Mega Church Pastor vs. Truck Driver

Mega church pastor Steven Furtick recently tweeted this:

Any interpretation of God’s sovereignty that diminishes the value of human initiative – is distorted & DANGEROUS.

I forwarded that to a truck driver in our church, and he responded with this:

I have this written down in my truck. I would say it applies. “Let those roar at us who will. We will ever brighten forth, with all our power of language, the doctrine which we hold concerning the free election of God, seeing that it is only by it that the faithful can understand how great the goodness of God is which effectually called them to salvation.” John Calvin

I’d rather have the latter in our little church than the thousands of the former.

Snow and Salvation

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.”
–Isaiah 1:18

I like how the Ring’s post pictures with Scripture references. Check out their blog and subscribe to it!

Conversion

“Any theory of conversion that encourages a sinner to think himself born of God, on account of something that he has felt or done, or ‘made up his mind’ to do, while he is still an utter stranger to the ‘plague of his own heart,’ is clearly contrary to the whole current of the Bible and of Christian experience.”

–Ebenezer Porter, Letters on Revival, 1858, p. 69

Daily Bale for October 2, 2012

Today started significantly different than most other days. Hannah is getting braces and that’s done at Case Western Reserve. It’s a lot cheaper but it isn’t exactly around the corner, being a good 45 minute drive away. Of course, there isn’t a whole lot around the corner where I live anyway!

 

While Josiah and Lydia were doing school I worked on Wednesday evening’s Bible study, Proverbs 1:20-33. I’ve enjoyed the time in Proverbs the last few weeks, especially the opportunity to get back into the Hebrew. Mine’s definitely rusty, but there’s only one way to strengthen saggy muscles, and that’s work and exercise.

Several emails and phone calls, followed by dinner, pancakes and sausage! Yum, deeeelicious. Hannah and I rode around Ashtabula county for an hour while she continues to learn to drive. When we got home we then watched half of a creation video that was given to us.

Worked on what messages I’ll be teaching for a Bible Conference down at Morrow Bible Church November 9-11. Haven’t nailed down a nice sounding theme yet, but it will focus on End Times. Here is the basic gist of the messages I’ll be speaking on–

• God’s Purpose and Plan in Human History
• The Key to Interpreting Prophecy (Daniel 9:24-27)
• Christ’s Prophecies for the End Times (the Olivet Discourse)
• Christ’s Word to the Church in the End Times (Acts 1:1-11)
• Christ’s Coming Kingdom

This will be the first Bible Conference I will be conducting and I’m looking forward to it! I’ll give more details once it’s finalized.

Continued plowing through the minutes of the Ohio Regional of the IFCA.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Looking at the Cross

Tonight we’ll sing this hymn by John Newton, to the tune Prospect:

In evil long I took delight,
Unaw’d by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp’d my wild career.
I saw one hanging on a tree,
In agonies and blood,
Who fix’d his languid eyes on me,
As near his cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath,
Can I forget that look;
It seem’d to charge me with his death,
Though not a word he spoke.
My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,
And plung’d me in despair;
I saw my sins his blood had spilt,
And help’d to nail him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did;
But now my tears are vain;
Where shall my trembling soul be hid?
For I the Lord have slain.
A second look he gave, which said.
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid,
I die that thou mayst live.”

Thus while his death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue
(Such is the mystery of grace),
It seals my pardon too.
With pleasing grief and mournful joy,
My spirit now is fill’d,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by him I kill’d.

What Do United Methodists and Muslims Have In Common?

According to at least one pastor, they worship the same God!

The front page of the United Methodist Church website points to an article detailing how one of their pastors is observing the fast Muslims observe during their holiest month, Ramadan. Listen to his opening statement:

“I have no doubt that Muslims and Christians worship the same God,” Magruder said. “We have some of the same core foundations.”

Our immediate response would probably be, “This guy Magruder is way off base. Christians and Muslims do not worship the same God.

Welllll, actually he’s probably right, and here’s why: Muslims do not worship Jesus as God; to them he is merely a prophet. If Magruder says they worship the same God, evidently he does not believe in the biblical Jesus and as such does not worship the God of the Bible.

Jesus said that if anyone does not believe Him to be equal with God the Father and the only hope of eternal life, such a person does not believe in or worship the true God. They do not believe the truth, and the reason they don’t is because they respond to biblical truth in accord with their sinful natures, just like Satan does (John 8:44).

This UMC minister observed the fast to show his “solidarity” with this Imam by walking in the Muslim’s shoes. I’d be interested to hear if the Muslim would do the same thing! I’d be interested to hear if he could do the same thing–could you imagine what would happen to an Imam for, say, observing the Lord’s Supper, being baptized, or participating in Good Friday and Easter (better, resurrection Sunday) services so he could walk in the shoes of a Christian?

Do you think when the UMC minister closes his prayers with his Muslim Imam friend with, “In Jesus name, Amen”?

One last thing from the article: One of the objectives this UMC minister has is to “be a bridge” between Christians and Muslims to help the former have a better understanding of the latter. The only destination that bridge will lead to is away from the Christian faith (which he already departed from anyway).

Naturally, the Imam is thankful for the Methodist’s efforts.

“I think it sends a message of unity of mankind,” he said. “We may have differences, but our differences are there to be celebrated.”

Friends, this is not what the NT says Christianity is about! A Christian pastor is to proclaim the Christian message, calling for repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to leave pagan idolatrous religion behind, and follow Christ exclusively.

I know and have heard that there are genuine Christians in the United Methodist Church. Here are some questions I have for my brothers and sisters:

• Do Christians and Muslims really worship the same God?
• Do Christians really have spiritual unity (“solidarity”) with Muslims?
• Where in the Bible are Christians called to have spiritual union with unbelievers like this?
• How does your association and partnership with a denomination that tolerates and promotes this kind of thing (it was on the main page of the UMC website) square with 2 John 7-11?
• What relationship should real believers like yourself have with apostates like this UMC minister and denomination? (Hint: 2 Corinthians 6:14-15)
• How do you feel about your money going to support and promote this kind of thing? (In case you don’t think that isn’t happening here, who pays for the official UMC website that promotes this kind of thing?)

If I have any brothers and sisters in the UMC who recognize how utterly wrong and unbiblical this kind of thing is, I encourage and exhort you to leave the UMC and find a church that not only believes and preaches the Christian faith but is committed to ministry relationships that are consistent with Christian truth!

Relativisitic Parenting

There have been several “blockbuster” movies out lately, and I’ve been surprised at the number of Christians who not only are going to see these but who express (usually via Facebook) how “excellent” and “awesome” such were. So I’ve been mulling over this issue of what Christians consider good and excellent.

Then today there is an article at msnbc titled, “Babies at ‘Batman?’” relating the outrage some have expressed toward parents who bring young children to see “Batman Rises.”

Not surprisingly, the overall tone of the article seems supportive of parents who do so, finishing it off with this–

So when is a child ready to see a PG-13 movie? It really depends on how your particular kid is hardwired, making it one of those difficult, but deeply personal parenting choices.

Dr. Susan Samuels, a pediatrician and assistant professor of psychiatry at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, tells parents to look at how their children respond to day-to-day events or other potentially scary triggers that they encounter in their ordinary life to determine their ability to tolerate violent or alarming movies.

At the end of the day, this is just one of the decisions that only you can make for yourself, your child, and your family.

There you have it, parents. How should you train, rear, and bring up your children? It depends on your child! That, however, is completely opposite of what God says:

Train up a child in the way he should go (Prov 22:6)

Bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph 6:4)

How can such entertainment accomplish the purposes God sets forth here?

Please note–Scripture does not say, “train up a child in the way he wants to go” or “bring them up according to the dictates of humanistic psychologists.” God says, “in the way he should go,” which God sets forth in his Word.

“It depends on how your kid is hardwired.” Well, every one of my kids is hardwired with depravity; training their minds and hearts by these things does not lead them to salvation in Jesus Christ (2 Tim 3:15)!

Why would I base my parenting on the level of violence and alarm a child can “tolerate?” How does that square with the kind of mind we should have (2 Cor 10:5; Phil 4:8)?

How does such “entertainment” not conform us to this world? How does it transform our minds so that we may be able to discern God’s will (Rom 12:2)?

In what way do the world’s amusements help believers in their pursue of that holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14), or aid in cleansing the defilement of the flesh and spirit and perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord (2 Cor 7:1)?

Christian parents should not be relativistic parents, and that applies for all Christians!

It’s Yours But It’s Not

Back in the late 1980s I learned what would sometimes happen when local churches tried to leave denominations riddled with apostasy. Legal wranglings would occur, particularly over ownership of property and buildings.

I learned that often denominational churches which had scrimped, saved, worked, and labored for a building would turn the keys of their meeting house at the dedication service over to a denominational official, who would in turn give the keys back to the church and “let” them use it. This never made sense to me, and it still doesn’t.

I thought that kind of thing was a relic of the past, but it’s not.

It still happens that churches have to pay and work to build and maintain properties, but they don’t have the legal power or authority to sell it if they desire to.

If a local church doesn’t believe in autonomy, the situation essentially boils down to, “This is yours, but it’s really not.”

This makes me so thankful for the doctrine of the autonomy of the local church, a doctrine that I was taught well over 25 years ago and greatly appreciate.

I Sought the Lord

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me;
It was not I that found, O Saviour true;
No, I was found of Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the stormvexed sea;
‘Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, O Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love; but O the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul;
Always Thou lovedst me.

–Anonymous

Spiritual Worship

This is an excellent post by a friend, Pastor Jack Hilton of the Evangelical Methodist Church, Lancaster, PA–

John 4:23-24 “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Ps. 96:8 “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.”

Ps. 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

From the very beginning of time man has worshipped God or gods whom he deemed supreme and worthy of honor and worship. All of the more than 3,000 noted religions exist because of faith in some deity or prophet of a deity. Every religion has some standard or formula of worship which it’s constituents are expected to follow.

Worship (worth ship: showing value) should signify some knowledge and appreciation of the god that is being honored. Man has developed all sorts of programs and awards ceremonies through which he depicts value and honor to those who have made great achievements.

The Scriptural definition and intention of worship is to bring men before the God of the Bible, in order for them to give honor, praise, glory and thanksgiving to God. Through worship man honors God and awaits God’s working within his soul to bring necessary change to his character, attitude and actions. As the Holy Spirit changes the heart and soul through applying the Word of God, the person’s Faith, Hope, thoughts, attitude, words and actions are molded by the Word of God.

A study of Worship in the Scriptures reveals the necessity of “Spiritual Life” for those who would worship God. God is Spirit and demands that man worship from his spirit through the working of the Holy Spirit. Man’s Worship is to be based on God’s Absolute “Truth”.

Men should worship God:

1. Privately and Personally: God has commanded every individual to bow and worship God. It is the duty of man to honor, glorify and give praise unto God. Since the relationship with God is on a personal level, so the worship of God must be on a personal level. The person who regularly practices private personal worship will have no problem joining in family or corporate worship.

2. Family: God has placed the Father and Mother at the head of the home in order for them to nurture and train the children to properly worship and serve God. Every family should have times of worship together. In fact this should be one of the highlights of each day.

3. Corporate or Public: Public places set aside for the worship of God, have been a part of life since the beginning. The Scriptures provide numerous examples of families joining together for worship. During this present Age of the Church, God has clearly established the concept of public worship by a unified body of believers called the church.

The worship service has been changed drastically within the past 100 years. The focus has been moved from Jesus Christ to the people. The intent has been changed from honoring God to satisfying the people. The modern service is designed to stir the emotions and move the thinking to some sort of positive decision. The intent of the service is to satisfy the physical and emotional needs of the crowd. The spiritual has been replaced with the physical and emotional.

NOTE: MUCH OF THE ACTIVITY IN A MODERN WORSHIP SERVICE HAS LITTLE OR NOTHING TO DO WITH ACTUALLY WORSHIPPING AND HONORING GOD!!!

NOTE: THE MESSAGE IS TO SHOW ALL THE POSITIVE THINGS GOD MUST DO FOR THE CHRISTIAN!!! IF THE CROWD LIKES WHAT THEY HEAR THEY WILL GIVE GOD A ROUND OF APPLAUSE!!!

An article in “Vision” Magazine (Volume 4 Issue 1) concerning one of the fastest growing Mega churches in America, gives a fair assessment of the modern Evangelical church philosophy today. The pastor says he and the key people who helped found and establish this church intentionally set it and run it as a business. They do not use the words Pastor, Associate Pastor, Deacon, etc.

Instead they use business names such as director, supervisor, etc. The entire church is established on successful business principles such as Chick-Fil-A’s marketing and advertising principles. The leaders proudly proclaim their growth from 1,000 to 11,000 in less than 10 years as proof enough that they are doing right. While they talk much of prayer and trusting God, their entire business is based on man made principles and theories.

NOTE: WORSHIP (HONOR AND PRAISE) MUST STEM FROM A PROPER KNOWLEDGE OF WHO GOD IS; WHAT GOD HAS DONE, IS DOING AND WILL DO IN THE FUTURE!!! WORSHIP (THANKFULNESS) MUST BE A NATURAL OUTFLOW OF GRATITUDE GENERATED FROM A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF BLESSINGS AND BENEFITS RECEIVED FROM GOD!!!