from the
west. This is what Jesus loves to do. He loves to wash those that have engaged
in the vilest of sexual acts and viewed the worst of pornography.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Only through Jesus Christ is the monster of lust decisively
slain. And only through Jesus Christ do we regain our true identity. If you are
in Jesus Christ, your fundamental identity isn’t as a “porn watcher”. Your
fundamental identity is as one that has been washed—you are redeemed. And that
is your identity no matter how many hours of porn you watch after coming to
know Jesus.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Furthermore, it is through Jesus Christ that our minds are
restored. It is through Him that we are able to view men and women as His
creation and not as objects of our desire. If we are to win the battle with
lust, He can (and must) change our view of people. This he does.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Marriage won’t fix your heart. Bouncing your eyes won’t fix
your heart. Accountability groups won’t fix your heart. Only Jesus Christ.
Fight with Him. Yes, you might need to do various things like unplugging your
computer, not going to the beach, and turning your eyes on occasion. (That’s
the axe work). But that is incomplete. You need Jesus to transform that which
you view as objects into people.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-24775798893859631892013-05-16T10:46:00.002-05:002013-05-16T10:46:56.015-05:00Free Will Discussion<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I downloaded this discussion on Free Will from salvationbygrace.org </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Free Will and False Doctrine</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Q -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Regarding last week's message that
I downloaded ["Arguments Against The Perseverance of the Saints"
Dated: August 25, 2002]. If I understand this correctly, you're saying that the
Bible says that saying we have free will is considered a false gospel, correct?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jim -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">First off, I'm glad that you're
availing yourself of the MP3 downloads available on our site. We update them
weekly and have the previous two weeks' worth of messages available. They can
be streamed (if you have a fast connection) or they can be downloaded to your
hard drive for later listening. Soon, we'll be including the weekly Thursday
night classes on Eschatology, so check back for those.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, to your question.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let me explain my position this
way. If you start with the notion that humans have an unencumbered will and
that their willpower and decision-making ability leads to their salvation (i.e.
they obligate God to save them as the result of their choices and decisions),
then you have indeed created a method of salvation that is foreign to Scripture.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The human will does have a
capacity for choice. That's axiomatic. But, our ability to choose between
options is limited by the fact that our nature is sinful and that we can only
choose those things that are within our grasp and sinful capabilities. For
instance, we cannot choose to invade Heaven and call God into account for His
actions. Our will is weak in matters of God. In fact, we are only able to
choose among a variety of sinful thoughts and actions. But, we are incapable of
choosing to do righteous works and faithful acts that are sufficient to advance
or secure our standing before God. That's the Biblical paradigm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In order for men and women to move
toward God or perform activities that are pleasing in His sight, He must
indwell that person, free them from their bondage to sin, enlighten them,
regenerate them and draw them to Himself. The good works that they will
perform, then, are in reaction to His gracious call and saving work. They are
not the cause of salvation. They are the reaction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That being said, freewill is not
the false gospel. It is simply a false concept. The idea of individual
self-will was introduced into Christian theology by an early church father
named Tertullian, who lived and wrote 100 years after the last apostle died. He
also introduced the language of the Trinity into our Christian lexicon. So,
Tertullian has lots of credibility in certain circles. But, the notion and
concept of freewill is not found in the pages of Holy Writ, particularly in the
New Covenant documents. And, that's the difference.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, if you start with a fallacious
premise and then allow that false notion to influence your thinking about God,
of course you will arrive at false conclusions. And, that's where false
doctrine comes into play.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The false gospel is any gospel
that denies Christ's complete and utter salvation of His people. If we add
anything, any requirement that people must perform in order to complete the
work of salvation, we have created a false gospel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who
called you in the grace of Christ, to a different (Gr. "heteros" -
altered) gospel, which is not another (Gr. "allos" - not of the same
quality, qualitatively different); but there are some who trouble you and want to
pervert (Gr. "metastrepho" - to transmute or corrupt) the gospel of
Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you
than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed (Gr.
"anathema"). As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches
any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."
(Gal 1:6-10)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the case of the church at
Galatia, the corruption of the gospel was that Gentile converts were compelled
to be circumcised in accordance with the Mosaic Law. In some modern churches
you must tithe or you're not considered truly saved. In other churches, baptism
is the deciding factor. In some groups, the words that are said during your
baptism reckon your eternal state. Some denominations and church groups believe
that only adherents to their set of rules, or membership in their body, can
guarantee your eternal destiny.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And in many, many churches the
emphasis is put on your willingness to "accept Jesus," or "make
Him your Lord and Savior," or "say the sinner's prayer," and
then you are truly saved. These are all actions and activities designed to
obligate God to save people in response to their willingness to be saved. God
is not seen as the "first cause" in such instances. He is not the
instigator, author or finisher of salvation. God is simply seen as providing an
opportunity for salvation, provided someone will come along behind Him and put
that plan into effect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, the Bible teaches quite the
opposite message. Men and women are described as "dead in trespasses and
sins," wholly incapable of taking the slightest step toward God. God,
therefore, is presented as saving His people for His own glory. It is His idea,
His design and His enterprise. He is saving sinners who cannot get to Him,
cannot please Him and cannot obligate Him. He is loving the unlovable,
pardoning the unforgivable, and saving the otherwise unredeemable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And, it is this very incapability
on the part of humans that necessitates God's grace in action. Since we cannot
exercise our will to get to Him, to obligate Him, to plead our case before Him,
or to produce any positive results or merit that will redound to our eternal
account - indeed because we cannot do any good thing whatsoever and all our
best actions are accounted as filthy, bloody rags (Isa. 64:6), it is axiomatic,
self-evident, that God must move toward us. We cannot, nor would it ever enter
our sin-corrupted minds, to move toward Him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God approaches the sinner to begin
the salvation relationship. Sinners cannot move toward God any more than
Lazarus could move out of the tomb toward Jesus. First Jesus had to bring
Lazarus to life. Then, He could tell Him what He wanted him to know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Inasmuch as sinner are powerless
to obligate God (I mean, what do we have to commend ourselves? Our works? Our
filthy rags?), it must be God - of His own will and for His own purposes - who
determines the salvation of people.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That's a long answer to a short
question, I know. But, whenever you start with a false premise, you must arrive
at a false conclusion. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>An
individual's will is never designated in Scripture as the instrument or method
of salvation.</u></b> The instrument is God's grace and method is God's power.
We are merely the recipients of God's good pleasure and abundant mercy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, while freewill is not the false
gospel, in and of itself; it cannot help but lead to one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Q -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am a member of the local First
Baptist Church. I've been there for about three years now and Jim, I cannot
deny seeing God take such an active part in the lives of those people and in
that church in general. Granted, they don't teach election...well, it's
acknowledged but it's not taught.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jim -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I don't doubt it. Wherever two or
more of Christ's people are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst
(Mat. 18:20). I have never argued against congregations. Paul himself did not
argue against bodies of saints gathered together. He argued against the
leadership, the teachers, the false professors and those who would introduce
heresy into the body. He fought to protect the body against such encroachments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">People misunderstand me sometimes
when I comment on the traditions of other churches. The traditions of men,
according to Jesus, make the Word of God of no effect - null and void,
essentially (Mat. 15:3). And, God will hold those teachers accountable for
their error.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am a great fan of the Church.
Like Paul, under most all circumstances I am thankful that Christ is preached.
But, that does not mean that we should not earnestly contend for the faith once
delivered to the saints.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you
concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting
you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the
saints." (Jude 3)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is bothersome to me to hear
that any church will "acknowledge" some aspect of God's Word while at
the same time being unwilling to teach and embrace it. I wonder what they are
afraid of. God's people are not offended by God's Word, any more than sheep are
bothered by sheep food.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, there's more to it. The
modern church is shackled with responsibilities and problems that the early
church knew nothing of. For instance, the First Century Church spent no time
"counting heads." They realized that Jesus was building His church
and that the gates of Hell would not prevail against it (Mat. 16:18). They
understood that God added daily to the church "such as should be
saved" (Acts 2:47). And, they knew that as the gospel went out those who
were "ordained to eternal life believed" (Acts 13:48).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, they were not worried with
numbers. They were worried with quality. They only wanted genuine converts who
held to the true faith. And, they were quick to expose and break fellowship
with anyone opposed to the genuine gospel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both
the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this
doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: for he
that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." (2 John 9-11)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That seems very extreme and
"separatist" to our modern sensibilities, but it was essential that
the early church not allow the various destructive ideas and teachings to permeate
the body. Purity of doctrine was absolutely essential.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But not so, these days.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you are the pastor of a large
church with a large building, large budget and large bills, you have
considerations beyond doctrine. And, if you are answerable to a board, a Synod,
a convention, or a Presbytery, then one of the ways your effectiveness as a
pastor is judged is by your ability to grow the numbers and raise money. That
becomes a primary concern. And lesser concerns, like proper doctrine, take a
back seat to the more immediate and practical matters of bill-paying and
church-growing. So, whatever it takes - puppets, mimes, clowns, surround sound,
drama, musicals, showbiz, multiple self-improvement classes, singles groups,
social clubs, gymnasiums, swimming pools, martial arts classes, music lessons,
whatever! - the leaders of the modern church need to put people in the pews and
keep them coming back.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Doctrine won't accomplish that.
Proper doctrine, rightly taught, is likely to offend people. And, you cannot
risk offending people when you're striving to reach million-dollar budgets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Throughout Scripture, the genuine
gospel was always considered "a rock of offense." Everywhere that it
was told, people rejected it violently, stoning the preachers and driving them
out of their cities. The true gospel pulls the rug out from under men's
self-sufficiency and convicts them of their sinfulness. People don't like that.
They want to hear that they are just fine, doing well and God loves them
regardless. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, Jesus said, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak
well of you! For so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:26)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">That ought to wake us up. The
current man-pleasing gospel is designed to make everyone like the preacher and
his message of universal love and acceptance. No rules, no absolutes, no
requirements. Just easy-believism and a free pass into Heaven.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, the true Word will separate
sheep from goats. It will cause division and contention. I'm not saying we need
to go out and try to stir up trouble, but every apostle who told the truth
concerning God ended up in a world of trouble. The world hates the gospel. It
reproves them of their evil deeds. It throws light on their dark hearts. So,
they reject it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, the modern church has made a
comfortable place for even the most miserable sinner to join without guilt or
repentance - provided they bring their wallet. It's easier to preach a
non-threatening, light and easy message and then pass the plate. It's hard to
stand up for the truth, because there's a very good likelihood that people will
try to stone you.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So, to answer your question more
directly, will God bless the people who are in churches that advance the
watered-down message? Sure. I've seen Him do it. But, that is an act of grace,
not obligation on His part. Is God pleased with the milquetoast message
emanating from so many contemporary pulpits? Surely not. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot,
I will spew thee out of my mouth." (Rev. 3:16) </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God holds the leaders in the
church responsible for the health of the body. And, there are plenty of sick
bodies out there. But, God is gracious to His people wherever He finds them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Q -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I admit that they do push works in
the form of "quiet time," church service, tithing and the like...your
general works that most people don't particularly consider works, but they are
because of how they are pushed. If that is a false gospel, its teachers are
worthy of damnation. So then why does God take such a positive role in things
there?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jim -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You are very perceptive, so you
are asking very good and probing questions. And your logic is correct. Whatever
we add to the finished work of Christ is necessarily "works." And,
those works hamper the genuine gospel. That does lead to a false gospel and
Paul did say that anyone who preached another gospel was "anathema" -
fit for burning for God's glory. Those are his words, not mine.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">You simply cannot mix works and
grace. The two are diametrically opposed to each other. It's one or the other.
Either God will judge you on your own merit, or He will judge according to
Christ's finished work of redemption. But, as soon as we add some morsel, some
speck, some attribute or merit of our own, we are begging God to judge the
quality of that contribution. And, according to Paul, the minute we are tried
according to our works, there is no grace to cover us. God will judge all our
works and condemn on the basis of our failure to accomplish the perfect
righteousness He justly demands. It's a very dangerous game people are playing,
but they seem oblivious to it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, why does God continue to
bless such a body? Grace, my friend. He is kind. He is charitable. He is
longsuffering. And, He has His people in the midst of that body. After all,
you're there, right?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God blessed Egypt when Joseph was
in their midst. Once Israel was delivered, God drowned the armies of Egypt. God
will continue His patient forbearance with this evil world so long as His
Church is on the planet. But, after He has removed the body of Christ, the
tribulation will begin. That's how God works.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God will shake up the false
churches and hold the false teachers accountable. But, He is longsuffering and
endlessly kind toward His people, and the false professors may prosper under
the hand of blessing that has providentially fallen their way. But, not
forever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me,
I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his
people." (Heb 10:30)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Q -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Do I doubt you? No. I'm just
trying to understand and must play "devil's advocate" in order to get
the whole picture. I've been meaning to go back and listen to that message
again. But, if I understood you correctly, then what you're saying is that only
those who believe in the reformed way will be in heaven...? Doesn't make sense.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jim -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">First off, I'm a great fan of
healthy cynicism. Don't take any man at his word. Always, always check every
man's teaching against the Word of God, and if it doesn't fit, if it doesn't
jibe, if it doesn't make sense, run to the nearest exit. Test the spirits and
hold teachers accountable for how they represent God. It's important work and
not to be taken lightly. I commend you for your "due diligence."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by
night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with
all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things
were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were
Greeks, and of men, not a few." (Acts 17:10-12)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits
whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the
world." (1 John 4:1)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, as for your understanding of
my teaching: I have never said that only those people who believed Reformed
Theology will enter into Heaven. The thief on the cross knew no theology
whatsoever. He only knew whom to look to. And, that was enough. The gospel
message has always been that simple. People cloud it up and confuse it with
traditions and false ideas. But, the thief on the cross trusted wholly and
completely in Jesus to save him. And, that was sufficient.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, more to the point, no one in
the First Century church believed "Reformed Theology." It had not
been developed in any systematic form and wouldn't be for many hundreds of
years. Yet, plenty of people were saved. That's not to say that Paul did not
argue adamantly that his theology was accurate and any other version of the
gospel was false and incapable of securing salvation. There has always been one
- and only one - genuine article.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in
one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father
of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Eph 4:4-6)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, the one faith that can save
is equitable with Paul's doctrine, not necessarily "Reformed
Doctrine." There are many, many similarities and I do believe that of all
the various historic theological systematics, Reformed thinking comes closest
to Pauline teaching. But, I'm studying and promoting Paul's teaching, not the
teaching of the Reformers, per se.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As for whom God will save or
condemn, that's none of my business. It's up to Him and I do not go around
pronouncing judgment on people. I agree with Paul's assessment that men who
"pervert" the gospel will fall into just condemnation. But, that's
not my conclusion, that's Paul's conclusion. I agree with him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, what I do know is where the
safe ground is. I know how to build a house on the solid rock. And, that's what
I adjure people to do. I go around saying, "I know the sure way." As
bold as that may sound, I am convinced that the gospel message contained in the
bible is sufficient to guarantee the salvation of your ever-living, never-dying
soul. That's what I'm all about. I point people to the sure and certain way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Meanwhile, there are plenty of
people out there building on sand. There is no security in that. There is no
surety in that method. I try to warn them, but I cannot save them. Only God can
convince them. Now, whether those people end up in Heaven or not is completely
and utterly God's decision, not mine. I do not pretend to have such authority
or intimate knowledge of God's dealings. I hope and pray that He will be
merciful to them. And, I trust He will. He is a merciful God. But, I do not
pretend to persuade Him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My job is not to give comfort to
those who are in error or in danger. My job is to point people to the truth,
where safety and security abounds. My job is to tell people where certainty,
rigor and eternal peace can be found.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let me put it this way: If you
wanted to visit Hickory Hollow Mall, I could give you directions. The streets
between here and there are "set in stone." If you follow my
directions, turn where I say turn, follow the roads I say to follow, and stop when
I say stop, you will end up nowhere else except the Hickory Hollow Mall.
However, you may opt for an alternate course. That course may ultimately lead
you to the Mall or you may end up hopelessly lost. But, I do know the way and I
am willing to tell you, provided you'll pay attention and follow the
directions.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now, of course, where mall-hopping
is concerned, it might be fun to veer off course and see where you end up. But,
when we're talking about things of eternal importance, like where your soul
will wind up, I think it's vitally important to understand the true path and
make sure you're on it. God may be gracious to people who wander off and lose
their way. He may guide them back to that steady course and get them safely
home. But, that's between them and Him. That's not my job, nor do I have such
abilities. I just tell everyone who will listen where the safest course is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On the other hand, God may leave
people to themselves and let them wander until they are hopelessly doomed.
Again, that's up to Him. And, I leave it there. I do not presume to encroach on
the mind of God. I pray for His mercy on those who are lost, but I do not
pretend to have the capability to pronounce judgment on anyone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But, I do know the true and secure
path. So, I tell people. That's my gig.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thanks for writing. I hope that
helps.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yours in Him,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Jim Mc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Legal Stuff:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The documents contained in this website are
the property of Jim McClarty and Grace Christian Assembly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feel free to copy and distribute
any portion of the documents posted here but, we do require that you keep the
documents in their entirety and the copyright information with them and
intact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your cooperation is greatly
appreciated!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-77530622852943396632013-04-11T08:24:00.000-05:002013-04-11T08:24:35.858-05:00Question about 2 Peter 3:9 <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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This is a re-post from the question and answer section of Grace Christian Assembly website; www.salvationbygrace.org. Jim McClary is answering a question on the text in 2 Peter 3:9. I bring this up as we discussed this last night and I forgot to review the context of the passage to better understand what Peter was saying.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance." </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">2
Peter 3:9</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jim
-</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Oh,
well now see, you've gone and done it. You've entered into one of my favorite
arenas of life - Christian apologetics and doctrine. I always have time to
unravel this type of Bible question.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Q
-</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have forgotten a good response to the verse about God wills that no man would
perish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jim
-</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That
half of a phrase is pulled from 2 Peter 3:9, which reads,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance."</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
to get the drift of this verse, the context is vitally important. Peter is
waxing eloquent about the judgment of God and the end of all things. In verse 3
he reminded his readers that in the last days scoffers, entertaining their own
flesh, would ask where the promise of Christ's return was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"After
all," they will argue, "ever since the fathers died everything has
continued the same way it always has."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"But,"
countered Peter, "they are willingly ignorant of the fact that the Word of
God (which they mock) was the force that made the heavens and brought the land
to stand out of the water. It was the same Word of God that caused the world to
be flooded in the time of Noah, when everyone perished. And, the same Word
preserves the heaven and earth at this very moment, reserving them for the fire
that will destroy them during the time of judgment." </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That's
a "Jim-erized" version of verses 4 through 7.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Then,
Peter reminds them that God does not live in time. He does not feel the
movement of days the same way we do. "Don't be ignorant of this one
thing," he said, "that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day." (v. 8)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That's
the backdrop for verse 9, in which Peter defends the Lord's timing against
those who think He has forgotten His promise to return. "The Lord is not
slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness..." In other
words, God is not late, nor is He passed His due time. He is waiting on purpose
- not slacking as some would say He is. And, what exactly is the purpose of His
waiting before He unleashes His judgment and brings on the Day of Lord?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"He
is longsuffering toward us!"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
who is "us" in Peter's sentiment?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the first verse of this chapter he called them, "beloved." He said
they had "a pure mind." In Chapter One he identified them as,
"them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the
righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 1:1)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
why is God suffering long, holding back His judgment? Because His people, those
of faith in Christ, are still on earth and God is longsuffering toward them. He
is not longsuffering toward the whole world; He will judge the world. But, not
until after He has removed His beloved. He is not slack; he is patient toward
His own people. And, He is not willing that any of His people perish in the day
of wrath and judgment. And, so none of them will -</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">"(He
is) longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any (of us) should perish, but
that all (of us) should come to repentance."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That
entire phrase is built around God's love and care for His own people. Peter
calls them "us." They are the object of the entire treatise. The
beloved will not fall under God's judgment because He is longsuffering with
them and not willing that any of them should perish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
keep going with Peter's context.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><i>"But
the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent
heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up."</i>
(2 Peter 3:10)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">That's
the context. It's all about the earthly judgment that accompanies the Day of
the Lord. It will descend on the unbelieving world like a thief in the night.
But, it will not happen until God has saved every last one of His people.
That's why He's waiting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you continue reading that chapter you'll see that Peter continues his
eschatological language.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">So,
here's my point. This section of Peter's letter is not about soteriology - the
study of salvation. It is about eschatology, the study of last things. He is
not teaching about universalism versus particularism. He is teaching about
those who will fall under the Day of the Lord judgment and the patience of God
toward usward that will keep us from that same judgment. He is not willing that
any of us will perish. So, none of us will.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To
pull that little phrase from the middle of that grand and definite context and
claim that this is Peter's argument in favor of universalism does damage to the
text and is dishonest to the tone and tenor of the whole section.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We
must let the Bible dictate our theology. We must not impose our theology onto
the Bible. Besides, if you're going to argue for Universalism, there are much
better texts to use than this one. But, we'll get to those later. :-)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Your
servant for His sake,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Jim
Mc.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Legal
Stuff:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The documents contained in this
website are the property of Jim McClarty and Grace Christian Assembly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Feel
free to copy and distribute any portion of the documents posted here but, we do
require that you keep the documents in their entirety and the copyright
information with them and intact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your
cooperation is greatly appreciated!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thanks.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-68231412774394814992013-03-18T08:24:00.001-05:002013-03-18T08:24:33.350-05:00Easter or Resruurection Sunday? Further Thoughts! <br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Easter or Resurrection Sunday?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is Easter in the Bible?</b><br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>A better question: Should Easter be in the Bible?</i> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes it is in the King James Version, <i>but
no, the King James translators made the mistake using the exiting name
of the pagan festival instead of translating the Greek properly.</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><i> </i> </span>I have been on a personal crusade to stop using “Easter” and promote replacement of it with “Resurrection Sunday.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In studying the crucifixion timeline, I learned the King James translators took the <i>original Greek</i> word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pascha</i> and mistranslated it with the word Easter in Acts 12.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">CHAPTER 12</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-indent: .25in;">
<sup>1</sup> Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth<i> his</i> hands to vex certain of the church. <sup>2</sup> And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. <sup>3</sup> And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) <sup>4</sup> And when he had apprehended him, he put<i> him</i> in prison, and delivered<i> him</i> to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup>a</sup></a> to bring him forth to the people. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></sup></span></sup></a> </div>
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Here is Strong’s Concordance description of the word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of the 29 occurrences, 28 times “Passover” is used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In newer translations, ESV and NKJV, “Passover” or “Feast of Unleavened Bread” is used. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">3957 </span></b><b><span lang="EL" style="font-family: Gentium; mso-ansi-language: EL;">πάσχα</span></b> [<i><span style="font-family: "Charis SIL";">pascha</span></i> /<b><span style="font-family: "Charis SIL";">pas</span></b><span style="font-family: "Charis SIL";">·khah</span>/] <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title="">n n. Of Aramaic origin cf 6453; </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title="">TDNT 5:896; </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title="">TDNTA 797; </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title="">GK 4247; 29 occurrences; </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title="">AV translates as “Passover” 28 times, and “Easter” once. </a><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">1</span></b> the paschal sacrifice (which was accustomed to be offered for the people’s deliverance of old from Egypt). <b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">2</span></b>
the paschal lamb, i.e. the lamb the Israelites were accustomed to slay
and eat on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan (the first month of
their year) in memory of the day on which their fathers, preparing to
depart from Egypt, were bidden by God to slay and eat a lamb, and to
sprinkle their door posts with its blood, that the destroying angel,
seeing the blood, might pass over their dwellings; Christ crucified is
likened to the slain paschal lamb. <b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">3</span></b> the paschal supper. <b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.0pt; font-variant: small-caps;">4</span></b> the paschal feast, the feast of the Passover, extending from the 14th to the 20th day of the month Nisan. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></sup></span></sup></a> </div>
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So, what of my crusade?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <b> </b></span><b>I am continuing with it. </b>To me and mine it will be “Resurrection Sunday”<br />
<br />
<i>We will not refer to the resurrection of our Lord by a pagan title. Who could that please?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>We will not think on bunnies and eggs.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>We will not awake to see the sun rise on the spring solstice.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>We will worship our Lord and Savior, Jesus with honor, humility, and truth! </i><br />
<br />
Praise the Lord that the tomb is empty!</div>
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<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup>a </sup></a>Easter: Gr. Passover</div>
</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></sup></span></sup></a><span id="__spanCitationData"> <i>The Holy Bible : King James Version</i>.
electronic ed. of the 1769 edition of the 1611 Authorized Version.
Bellingham WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995, S. Ac 12:1-4</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title="">n </a><b>n</b>: noun or neuter</div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title="">TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title="">TDNTA Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, Abridged in One Volume</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title="">GK Goodrick-Kohlenberger</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title="">AV Authorized Version</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8795343128161476959#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></sup></span></sup></a><span id="__spanCitationData">Strong, James: <i>The
Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible : Showing Every Word of the Text of
the Common English Version of the Canonical Books, and Every Occurrence
of Each Word in Regular Order</i>. electronic ed. Ontario : Woodside Bible Fellowship., 1996, S. G3957</span></div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-20049295246778288912013-03-05T08:48:00.000-06:002013-03-05T08:48:52.931-06:00The most offensive verse in the Bible by Dan Phillips<h3 class="post-title entry-title">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 85%;">Dan Phillips</span>
<br />
teampyro.blogspot.com</div>
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<br />
In the Sunday School class at<u> <a href="http://www.copperfieldbiblechurch.org/index.html">CBC</a> </u>we're doing a series called <a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?sourceonly=true&currSection=sermonssource&keyword=copperfieldbc&subsetcat=series&subsetitem=The+Bible%2C+Marriage%2C+and+You">Marriage, the Bible and You</a>. In <a href="http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=210131042310">the second lesson of the series</a>,
I brought up the subject of secular talk shows and how they like to try
to beat up on Christians of any size, shape, and significance about
whatever topic they think is most embarrassing and controversial. Of
course, at the moment it's "gay" "marriage," or the topic of
homosexuality at all.<br />
<br />
In the course of the lesson, I remarked that I think — from the
comfortable quiet safety of my study — that I'd take a different
approach.<br />
<br />
When Piers or Larry or Tavis or Rosie or Ellen or The View or whoever
tried probing me about homosexuality, or wifely submission, or any other
area where God has spoken (to the world's consternation), I think I'd
decline the worm altogether. I think instead, I'd say something like,<br />
<br />
"You know, TaPierRosEllRy, when you ask me about X, you're obviously
picking a topic that is deeply offensive to non-Christians — but it's
far from the most offensive thing I believe. You're just nibbling at the
edge of one of the relatively minor leaves on the Tree of Offense. Let
me do you a favor, and just take you right down to the root. Let me take
you to <i>the most offensive thing I believe</i>.<br />
<br />
"The most offensive thing I believe is <b><a class="lbsBibleRef" data-reference="Genesis 1.1" data-version="esv" href="http://biblia.com/bible/esv/Genesis%201.1" target="_blank">Genesis 1:1</a>, and everything it implies.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
"That is, I believe in a sovereign Creator who is Lord and Definer of
all. Everything in the universe — the planet, the laws of physics, the
laws of morality, you, me — everything was created by Another, was
designed by Another, was given value and definition by Another. God is
Creator and Lord, and so He is ultimate. That means we are created and
subjects, and therefore derivative and dependent.<br />
<br />
"Therefore, we are not free to <i>create</i> meaning or value. We have only two options. We can <i>discover</i> the true value assigned by the Creator and revealed in His Word, the Bible; or we can <i>rebel</i> against that meaning.<br />
<br />
"Any time you bring up questions about any of these issues, you do so
from one of two stances. You either do it as someone advocating and
enabling rebellion against the Creator's design, or as someone seeking
submissive understanding of that design. You do it as servant or rebel.
There is no third option.<br />
<br />
"So yeah, insofar as I'm consistent with my core beliefs, everything I
think about sexuality, relationships, morals, the whole nine yards, <i>all</i> of it is derived from what the Creator says. If I deviate from that, I'm wrong.<br />
<br />
"To anyone involved in the doomed, damned you-shall-be-as-God project,
that is the most offensive truth in the world, and it is the most
offensive belief I hold.<br />
<br />
"But if I can say one more thing, the first noun in that verse — <i>beginning</i> — <a href="http://keeponwalking.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/ABC-2011-2-Dan-Phillips-Messiah-in-Genesis.mp3">immediately points us forward</a>. It points to the end. And the end is all about Jesus Christ. That takes us to the topic of <a href="http://www.wtsbooks.com/product-exec/product_id/7927/?utm_source=dphillips&utm_medium=blogpartners">God's world-tilting Gospel</a>, and that's what we really need to talk about."<br />
<br />
I mean, why quibble about minor offenses, when we know how to take them
right to the mother lode of all offense — that God is God, and we are
not?<br />
<br />
<hr style="color: #aa0000;" />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-61061368081027696752013-02-27T09:03:00.003-06:002013-02-27T09:03:43.186-06:00What Does it Mean to be Reformed, From Defending Contending<!--[if !mso]>
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<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://defendingcontending.com/2013/02/26/what-does-it-mean-to-be-reformed/" title="Permalink to What Does it Mean to be Reformed?"><span style="color: blue;">What Does it Mean to be Reformed?</span></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Posted
on <a href="http://defendingcontending.com/2013/02/26/what-does-it-mean-to-be-reformed/" title="5:46 pm"><span style="color: blue;">February 26, 2013</span></a> by <a href="http://defendingcontending.com/author/sbrogden/" title="View all posts by Manfred"><span style="color: blue;">Manfred</span></a> </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What Does it Mean to be Reformed?</span></i></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The hallmark cry of The Reformation centered on 5 solas – 5
statements on core Christian doctrines that define the Christian faith from the
Scriptures:</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Sola
Scriptura</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
-The Scripture Alone is the Standard</span></i><a href="http://defendingcontending.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/5-solas.jpg"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"></span></span></i></a><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Soli
Deo Gloria!</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
– For the Glory of God Alone</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Solo
Christo!</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
– By Christ’s Work Alone are We Saved</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Sola
Gratia -</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
Salvation by Grace Alone</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Sola
Fide</span></i></b><i><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">
-Justification by Faith Alone</span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">Apart from these
truths, many will be led astray from the narrow path of God’s Truth. Many
reformed Christians add a reminder that we, as sinful creatures, will never
stop learning about the Lord – and ourselves – in this age. This reminder was
summed up in the phrase, <i>Sempre Reformanda</i> – Always Reforming; lest
anyone think he has “arrived”.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">To remind us of
these biblical truths and provide a clear understanding of what those within a
local church have in common faith, Reformed Churches are <i>confessional</i> –
they hold to a written confession about how key Scriptures are interpreted and
applied to life. Presbyterians have the Westminster Confession; paedobaptist
congregationalists have the Savoy; Baptists have two London Baptist
Confessions, the 1644/46 LBC and the 1689 LBC. There are others, but one gets
the idea that confessions are useful and common, at least among certain
churches.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This brings me to a sticky wicket, so to speak, of holding
to a confession and to the higher principles of The Reformation. Confessions
are good and useful tools to codify core doctrines around which a local church
can grow and have close fellowship. They are subordinate to the Scriptures, not
a tool by which to interpret the Scriptures. They are documents written in a
particular historical context by men who were limited in their comprehension of
Scripture and somewhat blind to their own presuppositions – as are all men.
Standing on and under the Word of God, resisting the siren call to rely on the
traditions of men (men we love and thank God for), and ever growing in our love
and knowledge of God and His Word means we may discover errors in our
confessions, wording that is no longer clear, or conclusions that don’t appear
as evident as they must have to those brothers 400 years ago. Our confessions
as well as our personal presuppositions need to be tested in light of
Scripture, always reforming for the glory of our God. Not seeking change for
cultural convenience, but in response to the command that we grow as Christians
and churches and hold only to that which is good – Truth as God has revealed.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How does a Reformed church or Christian keep from allowing
the confession to dictate beliefs on secondary issues, as if it were the ruling
document? Is this not evident in many Reformed churches – people defend their
confession first, or only? Brothers, this should not be so! To cling to one’s
confession of faith, no matter how sound it may be, as one’s first priority is
not Reformed. Such a priority reflects the carnal priorities of all false
religions, and turns a good confession into another golden calf.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";">As Baptists learn
more about the covenants of Scripture, apart from the Presbyterian hermeneutic
so prevalent in Reformed publications, will we be willing to examine what our
confession says about the secondary doctrines that flow out from one’s view of
the covenants? If we are to be true to our calls of <i>Sola Scriptura</i> and <i>Sempre
Reformanda</i> we will. And we will also not be willing to defend our
confession by mere argument, but with a clear conscience led by the teaching
from the Word of God.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This does not mean that aggressive “inquiries” that appear
to be meant only for tearing down confessional doctrines should be entertained.
It does mean that honest inquiries from saints who want to sincerely understand
how a given doctrine is defended from Scripture should be welcomed. A clear
indication of trouble is when secondary documents are not allowed to be
questioned, this is a sign of cultish behavior.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Change for its own sake is rarely a good thing. But change
when we see more clearly from the Word of God is always a good thing. And we
mustn’t allow our own wisdom or that of men who went before us to stand in the
way. How can we claim to be Reformed if our confession is unchangeable? While
our confessions are good and useful, they must always submit to the Word of God
and we must be willing to entertain honest questions from saints wishing to
understand them better or examine them in light of Scripture, with the aim of
being more accurate and, therefore, honorable to our God and useful to His
children.</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With much love for the brotherhood
and malice toward none,</span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-15625008790630398982012-10-31T10:26:00.001-05:002012-10-31T10:26:43.215-05:00I want to Start Sharing the Gospel, But Now What? by Chris Hohnholz at defendingcontending.com<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
Want to Start Sharing the Gospel, But Now What?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Posted
on October 17, 2012 by Chris Hohnholz</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"><a href="http://defendingcontending.com/">http://defendingcontending.com/</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If
you have been reading my articles lately, you have probably noticed a very
consistent theme, that being that Christians are commanded to share the gospel
with the lost. I have been writing these articles for the very purpose of
awakening the church to the desperate need in our world for the glorious gospel
of Jesus Christ to be preached. It has been my sincere hope and prayer that
these articles may have caused even a small number of Christians to stop and
evaluate whether they have been obedient to the command of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. If you are one that has realized he or she has not been doing so,
but realize you need to be, you may be asking, “What do I do now? Just how do I
go about doing this?” It is my hope and prayer that over the next few articles
I can answer these questions and help equip you to biblically share the great
and glorious message that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. Today, there are
three things I want to encourage you to do as you go about preparing yourself
to evangelize the lost.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">First
and foremost, before we ever wade out into the world to share the gospel, we
need to be about the business of praying to God. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">A Christian must pray that God would give him wisdom, boldness and an
unquenching thirst to preach the gospel to the lost.</b> Christians must pray
for humility, confessing their sins and repenting of them, and praying that
they would not seek their own recognition and glory. Rather, Christians should
pray that they would seek only to glorify the Lord by preaching His truth, not
seeking to persuade with our own vain philosophies, but by speaking His
revealed Word. Christians must pray for the Lord to break through the hardened,
stony hearts of sinners and that He would reveal their need for Christ as their
Savior. That He would cause the scales to fall from the eyes of the lost and
cause them to see Christ in all His glory. Christians should also pray for
steadfastness, an unwavering desire to preach the true gospel, no matter the
opposition, or even persecution, that they may face. We must pray that we never
become weary in doing good even when the world seeks to shut us up, when our
friends and family tell us to stop being “so preachy” and even when our local
churches refuse to support us because we are “judgmental.” We must pray that we
would never stop sharing the gospel because we seek to please God alone and
desire to bring a lost and dying world to Him. Prayer is one of our most potent
and valuable weapons because it causes us to come to the throne of grace,
seeking the power and equipping of our sovereign Lord. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Never seek to accomplish the task of evangelism under your own “power.”
Rather seek the power of God Himself to do the work.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Secondly,
Christians need to become thoroughly equipped in the study of the scriptures.
Human wisdom and philosophy can accomplish precious little when it comes to
proclamation of the gospel. Remember that those who are lost are slaves to sin
and are spiritually dead. Our words alone will never penetrate the rocky soil
of an unregenerate heart. Only the Words of God Himself can break up that stone
and make the heart into fertile soil. Therefore, we must be diligent to study
the Bible daily, but not just to find scriptures that bolster our arguments.
Such study accomplishes little because we are not seeking the actual context
and application of God’s Word. If we fail to discern the true meaning of a
passage, we may end up ripping scriptures out of context and doing damage to
the message itself. Rather, we should study that we might grow in all wisdom
and understanding. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">We should study so
that our lives are so impacted by the Word, that every aspect of how we live
changes to reflect the image of our Savior.</b> In doing so, not only will we
gain the words necessary to share with the lost, we will actually demonstrate
that we believe them because our lives will reflect it. All the objections and
obstacles that man can offer against God find their demise in the very words of
our Lord. Study, memorize and learn to apply all of the scriptures on a daily
basis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Third,
remember that you were once a lost and condemned sinner too. Remember that you
had sinned against the very Creator who gave you life and breath through your
wicked works. Remember that you had broken His laws, that you had been a liar,
a thief, an idolator, a blashpember, one who lusted and fornicated, who
harbored unjust anger in your heart, one who had sought only to please himself
above all others. That in your sinned darkened stated, had you died and stood
before God, who is perfectly righteous and holy, you would have been judged
guilty and rightly condemned to an eternity it Hell. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Yet, while you were still a sinner, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to
die for you on the cross.</b> That Christ lived the life of perfect obedience
to the law that you could not. That He willingly went to the cross to suffer a
brutal and humiliating death, the one that you deserved. That three days later,
He rose again, defeating death and giving you a promise of eternal life.
Remember that one day, God sent someone to you to share this glorious message
of salvation. That He opened your eyes and softened your heart. That God
miraculously granted you repentance and faith and caused you to be born again.
And as you remember these things, glorify the Lord through worship and praise.
Remember that you were once dead and He made you alive. Rejoice that God took
an unworthy sinner like you (and me) and adopted you as His child. Then, in
your praise and adoration of Him, seek to obey His command to preach this
glorious message to others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">By
equipping ourselves in these three areas – prayer, study and worship – we
prepare ourselves for the spiritual warfare of saving souls. We are equipped
with God’s power rather than our own and we are using His weapons in this
battle. The preaching of the gospel is not an effort to improve lives, change
minds or rescue the culture. The preaching of the gospel is two things: first,
it is the glorification of our great God and Savior; second, it is a rescue
mission to save souls on a path to Hell. Therefore, we dare not treat this
lightly. Let us be fully prepared, with all God has to offer us, before we step
foot onto the battlefield.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
my next article, I intend to speak on the biblical presentation of the gospel
and to point out the errors of modern evangelical “evangelism.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">I
Want to Start Sharing the Gospel, Part 2</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Posted
on October 24, 2012 by Chris Hohnholz</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span class="MsoHyperlink">http://defendingcontending.com/</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
my last article, I shared three things that I believe every Christian must be
doing before they step out into the world to start sharing the gospel of Jesus
Christ: study the Word of God, pray, and give worship and praise to the Lord
who saved you. All three of these things are the necessities of any Christian
walk. There can be no growth and maturing without them. And they are absolutely
essential in preparing one’s self for the spiritual warfare that is the saving
of souls. Today, in the theme of preparing ourselves for witnessing, I want to
address some rather unbiblical methods that are being employed by Christians,
ministries and churches that should be avoided. Believe it or not, it really
does make a difference about how you share your faith. The methods that I want
to share today are very popular, but they are antithetical to the gospel and
have often been responsible for creating false converts, those who profess a
faith in Christ, but have never truly repented and put their faith in Him. If
we are to be obedient to the command to preach the gospel, then we want to
avoid those methods that are not in line with God’s word.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">God
Has a Wonderful Plan for Your Life</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Perhaps
one of the most common evangelistic approaches today is for the Christian to
approach an unrepentant, unregenerate sinner and to explain to him or her that
God deeply and truly loves that person and has a “wonderful plan” for their
life. The pitch usually states that all the joys of this world are
insufficient, always leaving us wanting more. We chase after the elusive
concept of happiness, but are never really satisfied. But if the sinner will
just “accept Jesus” who died for their sins (a concept only briefly mentioned
and never explained) then God will grant them peace, love and joy in abundance,
fulfilling all the wants and desires the world never could. The sinner is then
encouraged to pray a prayer, to make Jesus their Lord, and then is told without
question that they are a Christian and to never, ever doubt it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">This
approach sounds so kind and loving, ensuring the lost person that the promises
of God will be extended to them without question, so how could there be
anything wrong with it? Unfortunately, there is a lot wrong. Let’s start with
the fact that the presentation that God “loves the sinner” is inaccurate. A
sinner, by definition, is a lawbreaker and rebel against the Lord who created
him or her. Remember that God is holy and righteous, so much so that a guilty
sinner cannot stand in His presence and not be destroyed. In fact, Psalm 7: 11
states, “God is a just judge, and is angry with the wicked every day.” It is a
false statement to tell a sinner that God loves them when the’re standing in a
rebellious state before Him. Such a claim leaves the sinner believing God likes
them “for whom they are” and that their sins are not really an abomination
before Him. If they do not understand the nature of their sin, sinners will not
repent before a holy God.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Another
problem is the promise that God has a wonderful plan for the sinner. This is
problematic on many levels. First off, in their sinful state, the only plan God
has for them is judgment. Certainly, this in not “wonderful.” Secondly, if a
person truly becomes a Christian, Jesus taught His followers, “Most assuredly,
I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent
greater than he who sent him,” (John 13: 16). If Christ is the Christian’s
master, and Christ was so hated by the world that He was persecuted and
crucified, what is the promise for the Christian? Followers of Christ can
expect the world to hate and persecute them, and that life in this world will
not be comfortable for them. The promises of peace and having an “abundant
life” for the Christian are not tied to worldly comforts, but having peace with
God through Christ’s shed blood and by no longer being shackled to our sinful
nature. Yet, to the unregenerate sinner, such a promise of a “wonderful life”
is devoid of such meaning because they lack understanding of their sinful state
and coming judgment. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christians dare not
use the fruits of salvation as a draw card to entice the unbeliever into
becoming a Christian.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Just
Let People See Jesus in You</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In
our current, post-modern culture, telling someone that their life is considered
sinful before God and they are pending His righteous judgment is probably the
worst “sin” a person can commit. In fact, telling people that your beliefs are
right and theirs are wrong is equally terrible in the eyes of society. So the
church has developed a much less assertive method of evangelism. This is the
“live your life in such a way that people just have to ask you about it”
method. I have heard on many occasions from professing Christians that we
shouldn’t be pushy or preachy with unbelievers. We should just live good and
kind lives. This will clearly lead those around us to see there is something
different about us and cause them to ask us what it is. When they do, then we
can tell them that Jesus gives us that joy and peace that the rest of the world
lacks. Unfortunately, when you press the issue, most Christians will admit that
this rarely, if ever happens.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
sad truth of the matter is that this method of evangelism accomplishes nothing.
While the Christian must live a life of obedience to God, without an
explanation of what the gospel is and why we obey the Lord out of love, the
sinner has nothing to differentiate our “good lives” from that of the Hindu,
the Muslim or the atheist. Their standard of “good” is a worldly standard, and
they will equate the goodness of the Christian is the same as any other
religious, or non-religious, person. In other words, they have no real reason
to believe that your “good life” is any different than anyone else’s, so there
is no need to believe there is anything special about it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
other problem with this is that the unsaved person is standing before God with
His holy and righteous wrath awaiting them. If we desire to see them saved from
the fires of Hell, why are we hoping to entice them with a few good works? To
borrow an analogy from Ray Comfort, if you saw a neighbor’s house on fire,
would you walk up and down the sidewalk in a happy and kind manner hoping to
draw them out? Or would you run up to the door, yelling and screaming about the
danger they were in and urging them to flee to safety? If you truly care about
the unsaved sinner, you will warn them about the danger now, while there is
still time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Friendship
Evangelism</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Friendship
evangelism is a modern concept that teaches the Christian must befriend and nurture
a relationship with a person before the subject of Jesus ever comes up. In
fact, it is stressed that the Christian must “earn the right” to share the
gospel with that person before they ever open their mouth on the subject. The
belief is that if we, as Christians, do not earn this right, then we could
drive off the person by being too “preachy” or “judgmental” and they will never
“accept Jesus.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Such
a method denies several things. First, it denies the very power of the gospel
itself<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">. If the gospel is the power of
God unto salvation (Romans 1:16), then I never need to dress it up, ease it in,
or earn the right to proclaim it. It is the very message of God that Jesus
Christ came into this world to save sinners.</b> There is no more important message
to share with someone, a message that has eternal consequences. To delay
sharing it because I need to “earn the right” denies that the simple
proclamation of it is insufficient and that I must add something to it, my own
work, before it can be used.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Secondly,
it denies the manner throughout scripture we see it proclaimed. During His
earthly ministry, Christ confronted sinners with their desperate need for
salvation. In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus by night with great flowing
words of praise. Christ did not even hesitate, but told him, “Most assuredly, I
say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” (John
3: 3) Jesus did not attempt to win this influential teacher as a friend, rather
he drove straight into the heart of the matter, wasting no time. In the
following chapter, Jesus speaks to the woman at the well in Samaria. Once
again, we see our Lord wasting no time addressing the adulterous lifestyle of a
woman who just met him. He did not attempt a long, extended effort at
befriending her, Jesus spoke plainly to her about her greatest need. And if
these examples are not enough, look to Peter at Pentecost where he addressed
the crowds and 3,000 came to repentance and faith (Acts 2). Or look to Paul on
Mars Hill in Athens where Paul spoke to a crowd of pagan philosophers (Acts
17). In neither case did either of these apostles attempt to befriend the
crowds, they simply proclaimed the gospel, trusting in the power of God to
bring salvation.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Lastly,
it denies the command of God Himself. Jesus commanded His disciples, “Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” (Mark 16: 15) and to
“…make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19). If we practice
friendship evangelism, as it is defined today, then we are stating we do not
have to follow this command until we feel we are good and ready. We are going
to delay the need to obey God’s command until such a time as we feel
comfortable to do so. Yet, nowhere in scripture is such a caveat given. Nowhere
does Christ command that the gospel message be delayed until a more opportune
time. In fact, we are reminded continually that we do not know the hour of
Christ’s return, or even when our last breath will be. The gospel message is
one that must be proclaimed with urgency. To delay that because we must make
them our friend first denies that God will take that person out of this life at
a time of His choosing, which could be well before that “friendship” is
established. If we practice this method, we are assuming God will allow that
person to never encounter death until we have shared the gospel with them. That
is a dangerous presumption to make. We should never delay this most important
message of all.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So
What Do I Actually Say?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calisto MT","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
is in fact a truly biblical method of evangelism. A method that exposes the
unregenerate sinner to his condemned state before God and his desperate need
for a Savior. In my next article I will address this method specifically.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-54757004064553140762012-10-18T08:51:00.001-05:002012-10-23T11:15:15.361-05:00More Info on the Paganess of our Traditions by Jim McClarty<!--[if !mso]>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Christmas</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q - </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do you think about
Christmas? Is it okay to have a Christmas tree? And, what about Santa
Claus? I heard that he was connected with Baal worship. Is that right? </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim - </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I purposely tabled these
questions until after the holidays so I would not be introducing any
crisis of conscience into your household just as you were preparing to
celebrate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Briefly, Christmas is not a
Christian holiday (read: holy day), or time of observance. Jesus was
clearly not born on Dec. 25, as is widely known and admitted. Even the
details of His birth make that obvious. There are no shepherds in the
Middle East who watch their flocks by night in the mid-winter. That
alone ought to tell us something's amiss. </span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyway, we can get a pretty
good sense of Christ's actual birth date by using Luke's gospel. John
the Baptist is said to be six months older than Christ (Luke 1:26 and
Luke 1:36). So, if we can determine John's conception date, we simply
add 15 months and we're in the right territory. John's father was a
priest who served in the temple during the course of Abijah, or Abia
(Luke 1:5). King David established the courses of the priests. There
are of 24 courses and Abijah is the eighth (1 Chron. 24:10). By comparing
those courses to the Hebrew religious calendar, we can easily deduce
the period when Zacharias, John's father, served his course and heard
that his wife was about to conceive. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, let's do the math. The
Hebrew calendar was lunar, not solar. It was divided into 12 months of
30 days. So, the eight course would fall during the last two weeks of
the fourth month of the Sacred calendar. That month was called Tammuz,
the tenth month of the Civil Calendar. It fell between mid-June and
mid-July on our western Calendars. Add fifteen months (or, just three
months to make it easy) and you arrive at the month of Tishri, which is
mid-September to mid-October. So, Jesus was born near the time of the
Autumn equinox, in the early Fall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">By the way, that period is also
the time of the Feast of Trumpets, Atonement, and Tabernacles, when
every Jewish family capable of travel was required to appear before the
Lord in Jerusalem. So, even the smaller towns that bordered Jerusalem
would be overflowing with people. That would help explain why there was
"no room at the inn" in Bethlehem. </span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meanwhile, the early
Christian Church failed to record the date of Jesus' birth with any
certainty because it simply wasn't important to them. The death of
Christ is attested to in great detail in all four gospel records. But,
His birthday was of little consequence. It wasn't until the time of
Emperor Constantine's efforts to "Christianize" Rome that we
find any real attention paid to His birth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Romans were steeped in
Helenized culture, which they "borrowed" from the Greeks. The
Greek pantheon of gods was inculcated into Roman mythology and simply
given new names. And, the vast majority of Greco/Roman mythological
worship finds its roots in Babylonish mystery religion, which all
revolves around "sun worship." So, one of the primary
festivals (read: holy days) that the Romans observed each year was the
Saturnalia Feast (which came to be known as the Feast of Fools in the
Nordic and Gaelic cultures). It happened on the shortest day of the calendar
year as a tribute to the sun, in order to entice the sun to return and
keep their agricultural society going. So, every year, during the
winter solstice, there was a drunken, wild, gift-giving festival that
had its roots in ancient sun worship. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meanwhile, during the reign
of the Roman Emperor Constantine (306 to 337 AD) there had been 150
years of unbridled torture of Christians. However, Christianity, far
from being disposed of by the Roman persecution, continued to grow and
thrive. So, when he rose to the throne of Rome, he had a huge social
dilemma. Although his personal devotions prove that he worshipped the
Roman gods Mars and Apollos, Constantine unilaterally forbid Christian
persecution throughout his realm. </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next significant event
in Constantine's religious development occurred in 312. Lactantius -
who tutored his son, Crispus - and who therefore must have been close
to the imperial family, reports that during the night before the Battle
of the Milvian Bridge Constantine was commanded in a dream to place the
sign of Christ on the shields of his soldiers. Constantine was
victorious and he attributed his victory to "the god of the
Christians." Consequently, he began the effort to
"christianize" Rome, making it the State religion. Since every
Roman citizen was required to embrace some form of Christianity -
though it was a severely watered-down and superficial form of
Christianity - Constantine effectively established the Roman universal
(the meaning of "catholic") church and the Holy Roman Empire.
And, of course, Roman Catholicism went on to dominate Western Religion
for the next 1200 years. </span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, what doest that have to
do with Christmas? Well, in his efforts to "Christianize"
Rome, Constantine encountered considerable resistance from the heathen
Roman populace. Realizing that he could not utterly remove all of their
various feasts, orgies, bacchanalias and observances, he simply stamped
Christian names and observances onto the festivities that already
existed. For instance, the Feast of Ishtar, a Spring Fertility Feast
replete with rabbits, eggs and other symbols of fertility, occurred
close to the time of the Passover, when Christ rose from the dead. The
two were effectively mashed together, and the early-risers who went to
celebrate the rising of the sun, the rebirth of Tammuz, and his mother
Semirimus, called Ishtar, was simply "Christianized" to
celebrate the resurrection of Christ from the dead. In fact, it's
pretty spooky that the most significant religious observance of the
calendar year still bears her name - Easter! And, people in the
Christian church still run out to greet the sun as it rises - a form of
Babylonish Baal (sun god) worship. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyway (you can see this
coming), rather than try to stop the mid-winter Saturnalia feast, called
"birthday of the unconquered sun," Constantine simply imposed
the birth of Christ onto that date in order to give it significance for
every citizen of Rome, regardless of their personal depth of Christian
commitment. It was a small matter to change "the sun" to
"the Son." And, in keeping with their penchant for mixing and
matching heathen and Christian names and concepts, that holiday came to
be known as the Christ-mass. The English word "mass" is
derived from the Latin "masse," which is derived from the
Greek "maza," which were small, round barley cakes baked to
honor Semirimus as the "queen of heaven." That name was
carried into the Catholic worship service, with its veneration of Mary
as "queen of Heaven." So, when the Mass was performed to
honor her child, it was designated the yearly "Christ-mass."
We just call it Christmas. </span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And, Christmas doesn't have
the sort of illustrious American history that modern folk assume. It
was understood to be a pagan practice by the earliest pilgrims and
settlers. In fact, Christmas was generally outlawed in America until
the end of the last century. Up until 1870, the city of Boston
proclaimed that anyone missing work on Christmas Day would be fired.
Factory owners required employees to come to work at 5 a.m. on Christmas
in order to insure they would not go to church that day. And any
student who failed to go to school on December 25 was summarily
expelled. Alabama was the first state of the union to recognize
Christmas as a legal holiday, but that was late in the nineteenth
century. It's amazing how times have changed; now that Christmas is a
staple in our national economy. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 16;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While there's some debate as
to where the various traditions and observances of Christmas started,
it's clear that most of them pre-date Christ Himself. They were simply
carried over from their heathen roots into the "christian"
culture. And, Santa Claus is one of those traditions. If you do a
simple search on the Internet on the History of Christmas, or the
history of Santa Claus - remember that "Santa" comes from the
Latin word for "saint" - you'll find a wealth of debate and
information. But, it's clear that a fat man in red coming down the
chimney to give gifts to children has nothing to do with the birth of
Christ. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The reason I referred to him
as Baal, is because of the ancient mid-east and European wood carving
that depict Baal as an old man with a long white beard, usually holding
a fir, or evergreen, tree as a sign of eternal life. That exact
imagery, by the way, appeared on this year's Christmas stamps from the
US postal service. Spooky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It's funny how inculcated
this essentially heathen custom has become in our society, though. I
once told a woman that I didn't care for Christmas and she accused me
of being an atheist! But, it's just the opposite. I don't like
Christmas because I am a committed Christian! Certainly, Jesus was
right when He said, "Thus have ye made the commandment of God of
none effect by your tradition." (Mat. 15:6) </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, I am not a complete
killjoy where Christmas is concerned. We give our kids gifts and we
enjoy the time the family. But, we have never taught our children Santa
Claus. I mean, they know who he is, but they know he is fictitious, on
the level of Bugs Bunny and Ronald McDonald. We never wanted to ascribe
God-like attributes to anyone but God. Only God "sees you when
you're sleeping and knows when you're awake." And, only God
rewards and judges people, not some mythological fat man from the North
Pole. Libbie and I agreed early in our marriage that we would not lie
to our kids. That way, they would always know that whatever we told
them was true. And, they would trust us to guide them in the pathways
of truth and honesty. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When my parents - who really
played the Santa Claus thing to the hilt - told me that he was not
real, I was crushed. And, the very next question I asked (according to
my mom) was, "Then is there really a God?" Of course, they
instantly went into recovery mode and did their best to convince me
that the God I had never seen, never felt, seldom talked to and who
never seemed to actually do anything for me, was really, genuinely
alive and significant. But, the man who had entered my home every year,
brought me gifts, ate our cookies, drank our milk, who I wrote letters
to and who loved me for being good, was fake. I hated it. So, as a
parent, I will never take my children through that crisis. When I tell
them about God - whom they have heard about from their earliest years -
they know I'm telling the truth and that I will never recant. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A couple of years ago we
even stopped putting up a tree. The tree had bothered me, but my wife
did not share my conviction, originally. But, after a while it even
bothered her. Like I've said, revelation of God is progressive and we are
responsible to the truth we know. So, we asked the kids if they would
prefer a tree each holiday, or if we spent that extra fifty bucks on
gifts. You can imagine their reply. Bingo - no tree. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thanks for your question. I
know plenty of Christians struggle with the holidays and how to
properly observe them. My opinion is that we all react in accordance
with our level of understanding, in keeping with the truth revealed to
us as individuals. Some folk with less knowledge of Christmas history
and traditions may celebrate the holidays in all their detail without a
pang of conscience. And, I would never condemn them. They are a perfect
example of Paul's "weaker brethren." I will continually
strive to teach God's word until we all come to the knowledge of the Lord
and worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Then, each Christian must work
out the details between them and God. My job, and our job as a church,
is to expose the truth and promote the worship of Christ and Him only. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fair enough? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yours for His sake, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Legal Stuff</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: The documents contained in this website
are the property of Jim McClarty and Grace Christian Assembly.<br />
Feel free to copy and distribute any portion of the documents posted here
but, we do require that you keep the documents<br />
in their entirety and the copyright information with them and
intact. Your cooperation is greatly
appreciated! Thanks. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-81478598934008363602012-10-17T08:03:00.001-05:002012-10-17T08:03:50.648-05:00Who does this remind you of?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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PSALM 10</div>
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<b><i>A Song of Confidence in God’s Triumph Over Evil</i></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<sup>1</sup> Why do You stand
afar off, O Lord? <i>Why</i> do You hide in times of trouble? </div>
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<sup>2</sup> The wicked in <i>his</i>
pride persecutes the poor; </div>
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Let them be caught in the
plots which they have devised. </div>
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<sup>3</sup> For the wicked boasts
of his heart’s desire; </div>
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He blesses the greedy <i>and</i>
renounces the Lord. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup>4</sup> The
wicked in his proud countenance does not seek <i>God;</i> </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> God
<i>is</i> in none of his thoughts. </b></div>
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<sup>5</sup> His ways are
always prospering; </div>
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Your judgments <i>are</i> far
above, out of his sight; </div>
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<i>As for</i> all his enemies,
he sneers at them. </div>
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<sup>6</sup> He has said in
his heart, “I shall not be moved; </div>
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I shall never be in
adversity.” </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><sup>7</sup>
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Under
his tongue <i>is</i> trouble and iniquity. </b></div>
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<sup>8</sup> He sits in the
lurking places of the villages; </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In the secret places he murders the innocent</b>; </div>
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His eyes are secretly fixed on
the helpless. </div>
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<sup>9</sup> He lies in wait
secretly, as a lion in his den; </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> He
lies in wait to catch the poor; </b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> He
catches the poor when he draws him into his net. </b></div>
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<sup>10</sup> So he crouches,
he lies low, </div>
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That the helpless may fall by
his strength. </div>
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<sup>11</sup> He has said in
his heart, </div>
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“God has forgotten; </div>
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He hides His face; </div>
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He will never see.” </div>
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<sup>12</sup> Arise, O Lord! </div>
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O God, lift up Your hand! </div>
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Do not forget the humble. </div>
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<sup>13</sup> Why do the wicked
renounce God? </div>
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He has said in his heart, </div>
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“You will not require <i>an
account.</i>” </div>
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<sup>14</sup> But You have seen,
for You observe trouble and grief, </div>
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To repay <i>it</i> by Your
hand. </div>
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The helpless commits himself
to You; </div>
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You are the helper of the
fatherless. </div>
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<sup>15</sup> Break the arm of
the wicked and the evil <i>man;</i> </div>
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Seek out his wickedness <i>until</i>
You find none. </div>
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<sup>16</sup> The Lord <i>is</i>
King forever and ever; </div>
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The nations have perished out
of His land. </div>
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<sup>17</sup> Lord, You have
heard the desire of the humble; </div>
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You will prepare their heart; </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You will cause Your ear to
hear, </div>
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<sup>18</sup> To do justice
to the fatherless and the oppressed, </div>
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That the man of the earth may
oppress no more. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who does this Psalm bring to mind?</div>
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<br /></div>
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He “cares” about your healthcare by turning it to socialized
medicine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The truth is far from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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His failures all belong to others about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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He supports the killing of the preborn and elderly. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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He bribes the poor with a free cell phone to support him in the
upcoming election.</div>
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Most sadly, God is in none of his thoughts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please pray for our president that the Gospel of Jesus will
be opened to his heart and he will hear it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-28050540034189453762012-10-10T09:54:00.000-05:002012-10-10T09:54:18.796-05:00The Great Commission by Pastor Jim McClarty<!--[if !mso]>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The Great Commission</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have a question. It's on
the Great Commission. Here is the question: why did God give us the
Great commission if it's all already decided for us: either we are
chosen or not. I first looked on the question / answer section but I
couldn't find it.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim -</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, "The Great
Commission," eh?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let me start by saying that
the phrase "Great Commission" isn't in the Bible anywhere.
And that's okay. We use lots of terminology that's not in the Bible,
like "trinity" or "omniscience." However, despite
the fact that the particular words "trinity" or
"omniscience" are not to be found within the Scripture, the
concepts are clearly there. We've just given those concepts names so
that we can better relate to them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the other hand, the concept
of "The Great Commission" is not clearly spelled out in the
Bible. "The Great Commission" is a phrase used by some
Christian groups in order to encourage greater evangelistic effort.
Usually, when people speak of the "The Great Commission,"
they are referring to Jesus' words at the close of Matthew's gospel:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"All authority has been
given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son
and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you;
and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matt.
28:18-20 NASU)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Typically, what happens in
freewill-oriented churches is that Jesus' instructions are assumed to
mean that we Christians are responsible to take the gospel everywhere
we can and to convert as many people as possible. Usually then, this
"commission" to spread the gospel worldwide is connected to
another quote from Christ:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"This gospel of the
kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the
nations, and then the end will come." (Matt 24:14 NASU)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, the conclusion becomes:
we are to spread the gospel to "all the nations" because
"the end" will not (and indeed cannot) come until the gospel
is preached to the whole world. Consequently, we must send more
missionaries to every remote corner of the world and we must keep
converting everyone we know because Christ will not return until
everyone has heard it.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 11;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Voila! "Great
Commission."</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of course, the first problem
with that interpretation is that it juxtaposes two diverse saying of
Jesus against each other in a way that the original authors did not
intend. Secondly, those two verses don't actually mean quite what the
proponents of the Great Commission would like them to say.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Early in His ministry,
Christ commanded His twelve apostles to go preach "the gospel of
the kingdom" and He gave them this instruction:</span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 14;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 15.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"These twelve Jesus
sent out after instructing them: 'Do not go in the way of the Gentiles,
and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, The
kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (Matt. 10:5-8 NASU)</span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jesus was the Jewish
Messiah, the Savior of Israel. And His first commission was to them
exclusively. But, after His resurrection, He gave a new command to
spread the gospel to "all nations." There is a very distinct
contrast happening there. Now the message of salvation by grace was to
be spread to all people groups, not Israel exclusively. And that's the
main thrust of Mat. 28:18-20.</span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rather than the good news of
peace between God and man belonging to Israel alone, the gospel was to
travel to people of every kindred, tongue, tribe and nation. But, the
command given to the apostles has been expanded to mean that everyone
on Earth must be given an equal opportunity to hear and believe the
gospel, and Christ will not return until that has happened.</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, we do read of a
definite fulfillment of Matt. 24:14 in the book of Revelation:</span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 15.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"And I saw another
angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those
who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and
people; and he said with a loud voice, 'Fear God, and give Him glory,
because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the
heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.'" (Rev 14:6-7
NASU)</span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, Jesus is not postponing
His return, waiting for the church to hurry up and reach every single
person before "the end" comes. What Jesus was teaching was
that prior to the end (the great tribulation and re-gathering of
Israel), the gospel will indeed be preached to the whole world as a
witness against them. This final preachment of God's dominion does not
result in mass conversion. It serves to condemn the remnant of mankind
in their rejection of Him.</span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But, the point is: the
"Great Commission" advocates would have us believe that the
church is responsible to accomplish the very thing that God Himself
accomplishes as part of His plan to wrap up this current age. Jesus is
building His own church and God's adds daily to the church those who
are destined to be saved.</span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 15.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"I also say to you that
you are Peter, and upon this rock <b>I will build My church</b>; and
the gates of Hades will not overpower it." (Matt 16:18-19 NASU)</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 15.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"And <b>the Lord was
adding</b> to their number day by day those who were being saved."
(Acts 2:47 NASU)</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, should we preach and
evangelize? Yes indeed. But, should we feel pressured by notions of the
"Great Commission" and the necessity to advance the gospel in
order to accomplish Christ's work? No. Christ will accomplish what He
has placed His own hands. Our job is to tell the truth and preach His
grace. But, the work of saving men and women eternally is His work, to
His glory.</span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hope that helps.</span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Yours for His sake,</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 26; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim Mc.</span></b></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
</span></div>
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<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt 11.25pt;">
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<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 15.0pt;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Legal Stuff</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: The documents contained in this website
are the property of Jim McClarty and Grace Christian Assembly.<br />
Feel free to copy and distribute any portion of the documents posted here
but, we do require that you keep the documents in their entirety and the
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-25219468734522481542012-09-27T08:22:00.001-05:002012-09-27T08:22:41.851-05:00Life's Toughest Question by Jim McClarty<!--[if !mso]>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> Here is a good post on answering Life's toughest question. And deciding what that question is. This is from Jim McClarty at www.salvationbygrace.org.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life's Toughest Question</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">How would you go about
structuring a message titled: answering life's toughest questions? </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim - </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have a brief answer. Woody
Allen said in one of his films (they all run together at some point)
that humans spend their time creating trouble and dilemmas in their
life so that they won't have to face the really big issue, which is
that we are all going to die. There's a lot of truth in that. I would
add that we create dilemmas that are actually within our power to
control or solve in order to fool ourselves into believing that we are
the masters of our destinies and that we actually will have some control
over our ultimate fate. </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But, the real issue remains
- we are all going to die. </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I've heard a whole rash of
sermons on the radio lately [they seem to run in cycles. I think the
radio guys all listen to each other and when somebody comes up with an
idea or series that sounds intriguing the rest of them jump on the
bandwagon so as not to lose their audience...but, I digress) that have
to do with Life's Tough Questions, and similar titles. And, of course,
they all run through the litany of human troubles, especially those
that are "big press" items, like abortion, race relations,
marriage, crime, drinking, etc. </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To be honest, those messages
don't do much for me. I listen to them to try and get the pulse of
"the church as entertainment" movement. But, they are always
little more than popular questions with semi-Biblical, or
pseudo-Biblical, answers. Abortion? Hate the sin; love the sinner. Race
relations? Love your brother as yourself. Marriage? Husbands, love you
wives as Christ loved the church. Crime? Thou shalt not steal.
Drinking? Be not drunk with wine. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You get the picture. Basic
answers to complex questions. It's sort of like Nancy Reagan's answer
to the drug problem - Just Say No. Well, if the drug problem in America
were so simple it could be solved with a slogan, we'd have licked it a
long time ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nevertheless, these
questions are hardly anything new. These are problems that are typical
of the human condition in any age. Sinners do sinful things. The sinful
things that sinner do will always be a problem for the church. Well, at
least they used to be a problem, until the contemporary church decided
to embrace them as opportunities to be more "seeker
sensitive." </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 10;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">My point? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The supposed "hard
questions" of life aren't really that hard. They may be complex,
but they are ultimately manageable. That gives us frail humans some
sense that we can, by own effort, solve some of our own problems. And,
most of what I hear called "the hard problems" are really
quite basic, according to Scripture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Human actions fall into two
categories: right and wrong. Most reasonably educated people, or at
very least people indwelt by the Spirit of God, have some sense of
what's acceptable and what's not in God's eyes. Only sociopaths don't
understand that killing people is at very least
"anti-social." We may act as if we don't recognize any authority
but ourselves, but deep down we all fear that there might actually be a
God, He might actually be watching, and we may in fact be held
accountable for our actions. But, we don't have to think about that if
we fill our time and thoughts with problems we might actually be able
to solve with a little brain-power and effort. We'll just push that
"God" thing to the side. </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, are there answers to our
social problems and ills? Sure. </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Abortion? Don't do it.
Children are a gift from God. Murder is wrong. There, that wasn't too
tough. Race relations? Esteem every man as better than yourself and
remember that the purest races are mixed breeds. In Christ there is
neither Jew nor Gentile. He has made of the two "one new
man." So, act like it. I could go on, but you get my drift. God
actually has provided answers to our "toughest" questions. We
just don't like His answers. Murder? Don't kill. Crime? Don't covet; it
leads to stealing. Sexual immorality? Don't fornicate. Don't commit
adultery. Those are the answers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The simple reality is that
God has laid down His standard and He expects His standard to be
upheld. Now, will it be? Nope. Sinners to sinful things. Will it be
upheld in Church? It should be, but that's why grace is so necessary.
We all have come short of the glory of God. </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, are life's toughest
questions that same list of social ills that's repeated ad nauseum in
these sermons? No, absolutely not. Life's toughest questions are the
ones nobody asking, because they are afraid of the answer. So, to avoid
the answer, they don't ask the questions. It's easier to deal with
questions we can answer in a thirty-minute, radio-friendly sermon. </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, what are the tough
questions? </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let's start at the top: Is
there a God and will He really judge me for my actions? </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The answer, of course, is:
Yes, there is a God. And yes, everywhere that He presents Himself in
Scripture He represents Himself as a jealous God, who will judge in
righteousness and who is willing to condemn people eternally. </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life's toughest questions #2:
Is it true that all men are sinners, born dead in trespasses and sins
and there's not one thing we can do to satisfy the holiness, or appease
the wrath, of God? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Answer: That's right. You're
born dead in sin. It doesn't matter whether you think you're a sinner
or whether you have verifiable evidence that you're better than, say,
Hitler. The standard of righteousness is not other people, the standard
is the Holiness of God. And, whether it's Hitler or Mother Teresa, all
we like sheep have gone astray and turned, everyone of us, to our own
way. No human being that is tried on the basis of his or her personal
works and individual level of sanctification will be allowed into
Heaven. We are all guilty, and our best works of righteousness are
nothing more than filthy, bloody rags. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life's toughest question #3:
Is it true that God is absolutely holy and that people have to attain a
standard of holiness commensurate with God's in order to avoid eternal
damnation? </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Answer: Yep, that's the
deal. The standard is impossibly high. Don't attempt to lower the
standard in order to convince yourself that you can attain it. I mean,
if real holiness could be achieved by how you dress, or wear your hair,
or what church you attend, then we could certainly live up to that. But,
those are manmade standards designed to convince egocentric people that
they actually are impressing God with their actions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nevertheless, the true
standard, according to Jesus, had to exceed that of the scribes and
Pharisees (who were actively attempting to achieve salvation through
the actions of the Law). In other words, neither the Pharisees nor the
disciples had yet to achieve a righteous standard sufficient to
obligate God to save them. No one gets in by their personal merit. The
standard remains and the standard does not bend. God does not grade on
a curve. Only absolute, eternal, spotless holiness will achieve eternal
salvation. </span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life's toughest question #4:
Oh my Heavens!!! What if those first three questions and answers are
right????!!!! What will I do???!!!! I mean, if God is absolutely holy
and I am absolutely depraved, then I am absolutely hopeless!!! Who
shall deliver me from the body of this death? </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And <u>that</u>, my friend,
is life's toughest question. God is holy. I'm dead in sins. The gulf between
us is insurmountable. What will I do? </span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That's the question no one
seems to ask anymore. They want to make sinners look good, or bring God
down to our level. Either way, they are creating a false answer to a
seemingly impossible question. God's standard does not bend and dead
men do not make themselves alive. We are in desperate trouble. </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Life's one toughest
question: What will I do about eternity? </span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Answer: Christ. There is one
mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. That's the answer.
Christ did not live and die in order to give us a simpler, calmer, more
blessed life here on earth. He did not agonize on the cross in order to
supply us with endless health and comfortable shoes. He did not endure
separation from His Father, causing Him to cry out, "My God, My
God, why have you forsaken me?" in order for us to make Him our
bellhop and let Him know when we need something from Him. </span></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The answer to life's
toughest question is that only faith in Christ's finished work will
result in salvation, the only thing you absolutely, positively must
have when you leave this world. And, as I said, we're all going to
leave. You can suffer through life's other miseries and do it with
great aplomb or with wailing and gnashing of teeth, but if you don't
know the answer to that one question, you will be cast off from God's
presence for the rest of forever. Get that one question right, and
Christ's own righteousness will be imputed to your account, and you
will live gloriously through eternity, accepted in the beloved, and
securely wrapped in the powerful, unchanging love of the Father. </span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Spend the rest of your life
debating the minutiae of the human experience and you may never have to
address that question. </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 32;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, if I were constructing a
message with that title, that's the approach I would take. I know that
life has bumps and troubles. But, that's life. The big questions are
those that lead to eternal life or damnation, and those questions are
far too frequently ignored in favor of the minor, more immediate
dilemmas that are within our grasp. </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 33;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Grace and peace, philos. </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 34; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim Mc. </span></div>
</td>
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</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<hr align="center" size="2" width="100%" />
</span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt 11.25pt;">
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<td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 15.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Legal Stuff</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: The documents contained in this website
are the property of Jim McClarty and Grace Christian Assembly.<br />
Feel free to copy and distribute any portion of the documents posted here
but, we do require that you keep the documents in their entirety and the
copyright information with them and intact. Your cooperation
is greatly appreciated! Thanks. </span></div>
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</tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-89265220494336623302012-09-25T11:05:00.001-05:002012-09-25T11:05:11.946-05:00New Posts - Questions and Answers from Jim McClarty<!--[if !mso]>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> This post is a reprint from questions and answers from Pastor Jim McClarty. We enjoy his expositional preaching and firm biblical stance. We hope you enjoy the posts. His website is www.salvationbygrace.org.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Music In Church</span></u></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Q -</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I recently read a message on
Acts 2:42 that commented, "Only the activities outlined in Acts
2:42 are valid for things to do in church. Teaching, fellowship, the
breaking of bread, and prayer." While this is the
"fingerprint" of the church, whether meeting in a home, barn,
or 10,000 sq. ft. building, how does singing fit into what Paul was
writing? Most churches seem to split the service with about 40%
worship, 40% teaching, and then 80% announcements. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, help me out here:
singing. How much emphasis should we put on it in church? </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Microsoft Sans Serif","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim -</span></b></div>
</td>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You'll pardon me if I
question your math skills. :) </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I do not actually agree with
the comment above, inasmuch as I do not think that only those
activities mentioned in Acts 2:42 qualify as genuine, valid church
activities. Certainly, those activities are important and must be
included in any healthy church life, but to limit a church's functions
and actions to those four is a bit shortsighted. For instance, we know
that Paul taught churches to take up collections and offerings. That's
not mentioned in Acts 2:42, but it's a valid church activity. Or, how
about the very next verse, Acts 2:43? Luke wrote that miracles, signs
and wonders were done by the apostles within the church. The rest of
that chapter recounts how the saints had all things in common and sold
their property, laying the money at the feet of the apostles. Surely,
these were valid church activities. </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And, as you point out,
singing has always been a part of worship. When Jesus finished His last
supper with the apostles, they sung a hymn and left for the Mount of
Olives (Mat. 26:30). Of course, their method of singing may have been
quite different than our modern concept of music. It may have been more
like recitation. But, it was still a group activity, designed for
worship and to enhance the sense of community. </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Also, Paul taught the
Ephesians that they should be "filled with the Spirit; speaking to
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord." (Eph. 5:18-19) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He told the Colossians,
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs." (Col. 3:16) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Singing was common in the
Corinthian Church, including singing "in the Spirit" or in a
tongue. Paul said, "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit,
and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the
spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." (1Cor.
14:15) </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hebrews 2:12 reads, "I
will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will
I sing praise unto thee." </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 12;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">James adds, "Is any
among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing
psalms." (Jam. 5:13) </span></div>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 13;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And, of course, in the book
of Revelation, the 144,000 sing a "new song" (Rev. 5:8), and
the redeemed saints sing the song of Moses and song of the Lamb (Rev.
15:3). </span></div>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, it appears inescapable
that singing has a long heritage and rightful place within the Church.
Singing has always been a vital and useful part of church activity as a
facility for praise, thanksgiving, and worship. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 15;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now, I said all that to say
this - </span></div>
</td>
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<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am bothered by the
emphasis on music in the modern church. Music and singing have never
saved anyone. People are not saved through waving their arms, singing
repetitive choruses or having a warm feeling when the choir sings.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17). </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 17;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 15.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"For after that in the
wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." (1 Cor. 1:21)
</span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 18;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">To my way of thinking, music
programs have become the spiritual bane of the modern
"entertainment" church. People love to be entertained and
there are billions of entertainment dollars passed around each year.
So, the church has begun competing for those dollars. But, in the
process, the church has forgotten its purpose and the only genuine
method of salvation. That's not a popular position, I realize. But,
popularity has never been my goal. </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 19;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today, in most modern
churches - and their "contemporary" services - preaching
takes a far back seat to music, drama, dance, puppets, sticks, clowns,
and mime (!!!). And, they have the nerve - the raw audacity, the
repugnant presumption - to call these things "ministries." Is
there anything more confusing than the notion that we can spread the <u>Word</u>
by pantomime? What silliness has overtaken the once-glorious church of
the living God. </span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 20;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What do all those activities
have in common? They are all "performances." They all require
people to get in front of the congregation and "perform."
But, "ministry" and "performance" are 180 degrees
removed from each other. In the New Testament, the word
"minister" is the Greek "<i>diakonos</i>." The most
common meaning of that word is "servant" or
"attendant." The verb form of the word, "<i>diakoneo</i>,"
means "to serve, to wait upon." So, anything that is labeled
"a ministry" must, by definition, wait upon others in a
servile condition. That is quite the opposite of performing, clowning,
juggling, and the like. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 21;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I simply cannot imagine that
Paul would ever truncate his preaching in favor of a little one-act
drama. Or, would Paul sit still while a church paraded out clowns and
magic to spread the gospel? I don't think so. And, it would not be
because of ancient superstitions or fear of conjurers. It would be
because the salvation of people is too important to play with. And,
there is only one prescribed method of spreading the saving message. If
we are going to be serious about God and His Word, then we must
question these trends. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 22;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And, speaking of disturbing
trends, <u>when</u> did the church become a platform for creating
celebrities? God gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists,
some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints and the work
of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. (Eph. 4:11-12)
I don't see "worship leaders" anywhere in that list. Or,
"pop icons" - N'Sync-style "boy bands" that bump
and grind while they sing quasi-Christian songs. And, I feel the same
way about celebrity pastors. Any ministry that is named after the
preacher is emphasizing the wrong leader. The preacher becomes a
celebrity in his own right and his services become a cult of
personality. It's show-biz at its worst. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 23;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I grew up in the church.
I've seen it all. I've witnessed the "behind the scenes"
wrangling for power and prestige that happens in multi-million dollar
ministries. And, as the pastors and leaders struggle for power,
notoriety and money, the saints end up "taking sides." I have
known song leaders who see their position, as do many "youth
ministers," as stepping-stones to the pulpit - their real goal.
It's shameful. They seek to undermine the very men they agreed to
assist. The saints are split and the sheep are scattered. Spiritual
slaughter in the name of God...and fearsome, out-of-control egos. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 24;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You see, it was never a
question of whether music was appropriate in the church. It was always
a question of <u>purpose</u>. What is the purpose behind the music? Is
it to glorify God and produce a shared sense of community, awe, or
spiritual union? Or, is it produced for the purpose of glorifying the
celebrities on the platform, who sell their CD's in the foyer after the
service? </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 25;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is so basic that it
absolutely frustrates me. Everything done within the church must be
done for the purpose of God's worship and glorification, as well as the
edification, spiritual well being and unification of the body. Anything
done for any other reason is blasphemous. But, the church has forgotten
words like "blasphemy." They have replaced it with words like
"tolerance." </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 26;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And another thing, as long
as I'm ranting --- every church in our area, in an effort to be
"different" and separate themselves from the crowd, now
offers "contemporary" worship. So, in their rush to be
"different" they are <u>exactly</u> like everybody else. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 27;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They all have guitars. Once
upon a time, that was risky. They have drums. Very risky. They have
electronic keyboards and bass guitars. They play with rhythm and pulse
so the people can sway back and forth. Fine, fine, fine. </span></div>
</td>
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<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 28;">
<td style="padding: 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt 3.0pt;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I like musical instruments
and I think every instrument is fair game in worship, provided it is
played by someone with a heart for service. For instance, a snare drum
is an inanimate object. It cannot sin; it cannot perform acts of
righteousness. Its relative appropriateness in church is determined by
the person playing it. And, any drummer with a Christian heart for
service is welcome to play in any church I pastor. It's the servant I'm
looking for, not the snare drum. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But, this rush to be
contemporary has ultimately proven it's own pointlessness. It's the
same old thing, passed off as some new thing. You can visit any church
in our area (as I have) and you'll find "same time, same place,
same thing." But, the leaders are convinced that people will only
come back if they continue to offer "new" things. And, you
know, there's nothing new under the sun. Paul dealt with this same
dilemma - </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">"Then certain philosophers
of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said,
What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth
of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the
resurrection. And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus,
saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know
therefore what these things mean. (For all the Athenians and strangers
which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell,
or to hear some new thing.)" (Acts 17:18-21) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Those people were so
superstitious that, for fear of missing some god in their pantheon,
they even had a monument to "the unknown god." The modern
church is not far behind them. The current trend to ecumenism is
welcoming every foreign god they can find. And, like the blind leading
the blind, they all follow the deadly trend. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So, do you want to know what
makes a church genuinely different? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Give up? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Preaching the true doctrine
of God in Christ, salvation by grace, and God's sovereign control in
all things. Declaring His absolute Holiness and His right to insist
that people only approach Him via the means He establishes and
approves. Teaching the utter sufficiency of Christ in all matters of
salvation, including the completed, successful atonement. Assuring the
saints of our security in His finished work. That is the lost message
of the church. That is what makes a church different. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where is that preachment?
Where is the Word that produces faith? Where is the call to repentance
and the food that nourishes hungry souls? Where are the men who
actually understand that they are dealing with the ever-living,
never-dying, eternal status of men, women and children? Where are the
men who take God seriously? Where? I am so tired of the void that
permeates the church. It makes me cry when I'm not ranting and raving
and beating my fists against the wind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anyway, I just wanted to
answer that question. It hit a nerve, as you may have discerned. ;-) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I love the Church. I love
the Church of the Living, Resurrected Christ. I love the saints of God
and the Word that guides people from life into life. I adore my Savior
and I hurt to see him dragged through this muddy world. But, one day,
my friend, He will return and set things right. And, there will be
music. And, there will be singing like we've never heard. And, it will
be glorious. And, I want to sing along. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until then, I pray that God
will send laborers into His work, always anticipating His appearance
and the joy to come. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That will be a good day. (I
am the master of understatement...) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Anticipating that event, I
am, as ever, yours for His sake, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Jim </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Legal Stuff</span></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 8.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: The documents contained in this website
are the property of Jim McClarty and Grace Christian Assembly.<br />
Feel free to copy and distribute any portion of the documents posted here
but, we do require that you keep the documents in their entirety and the
copyright information with them and intact. Your cooperation
is greatly appreciated! Thanks. </span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-12737231505614194532012-06-25T13:56:00.000-05:002012-06-25T13:56:16.478-05:00Good Article on Living a Gospel Centered Life<!--[if !mso]> <style>
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<h2>This is reposted from Defending Contending.com </h2><h2>http://defendingcontending.com/author/goforthandpreach/</h2><h2><a href="http://defendingcontending.com/2012/06/22/christians-are-we-ready/" title="Permalink to Christians Are We Ready?">Christians Are We Ready?</a></h2><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="meta-prepmeta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://defendingcontending.com/2012/06/22/christians-are-we-ready/" title="12:53 pm"><span class="entry-date">June 22, 2012</span></a> <span class="sep">by</span><span class="by-author"> </span><span class="authorvcard"><a href="http://defendingcontending.com/author/goforthandpreach/" title="View all posts by Chris Hohnholz">Chris Hohnholz</a></span><span class="by-author"> </span></div><a href="http://defendingcontending.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/bible.jpg"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a>Maybe I am overstating the obvious here, but the Christian church has lost a lot of ground with regards to homosexuality. I’m not talking about on the legislative or protest front, I’m talking about in our preaching and teaching of the gospel. We are losing and the culture is looking at us as old, fuddy-duddies who simply haven’t got a clue.<br />
<br />
In truth, I have to admit, when it came to discussing homosexuality, this was an area I just stayed out of. I simply believed I was going to get steam rolled if I ever tried to talk about it, so it just didn’t seem worth it. And it’s not like there isn’t evidence to support this. How many videos have we seen of Christians being escorted by police away from homosexual events or neighborhoods. The animosity from the homosexual community toward Christians is pretty well documented. So honestly, I felt justified in staying away from the matter.<br />
<br />
But I realize now that I have done a disservice to the gospel. In fact, I would wager that I have sinned by unilaterally deciding to never deal with the issue. I say this because I never bothered to dig into scripture and learn how to defend what God teaches on this matter. I never learned how to explain how homosexuality was still wrong while eating shrimp was fine. I never learned how to preach the gospel compassionately and lovingly to a person who was struggling to understand how their attractions could be an affront to the God who created him. I simply just didn’t want to do it.<br />
<br />
Now, all one has to do is peruse social media and blogging sites to see the prevailing attitude among our culture. Young people have no clue what the Bible says about homosexuality. And what little they think they know is grossly wrenched out of context. But the sad truth is that many Christians know less about this issue, biblically speaking, than those whose voices are being the agent of change in our culture. We simply don’t know how to defend the faith, and we look like fools when we try. So the culture throws the out of context verses at us, along with emotionally charged rhetoric, and we either respond with half thought answers, or we fold under the pressure. The result is that immorality grows unabated and the church loses more influence everyday.<br />
<br />
So how do we address this? Well, it certainly isn’t going to be through protests, legislation and lawsuits. Just watch the evening news to see how well that battle is going. What’s worse, because there is no gospel centeredness in such efforts, all we appear to be are hate mongering jerks who want everyone to do things our way.<br />
<br />
I believe that we as a church must first start by educating ourselves in the scriptures. And this means doing a lot of hermeneutical homework. We have to understand the passages of scripture, and their contexts, with regard to homosexuality. We also have to understand the passages the world loves to use to point out the so called hypocrisy in what we obey (such as the prohibitions to the Jews to wearing blended fabrics or eating shellfish). We have to understand for ourselves the differences between moral and civil laws and know what it is Christ really said about marriage. If we don’t take the time to do this individually, we will be ill prepared for any conversation that comes up.<br />
<br />
Incidentally, a good resource on this, which has prompted me to reconsider my involvement, is Dr. James White’s response to Matthew Vines (a young homosexual who spoke at a church regarding homosexuality not being sinful). Dr. White spent five hours on his webcast dissecting Mr. Vines’ speech and addressing the very issues we see being brought up today. He has made this response available as a download. You can find it on the main page at <a href="http://www.aomin.org/" target="_blank" title="www.aomin.org">www.aomin.org</a>. Please consider downloading and listening to this resource.<br />
<br />
Once we have spent the time learning what the Bible really says, we need to start taking this out into the world to share. And I don’t mean go on some holy crusade to lash out at people on websites or get into arguments with people at protest rallies. I simply mean that as we talk with people, as we share the gospel, be prepared to answer this matter biblically. When the subject comes up with friends, relatives and co-workers (trust me, it will), give loving and compassionate answers straight from God’s word. Also, let us discuss this matter within our own homes. Face it, our husbands, wives and children are being exposed to this everyday. All you have to do is turn on the evening news and it’s right there. We have to raise them up in the scriptures so that they too will have a firm foundation to stand on.<br />
<br />
Finally, let us be about our Father’s business of preaching the gospel at every single opportunity we have. Let us do so with great love and compassion, knowing that we too are sinners, but have been saved by the grace of Christ alone. While it is very easy to look at the agenda of the homosexual lobby and become angry, let us never forget that those lobbies contain hundreds and thousands of lost souls desperately in need of the gospel. <br />
<br />
We have lost so much ground because, as a church, we have not invested the time to learn the right answers. We have lashed out angrily, we have given weak answers that toppled with a mere shove, or we have cowered into our philosophical corners and let the issue march right by. Yet, we serve a great and powerful God! His gospel is the power of salvation to all mankind! Let us not retreat in fear, let us not strike out in anger, but let us proclaim the truth to all mankind in love so that sinners might be saved. In doing, we might just change the attitude of our culture because people will be getting saved and led by the Spirit. Let us engage the culture and let us stand on God’s word alone.<br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-18931666104946704202012-06-15T11:15:00.000-05:002012-06-15T11:15:50.170-05:00What Can Be Known About God Is Plain To Unbelievers<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal">Romans 1:16-25</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. </div><div class="MsoNormal">17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” </div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. </div><div class="MsoNormal">19For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. </div><div class="MsoNormal">21For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. </div><div class="MsoNormal">22Claiming to be wise, they became fools, </div><div class="MsoNormal">23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. </div><div class="MsoNormal">24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, </div><div class="MsoNormal">25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Crossway Bibles (2011-02-09). The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (with Cross-References) (Kindle Locations 37565-37572). Good News Publishers/Crossway Books. Kindle Edition.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The point I want to bring to you with this text is in verses 19 and 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bible says that everyone knows that there is a God, the Christian God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When witnessing, we don't ever have to prove the existence of God to anyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone already knows within themselves that there is the Christian God, they just chose to dishonor Him as God or give thanks to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The foolishness of their heart turned to darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In reading further in this text, one can see what lifestyle choices and gender confusions are made by the foolish dark hearted ones that make the choice to dishonor and not believe.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-87736263394121633372012-06-11T09:37:00.001-05:002012-06-11T10:44:46.581-05:00Life Lessons for my children and grandchildren<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27623"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">This was originally written by </span></b></span><span class="msid27623"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Regina</span></b></span><span class="msid27623"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"> Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, </span></b></span><span class="msid27623"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Cleveland</span></b></span><span class="msid27623"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">, </span></b></span><span class="msid27623"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">Ohio</span></b></span><span class="msid27623"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">. I've added to a commented on her lessons.</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27627">"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It </span><span class="msid27629">is the most requested column I've ever written.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27631">My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27633">1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27635">2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27637">3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27639">4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and </span><span class="msid27641">parents will. Stay in touch.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27643">5. Pay off your credit cards every month. (<i>or better yet, don't have any!)</i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27645">6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.<i> (or agree to not argue about it any longer)</i></span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27647">7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27649">8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. </span></span></b><span class="msid27649"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(I don't agree with this one personally. It is OK to fear God and love God. Remember time is needed to see the BIG picture that God sees in your life.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27651">9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck. </span></span></b><span class="msid27651"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(And all the rest of them too.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27653">10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile. </span></span></b><span class="msid27653"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(Chocolate is a vegetable, eat up.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(<i>Amen)</i></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27655">11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="msid27655">(<i>Be open and honest with your spouse and/or parents, it'll be better in the long run)</i></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27657">12. It's OK to let your children see you cry. </span></span></b><span class="msid27657"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(Unless it is when you are watching a chick flic, then it is just sissy.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> <br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27659">13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey</span><br />
<span class="msid27661">is all about</span></span></b><span class="msid27661"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">. (</span></b></span><span class="msid27661"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">AMEN</span></b></span><span class="msid27661"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">! Remember that plank in your own eye before dealing with the spec in your brother's eye.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27663">14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it</span></span></b><span class="msid27663"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">. (</span></b></span><span class="msid27663"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">AMEN</span></b></span><span class="msid27663"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">! Don't ruin your marriage thinking you can get away with a secret relationship. 1 it is a sin, 2 it is stupid, 3 grass is green on both sides of the fence, 4 our prayer is for no divorce in our family for 200 years. That should encompass you and your children and their children.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><i>(We've even unfriended old "flames" on facebook & joined accounts ~ accountablility is key in a relationship ~ don't blow it!)</i></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27665">15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God</span><br />
<span class="msid27667">never blinks. </span></span></b><span class="msid27667"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(We have all lived this. Remember it.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27669">16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind. </span></span></b><span class="msid27669"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(And slows you down to think.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27671">17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful, or joyful.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27673">18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27675">19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is</span><br />
<span class="msid27677">up to you and no one else. </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="msid27677"><i>(You've all had a happy childhood, now onto adulthood.)</i></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27679">20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for</span><br />
<span class="msid27681">an answer. </span></span></b><span class="msid27681"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(Again, not fully committed to this. I will agree that this is good if we are talking about your career or artistic creation.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27683">21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't</span><br />
<span class="msid27685">save it for a special occasion. Today is special. </span></span></b><span class="msid27685"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(This one is cool. I plan to use the special soap in every guest bath I use from now on.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27687">22. Over prepare, then go with the flow. </span></span></b><span class="msid27687"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(This could be a moto for a mission trip. It goes with "BE FLEXIBLE".)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27689">23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27691">24. The most important sex organ is the brain. </span></span></b><span class="msid27691"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(Love your spouse!)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27693">25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you. </span></span></b><span class="msid27693"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(But you need to share it with your parents.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27695">26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will </span><span class="msid27697">this matter?</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27699">27. Always choose life. </span></span></b><span class="msid27699"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(</span></b></span><span class="msid27699"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">AMEN</span></b></span><span class="msid27699"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">! Preach it!)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;">(<i>Its not a choice ~ its a baby!)</i></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"> <br />
<span class="msid27701">28. Forgive everyone everything. </span></span></b><span class="msid27701"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(This is so hard to do, but so necessary. See #3 and #8)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27703">29. What other people think of you is none of your business. </span></span></b><span class="msid27703"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(How I wish I could be free of this in my life!)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27705">30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time. </span></span></b><span class="msid27705"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(Been there, done that!)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27707">31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27709">32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27711">33. Believe in miracles. </span></span></b><span class="msid27711"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(You will know this when you see your children born. I did.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27713">34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did </span><span class="msid27715">or didn't do. </span></span></b><span class="msid27715"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(This will be covered in another blog on Calvinism.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27717">35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now. </span></span></b><span class="msid27717"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(No one is promised a tomorrow.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27719">36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young. </span></span></b><span class="msid27719"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(Too close to home.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27721">37. Your children get only one childhood. </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="msid27721"><i>(Let your children be children ~ don't sign up for every activity, every sport, or have every minute scheduled ~ make playdoh cookies, read books, watch the clouds blow by ~ visit their grandparents often!)</i></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27723">38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved. </span></span></b><span class="msid27723"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(Faith, Hope, and Love; the greatest of these is Love.)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<span class="msid27725">39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere. </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="msid27725"><i>(all of creation screams the Miracles of God)</i></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="msid27725"></span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27727">40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd </span><span class="msid27729">grab ours back.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27731">41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27733">42. The best is yet to come...</span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27735">43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up. </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="msid27735"><i>(so true!)</i></span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><span class="msid27735"></span><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27737">44. Yield. </span></span></b><span class="msid27737"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(See #16)</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
<br />
<span class="msid27739">45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">(I am adding to the list.)</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">46. Get up and go to church. Your best friend is there.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">47. Read your Bible every time you can. This is how God has chosen to speak to you.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">48. Talk to your parents at least every week. One of these days you won't be able to any longer.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">49. Visit your grandparents. Make them a part of your life now. Imagine your children knowing and talking about your great-grandparents.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">50. I you plan to spend more than $300, ALWAYS sleep on it. ALWAYS get your spouse on board with your plan. You don't want any financial fiascoes because you did not communicate. It doesn't hurt to say a prayer about it either before you pull the trigger. (That advise came from Wallace and has helped me alot.)</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">51. Do the right thing even if it is going to take 3 memos to get it approved afterwards.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">52. Facebook is not a substitute for reality.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">53. Old love interests don't need to be a part of your facebook friends after you are married. No good comes from it.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">54. Dating is not a good thing for your sons and daughters. Courtship works.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">55. Coffee is good. Cigarettes are bad. Alcohol should always be consumed in moderation.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">56. Life is tough. It is tougher if you are stupid. Ask God for wisdom and knowledge.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">57. Always keep a roll of ducttape and electrical tape handy.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">58. Know where your hammer and screwdrivers are. This is more important as your sons age.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">59. A leaky faucet costs you money. Fix your problems without procrastination.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">60. Spell check is needed when you communicate in writing.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">61. Always wear gloves when you cut hot peppers.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">62. When you have questions about your own salvation, read 1 John. There are several tests in the text that will let you know.</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="msid27739"><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 10pt;">63. Do your best, and caulk the rest.</span></b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-5879852105074653312012-05-24T10:27:00.000-05:002012-05-24T10:27:55.474-05:00Be Bold, Humble, and Full of Joy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><img src="http://img2.blogblog.com/img/video_object.png" style="background-color: #b2b2b2; " class="BLOGGER-object-element tr_noresize tr_placeholder" id="ieooui" data-original-id="ieooui" /> <style>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Be BOLD, HUMBLE, and FULL of JOY</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">1 Peter 3:9-17</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Suffering for Righteousness Sake </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” 13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Crossway Bibles (2011-02-09). The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (with Cross-References) (Kindle Locations 40562-40566). Good News Publishers/Crossway Books. Kindle Edition. </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We've been studying witnessing and how to witness effectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Peter 3:15 is one of the texts from that study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In verse 15 Peter tells us to always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, you should do it with gentleness and respect.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The three abilities we have to have to share Jesus with others is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">boldness</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">humility</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">joy</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we don't have boldness, fear is going to get us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fear of what others think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am trying to get over this myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even here in the blog or on facebook, when I proclaim the gospel of Christ, fear still tries to get me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be bold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If we don't have humility, we will be talking down to people (the sin of pride) and can not communicate the love Jesus has for us effectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People have to see that I need the gospel every day in my life too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Christian life is not one of once saved your set.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a life of daily preaching the gospel to myself to recognize just what a lousy sinner I am even on my best day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God's grace is needed by me every day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remembering that makes me a humble witness to share what Christ has done to change my life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">If we don't have joy, then what is the point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The joy of the freedom from sin and its condemnation should be effervescent (thanks spell checker) out of us to get the lost to see the hope that is in me.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We need to be ready with a defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is as simple as, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"I met Jesus, He changed my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should meet him too."</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is where I am starting with my witness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don't have it all down yet, that is why we are working on it together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The next step is to have the outline of the gospel memorized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is simple and can be put on five fingers to help remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The steps are:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">God</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Man</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Sin</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Jesus</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Faith</li>
</ol><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember the order of the Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First comes God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember His holiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He creates all things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He created man.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Man blew it with sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are all born with a sin nature, a propensity to sin is engrained in us.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">God's plan has been to send Jesus to live the life we can't, then sacrifice by death on the cross, to be a substitute for our punishment.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We have to repent and have faith in Jesus to save us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repentance and faith are opposite sides of the same coin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repentance means to turn away from wanting to sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Faith is putting your trust in Jesus to do what He said He would do.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">You should not have this outline as an agenda when witnessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This outline can be discussed in steps or parts and pieces as you have different conversations with folks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to listen to the other side of the conversation to be effective, otherwise we are just going thru a checklist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">We have been listening to the sermon series on being a better witness from Pastor R.W. Glenn from www.solidfoodmedia.com </span></i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-16516843734871170382012-05-21T16:13:00.000-05:002012-05-21T16:13:32.566-05:00Secular Humanity and the Fight to Normalize Homosexuality Within Marriage. Why Christians Must Hold to the Biblical WorldviewOK, that is one cool title for a blog post. <br />
<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Biblical Truths</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>Marriage is for a male and female, two become one flesh Matthew 19:4-6 </li>
<li>Sex that is not with your marriage partner is sinful. Exodus 20:14</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>Looking on others with sexual desire on your mind is the same sin as adultery. Matthew 5:27-29</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>All homosexual behavior is sinful. Romans 1:24-27</li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span>There isn't one of us reading this that hasn't already committed some sort of sexual sin for which we need redemption. Romans 3:23</li>
</ul><br />
God created sex for a married couple. One man and one woman. Being the easy target for temptation, sin is rampant in humankind as it relates to sex, orientation, and sexuality. It is so easy to point our Christian fingers at an effeminate man or a gay couple or a pregnant unmarried teenager and look down on those lowly sinners. When we do this, pride is taking over the Christian into a different sin. <br />
<br />
I ask you what is the difference in their sin and my sin? Mine is worse. I need the gospel preached to myself daily to keep it in my head that "I am a wretched sinner saved by grace." My sexual sin leads me to miss the mark of perfection too, and I need a savior from my sins. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">All of us do.</b> <br />
<br />
Don't look down on folks that are parading their sin for the world to gawk at. Don't stand down from the fight to judge sinning. Just remember that Jesus teaches us to take the beam out of our eye first, then we can rightly judge others in love.<br />
<br />
The following message is from Albert Mohler downloaded from defending contending at: <br />
<a href="http://defendingcontending.com/2011/07/21/a-clearer-understanding-of-what-albert-mohler-believes-about-homosexuality/"><span class="MsoHyperlink">http://defendingcontending.com/2011/07/21/a-clearer-understanding-of-what-albert-mohler-believes-about-homosexuality/</span></a><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">...This controversy will inevitably demonstrate the basic worldview divide that separates the secular therapeutic community and evangelical Christians. The politicians, the mental health industry, and the media will have their own debate on the matter, but Christians now face the urgent challenge of thinking about these issues in a way that is fully biblical and theological — and thus faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>First, we face the fact that the Bible clearly, repeatedly, consistently, and comprehensively reveals the sinfulness of all homosexual behaviors. This truth is set within the larger context of the Bible’s revelation concerning the Creator’s plan and purpose for human sexuality — a context that is centered in the marital union of a man and a woman as the exclusive arena for human sexual activity. This flies in the face of the contemporary demand for the full normalization of homosexuality. As the joint statement of the “Just the Facts Coalition” declares, “both heterosexuality and homosexuality are normal expressions of human sexuality.”</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>The normalization of homosexuality simply cannot be accepted by anyone committed to biblical Christianity. The new secular orthodoxy demands that Christians abandon the clear teachings of Scripture, and Christians must understand that the sinfulness of all homosexual behaviors is not only a matter of biblical authority, but also of the Gospel. To deny that sin is sin is to deny our need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians cannot accept any teaching that minimizes sin, for it is the knowledge of our sin that points us to our need for atonement, salvation, and the forgiveness of that sin through the cross of Jesus Christ.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Second, we must recognize that every human being is a sinner and that every sinner’s pattern of sexual attraction falls short of the glory of God. There is no sinner of physical maturity who will be able to say that he or she has never had a sinful thought related to sex or sexuality. Taking the Bible’s teachings about sin and sexuality with full force, we understand that every sinful human being is in need of redemption, and that includes the redemption of our sexual selves.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Actually, the Bible speaks rather directly to the sinfulness of the homosexual orientation — defined as a pattern of sexual attraction to a person of the same sex. In Romans 1:24-27, Paul writes of “the lusts of their hearts to impurity,” of “dishonorable passions,” of women who “exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature,” and of men who “gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another.” A close look at this passage reveals that Paul identifies the sinful sexual passion as a major concern — not just the behavior.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>At this point, the chasm between the biblical and secular worldview looms ever larger. The modern secular consensus is that an individual’s pattern of sexual attraction, whether heterosexual or homosexual, is just a given and is to be considered normal. More than that, the secular view demands that this pattern of sexual orientation be accepted as integral to an individual’s identity. According to the secular consensus, any effort to change an individual’s sexual orientation is essentially wrong and harmful. The contemporary therapeutic worldview is virtually unanimous in this verdict, but nothing could be more directly at odds with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>The New Testament reveals that a homosexual sexual orientation, whatever its shape or causation, is essentially wrong, contrary to the Creator’s purpose, and deeply sinful. Everyone, whatever his or her sexual orientation, is a sinner in need of redemption. Every sinner who comes by faith to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved knows the need for the redemption of our bodies — including our sexual selves. But those whose sexual orientation is homosexual face the fact that they also need a fundamental reordering of their sexual attractions. About this, the Bible is clear. At this point, once again, the essential contradiction between the Christian worldview and the modern secular worldview is clear.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Third, Christians understand that sinners are simultaneously completely responsible for their sin and completely unable to redeem themselves from their sin. Sinners may improve themselves morally, but they cannot mitigate to any degree their need for redemption. Indeed, moralism is a false gospel that suggests that we can please God by moral improvement. As Isaiah warns, the only righteousness of which we are capable amounts to “filthy rags.” [Isaiah 64:6] The law reveals what is good for us and what is sinful, but the law is powerless to save us. [Romans 8:3]</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>The law of God reveals our sin, and our sin reveals our need for a Savior. Paul’s own testimony about the law, his knowledge of his own sin, and the redemption that was his in Christ is clear when he writes to the Romans: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” [Romans 7:24-25] This is every Christian’s testimony.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Thus, we recognize that, without redemption, there is no eternal hope for the sinner. Even in terms of moral improvement in this earthly life, the non-Christian lacks union with Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the means of grace that alone can conform the believer to the image of Christ. Thus, for the non-Christian, the most that can be hoped for is a responsible determination to cease practicing an immoral behavior. The Bible holds no hope for the sinner’s ability to change his or her heart.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>In other words, a biblical Christian will have no fundamental confidence in any secular therapy’s ability to change a sinner’s fundamental disposition and heart, and this includes every aspect of the sinner’s life, including sexuality.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>This is where the Gospel-centeredness of the Christian worldview points us to the cross of Christ and to the sinner’s fundamental need for redemption, not mere moral improvement. The Bible offers no hope for any human ability to change our sinful desires. As the modern secular worldview generally acknowledges, the alcoholic who stops drinking remains an alcoholic. The secular world affirms that this is so. The Bible explains </i><i><span style="font-style: normal;">why</span></i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> it is so.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Fourth, the Christian cannot accept any argument that denies what the Bible reveals about the sanctification of believers — including the sanctification of our sexuality. The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ receives the forgiveness of sins, the gift of eternal life, and the righteousness of Christ imputed by faith. But the redeemed Christian is also united with Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and given means of grace through, for example, the preaching of the Word of God. The Bible reveals that God conforms believers to the image of Christ, doing that work within the human heart that the sinful human himself or herself cannot perform. The Bible reveals that believers are to grow into Christlikeness, knowing that this is a progressive process that will be completed only with our eventual glorification at the end of the age. In this life, we know a process of growing more holy, more sanctified, and more obedient to Christ. In the life to come, we will know perfection as Christ glorifies his Church.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>This means that Christians cannot accept any argument that suggests that a fundamental reorientation of the believer’s desires in a way that increasingly pleases God and is increasingly obedient to Christ is impossible. To the contrary, we must argue that this process is exactly what the Christian life is to demonstrate. As Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.<span class="footnote"> </span>The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” [2 Corinthians 5:17]</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>The Bible is also honest about the struggle to overcome sin and sinful desires. Paul writes about this in Romans 7, but the exhortations of the entire New Testament also make this clear. Christians with same-sex sexual desires must know that these desires are sinful. Thus, faithful Christians who struggle with these desires must know that God both desires and commands that they desire what He wills for them to desire. All Christians struggle with their own pattern of sinful desires, sexual and otherwise. Our responsibility as Christians is to be obedient to Christ, knowing that only He can save us from ourselves.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>Christians cannot avoid the debate over reparative therapy, nor can we enter the debate on secular terms. We must bring to this conversation everything we know from God’s Word about our sin and God’s provision for sinners in Christ. We will hold no hope for any sinner’s ability to change his or her own heart, and we will hold little hope for any secular therapy to offer more than marginal improvement in a sinner’s life.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>At the same time, we gladly point all sinners to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, knowing that all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. [Romans 10:13] We hold full confidence in the power of the Gospel and of the reign of Christ within the life of the believer. We know that something as deeply entrenched as a pattern of sexual attraction is not easily changed, but we know that with Christ all things are possible.</i></div><div style="margin-left: .5in;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><i>And, even as Christians know that believers among us struggle to bring their sexual desires into obedience to Christ, this is not something true only of those whose desires have been homosexual. It is true of all Christians. We will know that those believers who are struggling to overcome homosexual desires have a special struggle — one that requires the full conviction and support of the body of Christ. We will see the glory of God in the growing obedience of Christ’s redeemed people. And, along with the Apostle Paul and all the redeemed, we will await the glory that is yet to be revealed to us.</i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-35307279380140471262012-05-07T13:46:00.002-05:002012-05-07T13:46:49.821-05:00Quiz: Are you Loving or Unloving?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Reposted from Defending Contending at:</div>
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<a href="http://defendingcontending.com/2012/05/06/quiz-are-you-loving-or-unloving/"><span class="MsoHyperlink">http://defendingcontending.com/2012/05/06/quiz-are-you-loving-or-unloving/</span></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="meta-prepmeta-prep-author">Posted on</span> <a href="http://defendingcontending.com/2012/05/06/quiz-are-you-loving-or-unloving/" title="6:49 am"><span class="entry-date">May 6, 2012</span></a> <span class="sep">by</span><span class="by-author"> </span><span class="authorvcard"><a href="http://defendingcontending.com/author/5olas/" title="View all posts by Pilgrim">Pilgrim</a></span><span class="by-author"> </span></div>
<br />
<strong>Here’s a quick and simple six-question quiz to determine whether
you’re loving (“tolerant”) or unloving (close minded and “intolerant”).</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>1). You’re sitting in a coffee shop when a woman at another table
gets up–leaving her coffee unattended–to get a napkin. As she does, a man walks
by her table, pours a powdered substance into the woman’s coffee and quickly
exits the shop. You immediately warn this woman of what just happened. Your
reaction is:</strong><br />
<br />
A. Loving<br />
<br />
B. Unloving. This is none of your business. Quit interfering with other
people’s lives.<br />
<br />
<strong>2). A small child runs toward a bush to retrieve his ball that
rolled into it. You know that the bush contains a rattlesnake nest. You yell
out for the kid to stop. Your yelling at this child is:</strong><br />
<br />
A. Loving<br />
<br />
B. Unloving. Who are you to impose your beliefs onto this kid. His parents
have a right to raise him how they see fit without your close-minded “snakes
are bad” views being forced down his throat.<br />
<br />
<strong>3). You are woken to the sounds of fire alarms and the smell of
smoke in your apartment complex. As you hastily exit your apartment you notice
that no one has alerted your elderly neighbors who are deaf. You bang on
their door (and even kick it in if necessary) to alert them of the pending
doom. This action that you’re taking is:</strong><br />
<br />
A. Loving.<br />
<br />
B. Unloving. Have you considered that perhaps this couple is happy where
they are? Why wake them from their slumber? If they’re happy, then leave them
be.<br />
<br />
<strong>4). On a dark and rainy night you observe a family in a car heading
home in the direction of a washed-out bridge. You holler and flail your arms,
making every effort you can to get their attention to warn them. Your behavior
is:</strong><br />
<br />
A. Loving<br />
<br />
B. Unloving. All roads lead to their house. Who are you to tell them that
the road that they’ve chosen to go home will lead to their deaths?<br />
<br />
<strong>5). While sitting in your car waiting for your friend in a bank, you
observe a man walk into the bank wearing a stocking on his face and carrying a
gun. You call 911.This judgment of the man’s intentions is:</strong><br />
<br />
A. Loving<br />
<br />
B. Unloving. “<em>Judge not lest ye be judged</em>!” Who are you to judge
this man’s heart. Maybe his intentions are good and he will do no harm to those
inside. You’re always so negative and have no faith in other people. You’ve
condemned this man already. Jesus would have never done that, He would have
befriended him. You need to be more like Jesus.<br />
<br />
<strong>6). Your friend is going to die in his sins, and when he wakes up on
the other side of eternity, will find himself in Hell. You share with him the
fact that his unrepentant sin will condemn him before a holy God and that he
deserves God’s wrath (just like everyone else) because he’s transgressed God’s
laws. You further explain that any of his attempts to purchase God’s
forgiveness by his own obedience to the Law or good works is futile because not
only are we saved by faith apart from the works and the Law, but God’s grace is
not earned, it is a </strong><em><b>gift</b></em><strong>. You share with your
friend that through the death of one Man, God has provided forgiveness to
sinners, but this unmerited favor for sinners is only found in God’s Son, Jesus
Christ, who ransomed us with His own blood. God’s only Son took our sin upon
Himself on the cross and, in turn, imputed his perfect righteousness to us. You
tell your friend that Jesus became a propitiation for him in order to absorb
the wrath of God that he deserves. You urge your friend to repent and put his
trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. This discussion with your friend is:</strong><br />
<br />
A. Loving.<br />
<br />
B. Unloving. Insert any of the above “B” answers (or all of them) here:
__________.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://defendingcontending.com/2012/05/06/quiz-are-you-loving-or-unloving/"><span class="MsoHyperlink">http://defendingcontending.com/2012/05/06/quiz-are-you-loving-or-unloving/</span></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8795343128161476959.post-53579203262352957942012-05-04T08:57:00.000-05:002012-05-04T08:57:23.822-05:00What's wrong with Joel Osteen?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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By <a href="http://dailycaller.com/author/brianlee/" rel="author" title="Posts by Dr. Brian Lee">Dr. Brian Lee</a> </div>
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Pastor, Christ Reformed Church</div>
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<span style="color: black;">Reposted
from: <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/01/whats-wrong-with-joel-osteen/#ixzz1tuM4fCUb"><span style="color: #003399;">http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/01/whats-wrong-with-joel-osteen/#ixzz1tuM4fCUb</span></a></span></div>
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On Sunday night, 41,000 fans packed Nationals Stadium in Washington,
D.C., to hear a message of hope,
inspiration, and encouragement from Joel Osteen. Most paid about $20 (including
fees) for the privilege.<br />
<br />
Osteen sold out the stadium — a feat the Nationals rarely accomplish. But
did he have to <em>sell out</em> to do so?<br />
<br />
Osteen is the latest embodiment of the American Religion — Revivalism. For
centuries now, preachers have known how to fill stadiums or circus tents and
send people home with hope in their heart and a skip in their step. Osteen
promises you will leave a transformed person — at least until his tour comes
around again next year, when you can be transformed again.<br />
<br />
Osteen’s message is a positive one for a difficult time. Every one of us has
seeds of greatness inside, potential that has not yet been released, buried
treasure waiting to be discovered. If you were a car, you would be the fully
loaded and totally equipped model — “with pin stripes,” he says, gesturing to
his suit.<br />
<br />
Before God created you, he planned great things for you. As you stretch your
faith, “God is going to show up, and show out, in tremendous ways. … If you
don’t step into your destiny and release your gift, then this world will not be
as bright as it should be.”<br />
<br />
That’s a pretty positive message. What could be wrong with that?<br />
<br />
The biggest problem with Osteen’s message about God is that it is really a
message about me. God is a potential, a force, a co-pilot, waiting to be tapped
and deployed. I may have a net below me, but I am the one that has to take the
first steps on the wire:<br />
<br />
<em>Taking steps of faith is imperative to fulfilling your destiny. When I
make a move, God will make a move. When I stretch my faith, God will release
more of his favor. When I think bigger, God will act bigger.</em><br />
<br />
God is as big as I think him to be.<br />
<br />
Yes, this is the American Religion: a program, a plan, five simple steps to
help me be all that I can be. This is the religion of the bootstraps, where
“God helps those who help themselves.”<br />
By the way, an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that is a quote
from the Bible. It’s not.<br />
And that’s the second problem. Osteen’s message is not biblical. His promise
that his audience will be taught the Bible — from a preacher who has admitted
that teaching the Bible isn’t his strength — is fulfilled with a smattering of
verses. These snippets are at best torn out of their context, at worst
fabricated.<br />
<br />
There’s this stretch: “God is saying to you what He said to Lot,
‘Hurry up and get there, so I can show you my favor in a greater way.’” In
Genesis 19:22, the Angel does tell Lot “Get there
quickly, for I can do nothing until you arrive there.” God waiting on Lot
to step out in faith so he can bless him? Not exactly. It is God telling Lot
to flee to Zoar, a city of safety, so he can rain down fire on Sodom
and Gomorrah.<br />
<br />
Osteen bolsters his bootstrap religion by quoting Jesus: “Roll away the
stone, and I’ll raise Lazarus.” This, Osteen says, is a “principle,” “God
expects us to do what we can, and He will do what we can’t. If you will do the
natural, God will do the supernatural.”<br />
<br />
One problem. Jesus does command them to roll away the stone, but no such
quid pro quo is found in holy writ. This foundational principle is one of
Osteen’s own making.<br />
<br />
It is not primarily the details of Osteen’s biblical sunbeams that are
problematic. It’s the overall message. What’s missing is any sense of human
sin. Osteen leads his crowd in a mantra at the opening of his performance:
“This is my Bible. Tonight I will be taught the word of God. I can do what it
says I can do.” Again, bootstraps.<br />
<br />
What does the Bible say we can do for ourselves? Our best works are like
filthy rags, the prophet Isaiah teaches (Isaiah 64:6); we are like sheep gone
astray (Isaiah 53:6). Paul says “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory
of God” (Romans 3:23) and includes
himself in this “all” as “the chief of all sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). The big problem is that we don’t want
what’s good for us, and when we do, Paul says, “The good that I want to do, I
do not do” (Romans 7:19).<br />
<br />
Ring true? It does for me. That’s why the stadium will be full next year.
Self-esteem doesn’t help me, it just leaves me with more me, digging deeper
within.<br />
<br />
How about Jesus? Surely he’s more upbeat than Paul or the prophets? Well, he
does offer this simple recipe to happiness: “Sell all you possess, give it away
to the poor, and follow me.” You done that yet? Yes, he does say that our faith
makes us well, but he is the healer our faith looks to. He also tells the
paralytic to take up his bed and walk, but only after he has healed him.<br />
<br />
What we want is the excitement and encouragement and affirmation of the
stadium — “God is waiting for you to act.” What we need is the truth and
compassion of Jesus — “Come to me you who are weary, and I will give you rest.”<br />
<br />
After the adrenaline boost, I hope some of those 41,000 find their way
through the desert to some place where they can get a drink of water.<br />
<br />
Earlier Sunday, 45 worshipers (about 0.1% of Osteen’s crowd) gathered at <a href="http://www.christreformeddc.org/" target="_blank">Christ Reformed Church</a>
in Logan Circle — and other
churches in this city — to hear a message of sin and salvation, the Good News
of a God who loves those who are his sworn enemies. They responded to God’s
word with prayer, song, and confession, and received the benediction of a God
who pardons sin full and free.<br />
There was hope and inspiration too, but of an entirely different sort.
Admittance was free.<br />
<br />
[<em>Note: The author didn’t make it to Nationals Stadium on Sunday; he
caught the previous “Night of Hope Event” at Yankee Stadium online</em>.]<br />
<br />
<em>Dr. Brian Lee is the pastor of <a href="http://www.christreformeddc.org/URC-DC/Welcome.html" target="_blank">Christ
Reformed Church</a> in Washington, D.C. He formerly worked as a communications
director both on Capitol Hill and at the National Endowment for the Humanities.</em><br />
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