As you can see from these pictures YOU are not very big at all
And Yet, the God of the universe
Knows how many hairs are on your head,
And not even a single sparrow dies apart from
His Will (Mt 10:29 -31)
Friday, February 29, 2008
How Big Are You?
As you can see from these pictures YOU are not very big at all
And Yet, the God of the universe
Knows how many hairs are on your head,
And not even a single sparrow dies apart from
His Will (Mt 10:29 -31)
Whether you eat or drink...
Do you know 1 Corinthians 10:31? It says "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." I was talking to a Christian gentleman the other day about a recent movie. He indicated the way he watches current movies is to download them from the internet. I asked him if that was considered stealing pirated movies? His answer was very typical, of the saturation into American culture that is all about us. He said "If I like the movie then I will buy it when it comes out on DVD." I worked for a very wise businessman who once said "Rationalization is the greatest form of mental therapy." We tend to live the Christian life from a way in which we make sure that we keep away from the "BIG" sins like murder, adultery, illegal drugs and robbery. But what about all the little disobediences that tend to work there way into our lives that we never address? So what is the big deal about downloading a pirated movie off the internet? Because it is stealing and 1 Corinthians 10:31 says whether you eat or drink, in other words whatever you do to include even watching movies on the internet, be sure in these things that you glorify God.
Here is what so bothers me about myself and others that live in this affluent culture called America. We tend to find a way to adjust and distort the truth so that it matches what we want it to say. If I watch a little pornography then at least I am not going out with prostitutes. If I drink to much beer, wine or whiskey well at least I am not doing crack cocaine. So what if I'm downloading illegal and pirated videos from an internet site, at least I'm not robbing a bank.
Can you hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:7-9? "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
Matt. 18:8 ¶ “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
Matt. 18:9 “If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell."
Do you know what the Lord Jesus knows about the human heart? If you don't kill sin (big or little) then sin will end up killing you. This Christian gentleman is someone I respect and I shared with him my concern about this behavior. Hopefully I was able to model speaking the truth in love. May I encourage us as Christians to recognize that we are not to think, look nor act like this world. And even though we are in the world we are not of this world. Our home is not on this earth but in heaven. I pray that even in all that we do, downloading movies, emails, phone conversations with family members that we would do it all to the glory of God!
Here is what so bothers me about myself and others that live in this affluent culture called America. We tend to find a way to adjust and distort the truth so that it matches what we want it to say. If I watch a little pornography then at least I am not going out with prostitutes. If I drink to much beer, wine or whiskey well at least I am not doing crack cocaine. So what if I'm downloading illegal and pirated videos from an internet site, at least I'm not robbing a bank.
Can you hear the words of the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:7-9? "Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come; but woe to that man through whom the stumbling block comes!
Matt. 18:8 ¶ “If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than to have two hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire.
Matt. 18:9 “If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell."
Do you know what the Lord Jesus knows about the human heart? If you don't kill sin (big or little) then sin will end up killing you. This Christian gentleman is someone I respect and I shared with him my concern about this behavior. Hopefully I was able to model speaking the truth in love. May I encourage us as Christians to recognize that we are not to think, look nor act like this world. And even though we are in the world we are not of this world. Our home is not on this earth but in heaven. I pray that even in all that we do, downloading movies, emails, phone conversations with family members that we would do it all to the glory of God!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
"Remnant Retreat" - Session #1, #2, #3, #4, #6 and #7 audio
Thanks to Dawn for coming over this morning and showing me how to convert audio cassette tape to an mp3 file. This is the tape of Thursday night which if officially session #1. Just know that I will be downloading these audio files during the next couple of days. All you need to do is click on the play button and everything should work just fine. Let me know if you have any problems.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
A dangerous trend...
A recent study shows: Nearly Half of Americans Shift Religious Beliefs
The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey estimates the United States is 78 percent Christian and about to lose its status as a majority Protestant nation, at 51 percent and slipping.
More than one-quarter of American adults have left the faith of their childhood for another religion or no religion at all, the survey found. Factoring in moves from one stream or denomination of Protestantism to another, the number rises to 44 percent.
One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.
"In the past, certain religions had a real holding power, where people from one generation to the next would stay," said Penn State University sociologist Roger Finke, who consulted in the survey planning. "Right now, there is a dropping confidence in organized religion, especially in the traditional religious forms."
Lugo said the 44 percent figure is "a very conservative estimate," and more research is planned to determine the causes.
"It does seem in keeping with the high tolerance among Americans for change," Lugo said. "People move a lot, people change jobs a lot. It's a very fluid society."
The religious demographic benefiting the most from this religious churn is those who claim no religious affiliation. People moving into that category outnumber those moving out of it by a three-to-one margin.
The majority of the unaffiliated — 12 percent of the overall population — describe their religion as "nothing in particular," and about half of those say faith is at least somewhat important to them. Atheists or agnostics account for 4 percent of the total population.
The Roman Catholic Church has lost more members than any faith tradition because of affiliation swapping, the survey found. While nearly one in three Americans were raised Catholic, fewer than one in four say they're Catholic today. That means roughly 10 percent of all Americans are ex-Catholics.
The share of the population that identifies as Catholic, however, has remained fairly stable in recent decades thanks to an influx of immigrant Catholics, mostly from Latin America. Nearly half of all Catholics under 30 are Hispanic, the survey found.
On the Protestant side, changes in affiliation are swelling the ranks of nondenominational churches, while Baptist and Methodist traditions are showing net losses.
Many Americans have vague denominational ties at best. People who call themselves "just a Protestant," in fact, account for nearly 10 percent of all Protestants.
Although evangelical churches strive to win new Christian believers from the "unchurched," the survey found most converts to evangelical churches were raised Protestant.
Hindus claimed the highest retention of childhood members, at 84 percent. The group with the worst retention is one of the fastest growing — Jehovah's Witnesses. Only 37 percent of those raised in the sect known for door-to-door proselytizing said they remain members.
Among other findings involving smaller religious groups, more than half of American Buddhists surveyed were white, and most Buddhists were converts.
More people in the survey pool identified themselves as Buddhist than Muslim, although both populations were small — less than 1 percent of the total population. By contrast, Jews accounted for 1.7 percent of the overall population.
The self-identified Buddhists — 0.7 percent of those surveyed — illustrate a core challenge to estimating religious affiliation: What does affiliation mean?
It's unclear whether people who called themselves Buddhists did so because they practice yoga or meditation, for instance, or claim affiliation with a Buddhist institution.
The report does not project membership figures for religious groups, in part because the survey is not as authoritative as a census and didn't count children, Lugo said. The U.S. Census does not ask questions on religion.
The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey estimates the United States is 78 percent Christian and about to lose its status as a majority Protestant nation, at 51 percent and slipping.
More than one-quarter of American adults have left the faith of their childhood for another religion or no religion at all, the survey found. Factoring in moves from one stream or denomination of Protestantism to another, the number rises to 44 percent.
One in four adults ages 18 to 29 claim no affiliation with a religious institution.
"In the past, certain religions had a real holding power, where people from one generation to the next would stay," said Penn State University sociologist Roger Finke, who consulted in the survey planning. "Right now, there is a dropping confidence in organized religion, especially in the traditional religious forms."
Lugo said the 44 percent figure is "a very conservative estimate," and more research is planned to determine the causes.
"It does seem in keeping with the high tolerance among Americans for change," Lugo said. "People move a lot, people change jobs a lot. It's a very fluid society."
The religious demographic benefiting the most from this religious churn is those who claim no religious affiliation. People moving into that category outnumber those moving out of it by a three-to-one margin.
The majority of the unaffiliated — 12 percent of the overall population — describe their religion as "nothing in particular," and about half of those say faith is at least somewhat important to them. Atheists or agnostics account for 4 percent of the total population.
The Roman Catholic Church has lost more members than any faith tradition because of affiliation swapping, the survey found. While nearly one in three Americans were raised Catholic, fewer than one in four say they're Catholic today. That means roughly 10 percent of all Americans are ex-Catholics.
The share of the population that identifies as Catholic, however, has remained fairly stable in recent decades thanks to an influx of immigrant Catholics, mostly from Latin America. Nearly half of all Catholics under 30 are Hispanic, the survey found.
On the Protestant side, changes in affiliation are swelling the ranks of nondenominational churches, while Baptist and Methodist traditions are showing net losses.
Many Americans have vague denominational ties at best. People who call themselves "just a Protestant," in fact, account for nearly 10 percent of all Protestants.
Although evangelical churches strive to win new Christian believers from the "unchurched," the survey found most converts to evangelical churches were raised Protestant.
Hindus claimed the highest retention of childhood members, at 84 percent. The group with the worst retention is one of the fastest growing — Jehovah's Witnesses. Only 37 percent of those raised in the sect known for door-to-door proselytizing said they remain members.
Among other findings involving smaller religious groups, more than half of American Buddhists surveyed were white, and most Buddhists were converts.
More people in the survey pool identified themselves as Buddhist than Muslim, although both populations were small — less than 1 percent of the total population. By contrast, Jews accounted for 1.7 percent of the overall population.
The self-identified Buddhists — 0.7 percent of those surveyed — illustrate a core challenge to estimating religious affiliation: What does affiliation mean?
It's unclear whether people who called themselves Buddhists did so because they practice yoga or meditation, for instance, or claim affiliation with a Buddhist institution.
The report does not project membership figures for religious groups, in part because the survey is not as authoritative as a census and didn't count children, Lugo said. The U.S. Census does not ask questions on religion.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Quotes for the day - Ronald Reagan
"Here's my strategy on the Cold War:
We win, they lose."
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
"The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant: It's just that they know so much that isn't so."
"Of the four wars in my lifetime none came about because the U.S. was too strong
"I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandment's would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress."
"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination.
"Government is like a baby: An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.
"The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program.
"I've laid down the law, though, to everyone from now on about anything that happens: no matter what time it is, wake me, even if it's in the middle of a Cabinet meeting."
"It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.
"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
"Politics is not a bad profession. If you succeed there are many rewards, if you disgrace yourself you can always write a book.
"No arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.
Remnant Retreat with Dr. Bruce Ware
Wow!!! It was an amazing retreat we all experienced under the teaching of Dr. Bruce Ware. I will summarize at some point and time later on but wanted to post a few pictures from our time at Spring Maid Resort. Thanks especially to Dawn who went over and beyond the call of duty to be sure we had everything needed. For your information we are meeting on Thursday to attempt downloading all the lectures onto this blog site. Until then here are some pictures:
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Quote for the day
"The Gospel Of The Grace Of God leaves no room whatever for human merit. It just brushes away all man's pretension to any goodness, to any desert excepting judgment. It is the Gospel of grace, and grace is God's free unmerited favor to those who have merited the very opposite. It is as opposite to works as oil is to water." If by grace," says the Spirit of God, "then it is no more works. . . but if it be of works, then is it no more grace" (Rom.11:6). People say, :But you must have both." I have heard it put like this: there was a boatman and two theologians in a boat, and one was arguing that salvation was by faith and the other by works. The boatman listened, and then said, "Let me tell you how it looks to me. Suppose I call this oar Faith and this one Works. If I pull on this one, the boat goes around; if I pull on this other one, it goes around the other way, but if I pull on both oars, I get you across the river." I have heard many preachers use that illustration to prove that we are saved by faith and works. That might do if we were going to Heaven in a rowboat, but we are not. We are carried on the shoulders of the Shepherd, who came seeking lost sheep When He finds them He carries them home on His shoulders.—H. A. Ironside (1876-1951)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
10 Stupidest Leadership Mistakes I've Made
This is an article from Tony Morgan.
1. Hiring too fast and firing too slow. The right people don't need to be managed--they just need to be pointed in the right direction. Jim Collins said, "If the person came to tell you that he or she is leaving to pursue an exciting new opportunity, would you feel terribly disappointed or secretly relieved?" If you'd be relieved, it's time for them to go.
2. Putting the projects before the people. Ecclesiastes 7:18 says, "The man who fears God will avoid all extremes." This is one of those areas where we need to embrace the tension between relating with people and accomplishing the mission/getting the job done.
3. Trying to fix the problem rather than the process. It's like continuing to change diapers instead of potty-training your kids. You can either continue to react to the problem, or you can fix the process. 90% of the time it's a systems-problem rather than a people-problem.
4. Delegating tasks instead of responsibility. I told the story of the three little pigs. "if all I've known is straw houses and I control every detail of their construction, then my leadership will never generate brick house ideas."
5. Assuming it's always black and white. Following rules is easier than the messiness of relationships. Following rules is easier than discerning God's will. The policies or guidelines we establish should actually remove barriers and allow more freedom within our organizations. But, innovative organizations don't value the rules over the mission.
6. Not following my gut. (...or is that the Holy Spirit?) Sometimes when I'm facing a big decision, I try to acquire more information rather than seek God's direction. When we stop listening to God, he stops talking to us. God stopped talking to Abraham for 13 years between the last verse of Genesis 16 and the first chapter of 17. And, sometimes, God requires us to take a step, in faith, before he reveals his plan. Check out Joshua 3.
7. Dwelling on the worst case scenario. I have the spiritual gift of discernment. That can be a positive gift when God's in control of my life. When I try to take control, that "gift" turns into sin. It's called worry or anxiety. I've wasted way too much time worrying about challenges or problems that never happened. This is my biggest area of vulnerability. What's yours?
8. Waiting until there's a problem to provide feedback. I'm encouragement-challenged. My tendency is to only speak up when expectations aren't met. That can create a culture of fear. I need to discipline myself to encourage my team. As Tom Peters has said, "Reward excellent failures. Punish mediocre successes."
9. Staying busy. I've too often made the mistake of assuming that since I'm busy I'm adding value. It's very possible to be constantly busy and be completely ineffective. By the way, email can be the biggest trap of all. If I wanted to, I could spend every hour of every day processing email and getting absolutely nothing accomplished.
10. Spending too much time on the details rather than the dreams. Perry showed me this one. Check out Genesis 11:31-32. Terah intended to go to Canaan. Instead he stopped in Haran. He got stuck there for 205 years. Then he died. Why? Was it disobedience? Did he lose sight of God's vision? Did he just get too comfortable? Did he settle for less than God's best? When I get too focused on responding to the urgent, I lose sight of the big picture. And, frankly, my tendency is to settle into a routine that's very comfortable but doesn't accomplish the full mission God has for my life and my ministry.
Those are my leadership mistakes. They are a reflection of my personality. They also reflect the sin that's sometimes present in my life. Your list likely looks different. But, do you know your list? You should. Ask yourself. Ask your spouse. Ask your team. Ask God. Don't settle.
1. Hiring too fast and firing too slow. The right people don't need to be managed--they just need to be pointed in the right direction. Jim Collins said, "If the person came to tell you that he or she is leaving to pursue an exciting new opportunity, would you feel terribly disappointed or secretly relieved?" If you'd be relieved, it's time for them to go.
2. Putting the projects before the people. Ecclesiastes 7:18 says, "The man who fears God will avoid all extremes." This is one of those areas where we need to embrace the tension between relating with people and accomplishing the mission/getting the job done.
3. Trying to fix the problem rather than the process. It's like continuing to change diapers instead of potty-training your kids. You can either continue to react to the problem, or you can fix the process. 90% of the time it's a systems-problem rather than a people-problem.
4. Delegating tasks instead of responsibility. I told the story of the three little pigs. "if all I've known is straw houses and I control every detail of their construction, then my leadership will never generate brick house ideas."
5. Assuming it's always black and white. Following rules is easier than the messiness of relationships. Following rules is easier than discerning God's will. The policies or guidelines we establish should actually remove barriers and allow more freedom within our organizations. But, innovative organizations don't value the rules over the mission.
6. Not following my gut. (...or is that the Holy Spirit?) Sometimes when I'm facing a big decision, I try to acquire more information rather than seek God's direction. When we stop listening to God, he stops talking to us. God stopped talking to Abraham for 13 years between the last verse of Genesis 16 and the first chapter of 17. And, sometimes, God requires us to take a step, in faith, before he reveals his plan. Check out Joshua 3.
7. Dwelling on the worst case scenario. I have the spiritual gift of discernment. That can be a positive gift when God's in control of my life. When I try to take control, that "gift" turns into sin. It's called worry or anxiety. I've wasted way too much time worrying about challenges or problems that never happened. This is my biggest area of vulnerability. What's yours?
8. Waiting until there's a problem to provide feedback. I'm encouragement-challenged. My tendency is to only speak up when expectations aren't met. That can create a culture of fear. I need to discipline myself to encourage my team. As Tom Peters has said, "Reward excellent failures. Punish mediocre successes."
9. Staying busy. I've too often made the mistake of assuming that since I'm busy I'm adding value. It's very possible to be constantly busy and be completely ineffective. By the way, email can be the biggest trap of all. If I wanted to, I could spend every hour of every day processing email and getting absolutely nothing accomplished.
10. Spending too much time on the details rather than the dreams. Perry showed me this one. Check out Genesis 11:31-32. Terah intended to go to Canaan. Instead he stopped in Haran. He got stuck there for 205 years. Then he died. Why? Was it disobedience? Did he lose sight of God's vision? Did he just get too comfortable? Did he settle for less than God's best? When I get too focused on responding to the urgent, I lose sight of the big picture. And, frankly, my tendency is to settle into a routine that's very comfortable but doesn't accomplish the full mission God has for my life and my ministry.
Those are my leadership mistakes. They are a reflection of my personality. They also reflect the sin that's sometimes present in my life. Your list likely looks different. But, do you know your list? You should. Ask yourself. Ask your spouse. Ask your team. Ask God. Don't settle.
The latest Church "stats"
February 15, 2008
Jehovah's Witnesses Fastest-Growing of U.S. Faiths
By Brittani Hamm
Religion News Service
Jehovah's Witnesses are the fastest-growing church body in the U.S. and Canada, now with more than 1 million members, according to new figures that track church membership in the U.S. and Canada.
Although Jehovah's Witnesses ranked 24th on the list of 25 largest churches, they reported the largest growth rate -- 2.25 percent -- of all churches. The badly divided Episcopal Church, meanwhile, reported the largest drop, at 4.15 percent.
The 2008 Yearbook of Canadian and American Churches, produced by the New York-based National Council of Churches, recorded growth trends in 224 national church bodies, with a combined membership of 147 million Americans.
The 2008 Yearbook is based on self-reported membership figures for 2006, the most recent year available.
The Roman Catholic Church, with 67.5 million members, remains the largest U.S. church body, with a 2006 increase of 0.87 percent. The second largest church, the Southern Baptist Convention (16.3 million) has more than twice the number of members as the United Methodist Church, the third largest, which documented 7.9 million U.S. members.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at 5.7 million U.S. members (1.56 percent increase) and the Church of God in Christ, with a steady 5.5 million, round out the top five.
Only the Jehovah's Witnesses, the Catholic Church, Southern Baptists, Mormons, the Assemblies of God (2.8 million) and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (1.4 million) reported increases; all others either posted declines or flat membership from 2005.
Historically African-American churches make up six of the 15 largest churches, with a three-way tie for the No. 11 spot among the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America, Progressive National Baptist Convention Inc., and African Methodist Episcopal Church -- each having 2.5 million members.
Several historically black churches, such as the 5 million-member National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., have reported the same figures for several years running. The Rev. Eileen W. Lindner, who produces the annual Yearbook, explained that many black denominations "estimate" the number of people in the pews.
"They aggregate the whole of their members because many of their congregations are dually affiliated" with multiple denominations, Lindner said. "The accuracy doesn't come from the count, but from the year-to-year census or estimations."
The 2008 Yearbook also tracks the time and resources spent by churches on responding to health care needs, and financial figures that show an increase in per-capita financial giving by 65 churches that reported figures. The report showed an average increase of $28.47 given per member over the past year.
The Yearbook also reported a decline in Canadian and African-American seminary enrollment. African-American enrollment in seminaries has declined 6.75 percent, but there has been an increase in part-time enrollment in both the U.S. and Canada.
According to the Yearbook, the 10 largest church bodies in the United States are:
-- The Catholic Church (67.5 million)
-- The Southern Baptist Convention (16.3 million)
-- The United Methodist Church (7.9 million)
-- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (5.7 million)
-- The Church of God in Christ (5.5 million)
-- National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (5 million)
-- Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (4.7 million)
-- National Baptist Convention of America (3.5 million)
-- Presbyterian Church (USA) (3 million)
-- Assemblies of God (2.8 million)
Quote for the day
He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone. …The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner. So, everybody must conceal his sin from himself and from the fellowship. We dare not be sinners. Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy. The fact is that we are sinners!
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
Monday, February 18, 2008
Dog logic
The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. 
A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.
-Josh Billings
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Oprah Winfrey the "Queen of New Age"
This is from Ben Witherington's blog site. How sad that so many will follow Oprah and her false teaching without checking out the very word of God. She is the queen of new age and it is obvious by this article and what is airing on her radio show. This article is written by Warren Smith who was by God's grace rescued from the clutches of the new age movement.
Oprah Winfrey will be letting out all the stops on her XM Satellite Radio program this coming year. Beginning January 1, 2008, "Oprah & Friends" will offer a year-long course on the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles. 1 A lesson a day throughout the year will completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook."
For example, Lesson #29 asks you to go through your day affirming that "God is in everything I see."2 Lesson #61 tells each person to repeat the affirmation "I am the light of the world." 3 Lesson #70 teaches the student to say and believe "My salvation comes from me." 4
By the end of the year, "Oprah & Friends" listeners will have completed all of the lessons laid out in the Course in Miracles Workbook. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset—a New Age worldview that includes the belief that there is no sin, no evil, no devil, and that God is "in" everyone and everything. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life. The Course Workbook bluntly states: "This is a course in mind training" 5 and is dedicated to "thought reversal." 6
Teaching A Course in Miracles will be Oprah's longtime friend and special XM Satellite Radio reporter Marianne Williamson—who also happens to be one of today's premier New Age leaders. She and Conversations with God author Neale Donald Walsch co-founded the American Renaissance Alliance in 1997, that later became the Global Renaissance Alliance of New Age leaders, that changed its name again in 2005 to the Peace Alliance. This Peace Alliance seeks to usher in an era of global peace founded on the principles of a New Age/New Spirituality that they are now referring to as a "civil rights movement for the soul." 7 They all agree that the principles of this New Age/New Spirituality are clearly articulated in A Course in Miracles—which is fast becoming the New Age Bible. So what is A Course in Miracles and what does it teach?
A Course in Miracles is allegedly "new revelation" from "Jesus" to help humanity work through these troubled times. This "Jesus"—who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus Christ—began delivering his channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology by the name of Helen Schucman.
One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is a course in miracles. Please take notes." 8 For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this inner voice that described himself as "Jesus." A Course in Miracles was quietly published in 1975 by the Foundation for Inner Peace. For many years "the Course" was an underground cult classic for New Age seekers who studied "the Course" individually, with frie nds, or in small study groups.
As a former New Age follower and devoted student of A Course in Miracles, I eventually discovered that the Course in Miracles was—in reality—the truth of the Bible turned upside down. Not having a true understanding of the Bible at the time of my involvement, I was led to believe that A Course in Miracles was "a gift from God" to help everyone understand the "real" meaning of the Bible and to help bring peace to the world. Little did I know that the New Age "Christ" and the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles were everything the real Jesus Christ warned us to watch out for. In Matthew 24 Jesus warned about false teachers, false teachings and the false "Christs" who would pretend to be Him.
I found the Jesus of the Bible to be wholly believable as He taught God's truth and warned about the spiritual deception that would come in His name. The "Jesus" of A Course in Miracles reveals himself to be an imposter when he blasphemes the true Jesus Christ by saying that a "slain Christ has no meaning" and that we are all "God" and that we are all "Christ." It was by reading the Bible's true teachings of Jesus Christ that I came to understand how deceived I had been by A Course in Miracles and my other New Age teachings.
I was introduced to A Course in Miracles by Dr. Gerald Jampolsky's book Love is Letting Go of Fear . Jampolsky declared in his easy-to-read book how the teachings of A Course in Miracles had changed his life. As an ambassador for A Course in Miracles over the years, Jampolsky has been featured not only in New Age circles but at least twice on Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. While Schulle r introduced Jampolsky and his "fabulous" 18 Course in Miracles-based books to his worldwide television audience, it was Marianne Williamson's appearance on a 1992 Oprah Winfrey Show that really shook the rafters.
On that program, Oprah enthusiastically endorsed Williamson's book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book about A Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience. Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book about A C ourse in Miracles to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Ironically, all of this was happening after I had left the Course and the New Age. In fact, I was doing the final editing on my book The Light That Was Dark that warned about the dangers of the New Age—and in particular A Course in Miracles.
After being introduced to the world on Oprah, Marianne Williamson has continued to grow in popularity and, as previously mentioned, has become one of today's foremost New Age leaders. Williamson credits Winfrey for bringing her book about A Course in Miracles before the world: "For that, my deepest thanks to Oprah Winfrey. Her enthusiasm and generosity have given the book, and me, an audience we would never otherwise have had." 19 In her 2004 book, The Gift of Change, Williamson wrote:
"Twenty years ago, I saw the guidance of the Course as key to changing one's personal life; today, I see its guidance as key to changing the world. More than anything else, I see how deeply the two are connected." 20
Thus the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles are about to be taught by Marianne Williamson to millions of listeners on Oprah's XM Satellite Radio program. Listeners are encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long course. An audio version of A Course in Miracles recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas is also available on compact disc.
Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the "brilliant writing" of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world. 21 Williamson's New Age colleague, Neale Donald Walsch, said his "God" stated that " the era of the Single Saviour is over"22 and that he ("God") was respo nsible for authoring the teachings of A Course in Miracles. 23
Meanwhile, Gerald Jampolsky's Course in Miracles-based book, Forgiveness, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, "Rethink Conference" at his Crystal Cathedral.24
At this critical time in the history of the world, the New Gospel/New Spirituality is coming right at the world and the church with its New Age teachings and its New Age Peace Plan. But this New Age Peace Plan has at its deceptive core the bottom-line teaching from A Course in Miracles that "we are all one" because God is "in" everyone and everything. But the Bible is clear that we are not God (Ezekiel 28:2; Hosea 11:9). And per Galatians 3:26-28, our only oneness is in Jesus Christ—not in ourselves as "God" and "Christ." What Oprah and Marianne Williamson and the world will learn one day is that humanity's only real and lasting peace is with the true Jesus Christ who is described and quoted in the Holy Bible (Romans 5:1).
Oprah Winfrey's misplaced faith in Marianne Williamson and the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles is a sure sign of the times. But an even surer sign of the times is that most Christians are not taking heed to what is happening in the world and in the church. We are not contending for the faith as the Bible admonishes us to do (Jude 3).
It is time for all of our Purpose-Driven and Emerging church pastors to address the real issue of the day. Our true Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed right in front of our eyes and hardly anyone seems to notice or care . If we want the world to know who Jesus Christ is, we need to a lso warn them about who He is not. There is a false New Age "Christ" making huge inroads into the world and into the church. The Apostle Paul said that "it is a shame" we have to even talk about these things, but talk about them we must (Ephesians 5:12-16).
If people want to follow Oprah Winfrey and the New Age "Christ" of A Course in Miracles they certainly have that right. But let them be warned that the New Age "Christ" they are following is not the same Jesus Christ who is so clearly and authoritatively presented in the pages of the Bible.
Oprah Winfrey will be letting out all the stops on her XM Satellite Radio program this coming year. Beginning January 1, 2008, "Oprah & Friends" will offer a year-long course on the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles. 1 A lesson a day throughout the year will completely cover the 365 lessons from the Course in Miracles "Workbook."
For example, Lesson #29 asks you to go through your day affirming that "God is in everything I see."2 Lesson #61 tells each person to repeat the affirmation "I am the light of the world." 3 Lesson #70 teaches the student to say and believe "My salvation comes from me." 4
By the end of the year, "Oprah & Friends" listeners will have completed all of the lessons laid out in the Course in Miracles Workbook. Those who finish the Course will have a wholly redefined spiritual mindset—a New Age worldview that includes the belief that there is no sin, no evil, no devil, and that God is "in" everyone and everything. A Course in Miracles teaches its students to rethink everything they believe about God and life. The Course Workbook bluntly states: "This is a course in mind training" 5 and is dedicated to "thought reversal." 6
Teaching A Course in Miracles will be Oprah's longtime friend and special XM Satellite Radio reporter Marianne Williamson—who also happens to be one of today's premier New Age leaders. She and Conversations with God author Neale Donald Walsch co-founded the American Renaissance Alliance in 1997, that later became the Global Renaissance Alliance of New Age leaders, that changed its name again in 2005 to the Peace Alliance. This Peace Alliance seeks to usher in an era of global peace founded on the principles of a New Age/New Spirituality that they are now referring to as a "civil rights movement for the soul." 7 They all agree that the principles of this New Age/New Spirituality are clearly articulated in A Course in Miracles—which is fast becoming the New Age Bible. So what is A Course in Miracles and what does it teach?
A Course in Miracles is allegedly "new revelation" from "Jesus" to help humanity work through these troubled times. This "Jesus"—who bears no doctrinal resemblance to the Bible's Jesus Christ—began delivering his channeled teachings in 1965 to a Columbia University Professor of Medical Psychology by the name of Helen Schucman.
One day Schucman heard an "inner voice" stating, "This is a course in miracles. Please take notes." 8 For seven years she diligently took spiritual dictation from this inner voice that described himself as "Jesus." A Course in Miracles was quietly published in 1975 by the Foundation for Inner Peace. For many years "the Course" was an underground cult classic for New Age seekers who studied "the Course" individually, with frie nds, or in small study groups.
As a former New Age follower and devoted student of A Course in Miracles, I eventually discovered that the Course in Miracles was—in reality—the truth of the Bible turned upside down. Not having a true understanding of the Bible at the time of my involvement, I was led to believe that A Course in Miracles was "a gift from God" to help everyone understand the "real" meaning of the Bible and to help bring peace to the world. Little did I know that the New Age "Christ" and the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles were everything the real Jesus Christ warned us to watch out for. In Matthew 24 Jesus warned about false teachers, false teachings and the false "Christs" who would pretend to be Him.
I found the Jesus of the Bible to be wholly believable as He taught God's truth and warned about the spiritual deception that would come in His name. The "Jesus" of A Course in Miracles reveals himself to be an imposter when he blasphemes the true Jesus Christ by saying that a "slain Christ has no meaning" and that we are all "God" and that we are all "Christ." It was by reading the Bible's true teachings of Jesus Christ that I came to understand how deceived I had been by A Course in Miracles and my other New Age teachings.
I was introduced to A Course in Miracles by Dr. Gerald Jampolsky's book Love is Letting Go of Fear . Jampolsky declared in his easy-to-read book how the teachings of A Course in Miracles had changed his life. As an ambassador for A Course in Miracles over the years, Jampolsky has been featured not only in New Age circles but at least twice on Robert Schuller's Hour of Power. While Schulle r introduced Jampolsky and his "fabulous" 18 Course in Miracles-based books to his worldwide television audience, it was Marianne Williamson's appearance on a 1992 Oprah Winfrey Show that really shook the rafters.
On that program, Oprah enthusiastically endorsed Williamson's book, A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles. Oprah told her television audience that Williamson's book about A Course in Miracles was one of her favorite books, and that she had already bought a thousand copies and would be handing them out to everyone in her studio audience. Oprah's endorsement skyrocketed Williamson's book about A C ourse in Miracles to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Ironically, all of this was happening after I had left the Course and the New Age. In fact, I was doing the final editing on my book The Light That Was Dark that warned about the dangers of the New Age—and in particular A Course in Miracles.
After being introduced to the world on Oprah, Marianne Williamson has continued to grow in popularity and, as previously mentioned, has become one of today's foremost New Age leaders. Williamson credits Winfrey for bringing her book about A Course in Miracles before the world: "For that, my deepest thanks to Oprah Winfrey. Her enthusiasm and generosity have given the book, and me, an audience we would never otherwise have had." 19 In her 2004 book, The Gift of Change, Williamson wrote:
"Twenty years ago, I saw the guidance of the Course as key to changing one's personal life; today, I see its guidance as key to changing the world. More than anything else, I see how deeply the two are connected." 20
Thus the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles are about to be taught by Marianne Williamson to millions of listeners on Oprah's XM Satellite Radio program. Listeners are encouraged to buy A Course in Miracles for the year-long course. An audio version of A Course in Miracles recited by Richard (John Boy Walton) Thomas is also available on compact disc.
Popular author Wayne Dyer told his PBS television audience that the "brilliant writing" of A Course in Miracles would produce more peace in the world. 21 Williamson's New Age colleague, Neale Donald Walsch, said his "God" stated that " the era of the Single Saviour is over"22 and that he ("God") was respo nsible for authoring the teachings of A Course in Miracles. 23
Meanwhile, Gerald Jampolsky's Course in Miracles-based book, Forgiveness, continues to be sold in Robert Schuller's Crystal Cathedral bookstore as Schuller prepares to host a January 17-19, 2008, "Rethink Conference" at his Crystal Cathedral.24
At this critical time in the history of the world, the New Gospel/New Spirituality is coming right at the world and the church with its New Age teachings and its New Age Peace Plan. But this New Age Peace Plan has at its deceptive core the bottom-line teaching from A Course in Miracles that "we are all one" because God is "in" everyone and everything. But the Bible is clear that we are not God (Ezekiel 28:2; Hosea 11:9). And per Galatians 3:26-28, our only oneness is in Jesus Christ—not in ourselves as "God" and "Christ." What Oprah and Marianne Williamson and the world will learn one day is that humanity's only real and lasting peace is with the true Jesus Christ who is described and quoted in the Holy Bible (Romans 5:1).
Oprah Winfrey's misplaced faith in Marianne Williamson and the New Age teachings of A Course in Miracles is a sure sign of the times. But an even surer sign of the times is that most Christians are not taking heed to what is happening in the world and in the church. We are not contending for the faith as the Bible admonishes us to do (Jude 3).
It is time for all of our Purpose-Driven and Emerging church pastors to address the real issue of the day. Our true Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is being reinvented, redefined, and blasphemed right in front of our eyes and hardly anyone seems to notice or care . If we want the world to know who Jesus Christ is, we need to a lso warn them about who He is not. There is a false New Age "Christ" making huge inroads into the world and into the church. The Apostle Paul said that "it is a shame" we have to even talk about these things, but talk about them we must (Ephesians 5:12-16).
If people want to follow Oprah Winfrey and the New Age "Christ" of A Course in Miracles they certainly have that right. But let them be warned that the New Age "Christ" they are following is not the same Jesus Christ who is so clearly and authoritatively presented in the pages of the Bible.
New Book from Tim Keller
Tim Keller is a pastor and one of the leading church planters in America. For those of you who don't know Tim this will give you some insight as to why he wrote "The Reason for God." I have also included his website for those who want to look around. Just click on this LINK. Enjoy!If you want more information about Tim click on this LINK. Listed below are some of the messages that you can listen to when you go to this website. They are in conjunction with the subject of his new book "The Reason for God."
Exclusivity: How an there be just one true religion?
Suffering: If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world?
Absolutism: Don't we all have to find truth for ourselves
Injustice: Hasn't Christianity been an instrument for oppression?
Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity an angry Judge?
Doubt: What should I do with my doubts?
Literalism: Isn't the Bible historically unreliable and regressive?
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Bruce Ware comes to speak at our retreat
On February 21-23 some former members of the Shepherd's Church in Charlotte and Pierpont Baptist in Charleston will host a retreat. The retreat will be at the Springmaid Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC. It is a privilege and joy to announce that our speaker will be Dr. Bruce Ware who is the President elect of the Evangelical Theological Society. Some of you might not be familiar with Dr. Ware and his writings so I have posted a short biography along with an audio interview. Hopefully this will give you some insight on his life, work and ministry. Dr. Ware is a very sought after speaker and is well known in evangelical circles. I first heard him at the Pastors Conference in Minneapolis, MN in 2005. At that particular conference he taught on the Trinity and the different role/relationships of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. His talk so moved me that I came back and soon thereafter developed a preaching series on the Trinity.
Bruce Ware received a B.A. in English from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. He later earned his M.Div. and his Th.M. from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon, before he moved to Pasadena, California, where he completed his formal education with a Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Ware currently serves as the Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to his current occupation, Ware has held teaching positions at Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota; Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon; and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
Books Published:
Perspectives on the Doctrine of God: 4 Views (Editor)
Broadman & Holman - 2007
Serving God with Determined Faith: Studies in the Book of Nehemiah
Lifeway Press - 2005
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance
Crossway Books - 2005
God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God of Scripture and the Christian Faith
Crossway Books - 2004
Their God is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God
Crossway Books - 2003
God's Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism
Crossway Books - 2000
Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace (Editor)
Baker Books - 2000
The Grace of God, The Bondage of the Will (Editor)
Baker Books - 1995
Bruce Ware received a B.A. in English from Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. He later earned his M.Div. and his Th.M. from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon, before he moved to Pasadena, California, where he completed his formal education with a Ph.D. in Philosophical Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Ware currently serves as the Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to his current occupation, Ware has held teaching positions at Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota; Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon; and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.
Books Published:
Perspectives on the Doctrine of God: 4 Views (Editor)
Broadman & Holman - 2007
Serving God with Determined Faith: Studies in the Book of Nehemiah
Lifeway Press - 2005
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: Relationships, Roles, and Relevance
Crossway Books - 2005
God's Greater Glory: The Exalted God of Scripture and the Christian Faith
Crossway Books - 2004
Their God is Too Small: Open Theism and the Undermining of Confidence in God
Crossway Books - 2003
God's Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open Theism
Crossway Books - 2000
Still Sovereign: Contemporary Perspectives on Election, Foreknowledge, and Grace (Editor)
Baker Books - 2000
The Grace of God, The Bondage of the Will (Editor)
Baker Books - 1995
Philippians - Session #4 - review notes
Good morning Bible study group,
When you study a book of the Bible there are basic principles that should guide in your study. The basic reason these principles are important is so we can first of all learn what the author meant by what he wrote. We should not come to the Bible with a "what I think" mentality, instead we need a mindset of "what does God say" in order to find the true meaning.
I learned early on this particular way but please know that it is a way and not "the" way. Basically all good methods of Bible study include these steps although the language and arrangement may vary. The point here is I want each of you to find a method that works for your personality, temperament and gifting as you come to God's word. As Kelly Bartlett says let's not try to put a square peg into a round hole. However in these guidelines that I am giving you there does remain flexibility for you to study using the principles that fit into your style. Let me give a quick illustration. Howard Hendricks is a great Bible teacher and has been a professor for years at Dallas Theological Seminary. A number of years ago he wrote a book titled "Living by the Book." It is a very simple straightforward book on studying the word of God. He lists in the book three main steps in good Bible study, they are:
1. Observation
2. Interpretation
3. Application
If you boiled our study in Philippians down to 3 basic steps this would cover it. Once again this is a variation in method but the principles of accurate Bible study remain basically the same.
To date we have look at:
1. Background of the author, location, occasion, reason for the epistle, how the church originally started and etc. By the way I was impressed the way each of you contributed when asked about the background last week. I can tell by the way you answered that question that you do have this firmly implanted in your minds as we are moving forward in Philippians.
2. Theme - We have spent a good bit of time on the word joy and the theology behind this word in the New Testament. I like to following saying "Joy is the flag that flies over the castle of ones heart with the King is in residence there."
3. Plan - This is what we discussed in our last study session together. Again there is not a hard and fast rule for the plan. It should give us some structure if possible in regard to the author's flow of thought. It may help at this point to think about a house plan and compare that with a book plan. You come into the home and notice the flow from room to room and that is what we are trying to do in Philippians.
Here is a suggested plan:
I. Prescription for joy - "Making the gospel a priority"
Philippians 1:1-26
II. Prerequisite for joy - "Focusing on the Cross"
Philippians 1:27-2:18a
III. Principle for joy - "Imitating Christian leaders"
Philippians 2:18b-3:21
IV. Perseverance for joy - "Never, never, never give up"
Philippians 4:1-4:21
Obviously if we were to have a topic sentence for every paragraph then the outline would be much longer. This is basic and I think covers the flow of thought but please don't take this as the ultimate plan for this book. You feel free to add to or subtract from but remember to keep flow and theme in you mind as you may do so for your plan. I am teaching you with the hope that you will share with others in your sphere of influence. Isn't that what you sense here with Paul and the Philippians. They have bonded at an unusual level and that kind of bonding takes place when the gospel is at the center of life.
Last week was for me a real breakthrough in how I have come to see and explain the gospel. In the last few years this subject has been part of my ongoing study. I have been captivated that in Romans 1:16 the apostle Paul writes "For 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. Just read the sentence and ask a few basic questions. In the phrase "for it is..." what is the "it"? Based on the structure of the sentence the "it" refers to the gospel. So based on what Paul writes the gospel is the power of God! Think back in the Old and come forward into the New Testament and think of all the power of God you are shown throughout the Scriptures. Now keep going into the sentence this is a power for what? According to Paul it is a power unto salvation - do we know what salvation means here? You have heard me teach on this before but for a quick refresher I think he is referring to a salvation in the past (justification), a salvation in the present (sanctification) and a salvation for the future (glorification). But this is restricted to certain people and who are these people according to this verse? Those who believe (present tense verb) which means continue to, constantly and live their lives habitually this way. One of the key words in this sentence is believe and that is something we must do each and every day. Do you remember what the noun is for the verb believe in the New Testament? The noun is faith. Are you ready to put it all together?
Romans 14:23 - "...anything that is not of faith is sin"
Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please Him..."
Galatians 3:5 - "So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
In other words Christian how does the Spirit miraculously work among you? Answer - only when you hear with faith. And how does faith come to you?
Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
So how are you being saved everyday? The word of God that you hear! Or I think you could say the gospel that you hear everyday!
As you remember we went into a practical discussion of the gospel last Tuesday morning. This is such an important subject for us to consider as we study the book of Philippians. Let me ask you this question - What are you really living for? By this I mean what is the thing that if you lost it then it would make you lose the desire to live?
Because all meaning in life would be gone and you desire to keep on going would gone.
Whatever the answer to that question is and only you can answer it, then that thing or those things are you idols. In other words it becomes the very thing that justifies why you get up in the morning and do the things that you do. Another way to ask the question is what has become your "functional savior."
There are plenty of professing Christians that know the language "I'm a sinner that is saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone." And yet there is something else that has become their "functional savior" in life. I heard the story of a pastor who had two different women come to him about problems with a child rebelling due to the dad being away from the home so much. In the first case the woman was a young Christian whose husband was gone way too much and there was a significant problem with their child. In the second case there was a very seasoned Christian who had a situation that was not near as bad as the first woman. When this pastor counseled the first woman she was able to forgive her husband and the whole family ended up working through it and becoming very close. However in the second situation the woman in that marriage could not forgive and this ended up with the destruction of the family. As this pastor related the story here is what he said happened. Each of these women were concerned about the rebellion of their child and that was good to be concerned. But for the second mother the good for her became the ultimate. She was unable to forgive her husband because there was a sin that was underneath the sin. This mother could and would only be happy if her child was happy and successful. In her desire for a good thing she had made it an ultimate thing which became her idol. If her son was happy then she was happy and if he wasn't then her desire to live was removed. Do you see what the problem is in this case? The happiness and success of the child had become this woman's "functional savior." Even though she had been a Christian for years and knew that Christ died for her sins, even though that was clear to her it still was not real to her.
Hey guys what about us? We know the language of the gospel but is the gospel real to us? Are we in danger of having something else as our "functional savior?"
We need to remember daily:
Our job did not die on the cross for us
Our money did not die on the cross for us
Our lifestyle did not die on the cross for us
Our family did not die on the cross for us
Our physical appearance did not die on the cross for us
It was the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us and He and only He is and can be our savior!!!
Martin Luther said that of the 10 commandments - Commandment #1 is the key because all the other commandments are based on this one.
For example look at the commandment that says "Do not bear false witness."
Why do we lie? Answer - because we are sinners - well technically that is the right answer. But when we look deeper why do we lie? Because at the moment we tell the lie something else has become more of a "functional savior" for us than Jesus Christ.
It could be fear from the loss of human approval of pride in the fact we don't want to be caught in the wrong. But whatever the case we are placing that thing ahead of the Lord Jesus.
Luther went on to say that "under the behavioral sin there is idolatry and every act of idolatry is a disbelief in the gospel."
If someone is angry enough to die because of:
- weight gain
- job opportunity that goes away
- a relationship doesn't work out
Then we can identify those things as idols that have replaced Christ.
We could say that we are justified by how our children perform in school, or how successful we are in our jobs, or the way people view us in the church. Even though we say we are sinners saved by grace we behave like sinners who think we are saved by our works.
Do you remember the illustration I gave on Tuesday about the Coke machine.
You walk up to it and put quarters in and push the button but no coke comes out. So you pound on the side of the coke machine until you hear the quarters drop and then you push the button and the coke comes out.
This is what we must do in terms of the gospel. It must be pounded, pounded and pounded into our heads until one day, finally and completely it drops into the heart. In that day not only will it be clear to us in language but it will become real to us in our experience.
Blessings,
When you study a book of the Bible there are basic principles that should guide in your study. The basic reason these principles are important is so we can first of all learn what the author meant by what he wrote. We should not come to the Bible with a "what I think" mentality, instead we need a mindset of "what does God say" in order to find the true meaning.
I learned early on this particular way but please know that it is a way and not "the" way. Basically all good methods of Bible study include these steps although the language and arrangement may vary. The point here is I want each of you to find a method that works for your personality, temperament and gifting as you come to God's word. As Kelly Bartlett says let's not try to put a square peg into a round hole. However in these guidelines that I am giving you there does remain flexibility for you to study using the principles that fit into your style. Let me give a quick illustration. Howard Hendricks is a great Bible teacher and has been a professor for years at Dallas Theological Seminary. A number of years ago he wrote a book titled "Living by the Book." It is a very simple straightforward book on studying the word of God. He lists in the book three main steps in good Bible study, they are:
1. Observation
2. Interpretation
3. Application
If you boiled our study in Philippians down to 3 basic steps this would cover it. Once again this is a variation in method but the principles of accurate Bible study remain basically the same.
To date we have look at:
1. Background of the author, location, occasion, reason for the epistle, how the church originally started and etc. By the way I was impressed the way each of you contributed when asked about the background last week. I can tell by the way you answered that question that you do have this firmly implanted in your minds as we are moving forward in Philippians.
2. Theme - We have spent a good bit of time on the word joy and the theology behind this word in the New Testament. I like to following saying "Joy is the flag that flies over the castle of ones heart with the King is in residence there."
3. Plan - This is what we discussed in our last study session together. Again there is not a hard and fast rule for the plan. It should give us some structure if possible in regard to the author's flow of thought. It may help at this point to think about a house plan and compare that with a book plan. You come into the home and notice the flow from room to room and that is what we are trying to do in Philippians.
Here is a suggested plan:
I. Prescription for joy - "Making the gospel a priority"
Philippians 1:1-26
II. Prerequisite for joy - "Focusing on the Cross"
Philippians 1:27-2:18a
III. Principle for joy - "Imitating Christian leaders"
Philippians 2:18b-3:21
IV. Perseverance for joy - "Never, never, never give up"
Philippians 4:1-4:21
Obviously if we were to have a topic sentence for every paragraph then the outline would be much longer. This is basic and I think covers the flow of thought but please don't take this as the ultimate plan for this book. You feel free to add to or subtract from but remember to keep flow and theme in you mind as you may do so for your plan. I am teaching you with the hope that you will share with others in your sphere of influence. Isn't that what you sense here with Paul and the Philippians. They have bonded at an unusual level and that kind of bonding takes place when the gospel is at the center of life.
Last week was for me a real breakthrough in how I have come to see and explain the gospel. In the last few years this subject has been part of my ongoing study. I have been captivated that in Romans 1:16 the apostle Paul writes "For 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. Just read the sentence and ask a few basic questions. In the phrase "for it is..." what is the "it"? Based on the structure of the sentence the "it" refers to the gospel. So based on what Paul writes the gospel is the power of God! Think back in the Old and come forward into the New Testament and think of all the power of God you are shown throughout the Scriptures. Now keep going into the sentence this is a power for what? According to Paul it is a power unto salvation - do we know what salvation means here? You have heard me teach on this before but for a quick refresher I think he is referring to a salvation in the past (justification), a salvation in the present (sanctification) and a salvation for the future (glorification). But this is restricted to certain people and who are these people according to this verse? Those who believe (present tense verb) which means continue to, constantly and live their lives habitually this way. One of the key words in this sentence is believe and that is something we must do each and every day. Do you remember what the noun is for the verb believe in the New Testament? The noun is faith. Are you ready to put it all together?
Romans 14:23 - "...anything that is not of faith is sin"
Hebrews 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please Him..."
Galatians 3:5 - "So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?
In other words Christian how does the Spirit miraculously work among you? Answer - only when you hear with faith. And how does faith come to you?
Romans 10:17 - So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
So how are you being saved everyday? The word of God that you hear! Or I think you could say the gospel that you hear everyday!
As you remember we went into a practical discussion of the gospel last Tuesday morning. This is such an important subject for us to consider as we study the book of Philippians. Let me ask you this question - What are you really living for? By this I mean what is the thing that if you lost it then it would make you lose the desire to live?
Because all meaning in life would be gone and you desire to keep on going would gone.
Whatever the answer to that question is and only you can answer it, then that thing or those things are you idols. In other words it becomes the very thing that justifies why you get up in the morning and do the things that you do. Another way to ask the question is what has become your "functional savior."
There are plenty of professing Christians that know the language "I'm a sinner that is saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone." And yet there is something else that has become their "functional savior" in life. I heard the story of a pastor who had two different women come to him about problems with a child rebelling due to the dad being away from the home so much. In the first case the woman was a young Christian whose husband was gone way too much and there was a significant problem with their child. In the second case there was a very seasoned Christian who had a situation that was not near as bad as the first woman. When this pastor counseled the first woman she was able to forgive her husband and the whole family ended up working through it and becoming very close. However in the second situation the woman in that marriage could not forgive and this ended up with the destruction of the family. As this pastor related the story here is what he said happened. Each of these women were concerned about the rebellion of their child and that was good to be concerned. But for the second mother the good for her became the ultimate. She was unable to forgive her husband because there was a sin that was underneath the sin. This mother could and would only be happy if her child was happy and successful. In her desire for a good thing she had made it an ultimate thing which became her idol. If her son was happy then she was happy and if he wasn't then her desire to live was removed. Do you see what the problem is in this case? The happiness and success of the child had become this woman's "functional savior." Even though she had been a Christian for years and knew that Christ died for her sins, even though that was clear to her it still was not real to her.
Hey guys what about us? We know the language of the gospel but is the gospel real to us? Are we in danger of having something else as our "functional savior?"
We need to remember daily:
Our job did not die on the cross for us
Our money did not die on the cross for us
Our lifestyle did not die on the cross for us
Our family did not die on the cross for us
Our physical appearance did not die on the cross for us
It was the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us and He and only He is and can be our savior!!!
Martin Luther said that of the 10 commandments - Commandment #1 is the key because all the other commandments are based on this one.
For example look at the commandment that says "Do not bear false witness."
Why do we lie? Answer - because we are sinners - well technically that is the right answer. But when we look deeper why do we lie? Because at the moment we tell the lie something else has become more of a "functional savior" for us than Jesus Christ.
It could be fear from the loss of human approval of pride in the fact we don't want to be caught in the wrong. But whatever the case we are placing that thing ahead of the Lord Jesus.
Luther went on to say that "under the behavioral sin there is idolatry and every act of idolatry is a disbelief in the gospel."
If someone is angry enough to die because of:
- weight gain
- job opportunity that goes away
- a relationship doesn't work out
Then we can identify those things as idols that have replaced Christ.
We could say that we are justified by how our children perform in school, or how successful we are in our jobs, or the way people view us in the church. Even though we say we are sinners saved by grace we behave like sinners who think we are saved by our works.
Do you remember the illustration I gave on Tuesday about the Coke machine.
You walk up to it and put quarters in and push the button but no coke comes out. So you pound on the side of the coke machine until you hear the quarters drop and then you push the button and the coke comes out.
This is what we must do in terms of the gospel. It must be pounded, pounded and pounded into our heads until one day, finally and completely it drops into the heart. In that day not only will it be clear to us in language but it will become real to us in our experience.
Blessings,
Friday, February 15, 2008
Fundementalism-Emergent
A helpful chart in an article from Michael Patton
Notice, I would place many emergers outside the bounds of orthodoxy—at least as it has been seen from a historic Christian standpoint. The reason being is that they deny many aspects of historic Christianity. Among other things, either their doctrine of judgment, the exclusivity of Christ, the atonement, or even theistic worldview is contrary to that of the historic Christian faith. Some would even deny or call into question just about every foundational doctrine to the Christian faith.
Don’t misunderstand the chart. D.A. Carson represents the best of traditional Evangelical scholarship. But being in the middle does not necessarily mean that I believe that he is more orthodox than Dan Kimball. He is just less emerging! John MacArthur is to the far left, not because he is in danger of stepping outside of traditional Evangelicalism into a heterodox form of fundamentalism, but because he is more fundamental and less emerging than the others. McLaren, McManus, and Miller are right on the line between emerging and Emergent.
Well, thus far I have simply meant to communicate the defining “emerging” is not a simple task. The one thing that I would immediately caution people on is this: don’t lump all those who call themselves “emerging” into the same category reserved for heretics. We have to be more responsible than this. It is unfair and could damage people’s reputation. If you were to do this, how is that any less an evil than the evil you may be accusing them of?
Notice, I would place many emergers outside the bounds of orthodoxy—at least as it has been seen from a historic Christian standpoint. The reason being is that they deny many aspects of historic Christianity. Among other things, either their doctrine of judgment, the exclusivity of Christ, the atonement, or even theistic worldview is contrary to that of the historic Christian faith. Some would even deny or call into question just about every foundational doctrine to the Christian faith.
Don’t misunderstand the chart. D.A. Carson represents the best of traditional Evangelical scholarship. But being in the middle does not necessarily mean that I believe that he is more orthodox than Dan Kimball. He is just less emerging! John MacArthur is to the far left, not because he is in danger of stepping outside of traditional Evangelicalism into a heterodox form of fundamentalism, but because he is more fundamental and less emerging than the others. McLaren, McManus, and Miller are right on the line between emerging and Emergent.
Well, thus far I have simply meant to communicate the defining “emerging” is not a simple task. The one thing that I would immediately caution people on is this: don’t lump all those who call themselves “emerging” into the same category reserved for heretics. We have to be more responsible than this. It is unfair and could damage people’s reputation. If you were to do this, how is that any less an evil than the evil you may be accusing them of?
Music and the Church
Greg Gilbert is on a roll--here are some great, convicting questions:
Do you get bored when someone reads a longish passage of Scripture in your church?
Do you start wishing they’d get on with the music?
Do you need music playing in the background for the reading of Scripture to affect your emotions?
Does a prayer seem too “plain” or “stark” to you if it doesn’t have music playing behind it?
If you’re in a big church with great music, are you able to worship when you visit your parents’ small rural church?
Do you ever feel worshipful in the middle of the week, at work, at school, etc. just because of thinking about God and his grace? Or does that only happen when the music’s playing?
Do you tend to feel closer to God when you’re alone with your iPOD than you do when you’re gathered with God’s people in your church?
Do you feel like you just can’t connect with other believers who haven’t had the same “worship experiences” that you have?
Can you only connect with other believers who “know what it feels like to really worship?”
Is your sense of spiritual well-being based more on feeling close to God, or knowing that you are close to God because of Jesus Christ?
Do you get bored when someone reads a longish passage of Scripture in your church?
Do you start wishing they’d get on with the music?
Do you need music playing in the background for the reading of Scripture to affect your emotions?
Does a prayer seem too “plain” or “stark” to you if it doesn’t have music playing behind it?
If you’re in a big church with great music, are you able to worship when you visit your parents’ small rural church?
Do you ever feel worshipful in the middle of the week, at work, at school, etc. just because of thinking about God and his grace? Or does that only happen when the music’s playing?
Do you tend to feel closer to God when you’re alone with your iPOD than you do when you’re gathered with God’s people in your church?
Do you feel like you just can’t connect with other believers who haven’t had the same “worship experiences” that you have?
Can you only connect with other believers who “know what it feels like to really worship?”
Is your sense of spiritual well-being based more on feeling close to God, or knowing that you are close to God because of Jesus Christ?
Something to think about...
“In an age increasingly suspicious of (linear) thought, there is much more respect for the ‘feeling’ of things — whether a film or a church service. It is disturbingly easy to plot surveys of people, especially young people, drifting from a church of excellent preaching and teaching to one with excellent music because, it is alleged, there is “better worship” there. But we need to think carefully about this matter.”
— D.A. Carson, Worship By The Book, c. 2002
Thursday, February 14, 2008
From the archives...
Observations from a pastor's wife:
Nancy B. is a very gifted and wonderful woman. She over the years has developed a keen sense of observation in many areas of her life. After the close of our church back in late August she during a time of reflection wrote these notes in a journal.
Lessons Learned:
I learned people see the church like Harris Teeter - pick and choose.
I learned how little people understand what commitment to a chuch means. It should be like a marriage. You may not like everything about it but your committed to it.
I've never been so disappointed in or by who I thought were my friends.
I've learned how people are more willing to be part of the problem than the solution.
I've learned that some people come to church for what they want...not what God wants.
I've learned how little people are willing to give the benefit of the doubt or to believe the best about others.
I've learned how God never fails...people do.
I've learned how willing people are to cast blame rather than to take responsibility.
I've learned that some people don't even begin to understand the role of leadership in a church.
I've learned that a person's ego can keep them from seeing the truth.
I've learned that few people are willing to work through problems Biblically.
I've learned that at times the line between the twilight zone and God can be very faint.
I've learned that people can focus more on the holes not punched in the handout than on the content of the handout.
I've learned that parents will take something as serious as spiritual leadership and rely on a child's judgment to do the leading.
I've learned that when some people say that "God is leading" them it is often where they wanted to go anyway.
I've learned that members who break off from the body have no idea how the pain of that break impacts the body as it tries to recover and heal from the loss.
Nancy B. is a very gifted and wonderful woman. She over the years has developed a keen sense of observation in many areas of her life. After the close of our church back in late August she during a time of reflection wrote these notes in a journal.
Lessons Learned:
I learned people see the church like Harris Teeter - pick and choose.
I learned how little people understand what commitment to a chuch means. It should be like a marriage. You may not like everything about it but your committed to it.
I've never been so disappointed in or by who I thought were my friends.
I've learned how people are more willing to be part of the problem than the solution.
I've learned that some people come to church for what they want...not what God wants.
I've learned how little people are willing to give the benefit of the doubt or to believe the best about others.
I've learned how God never fails...people do.
I've learned how willing people are to cast blame rather than to take responsibility.
I've learned that some people don't even begin to understand the role of leadership in a church.
I've learned that a person's ego can keep them from seeing the truth.
I've learned that few people are willing to work through problems Biblically.
I've learned that at times the line between the twilight zone and God can be very faint.
I've learned that people can focus more on the holes not punched in the handout than on the content of the handout.
I've learned that parents will take something as serious as spiritual leadership and rely on a child's judgment to do the leading.
I've learned that when some people say that "God is leading" them it is often where they wanted to go anyway.
I've learned that members who break off from the body have no idea how the pain of that break impacts the body as it tries to recover and heal from the loss.
Which kingdom are you living for?
There are basically two kingdoms. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of self. How easy it is for the culture to drive us toward self and away from God. However you and I were hardwired to know and experience the greatness of His glory. Have you ever watched a beautiful sunset at the beach? Have you stopped on a fall day to look at the leaves while driving in the mountains? Have you ever been to Times Square in the middle of New York City? In those moments we are captured by beauty, grandeur and the awesomeness of what we are seeing at the moment. And in those moments we are totally unaware of our selves. When we have these moments and they are far too infrequent we start to understand that we were made for something much greater than ourselves.
David Paul Tripp in his new book A Quest for More has some questions for extensive meditation:
What kingdom are you actually living for?
What is the good life that you daily pursue?
What hope gets you up in the morning and keeps you going throughout the day?
Is Christ the center of your life?
If I were to watch a video of your last month, listening to what you said and why you said it, what would I notice most?
If I watched how you made decisions and related to others, noting what you were interested in and fought for, what kingdom would it reveal?
If I saw how you dealt with your responsibility and invested your free time, and if I saw you in both busy and quiet moments, even hear you silent conversations with yourself, would I conclude that Christ is the center of your life?
Is He really your source, your motive, your goal, and your hope?
Is it possible that your Christianity may, in fact, exclude Christ?
Is it maybe possible that the kingdom of self is alive and well, smack dab in the middle of the kingdom of God?
David Paul Tripp in his new book A Quest for More has some questions for extensive meditation:
What kingdom are you actually living for?
What is the good life that you daily pursue?
What hope gets you up in the morning and keeps you going throughout the day?
Is Christ the center of your life?
If I were to watch a video of your last month, listening to what you said and why you said it, what would I notice most?
If I watched how you made decisions and related to others, noting what you were interested in and fought for, what kingdom would it reveal?
If I saw how you dealt with your responsibility and invested your free time, and if I saw you in both busy and quiet moments, even hear you silent conversations with yourself, would I conclude that Christ is the center of your life?
Is He really your source, your motive, your goal, and your hope?
Is it possible that your Christianity may, in fact, exclude Christ?
Is it maybe possible that the kingdom of self is alive and well, smack dab in the middle of the kingdom of God?
Quote for the day
Indian theologian Vinoth Ramachandra says:
The Good News is packaged and marketed (using, uncritical, all the techniques of modern advertising) as religious product: offering "pearce of mind", "how to get to heaven", "health and prosperity", "inner healing", "the answer to all your problems" etc. What is promoted as "faith in God" often turns out to be a means for obtaining emotional security or material blessing in this life and an insurance policy in the next. This kind of preaching leaves the status quo untouched. It does not raise fundamental and disturbing questions about the assumptions upon which people build their lives. It does not threaten the false gods in whose name the creation of God has been taken over; indeed it actually reinforces their hold on their worshipers. This kind of "gospel" is essentially escapist, the direct descendent of the pseudo-gospels of the false prophets of the Old Testament. It is simply a religious image of the secular consumerist culture in which modern men and women live.
The Good News is packaged and marketed (using, uncritical, all the techniques of modern advertising) as religious product: offering "pearce of mind", "how to get to heaven", "health and prosperity", "inner healing", "the answer to all your problems" etc. What is promoted as "faith in God" often turns out to be a means for obtaining emotional security or material blessing in this life and an insurance policy in the next. This kind of preaching leaves the status quo untouched. It does not raise fundamental and disturbing questions about the assumptions upon which people build their lives. It does not threaten the false gods in whose name the creation of God has been taken over; indeed it actually reinforces their hold on their worshipers. This kind of "gospel" is essentially escapist, the direct descendent of the pseudo-gospels of the false prophets of the Old Testament. It is simply a religious image of the secular consumerist culture in which modern men and women live.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Fast Food Devotions
Food for thought: One definition that Merriam Webster gives the word Devotion is "the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal". The synonyms for devotion are fidelity, allegiance, fealty, and loyalty. These words mean faithfulness to something to which one is bound by pledge or duty.
If we were to spend 1 minute a day with our spouses or children would it be right to describe ourselves as devoted spouses, loyal parents, or faithful partners? Of course not, so why is it that we can think that 1 minute with God is devotion to or with Him? from A Little Leaven blog site
Are you kidding me or what? We as have 10,080 minutes every week and now we are going to devotion with God for 1 minute. OK let's do some basic math. If I take 1% of my 10,080 minutes per week that will equate to spending 15 minutes per day with the Lord Jesus. Folks that is 1% of my time and yet I proclaim to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and spirit. A one minute per day devotion with God like I said before - are you kidding me?
If we were to spend 1 minute a day with our spouses or children would it be right to describe ourselves as devoted spouses, loyal parents, or faithful partners? Of course not, so why is it that we can think that 1 minute with God is devotion to or with Him? from A Little Leaven blog site
Are you kidding me or what? We as have 10,080 minutes every week and now we are going to devotion with God for 1 minute. OK let's do some basic math. If I take 1% of my 10,080 minutes per week that will equate to spending 15 minutes per day with the Lord Jesus. Folks that is 1% of my time and yet I proclaim to love God with all my heart, soul, mind and spirit. A one minute per day devotion with God like I said before - are you kidding me?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Religion vs. the Gospel
This is a helpful chart produced by Pastor Tim Keller:
If you click on the picture the words will be more readable.
If you click on the picture the words will be more readable.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Perks of being over 50
(If you're not over 50, this is what you have to look forward to)
1. Kidnappers are not very
1. Kidnappers are not very
interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. No one expects you to run--anywhere.
4. People call at 9 pm and ask, "Did I wake you???"
5. People no longer view you
as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to
learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't
wear out.
8 You can eat dinner at 4 pm.
9. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
10. You no longer think of
speed limits as challenges.
11. You quit trying to hold
your stomach in no matter
who walks into the room.
12. You sing along with
elevator music.
13. Your eyes won't get
much worse.
14. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
15. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the national weather service.
16. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either
17. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
18. You can't remember
who sent you this list!
And you notice these are
all in Big Print for your convenience.
Quote for the day
“A world, and a church, which is hooked on novelty like some cultural equivalent of crack cocaine needs the cold, cynical eye of the historian to stand as a prophetic witness against it. And make no mistake, when it comes to my approach to trendy evangelical claims to epoch-making insights, beneath the cold, cynical exterior of this particular historian beats a heart of stone.”
-Carl Trueman, Minority Report (Scotland: Christian Focus, 2008), p. 26
If you need some help with what this means here is some commentary on the quote:Mr. Trueman is saying church history and church historians are important as the church moves forward in contemporary culture. Rather than marginalizing things like the Reformation, these historically significant events in history should inform us to how we faithfully accomplish and define our ecclesiology. It will protect the church from jumping at every new wave of innovation. And it brings Carl’s character out, too.
In reference to the "heart of stone" it seems that Mr. Trueman means that in a church age that gets hyped up over breakthroughs in technique, he’s not interested. In a climate like ours that dismisses the significance of church history how ironic that so many breakthroughs seem to be discovered. Trueman has a heart of stone towards these supposed breakthroughs.
Copied from Shepherd's Scrapbook blog site
A test: Are you loving or unloving?
Here’s a quick and simple six-question test to see if you’re loving or unloving.
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 walk by her table, drops some pills into the woman’s coffee, and quickly exits the shop. You immediately warn this woman of what just happened.
This is:
A. Loving
B. Unloving. This is none of your business. Quit interfering with other people’s lives.
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!
This is:
A. Loving
B. Unloving. Who are you to impose your “beliefs,” “values,” and “morals” onto this kid. His parents have a right to raise him how they see fit without your close-minded views being forced down his throat.
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 neighbors who are elderly and very hard of hearing. You bang on their door (and even kick it in if necessary) to alert them of the pending doom.
This is:
A. Loving.
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.
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.
This is:
A. Loving
B. Unloving. All roads lead to their house. Who are you to tell them that the way they’ve chosen is wrong?
While sitting in your car waiting for a friend who’s in a bank, you observe a man walk into the bank holding a shotgun and wearing a ski mask. You call 911.
This is:
A. Loving
B. Unloving. “Judge not lest ye be judged!” 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.
Your friend, neighbor, coworker, local cultist, etc. is going to die in his sins and find himself in Hell for eternity. You share the fact that their sins will condemn them before a holy and just God and that we deserve His very wrath because we’ve transgressed His 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 are saved by faith–apart from the works and the Law–but His grace is a gift. You share with them that God has provided grace, mercy, and unmerited favor, but his is only found in His Son, Jesus Christ who ransomed us with His own blood. You tell him that Jesus became a propitiation for sinful mankind to absorb the wrath of God that we rightly deserve. You urge him to repent; putting his trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
This is:
A. Loving.
B. Unloving. Insert any or a combination of all the other “B” answers from above here: _____.
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 walk by her table, drops some pills into the woman’s coffee, and quickly exits the shop. You immediately warn this woman of what just happened.This is:
A. Loving
B. Unloving. This is none of your business. Quit interfering with other people’s lives.
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!This is:
A. Loving
B. Unloving. Who are you to impose your “beliefs,” “values,” and “morals” onto this kid. His parents have a right to raise him how they see fit without your close-minded views being forced down his throat.
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 neighbors who are elderly and very hard of hearing. You bang on their door (and even kick it in if necessary) to alert them of the pending doom.This is:
A. Loving.
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.
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.This is:
A. Loving
B. Unloving. All roads lead to their house. Who are you to tell them that the way they’ve chosen is wrong?
While sitting in your car waiting for a friend who’s in a bank, you observe a man walk into the bank holding a shotgun and wearing a ski mask. You call 911.This is:
A. Loving
B. Unloving. “Judge not lest ye be judged!” 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.
Your friend, neighbor, coworker, local cultist, etc. is going to die in his sins and find himself in Hell for eternity. You share the fact that their sins will condemn them before a holy and just God and that we deserve His very wrath because we’ve transgressed His 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 are saved by faith–apart from the works and the Law–but His grace is a gift. You share with them that God has provided grace, mercy, and unmerited favor, but his is only found in His Son, Jesus Christ who ransomed us with His own blood. You tell him that Jesus became a propitiation for sinful mankind to absorb the wrath of God that we rightly deserve. You urge him to repent; putting his trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.This is:
A. Loving.
B. Unloving. Insert any or a combination of all the other “B” answers from above here: _____.
What is salvation?
Our Goal is that our State before others will match our Status or Standing with God. That we will become in experience what we already are - the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! 2 Cor 5:21. By Justification we are declared to be Saints (Greek hagios) and through Sanctification we are commanded to be Holy (same Greek word – hagios) See Ephesians 1:1-4. Verse 1 says we are saints and verse 4 says we are to be holy.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “Keep in mind that Justification is God’s declaration that the believing sinner is righteous in Christ through faith. Justification is righteousness imputed, that is, put to our account. Sanctification is righteousness imparted, worked out in and through our lives by the Spirit. Justification is our standing before God; sanctification is our state here on earth before others. Justification never changes; sanctification does.”
Other scholars try and help us understand the difference between Justification and Sanctification by emphasizing the different aspects of our ONE SALVATION in and by Christ. They say…..
We are saved from the Penalty of Sin – this is Justification (past)
We are being saved from the Power of Sin - this is Sanctification (present)
We will be saved from the Presence of Sin – this is Glorification (future)
Saturday, February 9, 2008
When the church backslides
Quoting Joel Beeke
"When the church begins to backslide, the first, outward and visible sign is usually an increase in worldliness. In the way of life, in talk, and even in dress and fashion, the spirit of the world begins to be found more and more in church circles. That which crept into the church ashamedly in former times, so to speak, begins to walk in freely, often covered and overlooked instead of exposed and admonished. The black and white line of separation between godliness and worldliness, between the world and the church, between those who fear God and those who fear Him not, becomes increasingly more gray. Instead of walking opposite directions, the world and church begin to have more in common with each other to the church's great detriment. Some of its members begin going to worldly places, partaking of worldly forms of entertainment, and become friends of worldly people. Worldly people, worldly entertainment, worldly fashions, worldly customs, worldly places - is this not what Hosea warned against when the Spirit directed him to write: "Ephraim hath mixed himself among the people"? [Hos 7:8] Is not the sin of increasing worldliness the church's first downward and tragic step in an ever-increasing spiral of backsliding?"
"When the church begins to backslide, the first, outward and visible sign is usually an increase in worldliness. In the way of life, in talk, and even in dress and fashion, the spirit of the world begins to be found more and more in church circles. That which crept into the church ashamedly in former times, so to speak, begins to walk in freely, often covered and overlooked instead of exposed and admonished. The black and white line of separation between godliness and worldliness, between the world and the church, between those who fear God and those who fear Him not, becomes increasingly more gray. Instead of walking opposite directions, the world and church begin to have more in common with each other to the church's great detriment. Some of its members begin going to worldly places, partaking of worldly forms of entertainment, and become friends of worldly people. Worldly people, worldly entertainment, worldly fashions, worldly customs, worldly places - is this not what Hosea warned against when the Spirit directed him to write: "Ephraim hath mixed himself among the people"? [Hos 7:8] Is not the sin of increasing worldliness the church's first downward and tragic step in an ever-increasing spiral of backsliding?"
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