SCHOOLING OUR CHILDREN

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education. --Mark Twain

What is right? For me, I would never consider having the government indoctrinate teach my children.
No, I am not one of these who think that there is a conspiracy behind everything the government does. I just don't think it is right for them (using my tax dollars) to teach my children that their ancestors used to walk on all fours or that homosexuality is fine.

For me and my family homeschooling is the only choice. We homeschool not only because of the obvious reasons but out of strong conviction that this is what is right. By doing this we can monitor what our children are taught in their formative years. Those "formative" years are going to be what molds their minds and values. How do I justify a pagan (not in all cases) teaching my children the above mentioned garbage? How do I justify a teacher/principal sending a note home to me telling me that my child is hyper?
Or should I be upset that school nurses are sending home notes telling parents to have their child test for ADD or ADHD? Should I be concerned that an explosive amount of parents have their children on Ritalin at the advice/request of these governmental institutions called schools?
I thought little ones are supposed to have energy.

On a side note...what is Ritalin doing to our children? Here is an interesting article about the favored dope for children.
The military still will not give a clear answer to whether they will or will not accept people into the military who have a history of taking Ritalin.
"But my child needs it. He could not cope with school if it were not for his medicine." What a total rubbish!! What did our parents and grandparents do about it when they were young? Discipline and love.

What about Christian or private schools? Christian schools (and many private schools) have become reform schools or holding tanks for those that the public school cannot handle and have expelled.

Who better to handle, teach, and love our children but us. It is not right to DUMP our children out so that someone else can do what we are supposed to do. It is not right to be mad when the teachers have a work day and the kids are out because you don't have a babysitter so you have to stay home with them.

Lastly, who has more influence on our children? Our children are at public schools for 7-10 hours a day. We see them maybe an hour before school and a few hours after school. Do the math.

"School is the advertising agency which makes you believe that you need the society as it is." -Ivan Illich in Deschooling Society

I will continue this topic in a few days.

To Santa or Not To Santa

In our home we do not acknowledge Santa. On a practical level I have a hard time giving credit to a fat guy in a red suit who really does not exists. I also have a hard time lying, yes lying, to our children about a fictional character on a yearly basis.

I know some of you think that I am hindering the children's joy of Christmas, killing their precious little imaginations and overall just taking the fun out of the holidays. I disagree. I think that Santa, just like the "Easter Bunny," really takes the focus off of the original intent (Christ's birth or Christ's resurrection) and shifts it to something that is not real. I did not say that Santa is really Satan spelled differently or that the Bunny is wicked. I just think that we need to shoot straight with our children in a day where diversions are the order of the day.

What do you think? Do you home acknowledge these characters in your home and if so, why?

YET ANOTHER "OUCH"ER

"I grant freely that it costs little to be a mere outward Christian. A man has only got to attend a place of worship twice on sunday, and to be tolerably moral during the week, and he has gone as far as thousands around him ever go in religion. All this is cheap and easy work: it entails no self-denial or self-sacrifice. If this is saving Christianity, and will take us to heaven when we die, we must alter the description of the way of life, and write, “Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to heaven!"
-J. C. Ryle

ANOTHER "OUCH"ER

"Everywhere there is apathy. Nobody cares whether that which is preached is true or false. A sermon is a sermon whatever the subject; only, the shorter it is the better."
-Charles Haddon Spurgeon

THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT

Recently our pianist gave me a picture of this outfit out of a flyer that came in the newspaper. I told the church that this is what Christmas is all about now. I, me, my, mine, etc. Worship of self runs rampant and we feed it with trash like this. If you have not already noticed, please read the message on the onesie. All the while we are so troubled at the hedonistic, self-centered, selfish, non-disciplined lives of our offspring. As I said earlier it is our fault, plain and simple.

Ouch!!

“If the gospel were more faithfully preached, there would be fewer people professing to believe it.”
--A. W. Pink

I came across this quote on christianresearchnetwork.com recently and it hurt. I mean it hurt because as a pastor I am responsible for preaching the whole counsel of God and sometimes we don't lay it out as strong and straight as we should. It makes me wonder if one of the reasons that many think they are saved (besides their spiritual blindness) is because we as pastors and preachers give them such a watered down version of the gospel that it is no longer the gospel but a freakish substitute.
What do you think?

IT IS OUR FAULT!!

Romans 3.23 says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." It is a verse that we as believers understand well. We also can look at our children and see that the sinful nature is quite active in them as well.

It humors me when I hear some comment as they look around at kids and their behavior and think how kids are "different" today than when they were growing up. "Things are different for them" is what we hear. "They have a lot more things to distract them" is another one that we hear.

I submit to you and everyone else that kids are no different than they used to be. Think about it. Is there really a degree of lostness? I have not noticed any scriptures that would lead me to believe that some have a greater proclivity to sin than others. I think we all would agree that there are some that are more wicked in their behavior than others but that does not mean that they have a stronger willingness to sin whereas others may not. If that be the case then we might as well say that some are born with no sin and others are born with loads of sin.

The problem comes from us as parents. Proverbs 13.24 says "He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently."

As a pastor, parent and a simple observer the problem is obvious. We want to be our child's buddy rather than his/her parent. We don't want them to be mad at us or to be hurt. So, we withhold punishment (specifically the "rod" but not exclusively) thinking that he/she will straighten up and "walk the line." This is foolish thinking. What motivation does a child have to straighten up if you condone (and that is what we are doing) their behavior? In actuality we are giving them mixed signals. We are showing them that there is no right and no wrong or in a word, relativism.

Writing this post made me think of a previous post. We are doing our children a colossal disservice by not disciplining our children. We have to face the facts.

IT IS OUR FAULT!!

THE EARLY CHURCH WOULD HAVE THROWN THEM OUT!

Why is it that we do our best to just get along with everyone? Now don't get me wrong. I am not saying that we need to create enemies at every turn. I am not saying that we should try to find the wrong in others in hopes that we can create divisions. What I am saying is that we, as believers, need to really be careful who we support and and give our attention to.

We have to decide what our boundaries are within doctrine when it comes to who we keep company with and who we part company with. I bring "to the table" Oneness Pentecostalism and two of its adherents; T.D. Jakes and the popular contemporary "Christian" group Phillips, Craig and Dean.

Oneness Pentecostalism espouses the antitrinitarian viewpoint which rejects the Trinity (the doctrine that God is three distinct persons in one being.) I bring this up because both Mr. Jakes and PCD (Phillips, Craig and Dean) are all pastors and supporters of this belief. Here are a few more of their beliefs...

1. Denies justification by faith alone by stating that baptism is also required for salvation.
2. Jesus is God the Father.
3. Jesus is the Holy Spirit.
4. The name of God is "Jesus."
5. Baptism is necessary for salvation.
6. Denies pre-existence of the Word as the Son. Teaches that the He existed as the Father.
7. Being born again means repentance, baptism, and speaking in tongues.
8. Baptism must be administered by an ordained Oneness minister to be valid.
9. Baptism must be administered with the phrase, "In the name of Jesus" instead of the phrase, "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19).
10. Speaking in tongues is a necessary requirement to demonstrate that a person has been baptized in the Holy Spirit, and is, therefore, saved. It is claimed to be the initial sign of the infilling of the Holy Ghost.
11. Women may be pastors.
12. Only Oneness people will go to heaven.

Antitrinitarianism is nothing more than Modalism. Modalism made popular in the third century by Sabellius taught that the monotheistic God progressively revealed Himself through the offices of the Trinity. Interestingly, Sabellius was excommunicated from the Church for his false teachings.

The Oneness Pentecostal teaching that God "manifested" Himself through the offices of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit comes directly from Sabellius, who even used the term "manifesting" to define his doctrine.

"But, have you heard how good PCD sings?" "Have you seen how many people go to the Potter's House where Bishop Jakes pastors?"

My response is WHO CARES? They deny a foundational doctrine of the church and we are supposed to just "not worry about it" and just get along??

I think we should come against this cultic teaching and separate ourselves from it and from them.

THE EARLY CHURCH WOULD HAVE THROWN THEM OUT.

PAPAL SIGHTING

This just in...

It appears that Pope John Paul II has been spotted. According to the Vatican Television Director and close friend of the late leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Hundreds had attended the ceremony. Gregorz Lukasik, the Polish man who took the photographs, said: "It was only afterwards when I got home and looked at the
pictures that I realised I had something.
"I showed them to my brother and sister and they, like me, were convinced the flames had formed the image of Pope John Paul II.
"I was so happy with the picture that I showed it to our local bishop who said that Pope John Paul had made many pilgrimages during his life and he was still making them in death."

If he is still making them then why does the RCC have Joe Ratzinger in the pontiff's seat?

And even more importantly...

Why is the late pope appearing in the fire? Shouldn't he be waving to us from the wings of glory?

YELLA

In old movies the coward of the movie was often called "Yellow" or "Yella" (for those of us in the south). We often understood it to be someone who would not stand up for they believed in.

Well, this story is about a group of "Yella" people.

A Christian organization that provides motivational speakers to high schools
has apologized to a school after one speaker made comments that could have been
interpreted as opposing abortion and support heterosexual relationships....

"The issue … was that the speaker indicated a pro-life stance when it came to
the abortion issue, and when it came to homosexuality and/or the gay issue, she
could have been interpreted as an anti-gay stance," Bob Poe......

"We have never taken speakers into the school system to deal with those
issues," he told WND. "I think we would rather that the speakers we bring to
schools not deal with topics that are controversial, that the school desires to
remain neutral about, although as YFC, an organization, we are pro-life and
pro-heterosexual."

Well, this group's name is Youth for Christ. I think they had better change their name because the name of Christ can be very controversial.

My question is "Must we always cower in fear if we offend them with our convictions or salvation?"

Are there any Christians out there that are not scared to stand up for what they believe in and will not cave in to public pressure?

Are you Yella?

BIRTH CONTROLLING

What do you think? Should Christians use birth control? Is avoiding certain days OK or is it wrong? We see in Scripture that it says to be fruitful and mulitply.
How many is a quiver full family?
I also know that some say "that God does not want us to have anymore." I also know that it is easy for all of us to say that God is leading us to do something or not to do something if we don't want it because we know you can't argue with God.

**I do not want to debate types of birth control and such. I simply want to discuss if birth control is a good thing in general.

YEAH...RIGHT!

It has come to my attention that Rudy (I want your conservative vote) Giuliani prays to Jesus for guidance.

One question. Does Jesus give Mr. Giuliani wisdom and advice when he advocates the killing of unborn babies? NOT POSSIBLE!!

He goes on to say...

"I'm guided very, very often about, `Don't judge others, lest you be judged,'" Giuliani said in the CBN interview. "I'm guided a lot by the story of the woman that was going to be stoned, and Jesus put the stones down and said, 'He that hasn't sinned, cast the first stone,' and everybody disappeared. It seems like nowadays in America, we have people that think they could've passed that test.

People love that verse when they want to silence their critics.

My problem is not with casting stones or assuming that I have never sinned. My problem comes with the fact that in a time when he needs to be religious he turns on the Jesus talk.

To me this is what the chameleon does. He is able to blend with whatever company he's in.

I know that this brings up a huge point but it has to be mentioned. I know that most of us have a personal litmus test a candidate must pass before they can garner our vote. The first test for me is abortion. Abortion is murder any way you look at it, even in rape or incest. It is wrong and it is murder.

For a candidate to tell me that he prays for wisdom and guidance from the Lord and supports killing unborn babies there is simply a conflict of interests. To me, this is not workable, credible or even negotiable. I cannot, with a good conscience, vote for Rudy Giuliani.

Rev., Brother, Deacon, Sister, Pastor, Elder, Dr., Prophet, Preacher, etc.

Melissa brought up this title a few weeks ago. It is a post that is hard to "title."

Should we address each other as brother John and sister Melissa. What about the deacons and pastor. As a pastor I wonder what it would be like to have someone call me Right Reverend Dr. Pastor Preacher _________?

Can these titles become a source of pride? Do we like titles because it makes us feel important or superior to someone else?

What do you think?
What does your church practice?

UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION

Mike Ratcliffe does a good job going over the issue of Unconditional Election. It is not an exhaustive work but is anything an exhaustive work. As he starts out...

"The Doctrine of Unconditional Election is not for sissies."

SIN

Steve Fuentes suggested this little question...

From whence did sin come? Is it God or the devil? What are the implications of what you believe about this?

IDEAS

Every week or so, I will write about a topic of your choice. If you have a request, please email me at deadtheologians@gmail.com

WITH JESUS

“Now, I know that someday I am going to come to what some people will say is the end of this life. They will probably put me in a box and roll me right down here in front of the church, and some people will gather around, and a few people will cry. But I have told them not to do that because I don’t want them to cry. I want them to begin the service with the Doxology and end with the Hallelujah chorus, because I am not going to be there, and I am not going to be dead. I will be more alive than I have ever been in my life, and I will be looking down upon you poor people who are still in the land of dying and have not yet joined me in the land of the living. And I will be alive forevermore, in greater health and vitality and joy than ever, ever, I or anyone has known before.”

D. James Kennedy, Ph.D.

BAPTISM

One interesting part of the Christian life is working out how we feel about the ordinances of the church, namely communion and baptism. How this relates to church membership also adds another angle to the mix.

This post got me thinking. The issue at hand is baptism. We know the modes of baptism are different. We also know that the reasons for baptism are different for some. The question I have is ...

Can someone join your church (or should they be able to) if they have not been baptized in the mode that your church recognizes and for the same reasons your church recognizes?

Should that person be allowed to join AND participate in communion?

I welcome your comments as this discussion is normally a good one.

ANOTHER INTERESTING POST

I came across this post after scouring through my comments section.

It deals with the idea of fundraising at churches. I have had a problem with it for years. To drive by a church and see a "yard sale" on the front lawn of the church just kills the idea of what church is about.

The other posts on this site are also very good so give it a look.

TATTOOS-Part 2

Is this type of tattoo (which is called Embedded) any different than the post before on tattoos? Where does altering your body become sinful? Where does altering your body become nothing more than vanity which is sin. I know that many out there want to push "Christian Liberty" but where is the line? I find it interesting that some classify this as "art" and therefore is off-limits to critics because of "free-speech." To me that is not even a stretch, that is simply foolish.

What about piercings? Is this another topic or does this fall in the same line?

For my critics out there let me make some disclaimers.

-I am not discussing those who have already had this done.

-I am not discussing those who are not saved.

-I do not care if someone is using it to "witness" to those around them. You know who you are.

-I did not say that anyone having anything done to their body is going to roast in Hell.

INTERESTING POST

I would like to hear what you think about this post that I came across today.

It made me think about the state of the church today in general.

How Dead is Dead?

I hear about being dead in sin. Then I hear "choose Christ."

If you are dead in your sins how can you "choose Christ"?

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain...John 15.16

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him...John 6.44

If God is on one side voting for you to be saved and the devil is on the other side voting against you being saved and you have the deciding vote then it appears the power is in your hands.

And if God does want everyone to be saved then why do you pray for people to be saved? And if He wants everyone to be saved then once again, man is in control.

Does man really have 51% of controlling interest in his salvation? How about 50-50? That would put Him and man on an even level.

These illustrations sound ridiculous don't they? So does the idea that man is in control of his destiny or salvation. Salvation is 100% totally of God by God and for God. Pride is the sin that makes us want the credit for our salvation.

JUST PLAIN SIN

It is obvious that I need to clarify something. The couple that is mentioned below is living together. They had a "living together service" in which they:
1. wanted man's approval and blessing and
2. God's blessing on them and their family.

They were not married in this service legally or morally. That was not the intention of this service. The service was a celebration of living together.

I came across this within the past couple of months. It is true. I have changed the names to protect the wicked participants.

The Uniting of George (Jr.) Howard and Brenda Sue Mathers
June 20, 2007 at 11:30am
Jones County Recreation Park

Inside the program it says...

Unity Blessing
Patricia Wahman assisting

Opening Song by ......

We have come together as family and friends to witness the joining together of George and Brenda as they unite their lives together as a couple. We gather to ask God to bless their union.

George and Brenda wish to declare their commitment to each other to love, comfort, and honor each other in sickness and in health and be faithful to one another as long as they live. George and Brenda take seriously the full nature of this commitment of joining their lives together.

We celebrate with them that they have been drawn together in love and that they desire to please and serve God in this new relationship.

Let us listen to the words from 1Corinthians 13:4-8

Therefore, George, without reservation, do you pledge to love, honor, cherish, and care for Brenda all of your days?
George: "I do"

Brenda, without reservation, do you pledge to love, honor, cherish, and care for George all of your days?
Brenda: "I do"

Presentation of the rings:

The ring is a symbol of everlasting love. There is no beginning or end to it, just as their is no beginning or end to your love for one another. Do you George, pledge your love to Brenda by giving her this ring?
George: "I do"

Do you Brenda, pledge your love to George by giving him this ring?
Brenda: "I do"

Let us join together in prayer.
The Lord's Prayer sung by James Couch

As George and Brenda begin their life together, let us now pray for God's blessing on their home.
Ever loving God, we pray that you will bless the home that George and Brenda now begin. Unite their families in love and understanding. We pray that they will grow in love and peace with God and each other all their days and that George and Brenda may reach out in concern and service to each other and to others through Jesus Christ. Give them patience and understanding toward each other. Help them remember their past loved ones but to look to their future together with hope and joy. We rejoice in their union and pray your blessing on them. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen

George and Brenda will be at home at 29 Peach Trail Somewhere, USA

This was a ceremony for two people to shack up together. This is not a wedding ceremony. It is a "live together ceremony." I know the person who knows this couple. This couple was living in sin and wanted the community's approval of their sin with God's blessing.

WICKED

NEEDS NO COMMENT

TATTOOS-Part 1

I am totally amazed at the attitude toward tattoos these days. I hear people say stuff like "Have you seen Kelly's new tattoo? I have just got to get one."

I remember growing up in the early 70's and seeing a lot of people with tattoos. The people, as I remember it, that had the tattoos were the tough-rebellious group. The tatoos were pretty basic with the dark green ink sharing its message with all to see. The 80's and 90's did not seem to be as colorful (tattoos, that is). In the 2000's the needles starting coloring again.

As Christians what is the view that we should have toward tattoos? Should we just think that it is part of the culture and it is not hurting anyone.

"Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." Leviticus 19.28

Is this verse still applicable today? Does this verse apply if we have a "Christian tattoo?"

What if we have a little one on our ankle like so many today? Is that Ok? What about the new embedded tattoos?

I like what Tony Capoccia said...

"I think the spirit of Lev. 19.28 is that we are to respect the human body for it is a gift from God to us to use, and that it is the temple of the Holy Spirit:"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]

Since God said to honor your body, then Satan will try to dishonor it! We have seen the pagan cultures do all kinds of bizarre things to the body to honor their false gods (demons)--they cut their bodies, put rings in many places, paint and tattoo, and do other awful things.

Is it any wonder, as our culture continues to turn away from the true God that we are beginning to degrade our bodies more and more."

"Tattooing is often a magical rite in the more traditional cultures, and the tattooist is respected as a priest or shaman."(Michelle Delio, Tattoo: The Exotic Art of Skin Decoration, p. 73)

"The actual tattooing process, which involved complex ritual and taboos, could only be done by priests and was associated with beliefs which were secrets known only to members of the priestly caste. . . Hambly concluded that historically tattooing had originated in connection with ancient rites of scarification and bloodletting which were associated with religious practices intended to put the human soul in harmony with supernatural forces and ensure continuity between this life and the next." (Gilbert, Steve, Tattoo History: A Source Book, p. 158)

Famous witch and author Laurie Cabot writes of the tattoo:"The origins of tattooing came from ancient magical practices. . . "(Laurie Cabot, Power of the Witch, cited in Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated by Dr. Cathy Burns, p. 301)

NEVER!!!!

It seems that a Catholic Bishop has figured out a way for other religions and Muslims to live in peace...for everyone to call God "Allah."

NEVER, NEVER and NEVER!!!

For all of my Papist readers, how can someone encourage this and be saved? This is a slap in the face of a holy God. Allah is a demonic illusion posing as God. Allah's real name is Satan.

Truth cannot be put aside for the sake of unity.

Bragging Rights

The Isle of Hope has another good post. This is very true. As a pastor I can vouch that bragging in the ministry is commonplace. It is utterly shameful.

Emergent Posters

I was doing my usual checks of blogs and sites and noticed that I forgot to mention this one

http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/posters.htm

I have been watching the "poster" post for a bit now and it seems to get better by the day. Tell me what you think.

Music

Most of us are aware of Eph. 5.19 "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord."

Is this a mandate dictating the music we should have in church or listen to personally?

As a Christian we must decide how we feel about about music. Should we only listen to Christian and if so what constitutes "Christian." Is it Southern gospel, hymns, praise, choruses, contemporary, and etc?

On the other hand are we free to listen to secular music? What about classical or jazz? Love songs are fine aren't they? We've heard it all but the question is still there.

From a personal standpoint I feel that I cannot listen to secular music. I do listen to jazz occasionally and classical regularly. Other than that I listen to contemporary Christian and hymns with some praise.

I say that I cannot listen to secular because:

1. I was a slave to rock music before I was saved. I had a very difficult time giving that stronghold to the Lord. I realized what a hold music had on me.

2. The verse listed above.

I suppose some would say that the jazz that I occasionally listen to does not lift up the Lord and they are right. Believe it or not though, the classical that I listen to often does make me think on things above.

Before you write me and tell me that these are my personal convictions and you can listen to what you want just think about it for a moment. Most of the country and rock music of today is self focused and definitely not honoring to God. How can I repeat most of these words when they are about me, sex, vengeance, or sinful habits? What does the music that you listen to in private or in church make you think about? Is it the beat or is it the Savior?

I know that this one subject can put a charge into the most relaxed of individuals. But think about it and let me know your thoughts.

Spurgeon on Free Will

"Philosophy and religion both discard at once the very thought of free will; and I will go as far as Martin Luther, in that strong assertion of his, where he says, `If any man doth ascribe of salvation, even the very least, to the free will of man, he knoweth nothing of grace, and he hath not learnt Jesus Christ aright.' It may seem a harsh sentiment; but he who in his soul believes that man does of his own free will turn to God, cannot have been taught of God, for that is one of the first principles taught us when God begins with us, that we have neither will nor power, but that he gives both; that he is `Alpha and Omega' in the salvation of men."

"Their foot shall slide in due time"- Deut. 32.35

Free(?) Will

I came across this post and it made think about the idea of "Free Will." I would be eager to hear your view on this. Please do keep in mind though that this topic can really get heated.

People want to feel that they have a free will. I think it all boils down to the fact of pride. We want to feel like we have a say in what goes on. We want to think that "God does His part and we do ours." In one way this statement is correct. God does do His part. He chooses, convicts and draws us to Himself. We also do our part. Our part is sin, sin and sin. We run from God. We hide from God. We are opposed to God on all fronts. Salvation is totally and wholly His. He initiates it and completes it.

We have sinfully made salvation a man thing. If you really think about it from man's point of view salvation totally is up to man.

It goes like this. "Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart. Just let Him come in. He is waiting on you to make a decision for Him. He is ringing His holy hands hoping that today will be the day."

What an unscriptural view of salvation. We moved God out of His seat of Omnipotence and taken His place. If we teach that God is really limited by what we do then salvation is all about man and not God.

Pastor's School Update 2

I wanted to give one more update as to the happenings at Beeson Divinity School's Pastor's School in Birmingham, AL.

When my family and I arrived we each received a nice duffle bag with somet things inside. Keep in mind that I shared in an earlier post that I was afraid this conference had been going downhill over the past several years with its heavy emphasis on ecumenicalism. One of the items in the duffle bag was a Lead Like Jesus Seminar DVD with Ken Blanchard and Erwin McManus. I knew that was a problem. It found its way to the trash.

A friend, while we were there asked me to look over a handout he received while at a session on Suffering and Evil. The leader of the class, a Ph.D, M.D. and a professor at the school proceeded to give his deistic view of the happenings of the world and that God cannot intervene and that many things happen by mere chance. Buffoonery

The week left me mentally rested but spiritually bothered by the throng of Rodney King Theology ideas and viewpoints. Is this where everything is headed?

On a brighter note Calvin Miller seems to have changed a bit. Over the past couple of years Miller has been a little too liberal for my liking and seems to have been friendly with the mystical crowd. In the session I went to he seems to have made a strong change back to his roots. It is clear that he is not Calvinistic in his theology but his strong evangelistic fervor and desire to see the church be the church and not follow the church growth methods was refreshing.

I am contemplating if I will attend the Pastor's School next year.

Pastor's School Report-Catholicism update

This week I am at Beeson Divinity School's Pastors School at Samford University in Birmingham, AL.

My family and I have been coming to it for the past 9 years. It has been a source of mental rest for me and at times spiritual encouragement. Over the past 3-5 years I have noticed a strong tendency toward the ecumenical movement. It has bothered me because when this movement is pushed something else ALWAYS follows...compromise. For all groups to get along you have to bring in all sorts of things and teachings and throw out other things to make room for the ecumenical party favors.

When I arrived here Monday I noticed that the Dean of Beeson, Timothy George (who is Mr. Ecumenical in theology circles), was teaching a class with Franciscan Brother-Father-Friar Francis Russo from Washington DC. The name of the class was "Saint Francis of Assisi-A Saint for all of us." I thought to myself "I've got to go and hear this."

I have never thought that an ascetic lifestyle equated salvation but I guess to some it does.

Anyway, my son and I attended and it was ridiculous. Timothy George's explanation of Francis of Assisi's salvation was "he looked around and was burdened for the homeless derelicts on the street and decided to become one himself."

Francis Russo stood up in his Franciscan garb and told us how he had taken the vows of:

1. Poverty

2. Chastity

3. Obedience

I was wondering if he wanted us to clap or something. I never heard about his conversion though. Interesting

He then stood near a framed painted picture of Jesus on a cross and told us about how Francis of Assisi loved the gospel. Over and over I heard that phrase with not one crumb of an example of such.

Then the Q&A came. Amazingly, I restrained myself. Finally, one fellow in the front row said how he was worried that the "dialogue" between Catholics and Baptists is starting to fade because of Joseph Ratzinger's (the pope) comments last month and how worried he is that some Baptists are withdrawing fellowship from the "dialogue." I wanted to throw some cheese up there to him and play "Time to say goodbye" on my air violin.

Russo along with George said that what Ratzinger (the pope) said was nothing new and they had always felt that way. I wanted shout "AMEN, AMEN and AMEN." The problem came when no one had a problem with that answer.

I will post later with more of the sordid details from this class.

Papal Bull on Mariolotry

Chris at Papal Bull has a good post about what is commonly known as Mariolotry or Mariology. Do check it out.

Wickedness Run Wild

The wickedness never stops.

The Templeton-funded seminar "Open Theology & Science" held at Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, Massachusetts is evidence of this. Slice of Laodicea brought this to our attention and can be followed here.
It amazes me how we so quickly lower God to our standards. If we can make Him touchable, tangible, and tolerable then we can rule our own lives without God's intervention. He is just some deistic cosmic force that created in the beginning and now sits back on his human-made throne and hopes that we give him credit for things. He wrings his hands hoping that things that turn out for the good but is hopeless to control or change things. He has no idea of what the future holds and is just as surprised by its events as we are. This is what Open to Correction is sharing with us in the latest installment from Compromising Today.

I suppose these conferences are for our good. When God starts getting too much recognition, admiration, and exaltation man has to bring God down a peg so that He can be not on our level, but below us.

Most of the above is written in total sarcasm. I am appalled that this wickedness (and that is what this is) goes on. May God have mercy on us.

Too Much Fun

I think the problem that I see that is so prevalent today is the worship of fun. If you can jazz up the lesson with fun or dress it in a Veggie Tale's outfit it will be a hit. BUT, you have to stay current or up to date or you will be moved into the morgue of purposelessness.

We have to have fun or we don't want it. The entertainment industry is booming because we all want to have fun, we all want to laugh, and we don't, Don't, DON'T want to be too serious or touch on sensitive subjects that might offend.

The church has become a tool that promotes worldliness. It shows the world that adultery, drunkeness, and vile behavior is something that we can laught at. The TV is proof of that.

The mom and dad who want to be entertained to death are no different than the child who wants to be entertained in church. In the end it is all about making ourselves estatic with entertainment. Right?

The Arch-Heretic Speaks

To all of my detractors, this post seems to clarify my point about the Roman Catholic Church being a cult.

Of course this article does not highlight their main doctrines but does emphasize the point that they think that everyone else is wrong. To make a claim like that is presumptous and wicked. That is saying that the RCC is THE authority and defines Christianity.

I really do not know what other proof the papist and papist sympathizers need.

In all of the years that I have taught about World Religions at the church level and college level, going over the Roman Catholic Church brings out the optical daggers and fumes of anger like nothing else.

The truth hurts.

Youth Ministries- A Point Made Even Clearer

Here is an article that highlights the point. I could not have said it any clearer.

Youth Ministries? Part 2

I recently asked in my first post "Is the youth minister a scriptural office?"

A few wrote back and stated that " 'xyz' is not in the Bible either, does that make it wrong?"

To me this is what is described in Latin as "argumentum a silentio" or an argument from silence.

To follow this reasoning one could easily take anything that is not specifically prohibited in the Bible and say that it is fine.

The problem I still see that is most prevalent is that "it works." Just because something works does not make it a good thing. Pointing a gun at someone's head "works" also. That does not make it right. Again, this is pragmatism.

Then we have others who think that since little Jr. and little Jane do not have a godly daddy that a youth minister is or can be a blessing to them. What is wrong with the men and women of the church pointing little Jr. and little Jane (Titus 2) to the Lord and to good works?

Here is an interesting question to consider. Why do we feel that little Jr. and little Jane need a specialized service like children's church, youth groups, youth Bible studies and so on? What is wrong with the Word from the pulpit? Does it really need to be scaled down to help them understand when in fact the Holy Spirit is the One who opens our spiritual eyes to understand.

I know this is not popular in a day when we have singles Bible studies, singles-again Bible studies, senior adult Bible studies, men and women's Bible studies and left-handed blue eyed people that like American Idol Bible studies. But I think these questions have to be asked.

We have "specialized" groups so much that "big" church is not needed or relevant. Since when does something have to be relevant to be spiritually productive?

Besides, little Jr. and little Jane cannot sit still during church for a whole service.

Interesting Quote

"There is enough dust on some of your Bible's to write "damnation" with your fingers. "
--Charles Spurgeon

Youth Ministries? Part 1

I know that I am bound to make people mad at this post. That is ok. My goal is to get people to think and to live a life that pleases God. I think the best way to handle this post is not to get emotionally involved and consider the content. Is there any truth to it? Is it a valid point? Also, I would ask that before you bring out your pen (sword) please consider some of the questions that I am raising.

For a while I have wondered about Youth ministries. Is the youth minister a scriptural office? What is the point to a "youth ministry" led by a certain leader?

I understand that many of you are thinking about how your children have been blessed by the young man who is the youth leader or youth minister. Let me get straight to the point.

1. Why would I want my child going to a young man telling him things that he should be telling his father and/or mother?
2. Why do most youth ministries seem to specialize in entertainment and teaching the Word seems to be minimized?
3. Why do we want the children/youth separated from the parents more than they already are?
4. What did the youth do before youth minstries existed?

I pose a few questions here with the intention of answer a few and asking a few more in my next post.

Pragmatism Illustrated

I am sure that many of you have seen this but it is definitely worth a second look.

We have become so focused on results that the means in which those results are acquired does not matter. Just as long as it works, that is what matters.

"The greatest threat to the gospel specific to today is the indirect challenge of pragmatism among evangelicals". --Mark Dever

I believe Satan has had to put no effort into growing this into our mindset. We want our church to grow. We want to see people saved. But somewhere down the line we have crossed over into secular territory because it appears to work. Of course it works. You are baiting the world with the stuff the world loves. Who wouldn't come to that? Just like mice and cheese. You give the world what they want and bam, growth.

"The most insidious opposition to the Gospel has come from within worldly churches." --Iain Murray

But I think the church is guilty on two major fronts.

1. We are compromising our integrity and purpose as a church. Instead of preaching "Christ and Him crucified" we give them toys, fun, and no words from the Word of God. That might run them off as Schuller says. We continue to give the masses what they want instead of what they need. But as we do this a problem comes in and has to be addressed. To keep this flow of people growing and entertained you have to feed this "machine" of sorts, or it will break down. When it breaks down, God might just "lead them to the church down the road."

2. Supposing that you really do want people to be saved and you really do want to preach the gosepl to them once they are in the door. You have tricked them by deception. You have baited them with fun and activities and now you pull the rug out from under them to preach about sin and salvation. They thought they were coming for fun but you have changed directions on them. This is being dishonest to the people.

Both of these are wrong in God's eyes but the last one is wrong in the world's eyes.

"The biggest mission field in America is professing-Christianity". --John MacArthur

Ridiculous- What Has Happened To The Church? Part 3b

Division is just over the horizon.

The idea of a denomination dividing or splitting is troubling. If one group is standing on solid ground doctrinally and the other group isn't, then the split is necessary. The issue that bothers me is a subtle one.

In the June 21, 2007 edition of the Christian Index an article struck me.

"Half of SBC pastors believe in private prayer language"

Traditionally, Baptist have been those who did not adhere to the use of Tongues as used in churches of other denominations. Most that I have talked to believed it was totally unscriptural or simply a gift that has ceased.

Well, times have changed. It appears that at least half of the pastors in the SBC believe in a private prayer language; a.k.a. tongues.

Add to this ABP's article quoting Jerry Rankin (President of the SBC's International Mission Board) stating that he has practiced a private prayer language for more than 30 years and you have something that is a concern to many.

I do not want to use this post at this time to debate Tongues. What I am concerned with is losing our identity. I posted about this a while back.

Then we see "Messengers on June 12 approved a motion – 58 percent to 42 percent – to affirm the BFM as the denomination’s "only consensus statement of doctrinal beliefs."

It appears some do not want to stand behind the Baptist Faith and Message (BFM) as a basic primer for our belief. Others think it should be more strict while others think it should be left up to the institution, church or group to interpret what it means.

The closeness of the vote and on Tongues shows a clear division on where we stand.

This post is nothing more than rambles I know. But I am concerned that as we progress our doctrine is going to become less and less important and that experience will be the rule of the day.

We also have to realize that just because someone has "experienced it" does not make it a valid practice or teaching.

How Low Can The Church Go?

It amazes me what a church will do to try to reach people. This is hellish (no pun intended). As I've said before, "Is our product (the gospel) so inferior that we have to doctor it up to make it more palatable?"

The church must look so desperate to the world. They must think that our life and message is a joke.

Ridiculous- What Has Happened To The Church? Part 3a

This is the third installment in this series and there appears to be no letting up.
I have called this post "3a" as opposed to "3." The reason for this is that I plan to delve further into the mire of the SBC's convention news with follow-up posts that are equally, if not more, aggravating, discouraging, or simply ridiculuous.

As a Southern Baptist pastor it pains me to see the convention gather every year for fear of what nonsense is going to take place. This year is no exception. I will get right to the point.

The Christian Index, the Southern Baptist bi-weekly newspaper for Georgia, shares the first bit of nonsense.

California pastor Rob Zinn preached the convention sermon and delivered a similar message, saying, “We are a denomination that talks a lot and does little when it comes to evangelism.”
Addressing the topic of dismal baptism numbers within the SBC despite lofty goals, Zinn said, “Our attitudes stink.” The denomination, he added, must be willing to change its methodology while staying true to the gospel message. One of the changes, he added, includes music. His church uses a blended style. He asked grandparents in the audience, “How many of you love those grandkids enough you’d be willing to change your music for them?

“[I]f we’re going to win [young people] to Jesus in this culture, we’re going to have to be willing to change our mindsets,” said Zinn, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland, Calif.

“Folks, what you did in the [19]40s and what you did in the 50s isn’t going to win this culture to Jesus.”

So, does this mean that the Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again in 3 days is not good enough to save today's young people?
Does this mean that the music is what we are trying to win them with and win them to?
Does this mean that the Gospel is changing?

I know what some are saying as they are reading this.
"The methods change, the message doesn't."

I say that in this process the message is changing also. We have to invent ways to make the gospel more appealing and tasty for our audience. We have to make Jesus out to be a comedian with His hat turned to the side, wearing low and baggy pants, listening to music that really says nothing but is loaded with personal pronouns, drinking a beer (for the Driscoll fans) with a little cussing to impress the youngsters, and leading games at church since sermons are boring and long.

I say this is the kind of foolishness that the church is drinking, eating, and wanting more of everyday.

May the Lord have mercy on us.

Excellent Post

The Isle of Hope has a great article here. Good to see someone addressing this issue.

Ridiculous- What Has Happened To The Church? Part 2

From the first post in this series...

"Or better yet, let's Christianize something worldly."

Why does the church feel that they have to Christianize things that are of the world? Is it to make it more palatable? Does the church feel that their "product" (the gospel of Jesus Christ) is so inferior that it must be dumbed down or re-packaged to appeal to the masses? Enter American Idol.

I have never seen American Idol but it appears to be a popular show. I find it interesting that we are to avoid idols and now we have a show with that name in the title. I suppose the premise is to become a star so that others will look up to you; hence Idol.

A church in Anderson, South Carolina, decided to have an American Idol type of contest. Notice the song and the lyrics.

Truly, is our messages so boring and unimportant that we have to spice church up so that the world will come? Again, if our goal is to fill the church with warm bodies, then this is good.

I wonder if we give Jesus action figures away, will the little ones come in droves? What if we pipe in movie snippets on a screen and form a sermon around the movie, will the moms and dads come?

“It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout well done to the Christian man.”- Charles Spurgeon.

Pirates of the Magesterium!!!

I was noticing Sacred Sandwich's site and found this little gem.

Nothing Like Hearing It From a Heretic's Mouth!!

WICKEDNESS TO THE CORE

It seems that a church in Cologne is having or has had a service with the theme "Erotic Church Service." Read this and you will see what I mean.

Tozer Speaks From The Grave

The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.

--A.W. Tozer

Ridiculous- What Has Happened To The Church?

This is a series of posts that I have titled... Ridiculous-What has happened to the church?

The question that I am most often asked of late is what is wrong with the Warrens, Hybels, Schullers and Osteens of the world.

Gary Gilley says...

"The problem is that the main business of entertainment is to please the crowd, but the main purpose of authentic Christianity is to please the Lord."

My question is...
If this is the case then why is the church spending its time entertaining the world instead of pleasing the Lord?

That is where my beef with the above mentioned men (amongst others) come in. They seemed to have adopted the view that if it works, let's do it.

Now keep in mind, if our job as spiritual leaders is to populate the church then these men have excelled in great fashion. But that is not a scriptural view of the pastor or church.

We, as Christians exist for the Glory of God. We are to live holy God honoring lives. God is the one who brings increase to His church. With this in mind we have to consider how the gospel and the church are being sold out to the highest bidder. The highest bidders for the church are warm bodies (saved or not) and the highest bidder for the gospel is entertainment. Forget preaching about sin, the cross, denial of worldly pleasures, fasting, witnessing and holiness.

Enter entertainment. Rock bands that mimic secular musicians, puppet shows so that the kids want to come, senior adult trips to wherever, marriage conferences to draw the maritally challenged, pizza parties and extreme games so that the youth will come is the order of the day. "Hey, whatever it takes to get them here."

This pragmatism is hellish. We bait them with the world. Whatever the world is doing let's do it. Or better yet, let's Christianize something worldly.

In my next post I will go over that last sentence and elaborate.

The Mindset of the World?

An Old Post

Here a few things that the Roman Catholic Church has proclaimed:

1. Prayers for the dead . ………………300 A.D.

2. Making the sign of the cross ………………………… …300 A.D.

3. Veneration of angels & dead saints ……………….375 A.D.

4. Use of images in worship………………………………… . 375 A.D.

5. The Mass as a daily celebration……………………………… 394 A.D.

6. Beginning of the exaltation of Mary; the term, "Mother of God" applied a Council of Ephesus…431 A.D.

7. Extreme Unction (Last Rites)……………………………… ..526 A.D.

8. Doctrine of Purgatory-Gregory I…………………………… .593 A.D.

9. Prayers to Mary & dead saints ……………………………… .600 A.D.

10. Worship of cross, images & relics ……………………… … 786 A.D.

11. Canonization of dead saints ………………………………… ..995 A.D.

12. Celibacy of priesthood …………………………………… …1079 A.D.

13. The Rosary ……………………………………………… … 1090 A.D.

14. Indulgences ……………………………………………… …..1190 A.D.

15. Transubstantiation-Innocent III …………………………… 1215 A.D.

16. Auricular Confession of sins to a priest …………………… 1215 A.D.

17. Adoration of the wafer (Host)…………………………… .. 1220 A.D.

18. Cup forbidden to the people at communion …………………..1414 A.D.

19. Purgatory proclaimed as a dogma……………………………..1439 A.D.

20. The doctrine of the Seven Sacraments confirmed …………….1439 A.D.

21. Tradition declared of equal authority with Bible by Council of Trent..1545 A.D.

22. Apocryphal books added to Bible ……………….1546 A.D.

23. Immaculate Conception of Mary……………………………….1854 A.D.

24. Infallibility of the pope in matters of faith and morals, proclaimed by the Vatican Council …1870 A.D.

25. Assumption of the Virgin Mary (bodily ascension into heaven shortly after her death) .1950 A.D.

26. Mary proclaimed Mother of the Church……………………… 1965 A.D.

As I said in a much earlier post I am wanting to write like I speak. Typically, people tend to write much more fancy than they speak. Well, not here. So let me be perfectly clear in the next paragraph or so.

Many of the above mentioned items are wicked to the core. I don't care what council said it; if it is not supported in Scripture then it is man-made. I am tired of RCC's trying to tell me what this or that meant. I say let's just take it at face value. ie

INDULGENCES are demonic and from the pit of hell. The RCC has refused to publically repent of this past practice.

PURGATORY-if this place is real then Jesus did not have to die to cleanse us from our sins; hence, a cult.

PRAYERS TO MARY AND DEAD SAINTS- another wicked demonic practice that the RCC refuses to admit is unscriptural

ASSUMPTION OF MARY- scripture???? I could go on and on but in the end the burden of proof lay in the lap of RCC's. We are not brothers and sisters in the Lord. You must repent of your sins and quit trusting in mere man to forgive you.

Here is a little food for thought...

[He told him that He would not leave them orphans. That phrase struck me because I heard it used when Pope John Paul II passed away. One of the television news interviewers was talking with a young woman in St. Peter’s Square who responded: “With our Holy Father now dead we feel like orphans.” Then when Pope Benedict XVI’s election was announced and he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s, another person being interviewed declared: “We are no longer orphans.”] http://www.catholicweb.com/media_index.cfm?fuseaction=view_article&partnerid=40&article_id=2059

Rodney King Theology

Many of you might remember Rodney King. His plea was "Can't we all just get along."

I fear that many of today's Christians are crying this mantra all the while compromising what they believe.

To me this give a great foothold to Satan. He can and will do his level-headed best to get us to give some deference to those of other beliefs. I will tell you that it will not be happening in my camp. I will come against it at every point. And yes, I know this might not seem very loving but my name is not Robert Schuller.

A Little Clarification for all of My Cultic Observers

I posted this last year but I think it needs to be reposted. It follows the math symbols as a guide to distinguishing a false teaching.

Here is an excerpt...

Very simply, a cult is:
1. (+) any group that adds to the Word of God as their spiritual guidance, manual or wisdom
2. (-) any group that subtracts from the person of Jesus Christ. "He is a good teacher" or "He was only a prophet."
3. (x) any group that multiplies what you have to do to become a Christian.
It is by Grace alone though faith alone in Christ alone. If we add anything to this (like works) we are in grave error.
4. (./.) any group that divides itself as the only true church.

So, for all that think that I am "not nice, not loving, being unchristian" remember this...

I will come against any group that follows some or all of these practices.

DT

More for the Papists

From Christian Research Network: This piece concerning the apostate Church of Rome over
at Apprising Ministries begins with a quote from Dr. John MacArthur who says, "The papacy is unbiblical; it is unbiblical. There’s not one tiny shred of evidence in Scripture for the papacy,… It was all developed by evil people, satanically led to create a false religion that would be the enemy of the Truth." Here you will see from official Roman Catholic sources themselves that this "office" of the papacy has "the function of proclaiming the gospel [which] has been entrusted principally to the Roman Pontiff and the college of bishops.”

To read more click here.

"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm..." -Jeremiah 17:5

Welcome, Catholic Observers

I hope everyone likes the picture that I have posted for all to see. Mary, our "CO-REDEMPTRIX" is gracing this post for you.

This is what the Roman Catholic Church believes. Forget praying to Jesus (1Tim. 2:5-For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus). Now you just tell people to pray to Mary who was a sinner and needed a savior like everyone else and you're in.

That alone is grounds for a cult. It takes the complete focus away from Christ, the blood and the Cross.

Mind you, I do not have any disrespect for Mary herself, just the the Whore of Revelation (Roman Catholic Church) that have used her as their poster child.

Mary was blessed among women and was a special vehicle that God used to bring His Son to this earth. Forget worshiping the vehicle and start worshiping the savior.

Oh, and by the way. "Anonymous, you are a good copy-er and paste-r." It is a shame that you don't have a name.

The Beauty of Election

Look at this wonderful explanation of Election by John MacArthur.

My own struggle with the doctrine of God’s sovereign election comes from my emotion, it comes from the influences of my fallen heart, it comes from my expectation that everybody ought to have a right to make a choice. And it also comes from the early years of my Christian experience when I didn’t understand what it meant to be depraved.
As a young Christian I didn’t understand how really dead the sinner is. That is the bottom line issue here. Salvation has to be all of God if you understand the doctrine of human depravity. If you understand what it means to be utterly unable to do right; unable to know God, dead in trespasses and sins, in the most profound kind of unalterable death about which you can do nothing. And if you understand there is no human merit, there is no human effort, there is nothing we can do to alter that situation or to please God.
Out of the doctrine of what I call utter human inability comes the doctrine of election. It was when I understood the sinfulness of man and the total inability of the sinner to do anything about his condition that I was left with nothing but the doctrine of election to solve that problem.

(Answering the Key Questions About the Doctrine of Election, Grace To You, GTY 106)

Which Picture Describes Today's Pastor?

What is the Purpose of the Church?

Before your fingers jumped to the keyboard give this a little thought. What is the church's purpose? I am not saying what is the christian's purpose. When the called out (christians) come together on a certain day what is their purpose? What should they do or be doing?

Before you start typing please consider scripture to support your view. What is the point to them getting together.

"Christian" Pragmatism

Isn't this what the church is doing? Since the church is more interested in growing rather than seeing people saved and displaying holiness I guess we need to be more like the world. Since the church is more interested in filling the pews than loving God we had better get the Maxwells, Hybels, Schullers and Osteens and maybe they can tell us how to be worldly enough to draw the masses; since that is our goal.

A Question for Everyone...What, in your opinion has happened to the church?

Would the early church fathers and apologists be proud as to what the church is like now? Has the church become what God wants it to be? Is it honoring God now? Maybe it is in some areas and maybe not in others? What do you think?