Author: Pilgrim

Categories
Preservation The Bible Translation

Is Your Bible a Muslim/Mormon Bible?

There have been numerous articles and books written in the last 20 years proving that the NKJV, NASB, NIV, etc. are all products of Occult (Westcott and Hort) and Roman Catholic (Vaticanus) inspired bible scholarship.  Therefore, I will not attempt to re-invent the wheel here.  Instead, I will pose a new question:  Is it possible that your favorite “Bible” has been re-written by those who have a fundamental belief in common with those who claim the Quran, the Book of Mormon, or the Watchtower Society to be true?

Muslims, Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that the Bible contains many mistakes because after 2,000 years, the Bible no longer contains the original words from the original languages it was written in.  This is why they believe that the Quran was given to Muhammad or the Book of Mormon was given to Joseph Smith.  Both books are said to be God’s attempts to correct the errors in the Bible wrought by years of man-made copyist mistakes.

Ironically, this is the same argument that many Bible-correcting Evangelicals use to justify why they have abandoned the King James Bible in favor of modern “translations” that delete entire verses and change anywhere from 16,000 words (NKJV) to 60,000 words (NIV) of God’s Infallible Scriptures.  Just like Muslims, Mormons, Atheists, and every other religious group that denies the inspiration and accuracy of the Scriptures, they do not believe that God is powerful enough to preserve His holy words for all generations.  They deny the biblical doctrine of preservation and focus solely on the inspiration of the “originals” (which no longer exist).

Consider the following examples:

1)      Muslims emphasize the original (just as all textual critics and “fake bible” users do)

“First of all, it is important to know that if the “Bibles” of today, with all their versions and differences in the quantity of their “books” and “gospels”, were in fact the Original Holy Word of GOD Almighty, then there would be no need for the Noble Quran.” http://www.answering-christianity.com/warning.htm

2)     Compare the words of Joseph Smith (Mormon) with the words of Hank Hanegraff (typical Evangelical):

Joseph Smith: “I believe the Bible as it read when it came from the pen of the original writers” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 327).http://lds.org/study/topics/bible-inerrancy-of?lang=eng&query=bible+errors

Hank Hanegraff:  “The Holy Scriptures… are therefore infallible in the original writings”http://www.equip.org/site/beliefs

3)      Or the Jehovah’s Witnesses with the words of Christianity Today (speaking on textual criticism):

The Watchtower:  “The copyists made only a few minor errors, and a comparison of these has established the original text inspired by God.” http://www.watchtower.org/e/lmn/article_03.htm

Christianity Today:  “In the New Testament only one word per 1,000 is in any way doubtful, and no point of doctrine is lost when verses not “in better manuscripts” are omitted.” http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/october7/31.102.html

Modern Evangelical scholars think that God is a liar when He tells us in Psalm 12:6-7 that he will preserve his words forever.  Psalms 12:6-7 “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.”

They  think that God is a liar when he tells us that not one jot or tittle will pass from the law:  Matthew 5:18 “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”  Luke 16:17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”

These same Bible-correcting hypocrites have no problem telling Muslims, Mormons, and Jehovah’s Witnesses that they are “wrong” to change the Quran, Book of Mormon, and New World Bible over time.  For example, James White (who helped produce the NASB counterfeit bible):  “By placing parallel passages in the books of Moses and Abraham side by side, an evolution of thought is clearly demonstrated within the Pearl of Great Price itself.”  http://vintage.aomin.org/ldstheology.html.  How Bible-correctors such as James White can lambast Mormons, Muslims, or J.W.’s with a straight face after changing 16,000 to 60,000 words in their own “bibles” is beyond the scope of comprehension.  A modern Textual Critic producing a NKJV, NIV, NASB, etc. to fit his personal theology is no different than a Jehovah’s Witness changing words he doesn’t like to fit his personal theology.

Sadly, many well-intentioned Christians have built their ministries on attacking God’s words and replacing them with “better translations” and “better meanings.”  Like the Pope, they elevate themselves above Scripture in their desire to pontificate on God’s Holy Bible (essentially making them God).  They further imply that the “laity” cannot truly understand the scriptures without their exposition (and years of studying dead languages).  These well-intentioned yet carnal Christians can be summed up with three passages:

1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Revelation 22:18-19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

1 Corinthians 11:19 “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.”

It does not matter if you are Spurgeon, Moody, Ironside, etc.  If you have the gall to change God’s words, you are treading into heresy.  Interestingly, one of the main arguments that non-Christians use as to why they don’t believe the Bible is because there are so many different versions.  Unlike carnal Christians, non-Christians realize the logical inconsistency in claiming an all-powerful God can somehow lose his infallible/perfect Bible to the sands of time.  But of course, since you are a Bible-believer, you witness to non-Christians on a frequent basis about Jesus Christ and you already know about this regular objection.

For the record:

1)      There are no originals anymore.  Anybody who refers you to the “originals” is either a liar, ignorant, or insane.

2)      There is a King James equivalent Bible in every major language on Earth.  Also for you Anglo-phobes, English is the modern equivalent of a universal language in all facets of life, just as Greek and later Latin were.  Doesn’t it make sense God would communicate His message in the most prevalent language of each time period?

3)      It is far easier to open up a dictionary for 400 words you don’t understand than it is to compare multiple fake Bible versions with conflicting words and verses you don’t understand. Studying the Bible in Hebrew/Greek is a waste of time if you can’t understand the Bible in your own language.  This is why most “scholars” can spend years learning languages yet not possess an elementary knowledge of the Bible itself.

4)      You don’t have to have a Bible of any kind to be saved.  However, if you want to learn more about your Lord and Savior, it helps to have his Real Bible (the KJV today) as opposed to some man-made counterfeit (NKJV, NASB, NIV, etc.).

Christians:  Do you side with God’s pure words or do you side with cults (mainstream or fringe) who continue to revise those words?  Do you believe in God’s promise of preservation or do you believe in the heathen’s doctrine of Bible corruption?  Is your heart so hardened that you refuse to admit that you’ve been wrong for all these years?  Admittedly, we are all fallen sinners.  It’s tough to admit you lack the discernment to recognize God’s words when you see them.  It’s equally tough to apologize to both God and your fellow Bible believers for maligning both God’s words (preserved in English through the KJV) and those Christians who actually believe their Bibles to be true.

Categories
Culture The Savior The World Traditions

Mother’s Day

Christians, how was your Mother’s Day?  Did you celebrate it with flowers, fine dining, and gifts?  Did your mother have a good time being the center of attention for a day?  How about the family?  Did everyone enjoy honoring the family matriarch?  Now that the festivities are over, have you ever stopped to ask why we celebrate Mother’s Day?  Is it really just another innocent holiday (holy-day) celebrated by Christian families?  Or have you considered it may just another piece of nostalgic Americana that has been hijacked by materialistic greed (especially within greeting card and restaurant industries).

Admittedly, as a Bible believer, I find the ecumenical holy days like Mother’s Day a bit uncomfortable because I can’t escape the paganism at our Local Churches.  Sadly, even local churches that believe on Jesus Christ for their Salvation are so taken up by the world that they have no problem celebrating pagan holy days such as:  Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas.  It seems the only people not caught up in this madness are the Jehovah’s Witnesses as they’re too busy witnessing to the world (like Christians should be doing).

Now Mr. Worldly Wiseman (the character in Pilgrim’s Progress) will remind us that Paul says inRomans 14:5 “One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.”  However, as a self-proclaimed Pharisee (Acts 23:6), Paul is referring to the Sabbath and Jewish holy days. He is not referring to the pagan worship of Zeus, Santa Claus, or the local spring fertility goddess orgy.  Proof of this is seen in Acts 19 when the pagans burn all their pagan books and the silversmiths (the greeting card and chocolate purveyors of their day) see their nostalgic “holiday” (and its associated profit) collapsing all around them.

Next Ignorance (another Pilgrim’s Progress character) will object:  “But we aren’t worshiping Mother on Mother’s Day!”  Are you sure about that?  In new-age America, the two biggest “gods” that anybody worships are “self” and “money.”  Mother’s Day (like Valentine’s Day and Christmas) is an excuse for our feminist-influenced mothers to worship self and to “enjoy” materialism for a day.  If you don’t believe this, try not participating in the Mother’s Day mania next year and see what kind of scorn you endure.  You will be criticized by both the “non-honored” mother and the Church-attending-pew-warmers attempting to salve their burning consciences for joining in the festivities of the world.

Try this experiment:  Honor your mother on a different day than “Mother’s Day” or even honor her with something other than a greeting card, phone call, or Sunday dinner.  As a Christian, you could send her a Bible, a tract, or even take her out soul-winning.  See how well the non-materialism goes over.  You will notice that many mothers caught up in Mother’s Day could care less about true honor; they are really looking for an excuse to brag/gossip to their friends about how wonderful their child is.  On this note, Mother’s Day (like Father’s Day) is a bit like Easter:  If you truly honor your mother and father (and Our Lord Jesus Christ) then you would honor your parents every day (Ex 20:12,Deut 5:16).  Anybody who honors mother and father only once a year during a non-Christian Holy Day is a self-righteous fraud (a bit like Christians who only say “He is Risen” while munching on chocolate eggs on one Sunday in April).

Now putting the soapbox aside:  If you claim the name of Jesus Christ, yet have never compared Mother’s Day to Scripture, I urge you to dust the cobwebs off your King James Bible and follow in the footsteps of the Bereans: “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)

Where did we get Mother’s Day?  Typing, “Where did we get Mother’s Day?” into an Internet search engine brings up Wikipedia in the top 10 results.  Since Wikipedia is a shining example of anti-Christian ideology and rhetoric, it will be a fine starting point for our research (thus avoiding our natural Christian bias).  According to Wikipedia, while Julia Ward Howe started Mother’s Day in America, worldwide it is linked to Catholic, Muslim, and Greek/Roman pagan traditions.  So what does this mean for us as Bible Believers? We will answer this by addressing the 5 major Mother’s Day themes described by Wikipedia.

“The modern Mother’s Day is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, yet most commonly in March, April, or May as a day to honor mothers and motherhood….  One of the early calls to celebrate a Mother’s Day in the United States was the “Mother’s Day Proclamation” by Julia Ward Howe. Written in 1870, it was a pacifist reaction to the carnage of the American Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. The Proclamation was tied to Howe’s feminist belief that women had a responsibility to shape their societies at the political level.”

To begin this study, we must ask the question:  “Who was Julia Ward Howe?”  Again, according toWikipedia:  “Julia Ward Howe (May 27, 1819 – October 17, 1910) was a prominent American abolitionist, social activist, and poet, most famous as the author of ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’.”  Juliawardhowe.org reveals that “Julia called together the first convention of women ministers attended by figures like the Universalist Lorenza Haynes and Unitarians Mary Graves, and Eliza Tupper Wilkes.”  Finally, About.com claims that both she and her husband were Unitarians, which makes sense in light of the fact that she called a conference of women preachers attended by both Unitarians and Universalists.  To sum it up:  Julia was a Feminist Unitarian Preacher.

 In the years after the Mother’s Day Proclamation, Ann Jarvis founded five Mothers’ Day Work Clubs to improve sanitary and health conditions. In 1907, two years after Ann Jarvis’ death, her daughter Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother and began a campaign to make “Mother’s Day” a recognized holiday in the US. Although she was successful in 1914, she was already disappointed with its commercialization by the 1920s.

While Julia Ward Howe made the first Mother’s Day Proclamation, it was really Anna Jarvis who was the force behind the modern American celebration.  As is usually the case in America, Anna’s attempts at good works were usurped by the love of money less than 10 years after she foisted Mother’s Day upon us.  If the roots in paganism and feminism weren’t bad enough, its crass materialism would be enough to discredit this holiday in the eyes of an honest observer.  While not a Feminist/Unitarian, Anna was also not somebody a Christian should follow.  She wasted her life and fortune suing and fighting everybody from Eleanor Roosevelt to the “The American War Mothers” in a vain attempt (Col 2:8, Php 2:16, 1 Tim 1:16) to perpetually honor her earthly mother instead of spending her life honoring her Lord and Creator Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 3:11-13 tells us that Christian works will be tried by fire and only those founded on Jesus Christ will survive.  If we spend our time fighting for non-Christian “good causes” such as saving the whales, the environment, or Mother’s Day, we will suffer loss in Heaven (1 Corinthians 3:15) as we entangle ourselves in the world (1 Timothy 2:4).

Celebrations of mothers and motherhood occur throughout the world; many of these can be traced back to ancient festivals, like the Greek cult to Cybele or the Roman festival of Hilaria. The modern US holiday is not directly related to these.

 

The historical background of Mother’s Day can aptly be summed up with Jeremiah 10:2 “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen…” Jeremiah specifically told the Jews not to fall into idolatry with 5 verses warning not to worship the “Queen of Heaven” as doing so provokes God to anger.  Jeremiah 7:18 “The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke me to anger.”

 In some countries it was changed to dates that were significant to the majority religion, like the Virgin Mary day in Catholic countries, or the birthday of the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad in Islamic countries.

 

Sadly, many people are caught up in the Mary-worship of the Catholics and are ignorant of what the Bible says on the matter.  Paul informs us in 1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”  This means that while Jeremiah wrote to the Jews of his day, his message is still to be taken seriously by us today.  It is no surprise that Muslims are also caught up in Mother’s Day since they are essentially a cultic offshoot of Roman Catholicism in the same way that Mormonism is an outgrowth of Christianity.

As we can see from our cursory examination, Mother’s Day is an overly commercialized modern holy day rooted in Idolatry (Anna Jarvis), Feminism/Unitarianism (Julia Ward Howe), and Paganism (Queen of Heaven, Greek/Roman Mythology, Catholic/Muslim Idolatry).  As a pagan holy day, it offers nothing to a Christian save a worldly compromise to pacify women seeking to usurp the authority and honor of both God and their husbands (see Genesis 2:18 and 1 Corinthians 11:7).  If after studying all this information, you still feel compelled to celebrate Mother’s Day in the manner of the world, consider this: instead of sending your mother chocolate that will only ruin her health, you could edify her soul by sending your father a Bible study on Proverbs 31, Titus 2,1 Corinthians 11, and 1 Corinthians 14:35. These may help regain his role as the spiritual leader of the family who will insist on his children honoring his wife each and every day according to godly wisdom in place of materialistic foolishness.

Categories
History Politics The World

A Nation Judged by Her Fruit

America, it’s time to ask ourselves a serious question.  Are we a nation of Christians (Acts 11:26) or a nation of heathens (Galatians 1:16)?  I know we claim that we used to be a nation of Christians, but can we still claim that title?  And if we are still comprised of Christians, why is the rest of the world out-shining us (Matthew 5:16) when it comes to living what we claim to believe?  While “good works” are not proof of our heart condition; they are normally a pretty good indicator (James 2:20).

Consider these factoids from around the world:

1)    Macedonia has a small “protestant” demographic spawned from missionary endeavors and one of these “protestants” named Boris Trajkovski was elected president of Macedonia from 1999 until his tragic death in a plane crash in 2004.  Boris apparently studied in the United States to become a Methodist lay minister.  Now I’m no fan of the majority of “in-name-only” Christians in modern American Methodist churches, but I have to admit that I’m impressed that there is a country on the face of the earth that would have the fortitude to elect a man whose hobbies include Biblical teaching and evangelism.  Seriously think about it. Can you imagine a president of the United States getting elected if the media found out he was a lay minister?

2)    China, which prides itself on its Communism and atheism has banned both pornography and gambling.  As early as 2007, China also banned sexually suggestive ads on radio, TV.  Can you imagine that happening in our “Christian” country?  The liberal sickos would riot in the streets.  Hollywood would lose billions, the Super Bowl wouldn’t have any commercials, and PETA would have to dump Pamela Anderson.

3)    Uganda outlawed homosexuality and had the guts to face the wrath of the international homosexual lobby.  Almost a David and Goliath situation considering the fact that the homosexual lobby is backed by such minor players as George Soros and G.E. (MSNBC anyone?).  At least some public school children in this world still know what a mommy and a daddy are.

4)    Abortion is illegal in almost all of Central and South America, almost all of the Middle East, and about 2/3 of Africa.  These are nations that are supposedly “backward” and “3rd world” and “need” Christian missionaries, yet somehow they are moral enough as societies to NOT kill their own babies.

This may sound like a wild idea, but perhaps it is time to stop sending 100% of our missionaries overseas and to start sending them out domestically?  Not to make the most of extremes, but of these two pictures:  who needs to hear about Jesus?  The “heathen” in a foreign land?  Or the heathen living among us?

I will let the Holy Spirit work on your heart on this one.  The best I can do is inform and irritate:  Matthew 5:13 “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”

America, consider this biblical truth.  A tree can best be understood by the fruit it bears (Matthew 7:16-20).  In the last 100 years we have turned everything in our society upside down.  Out with the Bible, men, work, and families.  In with New Age theology, feminism, entertainment, and fornication.  It is time to ask:  are we bringing forth fruit unto God (Romans 7:4)?  Or are we bringing forth fruit unto death (Romans 7:5)?

Categories
Current Events The Last Days

Japan, In Need of a Savior

Being a Christian can be frustrating at times because it is so easy to forget about that time in our own lives when we too were blinded to the truth (Ephesians 5:8).  As Paul reminds us about unbelievers in 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”  You want to shout from the rooftops:  “Don’t you people get it?”  When in reality, they can’t get it, because they are both blinded by Satan and willingly ignorant (2 Peter 3:5).  The best you can do is present them the Gospel and pray for their souls.  The rest is between them and God.

Within this framework I always find it amazing when a non-Christian is able to see a sliver of truth (John 17:17) in this world.  Tokyo Governor, Shintaro Ishihara, has apparently told the press that he believes the magnitude 9.0 earthquake that hit Japan on Friday was a form of divine punishment:

“The identity of the Japanese people is selfishness. The Japanese people must take advantage of this tsunami as means of washing away their selfish greed. I really do think this is divine punishment.”

Shintaro, how right you are!  Instead of blaspheming God as most people would do (Revelation 16:9), you rightly identified the cause of your strife.  Now please, lead your constituents on their knees before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to repent and believe on Him for Salvation.  As in the days of Ninevah:  Jonah 3:8, “But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands.”

While Shintaro correctly recognizes that this tsunami has divine implications, he is sadly ignorant of whom his Lord and Creator is:  Acts 17:23, “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.”  Shintaro, please, for the sake of your soul, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so you will not be damned (Mark 16:16).  Contrary to popular opinion, you and your unbelieving countrymen have no excuse:  Romans 1:20 “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Christians, before you jump on the international aid wagon (rife with fraud, waste, and abuse), take a moment to pray and study your Bibles (2 Timothy 2:15).   Japan (or Africa for that matter) doesn’t need your money, aid, clothing, food, or stuff nearly as much as your prayers and your active witness:  Luke 10:2, “Therefore said he unto them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.’”

If you aren’t a prayer warrior, then figure out how to get out on the street and evangelize the masses.  Get over there and be a tourist, teach English, practice medicine, gain international employment, or even volunteer as a missionary.  If you can’t put your boots on the ground, find a way to do something proactive:  mail tracts, send Bibles, or support a missionary in Japan.  Time is of the essence for us to reach lost souls (2 Peter 3:10).  According to news reports, there are at least 2,500 Japanese dead and their numbers in Hell are growing by the day, Matthew 7:13 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ gave us our marching orders:  Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  It is up to you to obey (Galatians 3:1) and preach the good news.  For those of us with thick skulls who need everything repeated, Paul elaborated on these orders and clarified them:  Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

American Christians: the Chinese local churches plan on spreading the Gospel to Japan (and the rest of the 10/40 window), will you?

Categories
Apostasy Evangelism The Christian The Last Days

Confused Christians

For the record, I grew up in a church affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA).  For those of you who don’t know much about the ELCA , it prides itself on being “Catholic-Lite” (kind of like Budweiser vs. Bud-Lite).  It offers all of the ritualism and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church but with more of a Unitarian flare.  At its core, it is essentially a “good-works” club that invokes the name of Jesus without actually believing he has any personal involvement in our lives.  As long as a person is willing to sit/stand on cue, read soul-less canned prayers from a book, listen to an uninspired “Social Gospel” sermonette, and talk about the weather over coffee and cookies, they will fit right in.

That said, in an effort to witness to the lost within the ELCA Lutheran Church, I occasionally read their material.  Today I came across an article titled, “Can Evangelism be Redeemed” that clearly demonstrates how lost these people really are.  In this article, Javen Swanson explains how he wants nothing to do with “saving souls.”

From the article:

“Despite Christ’s Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all nations,” evangelism is a task I have most often avoided.”

Here Javen openly admits that he disregards the commands of our Lord and Savior.  He would be wise to read Luke 6:46,  “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

“I usually associate evangelism with an effort to convert nonbelievers to Christianity, something that makes me very uncomfortable. Too often the desire to bring about conversions grows out of a belief that nonbelievers need to be “saved” from eternal damnation by adopting the Christian faith.”

Javen next correctly associates evangelism with an effort to convert nonbelievers to Christianity.  Sadly, he finds this “very uncomfortable.”  I would assume that he also finds the words of Jesus Christ himself to be uncomfortable as Jesus tells us in Mark 16:16,  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

“To the extent that evangelism is about “saving souls,” I want nothing to do with it.  I approach matters of faith and belief with humility, unwilling to assert the superiority of my own religious beliefs over those of others.”

This is probably the saddest comment he makes in his article.  He’s a professing Christian that wants nothing to do with witnessing to the lost (Luke 10:2).  This is like a firefighter who sits in his fire truck while watching his neighbor’s house burn down with his neighbor inside it.  When asked why he isn’t helping his burning neighbor, he blithely replies:  “I’m humble, I want nothing to do with that hero stuff.”  Javen fits the description of the blinded mind of 2 Corinthians 4:4,  “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

“The most I am willing to say is that it is the Christian story that has claimed me and helps me to make meaning of my own life. I recognize that other stories have claimed other people in a similar way, and I want to respect that.”

This is the statement of a nonbeliever, a false convert.  The Bible is no mere “story.”.  Either it is literal history and Jesus literally died on the Cross and literally died for your Sins, or it is all a fairytale.  As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15:14-17,  “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”

If the Bible is just a story then you are wasting your time reading it.  You might as well be out there with the world living the rock and roll satanic mantra: “do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.”

Sadly, the “E” in ELCA stands for “Evangelical.”  If you know anybody caught up in an ELCA Lutheran Church, please pray for them and bring them our testimony in sincerity (2 Corinthians 1:12).  Witness slowly as ELCA Lutherans flee from both Bible believers and the Bible itself like a vampire flees from garlic and sunlight.  John 3:19,  “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”  It is up to us as Bible believers to bring these lost souls the Gospel so that they may be saved as Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father:  John 14:6,  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Categories
Discernment New World Order Politics The Christian The Last Days The World

A Letter to Chuck Baldwin

Brother Baldwin,

I write this letter to you because I am afraid you have surrounded yourself with sycophants who will not look you in the eye and expound God’s Truth (2 Timothy 4:3).  I was once in your shoes, and as such I will try to fulfill Proverbs 27:17 in my attempt to guide you to truth.  Like you, I was literally ready to head for the hills and divorce myself from the insanity that has become modern day America (Matthew 24:38).  As always, God’s will won out over my will and in attempting to leave society, I was taught some valuable lessons about God’s will for us today.  As Christians, we are preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2) and not get caught up in the affairs of this world (2 Timothy 2:4).  I believe that God will use this move to Montana to open your eyes just as he opened mine.  I pray that when the time comes, you will heed God’s will and not man’s will as this trip you are making will be a tremendous example to others who are looking for both spiritual answers and spiritual guidance.

This is in response to your 15 September 2010 post titled:  “Why We Are Moving To Montana.”

By now, readers of this column should be aware of the decision my family and I made to leave the beautiful Gulf Coast beaches, and move to the majestic Rocky Mountains: the Flathead Valley of Montana, to be specific. Mind you, Pensacola, Florida, has been my wife’s and my home for 35 years. It is the place where each of our children was born and raised, and still resides today. Rest assured, each of my family is aware of the cold weather climate to which we are headed. We are also very cognizant of the extremely difficult economic circumstances that exist. The truth is, if we were basing this move on things such as “practicality,” or “job opportunity,” or “a place to retire,” we would either 1) stay where we are, or 2) move somewhere else (someplace warmer), because this move, in many ways, is impractical, financially challenging, and could bring personal discomfort to all of us during those harsh Montana winters. The fact is, none of that has any bearing on our decision to move.

I know unbelievers and skeptics have a hard time when I say this, but, we are moving to the Flathead Valley of Montana for the same reason we moved to Pensacola, Florida, 35 years ago: we know it is God’s perfect will for our lives. Period. Why else would we do it? Why would we leave the comfort and security of home, family, and friends? Why would we attempt such a major move in such an economically depressed housing and job market? Why would I walk away from the church that my wife and I started and have poured our hearts and souls into for over 35 years, and that took such very good care of us? On a human level, this move makes absolutely no sense. But as Christians, we are not supposed to live our lives on a purely human level, are we?

I agree with you Brother.  Your moving from Pensacola aligns with God’s will for a number of reasons.  First, there are already multiple Bible-believing ministries operating in Pensacola so leaving will not live a spiritual void.  Second, there are almost zero Bible-believing ministries operating in Montana so your arrival will fill a spiritual need.  Third, you (like myself and many others) have added the Constitution to the Christian Bible which violates the specific prohibition of Revelation 22:18.  I believe that God is inspiring your move in the same way he inspired mine, to open your eyes to a truth that you have either neglected or not known regarding freedom.

So, instead of moving south (like most every preacher you ever knew over the age of 50), I feel God moving me north (about 75-miles-south-of-the-Canadian-border kind of north!). And so does every man in my family. Count them: that’s 5 households and 17 people ranging in ages from 3 months to the upper 70s (I am 58).

I promise you, we have bathed this move in intense and prolonged prayer and meditation. This was not a quick decision. But why would God move us?

For one thing, it became very plain to me that my ministry was over in Pensacola. The brook had dried up, to borrow from the life of Elijah. And I’ve known too many pastors who allowed their personal affections for a prolonged ministry to obfuscate the clear revelation and reality that their ministries had ended and it was time to move on. And in every such instance, the longer they stayed, the more the ministry declined. I had vowed many years ago to not let that happen to my wonderful church family. They deserved God’s best, even if that meant my departure.

Brother, I applaud your discernment in knowing when to exit gracefully.  One of the biggest errors of the modern local church is that we have a tendency to base our success on numbers.  The more people we see in the pews, the more we are able to congratulate ourselves.  As such, it is hard for a preacher to avoid falling into the twin traps of pride (over his attendance numbers) and greed (over his offering plate numbers).  However, is the numbers game biblical?  The Bible tells us that the local church is a place to both equip and edify the saints (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 4:12).  It is essentially a training center from which to send fellow soldiers (Philippians 2:25, Philemon 1:2) for Christ into a fallen world.  Its success should not be based on corralling and stagnating Christians as babes in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1), but in sending them out equipped to meet a fallen world (Matthew 9:37-38).  The same precept applies to pastors too.  When your spiritual work is done, it is time to move on (consider Philip in Acts 8).  I congratulate you for having the both the discernment and the guts to walk away from a built-up ministry as most preachers erroneously think that they (and not God) are holding the local congregation together (Ephesians 5:23).

For another thing, my family and I are ardent patriots. To us, freedom and liberty are much more valuable and desirable than wealth and riches–or even comfort and security. And we believe God has been showing us that if there is a place left in America where true freedom has an opportunity to experience a rebirth, it is in the Mountain States of America’s great Northwest. I love the fact that Montana is often referred to as “The Last Best Place.” And as far as freedom and liberty are concerned, it just might be.

Brother, I speak to you as one who has been in your shoes.  I too erred as a Christian who was an ardent patriot.  I too put my faith in my country ahead of my faith in Jesus Christ.  You are correct to desire freedom and liberty over wealth and riches.  I pity the wretched souls in this nation who value their government handouts more than they value their freedom to think.  However, as Christians, we cannot allow this desire for freedom and liberty to derail our primary marching orders:  the Great Commission.

As I say this, I have no doubt that God has shown you that the mountain states are the last bastion of liberty in police state that is the United States of America.  But are the freedom-loving people of the mountain states free in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 7:22)?  Or are they simply free FROM our Lord Jesus Christ (not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness… 1 Peter 2:16)?  I pray that God is moving you to Montana to both open your eyes to the biblical concept of freedom and to open up a ministry to the multitudes of sinners who inhabit the state.

Now, we are not naïve. We realize that there are many Big-Government liberals and neocons in the Mountain States who will not be pleased to see us come. When compared to the rest of the country, however (and I’ve seen most all of it), I would dare say that there are more freedom lovers in the Mountain States (per capita and per square mile) than anywhere else in the country.

Again Brother, I ask you to consider: are these freedom lovers bathing in the light of Jesus Christ (John 8:12)?  Or are they simply hiding in farthest corners of darkness (Acts 26:18)?  The untold story of every remote tribe on earth is that in their freedom, they invariably worship man or the creation, not our Lord and Creator.  Until some brave missionary brings them the Gospel (Mark 16:15), they seldom have biblical truth.

Since the release of my last two columns announcing our move to Montana, I have received more emails than over the last several months combined. And believe me, I’m talking about hundreds and even thousands of emails. I have received more than 200 emails just from people living in Montana, and 99% of them were enthusiastically supportive. I can assure you, the response that my family and I have received from Montanans has made us feel at home even before getting there.

Many Montanans are excited about the prospect of my starting a new ministry in the Flathead Valley, and once again being able to livestream my messages over the Internet. Others are excited about the prospect of us entering the freedom fight. But most seem excited about both!

Brother, I must ask: Are these people supportive of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16), or of your gospel of freedom at all costs (Galatians 1:7)?  Are these people born again, Bible-believing Christians?  Or are they a modern fulfillment of 2 Corinthians 4:4?  If they are merely supportive of freedom, then you need to tread carefully so that you can preach and teach the gospel (as opposed to merely becoming a false teacher for their itching ears… 2 Timothy 4:3).  Please test yourself to make sure you aren’t turning the gospel of salvation into another gospel (of freedom):  Galatians 1:8  “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

Furthermore, it is our studied opinion that America is headed for an almost certain cataclysm. As Christians, we suspect that this cataclysm could include the judgment of God. As students of history, we believe that this cataclysm will most certainly include a fight between Big-Government globalists and freedom-loving, independent-minded patriots. I would even argue that this fight has already started. And as this battle escalates (and it will most assuredly escalate), only those states that are willing to stand and fight for their independence and freedom will survive–at least in a state of freedom. And we believe that God has already put the love of liberty deep into the hearts of the people of the Mountain States; and we further believe that God is already calling (and will continue to call) many other freedom lovers to those states. One thing is for sure: we know He called us!

Brother, you are 100% correct.  This nation is headed straight to Hell.  Instead of applying the brakes, the liberals and the conservatives have engaged the afterburners.  If there was ever a time to be concerned for physical safety, it is now!

However, as a Christian, what should your response be?  Should it be to organize a defense?  Or should it be to step up your efforts to reach the lost?  Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, and Luke 9:24 would be a good place to start researching this dilemma.  I have no doubt that God called you to Montana, but was it to defend a man-made Constitution or to minister to the saints?  Ephesians 6:12  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  Please make sure you are running the correct race (1 Corinthians 9:24) and fighting the good fight (1 Timothy 6:12).

We are not going to Montana to sunbathe (or even ski); we are not going to play games, or play politics; we are not going to “take it easy,” or “hide,” or hibernate. We are not going to “enjoy the climate.” We are going to fight! We are going to work! We are going to help the freedom-minded people of Montana make their stand for liberty! In many ways, the Mountain States just might become The Alamo of the twenty-first century, with, hopefully, much better results. But if not, I would rather die fighting for freedom with liberty-loving patriots by my side than be shuttled off to some FEMA camp after having been rejected and betrayed by soft-living, comfort-seeking, materialistic statists who simply “don’t get it” and have no desire to “get it,” which seems to be pretty much standard practice for a sizeable majority of people today–Christian and non-Christian–around most of the country.

Brother, take a step back.  Why are we going to have those FEMA camps?  Is it because we have neglected the cause of liberty in this nation?  Or is it because we have neglected our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 2:19, Hebrews 2:3)?  What does the Bible say?  It is very clear that God is in charge of what is happening (Jeremiah 18:6-10).  If you truly want to defend this nation, you need to take the gospel to the highways and the hedges (Luke 14:23) instead of holing up in the Alamo. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense…

The Mountain States are also attractive due to the distance separating them from the great regions of the country in which the tables are truly stacked against any growth and extension of the principles of federalism or limited government, namely, the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest (with my apologies to freedomists in those areas). Big-city liberalism dominates most of the states in these regions. The federal government has invested billions of dollars and thousands of personnel establishing and oiling the Orwellian machine in these areas. There are exceptions, of course, but they are few and far between, and therefore, quite isolated should any kind of serious stand be required.

Brother, have you heard yourself?   What is a freedomist and where is a freedomist found in your Bible?  It’s bad enough that apostates label themselves Calvinists, Lutherans, Catholics, Anglicans, etc, but freedomist?  Even Joseph Smith didn’t have the gall to add such a non-biblical word to the Book of Mormon.  The word freedom only appears twice in the Bible (Leviticus 19:20, Acts 22:28).  If we are to emulate Paul, we should relish not in freedom, but in being “free born.”  Are you pleasing men or God with your freedomist ideals?  1 Thessalonians 2:4  “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”

Add to the intrinsically oppressive nature of big-city liberalism and UN-sponsored globalism the out-of-control illegal immigration problem along the Southern Border and one has a recipe for disaster! And that is exactly what is coming: a disaster!

Brother, preach this!  Preach this message until you go hoarse.  Your warning here is biblical as God has promised us a world given over to Satan (Revelations 13:7).  While we may not appreciate it now, the Lord gives us the bread of adversity and the water of affliction to open our blinded eyes (Isaiah 30:20).  Just like ancient Israel, this nation despises the word and trusts in oppression and perversity (Isaiah 30:12).  As to illegal immigration, just like Israel our inheritance has been turned over to strangers and aliens (Lamentations 5:2).  Brother, use your internet ministry to proclaim the truth to this fallen nation:  that we had better repent in sack cloth and ashes or we are going to be destroyed (Jeremiah 18:8, Matthew 11:1).  The Chaldeans are at the gate and only a miracle can save us now (Jeremiah 21:4).

If I am correct in my analysis, and Montana (and surrounding states) really is in store for a FREEDOM RUSH, then it is certain that patriotic businessmen, laborers, tradesmen, professionals, clergymen, physicians, technicians, and people from virtually every walk of life will find themselves among the “gathering of eagles.” From an economic and spiritual perspective alone, the prospect of such a rush could be not only exciting, but also historic!

I have no doubt that when this nation falls, there will be a huge migration of polar opposites.  The super-bowl watching welfare slaves and their “liberal” taskmasters will congregate in their modern Babels.  Those who value their freedom will likewise flock to the hills.  But are we flocking to build hermitages and fortresses or to regroup to reach the lost?  Psalms 9:9 reminds us that the Lord is our refuge in times of trouble.

Therefore, let no more be said of hardship! Our Pilgrim forebears crossed the Atlantic Ocean without maps and with no one to greet them in their quest to find a land of liberty. Our Patriot forebears challenged the greatest military force in history (at that time) and stood on Lexington Green, Concord Bridge, and Bunker Hill to defend this land of liberty. And our Pioneer forebears traversed thousands of miles in covered wagons with no roads or bridges in their quest to carve a land of liberty out of the wilderness. Traveling 2,500 miles in trucks and cars across mostly an Interstate highway system, sleeping in hotels, and eating at restaurants seem like mighty puny sacrifices to make to find that land where this latter-day remnant can live and stand together.

I applaud our forebears because they sought freedom to worship their Creator, not freedom to worship the god of American materialism.  Liberty in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17) cannot in any way be brought down to the man-made designations contained in the Bill of Rights (1 Corinthians 8:9).  You also miss the fact that God works in mysterious ways (Romans 16:25) when it comes to propagation of the Gospel.  One of the main reasons God put the travel bug in the Europeans was to restore the Gospel to a Christ-rejecting world that had done its best to extinguish the light of the Gospel.  The Buddhists, Muslims, and Hindus all but eliminated the churches (Nestorian, church of east, etc.) in Asia.  The Animists did the same thing in Africa, Australia, and the Americas.  Ever wonder why the bloodthirsty Aztecs were looking for a European/Middle Eastern man to come riding in on horseback?  At one time, they too had the Gospel (Romans 10:18).  Revelation 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”

Yes, I realize the real work will only begin once we have arrived. I completely understand that Montana is not the Garden of Eden and that the Serpent is already there, waiting for us. I expect a fight. And I know I speak for the men of my family when I say, Bring it on! Freedom and liberty, along with the Natural Law principles of federalism and independence, are worth fighting for. In fact, they are worth dying for. So, living or dying, we intend to circle the wagons around the State of Montana and fight to our dying breath for the right of that State to live free! And while we are at it, we believe God will let us help many good, freedom-loving people of Montana find true inner freedom that comes from Christ alone. After all, any true student of American history knows that revival and revolution go hand in hand.

What is this Natural Law that you speak of?  Is it the law of nature described in Romans 2:14?  Or is it the non-biblical laws of nature dreamed up by Aristotle, Cicero and Augustine?  I ask for clarification because your “freedomist” audience may not understand that the invisible things of God are understood by all and that they are without excuse (Romans 1:20).  Bring it on?  Are we commissioned to fight with human fists or wielding the word of God (Ephesians 6:17)?  I have no doubt that federalism, independence, freedom, and liberty are worthy ideals, but they should never be the prime focus of our Christian ministries (2 Timothy 2:4).  Please make sure you aren’t getting distracted by the minutia when you need to be focused on the war at hand (1 Timothy 1:18).

To borrow from the Apostle Paul, “And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto [Montana], not knowing the things that shall befall me there.” (Acts 20:22) But I also have faith in another Biblical principle: that God opens doors that no man can shut (Rev. 3:8). And for the Baldwin family, that open door is the Flathead Valley of Montana. And no recession, or ridicule, or opposition, or false accusation, or cold and snow can shut that door. Montana, here we come!

Brother, please only quote Paul if you realize that Paul was focused on winning souls (i.e. Acts 20:21) and not establishing a patriotic resistance.  Second, God opens doors that cannot be closed by man, but God is talking about doors to proclaim the Kingdom of God, not to establish the last stand of the Alamo.  Third, I have no doubt that you all are called to Montana.  I just pray you learn biblical lessons from the move and that you focus on preaching to the Montana lost.

I end this letter on the following verse and its implications for anybody who would try and fight God’s coming judgment on this fallen world (the New World Order is nothing more than a modern Babylon):

Jeremiah 38:2: “Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.”

Categories
Politics Teachings The Savior The World Theology

Jeremiah 18: God vs. Nationalism

American Christians, when was the last time you read Jeremiah – I mean seriously read Jeremiah?  I ask this question because so many of us think that God made something special here in America, and therefore God won’t abandon us.  Some of us even think that what God made here is so special that it is worthy of us expending our blood to defend it.  But what does God say in this matter?  If you’ll turn to Jeremiah 18, you will see that God thinks our defense of “liberty” and/or the “Constitution” is futile. Picking up arms, going to the polls, and/or legislating in the name of “God”, “country” or “morality” keeps our “troops” on the wrong battlefield.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m no pacifist and I’m no slouch.  I’m not talking about Christians employed in military service (military service is clearly biblical: 2 Timothy 2:3).  Nor am I talking about Christians standing up for truth and/or righteousness (people need to hear the truth: 1 Timothy 2:4).  What I am talking about is putting the values of American patriotism (or nationalism) ahead of the Bible.  Our primary mission isn’t to stand up for Uncle Sam, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc.  It is to stand up for our biblical foundation and preach the Gospel:  Mark 16:15  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  According to Jeremiah, God only wants one thing from this country:  to turn from evil (repent) as a nation.

Let us analyze American Patriotism in light of Jeremiah 18:2-10.  These verses will make it abundantly clear that as American Christians, we need to concentrate on fighting a spiritual war above all other battles.  As Ephesians 6:11-12 tells us: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  We do not need to get sidetracked fighting symptoms of apostasy such as homosexuals in the military, liberal activist judges or politicians undermining Natural Law.  Instead, we need to focus on the cancer that is destroying this nation from the inside out:  unbelief.

Jeremiah 18:2  Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

Why should we be analyzing the Old Testament, let alone Jeremiah?  Paul tells us that the Old Testament is written for our admonition in the end times: 1 Corinthians 10:11  “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”  Like Jeremiah, we are to hear God’s words if we are to understand what we are to do in these perilous times.

Jeremiah 18:3  Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

Jeremiah 18:4  And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

            As usual, God is trying to teach us something.  He is giving us a visual picture to precede his spiritual lesson.  Here we have a potter working a vessel of clay on his potter’s wheel.  The vessel of clay becomes marred, and instead of attempting to repair it, he just makes another vessel out of the same lump of clay.  This concept of God as the potter and man as the clay is one that is repeated throughout scripture.  See also Isaiah 29:16, Isaiah 64:8, and Romans 9:21

Jeremiah 18:5  Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Jeremiah 18:6  O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Jeremiah 18:7  At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;

God then proceeds to lay into Israel over their wickedness and tells Jeremiah that he can pluck up, pull down, and otherwise destroy any nation in an instant.  Just like the potter working a piece of clay, God can destroy and rework a nation at will.  Now, re-read 1 Corinthians 10:11 (above).  Here, some may ask:  “This is the Church Age, isn’t God just speaking about Israel?”  What does 1 Corinthians 10:11 say?  It says this picture of the potter is both for our example and for our admonition.

Jeremiah 18:8  If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

As usual, God works multiple lessons into every example.  God explains in verse 8 that there is hope for a nation that turns from its evil.  Not only is there hope for a wayward nation, but in a direct refutation of Calvinism’s “eternal decrees”, God explains that he will repent of his planned destruction if a nation repents of its evil.  This is not a one-off concept; it is re-iterated in Jonah 3:9-10, Genesis 18:32, and Matthew 11:21-23.

Jeremiah 18:9  And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

To the American patriot’s credit, they are correct to believe that God had a hand in this country’s beginning.  Verse 9 tells us that God builds and plants nations in an instant.  This is what happened to the United States.  Popery had Europe in a stranglehold and through the Jesuits was attempting to usher in another “Dark Age.”  When all hope seemed lost, God fulfilled the prophecy of Genesis 9:27 and opened up a land of freedom in the midst of Shem’s tents.  This verse also best explains why King George III inconceivably divorced America with the Prohibitory Act on 22 December 1775 and how the seemingly invincible British army lost a war to a rag-tag band of farmers (see The Revolution Myth by Gene Fisher and Glen Chambers).

Jeremiah 18:10  If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

Now, here is where it gets scary for modern Americans.  Verse 10 builds on verse 9 and tells us that God benefits, and does good for, those countries that He builds and plants.  This concept is quite clear in history when one examines the United States.  We were instantly propelled onto the world stage with almost limitless opportunity, resources, and talent.  Then our sin natures got the better of us and we succumbed to one of the most famous verses in the Bible,  Proverbs 16:18:  “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

So where does this leave us as modern day Americans?  The answer should be obvious.  Our country needs to repent of its evil and spiritual rebellion towards its Creator.  As Christians, we need to go out to the highways and the hedges and witness to the lost (Matthew 22:9, Luke 14:23).  We must stay focused on the harvest of Luke 10:2  “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”

We cannot allow ourselves to be sidetracked by man’s logic and/or “good causes.”  2 Timothy 2:4  “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”  Running to the hills will accomplish nothing.  Storing up food, money, and/or ammunition will not save us (see how fast Belshazzar lost everything in Daniel 5).  Gaining political office and/or voting our way out is doomed to failure (see the dismal track records of the “Christian Coalition” and the “Moral Majority” since Christians have tried to vote this country back onto the narrow path; Matthew 7:13-14).  Even protesting abortion, while a good thing, will do nothing to change the heart conditions of the heathen who voluntarily murder their own children in the name of Baal (Jeremiah 7:9).

Have I deflated your patriotic balloon enough yet?  Don’t give up entirely, just redirect your energies.  Ephesians tells us that our enemies are not liberals, homosexuals, or even the New World Order.  Our enemy is the Devil himself.  We don’t even need to worry about the 2nd Amendment as guns aren’t going to win this battle.  Crack open that dusty old King James hiding on your bookshelf and don your battle gear:  Ephesians 6:12-13  “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

Categories
Medicine The World

Murdered Babies used for ‘Medicine’

Christians, it is time to ask ourselves an important question:  “Would God condone medical practices that utilize dead babies as the cure to a disease?”  Would the Creator God of the Universe, Our Lord Jesus Christ, give mankind medicine concocted from the remains of murdered unborn children?  Would God, who declares witchcraft to be a sin (1 Samuel 15:23), require us to mix mutilated bodies of babies into a bubbling chemical stew as the basis for a growth medium from which we then derive a cure for disease?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, your heart may already be too hard to break (Romans 1:24).

We need to stop blithely following “expert” medical advice under the convenient excuse that God gave us doctors; thereby implying that all medicine must be inherently good.  Modern medicine with all its scientific technology is harboring a satanic secret.  There are vaccines used in routine medical practice made from dead babies.  Yes, you read that correctly.  There are drugs made from dead babies.  Three ‘dead baby’ vaccines are administered to children on a regular basis.  These three are the MMR, Chicken Pox, and Hep A vaccinations.

To prevent this diatribe from turning into a book, we will limit this article to direct citations of these three common vaccines.    The phrase “dead baby” is used both intentionally and repeatedly to allow the depravity of this situation to sink in.  We will then step back and allow both the Holy Spirit and your conscience to work on you further.  If after examining this issue you still condone the usage of ‘dead baby’ vaccines, I must beg the questions:  “Are you really a Christian?  Are you even saved?  Are you so backslidden that you don’t even have a twinge of anger or sadness over the wholesale slaughter of children?”

Before you blow this information off as mere “anti-vaccine” propaganda or the ranting of some uneducated internet denizen, please note that our references come directly from Merck.  Merck is one of the largest and most respected pro-vaccine pharmaceutical companies on the planet.  They wouldn’t be claiming to use dead baby cells in their vaccines if they weren’t actually doing so.  Here is proof from Merck’s own website:

 

MMR.  Mumps, Measles, and Rubella.

“1. Plotkin, S.A.; Cornfeld, D.; Ingalls, T.H.: Studies of immunization with living rubella virus: Trials in children with a strain cultured from an aborted fetus, Am. J. Dis. Child. 110: 381-389, 1965.”

Please note that this reference directly states the rubella strain is cultured from a dead baby.  Merck makes no attempt to hide the fact that a baby was killed to make this vaccine.

source: http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/m/mmr_ii/mmr_ii_pi.pdf

Chicken Pox.

“introduced into human embryonic lung cell cultures.”

The only way to get a human embryonic lung cell is to kill an embryonic human.  (i.e. a baby).  Why are using  dead baby cells in order to fight a disease that is almost always harmless?”

source: http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/v/varivax/varivax_pi.pdf

Hepatitis A.

“human MRC-5 diploid fibroblasts”

MRC-5, which you can look up online, is code for a particular baby murdered in 1966.  Evil people will quip:  “but they’re only using a baby already long dead, they’re not using new victims.” This may be true for the current vaccine, but common sense will tell you that if they were using dead babies in experiments in 1966, then they are still using dead babies in products today (such as women’s skin cream).

sources: http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/v/vaqta/vaqta_pi.pdf

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/03/aborted-fetus-cells-used-in-anti-aging-products/print/

You are probably thinking: “What kind of crazy conspiracy theory is this?”  Modern drug companies wouldn’t use deceased children for medicine, you may object. I’m sorry, folks, it’s time to face the reality published by the vaccine producers themselves.  Modern medicine has been making vaccines from dead babies for years. The modern medical community that sings the praises of these vaccines has practitioners among them that have killed 50 million babies in America since the 1970s without shedding a tear.  Only the atheistic dictators Mao and Stalin are alleged to have killed more people!

Now that we’re finally awakening to the evils of this world, let’s ask another question.  Is it possible that these vaccines made from dead babies are actually harmful to our children?  Is it possible that the explosion in immunological and nervous system diseases in modern times is actually a physical response of God’s perfectly created human body as it attempts to purge itself of toxins such as dead baby vaccines?  Is it possible that injecting dead baby vaccines into the bloodstream of living children is such an abomination that God would allow the injected child to die in order to shed light on this evil practice?

Here and here are two articles that are a good place to start when answering this question. Please do not shirk your responsibilities.  God tells us that parents, not doctors or insurance agencies, are responsible for the welfare of their children (1 Timothy 5:8).

Let me end on a word for the wise.  Mothers have a tendency to mentally short-circuit when faced with the reality that they are voluntarily harming their own children by injecting them with a chemical witch’s brew full of cells from aborted fetuses (i.e. dead babies).  Nurses and doctors will naturally shut out all vaccine information they are presented with to avoid facing the realization that they have been accomplices in the maiming or killing of hundreds if not thousands of otherwise healthy children over the course of their medical careers.  Their rejection of the truth is a human knee-jerk emotional response as they try to protect themselves from the weight of their consciences and overwhelming feelings of guilt.  Present this information to them in as loving a manner as possible and reassure them that God can and will forgive their participation in this evil if they will only fall to their knees and ask His forgiveness.

Categories
Discernment History Politics The Christian The World

An Open Letter (Response) to Brother Sam Gipp

From an American Soldier

“Some Americans believe that our Founding Fathers instigated a war on April 19, 1775, in order to throw off British government, and that the Declaration, approved on July 4, 1776, was a public justification of this overthrow. American Christians have had difficulty understanding why many of our Founding Fathers, while adhering to biblical principles in their public and private lives, could, at the same time, rebel against constituted government. Historical investigation shows that they did not rebel.”
p. x “The Revolution Myth” by Gene Fisher and Glen Chambers.

Let me preface this article by acknowledging that I have never met Brother Gipp in person, and due to geography, I will probably never meet him in this life. From what I know of Brother Gipp, he is an outstanding biblical teacher and I am greatly indebted to him for his Answers Book, A Student’s Defense of the Authorized Version, and Gipp’s Understandable History of the Bible. If you have not read these three books, they are outstanding lessons regarding why we must never lose our Scriptural Foundation (as found in English in the King James Bible).

I am writing an open letter (in response) to Brother Gipp’s “Open Letter to the Military” in an effort to fulfill Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” It is written to all Christians who have become wrapped up in the pseudo-Christian “American Patriot” movement and to all Christians who are inadvertently fighting spiritual symptoms (i.e. flesh and blood) instead of spiritual illness (i.e. unbelief in our Lord Jesus Christ). I pray that this open letter will open your eyes to the truth as God’s word has opened my eyes.

This letter is written by a bible-believing born again Christian, an American by birth, and a soldier by choice. In 2006, I was saved through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. To clarify, I do not speak of the false “faith” of American Churchianity that makes Jesus just another false idol right next to mom, country, and apple pie. It took 27 years, but God finally brought my prideful, self-righteous self to my knees and exposed my need for a Savior. He made it abundantly clear that I could not save myself, that I must trust in the blood of Jesus to wash away my sins. Like “Christian” in John Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress,” a burden was lifted off my soul that will never return.

I believe it is essential to get a message across to Christians in America in an era that may very well be our darkest hour. A message that flies in the face of everything I have held dear as both an American and a soldier. A message that is a 180-degree about-face from what I believed before I began to diligently search the Bible for answers on this subject (2 Timothy 2:15). A message that will contradict the statements and teachings of many bible-believing brothers in Christ who I view as elders and/or teachers. However, contrary to popular perception, the Bible does not promote unity (2 Corinthians 6:17, 1 Timothy 6:5), it promotes truth (John 8:32, 1 Timothy 2:4), and it is for truth that we must stand. It is high time we compare “American Patriotism to truth and to expose its flaws to the light of the Bible.

As we all have been taught from elementary school on, America, according to the Constitution is a republic, governed by the people, for the people. It is clearly not a monarchy (although one could argue it is practically an oligarchy), and no matter how many times the ignorant repeat the lie, it is not a democracy. It is a republic. As a republic, the people, by way of elected representatives, are in control of their destiny. Sounds good right? If only it were still true. For all practical purposes, our republic and our Constitution exist in name only; nothing more than nostalgic remembrances of a “better day.” Proof of this can be seen daily on the news: The 1st and 2nd amendments are on life support, insane judicial activism is unrestrained, and political campaign “donations” (legalized bribery) rule the day. The physical battle for liberty in this nation ended at Gettysburg where freedom-loving blacks (contrary to liberal propaganda) and whites died fighting the shock troops of the New World Order. If God had wanted unbridled American liberty to continue, the Confederates would have won.

Americans long ago rejected the word of the LORD, and consequently He has rejected the American people (Jeremiah 18:10). This is not a new phenomenon. The Bible was thrown out the door of schools in 1963. Socialism was institutionalized by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930’s. “Christian” scholars and pastors rejected God’s words as preserved in the AV in favor of the apostate ASV in 1901. This republic tolerated full-fledged martial law with no pretense of the Constitution in ½ of the country from 1865-1877. In fact, the Constitution was officially destroyed in 1865 during the War of Northern Aggression when Lincoln shredded the Bill of Rights and attacked an independent sovereign nation. Long before Lincoln, the dual plagues of Unitarianism and Deism spread throughout the land and if it weren’t for some bible-believing, fire-breathing Baptists (and Methodists) the Bible would have all but been extinguished in this country (read William Grady’s What Hath God Wrought). Like Israel (and all sinners), this nation fell into unbelief as soon as it was born. George Washington himself trampled all over both the people and the Constitution when he attempted to put down the so-called Whiskey Rebellion and the republic was only 5 years old.

If popular folk-lore is to be believed, this nation was conceived in iniquity. Have you read1 Samuel 15:23? It tells us that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. If this nation indeed was born out of rebellion over something as spiritually unimportant as taxation, we must seriously ask the question: Were the “founding fathers” biblically literate, let alone Christian? Christians should never appeal to rebels for their marching orders. For all who insist on believing the Boston Harbor rebellion propaganda, I must point you to the outstanding book: The Revolution Myth by Gene Fisher and Glen Chambers. These authors offer the only plausible answer as to how Bible-believing Colonists could have picked up arms against England. They inform us that the colonists didn’t rebel from the King, the King declared war on the colonists on 22 December 1775 with the Prohibitory Act. If this is true, our real Independence Day is not July 4th. It is December 22nd (not to be confused with the pagan Hol(i)y-Day, Christ-Mass mentioned nowhere in the Bible).

Today we literally live in the modern equivalent of Sodom and Gomorrah. The “Ism’s” have taken over the public square: Animism, Atheism, Agnosticism, Buddhism, Calvinism, Catholicism, Communism, Fascism, Feminism, Hinduism, Judaism, Materialism, Mormonism, Muhammadism, Satanism, Socialism, etc. As a people, we literally care more about Hollywood celebrities, sports, and music stars than we do about God, family, or country. What happened? As has happened many times in history, we allowed Satan to fulfill 2 Corinthians 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

The next time an atheist asks for proof of biblical prophecy, just turn on a television and show themMatthew 24:38 “For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,” We are so carnal, I would not be surprised if 10 righteous men could not be found in most cities in America. Genesis 18:32 “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Per 2 Corinthians 4:4, this message will only make sense to born again Christians. It can be summed up with three scriptures:

1) 1 Samuel 15:23 “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” As previously mentioned, Christian Americans need to repent of their acceptance of the American Rebellion myth. I don’t care how much we respect George Washington, et. al. If they were rebels to a legitimate God-ordained government, they are not to be placed up on pedestals. Instead, they are to be held as examples to our children as men we should NOT emulate. As Christians, we need to separate ourselves from any modern movements that seek to falsely make rebellion a Christian heritage or value.

2) Jeremiah 18:6-10 “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

1 Corinthians 10:11 tells us that Old Testament history happened as examples for our admonition. That said, what does the Old Testament say about the course of nations? It is explicit. Jeremiah tells us that nations are like clay in the potter’s hand. God builds them up and destroys them based on their obedience and spiritual condition. If they obey God (like our forefathers) he will build them up. If they do evil (like our current culture) he will repent of the good he previously did for them and will proceed to pull down and/or destroy that nation. What you are seeing today is nothing more than a fulfillment of God’s word. We rejected God, and God is fulfilling his promise to destroy us. We cannot blame the atheists or liberals for their nefarious attempts to destroy this country. They are just change agents for God’s coming judgment.

3) Romans 1:25 “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:25 pretty much sums up American history from 1776 – Present. We changed the truth of God (the KJV) into a lie (fake bible versions, false preaching/teaching, prosperity gospels, etc.) and worshipped the creature (Social Gospel, 19th century Utopia movements, Evolution, Feminism, New Age earth worship, etc.) more than God. Instead of worrying about God’s coming judgment, we should be thankful he hasn’t rained down fire and brimstone on us already.

I will now proceed to analyze Brother Gipp’s letter in light of the Bible:

“There may be dark and trying days ahead for our country. The actions of this president have been hostile to both our Constitution and freedom in general.” You are correct. This is a dark and trying time and the actions of this president are indeed suspect. However, what does the Bible say? Proverbs 21:1 “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Do you subscribe to the view that “We the People” are king and the President is the servant? If so, we don’t get off any easier in Proverbs 29:12 “If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.”

“The country, as a whole, is emotionally charged and bent on self preservation rather than the good of the nation.” You hit the nail on the head! It took me three years to come to grips with this reality as I was once stuck on self-preservation too. Like many American Christians, I rationalized that maybe if I prepared, stocked up, and trained, we could take on the minions of the New World Order until the Rapture occurred. Why? Because the Bible indicates that somebody will be doing some type of resisting in the time of the Anti-Christ: “And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.” (Revelation 12:14)

However, taking this view now is anti-biblical for three reasons: 1) it violates Luke 17:33: “Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” 2) It is based in materialism, and not biblical faith. Paul too was “free born” (Acts 22:28) but not once do we find him picking up arms to defend that status. 3) Who are we to oppose prophecy? Do we want to end up like the Israelites facing Babylon in Jeremiah 21:4? As Gamaliel wisely noted inActs 5:39 “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

“The President and Democratic Party in general seem bent on forcing their agenda on a populace that is more and more resistant to that agenda.” If only it were this simple. The Republican party did the same thing only 2 years ago but most “conservatives” ignored it because the Democrats always appear to be worse. We are consistently presented with two choices in this country: 1) Militant Corporate Fascism (Republicans). 2) Bloodthirsty Communism (Democrats). We then have the unpalatable “choice” of voting for the next Hitler or the next Stalin. Ron Paul burst on the public radar two years ago and “conservatives” and “liberals” alike all but laughed him off the stage for promoting the Constitution.

The American resistance to our present circumstances has nothing to do with biblical repentance or a sudden national belief in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As can be seen by the “Tea Party” movement and healthcare revolts; our real motivations are to save our precious treasures and possessions. If this was a Christian resistance movement we would have started pushing back in 1963 when the courts tossed out the Bible or in 1973 when we legalized the wholesale murder of babies (50 million and counting). Ironically, as a generation, the Baby Boomers rejected God, and God is now going after the only thing they care about: their money (in the form of their retirements, health care, and savings).

“It could be very likely that, in an effort to seize control of the nation, President Obama or some other forces acting on his behalf may stage a “crises” that “forces” him to take dictatorial control of the nation.” First, the President is nothing more than a Manchurian Candidate. A mere puppet of the global elite (princes of this world, 1 Corinthians 2:8). The few times Obama has skipped the teleprompter he suffered verbal lapses worse than the “Bushism” theatrics. Second, he already has dictatorial control because we voluntarily signed it over long ago in the name of “peace” and “security” over the staged crisis of 9/11 (admittedly just the latest in a long string of staged crises in this country – Gulf of Tonkin anyone?). George Orwell pretty much hit the fake crisis nail on the head with his classic novel, “1984.”

“There may be a “frame-up” of conservatives in which some “Bible-toting, Constitution quoting” mock conservative commits some heinous crime designed to turn the nation’s anger away from the administration and towards anyone who would dare disagree with the president.” This has already happened three times in the last two decades: 1) Waco. 2) Ruby Ridge. 3) Oklahoma City. Before that the John Birch Society was all but decimated by a calculated campaign of media slander. Frame-ups are to be expected as non-Christians and their satanic handlers have no moral basis from which to base their decisions. Romans 3:11 “There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” For insight into how they play the game, read:Rules for Radicals by Saul D. Alinsky

“There is even a chance that the nation may shortly slip into a civil war or anarchy. If this happens the only force able to combat such a coup would be the U. S. Military.” I do not doubt that this nation is on the brink of civil war and/or anarchy. However, there are two things to keep in mind: 1) God is in Control so “Fear Not” (Matthew 10:31). There will be no government change (or for that matter, government preservation) without his approval. 2) The coup you refer to already happened in 1865 when “we the people” became Rockefeller’s corporate America, Inc (Lee and Stonewall Jackson, both Christian military men, lost that battle).

“To our Military. Please remember at all times that you swore an oath to defend the United States Constitution, NOT the government, be that the President, Congress or Supreme Court. Your allegiance should always be to use any power within your ability to defend and preserve our Constitution against all enemies, foreign or domestic. If the president attempts to establish dictatorial control over the country, not granted him by the Constitution, then he is no longer president and instead, a rebel, threat to your country. You owe him no loyalty, obedience or defense. He is to be arrested along with all those who assist his attempted revolution and tried in a criminal court.” The only thing that men learn from history is that they never learn from history. The following presidents declared martial law and/or established dictatorial powers over this country: 1) Lincoln. 2) FDR. 3) Kennedy. 4) Bush II

“If the President calls in troops from a foreign country to subdue the population, all such troops are to be viewed as foreign invaders and dealt with accordingly. No nation should have troops in this country. No president should request or allow such a thing. Any president that allows or initiates such an act is attempting to become a dictator.” Where do we get the notion that the President can’t call in foreign troops? The kangaroo courts have already determined the Constitution is subject to change and interpretation (ironically, just like “Christian Scholars” say that our “inerrant” biblical text is open to change and interpretation). The president is our elected representative. Based on our system of government, he speaks for all of us. If we don’t want foreign troops on our soil, we should probably be voting for a president that won’t bring them onto our soil. We voluntarily voted Obama in office as a nation. Why? Because political correctness, peace, prosperity, and the social/welfare gospel are more important to us than either Jesus Christ or personal freedom. Just as God gave Israel the king they wanted in 1 Samuel 8:10-22, God has given us the desires of our heart (tyranny)

“The United States military is like no other in the world. As shown in all wars in which they have fought, they can literally obliterate an enemy and yet, within minutes of the battle being over, be handing out candy to children.” You are correct. We are like no other military in the world. However, it’s not for the reasons you think. The candy and compassion are nothing more than P.R. glosses to hide the ruthlessness of the American soldier who is literally the most skilled killing machine on the planet. This is why third-world despots tremble at the thought of the US Marine. Nobody wins wars by being nice (search the word “destroyed” in the Old Testament)

“It is this benign might that will be needed if trying days come upon us. Ruthless against the invader yet benevolent to the populace.” Again, this is nothing more than Hollywood fiction. We fire-bombed hundreds of thousands of civilians at Dresden. We nuked two civilian cities in Japan. We decimated the Vietnamese populace. Iraqi civilian deaths are estimated to be 100,000+. Shall we include all the third-world dictators and tyrants who have wipoed out their own populace while supported by American F-16 diplomacy? Don’t get me wrong, I am no peacenik. War is clearly a biblical concept (mentioned 200+ times). We just shouldn’t pretend that American troops are something other than fallen and sinful men (especially since most of our troops are NOT born again Christians).

“Use your might to defend civilians, not to oppress them. If ordered to attack or subdue American citizens refuse to obey the order!” You can’t have it both ways. We can’t both defend the Constitution against domestic enemies while simultaneously refusing to attack or subdue American (domestic) citizens. This is the clamor of desperation of one who is doubting God’s control in the destiny of our nation (trust me, I was previously in your shoes and I too harbored these conflicting feelings). Again, trust God. He is in control: Mark 13:7 “And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.”

“If chaos sweeps our nation then do not use your might to establish private armies that seek to enslave the citizens. Use your might for right.” What is right? Man’s view of right or God’s view of right? If God is rebuking and/or chastening us, who are we to resist? Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

To Those in Law Enforcement

The police forces of Third World nations are notoriously corrupt. In many cases they are nothing more than thugs, drug dealers and enforcers for criminal elements. Again, the police, like the military, are nothing more than a reflection of a society as a whole. You are asking unregenerate men, who do not believe in King Jesus, to go against their sin nature. The only way you will change them is to follow 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

“Following the events mentioned above the United States will become a violent, dangerous and scary Third World nation. Rule of law will breakdown and people will be killing one another for food, fear or revenge. Just as you are the civilizing force in our society today, you will be desperately needed in the days following any breakdown of society.” Agreed. Consider three more verses:

1.      2 Peter 2:10 tells us that those that walk after the flesh despise government.

2.      Matthew 10:28 “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

3.      Matthew 10:29 “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”

“Because you have trained in the use of force and know how to get people to obey you there may be a great temptation to abuse what you have been taught and try to oppress the civilian population. In light of the lack of respect and appreciation you may feel you have endured by some elements of the public, please do not allow yourself to fall into corruption with the rest of our society. There will be an ample number of weaker civilians that will desperately need your help and protection. Your nation will need you as never before. Abandon your morals and it will be bloody chaos.” No argument. But here is our chance as Christians to step up and live what we believe. The testimonies out of China, Vietnam, Sudan, Nigeria, India, etc. of police and military personnel being converted to Jesus Christ after their oppression of local Christians is awe-inspiring. From biblical testimony, we have the jailor of Acts 16 who came to salvation through the improper beating/jailing of Paul and Silas. Check out Voice of the Martyrs, Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, etc. for more information on Christians persecuted for their faith.

“Don’t submit to the desire to use your power to bully, cajole or get even with the weaker folks in our society. You will be physically stronger than most but you will need to be morallystronger. You will have weapons others do not have, don’t use them in a shameful manner.”Again, this is a chance for us to live our faith. You are asking non-Christian men to act against their sin natures. It won’t happen unless God works on their hearts. I know it is scary to contemplate, butRevelation 17:6 doesn’t exclude the blood of American saints.

For Both Groups

Regardless of what you have been told, the greatness of the United States is not due to the “Sacred Cow” of “Free Enterprise.” our forefathers did not come here to start Pizza Hut! They came for the right to freely worship the God of the BIBLE. (Not the Koran.). Correct. And their descendents, all the way down to us, traded in the God of the Bible for a bunch of man-made false idols. See Isaiah 1 and Jeremiah 18 for our options (i.e. repent or face the consequences).

Man is basically selfish. Only the Bible admonishes man to think of others ahead of himself. Only the Bible gives him the inner strength to resist the desire to be vengeful, vindictive and oppressive. Because of 150 years of Bible preaching (1620-1776) our people grew up moral.Agreed. The one thing that the atheists never admit to is that the success/failure of modern Europe was rooted in the Bible. Without the Bible, the Europeans were just a bunch of wild tribesmen living in squalor at the edge of the Roman Empire. The problem we face is that since 1776, Bible preaching has degraded into the Joel Olsteen/TBS Prosperity Doctrine mixed with Timothy Leary’s “if it feels good, do it.”

That morality gave them the carefree spirit that saw our forefathers advance technology by thousands of years, from the sailing ship to walking on the moon in 200 years. Yes, on the one hand, Bible morality and literacy is the engine for progress. On the other hand, that same technological progress eventually leads to laziness followed by lack of Bible literacy. Proverbs 16:18“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

Look at nations today that were never run by the Bible. They are Third World nations locked in the past we left behind. What little technology they have was given by that Christian nation, the United States of America. Correct again. And look at America since we have kicked the Bible out of government, schools, and pulpits: We are looking more and more third-world by the day.

Our society has been duped. It was told this would be a better nation if there was no prayer in our schools. Are we? We would be more “progressive” if we allowed our children to have no morals. Are we? We would be more civilized if we didn’t spank our children. Are we? We would be happy if we got everything we ever wanted. Has it worked? The answer is “No” inevery case. Correct again. When we worship man, we end up with chaos. This is a hard lesson to be re-learned by each generation. 1 John 5:21 “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

The only real hope America has for survival is a return to hard biblical preaching. Not the lame, “Let’s have a group hug” of liberalism, but the “Hellfire and brimstone” that New York, Hollywood, Congress, the Supreme Court, the President…and you are afraid of. If you choose “greed and the gun” over the “Bible and benevolence” we are truly doomed. Amen Brother. Please, for our country’s sake, focus on this kind of preaching. I would much rather see this nation repent than to be destroyed, but I will not shake my fist at God (Romans 9:20). Please do not get side-tracked on legislating, petitioning, or voting our way out of this spiritual mess we are in. Instead, preach the Gospel and follow the admonishment of 2 Timothy 2:4 “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” If Christians plant and water, God will give the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6-7).

“Review some of your recent actions and see how self-motivated they were. The best thing you can do is to turn from greed to God. That thing in your past that you are ashamed of has already been paid for by the punishment Jesus Christ endured. Yet, because He was God and not man He rose from the dead. Think about it. What good is a religion that couldn’t get its Founder out of the grave? Now, go check where the founders of every religion in the world are right now. If Jesus Christ has the power to get Himself out of the grave He has the power to forgive your sins, come into your heart and save you and, if you should die, raise you from the grave when He returns. When He returns He will reward those who have accepted Him as their personal Saviour and chosen to serve Him.” No argument. We need to take a cue from the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons and start spreading the Gospel door to door if this nation has any hope.

Over the past 50 years our public schools and institutions of higher education have turned this nation to heathenism. We will not see how thorough and devastating this conversion has been until the collapse comes. our Nation’s hope will be the morality of our military and law enforcement officers. But the hope of every individual will be in putting their eternal soul in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ…as it always has been.” Hold it. You just got-side tracked by some lurking nostalgia for your pseudo-Christian American patriotism heritage. Our nation’s hope has nothing to do with the morality of the military or law enforcement officers. Our nation’s hope will be to repent and turn towards the Creator God of the Bible, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.Jeremiah 18:8 “If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.”

Let me finish by saying: Brother Gipp (and/or any born again bible-believing Christian), if anything in this response contradicts biblical truth, I ask you in all sincerity to correct my error. Please show me in English from the King James Bible where I am wrong and I will accept it without question. Too many times today we forget to “be Berean” Acts 17:11 “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

In Christ,

A Pilgrim

Jeremiah 37:19 Where are now your prophets which prophesied unto you, saying, The king of Babylon shall not come against you, nor against this land?

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False Prophets Media The Last Days The World

Glenn Beck: False Prophet

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

This is an open letter to Glenn Beck and all other Americans who mistakenly believe that Christianity equates to being:  1) a good person.  2) American.  3)  a conservative.  4)  republican.  You could not be farther from the truth.  Your patriotism, political activities, or vain attempts at righteousness apart from the Holy Spirit mean nothing when it comes to avoiding the Lake of Fire.  It has everything to do with repentance and belief on our Lord Jesus Christ.

While nobody would expect otherwise from the liberals, atheists, agnostics, and new-agers, politically conservative Glenn Beck took issue with a comment from the Bible that Alabama Governor Mark Bentley made about his Christian Faith:

“Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister, and I want to be your brother,” (Matthew 12:50, Mark 3:35)

According to the Alabama Local News,  “Beck said the problem was with the sentiment, not the wording. A true messenger of Jesus Christ, he said, must consider every person a brother or sister.”  “Even Luke Skywalker recognized that Darth Vader was his father,” Beck said  Later, he added, “Governor, you are sadly mistaken about your Christianity.”

Glenn, where do you get your ideas about Christianity from?  Star Wars?  God is not with the Jedi. Mark Bentley got his wording from the Bible (Matthew 12:50, Mark 3:35).  Have you even read the Bible?  Do you believe the Bible?  If you are really a Christian, why would you take exception to a fellow Christian expounding on Biblical ideas?  Paul did not care if one preached out of strife or good-will, as long as the good news was spread (Philipians 1:18).   How can the Governor be mistaken about his Christianity when he is quoting Scripture within context?

A true messenger of Jesus Christ preaches the Gospel according to Paul.  He does not consider non-Christians to be his spiritual brothers and sisters.  1 Corinthians 10:32 tells us that this fallen world is classified into three people groups:  1)  Believers.  2)  Jews.  3)  Gentiles.  Until a Jew or Gentile Believes on Jesus Christ, he is not our spiritual brother.  According to the Bible, people who preach contrary to the Bible are accursed (Galatians 1:8-9)  The Governor was preaching from the Bible.  You are preaching against the Bible.  Maybe you need to look in the mirror and examine yourself by asking, “am I an unwitting minion of Satan?” (2 Corinthians 13:5)  Again, I ask you, please repent and believe on your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sadly, after a single lambast from Glenn Beck and the atheist media, the Governor pulled a Peter (Matthew 26:75) and apologized for quoting the Bible among an assembly of Christians.Please pray that the Governor will stand tall for faith in Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 6:12).

Categories
Salvation The Christian

Ye Must Be Born Again!

Why do Bible believers say over and over that you must be born again?  Because the Bible tells us that you must be born again.  It’s black and white.  There is no wiggle room.  Either you are born again or you are NOT born again.  If you are born again, the Bible promises that you will see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).  If you are NOT born again, the Bible promises that you will see the Lake of Fire (Rev 20:15).  The choice is up to you, and you alone.  It is not up to your mother, your father, your sister, or your brother.  It is not up to your nation, your community, your town, or your church.  There is no collective effort or collaboration in this matter.  There is no way to cheat or to substitute someone else’s passing grade as your own.  I am going to sound like a broken record here because this concept is that important for you to grasp.  Why? I don’t want you to end up in Hell like the millions (if not billions) of people who have wound up there before you.

John 3:3  “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

Did you read that?  What does that verse say?  It says a man must be born again to see the Kingdom of God.  Are you born again?  Do you even know what it means to be born again?  Do you even care enough about your own soul to investigate the question?  Do you want to see the Kingdom of God?  Do you even know what the Kingdom of God is (Romans 14:17)?  Do you love God enough to take five minutes to find out?  Have I made you uncomfortable by asking these questions?  Why are you uncomfortable?  Is it because your conscience is telling you that you are NOT born again?  Is it because you have lived your life in defiance of God and not believed on your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?  Is it because you think you are such a good person that God will allow you into Heaven based on your works?  I have news for you, you are probably NOT born again if you are made uncomfortable by the sentence:  “Ye must be born again.”

John 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

How about verse seven?  What does it say?  It says do not marvel at the phrase, “ye must be born again.”  I know somebody commented that he does not like the phrase:  “born again.”  He claims he don’t like the phrase because too many “bad” people claim to be born again.  This sounds reasonable, until one understands that all people (including those born again) are fallen sinners in a fallen world.  Of course there are “bad” people who are born again as we are all destined to sin, although we must ask the question, are they “bad” in man’s eyes or God’s?  While they won’t admit it, the real reason they do not like the phrase because they are NOT born again.  Many hypocrites will say that being “born again” is pretentious or over-used by liars, pretenders, fakes.  I say, “So what?”  Stop the excuses.  Those people will have their judgment.  The question you must ask is:  will you also have yours?

1 Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

How are you born again?  1 Peter 1:23 tells us directly.  We are born again by the word of God.  What was that?  The word of God?  Where can that be found?  It can be found in English in the King James Bible.  It is your foundation in a world filled with confusion as God promises that his word will live and abide for ever.  This promise is re-iterated in Psalm 12:6:7 (pure words, preserved for ever),Matthew 5:8 and Luke 16:7 (till heaven and earth pass, not one tittle will pass from the law).  If somebody tries to steal the promises of the English Bible from you by changing 60,000 “archaic” words and thereby confusing scripture, please turn them to 1 Corinthians 14:33 and ask them who is the author of confusion and why they are following him.

So, if we are born again by the word of God, what does the word of God say on being born again?  Let’s go back to our starting point:  John Chapter 3.

John 3:3-4  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Nicodemus, one of the most intelligent men who ever lived, asked Jesus Christ how a man could be born again.  This is a logical question since it is hard for any of us to mentally conceive of being physically born again as an adult.  What was Jesus’ response?

John 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.

He said that a man must be born of water and of the Spirit.  What in the world did he mean by that?  Does he mean that you must be born in the ocean?  Did he mean that you must be water-baptized?  How can we ever figure the answer out?  As God is not the author of confusion (1 Cor 14;33) the answer is not that hard to find.  Read on to the next verse.

John 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

God clarifies John 3:5 with the wording of John 3:6.  The Water and Spirit of John 3:5 are the same as the Flesh and Spirit of John 3:6.  When Jesus said that you must be born of the water, he was speaking of your literal, physical birth (i.e. when a woman’s water breaks…).  However, before you think you can make an easy escape through allegory, the Spirit of verse 5 is still the Spirit of verse 6.  This means that regardless of which verse you choose:  you still must be born again (of the Spirit).

John 3:7-8:  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

This is the consistent testimony of all people who have been born again.  Literally, the Spirit of God hits you like a freight train.  One moment you are wallowing in your sin, and the next moment you have had a lightening-bolt realization that you are in dire need of a savior.  If this freight train hasn’t hit you, it’s because you haven’t allowed it to.  You’ve been so busy bobbing and weaving to avoid the truth that you are literally running from God who created you and loves you.  Like the backsliding heifer, you refuse to hear  (Zechariah 7:11)

John 3:9-10:  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

You, like Nicodemus and every other unsaved person, are probably incredulous by now.  How can this be?”, you ask.  Jesus’ response to both Nicodemus and all readers cuts straight through our egos.  Are you not a self-proclaimed genius?  Are you not smarter than the rest?  Are you not modern?  Are you not living in the 21st Century?  Do you not have access to computers, television, phones, and the internet?  Have you not navigated the earth, sea, and skies?  And yet with all this knowledge, you still ask such a question as basic as:  “how can these things be?”

John 3:11-12  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

Jesus cuts straight to the chase.  He has told you (and Nicodemus) what he knows to be true and what has been seen, yet you do not believe him.  He then asks you a rhetorical question:  If you do not believe the miracles, signs, and wonders conducted in our physical reality which he has told you about, how can you possibly expect to believe the unseen things of heaven?  This is a logical predicament that most “pew-warmers” find themselves in.  They go through the motions of their vain traditions (Matthew 6:7, Romans 1:21) but they find themselves no more enlightened about the things of God than when they started.  Their problem lies not in the complexity of God’s word, but in themselves.  If they cannot believe the physical miracles of the Bible (The 6-24-hour-day Creation, Garden of Eden, Noah’s Flood, Joshua’s Long Day, Jesus’ walking on water, etc.), they cannot logically expect to believe that Jesus Christ is Lord or that He died for OUR sins.

John 3:13-15  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Here, Jesus tells us something that only God knows.  First, until Jesus descended from heaven, no man had (or was going to) ascend up on his own as that is a power reserved for God alone.  Second, Jesus explains to us how the Old Testament examples fit the New Testament prophecies: Jesus must be crucified (lifted up on the cross) and also lifted up into Heaven.  Third, Jesus tells us why He must be lifted up:  So that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  DID YOU READ THAT!!!  Do you remember how 1 Peter 1:23 tells us that we’ll be born again by the word of God?  Well, you just read the crux of the matter!  In fact, God wants you to know the truth so he repeats it in the next verse to try and get it into your hard heart.

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

It only took 13 verses, but we’re here!  We are to the most famous (and important) verse in the Bible.  Yes, you read that correctly.  If you take anything from this message, please put John 3:16 to memory.  God LOVES the world.  He loves you.  He loves everyone.  In fact, he loves you so much that he gave the life of His only begotten Son to save us all.  He doesn’t require any actions or works on your part in return.  You don’t have to be good.  You don’t have to give to the poor.  You don’t have to be sinless.  All God asks is that you believe.  Did you hear me?  You only have to Believe.  It’s that simple (but not that easy).  Just Believe on your Creator, Lord, and Savior, Jesus Christ and you will have everlasting life.

“Hold on,” you say.  I believe in Jesus. In fact, everybody believes in Jesus.  All of history attests to the fact that Jesus walked this Earth 2,000 years ago.  Does that mean we are all going to Heaven?  No.  Simply believing that Jesus was a historical figure is not to believe in him unto salvation.  If you believe in Jesus in the same way that you believe in Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, or George Washington, then you are not going to have everlasting life.  You are not trusting in Jesus; you are just acknowledging his existence.  1 Peter 3:21 clarifies for us that what saves us is the answer of a good conscience toward God, not a mere intellectual exercise.  Romans 10:9 tells us that we can’t merely mouth the words “I believe” like a Harry Potter magic spell, we must believe it in our hearts: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Do you think God is unjust in his methodology of salvation?  Jesus pre-empts your unbelieving mind in verse 17 by informing you that he did not send his Son to die in order to condemn the multitudes that are willingly going to go to Hell.  Hell was not intended for you. It was intended for the Devil and his fallen angels (Matthew 25:41).  You don’t have to go there, but if you do, it is your choice.  God sent his Son to die in order that all of us (that is the world), might be saved.

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Acts 2:37  “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”  Is your heart pricked yet?  God made it plain as day in verse 18.  A sinner who believes is not condemned.  It does not matter if you are a murderer, fornicator, or thief.  If you believe, you will not be condemned.  Now comes the tough part.  Conversely, there is only 1 sin that will condemn us.  That sin is unbelief.  It doesn’t matter how good of a person you think you are:  If you do not believe in the name of Jesus Christ, you are condemned and on your way to Hell.

John 3:19-21  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Jesus now throws the gauntlet on the table.  He puts it about as bluntly as it can be put.  The reason you do not believe is because you love darkness as it covers up your evil deeds.  You may be able to hide those deeds from men, but you cannot hide them from God.  We are told in Matthew 10:26:  “…for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.”

You must now ask yourself: “Do I love darkness (and evil), or do I love the light (and truth)?” The Bible tells us that you have a choice in this matter.  We are not robots, automatons, or wooden toys like Pinocchio.  Proverbs 16:9 tells about our choice:  The broad way to Hell (Matthew 7:13) or the narrow way (Matthew 7:14) to Heaven.  Either you choose to believe in Jesus Christ, or you choose to reject Jesus Christ.  It is that simple.  Ye must be born again.

I pray that both your conscience and your heart have been pricked.  I pray that you have been convicted to the point of 2 Corinthians 7:10:  “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”  Please, for the sake of your soul, repent of your unbelief and believe on our Lord Jesus Christ so that you too can be born again.  While we will probably never meet in this life, I hope to see you in Heaven.

Categories
Reward The Christian

Reward in Heaven

Recently a friend asked me a question about the reward mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3:14:

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

He had heard that the promised reward was contingent upon a Christian’s Bible reading and/or spiritual knowledge.  My friend is wise to mull over this reward as Colossians 3:2 clearly tells us to “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”  Comparing scripture with scripture will shed some light on the subject of rewards and works.

Before getting into the main passage, let’s sidetrack to a similar subject presented in the Gospels.  The Bible tells us in Matthew 6:20 that we should not lay up treasures on earth, but treasures in heaven.  What are these treasures?  Is it possible they are related to the reward in 1 Corinthians 3:14?  We are not given any direct connection between the two verses, but Matthew 6:20 gives scriptural support to the idea that treasures (rewards) in Heaven are a biblical idea and not a lone, misunderstood verse.

Again in the Gospels, consider Mathew 25:20-30.  Here we read the parable of servants and talents which clearly indicates a possibility of authority and/or rule over things to come based on what we do here with our resources in this life.  God seems to be telling us that our faithfulness will be rewarded when we see him again.  Again, no direct connection is given to the verses above, but we do have further support that all may not be equal in Heaven.  This would correspond much more to a capitalistic class system rather than a socialistic or communistic approach where all are theoretically given equal privileges.

In ,light of this, what does the reward in 1 Cor 3:14 refer to?  Are we rewarded according to the level of our Bible reading, spiritual knowledge, or something else?  Reading this verse within the broader context of verses 1-15 will lead us to the answer.

Paul begins Chapter 3 by informing us that he is dealing with carnal Christians who are mere babes in Christ.  He continues in verse 2 by elaborating that Christians must begin their studies drinking spiritual milk before they are ready for spiritual meat.  Paul then proceeds to denounce divisions (i.e. modern denominations) that in his day were centered on Paul and Apollos (similar to Calvin, Luther, et. al.).  Paul explains in verse 6-7 that man can plant spiritual seeds and water but God brings the increase.

1 Cor 3:6-7 is a scriptural continuation of the harvest verses of Matthew 9:37-38, Luke 10:2,John 4:35 and the sower parable of Matthew 13:3 and Luke 8:5.  Verse 8 elaborates that the planter and waterer are one (as in the body of Christ), but even so, each individual Christian will receive a reward according to their own labor.  Verse 9 tells us that we labor with God as both his husbandry (workers) and that we are his building built on the foundation of Jesus Christ (verses 10-11).

Now the clear message begins to come to light.  Paul proceeds to tell us in 1 Cor 3:12 that Christians can build precious things or worthless stubble on their spiritual foundation of Jesus Christ.  Furthermore, in verses 13-15; God will make this work manifest by trying it with fire.  Any man’s work that survives this fiery purge will be given to him as a reward, while any man’s work that burns shall be a loss.  This is very important to read for two reasons.  First, it is clear that our actions on this earth have an impact on our heavenly reward.  Second, it gives rock-solid support for the doctrine of eternal security!

Now, having read 1 Corinthians 3:14 within the context of 1 Corinthians 1-15, we should have a better understanding of the reward we will receive.  As can be seen by the verses in context, the reward Paul discusses is first mentioned in 1 Corinthians 8.  1 Corinthians 8 clearly attributes the reward to the same Christians mentioned in 1 Corinthians 6-7.  These Christians are not earning this reward through regular bible study or spiritual knowledge but through earnest attempts at evangelism and witnessing to the lost.  What does this mean for us?  It means we need to stop using bible studies and prayer meetings as excuses to avoid what we are called to do:  witness to the lost.

In order to properly finish this biblical analysis, I must end it on a caveat.  God knows your heart (Acts 1:24, Acts 15:8, Romans 8:27).  If you read this article and go running off to witness based solely on a desire for God’s rewards: you are falling into a similar error as that of Simon the Sorcerer (Acts 8:21).  Conversely, if you are spiritually lazy, do not use the pretence of not seeking rewards as an excuse to not witness (Matthew 25:26, Hebrews 6:12, Ephesians 6:6).  I pray that you will seek the spiritual middle ground and witness for the same reason that we obey God in any other facet of our lives – solely because it pleases him (1 Corinthians 1:21, 2 Timothy 2:4).

Categories
Fruits Teachings The Christian The Savior

Soul Liberty Outline

This outline is the beginning of a series of articles that, Lord Willing, will become a book on the subject of Soul Liberty. This compilation has been three years in the making and could possibly take more. It is the result of much Bible study, much prayer, and much debate. The thesis of this outline has rocked the very soul of its author who until this year was determined to resist its conclusion. The thesis can be summed up as follows:

Jeremiah 18:7-10: “At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

Key points to consider for all who love Jesus Christ:

  1. There is no Constitution in the Bible. There are only the Old and New Testaments.
  2. The American Constitution doesn’t exist: it was destroyed by Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Man’s war for material freedom without God was lost at Gettysburg. If God wanted Americans to be able to live any way they please, the South would have won.
  3. There are no freedoms (or unalienable rights) outside of Jesus Christ. (John 8:36)
  4. The only laws that we are to disobey are those that contradict Biblical commandments. Everything else is to be obeyed, no matter how tyrannical. (1 Peter 2:13)
  5. God is in Control. God tells us that He establishes our leaders (Obama, Bush, Clinton, et. al.). (Colossians 1:16)
  6. God doesn’t care about Constitutional eligibility. God gives us both what we deserve (a tyrant) and what we want (bondage). (1 Samuel 8:5)
  7. Abortion, Homosexuality, Feminism, etc. are symptoms of our spiritual disease of unbelief. To remove the symptoms, you must first address the root cause. (James 5:20)

Matthew 9:37-38: “Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

Categories
The Savior Theology

Defining Soul Liberty

Soul liberty is an unalienable right bestowed on us by our Creator God. Unalienable means that something cannot be taken away, nor given away (as opposed to inalienable which means something can be given away voluntarily). God has given you a free-will choice to either let him liberate your soul from this material world or to keep it in spiritual darkness. No government, man, or created being has the right or even the ability to prevent you from doing so. Your enemies may be able to kill you, maim you, or physically imprison you – but they can never touch your soul. As Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

To adequately understand soul liberty, we must first understand the meaning of the words soul and liberty. As Christians, we have one ultimate source of authority on Earth, the King James (1611) Bible, which can be used not only to find the meaning of life but can also be used to find the meaning of words. All other sources (dictionaries, commentaries, references, etc.) are secondary. The Bible uses the word soul 427 times and much can be gleaned about what it is from the context in which it is used:

  1. Our souls are directly connected to the breath of life (this is the first usage of the word and appears to define its meaning). Genesis 2:7
  2. Our souls define us. Genesis 12:13, Genesis 27:4, Exodus 12:15, Leviticus 5:1, 1 Samuel 20:4
  3. Our souls can be lost. Matthew 16:26, Mark 8:36-37
  4. Our souls are separate from our physical minds. Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30, Mark 12:33, Luke 10:27
  5. Our souls can be left in hell. Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31
  6. Our souls can fear, sorrow, and be troubled. Matthew 26:38, Mark 14:34, John 12:27

The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines soul as follows:

SOUL, n.

1. The spiritual, rational and immortal substance in man, which distinguishes him from brutes; that part of man which enables him to think and reason, and which renders him a subject of moral government. The immortality of the soul is a fundamental article of the christian system. Such is the nature of the human soul that it must have a God, an object of supreme affection.

As we can see from both the Bible and the dictionary; our souls are our immortal substance. They constitute not just our physical life, but our very being. They are a part of us that we cannot give away, sell off (not even to Satan), or destroy. When our physical bodies pass away, our souls will still exist (either in hell or in heaven). The Bible uses the word liberty 26 times and the first usage in Leviticus 25:10 defines it as the return of every man unto his family. This indicates that liberty frees us from bondage.

 

  1. Liberty can free those in bondage or captivity. Leviticus 25:10, Isaiah 61:1, Jeremiah 34:8, Ezekiel 46:17, Acts 24:23, Acts 26:32
  2. Liberty seeks the precepts of God. Psalm 119:45
  3. Liberty can be abused, violated: Jeremiah 34:16, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16
  4. Liberty can be used against us. Jeremiah 34:17
  5. Liberty can become a stumbling block. 1 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Corinthians 10:29
  6. Believers have Liberty. 1 Corinthians 8:9, 1 Corinthians 10:29, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16
  7. There is a perfect law of liberty (God’s law). James 1:25, James 2:12

The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines liberty as follows:

LIB’ERTY, n. L. libertas, from liber, free.

1. Freedom from restraint, in a general sense, and applicable to the body, or to the will or mind. The body is at liberty, when not confined; the will or mind is at liberty, when not checked or controlled. A man enjoys liberty, when no physical force operates to restrain his actions or volitions.

6. Liberty, in metaphysics, as opposed to necessity, is the power of an agent to do or forbear any particular action, according to the determination or thought of the mind, by which either is preferred to the other.

Freedom of the will; exemption from compulsion or restraint in willing or volition.

Both the Bible and the dictionary define liberty as freedom. For this study we are not concerned with natural, physical, political, or even religious liberty. We are concerned with soul liberty. The freedom of our thoughts, our immortal being, our soul. The Powers That Be (PTB), can place our bodies in bondage, but they cannot place our souls in bondage as we are the children of God,as seen in Romans 8:21: “Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.”

Soul liberty is the very essence of your mental being. It is the freedom to believe, to think, and to be spiritually free. Soul liberty is what has fueled every great revival in history. Soul liberty is what keeps a man from sinking into despair when his place in life appears hopeless and futile. Soul Liberty is the greatest freedom that any man can hope to attain. The question you need to ask yourself is: Is my soul free? Do I have soul liberty?

If you can’t answer the question directly, maybe the Bible can help us shed light on the answer:

  • Are you free in Jesus Christ or merely paying lip service? John 8:36: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
  • Are you the Lord’s freeman or Christ’s servant? 1 Corinthians 7:22: “For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.”
  • Do you use your freedom to serve God or Satan? 1 Peter 2:16: “As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.”
  • Do you fear God or the Powers That Be (PTB)? Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Categories
Apostasy Church Issues Current Events Discernment The Christian The Last Days

Pastor To Obama: “May The Force Be With You”

You know you’re apostate when…

You quote Star Wars as your prayer for the new Commander and Chief of the United States.

“I say to you as my son who is here today, my 14-year-old son – he probably would not quote scripture. He probably would use Star Trek (sic) instead, and so I say, ‘May the force be with you.”
 http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/20/pastor-to-obama-may-the-force-be-with-you

Is he serious? Did a so-called Christian pastor just give a New-Age send off (The Force definitely isn’t the Holy Spirit of the Bible) to the President-elect in the face of looming national crisis? Is there no outcry? People, wake up. If our leaders lead this nation into error – we will be destroyed (Isaiah 9:16). In case you don’t know, this is exactly what is being planned for this nation as predicted in the Book of Revelation almost 2,000 years ago!

We’ve turned our churches into standing jokes. They have spiraled down so far that your average church-going American thinks that the building he attends is what should be called the “church.” Most people think our meeting houses are places you only go to host marriages, funerals, and Presidential pre-parties like the above mentioned travesty. How can we be the light to the world (Matthew 5:14) if we no longer have light? If you are among born again believers, you are the church (Colossians 1:24). You are to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). You are to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). You are to sow seed and reap a harvest (John 4:36-37). You are to put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-20) and be soldiers for Christ (2 Timothy 2:3).

Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us of our national sin in turning from your pure words (Psalm 12:6-7). Forgive us for heaping upon ourselves teachers after our own lusts (2 Timothy 4:3). Forgive us for pursuing profane and vain babblings (2 Timothy 2:16). Forgive us for equating the Holy Ghost with a pantheistic idol such as “The Force” from a man-made fairy tale (Star Wars).