Friday, August 31, 2007
The Demise Of Gospel Preaching In Modern Evangelicalism - Part 3
In the first two parts of this series we examined the person and work of Christ and how the sinner needs to see himself as a law breaker who needs to repent. In this final part of this series we will examine several popular ideas in modern evangelicalism that have served to obscure the gospel and cause preachers to fail to proclaim the true terms of salvation.
Decision Theology
There are problems even when some are actually converted through the popular “decision for Jesus” approach. If they eventually do find out the true nature of the gospel, those truly converted then realize that they have been sold a bill of goods. The gospel does not promise better living in this world through a simple decision. The gospel calls us to take up our cross and live in this world as ones already condemned to die. Furthermore, the truly converted who are in the evangelical culture soon find themselves dying of spiritual starvation because the Word of God is not being preached. How much better to tell our hearers up front what the gospel is, and then when they come on that basis they can, like the early Christians in Acts, “rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.”
There are a number of problems with the “decision theology” of modern evangelicalism. The most prominent one is that the Bible knows nothing of, “inviting someone to make a decision for Jesus.” The main proof text used by the teachers of decision theology is Joel 3:14: “Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.” The valley of decision in Joel is eschatological and has to with Israel and the surrounding nations who would destroy her. The context of Joel 3:14 shows that God as the Judge makes the decision! Charles Feinberg comments, “The prophet sees the nations assembled in innumerable hosts in the valley where God (not they) will make His decision.” This is a description of the judgment of nations. God is about to arise and come forth from His chamber and issue His decision.
The idea of imminent wrath is clear in Joel, and that is surely something that ought to be preached. God’s coming judgment is reason to repent and flee from this perverse, sin cursed world system. But the only escape is through the gospel. So far from teaching “decision theology” the key passage used by its proponents teaches the coming wrath of God. Only the gospel offers a way of escape from this horrific valley of decision.
The misuse of the Joel passage illustrates what is wrong with much modern preaching. What is portrayed is the idea that God is awaiting our decision. We go into our chambers to issue our verdict based on whether we find God to our suiting or not. We make our decision about God and tell Him the verdict. This is dishonoring to God. The Biblical teaching is that we should fear God’s verdict and find a way of escape from the wrath of the Judge. James wrote, “[T]he Judge is standing at the door” (James 5:9). We make ourselves the judges and put God on trial. This is not Biblical.
Another problem with decision theology is that it discounts the sin nature and appeals to non-existent human ability. No sinner in his or her natural state finds the cross appealing. Here is Paul’s description of the fleshly mind: “[T]he mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:7,8). God’s Law makes sinfulness and inability evident, but only the gospel can change them. Decision theology has the fleshly man deciding if he will “accept Jesus” while totally in his unregenerate, fallen condition. True gospel preaching shows sinners their lost condition and the reality of God’s wrath against sin. Convicted before God’s Law and found guilty, their only recourse is to repent and believe the Gospel. God uses gospel preaching to bring His gracious gift of faith to those who will be saved: “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
Decision theology comes in various packages. What they all have in common is that God has to await man’s determinative decision. Many times sinners are told, “Jesus stands at the door of your hearts; you must decide to let Him in.” This is based on a passage in Revelation and the famous painting of Jesus at a door. Decision theology proponents even use details of the painting to build their theology. They say, “When you look at the painting of Jesus at the door, you notice there is no door knob on the outside; you have to let Him in.” I wonder if those who preach like this realize what they are doing. They have a strong, decisive sinner and a weak, needy Jesus. The sinner has the final say. Jesus is portrayed as standing “out in the cold,” wanting in but unable to enter. What a sad and pathetic contrast to the preaching of Peter on the Day of Pentecost: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ- this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:36). Peter had just told them that Jesus was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father, in all authority and majesty. They were accountable to Him for their sin. What a far cry from Jesus out in the cold hoping that the sinners would be nice and let Him in.
The passage in Revelation about Jesus knocking at the door is given as an ironic rebuke to a church. The Laodicean church had become complacent and self-satisfied. Jesus would “reprove and discipline” those He loves (Revelation 3:19). Jesus tells them to repent and open the door and so restore fellowship with their Lord (Revelation 3:20). This was written to a church, not the lost. Its misuse in evangelism obscures the true nature of the gospel and the power of God. When Jesus saved Paul in Acts 9, He did not knock on Paul’s door to see if Paul would decide whether or not to let Him in.
The Problem with “Wooing”
Another belief system that hinders gospel preaching in evangelical churches concerns “wooing.” This means that God is doing all He can to attract people to Him; and He needs our help. God is portrayed as a suitor who desires the affections of a potential spouse, but is being rejected. The reason for the rejection is that “seekers” have not seen the right portrait of who God is. Christianity must be made more appealing, they say, if we want people to “accept Christ.”
On the surface of things, there is something very wrong with the wooing approach. Why should the only perfectly beautiful being in the universe have to be “dressed up” to look good to sinners? The problems are many: 1) Sinners by nature are attracted to sin, and God is perfectly sinless. 2) Wooing requires that the needs and concerns of the unregenerate determine the message of the church: thus the movement to preach to “felt needs.” 3) The Bible says that the message of the cross is foolishness to the Greeks and offensive to the Jews (1Corinthians 1:23). Furthermore, it is considered foolishness to the perishing (1Corinthians 1:18). The perishing are supposedly the target of God’s wooing. 4) God chose to bring salvation to the Jews first through a Jewish Messiah. The world has hated the Jews since the beginning of their existence. A Jewish Messiah would hardly “woo” the world.
As with the other perversions of the gospel, those who promote the wooing idea have a proof text: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself” (John 12:32). They interpret this as follows: “all” means universally all people, and draw means “attract.” Thus the lifting up of Jesus attracts all people to Him, in the sense of wooing. Let us study this verse in its context to see if it supports this idea.
First, it is clear that the phrase “lifted up,” means crucified. We know this because the next verse tells us: “But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die” (John 12:33). So the claim this interpretation makes is that the crucifixion of Christ would attract all the inhabitants of the earth to Jesus, universally. However, this is in direct contradiction to what Paul wrote in 1Corinthians 1:23: “but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness.” The message of a crucified Jewish Messiah is not attractive to either Jew or Gentile. Plus, it is clear from the facts of history that the cross does not attract all people universally to Christ.
Second, the word “draw” does not mean “attract” or “woo.” It means “drag.” The idea is that the cross is the means God would use to bring (by God’s gracious means) people to Christ who by nature would be repulsed by the cross. Since this “dragging” is effective, the “all” cannot be universal. Not all come to Jesus. The context of John 12 shows that the appearance of Greeks asking about Jesus on the occasion of the triumphal entry causes Jesus to give these teachings about this death bringing “all” to Him, i.e. Jews and Gentiles.
Therefore John 12:32 does not teach wooing. It teaches God’s grace through the cross to take dead rebellious sinners and bring them to Christ. The irony is that many who believe the wooing doctrine have fallen into the “seeker” movement and removed the preaching of the cross from their churches. If they really believed that the cross “woos” people to Jesus they would preach the cross with great boldness and clarity. If they did so, God would indeed save people through the gospel in spite of their misinterpretation of the passage. The preaching of the cross is effectual in saving those who will be saved. This is so not because it “woos” them, but because it is God’s ordained means whereby He calls forth His elect out of the mass of perdition.
What Must We Do?
We must be confident in the effectiveness of God’s ordained means. The pressure to lay aside gospel preaching is all around us. We are bombarded with everything but gospel preaching. However, God has sovereignly ordained the means by which He will save all who will be saved. In Romans 10:14-17 we see the call to send preachers of the gospel so that people will call upon the Lord and be saved by faith. The insidious forces inside and outside the church to lay aside gospel preaching must be resisted at all costs.
We must not allow the fear of man to become a snare for us. We naturally want to be accepted, so it is a difficult thing to preach what people naturally do not want to hear. Yet in the face of this rejection, Paul said, “ 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” (Romans 1:16). The gospel is the power of God for salvation, and thus must be preached with all fervency. People must hear that they have offended the Holy Judge, broken God’s Law, and desperately need a savior. They need to know who Jesus is, what He did, and how His death on the cross can avert God’s wrath for those who believe. They must know that God raised Christ from the dead. These are strong words, but they are the gospel.
By believing in God’s sovereignty, we have full assurance that if we preach the gospel faithfully and accurately, God will always use it to save all who will be saved. It is not our business how many that turns out to be. It is our business to be faithful; God will save all those He has chosen from all eternity. We must preach to all because we do not know who they will be. They will be saved through the gospel, not apart from the gospel. May God give us boldness and grace in proclaiming the only way whereby we must be saved.
Part 2 - http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2007/08/demise-of-gospel-preaching-in-modern_26.html
Part 1 - http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2007/08/demise-of-gospel-preaching-in-modern.html
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Dr. Ronald Shea - A Dear Friend
My dear friend, brother in Christ, and mentor, Ron Shea, went home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord knows how much I owe to Dr. Shea for all he did for myself and others. I will see you in heaven, my friend.
Ronald E. Shea, 68, of 2959 Spring Valley Road, Lancaster, was called to his eternal home by his Lord and Savior on August 27, 2007.
He was married 35 years to Barbara J. Shultz Shea. Born in Baltimore, MD, he was the son of the late Alvin and Gladys Beyerly Shea.
Mr. Shea retired from the Harrisburg School District where he had been an English teacher. He enjoyed teaching over 40 years in both Christian and Public Schools.
He was a graduate of Bob Jones University and Northgate Graduate School where he received his Doctorate degree in Religious Education. He was a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church and had been active as a Sunday School Superintendent and, as the Evangelism Coordinator, enjoyed door-to-door evangelism.
Mr. Shea enjoyed politics, comedy, people, music and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He was a person who had very few acquaintances because everyone he met became his friend.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Today's "Game" - Pick The Pastor
Here are two short video clips of two different pastors. Choose which one you think is being obedient to what the Lord asks of pastors. Is one of these pastors "cool" while the other one is just too "intense?" Are both these men seperating themselves from the things of this passing world? Are both these men true teachers of the Word as described in the Bible? I know one of these men is for sure.
OR
To hear 12 of Paul Washer's full length sermons, go here http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2007/08/paul-washer-i-am-under-obligation.html
This Man Met Jesus Face To Face???
Isn't it amazing that this guy is describing a picture of Jesus like we see painted? If this guy was something more than just a sensationalist...he'd be in the Word Of God and "see" the real Jesus. Anybody that opens themselves to experiences over the Word of God are susceptible to Satanism or else they're out right frauds!
I would like to hear your comments about these types of encounters. Is this his own imagination? A dream? Is he just another fraud? Satanic?
Here's a good follow-up video based on MacArthur's mailbag...Thanks Jim!
Is Unity Without Truth Possible?
"Red Flags" should go up when a professing Christian, Bible teacher, pastor, church etc. is unwilling or unable to define what they believe.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Holy Homosexuals?
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God."
Now, listen to John MacArthur as he proclaims Biblical Truth against homosexuality at the 2:45 mark of this video...
Context Is Key In Bible Interpretation - 2 Peter 3:9
The poker "ministry" in my last post took a Bible verse completely out of context for their own benefit. They twisted the Scriptures to suit themselves instead of interpreting it correctly. In this 10 minute clip from CrossTV you will see that context is the key in Bible interpretation.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Poker Back In Church
Thanks to your emails, this poker "ministry"(http://www.pokerfishandchips.com/) was asked to no longer play poker in their own home church. Unfortunately, another church is now allowing them to play poker in their church... http://www.chiquesumc.org/tp40/Default.asp?ID=36711
On their web site, the poker "ministry" states, "After all, it reads in Matthew 18:20 "That where two or more three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst. It was never our intentions for this group to be some sort of ministry, but then again our intentions are not God's intentions."
My Comment: That verse is about church discipline! It has absolutely nothing to do with gathering to play poker! Like so many, people interpret verses to suit their own needs and agenda's instead of reading it in it's context!
I would encourage you to please send an email to this pastor and ask him to please take poker out of Christ's blood bought church! His email address is... PastorSteve@chiquesumc.org
The Demise Of Gospel Preaching In Modern Evangelicalism - Part 2
People do not come with a built in knowledge of who Jesus is, what He did, why they need Him, and what He expects from them. In the previous article we examined the person and work of Christ. Now we shall look at what the sinner needs to know about God’s law and the need for repentance.
Preaching Repentance
The term “repent” means more than merely changing one’s mind. Some assert that to repent is no more than to change one’s mind, based on the word’s etymology. But context, not etymology, shows the author’s meaning. The Biblical idea of repentance is to turn from serving self to serving God. Repentance in the New Testament has to do with conversion. Paul’s concept of what true repentance looks like is shown in his description of the effects of the Gospel in the Thessalonian Christians:
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1Thessalonians 1:8-10)
Conversion is turning to God from idols. The self is the universal idol of fallen man. To repent is to be converted.
Some accuse those of us who teach the necessity of repentance of teaching salvation by works. Nothing could be further from the truth. By preaching the gospel and including a call for repentance, we are appealing to the need for grace, not to human ability. The New Testament sees repentance as something God grants:
And the Lord’s bond_servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2Timothy 2:24-26)
Preaching human guilt before God’s holy law shows people their need for the gospel. By including the preaching of repentance, we show the sinner his utter need for God’s grace. One must be fully converted, turned around completely - made to serve God rather than self and the world. Preaching anything less than this gives the sinner hope for self-improvement through works. Preaching the whole demand of God’s righteousness shows that outside of God’s gracious provision through the gospel we are all hopeless sinners. Preaching repentance is central to the message of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus preached repentance: “And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mark 1:14, 15). When the gospel spread to the Gentiles, here is how the apostles responded: “And when they heard this, they quieted down, and glorified God, saying, ‘Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life’” (Acts 11:18). It is obvious that the gospel is not “self-help.” God “grants” repentance, but through His ordained means - the preaching of the gospel. Preachers who do not make the gospel clear and do not preach repentance are not preaching for conversions. They may be preaching to get people interested in joining a church, or being religious, but the idea of a radical conversion that turns a hell-bound sinner totally around to being a heaven-bound saint is absent in many supposedly evangelical churches.
What is amazing about the resistance to preaching repentance in order to convert sinners through the gospel is the fact that preaching repentance is included in the Great Commission: “He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem’” (Luke 24:46, 47). C.F.W. Walther comments on this section of Luke:
Why is repentance required as well as faith? Our Lord gives the reason in these words: “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick . . . I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matt. 9:12, 13. With these words the Lord testifies that the reason why contrition is absolutely necessary is that without it no one is fit to be made a believer. He is surfeited and spurns the invitation to the heavenly marriage feast.
If the need for repentance is never placed before the perishing, we do a disservice to the gospel and the Great Commission. Walther also asserts that repentance is not the cause of forgiveness, but is what happens when the Law shows the sinner the need for forgiveness. God graciously opens one’s eyes to this need. Walther writes, “As long as a person has not been reduced to the state of a poor, lost, and condemned sinner, he has no serious interest in the Savior of sinners.” Forgiveness is received by faith.
I see repentance and faith as two aspects of the same conversion experience. Repentance is turning from self to God. It emphasizes the turning away from our previous sin of trusting self. Faith is trusting God through the gospel for our salvation. The whole of conversion is granted by God’s grace and is not a meritorious human work. John MacArthur explains:
Conversion occurs when a sinner turns to God in repentant faith. It is a complete turnaround, an absolute change of moral and volitional direction. Such a radical reversal is the response the gospel calls for, whether the plea to sinners is phrased as “believe,” “repent,” or “be converted.” Each entails the others.
Repentance cannot be taken out of gospel preaching without changing the idea of what it means to come to Christ. Without repentance we are just adding Christ to the self we intend to continue serving.
The Failure to Preach God’s Law
Paul wrote three chapters of Romans about man’s failure before God’s law before he explained the doctrine of justification. He obviously thought that sinners needed to know the true nature of their lost and fallen condition. Sinners need to know what it means to be lost, and that one day they shall face the holy and righteous Judge. They need to know clearly that they have disobeyed God’s law and desperately need a savior. Those who preach the law and the gospel are preaching for conversions, not just religious followers.
Evangelist Ray Comfort interviews people he is preaching to and finds that the vast majority do not believe they are sinners heading for hell. Comfort points out that when we tell sinners, “come to Jesus and have a better life” we are likely to create disillusionment. He calls this “life enhancement” preaching. I call it “better living through Jesus.” Whatever it is, it is not the gospel. The gospel is “good news,” not “nice news.” The “nice news” approach offers the possibility of things going better in this life if one becomes religious. The good news is that hopelessly lost, hell-bound, sinners can be saved from the wrath of God through the finished work of Christ on the cross. All this is a gift of grace, received by faith.
The sad fact is that few who hear Christian preachers on radio and TV ever hear the gospel. We evidently have millions of dollars to spend putting out Christian material, but very little time to use these resources for gospel preaching. This statement sometimes shocks people. You can see for yourself is this is true. Turn on a Christian TV network like TBN, and listen. Check out the Angel Network on satellite TV. Take my challenge. Listen to the preachers. Count how many times you hear the gospel preached, if ever at all. I have done this myself and rarely have heard the gospel even after dozens of hours of listening. The demise of gospel preaching is not just a melodramatic statement: it is the sad, harsh reality.
The Christian media most people see and hear is not the gospel. The preachers mention Jesus, but they do not tell us who He is or what He did. They preach about better living, but never tell us how to escape God’s wrath against sin. They rarely explain the cross and its implications. They preach a morality of sorts, a Christian morality of works righteousness that is not derived from God’s grace. The implication is that we can be better people than those around us by being Christian. But this is more the preaching of a Christian culture than a gathering of redeemed sinners whose only hope is in Christ and His cross.
The Humanistic Gospel
At the heart of the demise of gospel preaching is what may have begun as a subtle shift. In Jonathan Edward’s day, evangelical preachers preached for conversions. They believed the lost were truly lost and powerless to do anything about their wretched condition. The only hope was the grace of God through the gospel to convert sinners. The nineteenth century marked a major turning point in American evangelicalism. The turning point is epitomized by Finney’s “new measures.” Because Finney believed in human ability (as Edwards did not), Finney preached to “arouse dormant powers.” From Finney’s day on evangelism changed and has continued to change. We have gone from belief in conversions through gospel preaching to “decisions for Jesus.” This seemingly subtle shift is actually a major chasm that is as deep and wide as the chasm between heaven and hell.
If this shocks some people that may be what is needed. I have recently attended several evangelistic functions. In each case I did not hear the gospel. I heard stories about people who had made decisions for Jesus and now had better lives. Who Jesus is, was never explained. Why do we need Jesus? - To find meaning in life that we are now missing. We did not hear about the resurrection. We did not hear about the blood atonement. We did not hear the demands of the Law or the promise of the gospel. But every one there was given an opportunity to make a decision for Jesus.
I do not say this to criticize the motives of those who organize such events or many others who approach evangelism the same way. I know many of these people and believe that they truly love God and want to reach the lost. However, well-motivated or not, there is a huge difference between the gospel as preached by Jesus and His apostles and the idea of “making a decision for Jesus.” Some are converted through the efforts of such evangelicals. If somewhere, somehow, buried under the many layers of activities and evangelical culture, those who get involved eventually do find out who Jesus is, what His claims are, and their need for the blood atonement, they may indeed be converted. But why should the conversion of sinners be pushed to the background so that a slick, user-friendly Christianity is all that is apparent to most observers?
In part 3 of this series we will examine several false conceptions that many evangelicals have believed that have seriously damaged the integrity of gospel preaching. These include decision theology and the perceived need to make God and His message look attractive to the world.
The Demise of Gospel Preaching In The Modern Evangelical Church - Part 1
“For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1Corinthians 1:22-24)
Many cultural trends in contemporary evangelicalism are pushing gospel preaching out of churches. People are being asked to make a “decision for Jesus” without being told who Jesus is, what He has done, or why they need Him. In many cases, those who are failing to preach the gospel vehemently deny that they are doing so. This series of articles will suggest a simple remedy to the problem: gospel preaching. In part one of this series of articles I will discuss the person and work of Christ. In part two I will discuss what the sinner needs to know about God’s law and the need for repentance. In part three I will discuss the problems with decision theology.
The Gospel in the New Testament
The word “gospel” is a translation of the Greek work euaggelion from which we get our English word “evangel.” By definition “evangelical” means those who are committed to the gospel. Therefore, to claim that “evangelicals” are not preaching the gospel is a strong indictment. However, the sad fact is that many are not. To show this we shall examine New Testament gospel preaching and compare it to today’s popular messages in many evangelical churches.
Mark begins his Gospel using the word “gospel”: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1). Right here we learn something about its content - Jesus is the promised Jewish Messiah and the Son of God. “Christ” means Messiah. This calls to mind the Old Testament promises such as the one given to Abraham in Genesis 12:3. The Jews were looking for one from the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10) and from the lineage of David (2Samuel 7:14; Jeremiah 23:5) who would bring salvation. So the gospel of Jesus Christ includes the idea of the fulfillment of ancient Messianic promises.
Mark also claimed that He is the “Son of God.” Jesus existed as God and with God from all eternity. The gospel writers used Old Testament scripture to prove this. For example, Psalm 110:1 was quoted several times to prove this: “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.’” Jesus quoted this Psalm in Matthew 22:42-45 to refute the Pharisees. Jesus asked that since David called Messiah “Lord,” how could he then be David’s son? The answer is that in His deity Christ is pre-existent, thus was David’s Lord; yet in His humanity he was born of a virgin, and was the legal descendant of David. This argument is expanded fully in Matthew, but is contained in Mark’s brief statement about the gospel. Do modern hearers of the gospel need to know who Jesus is? Of course they do! Man’s need has not changed. Peter quoted Psalm 110:1 when he preached on Pentecost (Acts 2:34-36) making it clear to his hearers that Jesus was “both Lord and Christ.”
Modern Gospel hearers must learn these truths about Jesus: He existed with and as God from all eternity (John 1:1), had a supernatural, virgin birth, and lived a sinless life. Thus Jesus is God and man. Just citing the name “Jesus” does not fill in all this information in the minds of contemporary listeners. Perhaps there was a time in America when most people grew up in churches that taught all their members the facts about Jesus. Even then it was not safe to assume that in a large crowd there would not be people who had false ideas about Jesus or no idea at all. Today, given the paganization of America, it is safe to assume that most people hearing the name Jesus do not know the facts that are necessary for believing the gospel. Mark says that He is the Christ, the Son of God. These terms need to be explained. It is commonly believed that there are many “Christs” (anointed ones) and that all humans are sons of God. We need to show that only Jesus is the Christ and that He uniquely is the Son of God. Sinners do not come pre-equipped with this knowledge.
The Resurrection
The resurrection of Christ was mentioned 19 times in the book of Acts. It was the main theme of Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost. The fact of the bodily resurrection of Christ was the reason why Peter’s hearers were told to repent (Acts 2:32-38). When Paul described the content of the gospel, he referred to the resurrection. This passage is fundamental to the Christian gospel:
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1Corinthians 15:1-4)
Without the resurrection of Christ there is no gospel! Paul was so emphatic about this, that he also explained the consequences if there were no resurrection: “[If] Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1Corinthians 15:17). Faith that is not based on the truth of the gospel is worthless.
Paul ties belief in the resurrection of Christ with salvation: “[I]f you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved” (Romans 10:9). Christ in His resurrection conquered sin and death. Therefore we cannot believe that His death avails for our sin problem if we do not believe in the resurrection. When Paul preached the resurrection to the Athenian philosophers they responded negatively: “Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, but others said, we shall hear you again concerning this’” (Acts 17:32). This negative reaction did not cause Paul to change his message. As shown in the 1Corinthians 15 passage cited above, Paul preached the resurrection of Christ in Corinth, his next destination after Athens. Whether sinners like it or not, they cannot be saved unless they trust Christ whom God raised from the dead.
Christ’s Substitutionary Death
I mentioned the resurrection first because of the primacy the New Testament gives it in explaining the gospel. Christ’s resurrection proves all His claims and demonstrates the efficacy of His death for sins. That Jesus died is not unique. All other founders of religious movements died. Only Christ proved His claims by predicting His own resurrection and then emerging from the tomb and appearing before many credible witnesses. The others died because all sinners die. Jesus was not a sinner and proved it by His resurrection. He died for sins, but not for His own sins - He had none (Hebrews 4:15). He died for our sins: “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit” (1Peter 3:18).
The idea that Christ’s death was for our sins is a necessary part of the gospel. In Paul’s summary of the gospel in 1Corinthians 15, he said, “Christ died for our sins.” (Verse 3). The Bible teaches throughout that the penalty for sin is death. This includes eternal death, away from the presence of God (2Thessalonians 1:9). When the gospel is preached, it must be made clear that all are sinners, have broken God’s Law, and are liable for eternal punishment. If people do not believe they are truly lost and headed for hell, then they will see no need for Christ’s death on their behalf. This is particularly true in our day. People think they have many needs, but they do not think that they are actually headed for hell. Therefore they do not see their true need for the gospel. It is the preacher’s duty to make this need clear. Paul preached coming judgment and repentance to philosophers in Athens: “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30,31).
The need for a payment for sins is revealed in the blood atonement. Christ’s shed blood averts God’s wrath. Christ paid the penalty that we owed to God for our sins. This is foundational to the gospel and God’s means of justification. Paul makes clear the role of Christ’s blood: “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him” (Romans 5:9).
Being saved from God’s wrath is every human being’s most urgent need. How ironic that many fail to preach this for fear of being “irrelevant” to “felt needs.” Suppose a man was living in an upper floor of an apartment building and did not know that the building was on fire. Someone who was aware of the fire knocked on the man’s door and said, “Sir, I am a Christian and would like to meet your needs, so please tell me what they are.” The man says, “Well, actually, I am out of milk and have no transportation. Could you run to the store and get me a gallon of milk?” Would the Christian leave him in danger of perishing while the Christian went off to meet this more “practical” need? Clearly not. How much greater is the danger of facing God’s wrath at some unknown but imminent time? We want to be kind to our fellow humans in meeting their needs, but we are cruel if we fail to tell them of their real danger.
When Paul preached, “Christ crucified” (1Corinthians 1:23), he included the key facts about who Christ was and what He did, but also included the reason why it was urgent that the facts be believed: we have offended the most holy and awesome God; His wrath is revealed from heaven against our great sin (Romans 1:18); Jesus took that wrath upon Himself so that all who believe in Him would be saved from it. Even the most famous verse in the Bible about God’s love mentions averting judgment: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “Not perishing” is about averting God’s wrath as is clear from this verse in the same chapter of John: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). Notice that according this verse, failure to believe is to be disobedient. The gospel commands people to believe under threat of wrath; it is not some paltry invitation to a happier life.
Many preachers who would cheerfully cite John 3:16 simultaneously deny that people are in danger of perishing. While visiting another city, I was invited to attend a church service. The pastor confidently assured us that, “God does not punish sin.” Evidently, there are people in churches singing hymns and citing creeds, who are there to be religious, but have no idea of their need for the gospel. If we never were in danger of perishing for all eternity, then what was the point of God sending Jesus to die for us? Although the church mentioned above was obviously a liberal one, far too many “evangelical” churches today simply neglect altogether the truth that God does punish sin. To fail to deny something is not the same as to preach it. “God does punish sin and you need a savior,” is the message that ought to be preached.
In part 2 of this series of articles we will examine the importance of preaching God’s law and repentance as part of gospel proclamation.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Pastor Accused Of Texting Sexual Messages To Teen
No mention of repentance from the Pastor...just excuses.
Paul Washer - I Am Under Obligation
I Am Under Obligation <---***Sermon in full from the video above***
The Knowledge Of God
The Vine And The Branches
I Wish That You Were Cold Or Hot
The Heart Of The Gospel
Guide Posts and Warning Signs
There Is Too Much Riding On Eternity
Regeneration and Self Denial ***A Must Listen To***
The Greatest Text In The Bible
The Meaning Of The Cross
Who's Slave Are You?
Your Ultimate Purpose
Friday, August 24, 2007
Do You Patronize Blasphemy?
Did you know that there was a time when the entertainment industry was bound by a code that forbade them from using any blasphemy in a movie? The "Hays Code" stated:
Pointed profanity--this includes the words "God," "Lord," "Jesus," "Christ" (unless used reverently), "H*ll," "S.O.B.," "d*mn," or every other profane or vulgar expression, however used--is forbidden.
Hollywood is no longer restricted by the code. Many of today's movies don't simply blaspheme the name of Jesus. They go one further. For example, the award-winning Blow, directed by Ted Demme, is a typical R-rated film. The name of Jesus Christ is blasphemed eleven times in the movie. Three of those times, for some reason, the "F" word is used in the middle of His name.
So, how can you (as one person), make a difference and influence the powerful Goliath of the entertainment industry? The answer is in your own hands. In 2005, roughly $8.8 billion was spent on movie tickets in the U.S. How much of $8.8 billion do you think came from those who call themselves Christians? According to The Barna Group, it was a massive $6.94 billion. Over 70% of the box office intake comes from people of faith.
With more than 170 million professing Christians in America, we have a powerful sling that can hit Hollywood between the eyes and leave a deep impression on its money-making mind. They are causing an entire generation to hate Christianity, and to use the name of Jesus Christ to express disgust.
TAKE ACTION
1. Watch the video above, then forward to everyone on your list.
2. Make a personal committment from this point forward, to not watch movies that blaspheme God. If it happens in the theater, walk out. If it happens at home, change the channel.
3. Show this video to your circle of friends (Sunday school, youth group, entire church congregation).
Thursday, August 23, 2007
The Rock Church
Just when I thought I've heard it all...along comes a "Pastor" describing what will happen during the grand opening of his church on Sunday...
"We are gonna have Adam and Eve with a Hummer and blinged out driving through the Garden of Eden." - Pastor McPherson
“The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them...providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church…the need is for Biblical doctrine, so understood and felt that it sets men aflame.” - C.H. Spurgeon
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
13 Things A Lost Person Cannot Do
by Curtis A. Pugh
That the lost sinner must cast himself wholly on the mercy and grace of God must be obvious to those who read and believe the Scriptures. But the Bible knows nothing of such foolish man-made ideas as "praying the sinner's prayer", or "making a decision for Christ", or "inviting Jesus into your heart" or "going forward to receive Christ." No New Testament preacher ever used such terms or tactics! To tell spiritually dead sinners that there is something they can do to bring about their salvation is damnable heresy for by its false hope sinners are taught to trust in what they have done rather in Christ who has done all.
Consider these thirteen spiritual things an unsaved person cannot do:
1. HE CANNOT THINK AS GOD DOES:
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
2. HE CANNOT UNDERSTAND GOD:
". . . thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself . . ." (Psalm 50:21)
"Canst thou by searching find out God? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know?" (Job 11:7-8)
3. HE CANNOT SEE SPIRITUAL THINGS:
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
4. HE CANNOT KNOW HIS OWN HEART:
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9)
5. HE CANNOT PROPERLY DIRECT HIS OWN PATHS:
"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." (Jeremiah 10:23)
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)
6. HE CANNOT FREE HIMSELF FROM THE CURSE OF THE LAW:
"For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." (Galatians 3:10)
7. HE CANNOT RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT:
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not . . ." (John 14:17)
8. HE CANNOT HEAR (receive & understand) GOD'S WORDS:
"He that is of God heareth God's words; ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God." (John 8:47)
"But the natural (unsaved) man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." (1Corinthians 2:14)
9. HE CANNOT BIRTH HIMSELF INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD:
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God." (John 1:13)
"For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." (Romans 9:15-16)
10. HE CANNOT PRODUCE REPENTANCE AND FAITH IN CHRIST:
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that (faith) not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
". . . for all men have not faith." (2 Thessalonians 3:2)
"For unto you it is given . . . to believe on him . . ." (Philippians 1:29)
". . . if God peradventure will give them repentance . . ." (2 Timothy 2:25)
". . . to them that have obtained like precious faith with us . . ." (2 Peter 1:1)
11. HE CANNOT COME TO CHRIST:
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him . . . Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father." (John 6:44, 65)
12. HE CANNOT BELIEVE ON CHRIST:
"But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep as I said unto you." (John 10:26)
13. HE CANNOT PLEASE GOD:
"For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. . . . So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." (Romans 8:5, 8, 9)
SO THEN, MANKIND IS SHUT UP TO THE FACT OF HIS OWN TOTAL INABILITY TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT HIS LOST CONDITION.
In the light of these things which a spiritually dead (lost) sinner cannot do, how then do we account for the command of God to all men to repent? The Bible does state that God ". . . now commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). What do we do about the counsel of God to men which says they are to believe on Christ? Would God command and instruct men to do that which they cannot do?
We answer an emphatic "Yes!" Our proof is the holy Law of God given to Moses on Mount Sinai. While there was nothing wrong with God's Law, no man is able to keep those commandments (1 Timothy 1:8; Romans 8:3). No man ever kept the Law of God and yet God was right to give it to man and command its keeping! By that Law we see ourselves as sinners (Romans 3:20). That was the purpose of the Law!
While God requires repentance (the will to turn from sin) and faith (the will to believe in Christ), no man is able of himself to do either. Thus, as with the Law, man is forced to see that there is nothing good in him and that he cannot repent and believe savingly in Jesus Christ.
Throughout the Bible God's children recognize their own inability to do anything to save themselves. In addition to the portions previously quoted in this tract, consider the following statements:
". . . I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (Romans 7:18)
"Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (Mark 9:24)
". . . I am shut up, and I cannot come forth." (Psalm 88:8)
"Turn us. O God of our salvation . . ." (Psalm 85:4)
" . . . Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God." (Jeremiah 31:18)
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our riqhteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee . . ." (Isaiah 64:6, 7)
". . . Salvation is of the LORD" (Jonah 2:9).
Those who think that they can properly repent of their own ability and savingly believe of their own faith fall into error. They trust in their own ability and not in the saving work of Jesus Christ! Is not this true of those who boast of their past sins and their turning from them? Do they not claim that they did it themselves? Repeatedly we hear this in their popular "testimony meetings." Some are willing to share the glory and admit that they had a little help from God, but even this is wicked confidence in the flesh. And do not some religionists boast of their faith as if it was some great thing worthy of reward? Faith (confidence) in my faith or in my turning to God is not ". . . the faith of God's elect." (Titus 1:1)
Paul wrote concerning true children of God, ". . . We . . . worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3). To trust in anything done in the flesh (human nature and strength) is to have "confidence in the flesh." To trust in your prayer, your baptism, your goodness, your faith or any experience you may have had is to have confidence in the flesh and not to trust in Christ. The faith and confidence of the true believer is in Christ! Those born of God trust not in rituals, sacraments, good works, their own repentance or their faith in Christ, but rather in Christ alone!
"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith . . ." (2 Corinthians 13:5). Are you trusting in your faith or are you trusting in Christ? What is the object of your faith? Do you really see that all your "righteousnesses are as filthy rags"? (Isaiah 64:6). Have you seen that you deserve Hell? Are you willing to take your place as a sinner and if God sends you to Hell will you say He is just, fair, and righteous to do so? Or do you think yourself unworthy of eternal punishment?
Consider these words from the old English Baptist Gadsby Hymnal.
O beware of trust ill-grounded;
'Tis but fancied faith at most,
To be cured, and not be wounded:
To be saved before you're lost.
Have you never been wounded by the Word of God so that your sins have been laid bare? Have you never been lost--that is, have you seen yourself as hopelessly lost and a Hell-deserving sinner? How can you think yourself saved if you have never been lost? Jesus said, ". . . I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mark 2:17). If a sinner, surely the Scriptures cited in this tract have shown that you are helpless to do anything about your terrible lost condition!
Salvation is free and comes, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us . . ." (Titus 3:5). Look to Jesus Christ, who has done all things necessary and possible, "for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
May God give you grace to see yourself as He does, and may He give you the twin gifts of ". . . repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:21) so that you are ". . . not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:39).
Monday, August 20, 2007
Who Can Come?
- By Mark Webb
The Utility of the Doctrine of Irresistible Grace
What is it, exactly, that saves the soul of a man? Many might reply that it is God’s election, or choice, of that man. Yet that’s simply not true. God in His election makes choice of men TO salvation, and that choice will not be thwarted, but "election to salvation" and "salvation" are not the same things. Otherwise men would be saved at the moment God makes choice of them, before the foundation of the world. Yet it’s clear from scripture that the elect enter this world "children of wrath, even as others" (Eph. 2:3).
Others might say that it’s the death of Christ in a man’s sted which saves his soul. To be sure, without His death, no one would be saved. Yet Christ’s death for His people, which secures, purchases, and guarantees their salvation, does not immediately bring salvation upon His people. Else all those for whom He died would be saved at the moment His work on Calvary was finished. Yes, He bought their salvation—but He bought it, and it’s His! The merit, the value, and the efficacy of what He did was not distributed immediately upon His death, but resides in His Person.
Life in Christ
The life Christ obtained for His people is never bestowed apart from Himself. A man will obtain life only when he comes into a living union with Him Who is Life indeed. Whoever a man may be—elect or not—outside of Christ, he is outside of life (I John 5:12), and the wrath of God abides upon him (John 3:36). How, then, does a sinner receive this life in Christ?
Election, as we’ve seen, is unconditional—but salvation is not! There are conditions which must be met if a man ever comes to salvation: He must come to life in Christ through repentance and faith. According to II Thess. 2:13, God not only has chosen men to an "end"—"salvation"—but He has also chosen for those men the "means" to that "end"—"through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth". Does it not follow then, that if God has unconditionally chosen some to salvation, and has also ordained that salvation be obtained only through repentance and faith, that God must do something to insure that those so chosen actually repent and believe? Perhaps such would not be necessary if men were falling all over themselves in a mad scramble to lay hold of life in Christ. But such is emphatically not the case! The elect of God by nature are in a state of utter inability and rebellion towards God. Their salvation has been ordained by God the Father from before the foundations of the world. Their salvation has been secured and purchased by God the Son on Calvary’s cross. But for their salvation to be actually obtained and realized, a work of God the Holy Spirit must ensue that "irresistibly" brings them to repentance and faith in Christ. Of what use is this doctrine? It reminds us, first of all, where life is found—not in a work of man, neither in believing a doctrine, nor even in an eternal decree, but in the Lord of Life! Consider II Tim. 2: 10: "Therefore, I endure all things for the elect’s sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." Paul is suffering the things he suffers because he knows that the elect, though chosen to salvation from the foundation of the world, must OBTAIN that salvation which resides in Christ Jesus.
No Man Can
It’s clear from scripture that all men are given an offer of life should they truly believe in Christ (e.g. John 3:16). All men MAY come in faith to Christ—they have permission—but who WILL come? Because all men share the same contempt for God and His Son, no man, on his own, will come to Christ. Read John 6:44–45 very carefully. It is stated that none "can" come to Christ except they be "drawn". Many people believe that to some extent. They believe that apart from the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, no one will come to Christ. But they also believe that this "conviction" may well be resisted and thwarted by man’s stubborn will and rebellious nature. That’s NOT what this passage is saying! The word is "draw", not ‘woo". Go to a well and see if you can "woo" a bucket of water to the top! This is plainly speaking of something which effectually brings a sinner in faith to Christ. To say that it’s "irresistible" does not mean that the sinner does not resist this working. It simply means that the Spirit of God overcomes and conquers the resistance met in the heart of the sinner.
What is the nature of this "drawing"? Perhaps you have the mental picture of the Hand of God laying hold of a lost sinner and: dragging him, kicking and screaming, into the Kingdom of Christ against his will. Get rid of that silly notion once and for all! The next verse makes clear that they are drawn by being "taught". God supernaturally opens the sinner’s blind eyes to see his great need of the Savior. Such a man is made willing, and freely chooses to come to Christ. In fact, he’s desperate for Christ and storms the Kingdom! This is not an "attempt" on God’s part, or God "trying" to talk man into something which he may, or may not accept—for the passage states that "every" one of those so taught of God comes to Christ.
Why teach this doctrine? It reminds us once again that ALL of salvation is of grace. Knowing that those saved must believe and repent, I might be tempted to think that those things are my contribution to the work of salvation. But this doctrine makes it clear and plain: Yes, the sinner must meet certain conditions to be saved, but he will do so only as he is "given" the grace to do so (cf. John 6:65).
God Must Work
Perhaps the most needed lesson we are taught by this doctrine is that there is something that goes on in salvation which only God can do. Because the things which men do in coming to salvation (e.g. repenting, believing, coming to Christ) are things which we can see with our physical eyes, and the working of the Holy Spirit in a man’s heart is something we cannot see, the tendency is always present to confuse the cause for the effect and the effect for the cause. Consider the Prodigal Son: He changed his mind about his father and his sin; he made a decision to go home; he actually arose and came home pleading mercy; and he actually found mercy from his father. We might be tempted to see these actions on the part of the son as the cause and reason of the mercy he receives. But his father was not confused about cause and effect. For he declares, "this, my son, was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is FOUND". We didn’t SEE anyone FIND him, as with the shepherd who sought and found his sheep, or the woman who swept her house until she found her coin. But just because we didn’t SEE it, doesn’t mean that it didn’t occur! The Holy Spirit’s work is indeed like the wind-We see it and know it, not directly, but by its effects.
One result of this confusion about cause and effect has been to imply that salvation can be obtained by "imitating" the experience of others—i.e. Do what they did, kneel where they knelt, and pray what they prayed, and you’ll be saved too! Today we have thousands walking isles, kneeling at "prayer altars", and parroting the "sinner’s prayer". They are told that because they’ve done these things they’re saved and never to doubt it. Yet scripture declares you MUST be born again to ever see or enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Nothing in the universe "births" itself of its own will. Neither is the "New Birth" of a sinner the production of man’s will, but the result of the will and power of God (cf. John 1:12–13; James 1:18). Faith and repentance are not the causes of this new "creation," but the consequences of it! They are the inevitable responses of a man who’s been raised from spiritual death to spiritual life.
The bottom line of the matter is this: In salvation there’s simply no substitute for God! He must work, He must draw, He must change, He must empower! With men these things are impossible. Yet with God, all things are possible!
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Paul Washer - New Sermon - "The Knowledge Of God"
The Knowledge Of God ***NEW***
The Vine And The Branches
I Wish That You Were Cold Or Hot
The Heart Of The Gospel
Guide Posts and Warning Signs
There Is Too Much Riding On Eternity
Regeneration and Self Denial ***Must Listen To***
The Greatest Text In The Bible
The Meaning Of The Cross
Who's Slave Are You?
Your Ultimate Purpose
Preaching The Truth Outside Joel Osteen's Church
This man preaches outside of Joel Osteen's church about sin and repentance, which Joel Osteen refuses to do.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Free-Will
I. God has endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that is neither forced, nor, by any absolute necessity of nature, determined good, or evil.
II. Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to God; but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it.
III. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.
IV. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, He frees him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by His grace alone, enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he does not perfectly, or only, will that which is good, but does also will that which is evil.
V. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to do good alone in the state of glory only.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Why The Church Lacks Discernment - Part 2
"There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 14:12)
Pragmatism and America
Any observer of contemporary American ways of thinking and acting can readily see that so-called "common sense" has deteriorated into common non-sense. Commonly accepted standards of proper behavior, civility, decency, and morality that previously informed the "senses" of our citizens have given way to forces of diversity and pluralism. These are fueled by an American individualism that used to find outlets within the boundaries of "common sense."
The right to do things our own way used to mean using innovative means to conquer the forces of nature, to eke out a living for one's family under difficult circumstances, to use one's wit and bravado to start new businesses, or to make scientific discoveries.
Now, individualism has come to mean the right to flaunt publicly one's perversity. For example, three U.S. Senators have sounded an alarm over the trash that is being broadcast on talk shows that are popping up like spring dandelions. One of them said, "There was a time when personal failure or marital failure, subliminal desires, perverse tastes, were accompanied by a sense of guilt or embarrassment. Today, these are a ticket to appear on the Sally Jessy Raphael show to be broadcast for children to watch."1
What "seems right to a man," now can mean literally anything and need no longer fear public censor. If nothing else, the celebration of the weird and perverse on the national media shows that we have collectively lost the means of discerning good from evil. To modern America, human belief and behavior is not right or wrong, it just is.
Pragmatism is an American philosophy that judges truth claims by their practical consequences. It was articulated at the beginning of the twentieth century by serious philosophers who did not foresee that it would lead to such crass and distorted applications as are evident in our day. It is my intent to show that pragmatism has essential flaws that make it incompatible with Biblical Christianity. Understanding pragmatism in its current, popular expression will go a long way toward understanding why the moral rot that the Senators derided is not likely to go away soon. In order to be the salt and light that God has called us to be, Christians must have a different approach to their understanding of truth and morals. Pragmatism is attractive to Americans because it refuses to accept any universal system of truth or absolutes. William James, commonly known as the foremost proponent of American pragmatism, wrote: "He [the pragmatist] turns away from . . . fixed principles, closed systems, and pretended absolutes and origins. . . . It [pragmatism] means the open air and possibilities of nature, as against dogma, artificiality, and the pretence of finality in truth."2 James thought that pragmatism could resolve the conflict between idealistic, rationalistic philosophies and crass materialism. God, an Absolute, or other religions ideas were perfectly acceptable if they could prove themselves useful in real life.
Pragmatism and Truth
For the pragmatist, religious ideas must prove their worth in concrete ways to be considered true. James writes, "If theological ideas prove to have a value for concrete life, they will be true, for pragmatism, in the sense of being good for so much."3 Believing in an "Absolute" was common, said James, for the "ordinary lay-reader in philosophy" who wished to take "moral holidays." What he meant by this was that he thought all absolute systems of truth could be proved by professional philosophers to be flawed, including a belief in an eternal, Creator-God who had spoken finally and authoritatively to man. Yet, to have no God, or ideal assuring us that things will come to some final, good conclusion is too disturbing for most people. So, says William James, we take a "moral holiday" and forget the philosophical problems and enjoy the thought that life is meaningful and all will work out for the good.
Is this what Biblical Christianity is all about - blissful ignorance? Peter did not think so: "For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty." (2Peter 1:16) Christianity is neither an idealistic philosophy nor a religious superstition. It is based on the revelation of God who demonstrated His power and love in history, particularly through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we neither lay aside concrete reality for the bliss of a idealistic, romantic philosophy that grants a mental leave of absence from the fallen world around us nor live in a more "realistic," hopeless despair. We know there are many problems; but we know the ultimate solution in the person of Jesus Christ.
Sadly, in spite of having a divinely inspired Bible to guide our paths, many Christians have needlessly adopted pragmatism as their approach to truth. If it "works" it must be true they reason. The old America ideal of rugged individualism has turned into the right to allow subjective religious experience to lead each person down whatever spiritual path that seems to "work" for them. There is no logical limit to what people deem pragmatically workable. Evangelicals have taken the pragmatic approach to everything from self-help to revival to church growth. Os Guinness comments on this:
The overall results of such different trends as prosperity piety, positive thinking, engineered revivalism, and the church-growth movement has been to stamp pragmatism indelibly on the evangelical soul. The concern "Will it work?" has long overshadowed "Is it true?" Theology has given way to technique. Know-whom has faded before know-how. Serving God has subtly been deformed into servicing the self.4
Americans are an impatient lot and will not tarry long over something that does not quickly meet their "perceived" needs.
I once heard a lady say that she had just left a large successful church in our city because, "they were not meeting my needs." About that same time an unrelated person said about the church that the disillusion member had just left, "they have every program but the space program." We are getting quite used to the high tech, quick satisfaction of every need. Even those churches that have harnessed the powers and advances of modernity most efficiently and successfully are not guaranteed to be found satisfactory by the evangelical consumers who have flocked to their pews. One of the characteristics of pragmatic shoppers is that they are mobile - they quickly move to where their latest pressing need is met to their satisfaction, for now. In this competitive, religious marketplace someone else is sure to come up with a better product soon.
David Wells discusses this trend as, "the personalized, designer religion of the 1990's."5 He sees the hunger for a religious experience minus doctrine and dogma with a pragmatic approach to truth as partial causes of this fad. He also comments:
They [baby-boomers] are the children of a massively commercialized world who have learned the needed skills of commerce - principal among which is an ability to identify the products that will satisfy their inner needs. . . . In the fevered quest for individual fulfillment, commonality of belief is brushed aside as an irrelevance, if not an impossibility. The common need for religious experience of some sort is acknowledged, but no restrictions are placed on the sort of experience that will fill the bill for any given individual.6
These modern church attenders may not know any theology, but they know what they want - quick answers to whatever needs may be pressing upon them at the moment. If something "works," the question of its truth is rarely raised.
One former reader of this commentary wrote asking to be removed from the mailing list because I questioned this pragmatic approach. One of his comments is telling of our differences: "If your theology does not work, throw it away and get a different one." Any theology, no matter how Biblical, is disposable if it does not "work" to our satisfaction. Is this not the very problem Israel had during her years of wilderness wandering? When they became impatient as Moses communed with God on the mountain, receiving the ten commandments, they looked for something that would "work" sooner. Aaron explained to Moses, "For they said to me, `Make a god for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'" (Exodus 32:23) God is the true God, and we need to stick with Him and His revealed truth, even if it momentarily does not seem to be "working" for us.
"It Works For Me"
Whatever question might arise about one's belief or conduct can be answered easily to the satisfaction of most modern Americans by the simple rejoinder, "it works for me." In the last issue of CIC I referenced a video tape from the John Ankerberg Show on the Silva Mind Control method.7 When pressed repeatedly by John Weldon and Dave Hunt about the dangers of contacting spirit guides and trusting their information, Silva's response was always, "if it solves problems" it is good. If you have a problem and your "counselors" (one male and one female spirit guide) are able to help you, then why question it? - was his logic. This sort of reasoning must be irresistible to many people since it is used repeatedly in many contexts.
For example, pagan America now has "psychic" phone lines that give millions of people instant access to people who claim to be able to tap secret information that will help them in all realms of life. These nine hundred number phone lines are sold over the TV using "infomercials" that supplement regular adds. Celebrities tell the viewers how psychic information has helped them with life's problems. "It works for me, I am successful, so it will work for you" is the reasoning. For so many dollars per minute one can find out what the demonic forces of darkness have to say about their future, if they are "lucky." Otherwise they may only talk to a person who really can only speak in generalities with no supernatural information.
Of course, Silva and other peddlers of psychic processes do not believe or at least admit that the spiritual sources they tap into are evil spirits who are out to destroy as many humans as possible. They assume that evil spirits would not give them useful information that "worked" to solve problems. Or would they?
Satan and his evil cohorts are not so stupid as to offer people something that is overtly and immediately negative or worthless. Temptation works only because what is offered seems desirable. Why not offer people bits of truth or fact, taken out of context, if doing so gets them to believe a bigger lie? Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus (see Luke 4). People who use tarot cards, ouija boards, practice astrology, necromancy, or other forbidden (see Deuteronomy 18:10-12) forms of accessing secret, spiritual information all claim that they "work," at least some of the time.
The Bible does not accept the "success" of a prophet to be enough of a criterion to endorse him:
If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, "Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them," you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. (Deuteronomy 13:1-4)
Supernatural signs that come true do not validate the ministry of a prophet who does not teach people to follow God as He has revealed Himself in Scripture. This is precisely the problem with much of the spirituality in modern America. Those who deny the trinity, the deity and Lordship of Christ, and the Biblical means of salvation through faith nevertheless have a "practical" spirituality to promote that "works." We need to follow Moses' advice and not listen to them; but rather serve God and cling to Him!
"It works for me," is a commonly supplied justification by those whose perverted behavior lands them on one of the trash talk shows mentioned earlier. Americans so relish their "right to choose," that many accept this cheap reasoning as if it had some profound logic behind it. If someone says that they cannot be happy unless they divorce their wife, have a sex change operation and live as a woman, then "who has the right to judge?" they reason. If the only valid purpose in life is to be happy, and happiness is determined an individual's urges at the moment, then it makes sense to accept this destructive reasoning.
However, Jesus asked a piercing question: "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36) Satan had offered Jesus all that was in the world (Luke 4:1-13), but Jesus rejected these temptations and chose rather to die on a cross for the sins of others. The result of Jesus' humility and sacrifice during the short years of His earthly sojourn? - "Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)
Those who take the pragmatic approach and judge all possible beliefs and courses of action by their practical results for the individual have a huge problem with passages such as these. They would have to admit that if Jesus' life were judged by pragmatism based on commonly accepted goals for life on this earth, it would be deemed a "failure." Jesus said, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." (Luke 9:58) He died between two common criminals, and His few remaining faithful followers scattered. His claims of deity and eternal purpose were vindicated by His resurrection on the third day, but pragmatism is for this life, not some hoped for resurrection.
If people believed the teaching of Jesus that there will be a general resurrection and judgment (John 5:28,29), they would not bank their hopes on self-centered success schemes with shady moral underpinnings. "It works for me," does not cut it unless personal happiness with no regard for eternal judgment is accepted as a reasonable philosophy for life.
It "Works" for How Long?
This underscores a key problem with pragmatism and why evangelical Christians should not allow it to guide their lives. The problem is described by the question: "How long should one wait to decide what really works?" William James understood the need for a time frame for judging results, and sought to include it in his philosophy. Yet it comes with inherent difficulties. James writes, "Pragmatism has to postpone dogmatic answer, for we do not yet know certainly which type of religion is going to work best in the long run."8 The problem is - how long do we have?
Suppose an individual set out to try the world religions, to see which ones "worked." How many could be reasonably learned, applied, and given ample time to prove themselves "true" in the pragmatic sense? This could be a serious problem, say, if Hinduism was the first to be tried. Since Hinduism believes in karma and reincarnation, one's present condition is the result of problems in previous lives. To find out if the religious experimenter had sufficiently paid for previous mistakes in this life and done better, he or she would have to come back yet again. If reincarnation is not true, the experiment fails with a wasted life and eternal darkness.
One lifetime is too short a period to test out Hinduism! When does one then get around to trying Islam, Bahai, Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, etc.? If the claims of Christ are true, could an individual use as a defense on the day of judgment that he had not got around to trying Christ because he lived only long enough to see if two or three other religions "worked" for him? I suggest that a better approach is to see if any of the leaders or founders of these religions have validated their truth claims. If Jesus is raised from the dead as the Bible asserts, then He alone has been proven worthy of trusting with one's eternal future.
Even within this short life, how many previously cherished ways of belief and practice have most of us had to throw on the scrap heap? The saying, "too soon old, too late smart" nicely describes the problem. If there were some way of knowing ahead of time what timeless principles, eternal truths, and essential wisdom would not leave one disappointed, how great it would be! Happily, we have such a means; it is the Word of God.
Twelve years ago, after witnessing many sorrows and failures of popular movements that claimed to be the latest voice of God, only to fade as others took their place, it was evident that God's people needed a solid foundation. For ten years I saw various luminaries come and go with new words from God that promised a "new day" for the people of God, with answers to every conceivable problem. From the inner healing movement, to the shepherding movement, the deliverance movement, the prosperity movement, the kingdom now movement; one after another swept through, leaving little time to reflect on the failed promises of the previous one. We were told these were "waves" of the Spirit that would usher in the kingdom.
I could see that people could not integrate into their lives the many conflicting teachings and promises that they received during this process. Many were becoming cynical about Christianity. Many leaders fell by the wayside, leaving a spirit of mistrust. Those with whom I was working and I decided that we had to start building something in the lives of those to whom we were ministering that they would not regret later. The only thing that would do this was sound, exegetical teaching from God's Word. In Sunday School, home Bible studies, etc., including the Sunday morning sermons, we began teaching verse by verse through the Bible. Rather than pushing the latest, hot spiritual technology, we began exploring the roots of historical Christianity.
The difference has been gratifying. By carefully teaching Scripture, we have spared ourselves many regrets. Our greatest longing should be that we could live out the truths of Scripture more perfectly, not that some new revelation would come that would "work" to make us happy for the moment. People still have sorrows and difficulties, but knowing and applying eternal truths that are pertinent to all of life causes maturity and stability that we did not see during the days of quick fixes. Living as we do in a culture that is addicted to the "new and improved" product, we need to offer something that is permanent, changeless, and will leave no regrets: the truths of God's Word.
Pragmatism and Individual Choice
The Greek word for heresy is "hairesis" which means "choice," to choose for oneself what to believe outside of established, authoritative truth. Thayer says of this Greek word, "that which is chosen, a chosen course of thought and action; hence one's chosen opinion, tenet; . . . an opinion varying from the true exposition of the Christian faith (heresy).9 Biblical faithfulness conflicts with the popular American notion of the right of every individual to choose their own "truth."
Sociologist Peter Berger discusses this situation in his book, The Heretical Imperative.10 He outlines how changes in the culture over the years have thrust people into a situation were there are few if any "givens." People are forced to make more choices than can reasonably be processed, and that without a culturally accepted set of authoritative beliefs to guide them.
Berger and others see damaging effects in this process. The lack of "givens" has created a pluralistic, secular environment that leaves us with innumerable choices. Moderns must make choices constantly and must do so with no community wide standards of belief and practice. Too often an individual must choose with only the pragmatic standard, "what works for me" to guide the choices made. The culture provides one universal guiding principle: that we do not apply our chosen beliefs to anyone else.
Thus heresy, to choose that which is outside of the norms of the faith, has become culturally imperative. There are no accepted norms of the faith and everything must be chosen. Mental and spiritual breakdowns are epidemic. If ultimate beliefs can exist only in the private world of the self, family and community relationships rest on the flimsy scaffold of choice. We must choose what works for us and cannot expect to be united with others who live by common standards. David Wells comments, ". . . the dissolution of religious belief has meant that the source of `authority' could be found only in private, critical, self-consciousness . . . the only authority that now remains is that of private experience."11
The reason I press so hard for a Christian fellowship that learns and applies the teachings of Scripture is that I see it as the only way to find hope and mind-renewing power in this sick world. We no longer have a culture that supports a Christian world view. We are forced to choose constantly, and if we are to avoid heresy we must submit our choices to Biblical authority. We must recognize that if truth is to have more than a personal and private meaning, we must be able to study it corporately and it must apply to the whole Christian community. Pro-abortion people cannot understand why we are opposed to "choice." Don't have abortions, they reason, if you don't believe in them; but let the rest of us choose. They reason pragmatically, "if abortion does not work for you, don't have one." What they do not realize is that there are certain choices that we are better off not having. Our choices affect other people (like innocent, unborn children) and there are too many self-destructive temptations now. Maximizing choices does not maximize the well being of the citizenry.
That is why the trash TV referenced earlier is so harmful. Young people grow up with the idea that every perversion imagined and lived out by unrestrained man is a viable "choice." They may or may not make the wrong choice; but they would be better off not having it. Heresy is condemned in Scripture because God has not left everything up to choice. He did not parade a smorgasbord of gods and religions before us and say, the choice is up to you as long as it makes you happy! He said, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:2,3)
Pragmatism is not able to provide the direction and help we need in this fallen world. It was developed by philosophers who did not believe in reliable, divinely revealed truth. The price of giving up eternal hope based on the changeless revelation of God Himself is exceedingly high. No dogma, no doctrine, only the acceptance of what works for me promises everything, but delivers only a disconnected, autonomous "self" with no assurance about the future or meaning for the present.
For the church to have discernment we must lay aside pragmatism as a way of determining our beliefs and actions. In its place we need to, "because of practice have [our] senses trained to discern good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14b) The context of this passage shows that the training needed is Biblical training. God has given us everything needed for life and godliness (2Peter 1:3) and if we avail ourselves of our precious resources in Christ, we need not be blown about by worldly winds of doctrine.
Why The Church Lacks Discernment - Part 1
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:9,10).
Paul's concern for first century Christians was that they would have the discernment to distinguish good from evil. Our need now is as critical as theirs. Because of the information revolution we are bombarded with religious and philosophical ideas at a pace unknown to previous generations - and this at a time when traditional sources of authority that once gave stability and guidance have been laid aside or considered irrelevant.
We need discernment. We must be able to differentiate truth from error, righteousness from wickedness, the holy from the profane, and the will of God from the enticements of the world. Recent evangelical history is not very encouraging about the ability of most Christians to make these distinctions.
Where is Discernment?
False teachers with doctrines so aberrant as to be blatant denials of the historic Christian faith have been roundly received as great people of faith. I have a video tape of a popular preacher and author preaching at a large Christian church. This man taught that the Holy Spirit has a body that looks just like us, that when Satan faced Jesus in the underworld they were on equal terms (both being merely Adamic), that the Holy Spirit had left Jesus in the underworld so that He was on His own as a man, and that if the Holy Spirit had not come back Jesus would still be in the grave. I was shocked enough that such blatant denials of the perpetual deity of Christ could be preached in a Christian church. The reaction of the congregation of thousands was even more disturbing. They stood to their feet and shouted praises to God immediately after hearing that Jesus' deity was dependent on the Holy Spirit and had been removed from Him while He was in the grave.
Clearly they lacked the discernment that Paul prayed would be a part of the early church. Another TV preacher bilked thousands of people of hundreds of millions of dollars (all the while teaching false doctrines) until a secular TV news program finally exposed him. More alarming still, after having been exposed as a wolf in sheep's clothing, he continued his TV preaching for many months and people kept sending him their money. The numbers of fraudulent or heretical teachers that have misled the masses over the last thirty years, later to be exposed for their error or sin clearly demonstrates how easily modern Christians can be misled. Far from "approving the things that are blameless," many have approved and applauded the fleecing of God's flock and the distorting of the Gospel of Christ.
It is time that we seek and find the discernment that God has for His people. Gullibility and naivety are not gifts of the Spirit! Ephesians 4:14 tells what the result of godly ministry gifts ought to be: "As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming." The tricksters and false teachers are not the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers they claim to be; on the contrary, they are creating the winds of doctrines they are supposed to be teaching us to resist. Despite this, these false teachers find huge popular acceptance in evangelical, pentecostal, and charismatic churches. Where is discernment?
Starting With the Fear of God
The first thing needed for discernment is the fear of God. The Scripture says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10). It is one thing to know that something is true, it is another to care. This is illustrated by the response of the soldiers who guarded the tomb of Jesus. Matthew 28:11-15 tells us that they took a "large sum of money" to say that the disciples had stolen the body. They knew from witnessing the angel (Matthew 28:2-4) that the supernatural power of God was at work, but rather than seek the resurrected Lord like Mary and the other disciples, they took money to lie. They did not fear God.
Likewise, Romans 1:18-20 teaches that the truth of God is evident to the pagans who "suppress the truth in unrighteousness." The creation itself is enough evidence to hold us accountable to the Creator. Yet preposterous theories that lack any evidence, such as naturalistic evolution out of nothing, are held and taught by those who know that such things cannot be true, but prefer to avert their gaze from the evidence that points to God whom they refuse to fear.
We expect the pagans to act this way; but Christians are also susceptible to the temptations of the pagan culture. Truth is not a popular concept these days. Ten years ago when the false teachings of many popular Christian teachers were exposed for correction, I encountered many pastors who refused to even make an attempt at discernment. All that was necessary for someone to be accepted and promoted as a great man of God was that he was popular. When given solid evidence that God's sheep were being misled by the wolves, some kept silent for fear of offending anyone by sounding an alarm. One said to me, "why do you always have to ask where things come from and if they are true?" I answered, "Would you eat something out of a garbage can just because it looked like food?"
God is Holy. We ought to care that our teachings, actions, and attitudes are being brought into conformity with His purposes. We ought to care! Many ask: What does it matter if one teaching is true or another false, seeing that none of us has "all the truth" anyway? What does it matter if my motivations are imperfect, are not everyone's? What does it matter if my fund raising techniques are ethically questionable as long it is for a good cause? These rhetorical questions show a lack of concern for the holiness of God. If God is true and has revealed Himself through the person of Jesus who claimed to be "The Truth" (John 14:6), then how can we be satisfied with known falsehood? How can we lack a hunger for God and His truth, even if such a hunger to know Him means a lifelong consciousness that we still somehow fall short and need so much more?
The fear of God (without which we do not even begin to have wisdom and knowledge) means that we care because we know that one day everything will be exposed in the light of His judgment. Mary Magdalene cared and the guards at the tomb did not - that is what led them down two paths with entirely different destinies. If we do not care what the truth is eventually we will not know what the truth is. This is the judgment of hardening that is so graphically described in Romans 1:18-32. Paul predicts that in the last days, this judgement of hardening will fall on those who "do not receive the love of the truth" (2Thessalonians 2:9-11).
The Need for Objectivity
Truth is not a state of mind. The Biblical doctrine of creation shows that God made the universe from nothing, that this universe is real, and that man who bears the image of God has an important place in it. God did not begin as an idea in the mind of man, but man began through a creative act that was the will and purpose of God. The creation stands as objective evidence of God's handiwork. Eve, the animals, the garden, and God Himself with whom Adam communed were all known and interacted with by Adam outside himself. God's choice to make Himself known to man, and the reality of His creative activity make objectivity possible. God gave humans the ability to distinguish between objects that are really there.
This ought to seem mundane and obvious; but sadly it is increasingly challenged and doubted in our pagan culture. If we live, as some say, in an illusory world that exists only in our minds, or in a real world the perception of which is distorted by the processes and structures of our own minds so that it cannot be meaningfully perceived, then the idea of making distinctions and categories is hopeless. "Reality" then is private and it is questionable whether valid communication is possible.
Subjectivism says that reality and truth are relative and personal. Stated simplistically it says, "you have your truth and I have mine." Many people in our society accept this statement as simple common sense. It is no wonder we lack discernment. If this is the case, then for the Roman soldiers the "truth" was that the disciples stole the body and for Mary Magdalene the truth was that He was raised from the dead. In 1Corinthians 15:13-19 Paul argues that if Christ is not really raised from the dead, our faith is worthless! He saw no benefit in thinking and preaching that Christ was raised if in fact He was not. Paul believed in objective truth. The truly resurrected Christ is the Creator and Judge to whom all humans are accountable whether or not they believe there is a resurrection from the dead.
Many modern Americans, even Christians, cling to subjectivism as if it were a dear friend. They assume that because our constitution grants the right to believe and speak what we want, that it is simply un-American to discern truth from error and cling to one and reject the other. Everybody gets to be right. Truth, they think, is something that is found deep within each human's psyche, and having been so discovered, it is personal and private. These ideas destroy any hope of having Biblical discernment. Discerning truth from error means knowing the Bible objectively and being able to apply it to real situations and teachings. Just because someone thinks that Jesus only "seemed" to have a real body (docetism, an early gnostic heresy) does not make it true for them or anyone else. 1John 4:1-4 gives objective means of testing "spirits" based on the truth of Jesus' Incarnation.
If a teaching that claims a spiritual source denies the Biblical doctrine of the Incarnation (the divine and human nature of Christ) it is not from God. About fourteen years ago I received a telephone call in which someone claimed to have a message for me from God and began prophesying. The voice on the phone began saying that I was a great and powerful man of God and other flattering things that made me suspicious. I decided to use 1John 4 quite literally and asked, "did Jesus Christ come in the flesh?" The answer was, "She believes that." I said, "wrong answer" and hung up. Whatever spirit was inspiring that prophecy referred to the lady prophesying in the third person and failed to articulate the truth about Jesus Christ.
We need objective evidence to judge spirits because we are not as equipped to "see" into the spirit world minus our physical senses, our doctrinal bearings, and our rational minds as some would like us to believe. Many are deceived by people peddling processes by which they think they can accomplish soul travel, contact with the dead, the manipulation of angelic beings for their own purposes, or gain secret information from spiritual sources.
In a video tape from the John Ankerberg Show, Jose Silva, the founder of Silva Mind Control, debates with Christian teachers who dispute the validity of his techniques.1 By 1987, six million students had taken the Silva Mind Control course. In it, they are taught how to attain an altered state of consciousness called the "alpha level" and contact two psychic guides (one male and one female) who will be their "counselors." He claims that Jesus came to teach these things so that we can enter the kingdom of God that is "within" us. When challenged as to how his students could know if the information from these "paranormal" sources is reliable, Silva answered, "if it solves problems." He claims that we need to function from our right brain hemisphere (supposedly less logical and more intuitive and subjective) if we are to get answers to our problems.
The "counselors" Silva's students learn to contact are often famous, deceased people such as Abraham Lincoln. If they are really lucky, some students get "Jesus and Mary" as their male and female spiritual counselors. In such cases, they are in contact with a mystical, spiritual "Jesus" who is encountered in an altered state of consciousness and gives them access to secret information. The problem is, every spirit being calling himself "Jesus" is not the resurrected Messiah who bodily ascended into heaven. 2Corinthians 11:4 warns about another "Jesus" who was not the one Paul preached. Necromancy (seeking to contact the dead) and divination (using various occult techniques to predict the future) are forbidden in Scripture:
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. (Deuteronomy 18:10-12)
These techniques are forbidden because they are not merely "neutral" means of obtaining important or useful information, but they are attempts to know secret information that God has not chosen to reveal (see Deuteronomy 29:29).
The information may work to "solve problems" as Silva asserts but create a bigger problem in the future like the loss of one's eternal soul. Not only that, the forbidden sources of this secret information, if they are real at all, are demonic. That is what John Weldon, one of John Ankerberg's guests who debated Jose Silva, kept warning him about. Weldon stated, "When you enter the psychic realm it is like trying to play tennis with your side of the court under water. It is impossible - you are at a disadvantage because man was not made to function in that realm - it is subject to entities that has his best disinterest at heart."2 The demons that are all too glad to grant information are the enemies of God and seek to destroy as many humans as possible since we bear the image of God.
I do not reference Silva Mind Control because there is a great problem with evangelical Christians taking the course. I reference it because I have met so many who use and promote ideas about discernment that are so parallel to Silva's. Christians have promoted the right brain hemisphere theory, subjectivism and pragmatism that are central to Silva's process. They assume that because they are sincere Christians that whatever they get in touch with is from God. Paul did not assume this nor did the Apostle John. They warned Christians to use discernment and test the spirits based on revealed truth.
Those who assume that they can use some process to invoke contact with the subjective realm of psychic experience do not realize how ill equipped they are to discern the information thus derived.
I have counseled people who have had hundreds of dreams, messages, visions, and inner voices. Some they knew to be not from God. They thought that if they could sort through this spiritually derived extra-biblical information they could find some profound word from God. These were often people nearly Biblically illiterate and often quite confused. They were trying to use the subjective to judge the subjective with little hope of making any sense of it all. I often ask such individuals, "Do you think God would purposely send veiled, hard to understand messages to your inner self that He knows will be mixed with your own confused thoughts and possible Satanic influences and then expect you to sort it all out?" I counseled them to ignore all these "voices," and start learning the Bible and living according to revealed Biblical truth.
What About Biblical Visions?
Many have pointed to Biblical visions and the prophecy of Joel quoted by Peter on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-20) as evidence that visualization and other modern techniques to seek spiritual information are legitimate. They argue that what Jose Silva and others are promoting are merely "counterfeits" of legitimate things God wants us to have. Does the Bible allow us to develop and use techniques to enable us to get more consciously in touch with the spiritual realm?
I believe there is a difference between Biblical visions and modern subjectivism and even ancient mysticism. The key difference is the sovereignty of God. Consider Peter's famous vision of the sheet with unclean animals.
And he became hungry, and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; and he beheld the sky opened up, and a certain object like a great sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth and birds of the air. And a voice came to him, "Arise, Peter, kill and eat!" But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean." And again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." (Acts 10:10-15)
Peter did not purposely enter an altered state of consciousness to provoke this experience. He went to pray and became hungry and was thinking about eating. The vision came from God as an object lesson, the meaning of which would soon be made clear.
Subjectivism and the Psychic Realm
If we consider the supernatural events that surrounded this experience, we can clearly see the hand of God. Cornelius, the God fearing Gentile, had and angel appear to him and tell him to send messengers to Joppa for a man named Simon Peter whom he did not know. Peter's vision came at just the right time to prepare him for these messengers, though he still did not understand the purpose. The Lord spoke to Peter to listen to these men and accompany them. In Acts 10:28 we see that Peter now understood the meaning of the vision, ". . . God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean."
What Peter then preached to these Gentiles was something clearly Biblical, but culturally difficult for him to accept: "Peter said: `I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to Him" (Acts 10:34,35). It took this experience to show him that he should preach the gospel to these people. When God saved them it opened a new chapter in church history.
However, that God wanted to do this was not new to Peter. Jesus commanded Peter and the others to make disciples of the ethn (Matthew 28:19). The Old Testament often showed God's plan to reach all the families of the earth, including the call of Abraham: ". . . And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:3b).
Much more than a nebulous, subjective experience took place. God had brought together many factors to bring the church of the first century to the realization that from Jew and Gentile he was creating "one new man," (Ephesians 2:15). Biblical visions were not subjective, uninterpreted experiences - they revealed God's word and will to people objectively.
I see five differences between Peter's vision (and other Biblical visions) and the subjective, often self-induced type of modern and ancient mystics. First, Peter's vision was a sovereign, supernatural act of God, not the result of religious technique. Second, God supplied the meaning of the experience - objectively. Third, the meaning was compatible with clear, Biblical teaching. Fourth, Luke wrote about Peter's experience in the Book of Acts so that thereafter all Christians would know that God includes Gentiles in His plan of salvation. We do not each have to experience Peter's vision first hand to receive the benefit of it. Fifth, Peter never interpreted his experience subjectively nor claimed to have secret information that was not accessible to others.
In 2Peter 1 where he discussed another unique, spiritual experience - the mount of transfiguration (see 1Peter 1:17,18), Peter directed his readers to a "more sure" source of objective truth - Biblical prophecy (see 2Peter 1:19-21). God's acts come to us with His explanation of their meaning. Biblical truth is objective. David Wells discusses the meaning of God's acts:
In these acts, he tied the objectivity of his truth to the flow of our history in such a way that the meaning of the acts, which he himself supernaturally provided, could never be any less objective than the event of which they were a part. . . The pagans listened intently to discern the meaning of the gods' and goddesses' intentions; now moderns listen just as intently to inner voices with the help of psychology. The modern self has simply replaced ancient divinities as the presumed source of mystery and meaning.3 There is no "sure word of prophecy" to be found in the vagaries of the human psyche.
"Approving the Things that are Excellent"
In the passage with which we began, (Philippians 1:9,10), Paul said that the result of "real knowledge and all discernment" would be the ability to "approve" that which is excellent. This implies a process of making distinctions. The Greek word translated "approve" is "dokimaz" and has to do with putting something to the test to see what it is made of. A lack of discernment will impede one's progress in sanctification. We will not be "sincere and blameless" in this world of sin and confusion if we naively go about our Christian walk without discernment.
Those Christians I referenced earlier who stood and applauded when they heard a teaching that claimed Jesus' divinity was contingent and lost for a time would not have done so had they been trained Biblically. They did not know they had just heard heretical teaching so they were swayed by the mass response of the group and the speaker's ability to work up their emotions.
When Jesus explained Himself to the disciples on the road to Emmaus He did not appeal to subjective emotions, inner secrets, or mystical experiences: "And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures" (Luke 24:27). The result impacted their inner beings: "And they said to one another, `Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?'" (Luke 24:32). Though we cannot now have Jesus bodily present to do the teaching, we can have our hearts burn with the joy and conviction of the same truth.
We have the same Scriptures and each of us should become such lifetime students of them that we could explain Messiah from the Old and New Testaments with the result that the Holy Spirit would burn the conviction of the truth into the hearts of many. Sadly, many would rather have bizarre "spiritual" manifestations and amazing experiences in a subjective atmosphere that lacks in depth Bible exposition. Our hearts "burn" over the wrong things and the charlatan preachers have their way with the sheep far too often. That is why the church lacks discernment.
Next month we will continue this study on the need for discernment by discussing pragmatism as an American way of life and belief that is damaging the modern church.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Martin Luther - Bondage Of The Will
"I frankly confess that, for myself, even if it could be, I should not want free-will to be given to me, nor anything to be left in my own hands to enable me to endeavor after salvation; not merely because in face of so many dangers, and adversities, and assaults of devils, I could not stand my ground and hold fast my free-will (for one devil is stronger than all men, and on these terms no man could be saved); but because, even were there no dangers, adversities, or devils, I should still be forced to labor with no guarantee of success, and to beat my fists at the air. If I lived and worked to all eternity, my conscience would never reach comfortable certainty as to how much it must do to satisfy God. Whatever work I had done, there would still be a nagging doubt as to whether it pleases God, or whether He required something more. The experience of all who seek righteousness by works proves that; and I learned it well enough myself over a period of many years, to my own great hurt. But now that God has taken my salvation out the control of my own will, and put it under the control of His, and promised to save me, not according to my working or running, but according to His own grace and mercy, I have the comfortable certainty that He is faithful and will not lie to me, and that He is also great and powerful, so that no devils or opposition can break Him or pluck me from Him. No one, He says, shall pluck them out of my hand, because my father which gave them me is greater than all [John 10:28-29]. Thus it is that, if not all, yet some, indeed many, are saved; whereas, by the power of free-will none at all could be saved, but every one of us would perish.
Furthermore, I have the comfortable certainty that I please God, not by reason of the merit of my works, but by reason of His merciful favor promised to me; so that, if I work too little, or badly, He does not impute it to me, but with fatherly compassion pardons me and makes me better. This is the glorying of all the saints in their God."
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Paul Washer - The True Meaning Of The Cross
Here is a 7 minute clip of Brother Paul Washer explaining the TRUE meaning of the cross. Sadly, most church-goers in America do not know the true meaning of the cross because the pastors don't teach it.
Guide Posts and Warning Signs
There Is Too Much Riding On Eternity
Regeneration and Self Denial ***Must Listen To***
The Greatest Text In The Bible
The Meaning Of The Cross
Who's Slave Are You?
Your Ultimate Purpose
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Born Again?
Spurgeon, "Plain Directions to Those Who
Would Be Saved from Sin" #2033 Psalm 4:4-5
If you have been truly born again you have a
new and holy nature, and you are no longer
moved towards sinful objects as you were before.
The things that you once loved you now hate,
and therefore you will not run after them.
You can hardly understand it but so it is, that
your thoughts and tastes are radically changed.
You long for that very holiness which once
it was irksome to hear of; and you loathe those
vain pursuits which were once your delights.
The man who puts his trust in the Lord
sees the pleasures of sin in a new light.
For he sees the evil which follows them
by noting the agonies which they brought
upon our Lord when He bore our sins in
His own body on the tree.
Without faith a man says to himself,
"This sin is a very pleasant thing, why
should I not enjoy it? Surely I may eat
this fruit, which looks so charming and
is so much to be desired."
The flesh sees honey in the drink, but
faith at once perceives that there is
poison in the cup. Faith spies the snake
in the grass and gives warning of it.
Faith remembers death, judgment,
the great reward, the just punishment
and that dread word, eternity.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
The Book Of Life
- Thomas Brooks, "Paradise Opened" 1675
"And another book was opened, which is the book of life." Revelation 20:12
The names of the elect are written in the book of life. They do not obtain salvation by chance, but were elected by God to eternal life and happiness before the foundation of the world. Now their names being once written in the book of life, they shall never, never be blotted out of that book! In the book of predestination there is not one blot to be found; the salvation of the elect is most sure and certain!
"I will never blot out his name from the book of life." Revelation 3:5
The book of life is the book of all those who were elected and redeemed to life, through Jesus Christ. This book of life contains a register of such particular persons in whose salvation, God from all eternity determined to have His mercy glorified; and for whom Christ merited faith, repentance, and perseverance—that they should repent, believe, and be finally saved.
"The book of life shall be opened;" that is to say, the decrees of God will be then published and made known,which now are sealed up in His bosom and locked up in His archives. Then it will be seen whom are appointed to eternal life—for the glorifying of God's free, rich, and sovereign grace; and whom He purposed to leave in their sins, and to perish forever—for the exaltation of His justice.
"Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life." Revelation 21:27
The book of life shall be opened in the great day, because then it shall be shown...
who were elect—and who were reprobates;
who truly believed in Christ—and who did not;
who worshiped God in spirit and in truth—and who did not;
who walked with God as Noah did—and who did not;
who truly reverenced God—and who did not;
who followed the Lamb wherever He went—and who did not;
who were sincere—and who were not;
who are sheep—and who are goats;
who are sons of God—and who are slaves of Satan;
who have mourned for their sins—and who have made a sport of sin;
who preferred Christ above ten thousand worlds—and who did not;
who preferred their farms, and their oxen, and their swine,
yes, their very lusts—before a Savior, a Redeemer!
"If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire!" Revelation 20:15
Thursday, August 02, 2007
John Piper - Election
Click Here ---> Listen To John Piper On Election
"If all of us are so depraved that we cannot come to God without being born again by the irresistible grace of God, then it is clear that the salvation of any of us is owing to God's election.
Election refers to God's choosing whom to save. It is unconditional in that there is no condition man must meet before God chooses to save him. Man is dead in trespasses and sins. So there is no condition he can meet before God chooses to save him from his deadness.
We are not saying that final salvation is unconditional. It is not. We must meet the condition of faith in Christ in order to inherit eternal life. But faith is not a condition for election. Just the reverse. Election is a condition for faith. It is because God chose us before the foundation of the world that he purchases our redemption at the cross and quickens us with irresistible grace and brings us to faith."
