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