In this first video, Paul Washer speaks on the "lost doctrine" in American Christianity: the doctrine of regeneration. Paul Washer makes a very interesting statement at 2:17, which is worth writing down: "The doctrine of a Christian living in a continuous state of carnality is abosolute heresy."
We see in 2nd Corinthians 5:17 that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Furthermore, Paul writes to the church in Corinth, saying: "Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1st Corinthians 6:9-11)
Along, the same line, Paul Washer in this video speaks on Matthew 7:21-23, quotes Jesus as stating plainly: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"
Now, a lot of people claim to be "Christian" here in the U.S. Even Mormons & Roman Catholics try to pass themselves off as Christians, yet this isn't the issue. What is the issue, however, are those who claim to be Christian, yet show no evidence whatsoever. I mean, I'm gonna be really honest and say that I have friends on Facebook who, under "religious views" claim to be Christian. Yet, there's no evidence of their salvation and sanctification. I don't say this as to come across as "holier than thou" but, in some cases, I see no difference whatsoever between these professing Christians, and the unbelievers.
In this video, an excerpt from Paul Washer's "Ten Indictments Against the Modern Church," preached in 2008, Paul Washer declares war on the so-called "sinner's prayer." Now, a lot of this, like I noted in my earlier blog post, more or less, dates back to Charles Finney.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Decisional Regeneration
Mark Kielar hosts this episode of "Cross TV," explaining the problems and history behind the idea of "decisional regeneration," along with it's disastrous legacy. As mentioned in the video, much of what is being used in modern evangelistic crusades, came from Charles Finney (1792-1875), who taught that Salvation was a work of man. It does seem that in the wake of Finney, many other evangelists like D.L. Moody, and Billy Graham copied his methods. In an edition of the White Horse Inn, which I believe I posted to my blog, concerning the entertainment obsession in many churches, it was Charles Finney who began the whole interest in entertainment in Christianity.
Friday, September 4, 2009
"Come Out!!!"
Paul Washer speaks on those who have been converted amidst false groups. He stresses that if you truly are a Christian you WILL come out of these false religions.
Admittedly, I used to think that one could be a true Christian yet remain in the Roman Catholic Church, although I was fully aware of the false doctrine being promoted by the Vatican. However, just recently, I was listening to a couple lessons from John MacArthur about the heresy being promoted in the Roman Catholic Church and he brought up a very good verse which God used to changed my thinking:
"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." (1st Corinthians 10:21)
I also remembered two other verses, as well.
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?" (2nd Corinthians 6:14-16)
(This is referring to the collapse of Babylon)
"Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,'Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins,lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven,and God has remembered her iniquities.'" (Revelation 18:4-5)
Admittedly, I used to think that one could be a true Christian yet remain in the Roman Catholic Church, although I was fully aware of the false doctrine being promoted by the Vatican. However, just recently, I was listening to a couple lessons from John MacArthur about the heresy being promoted in the Roman Catholic Church and he brought up a very good verse which God used to changed my thinking:
"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." (1st Corinthians 10:21)
I also remembered two other verses, as well.
"Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols?" (2nd Corinthians 6:14-16)
(This is referring to the collapse of Babylon)
"Then I heard another voice from heaven saying,'Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins,lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven,and God has remembered her iniquities.'" (Revelation 18:4-5)
Flattery in Modern Christianity
In this episode of "the White Horse Inn," they deal with Romans 16:17-19.
"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." (Romans 16:17-19)
Flattery, as noted in this episode, has become, almost a rule, rather than an exception in modern American "Christianity." I mean, it gets people in to the churches, when they are told what they want to hear. Is it any wonder that people like Joel Osteen have these monstrous churches?
Interestingly, we are told in Daniel 11:32, of the antichrist that "he shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action."
It also should be noted that flattery is not looked upon favorably in Scripture.
"Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue." (Psalms 5:8-9)
"Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, 'With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?'" (Psalms 12:1-3)
"A lying tongue hates its victims,and a flattering mouth works ruin." (Proverbs 26:28)
"A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet." (Proverbs 29:5)
So, flattery, like I said, certainly isn't looked upon favorably by Holy Scripture.
"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive." (Romans 16:17-19)
Flattery, as noted in this episode, has become, almost a rule, rather than an exception in modern American "Christianity." I mean, it gets people in to the churches, when they are told what they want to hear. Is it any wonder that people like Joel Osteen have these monstrous churches?
Interestingly, we are told in Daniel 11:32, of the antichrist that "he shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action."
It also should be noted that flattery is not looked upon favorably in Scripture.
"Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue." (Psalms 5:8-9)
"Save, O LORD, for the godly one is gone; for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man. Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that makes great boasts, those who say, 'With our tongue we will prevail, our lips are with us; who is master over us?'" (Psalms 12:1-3)
"A lying tongue hates its victims,and a flattering mouth works ruin." (Proverbs 26:28)
"A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet." (Proverbs 29:5)
So, flattery, like I said, certainly isn't looked upon favorably by Holy Scripture.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
John MacArthur on the Pope & the Papacy
In the wake of the death of Pope John Paul II in 2005, and the election of Pope Benedict XVI, Pastor John MacArthur delivered this message (approx. 90 minutes) on the UNBIBLICAL and apostate system that is the Roman Catholic Church. I actually learned a lot from this lecture and I hope you do, too. I mean, I already knew that the Vatican and the Roman Catholic Church is a false system and preached a false religion, but I didn't realize the lies that they had to come up with. Now, I WILL say that I'm not quite sure if the pope will the final Anti-Christ, although, I do believe that there will be a literal Anti-Christ and that Christ will return prior to a Millenial Kingdom over which He will reign prior to the eternal state.
Jesus Himself condemned the pharisees, saying "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!" (Mark 7:6-9)
Jesus Himself condemned the pharisees, saying "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written,'This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men. And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition!" (Mark 7:6-9)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Pastor Tim Conway on the Doctrine of Hell
In the style of the old fire & brimstone preachers, Pastor Tim Conway of Grace Community Church in San Antonio, Texas,delivers a message on a subject that is almost taboo in modern Christianity: the doctrine of hell. Some, like emergent guru Brian McLaren, have flat out denied the doctrine of hell. Others preach annihilationism, and much to my dismay, I have a couple friends myself who are in that camp.
Now, admittedly, this doctrine is certainly one that I don't take pleasure in. But, it's a doctrine that must be addressed. It especially must be addressed because of the fact that God's Word is pretty clear on the doctrine of God's judgment, hell and His pouring out of His Holy wrath on sinners.
"For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me,declares the LORD. And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." (Isaiah 66:22-24)
"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." (Matthew 5:22)
"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" (Luke 12: 4-5)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:18)
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36)
"For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment...then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority." (2nd Peter 2:4, 9 & 10)
"Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,calling to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'" (Revelation 6:15-17)
"And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.'" (Revelation 14:9-11)
"And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur." (Revelation 19:20)
"And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Revelation 20:7-10)
"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15)
Now, admittedly, this doctrine is certainly one that I don't take pleasure in. But, it's a doctrine that must be addressed. It especially must be addressed because of the fact that God's Word is pretty clear on the doctrine of God's judgment, hell and His pouring out of His Holy wrath on sinners.
"For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me,declares the LORD. And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh." (Isaiah 66:22-24)
"But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." (Matthew 5:22)
"I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" (Luke 12: 4-5)
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:18)
"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." (John 3:36)
"For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment...then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority." (2nd Peter 2:4, 9 & 10)
"Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains,calling to the mountains and rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?'" (Revelation 6:15-17)
"And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.'" (Revelation 14:9-11)
"And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur." (Revelation 19:20)
"And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Revelation 20:7-10)
"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15)
Was Jesus Politically Correct?
There’s been this notion, I think, even in Christianity, that Jesus was always a nice guy who freely healed the sick, raised the dead. In children’s Bibles, we see pictures of Jesus playing with the children, and often children in Sunday school, my self included, are or were taught songs like “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” or “Jesus Loves Me.”
Although, I think people are willing to admit that there are two examples of Jesus being “nasty:” “In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’” (John 2:14-16) Similarly, in the week prior to His crucifixion, we are told that “Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, ‘It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:12-13)
I also admit that most professing Christians would probably concede that when He returns, that He will come as a judge in His full power and glory. But, Jesus, when we look at Scripture, we see that He wasn’t always the nicest guy to be around during His earthly ministry.
In fact, Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in southern California, recently wrote a book called The Jesus You Can’t Ignore about this issue. I haven’t read the book, but we should perhaps go through Scripture to see that Jesus wasn’t the person who was always the nicest guy.
“Then He began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.'" (Matthew 11:20-24)
“Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.’ He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, "What you would have gained from me is given to God,’ he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:1-9)
"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” (Matthew 23:13-33)
“While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.’” (Luke 11:37-41)
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father. They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.’ They said to him, ‘We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies…Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.’” (John 8:34-44 & 47)
Now, am I putting up these verses to suggest that Jesus was a mean person? By no means!!! However, Jesus didn’t mince words, and loved people enough to tell them their state.
A prime example of this is in John 6 after He feeds the 5,000 men, plus women and children, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We read that the people followed Him around the Sea of Galilee, with the intention of making Him king, and meet up with Jesus on the other side, and Jesus tells them plainly: "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (John 6:26) He also plainly tells them, after being asked what the people can be doing to do the works of God: "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent…Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.’” (John 6:29, 35-36)
You see, Jesus, while being loving, wasn’t being politically correct. But, unfortunately, I think that there has been a notion in today’s society that being loving and being politically correct are basically the same thing.
I mean, I’m sure that the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) thought it was being “loving,” when it voted to allow homosexual clergy a couple weeks ago, and some in the name of “love,” like Tony Jones, have decided that homosexuality is no longer a sin. It’s “unloving” to proclaim that Christ is the only way to Salvation, and God forbid that a preacher even mention the word “hell” to people, let alone preach on it. Now, the issues I raised, and others, such as abortion, should be confronted with compassion, but also with the truths found in Scripture nonetheless
But, unfortunately, truth isn’t what people really want to hear. In fact, we are told that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2nd Timothy 4:3-4)
Therefore, it’s little wonder that “preachers” like Joel Osteen, who proclaims “your best life now,” or Emergent leaders like Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, or Doug Pagitt, who clearly contest the clear words of Scripture are so popular today, because they teach exactly what people want to hear. No longer is the truth of Scripture relevant, but personal feelings and “feel-good” messages of self-help.
He certainly didn't come preaching that you'll have health & prosperity. In fact, he stated that we will be persecuted because of Him and that "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36)Nor, did He come, as many Emergents claim, to be a social activist like Martin Luther King Jr. or Ghandi. No, He claim to proclaim TRUTH!!!
However, admittedly, most people, particularly in America, don't want that Jesus. In fact, judging by the verses that I put up, I would guess that Jesus Himself, if He were to come preach a sermon at some of these churches, His preaching would clear the pews and He would be shown the door.
Although, I think people are willing to admit that there are two examples of Jesus being “nasty:” “In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.’” (John 2:14-16) Similarly, in the week prior to His crucifixion, we are told that “Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, ‘It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:12-13)
I also admit that most professing Christians would probably concede that when He returns, that He will come as a judge in His full power and glory. But, Jesus, when we look at Scripture, we see that He wasn’t always the nicest guy to be around during His earthly ministry.
In fact, Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in southern California, recently wrote a book called The Jesus You Can’t Ignore about this issue. I haven’t read the book, but we should perhaps go through Scripture to see that Jesus wasn’t the person who was always the nicest guy.
“Then He began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.'" (Matthew 11:20-24)
“Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.’ He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' 5But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, "What you would have gained from me is given to God,’ he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’” (Matthew 15:1-9)
"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, saying, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?” (Matthew 23:13-33)
“While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he went in and reclined at table. The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner. And the Lord said to him, ‘Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as alms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.’” (Luke 11:37-41)
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ They answered him, ‘We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father. They answered him, ‘Abraham is our father.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.’ They said to him, ‘We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.’ Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies…Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.’” (John 8:34-44 & 47)
Now, am I putting up these verses to suggest that Jesus was a mean person? By no means!!! However, Jesus didn’t mince words, and loved people enough to tell them their state.
A prime example of this is in John 6 after He feeds the 5,000 men, plus women and children, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. We read that the people followed Him around the Sea of Galilee, with the intention of making Him king, and meet up with Jesus on the other side, and Jesus tells them plainly: "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” (John 6:26) He also plainly tells them, after being asked what the people can be doing to do the works of God: "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent…Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.’” (John 6:29, 35-36)
You see, Jesus, while being loving, wasn’t being politically correct. But, unfortunately, I think that there has been a notion in today’s society that being loving and being politically correct are basically the same thing.
I mean, I’m sure that the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) thought it was being “loving,” when it voted to allow homosexual clergy a couple weeks ago, and some in the name of “love,” like Tony Jones, have decided that homosexuality is no longer a sin. It’s “unloving” to proclaim that Christ is the only way to Salvation, and God forbid that a preacher even mention the word “hell” to people, let alone preach on it. Now, the issues I raised, and others, such as abortion, should be confronted with compassion, but also with the truths found in Scripture nonetheless
But, unfortunately, truth isn’t what people really want to hear. In fact, we are told that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2nd Timothy 4:3-4)
Therefore, it’s little wonder that “preachers” like Joel Osteen, who proclaims “your best life now,” or Emergent leaders like Rob Bell, Brian McLaren, or Doug Pagitt, who clearly contest the clear words of Scripture are so popular today, because they teach exactly what people want to hear. No longer is the truth of Scripture relevant, but personal feelings and “feel-good” messages of self-help.
He certainly didn't come preaching that you'll have health & prosperity. In fact, he stated that we will be persecuted because of Him and that "I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36)Nor, did He come, as many Emergents claim, to be a social activist like Martin Luther King Jr. or Ghandi. No, He claim to proclaim TRUTH!!!
However, admittedly, most people, particularly in America, don't want that Jesus. In fact, judging by the verses that I put up, I would guess that Jesus Himself, if He were to come preach a sermon at some of these churches, His preaching would clear the pews and He would be shown the door.
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