Compromise

Yes.  There are times in life where we can compromise.  Simple choices like which restaurant to choose for tomorrow’s dinner, which hotel is best to stay at, and even whether or not to get into an argument about something petty are just a few examples.  As the graphic above states, “There are things that are okay to compromise.  There are things that are not okay to compromise.  Life is about learning the difference.”

However, God’s written Word, the Bible, and His Living Word, Jesus Christ, is NOT included in the “okay to compromise list.”

 

I was reminded of the dangers when compromises of true Christian faith invade the Christian churches when I received an email containing a little parable about pastoral care.

First, a little background on the subject.  Sometimes I get emailed comments when people visit and post at my former Talk Wisdom blog.  Over the years since I had chosen to abandon that particular blog, I usually only get spam comments.

[FYI, the reason that I abandoned that blog was because I did not agree with the new rules that G00gle imposed upon blog owners.  If I signed into that blog to alert readers of my move over to WordPress, then I would have automatically been forced into the agreement.  That is why I could not post a message when I left that blog in order to lead former readers to this blog.]

The post where I received the legitimate comment (although the screen name said “Unknown,”) was written in response to my post entitled, “Compromise + Enabling = Heresy” posted on September 18, 2008.

Excerpt:

There have been so many great posts at many blogs on my Christian Blog List that have touched on the subjects of compromise, enabling and heresy. I think that this is a subject that is one of the most important issues that Christianity faces today.

Does compromise plus enabling equal heresy?

I truly believe that all three are actively at work in today’s postmodern Christian church culture. In years past, those churches that obviously compromised the truth of the Bible and true Gospel (regarding sin, pride of self, ignoring and/or allowing unrepentant rebellion against God and His Word, and the re-making of Jesus Christ in their own image) were typically labeled as the “liberal” wing of Christianity.

However, compromise, enabling and heresy is creeping into Evangelical church circles at an increasingly alarming rate. Those of us (called the elect in God’s Word) who see this are attempting to sound the alarm bells to warn those who may be caught up in such movements.  The call to return back to the Bible and what Jesus said was needed to inherit the kingdom of God, (namely – our need to repent of sin, follow the Law [Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments] and the Prophets;  and abide by the true gospel of Christ is what points us towards righteousness and holiness.

Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

Mar 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.

The “elect” are the truly saved in Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus himself acknowledges that the “false Christs and false prophets” [s]hall deceive the very elect. But notice what Jesus said just before those words – “if [it were] possible!! This means that it isn’t going to happen! There will always be a remnant of the faithful who will not be deceived by powerful “signs and wonders” that will deceive those not genuinely born again in Christ.

Human nature (especially the nature of the unsaved) is likely to deem such terminology as elitist, bragging, or much worse. What they are missing is the fact that it is the humbling of the heart, confession of sin, repentance of all our sin, asking for mercy and grace at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ that enables us to be His (Jesus Christ’s). There is no pride allowed in such an act. We know from whence we came (sinners, desperately in need of the Savior) and that if it weren’t for Christ’s sacrificial, substitutionary death on the cross, WE WOULD ALSO BE LOST FOR ALL ETERNITY. We can’t boast in anything – but the cross of Christ.

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Look at Paul’s instruction for the elect:

Col 3:12 ¶ Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye.

Col 3:14 And above all these things [put on] charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Also, look at Jude’s admonition to seek out the lost and if necessary, pull them out of the fire:

Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

How are we to balance all of this?

Some choose to use compromise so as not to offend anyone.

Others, choose to utilize a certain level of enabling – so as to appear loving, kind, tolerant, and non-judgmental.

Still others, go all the way towards heresy – willingly or unwittingly – and may THINK they are saved but because of following false doctrine, are not.

Read the rest of the post HERE.

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The following is a copy of the comment left by “Unknown” yesterday:

The Parable of the Train Traveler [in England]
by Rollin Grams

His disciples asked him, “Teacher, tell us: What is good pastoral care?”
He replied, ‘A certain man wanted to take a train from Cardiff to St. David. Three priests were standing on the platform with him. The man, who was terrified of train travel, asked the, ‘is this train safe?’
The first priest, who believed that all train travel was safe, assured the man that it mattered not which train he took or where he traveled. ‘You shall be safe,’ he stated firmly, ‘and know of a certainty that the Church has blessed this train.’ Then he gave the man and encouraging smile.

The second priest, who had planned to go to Oxford, said, ‘I shall change my ticket, travel with you, sit beside you to encourage you along the way, and have shared conversations.’ With that, he climbed onto the train with the man, helping him with his baggage.

The third priest, who moments earlier had checked the train news on his Smartphone, yelled, ‘Get off the train! The bridge is out and you shall surely perish, all of you!’

Then, turning to Peter, the teacher asked, ‘Which of the priests gave good pastoral care?’
“I suppose,’ answered Peter, ‘the second one, who stayed off his cell phone and gave the man his full attention and good company.’

Moral to the story:  (my own take)

Peter blew it.  Warning the people, as did the old time prophets (and as both John the Baptist and Jesus did), is a vital part of pastoral care, and sometimes it is the best thing we can do for our congregations, even if they do not want to hear it.

[Posted by Unknown to Talk Wisdom at September 27, 2016 at 10:41:00 AM PDT.]

Recognizing Spiritual Delusion

Yesterday’s post is just one example of the difference between man’s human wisdom vs. “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (see 1 Corinthians 2:4)

When we read and study the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 2 we see and understand “the spirit of this world” vs. “the Spirit who is from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” (See 1 Corinthians 2:12)

The Bible teaches us to “speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy [fn] Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (see 1 Corinthians 2:13)

Paul goes on to instruct us: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

This is why those who are spiritually discerned can think that there is nothing wrong with homosexual behavior (or any other type of sin). It appears to be “foolishness to him.” And, as the verse above states, “nor can he know them.”

Paul concludes the chapter with:

1Co 2:15

But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

1Co 2:16

For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” [fn] But we have the mind of Christ.

Having the “mind of Christ” means that the indwelling Holy Spirit enables us to discern good from evil. Even as Christians, we may not want to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit within on certain issues, but the guidance is there for us to behold and utilize if our free will allows it to sink in.

Years ago at my former blog I wrote a blog post entitled “Recognizing Spiritual Delusion.” It contains important information for every Christian believer who may be struggling with the secular tug-of-war between human wisdom vs. God’s wisdom in the Bible.

The essay discusses the rise of false prophets and the increase of spiritual delusion that will take place the closer we get to the end times.

Once born again in Jesus Christ,  it is ESSENTIAL for Christians to study God’s Word so that they will not fall into such spiritual delusion and thus be taken away into heresy and apostasy.

It is my hope and prayer that visitors here will take the time to read this essay!

In Christ’s service,

~ Christine

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Recognizing Spiritual Delusion

When it comes to studying and understanding the “shadow of coming events” predicted and prophesied in the Bible, no one does a better, more accurate job of communicating exactly what Scripture reveals than Dr. Ed Hindson. If you go to that website and read his impressive resume’, you will, without a doubt, see how knowledgeable he is regarding end times events, Scriptural truth, and biblical prophecy.

One chapter, in Dr. Hindson’s book Antichrist Rising, has stood out in my mind over the past few days. It is the chapter called, “Rise of False Prophets.” The Bible informs us that false prophets and teachers have always been with us. Knowing God’s Word is essential to being able to spot them. We are warned, however, that as the end times draw closer and closer, there will be a rise of false prophets in the world. So, how do we recognize them and most importantly, avoid being caught up in their deception?

According to the Old Testament (OT), we are told that true prophets of God must do three things in order to be considered genuine:

1. must speak in the name of the Lord, not some other god.

2. must have a message that is in accord with God’s revealed truth in Scripture.

3. must give predictions of future events that come true exactly as stated.

Ed Hindson writes:

One of the most scathing denunciations of false prophets in all of Scripture is delivered by the prophet Jeremiah. In his time, Jeremiah had to deal constantly with false prophets who opposed his ministry, contradicted his message, and even conspired to have him killed. They kept telling the leaders of Jerusalem that the people had nothing to fear from the Babylonian invaders, but Jeremiah knew differently. Jerusalem was on the verge of destruction, and the people were about to be taken into captivity for 70 years.

“My heart is broken within me,” Jeremiah confesses in his agony over these false prophets who “…follow an evil course and use their power unjustly” (Jeremiah 23:9,10). “Both prophet and priest are godless,” the Lord responds (23:11). Then He tells Jeremiah His opinion of these false prophets:

Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD (verse 16).

I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied (verse 21).

I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, “I had a dream! I had a dream!” How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? (verse 25)

Yes…I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues….Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams….Because every man’s own word becomes his oracle and so you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God (verses 31, 32, 36).

Jeremiah could not make his complaint any clearer or his case any stronger. God is against those false prophets whose spiritual delusion causes them to invent their own message apart from God’s truth. The Bible presents these people in seven categories…

Before I post those categories, I want to mention a few things that are crucial to this message.

In OT times, the Holy Spirit of God would “come, minister, and then depart from” the prophets of old. Any basic study of the Bible would bear this fact out. The fact that God is depicted as “being with a prophet or person,” but then “leaving that prophet or person” shows this to be true. He is often called, “The Spirit of God” for “The Spirit of the LORD.” For example:

Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Jdg 3:10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

Today, the Holy Spirit works both outside, in the world to influence the unsaved towards repentance and acceptance of Christ as Lord and Savior; as well as inside each saved believer. When a person is born-again (see John 3),  the Holy Spirit resides within the heart of each believer. According to the Bible, Jesus told us that on the day of Pentecost, He would send a Helper for the disciples (and for us today as well):

Luke 11:13   If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Notice that Jesus mentions we must ask for the Holy Spirit to indwell us. After repentance of our sins, we ask Jesus Christ into our hearts and he resides there in the form of the Holy Spirit. Jesus refers to Him as “another Comforter.”

Jhn 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Jhn 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jhn 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, [even] the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Jhn 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

When Jesus was here, physically on earth during his 3 year ministry, he could only be present in one place at a time. After defeating evil, sin and death on the cross for the sins of the world, and His subsequent resurrection to life, he ascended to the Father and now resides at the right hand of the Father in heaven. The Comforter (Holy Spirit) can be in all places at all times and thus indwells each believer in Christ.
We are then promised that He will never leave nor forsake us.

Hbr 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

This is why, no matter what happens to us on this earth, we can have the peace that surpasses all understanding precisely because we belong to Jesus! We can have absolute faith in Him! He’s such an awesome Savior and Lord!

Now, back to the topic of this post.

I left off just before sharing the seven categories that false prophets and teachers can fall into:

Hindson:

1. Self-deceived. Some false teachers may be sincere, but they are still wrong. They have deceived themselves into believing their messages are true. As Jeremiah points out, their messages come psychologically from within their own minds and are not from God.

This is why I have stressed the point that the Holy Spirit of God will not lead you into thinking that contradicts Scripture! The “messages” may come “psychologically” from within one’s own mind, (or, even worse from demons), but they are not from God if it contradicts God’s Word!

Hindson:

2. Liars. Some false prophets are deliberate liars who have no intention of telling the truth. The apostle John says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the anti-christ – he denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22).

Now, admittedly, deliberate liars are easier to spot. However, sometimes the lie is so subtle, that even Christians can be fooled if they don’t have a firm foundation in the truth of the Bible. Notice in Ed Hindson’s second definition of a true prophet, he states:

2. [A true prophet] must have a message that is in accord with God’s revealed truth in Scripture.

God’s revealed truth in Scripture is the operative phrase. Anyone can read, study and even teach from the Bible. But if their ideology does not match up with God’s revealed truth in the Scriptures, then beware! You may be led astray from a false teacher!

Hindson:

3. Heretics. These are those who preach heresy (false doctrine) and divide the church. Of them John said, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us” (1 John 2:19). The apostle Peter said, “There will be false teachers among you. they will secretly introduce destructive heresies….These men blaspheme in matters they do not understand” (2 Peter 2:1, 12).

The phrase, “blaspheme in matters they do not understand” could refer to those under delusion and/or deception. We can all recall several examples of blatantly obvious heretical movements. The Jim Jones cult, the Heaven’s Gate group, and David Koresh. However, there are more subtle groups that would qualify as being called “heretical.”

Hindson:

4. Blasphemers. Those who speak evil of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the people of God, the kingdom of God, and the attributes of God are called blasphemers. Jude calls them godless men who “speak abusively against whatever they do not understand….They are clouds without rain…trees, without fruit….They are wild waves of the sea…wandering stars” (Jude 10,12,13).

We even have a recent example of these types of people! Look no further than This debate between the “Rational Response Squad” and two Christian evangelists.

However, some examples of “blasphemers” are not always as obvious as the atheists who participated in that debate. The ability to subtly “speak abusively against whatever they do not understand.” can apply to false converts, as well. They are often referred to as “sheep in wolves clothing.”

Hindson:

6. Seducers. Jesus warned that some false prophets will appear with miraculous signs and wonders to seduce or deceive the very elect, “if that were possible” (Mark 13:22). Our Lord’s implication is that spiritual seduction is a very real threat even to believers. This would account for the fact that a few genuine but deceived believers may be found among the cults.

Did you catch that? It bears repeating:

A few genuine but deceived believers may be found among the cults!

Now, I am often accused by gay theology proponents of “being judgmental,” or “displaying hate,” or “not being willing to discuss our differences,” or “not living in harmony with,” or “not being willing to accept that which they are preaching,” or “not being willing to compromise,” etc. I could go on and on, (as one well-known blog is named).

But now, we have an example of someone in the gay christian movement who demonstrates, through his own words, his unwillingness to compromise. Besides, it is not written in the Bible anywhere that we should compromise on any issue regarding the Gospel of Christ!

Here’s Mel White’s “gospel”:

“I will sit down with anyone who comes to the table with certain basic positive assumptions about us: that we are here, millions of us, and have the right to be; that our sexual orientation, too, is a gift from our Creator who is pleased when we accept the gift with gratitude and pride; that on average we live productive and responsible lives; that we are perfectly capable of loving, committed relationships and are as equipped as heterosexuals to have families of our own; that uncounted millions of us are people of faith who serve our faith communities with creativity and commitment and patriotic Americans who serve our nation with courage and with honor; that we don’t seek “special rights” just the rights and protections guaranteed all Americans by the Constitution. Our dignity, our integrity, our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, our unqualified acceptance by our Creator are not up for debate.”

Gcmwatch quote:

(Our bold.) What is there to discuss, when he demands 100% concession from us?

Can you see, now, why groups like the “Equality Riders” cannot possibly reconcile with Bible-based Christian believers? Their leader unequivocally states that in order for us to do so, it would require 100% concession (a.k.a. compromise) to his ideology.

It ain’t gonna happen…people.

Why? Because there will always be a remnant of the faithful who will never compromise God’s Word! That’s why!

Hindson:

7. Reprobates. This term means “disapproved,” “depraved,” or “rejected.” Paul refers to those who have rejected the truth of God and turned to spiritual darkness. Consequently, God has given them over to a “reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28 KJV). They have so deliberately rejected God that they have become “filled with every kind of wickedness” (verse 29). As a result, they are “God-haters” (verse 30), whose behavior is “senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless” (verse 31). These people are so far gone spiritually that they know it and don’t care. In Jesus’ own prophetic message, the Olivet Discourse, He warned, “Watch out that no one deceives you….Many will turn away from the faith….And many false prophets will appear and deceive many people….For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles” (Matthew 24:4, 10, 11,24). Our Lord warned His disciples of the possibility of spiritual seduction by false prophets.

There are different levels of reprobation going on out there. From the most severe kinds of reprobation to the more subtle, and perceived “harmless” type like Mel White’s Equality Riders.

Hindson writes:

The Bible describes Satan as the “father of lies” (John 8:44) and pictures him as the ultimate deceiver. His name means “accuser,” and he is depicted as the accuser of God and His people (Revelation 12:10). he is opposed to God and seeks to alienate people from the truth. He misled the fallen angels (Revelation 12:3,4). He tempts men and women to sin against God’s laws (Genesis 3:1-13; 1 Timothy 6:9). He denies and rejects the truth of God and deceives those who perish without God (2 Thessalonians 2:10). Ultimately, he inspires the false prophets and the very spirit of Antichrist (1 John 2:18-23).

The Bible clearly warns us that in the last days people will “abandon the faith and follow deceiving [‘seducing,’ KJV] spirits and things [‘doctrine,’ KJV] taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). These false teachings will come through hypocritical liars whose minds have been captured by Satan’s lies (1 Timothy 4:2).

Thus, the process of spiritual deception is clearly outlined in Scripture:

1. Satan – Father of lies
2. Demons – Doctrines of Devils
3. False Teachers – Messengers of Deceit

The term angel (Greek angelos) means “messenger.” God’s angels are His divine messengers (Hebrews 1:14; Revelation 1:1), and His true prophets and preachers are called the angels of the churches (Revelation 2:1, 8, 12, 18; 3:1, 7, 14). By contrast, Satan is pictured as a fallen angel, the leader of other fallen angels, who deceives the world (Revelation 12:9). He is revealed as the ultimate power behind the Antichrist and the False Prophet who deceives mankind with false religion (Revelation 13:14, 15). Thus, the messengers (angels) of deceit are Satan-inspired false prophets and teachers whose messages are the very spirit of Antichrist.

A century ago, A.T. Pierson, the Bible teacher who often spoke for Charles Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, wrote,

“Evil spirits acquire their greatest power from their subtlety. They are masters of the art of deception, and aim to counterfeit that which is good rather than suggest what is obviously and wholly evil.

A Christian friend once wrote something that was quite simple, but extremely profound (paraphrased below)!

“The greatest deception is not believing that we can be deceived.”

So, as Christian believers, how can we be guaranteed not to fall into deception?

1. The first step, of course, is through repentance for all sin and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior over our lives.

2. The second step is to read and study Scripture; but the most important point in this second step is what Dr. Hindson stated, “we must have a message that is in accord with God’s revealed truth in Scripture.”

3. This leads to the third step. It is knowing and recognizing the seven categories (discussed above) and the types of people who could lead one into spiritual deception and delusion.

Hindson shares why we must be spiritually discerning:

The lure of false doctrine is that it presents itself as the truth. It appears as a corrective measure to established doctrine. It is propagated by those who are certain they have discovered some new revelation of truth or a better interpretation of old, established truth. Either way, they are convinced they are right and everyone else is wrong.

This is Satan’s oldest trick. He appeals to our self-conceit and leads us into self-deceit. When he first approached Eve, Satan questioned the integrity of God’s command and appealed to her selfish desire to be like God – the same desire that led to his own fall. And there is something selfish enough in all of us to want to believe that we can know what no one else knows. C.S. Lewis said,

“What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could “be like gods.”…Out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we can call human history…the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.”

Today, the seduction is even more subtle than Hindson states here (IMHO). We could take one line from above and add to it:

“Either way, they are convinced they are right and everyone else is “intolerant,” or “hateful,” or “uncompromising,” or “out of harmony with,” or, as Mel White stated above regarding his non-biblical view that ‘that our sexual orientation, too, is a gift from our Creator who is pleased when we accept the gift with gratitude and pride,’ and ‘our unqualified acceptance by our Creator are not up for debate.’ “

In the second post on this topic, I will cover warnings that once spiritual deception sets in, it leads, ultimately, to spiritual darkness.

Some thoughts to preview:

1. Pride and arrogance are the sins that lead a person to become spiritually deceived.

2. Satan tempts us with our own self-centeredness and lures us into spiritual darkness with the bait of our own pride. The Bible calls this the “pride of life” (1 John 2:16 KJV).

3. Having been hooked by our arrogance, we are reeled in by our ignorance.

I know. All of this is so devastating and heart-breaking to read. However, there is hope!! It is found in none other than Jesus Christ and His Word, the Bible. Anyone can come out of spiritual deception and darkness! It’s happening every single day!!

I sincerely believe that some people just don’t even realize that they are being deceived. Others, however, know it full well. But for those who may be currently studying under any number of ‘sincere’ preachers who have gotten off the theological track because they don’t know enough theology to realize their errors, you can give them a “test” to see if they are worthy to be in the mission of preaching the Gospel message of Christ.

Just ask them if they are willing to be checked, according to the absolute truth of God’s Word, on the accuracy of a certain doctrine, point, sermon or message that they have preached.

As my pastor has told us several times, he is only human and can make mistakes. That is why our “plumb line” to stay on track when it comes to sharing the gospel and God’s Word, is to stay true to it (utilizing the proper apologetics tools of exegesis, hermeneutics, Sola Scriptura, and Scripture interprets Scripture), to the best of our ability.

If a preacher or leader says that they are not willing to do this, (and/or are also not willing to back up what they have said with Scripture) that could be a good indication that they may be in danger of being off of the proper theological track.

Bottom line? My faith has to be anchored in the truth if it is going to do me, and others, any good. The same is true for you!

In the next section, Hindson mentions that “once theological error falls into ‘ecclesiastical cement’ it is virtually impossible to eliminate it.”

Once a false doctrine is accepted, it can be organized and perpetuated by a religious body, then perpetrated by a false defense (apologetic) which is based upon a false premise. It is then when we see such groups fall down that slippery slope as they accept false doctrine [no matter how much biblical Scriptural truth has been shown to them and has exposed their error(s)] as their “new truth.” They can organize it, categorize it, debate it, systemize it, teach it, and/or demand it; but that doesn’t make it true!!

When it comes to false teachers, the real problem is that the love of their own, skewed, erroneous teaching may drive them to the point where they will refuse to repent of it, even when their error is exposed!

The Bible says, “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18).

Quotations Source: Antichrist Rising by Ed Hindson Copyright 2003 Ed Hindson; Published by 21st Century Press, Springfield, Missouri U.S.A. pp. 40-48 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever or stored in any database or retrieval system without written permission except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews.

 

Jorgé Bergoglio, whose job title is Pope Francis, knows better than the Gospel of Mark? – Dr. Eowyn

Wow! Just when I think that Jorg’e Bergoglio could not be more heretical against biblical Christianity than when he stated: And if at times our efforts and works seem to fail and produce no fruit, we need to remember that we are followers of Jesus… and his life, humanly speaking, ended in failure, the failure of the cross. at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in September, 2015; we also see that in her post entitled, “Pope Francis is ashamed of the Cross, knows better than the Gospels”, Dr. Eowyn over at Fellowship of the Minds has exposed even more disturbing information about this wolf in sheep’s clothing!

Please go to the link, read it all and view the photos. An excerpt here is simply not enough. It is important to read it all!

There is much that could be discussed regarding that post, but today I wanted to zero in on a post in the comment section, written by Steven Broiles, that mentions the infiltration of Freemasonry into Catholicism.

The fact is that Freemasonry has several tentacles that attempt to infiltrate and destroy true Christian foundational truths.

Anyone who is interested in a brief but informative explanation of Freemasonry, I recommend reading Fritz Ridenour’s book, “So What’s The Difference?” (Get the updated version published in 2001.) You will also see the comparison of other religions, cults, and viewpoints that attempt to undermine, challenge or attack biblical Christianity.  Personally, I think that it is VERY important for those of us who adhere to the importance of  biblical Christianity and biblical worldview to be armed with information that is needed to recognize ideologies that are vying for the hearts and minds of people today.

Perhaps many Christians may think that Freemasonry is relatively harmless and that as a networking arrangement for businessmen, it has an added benefit of service to humanity through the Shriner’s hospitals and other good works. But the truth is that Freemasonry, while being a diverse movement, teaches several tenets (listed below) that undermine, challenge and attack biblical Christianity.

1. The Bible is not the unique Word of God.
2. The God of the Bible is identified with other false gods (like “Jah” – Syriac name, Bel “Baal,” “On” – Egyptian god). They even give God a “new” name combining all three of those false gods – “Jabulon.” This Masonic identification of the God of the Bible with pagan deities is blasphemy and is therefore under His condemnation.
3. Jesus is not God the Son, nor is He the Savior of the world.
4. Humans are basically good, even divine, and human nature is perfectible.
5. Freemasonry uses the Bible but deletes Jesus’ name from Scripture references.
6. There is one more where Freemasonry describes itself as being “the universal, eternal, immutable religion” and claims that all religions had a basis of truth and all have overlaid that truth with errors.
Compare John 1:14, 14:6; 18:37; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 John 2:22, for the source of real truth and Scripture’s condemnation of those who claim otherwise.

This post serves as only a very brief overview of Freemasonry.  I encourage all Christians to do their own research on this subject!

~ Christine

Having Their Conscience Seared

Over the past 15 + years of blogging, it has been my experience  that liberal, non-Christian people who occasionally post comments here basically reveal that they object to what I write because they hate what they see as “my viewpoint.”

What I share here comes via God’s Word. Jesus did tell us that I [we Christians] would be hated because they [non-believers] hated Him first.

Jhn 15:18

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.

Jesus’ first words when he began his ministry on earth were, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Mat 4:17

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Repentance is not a popular word in today’s world of increasing immorality and decay.  The acceptance of moral relativism is the way that modern man knowingly, or unwittingly, “gives heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Jesus also stated that he didn’t come to abolish the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them. (In case you are not familiar, this includes the law and prophets of the Old Testament.)

Mat 5:17

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Without confession and repentance [means turning away from sin], through the shed blood of Jesus Christ at the cross, there is no remission of sin.

Surmising that certain sexual behaviors (which secular man now accepts and embraces) are all acceptable even to God, such groups and individuals go about mocking or condemning Christians who know  (through Scripture) that God never has, and never will accept such behaviors!   Those who turn a blind eye to this fact and insist that “there’s nothing wrong with it” and wholeheartedly accept and/or participate in aberrant sexual sin,  do so as the result of one’s conscience being “seared” in such sin.

1Ti 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

1Ti 4:2

speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

Thus, embracing, accepting and/or celebrating sexual sin is an act of turning away from God and listening to the enemy of our souls.

Having one’s “conscience seared with a hot iron” is an analogy used to describe giving in to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.

In a commentary written by A.W. Faussett, he writes:

 giving heed— ( 1Ti 1:4 Tts 1:14 ).
seducing spirits–working in the heretical teachers. 1Jo 4:2, 3, 6, “the spirit of error,” opposed to “the spirit of truth,” “the Spirit” which “speaketh” in the true prophets against them.
doctrines of devils–literally “teachings of (that is suggested by) demons.” Jam 3:15, “wisdom. . . devilish”; 2Cr 11:15, “Satan’s ministers.”

      2. Rather translate, “Through (literally, ‘in‘; the element in which the apostasy has place) the hypocrisy of lying speakers”; this expresses the means through which “some shall (be led to) depart from the faith,” namely, the reigned sanctity of the seducers (compare “deceivers,” Tts 1:10 ).
having their conscience seared—Greek, “having their own conscience,” &c., that is, not only “speaking lies” to others, but also having their own conscience seared. Professing to lead others to holiness, their own conscience is all the while defiled. Bad consciences always have recourse to hypocrisy. As faith and a good conscience are joined ( 1Ti 1:5 ); so hypocrisy (that is, unbelief, Mat 24:5, 51; compare Luk 12:46 ) and a bad conscience here. THEODORET explains like English Version, “seared,” as implying their extreme insensibility; the effect of cauterizing being to deaden sensation. The Greek, however, primarily means “branded” with the consciousness of crimes committed against their better knowledge and conscience, like so many scars burnt in by a branding iron: Compare Tts 1:15 3:11, “condemned of himself.” They are conscious of the brand within, and yet with a hypocritical show of sanctity, they strive to seduce others. As “a seal” is used in a good sense ( 2Ti 2:19 ), so “a brand” in a bad sense. The image is taken from the branding of criminals.

We now understand the seriousness of having one’s conscience “seared with a hot iron.”

Jesus also said:

Jhn 14:15

“If you love Me, keep [fn] My commandments.

Jhn 15:10

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

We are all in need of forgiveness through repentance from sin. Jesus is the only way. Read John 3.

Scripture speaks of “veiled eyes” to “those who are perishing.”

If non-Christians want to think that warning people who are spiritually lost and under the snare of demonic deception is somehow “funny” or not a good thing…then that is their opinion. But through God’s written word, Jesus calls me to contend for the faith, share the truth and share God’s Word with people so that they will see the way out of their slavery to sin and deception.

A new book on Spiritual Warfare, written by Dr. Karl I. Payne reveals that demonic deception is increasing, even within the Christian church (meaning, the liberal kind of churches that accept all sorts of heresy and apostasy; including the deception of sexual deviancy as “normal”), and the book of Jude warns us that the worst of these types of deceptions are still to come.

Payne writes:

If God allows demonic activity to increase until His return, I believe He will also train up and equip a growing number of His children to faithfully and effectively contend with the power of darkness who oppose His plans and people. Too many North American churches are well on their way to becoming the same spiritually dead museums as Western European churches.”

As born-again Christians, we are to combat against the battles of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Throughout Scripture we are told to put on the whole armor of God to become better equipped for the unseen warfare that hinders Christians from living the life Jesus has called us to live.

Jesus said:

Jhn 12:46

“I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

We are to speak out on such issues in order to help people overcome the darkness of sin in their lives and be saved through repentance and faith at the foot of the cross of Christ.

To be honest, I cannot really care what the naysayers think of me.   It is more important what God thinks of me, and sharing the truth as it is written in Scripture and most importantly, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is light-years more important than clamoring for the acceptance of unredeemed man.

2 Corinthians 4

The Importance of “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth.”

H/T for graphic:  biblicalproof.files.wordpress

My television DVR is set to record the Jack Van Impe program on the Daystar network.  Last night, I had the time to view the Saturday, February 21, 2015 episode and it was one of the best I’ve ever seen!

Each program from this ministry is generally very enlightening and educational.  I don’t think that there is anyone in ministry today who has the ability to discern the signs of the times and relate today’s news to the warnings in the Bible (and Bible prophecy) better than Dr. Van Impe. He always backs up his claims with Scripture! THAT is THE MOST IMPORTANT aspect of Christian Apologetics and  teaching!

To view the program online, click here:

 

Jack Van Impe Ministries: 2/21/15 Episode.

 

SOUND DOCTRINE is so IMPORTANT these days because there are many who are GUILTY of preaching a false gospel; and thus are drifting away (and taking others with them!)  from the true faith and gospel of Jesus Christ! Dr. Van Impe isn’t talking to non-believers here, he is talking to Christians! At least he is using the admonition to “rightly divide the Word of truth.”

2Ti 2:15

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Notice that verse in 2 Timothy says to be a WORKER who does not need to be ashamed! And WORKERS for Christ are born-again, Bible-based believers! As WORKERS, we are to “rightly divide the word of truth!” Those who do not – are guilty of heresy and apostasy!

You will notice that Dr. Van Impe talks to EVERY denomination of Christianity – including Catholics! In past videos, he has shown much admiration for Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict. However, he has doubts about the Jesuit priest who became Pope Francis, and he points out this pope’s errors in this video!

Dr. Van Impe also calls out the evangelicals who are not “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

If you are a Christian – of any denomination – please do yourself a favor and view the video at the JVM Ministries link!

There are many verses that instruct us to be diligent, discerning, biblically accurate, rightly dividing the word of truth and to preach proper and sound DOCTRINE!

H/T for graphic:  sounddoctrine.org

 

How do we discern proper and sound doctrine?

By reading, studying, discerning, following, and sharing the truth – according to God’s Word, the Bible, and The Living Word and Son of God – Jesus Christ!

We are called to exhort, and convict, as Titus 1:9 tells us here:

Tit 1:9

holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Hat tip: Jack Van Impe Ministries

Wycliffe Bible “Translators” Turn Insane!

HT for graphic:  kzlam36.files.wordpress.com

Not enough can be said and written about this aberrant, evil, diabolical (yes…as in satan’s snare!), anti-Christ “version” of the Bible that these brain-dead, reprobate, unrepentant, and (as my friend Steve likes to say, “bat-shit crazy”) so-called “translators” of the  Wycliffe group created in order to appease Muslims!! What was so egregious, you may ask?  They conspired to write a Bible version that eliminates the words “Son of God” from Scripture!

In my former post entitled False Prophets and Their Doctrines of Demons, I mentioned the fact that Wycliffe Bible translators must have lost their minds to create a Bible “version” that eliminates the words   Son of God from Scripture!  Can they be THAT delusional and reprobate to even dream up such an awful heresy?

If you haven’t seen the TV broadcast of Jack Van Impe discussing why this is an intolerable and evil development, I would suggest that you view it now.

Jack Van Impe: Program #1503 – 1/17/2015

 

I watched the program again yesterday, and Mr. Van Impe mentions Rick Warren and Bill Hybels, by name, as two heretical “pastors” who are promoting a reprobate theology called “Chrislam.”  Put that title of apostacy into a search engine and you will find over 35,000 links!

One that I recommend is Exposing Chrislam.

 

Excerpt:

This site is dedicated to exposing the deadly heresy of Chrislam which denies the deity of Jesus Christ and seeks to merge the church with Islam.
Chrislam is one of the many end times deceptions warned about in the Holy Bible.

 

There is a report over at The Christian Post where it is denied that Wycliffe is involved with this. However, when I went to that site, they are promoting a link to Bill Hybels. It’s probably a liberal leftist article that is meant to downplay the seriousness of this issue!

Many comments there are really good and in support of genuine Bible translation terminology. In fact, one commenter had this to say:

pierrerashad

12:22 AM on February 08, 2012

How can they even claim this? Do they have no integrity at all? As other comments have shown, it’s still on their website: http://alanbiya.net/downloads/sirat%20almasih/sirat%20almasih%2021.mp3

In this recording, Luke 22:70 is changed from “Are you then the Son of God?” to: “Are you the king, the Calph (successor) of God?”.

I happen to be from Lebanon and I speak Arabic, but it’s sad that Wycliffe thinks it can deceive the public just because most of their supporters don’t speak these languages…

 

Well…there you have it! The author at the Christian Post LIED!

 

We might need to ask, why is Wycliffe doing this? Could there be more reasons than the goal of appeasing Muslims? Could it be for the money as well? They may have made some extra cash with this inaccurate translation being sent to Muslim countries. But will they survive the wrath of Christian denominations that object to them changing not only the text of the Bible, but also the theology of God’s Word?   Such a heretical action is highly egregious – to say the least!

 

Let’s see what the Bible has to say about adding or subtracting from God’s Word:

Pro 30:5

Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.

Pro 30:6

Do not add to His words,
Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Rev 22:18

For [fn] I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add [fn] to him the plagues that are written in this book;

Rev 22:19

and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away [fn] his part from the Book [fn] of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 

HT for graphic:  larrydelacruz.files.wordpress.com

Hat tips to all links.

More articles on this topic:

Before It’s News: PROFANE Politically Correct Bible Translations Aborting Jesus as God the Son and Using “in the name of allah”! An Abomination! Are We HEARING This?

HT for graphic:  epm.org

 

Christians Together: Wycliffe Woes [Be sure to view the 6 minute video at this link or below.]

 

Update at 10:00 a.m. PT on Thursday, January 22, 2015:

For more information regarding where, how, and why and when “chrislam” started, see:

Now The End Begins: Rick Warren’s Chrislam Starts To Spread In America

In an (admitted) photoshopped church marquee at Now The End Begins, there is the word, “Chrislamic.”

Without the “t” chrislam is NOT about Jesus Christ! It’s more about submission to the false god of Islam and thus creating a lukewarm, watered down faith.

“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14-16

False Prophets and their “Doctrines of Demons”

HT for graphic:  darrellcreswellfileswordpress.com

Dear Readers,

It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that Christians [who genuinely want to know and follow Jesus Christ and God’s Word, the Bible] be equipped with the TRUTH; as well as the ability to discern truth from error, which is currently raging within our culture today.  False prophets are wreaking havoc because they are presenting “doctrines of demons” – which is the warning given in the following Bible verse:

1Ti 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

Be sure to read the entire chapter: Blue Letter Bible: 1 Timothy 4:1-16 [Also posted at the end of this blog post.]

This is a post that has been created from a comment thread about the Paris attack by radical Islamic terrorists. I would like to encourage EVERYONE to read this post and view the two REALLY IMPORTANT TV video programs included so below, so that you will be more readily informed about what is happening today! It is essential to know the TRUTH that is in God’s Word, the Bible!  The truth is revealed and known through Jesus Christ, His Son!  The truth is protected within His flock by the Holy Spirit of God in order to reject the “doctrines of demons” being presented today!  The truth is revealed in the Bible and heresy and apostasy is thus avoided.  How can false doctrine be recognized when it is being perpetrated by some false prophets of the “Christian” left?  The evidence is obvious when they demonstrate that they have departed from the true faith of Jesus Christ and the true Gospel!  Individuals can only know the difference when they have read and studied the Word of God – otherwise, they can easily be “tossed to and fro” (as warned in Ephesians 4) in waves of false doctrine.

Comment thread conversation that led to this post:

Christine:

Let’s start with what we both can agree on.

You [GMPilot] wrote:

The chief difference is that Muslims have not learned to exist alongside a secular society. Neither their religion nor their culture has prepared them for this, because it can’t.

After the horrors of WWII, I had hoped we’d learned something from that. But we haven’t; we’ve just turned our antagonisms to another people, and to their beliefs.

Christine:

However, I think that you are missing the point of my posts when it comes to sharing the dangers of radical Islam. It isn’t to unnecessarily “turn our antagonisms to another people and to their beliefs.” The situation is – what it is! People need to face the truth about what the Sunni and Shia brands of Islam believe – and what they want to accomplish. All of the terrorist groups with their different names take the writings of their Koran literally.   And, if you would read about what is written in their so-called “holy” book, it contains the “kill, steal, and destroy” mantra that you [GMPilot] brought up in the past that was hurled upon Jews by Catholicism.

Granted, anti-Semitism can exist amongst any group, including misled “Christians.” But born-again, Bible believing and Christ following Christians depart from such hatred and heretical thinking about the Jews. We know that the Israelites of the Old Testament were God’s chosen people, through which the Messiah – Yeshua (Hebrew name for Jesus)  –  would come into the world to save people from their sins. At the same time, true Christians know that Jesus will return one day on the Mount of Olives, thus we believe in spiritual Zionism.

It is today’s “Christian leftists” who rail against Zionism (there are two kinds – one political and one spiritual) because they blame the Jews for all of the problems around the world – especially when it comes to the made-up group known as “Palestinians.” But that’s another topic for another day.

To find out the Koran verses that promote jihad (includes to kill, steal and destroy), please view:

Jack Van Impe Program #1502 – 1/10/15

Knowing the Word of God and the Son of God, protects us from those who would apostate Christendom.  This is especially true of Islam – which is busy slaughtering Christians and destroying churches. [GM – I never hear anything from you about this – you choose to ignore the horrible atrocities being committed by radical Islam around the world.]

Also, the above video reveals the fact that there are some Bible translators who are “appeasing” Muslims by taking the words, “Son of God” out of their “new” Bible translation!

Also see: Now The End Begins: New Bible Versions REMOVE ‘Father’ and ‘Son Of God’ Because It Offends Muslims

Even the liberal leftist Huffington Post wrote about it! [Search that site with this title: “Wycliffe Bible Translation Criticized Over Trinity Word Substitution In Muslim Countries.”]  I do not want to link to them.

To find out about the leftist “Christians” who are attempting to change the truth of Biblical Christianity, and how the “Issa” of Islam (Islam’s version of Jesus) is NOT the Jesus Christ of the Bible, please view:

Jack Van Impe: Program #1503 – 1/17/2015

In the above broadcast, we find out how “the purpose driven church” written by Rick Warren has steered many Christians away from the truth of Biblical Christianity. Warren wants to “honor” the Muslims, thus he is creating “Chrislam.” That is apostacy and heresy! It has caused much havoc!

Warren doesn’t teach proper doctrine! And he isn’t the only one – there are many doing that in different ways.

2Ti 3:16

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2Ti 3:17

that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2Ti 4:2

Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

2Ti 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

2Ti 4:4

and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

Jhn 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jhn 14:7

“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

I know that you [GMPilot] don’t care about this, but perhaps readers here will need to know about it.

 

1Ti 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,

1Ti 4:2

speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,

1Ti 4:3

forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

1Ti 4:4

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

1Ti 4:5

for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

1Ti 4:6

If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.

1Ti 4:7

But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.

1Ti 4:8

For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

1Ti 4:9

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.

1Ti 4:10

For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, [fn] because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.

1Ti 4:11

These things command and teach.

1Ti 4:12

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, [fn] in faith, in purity.

1Ti 4:13

Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1Ti 4:14

Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.

1Ti 4:15

Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

*******

Also see:

Why Christians and Muslims Don’t Worship the Same God

Hat tips to all links

Jehovah’s Witnesses – At my door – again.

 

Over the past 20 years or so, I have had at least 10 encounters with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Two nice women came to my door a few days ago and I “cut to the chase” immediately with them regarding their rejection of the Trinity and their false labeling of Jesus as “another god.”

I encouraged them to study the Bible on their own too, but they claim that they already have. One was a former Catholic, the other claimed to be a former “Christian” who “discovered” that the belief in the Trinity was not true. I challenged them with Scripture where Jesus says that we should go into all the world spreading the Gospel, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Mat 28:19

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I stated that the term “name” in the verse was used in the singular – and thus our God self-identifies as being triune in nature. The older woman claimed that if what I was saying was true, then the Scripture would have read, “baptizing them in the name of the Father, the name of the Son, and the name of the Holy Spirit. This was a ridiculous claim – on her part – but it just shows how deeply indoctrinated they are. I also said that Jesus claimed, “I and the Father are one.” She replied that he meant it as meaning that they are “one in agreement.”

Finally, I shared that our God had created a world in which we see the Trinity all around us, mentioning how we see it in the Bible, and in physics – especially regarding time and space.

[See post at my former blog: The Trinity All Around You]

At that point, they decided to depart, but wanted to leave their literature with me. I said, “no thank you, but please consider the possibility that what you are being taught could be wrong – then investigate for yourselves.”

 

Next time, I plan to be better prepared with a copy of “God in Three Persons” printed out so that I can hand it to them as they leave my door.

For convenience sake and future reference here at my Word Press Talk Wisdom blog, I include the relevant portion of the post below:

“The first few pages of the booklet discusses various Biblical references to the “God in Three Persons” nature of God. I can post this later if anyone here is interested. For now, I will just share a few brief points:

1. The first verse of the Bible we read, “In the beginning God [Elohim] created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). In Hebrew the word for “God” is Elohim. That word is plural. El is singular, but Elohim is plural. We know it is plural because it contains within it the personalities of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

2. We also read where God said, “Let us make man in our image….and in the image of God created he him”…in his own image (Genesis 1:26-27). “Us,” “Our,” “His.” And so over and over again, even in the Old Testament, when God speaks, He goes back and forth between the singular and the plural, the plural to singular, because He is the singular-plural God.

3. The facts of the Triunity of God are clearly seen in these four facts within the Bible:* The Father is God, said thousands of times.* The Son is God, said hundreds and hundreds of times.* And the Holy Spirit is God (Spirit of God in OT) is said dozens of times.* Finally, there is but one God.

Back to the main reason for this post.

In Dr. D. James Kennedy’s booklet entitled “Understanding the Trinity; Evidence for God in Three Persons,” Dr. Kennedy describes that the universe itself explains the Trinity.

Dr. Nathan Wood, formerly president of Gordon College of Theology and Missions, wrote a magnificent book, The Secret of the Universe. In it he spells out for us the result of years of searching in the natural realm for some kind of analogy that was correct for the Trinity. He finally came up with the universe itself.

It is so simple.

It is right there in front of us.

We can never get away from it.

It is always there.

We ought to see it very clearly.

He points out that any man who manufactures anything or makes anything with his hands is going to inevitably leave his fingerprints upon it. If you were to create a table or chair or something in your workshop, it would contain your fingerprints.

Dr. Wood says that the universe is covered with fingerprints of the Trinity because it was made by the Triune God. The Bible says that the Father created the universe, the Son created the universe, and the Holy Spirit created the universe – the Triune God created the universe.

What does Dr. Wood mean by that?

Well, there are fingerprints everywhere. We just don’t see them.

I would suppose that there are literally millions of fingerprints in this very sanctuary. Did you see any today? Not a one. We are blind as a bat when it comes to fingerprints. We just don’t see them. First of all, we’re not looking for them. Now you might see them at home on a mirror or something like that, but ordinarily, we don’t see fingerprints. However, if a detective were to come in here and begin to dust the wood on the pew in front of you, he would find thousands of them. So let’s put on our Sherlock Holmes cap, get out our dusting brush, and see if we can see the fingerprints of Him who made all things.

What does the universe consist of?

If you were to ask a scientist, he would tell you it consists of space, time, and matter. Now amazing to tell, we find all of those three things everywhere in the universe – not that we have a universe where some of them exist sometimes and not at other times. It is also true that each of the triune parts of the universe is, in itself, triune.

SPACE

Let us look at each one of them. For example, consider space. What is space composed of? It is composed of length and breadth and height. Always. There is nothing you could name that is not composed of all three of those things. If you were to simply take a pencil and draw a line on a piece of paper, it would have length, it would have a little bit of width, and if you looked in a powerful microscope, you would discover it has quite a bit of height. You can’t see it with your naked eye; however, it’s always there.

Something that I think is amazing about this is that God always consists of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – not one or the other. It is not a piece of the pie; it’s the whole thing, always. Imagine a square block that a child would play with. Draw a picture of it in three dimensions. Then you could take that picture, and with a pencil and using all length, you could make a bunch of lines and fill in that entire block with nothing but length. I have done that sometimes in fancy lettering. Maybe some of you have as well. Or you could take the same block and make the whole thing out of width, or out of height. The fact of the matter is that it is all length, it’s all breadth, it’s all height all of the time. That’s a perfect illustration of the Trinity.

TIME

Or take the matter of time. Of what does time consist? Obviously, it consists of the past, the present, and the future – those three. Any time we have ever known in this universe always consists of those three. Usually we have the idea that we come out of the past, that that really is first, because that is where we came from. The fact of the matter is, time comes from the future, and we meet it head on.

For example, today, yesterday was called tomorrow, and now it’s today. A week ago it was called next week, and now it is today. A year ago, it was called next year. So as time approaches us and we move through it, that is what always happens. Anything is first in the future, then in the present, and then it disappears into the past. That is the way time always works. That in itself is an amazing story when you examine it carefully. Past, present, and future.

Dr. Nathan R. Wood gives a fascinating quote that is so remarkable I would like to share it with you. I would challenge you to try to see if you can follow his drift.

He is going to give a long paragraph. Then he is going to give it again, only this time he is simply going to change four words. These four words are “time,” “future,” “present,” and “past”. They are going to be changed into “God,” “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit.”

You are going to find out something some of you never knew before – that time, which you live by, which you look at constantly in the way of clocks you wind up every day, and which you make your lives run by, is an incredible illustration of the divine Trinity.

(Note: To make this paragraph easier to read, I will post it in a prose format).

Read carefully:

“The Future is the source.

The Future is unseen, unknown, except as it continually embodies itself and makes itself visible in the Present.

The Present is what we see, and hear, and know.

It is ceaselessly embodying the Future, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. It is perpetually revealing the Future, hitherto invisible.

The Future is logically first, but not chronologically.

For the Present exists as long as Time exists and was in the absolute beginning of Time.

The Present has existed as long as Time has existed.

Time acts through and in the Present.

It makes itself visible only in the Present.

The Future acts and reveals itself through the Present.

It is through the Present that Time, that the Future, enters into union with human life.

Time and humanity meet and unite in the Present.

It is the Present that Time, that the Future, becomes a part of human life, and so is born and lives and dies in human life.

The Past in turn comes from the Present.

We cannot say that it embodies the Present.

On the contrary, Time in issuing from the Present into the Past becomes invisible again.

The Past does not embody the Present. Rather it proceeds silently, endlessly, invisibly from it…

The Present therefore comes out from the invisible Future.

The Present perpetually and ever-newly embodies the Future in visible, audible, livable form; and returns again into invisible Time in the Past.

The Past acts invisibly.

It continually influences us with regard to the Present.

It casts light upon the Present.

That is its great function.

It helps us to live in the Present which we know, and with reference to the Future which we expect to see.

“That is an exact description of the way time operates. It is a perfect analogy. I’m using “analogy” not in the common sense of the word that something is like something or a simile or metaphor, but in the mathematical meaning of the word, which means it is an exact replica as far as every line, every angle, every corner is concerned.

SUBSTITUTE FOUR WORDS

Now let us replace the words. “Time” is replaced by “God”; the “Future” by the “Father”; the “Present” by the “Son”; and the “Past” by the “Holy Spirit” (every word the same but these four). You will see that perfect analogy and you will see the divine Trinity you have been swimming in all of your life!

“The Father is the source [every word the same, but those four].

The Father is unseen except as he continually embodies Himself and makes Himself visible in the Son.

The Son is what we see, and hear, and know.

He is ceaselessly embodying the Father, day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment.

He is perpetually revealing the Father, hitherto invisible.

The Father is logically first, but not chronologically, For the Son exists as long as God exists, and was in the absolute beginning of God.

The Son has existed as long as God has existed.

God acts through and in the Son.

He makes Himself visible only in the Son.

The Father acts and reveals Himself through the Son.

It is through the Son that God, that the Father, enters into union with human life.

God and humanity meet and unite in the Son.

It is in the Son that God, that the Father, becomes a part of human life, and so is born and lives and dies in human life.

The Spirit in turn comes from the Son.

We cannot say that He embodies the Son.

On the contrary God, in issuing from the Son into the Spirit, becomes invisible again.

The Spirit does not embody the Son.

Rather He proceeds silently, endlessly, invisibly from Him…

The Son therefore comes out from the invisible Father.

The Son perpetually and ever-newly embodies the Father in visible, audible, livable form, and returns into invisible God in the Spirit.

The Spirit acts invisibly.

He continually influences us with regard to the Son.

He casts light upon the Son.

That is His great function.

He helps us to live in the Son whom we know and with reference to the Father whom we expect to see.”

That, my friends, is an exact mathematical analogy that each of the portions of the triunity of the universe are in themselves triune.”

Our Creator is so awesome!! He reveals Himself all around us….in the existence of the universe He created!

 

Watch German Woman Stand up for JESUS against Islam

 H/T for graphic:  CBN.com

 

 

Whenever I walk a few miles with my friend Donna, we always get into such great conversations regarding the Bible, Christianity, and other religions. We discuss what an evil religion like radical Islam does against Christians all over the world, and are seeing ramped up atheistic attacks that are going on against Christian beliefs and practices here in America, too.

Donna sent me an awesome video of a woman [Heidi Mund] in Germany who stood up in her church, protesting that a visiting Imam was allowed to pray to the false god allah in the German Christian church!

 

Watch what this German woman did when a German Church of the Reformation hosted a concert which included an Imam doing the Muslim call to prayer inside the church.   It brings to mind the Dietrich Bonheoffer quote

“Silence in the face of evil is itself  evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”                        This is a brave woman!                                 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=814230481935684

 

Wrote back to Donna and said:

Just watched that video and I’m so glad that she had the courage to do that!  How heretical it was for this “church” to throw her out and not the Imam!  Donna, I think that this is coming to the U.S.  With “pastors” like Rick Warren combining Christianity and Islam – creating the new false religion of “Chrislam” – we who hold to the truth need to speak up against such heresy and apostasy!

That woman in Germany was absolutely correct to protest the Imam at the Christian church!!!  Not too many people (notice that the  congregation either chose to remain silent or chastised her through saying, “it’s just a concert” regarding such heresy happening in their own church!) would have the courage that this woman had to speak up and speak out.

The modern-day mantras of “diversity” at all costs; and “tolerance” (which is actually a code-word used to  appease just one side of the issues while silencing Christian belief) makes matters worse every year.  The term “anti-discrimination” is overly used in order to push the liberal/progressive/pro-Islam bias of the left while stomping on the free speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of association rights of Christians.  Such freedoms are in our founding documents, but since the Constitution is being trashed by the left, these freedoms are being taken away bit by bit, lie by lie, and lawsuit by lawsuit.  What they are doing is trampling on the will of We The People; not only through biased judges in courtrooms, but also  in every way that they can – especially through voter fraud and IRS abuse.

In chapter 13 of the book of Revelation, we learn about the false prophet’s profile, purpose, program, and ultimately, his punishment.

In “Agents of the Apocalypse,” Dr. Jeremiah writes in chapter seven, “The Beast from the Earth”:

I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon.  Revelation 13:11

John describes this religious leader as a “beast coming up out of the earth,” which is obviously a metaphor to describe his predatory nature. He is a man, and he is called “the false prophet” three times in the book of Revelation (16:13; 19:20; 20:10).

John profiles the false prophet as a composite of two opposite types of animals: a lamb and a dragon. As a lamb, he will appear meek and mild–counterfeit of the true gentleness of Jesus. [Jesus] warned His followers of such deceivers: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15; see also Matthew 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; 1 John 4:1).

As a dragon, the false prophet will manipulate and deceive the masses. “The dynamic appeal of the false prophet will lie in his skill in combining political expediency with religious passion, self-interest with benevolent philanthropy, lofty sentiment with blatant sophistry, moral platitude with unbridled self-indulgence. His oratory will be hypnotic, for he will be able to move the masses to tears or whip them into a frenzy…His deadly appeal will lie in the fact that what he says will sound so right, so sensible, so exactly what unregenerate men have always wanted to hear.”

Sounds eerily familiar…doesn’t it?  We have false prophets both in the religious realm and political realm here in the United States.   The question is, can YOU, dear reader, recognize them?

For Christ warned us:

Mat 24:11

“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Mat 24:24

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Mat 24:25

“See, I have told you beforehand.

This brings to mind Paul’s words in 2 Timothy:

2Ti 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

2Ti 4:4

and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

 

 

Also see:

Why Muslims Don’t Worship the Same God as Christians

Which Jesus?

This morning, I got a hate mail message via my Christians Unite guestbook. The following is a copy of the message with my response.

I got hate mail!!

GUEST’S MESSAGE: The problem is not with God or his son. It falls with Gods followers. You preach love but your message is nothing but hate and intolerance. Your hateful words hurt many families and mostly the children of these families. Because of intolerance Children of Gay families are more likely to commit suicide. You go on about protecting children but at the same time you and your right wing followers hurt more children than another group of people. I thank God that not all Christians are nuts like you and your followers and that they follow God true words…love your neighbor. protect all of Gods children. You will lose your unfounded fight and the true children of God will triumph.

I hope you can sleep at night knowing the harm you have caused gay families and single parent families. You and your followers have made Religion a dirty word. You just prove how crazy all of you really are…Keep up the good work! [name purposely withheld]

Dear Hate Mail Writer,

I can’t quite tell whether or not you are a gay christian movement advocate or a non-believer.I would, however, like to invite you to view the following video:

Marriage, The Image of God.

Then, you can come back here and apologize to me for your hateful words towards me, your misrepresentation of the facts concerning true Christian beliefs, and for personally slandering me because I follow Jesus and His Word, the Bible.

The reality is this. It’s not my words that you hate and reject; it is the Word of God and what He says about homosexual behavior that you hate and reject.

God is truly awesome! Right after this I received this email, the Holy Spirit led me to two different resources that immediately spoke to this particular encounter.

First, I was over at the Rock Church message page, and started listening to Miles’ sermon from Feb. 24th, 2008.

Written Outline

Video Link (Click on “A.R.M.Y.- Part 1 Transformation Accountability.”)

Here is a portion of the lesson plan:

In the story of these three friends they remain faithful to God by not bowing down to the an idol as requested by King Nebuchadnezzar. Their faithfulness to God is extreme because not bowing down to the idol meant death!

Daniel 3:1, 4-6 states, King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”

In a situation such as that, how would we, as Christians, respond today? To establish accountability relationships in our lives means giving another person permission to call us out in a loving and encouraging way when we are acting in disobedience to the Lord and vice versa.

Honorable Speech
Not only what we do, but what we say ought to honor God. Foul language, dirty jokes, really shouldn’t come from out mouths. How we speak to others ought to honor God as well.

When facing Nebuchadnezzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego speak with grace and honesty honoring God. Daniel 3:16-18 says, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

You Can’t Be Both…
Sometimes we try to bow down to our idols and be faithful to God, however, this is impossible.Sometimes we try to bow down to our idols and be faithful to God, however, this is impossible. What idol are you bowing down to that you need to rid your life of? If we harbor idols in our lives, whether it be money, the Internet, ourselves, whatever it may be, we need to stop bowing down to our idols.

We must ensure that our God honoring unselfishness guides our actions. Daniel 3:15 states, Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were not thinking of themselves in those moments in which they were asked to bow down to the idol set before them. They were literally putting their lives on the line, and God blessed their faithfulness.

Here in the U.S., we are so blessed by God not to be in a position where a government official would force us to bow down to any particular idol, or be pushed into a burning furnace.

However, there are groups who are pushing for legislation that would have an endgame of forcing us to bow down to their particular idol of choice. What’s worse, is that some of these groups are using Jesus, portions of the Bible (those verses that suit their desires and lust); all the while claiming to be true Christians. Well guess what. They are not worshipping the Jesus of the Bible when they place an idol in front of their obedience to Jesus Christ.

I am currently reading, “The Case for the Real Jesus” by Lee Strobel. It is about how a journalist (former atheist turned Christian) who investigates current attacks on the identity of Christ.

The book covers a multitude of attacks upon Jesus and his true identity. Some examples include the infamous “Jesus Seminar,” the “Gospel of Judas,” the “Gospel of Thomas,” “Gnosticism,” and “The Da Vinci Code.” All of these are exposed for the lies that they are by well-supported facts and arguments. The reader is left to reach their own verdict. What is found is the real truth about Jesus.

Chapter Six is entitled, “People Should Be Free to Pick and Choose What to Believe about Jesus.”

I think that title describes the current gay “christian” movement’s popularity. The trouble is, which Jesus are they really serving?

Just before the following excerpt, the discussion was about the fact that we can’t change reality just by refusing to believe certain doctrines that Jesus affirms.

Quote:

We may not like the doctrine of hell, but that can’t change the objective reality of whether or hell exists. We can’t wish it out of existence. It either exists, as Jesus affirms, or it doesn’t.”

Strobel replies that “everything goes back to the resurrection” of Jesus Christ.

Author and scholar, Paul Copan, Ph.D., replies,

“That’s true. If Jesus really was resurrected from the dead, then this vindicates his claims that he really is the unique Son of God. And if he’s the unique Son of God, then we can rely on his teachings being true. And so when we add things or subtract things from his treaching, we’re in error, because we’d be believing something that doesn’t correspond with reality.”

People, the gay christian movement, the emergent church movement, the New Age added to Christianity movement, and all the other heresies out there don’t correspond with reality!

Excerpt:

Which Jesus?

Copan’s [previous] mention of reincarnation turned my thoughts to a related line of inquiry. “So often, people who want to create their own religion will include the idea of reincarnation,” I said. “Why is that?”

“Some people in the West see reincarnation as another crack at life in order to get things right, sort of like the movie Groundhog Day. There’s an attraction to saying we have many opportunities and not just one lifetime. Actually, the reality is quite different.” He gestured toward me. “You’ve been to India, right?”

“I’ve spent some time there, yes,” I said.

“I have too. And I’m sure you’ve noticed that reincarnation is a very oppressive burden in that Hindu culture, as it is in the Buddhist world,” he said. “For example, if you’re a low caste or no caste Hindu, then you’re stuck at that low level because that’s what you deserve from your previous life. And people shouldn’t reach out to help you, becuase they might jeopardize their own karma by interfering with you living out the miserable existence that you deserve.”

I knew he was right. What sounds on the surface like a magnanimous belief that gives people multiple opportunities to live a better life turns out to create a devastating situation for millions upon millions of people who are mired in hopeless poverty day to day.

Another belief that people frequently add to their customized faith is the idea that we’re all divine. “What about this tendency to make ourselves God?” I asked. “Shirley MacLaine said, ‘The tragedy of the human race was that we had fogotten that we were each Divine.’ Why do people tend to gravitate toward that conclusion?”

Copan miled. “I would rewrite her statement by saying the tragedy of the human race is that we’ve forgotten we’re God’s creatures! That’s the problem,” he said, his tone lighthearted but emphatic at the same time. “Given a choise, we tend to select beliefs that elevate who we are, that diminish personal responsibility, that give us greater freedom to call ‘good’ what the Scriptures call ‘sin,’ and that put ourselves in charge of our own destiny, rather than saying to Godk, as the psalmist did, ‘My times are in your hands.’ We want to create our own guidelines that don’t put any demands on us.

“We all know deep down that we’re flawed and imperfect. What kind of god would that make us? We flatter ourselves when we try to put ourselves in the place of God rather than acknowledge that we are God’s creation and that we need to give God his rightful place. We don’t need to be more self-centered than we are; we need to be more God-centered. We can’t find the real Jesus by thinking that we’re his equal.”

His comment about the “real Jesus” sparked a thought. “These days if someone says he believes in jesus, you almost hafve to say, ‘Which Jesus?'” I observed.

“Unfortunately, that’s true,” he replied. “We’re living in an age of biblical illiteracy, where a lot of people have cobbled together beliefs of Jesus. If we ask which Jesus a person believes in, we may be surprised to find that it’s a Jesus who said and did things that no serious scholar believes the historical Jesus did. Or he may be a Gnostic Jesus, sort of an abstract teacher of amorphous sayings who’s divorced from history. But I can’t stress this enough: What we believe about Jesus doesn’t really affect who he is,” he siad, his voice emphasizing each word.

That statement seemed pivotal. “Please, elaborate on that,” I urged.

“Our beliefs can’t change reality,” he said. “Whether we choose to believe it or not, Jesus is the unique Son of God. How do we know? Because he convincingly demonstrated the trustworthiness of his remarkable claims through his resurrection. He is who he is, regardless of what we think. So we have a choice: we can live in a fantasyland of our own making by believing whatever we want about him; or we can seek to discover who he really is –and then bring ourselves into alignment with the real Jesus and his teachings.”

Amen!! Powerful, powerful truth!!

All of these heresy groups that try to make Jesus “in their own image” rather than seeing Him as what God reveals about Him through Scripture, are guilty of leading people astray from The Real Jesus!!

Don’t be fooled by these groups and their false teachers, people!!

Christine

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Colossians 2:8

The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong to those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. 2 Chronicles 16:9

HT: The Rock Church

Lee Strobel.com