How would you like your meal?

One of the reasons Christians attend church is to recieve good teaching from the Word of God! 

In Matthew 4, when Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit.  He had fasted for forty days and at that point Satan came to the Lord.  He said, "if you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."  Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

The Word is like food in that it nourishes our soul allowing us to grow in the Truth.  It is how God communicates with us.  God has given us everything we need in His Word.  Unlike in the apostolic era, where the ministry needed to be authenticated by signs and wonders, prophets, personal revelation, and so on, we need to study, rightly divide, and meditate on the Word daily.  The word is Inerrant, Infallible, Inspired, and completely Sufficient!

So then, if the word is like food, than the preaching and teaching we recieve on Sundays is somewhat like eating out!

When I eat out I look for a restaurant where I know the food is of good quality and the establishment is operated rightly!  If just about every meal is just empty calories, it's time to find a new place to eat before you become to weak and fall over!  If the food is poison, once I've recovered, you won't catch me there again, at least while the kitchen staff is the same!

If the Word is like food, What is your pastor feeding you?

Is your Spirital Food Processed? Are the sermons always Topical?  Are you learning from the Word of God or only from the Bible teacher?  Topical sermons are good, just not all the time.  From time to time a Pastor will sense that his flock is dealing with some particular situations or circumstance and needs to bring a topical teaching to his congregation.  However, if the sermons are always topical you are learning from the Bible Teacher instead of the Bible. 

Is it Whole, Organic Spiritual Food?  Does your pastor teach expositionally?  Expositional preaching and teaching takes a given section of scripture, interprets it using historical and grammitical hermeneutics, examines the original intent and audience and bridges the principles into present day application.

Like physical food, you need to balance your diet spiritually as well.  To be healthy you must eat whole, fresh food alot, but it's okay and even healthy to have some of the processed stuff once and a while!  Comparably, to be spiritually healthy you need good expositional teaching and studying, but it's good to have some topical teachings thrown in there once and a while.

The Bible:  It's not about what it means to you, it's about what God meant when He wrote it!!

Eat up!  In the grips of Grace! Brian

Balance without Compromise: Contending for the Faith in Love

God’s Children are clearly commanded to contend for the Faith in the Bible. The Greek word used, epagonizomai, is the same word used to describe the actions of a wrestler in a competition.

{3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 1:3-7}

We should be offensive and defensive towards False Teachings.

However, we are to Be Loving; {for these are the two greatest commandments; Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-30}

Although it is okay to judge a man’s actions, if done in love and by God’s truth not our own standards; it is not okay to judge a mans heart. So while we MUST rail against the False Teaching and errors on essential doctrine, we must remember that if the person is a professed believer, we must hope the best for that person in love.

We are NOT to compromise the essentials, but should love all of our brothers and sisters in Christ even if we differ on secondary, non-essential doctrinal issues. We should approach a brother or sister who may be reinforcing bad teaching, in hopes that they are not aware of their error.

I’m not by any means using the old cliché, “hate the sin, not the sinner”, but what I am saying is that we should be growing in all the fruits of the spirit, and should be very careful not to sin against others and God when we contend for the faith.

{13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14}

"BioLogos" a biblical critique

According to their web site, Biologos is a foundation promoting a perspective on the origins of life that is both theologically and scientifically sound. The problem is that for a while now, Pete Enns (pictured on the right) and Biologos have been attacking the Inerrancy of the Scriptures. Pete Enns doesn't believe that the entire biblical text is inerrant. Like a physical structure, the Theology of True Christianity is founded on several foundational truths, which if altered, can cause wrong belief! Jesus warned that the way is narrow. It greives me to see people being lead into potential heresy because of teachers like Mr. Enns. Please pray that God would change Peters heart and he would understand his errors.

We cannot comprimise the Truth, our lives depend on it!!

For more on Biologos, Pete Enns, and their attacks on the Word, and some refreshing truth to help you keep it all in perspective...CLICK HERE-check this out-CLICK HERE!

Open-air Preaching Documentry

Open-air preaching, also referred to as street preaching has a bod name in some circles. I understand why this has happened. Like anything else, you have good and bad. There are however good street preachers out there and we shouldn't throw the baby out with the bath water!

Here is a trailer for a new documentry about Biblical Open-air Preaching called "Go Stand Speak!"

Enjoy!

The One Thing You Can't Do In Heaven

Here's a very important message from Mark Cahill on the importance of evnagelism. I also recommend Mark's book of the same title. This video is about 28 minutes.

New Pages on TRUTH Blog!

Check out our new pages by clicking on the links running across the top of all TRUTH Blog pages! If you have suggestions for stories and articles email them along.

A Quick Laugh!!

The “Words” of our Testimony

It is not my goal to criticize anyone’s testimony, or to unjustly judge anyone. But the subject of this post is best illustrated using a testimony I heard earlier today, which prompted me to write the post in the first place.

It was a great testimony about God’s Saving Grace and the positive internal changes brought about in a lady’s life as a result of her experience with God and church. She seemed like a wonderful lady. Her testimony was candid, well-thought out, and her delivery was sincere and held your attention. She obviously had given this testimony, and had spoken in front of crowds before.

There was but one problem. Perhaps it is better stated as a “grave concern” rather than a “problem”. It was serious enough that it caused me to sigh out loud…okay; I’ll call it a Problem.

The problem is that the language we use when we give our testimony is more important than most of us realize. Within Christianity, especially in Evangelicalism, there has been a sort of language created that is distinct to the movement and those within.

Specifically, the lady that gave her testimony stated that she was in dire straights and made her way to a church where she met a man who was cleaning. She went on to say how she repeated a prayer after him, asking Jesus into her heart, and got saved.

I have no trouble believing that this woman is a Christian, as she went on to describe in detail her conversion story, and it sounded quite genuine. However, the language she used was troubling.

What does “asking Jesus into your heart” mean? This is a term that I think should be removed completely from every Christian’s vocabulary. There is no biblical basis for the statement and it only translates into the relationship side of Salvation. We should be using biblical language like Jesus used; Repent and Believe, or Repentance and Faith.

From her story, it sounded as if she knew the Gospel from her childhood and perhaps reached the point of repentance prior to arriving and being lead in the prayer. Repentance brings the remission of Sins, followed by baptism with the Holy Spirit. In other words, you cannot be saved without having a genuine change of mind and turning away from sinful lifestyles.

If someone with no background in Christianity at all heard that statement, they would not know what was meant. Furthermore, most people assume that it is a lofty concept due to the loftiness of the words used. It isn’t far from that point that they are able to justify to themselves writing-off the person saying the lofty words as a simple-minded kook!

God is in control, and the Truth is written on the hearts of all men…but that doesn’t mean we can be unclear in our message and proclamation of God’s Holiness, Justice, Grace, Mercy, and Love!

Open-Air Preaching: A Timely Reminder!

I am working on a piece about open-air preaching, also known as street preaching. There are so many really bad examples out there today. The bad get even more attention now with cell phone camera's and youtube!  Some people just shout condemnation, and vulgar words to get attention, and really make no clear points. They serve to mainly stir up each passer-by and sadly do more harm than good to the cause.

While you wait for that piece, here’s a couple excerpts, I think make a fitting reminder, and a quick glimpse at the “right way” to open-air preach, from Charles H. Spurgeon to a London periodical in 1876.

"I am persuaded that the more of open air preaching there is in London the better, if it should become a nuisance to some it will be a blessing to others, if properly conducted. If it is the gospel, which is spoken, and if the spirit of the preacher be one of love and truth, the results cannot be doubted: the bread cast upon the waters must be found after many days. At the same time it must be the gospel, and be preached in a manner worth the hearing, for mere noise making is: in evil rather than a benefit…

…Shams and shows will have no mercy from a street gathering; but have something to say, look them in the face, say what you mean, put it plainly, boldly, earnestly, courteously, and they will hear you. Never speak against time or for the sake of hearing your own voice, or you will obtain some information about your personal appearance or manner of oratory, which will probably be more true than pleasing…

…The very best speaker must be prepared to take his share of street wit, and to return it if need be; but primness, demureness, formality, sanctimonious long-windedness, and the affectation of superiority actually invite offensive pleasantries, and to a considerable extent deserve them…

…"You'd do more good if you gave us some bread or a drop of beer, instead of those tracts," is constantly remarked, but a manly manner, and the outspoken declaration that you seek no wages but their good, will silence that stale objection…

…It will be very desirable to speak so as to be heard, but there is no use in incessant bawling. The best street preaching is not that which is done at the top of your voice, for it must be impossible to lay the proper emphasis upon telling passages when all along you are shouting with all your might. When there are no hearers near you, and yet people stand over the other side of the road and listen, would it not be as well to cross over and so save a little of the strength which is now wasted? A quiet, penetrating, conversational style would seem to be the most telling. Men do not bawl and holler when they are pleading in deepest earnestness; they have generally at such times less wind and a little more rain; less rant and a few more tears. On, on with one monstrous shout and you will weary everybody and wear yourself out. Be wise now, therefore, O ye who would succeed in declaring your Master's message among the multitude, and use your voices as common sense would dictate…"

Excerpts from Street Preaching by C. H. Spurgeon From the November 1876 Sword and Trowel,Copyright © 2001 by Phillip R. Johnson.

Missions

I hear all the time about Christian's who go on "Missions trips". What is a mission trip? It seems lately that any time someone travels for a noble purpose it's considered a missions trip. Historically, Missions meant that "Missionairies", families, or groups of Christians would travel and live in a particular area with the purpose of spreading the Gospel.

Wikipedia states: "A Christian mission has been widely defined, since the Lausanne Congress of 1974, as that which is designed 'to form a viable indigenous church-planting and world changing movement.' This definition is motivated by a theologically imperative theme of the Bible to make God known, as outlined in the Great Commission.

It's important to remember what the primary purpose of a missions trip! If we go into an area and just help with medical aid and the construction of buildings we do nothing to help the people with their biggest problem, their Salvation.

I am not saying not to help, or not to go on trips where you don't have an opportunity to preach the Gospel. Quite the opposite in fact. I applaud everyone who helps those who need and deserve help. I thank God for those Christians who help out! After-all, Christian organizations make up most of the worlds charities and aid agencies.

It's not a "Mission's Trip" without the Gospel being the primary focus and purpose of the trip. Rather it is an "Aid Giving or Humanitarian Relief Trip".

There is no such thing as a "Social Justice Christian". More on that later!!

If you or your church has people getting ready to go on a missions trip check out:

Serving As Senders: How to Care for Your Missionaries While They Are Preparing to Go, While They Are on the Field, When They Return Home

Evangelism

I've been doing quite a bit of reading lately on evangelism. I've always been drawn to evangelism. There are many reasons for that, some of which I may not even be aware of. After-all evangelism is one thing we most likely won't be able to do in Heaven.

Wikipedia defines evangelism as "...the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity, where the scriptures often describe "evangelism" as "spreading the Gospel".

Some people equate evangelism with the "winning of souls for Jesus". But that is not correct. We don't and could never convert somebody. That is the work of the Holy Spirit. Rather as evangelist, we are mere conduit or tool used by the Spirit to do the convicting and converting.

I thought of this as I read through a few message boards on the internet, where there were conversations and debates about evangelism methods. Which methods are most effective? Effective at what? If the Spirit does the real work, than evangelists need to be true to the Gospel message and that it the foremost requirement. God will use you if you preach the true Gospel regardless of your showmanship, ability to entertain, etc. It's always nice to be able to draw and maintain a crowd, but since the Spirits work occurs within an individual, who is anyone to be snarky towards a person who knows the true Gospel and wants to share it...to individuals or in a street preaching fashion!

We should preach and evangelize primarily for the Glory of God. We should trust that the Spirit will do it's miraculous works inside the sinners heart. Opening their eyes to the Law, breaking their heart, and bringing about the gift of true Repentance. True Repentant Faith bringing remission of sins through Jesus' atoning work on the cross. This is a true conversion! We get to see God's mercy, grace, and kindness as He brings another of His children into the flock. Saving another Soul!!

If you want to be an evangelists who works his way up to street preaching, I would recommend training like the Way of the Master course. However, if they speak the true Gospel, than speak away, and may the Spirit use your words to save the lost.

After-all, it was D.T. Niles who said, "Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread."

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil..., 1 Tim 6:10

Prosperity preachers never cease to amaze me! They so blantantly distort the Gospel! I feel really badly for the people who are dupped by these heretics.



If you know someone who has been burnt by these prosperity preachers, here is a great book that will help put things in perspective.

The "Word of Faith" Movement

The "Word of Faith" also known as the "Word-Faith" movement shares some common beliefs with Prosperity theology, but they are not one in the same. Basically Word-Faith presenters mislead people to beleive that they need to speak out loud what they desire and than God is obligated to bless them with whatever they are confessing out loud.

Popular word-faith presenter, Ken Copeland Ministries, has stated, 'the idea that God uses suffering for our benefit is considered to be "a deception of Satan." and "absolutely against the Word of God." Additionally, if someone is not experiencing prosperity, it is because they have given Satan authority over their lives. God is not able to do anything at all unless the person invites Him to.'[1]

This is so dangerous!! Someone thinks they are coming to the Lord through the word-faith movement. They don't get rich. Maybe they get sick. Are they inviting Satan into their lives? So a missionary in South America that is a dedicated man or woman of God, and they get killed trying to further the Gospel and fulfill the great commission wouldn't have died if they hadn't invited Satan into their lives!!

My take is that this is all about money for these types of ministries. They themselves are vehicles for the enemy to lead people astray, and to turn others away. Pray for those who are teachers and preachers of the Truth.

[1] excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_Faith

Movie: End of the Spear, dare to make contact

I had pleasure of being able to watch "End of the Spear". The film is from a true story that took place in the Amazon jungle a few decades ago. An isolated tribe of fierce warriors called the Woadoni, had been clashing violently with oil company employees. The Ecuador government is about to send in troops to deal with the problem, which would mean certain devastation for the Waodoni people. When the men from the missionary families attempt to make contact they are all brutally killed by the tribes warriors. As a testament of faith, the five families of the slain missionaries stay in Ecuador and decide to live among the Waodoni as originally planned.

End of the Spear

This is a great movie about real faith in God. A tale of great sacrifice for the great commission. I highly recommend this movie to anyone.
NOTE: There are a couple graphic scenes when the men are speared so you may want to edit that out if there are samller children present.

This movie made me re-evaluate my own commitment to following God's will in my own life. When it comes to sharing my faith, I get a little nervous just like most people. I couldn't help but feel a little ashamed after seeing what these families went through for the sake of the Kingdom and the Glory of God!

It amazes me the sacrifices of missionaries at home and abroad! Include a prayer of persaverence of faith, blessings, and protection for all of our brothers, sisters, and their families who step up and step out for the Glory of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and for the Gospel.

The First Christmas in Labrador Canada

I grew up in Labrador. Labrador is in eastern Canada and is the "main-land" portion of the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Geographically it is nearly two or three times the size of the island of Newfoundland, but only 14% of the entire Provinces population reside there. It remains somewhat isolated with an "all-season" Highway, although not paved, has been roughed into the region in the past few years.

I was doing some reading on Missionaries and came across an arctical about the first Christmas celebrations in Labrador. It was Moravian missionaries from the UK and Germany who introduced the Gospel to the Labrador Inuit (aka. Inuk or Eskimo) staring in the mid 1700's.

The first recorded Christmas to be be celebrated in Labrador was in 1771. Although there are many denominational churches in central, west, and south coast of Labrador, there are few notable christian organizations with a strong presence throughout the Inuit Communities that are mostly along the Northeast coast.

I would love to see a little more work going on in those communities to further the Gospel.

Just over 10 years ago, one small community had so much trouble with substance abuse, children huffing gasoline, and violence that the Provincial Government moved the entire community to a new location for afresh start over. Davis Inlet moved to Shango Bay. We as Christians know that what they needed more than anything was and is the Gospel. However, sadly, I don't recall hearing much of anything significant from the Christian communities in central, west and southeast Labrador to try to reach these people with the good news.

Here is a link to some great stories about the first Christmas celebrated in Labrador. Courtesy of Memorial University. CLICK HERE

If you'd like to read more about Missions to Labrador during the early settlement of North America, check out:By Eskimo Dog-Sled And Kayak - A Description Of A Missionary's Experiences & Adventures In Labrador

Street Preacher arrested in UK

Sean Holes from New York state was arrested in Glasgow Scotland on March 18th 2010. Sean was open-air preaching to shoppers in Glasgow, when a young gay couple came up to him and starting asking him about the bible and gays. Sean stated that it felt to him like it might have been a set-up. When they asked him about his views on homosexuality he simply replied that practicing homosexuals are deserving of Gods wrath-and so are all other sinners-they are going to a place called Hell.

It was for that statement that Holes was arrested for "breaching the peace", and later fined 1000 pounds (approx. $1500 CAD) for homophobia. Not that that charge is accurate at all, but even if it was I find it odd that being afraid of something is against the law in the UK!

Sean plead Guilty to the charges to avoid lenghty court sessions, so he could return to the US to see his wife and Father, who is a hospice.

In a show of support a Catholic spokes-person denounced the charges against the Christian saying, "We supported [hate crime] legislation but it is very difficult to see how this man can be charged for expressing a religious conviction. The facts of this case show his statement was clearly his religious belief. Yes, it is strong language he has used, but it is obviously a religious conviction and not a form of discrimination."

To learn about Christians who've gone Home early for the sake of their beliefs check out:

Anxiety and How Christ Managed His Time.

If you're anything like me, you take on too much! Before you know it your plates overflowing and your anxiety levels are looking for the hold in the ozone layer so it can go just a little higher. Is it that I have trouble saying "no" to people. Not really!

The bible says that believers will not be subjected to trials that they cannot make it through. Perhaps the anxiety in this case is God's way of providing a threshold warning that we are over-extending ourselves and robbing oursleves of precious time with God, and robbing Him of ourselves. In my experience this almost always results in anxiety.

So how do we prevent anxiety? The type of anxiety I am referring to is situational. It is more or less caused by environmental factors like workload and responsibility. Therefore, the most effective way of manipulating the level of this situational anxiety is to make a change in your workload and responsibility.

We can see throughout Jesus' ministry examples of how He maintained balance in his life. You see often, where Jesus would simply walk away from the crowds to be alone. Jesus was no stranger to setting boundaries. He knows that boundaries are nessessary to living in peace and maintaining a focus on the divine!

We know where we need to set boundaries. All too aften we are afraid of hurting or disappointing people by saying "No". As a result, we are easily swayed into engaging in some reponsibility or activity we know will cause us to put-off the important things.

Chances are if you are expreiencing high anxiety, you know what some of the main causes are. You may not know conciously, but with a little thought, you will know. Maybe you'll deny the real causes because the corrective action is unattractive. In that case you'll have to choose between the short-term pain of fixing the problem, or the long-term pain of the continuing anxiety. When you are absolutely sure (not by feeling but by God's Truth) that you know what needs to be done to fix things, DO NOT hesitate. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to do!

Don't be afraid to set boundaries. It's kind of like loving discipline for yourself and your situation instead of your kids(to use a parental analogy).

Anxiety does not always have it's foundations in a lack of Faith. Like depression, it can also be a result of physical and checmical reactions in the brain. However, trust that God will use your anxiety for the your good in the end..."And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

For a good book on dealing with anxiety from a personal and biblical perspective check this out:Don't Forget To Look Up : A Christian's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Religion is NOT a requirement for Salvation

You and I go out for a coffee. You offer to pay for my coffee. I say, "sure, you can pay for half, but I'm paying for half myself!". Would you still feel as good about your offer, as when you first made it? You tried to extend a little grace my way, but I decided I wanted some of the credit. Not to mention the lovely young lady at the counter now thinks you're a tight wad and that I'm broke!

Jesus Christ paid an enormous price for our Salvation when he died on the cross and rose on the third day. He did that for you, because he loves you. You don't deserve Salvation. I didn't. So, what makes you think that you deserve any of the credit?

We are obedient because we Love God and want to please him. We do good works as a result of our change of heart (repentance), and our Faith in Jesus. When we repent and humble ourselves, fully trusting in Jesus we are given new desires. Works is a reaction, or a result of Salvation, not means to achieving it!

In the book of James, it says that "Faith without works is dead." Good works while not required for Salvation, is evidence of being saved. While this means that everyone who is saved should be doing good works it does not mean that everyone who does good works is saved. The Bible says that any works demonstrated by the wicked are not seen by God because of the sin in the persons life.

Should you go to church? Of course! The Bible tells believers not to forsake fellowship. But do you have to to be saved? No. However you'll want to once you are saved.

Should I be baptized? If you're saved you will have been baptized by the Holy Spirit when you repented and put your Faith fully in Jesus. Baptism is a symbolic ritual that the bible says we should do. As a matter of obedience, not as a requirement for Salvation. You don't have to, but I think the bible clearly says that it pleases God to do it! Just about every new believer in the early church was baptized. Jesus himself was baptized!

Salvation is a gift, given by the Grace of God, through Jesus Christ alone. When you truly realize that, His Mercy and Goodness will overwhelm you and you will not be able to help but be grateful, obedient, and desiring to please Him with your good works!

Go Bear Fruit!

For more on Justification, Check out: Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification by RC Sproul.

Recommended Reads!

Here's a couple of good books I recommend!

Repent and Believe, or Believe and Repent?

I caught an interview with Ray Comfort, from Living Waters Ministries yesterday, and he made a point that I thought made a lot of sense.

The discussion entered into the topic of False-Converts. Ray commented that one of the reasons we may have so many false-converts (people who fall away, who never were of us because they went out from us) in the church, may be because people not saved get into a church community, get confortable, and most times don't even realize they aren't Saved.

Believe and Repent: Someone gets to the point where they believe the Gospel, but aren't nessessarily ready to repent and live in continued sactification...not ready to give up their sins. The problem is that they get comfortable, accepted, and never really get that seed down into the good soil. Hardship comes and they fall away, plus their unrepentant lifestyle affects the church as a whole. Internally, and externally to the community.

Repent and Believe: When someone has taken BOTH steps required to be accepted by Jesus and have righteousness applied to their account, before they come to church, they have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and will have a genuine love for fellowship and the discernment that comes from having the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. There's a much lower chance of them being a false-convert, and perservering in Faith into eternity.

Repentance! Post-modern, emergent movements, and other heretical movements have made a God they are more confortable with. One who is not Just, but a weak, lovey dubby type, who doesn't mind if we continually break His laws. They deny Hell and Divine Justice. They are Idolators!

This why Theology and Apologetics are so important, even at the local church level. True Christianity is under attack...Universalism is rampant...Heresy is rampant.

The Wolves in our churches are more attractive than ever before! Perhaps becasue they know that the Goats may soon outnumber the Sheep! Do Not stand for Heresy! Stand up against false teachings, and Check everything you hear a learn against the Word of God.

Be Blessed!

I'm NOT Perfect!!

Someone made a comment to me recently that they don't like Christian Blogs because many come off all "high and mighty" and are difficult to relate to on any personal level.

While I cannot say that I won't get "preachy" in future posts (after all anyone who is insistant about what they know to be true, can come across like that sometimes, to some people), I felt compelled to post the following statement:

"I am by no means perfect! I've gotten unjustly angry, prideful, and impatient. I've gotten anxious and I don't always put God at the centre of my life. I don't always treat people with the respect they deserve. I've stolen, lied, and looked with lust. I've dishonored my parents, and have used the Lords name in ways that weren't appropriate. See...Not even close!

What I need to be, what God requires of me, in order to get into heaven and recieve enternal life is Perfection. I can't be perfect by myself, because I am sinful by nature! Just like everyone else, including "YOU"!

Seems like we got a problem! So what are we to do?? God has to punish us or how could he be Just! He can't just let us into heaven or he wouldn't be a very good judge. God loves us enough to punish us for our sins, but he loves us so much that he made us a way out of this terrible dilema!

See we broke the law, now we have a big Fine to Pay! You and I, we'd never be able to even come close to being able to pay that Fine oursleves and our eternal punishment is the only thing that will satisfy the wrath of the perfect Judge. So God sent Jesus, himself, the perfect god-man, wholly God, and wholly man to Pay the Fine. Jesus was the only "man", to live a perfect sinless life. Therefore He is the only one who could possibly pay our fine! He paid it with his life, and in His defeating of death! He took the wrath meant for us! He suffered greatly on the cross for our Salvation, and we can access that gift if we Repent and put our complete Faith and Trust in Jesus Christ."

I would never sit here and make myself out to be a good person. Romans 3:12 says, All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."

ALL OF THE GOOD IN ME COMES NOT FROM ME, BUT FROM HIM WHO IS IN ME, HE WHO SAVED ME! I AM NOTHING WITHOUT HIM!

Who is church for?

Church, as in your local fellowship of believers, in my opinion is for two primary purposes. First, To Glorify God, and Second, to Feed and Equip believers.

Too many churches these days are more concerned with getting attendance numbers up than they are in the spiritual health of their members! What I think happens all too often is that churches zealous to get new members, start turning their "worship services" into a "seeker friendly", "excite them to the Lord" kind of Shows! My fear is that in doing this we may be sowing the seeds in shallow and thorny soil.

We should be doing church first for God, and second to equip the saved to live a life of sanctification, and train them to share their Faith and Witness, thus fullfilling the Great Commission!

We should be going out a preaching (sharing) the Gospel with every lost person we come across. We, as Christians, know that they are headed for destruction, so how can we not tell them how to be Saved!!!

Once they understand, they will get so much more out of the fellowship. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) says, The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Do not just bring people to church hoping they will get the Gospel message. Spend some time with them first to make sure they understand the Gospel.

And the next time you leave a service, and you hear someone say, "you know, I didn't really get a whole lot out of church today", remind them that worship is for God, nor for us! When we leave church we should be asking, "God, How did you like that?"

God Bless!

Heresy of the Week: Open-Theism

Open theism is the belief that God does not exercise meticulous control of all of creation. It leaves the future "open" for humans to make significant choices (free will) that impact their relationships with God and others. Open Theism is sometimes also called free will theism and openness theology.

Why is it Heresy? A direct violation of the first commandment! Some people decided that the true God of the Bible was too Just, and too Demanding. They created a God to whom one can easily relate and who is manageable in place of a God who punishes sinners for their sin. They created a loving Father who is provoked into giving us loving encouragement by the Sins we commit. It is not only an attack on the Sovereignty of God, but on His Righteousness, and Integrity.

The most common question I get in response to what I've stated above is; What's the purpose of prayer than if God is going to do what he is going to do, and my prayers don't have an effect.

Well, see, your prayer is always heard by God, and He always answers, Yes, No, or Not Right Now. He knew you would pray about what you pray about, and he knows that what His answer is...but don't ever forget, sometimes your prayer is the vehicle He uses to prompt his response. In other words, you praying, and His answer to your prayer, may very well be the way in which He accomplishes His Will here on earth.

For more in depth information on the Heresy of Open-theism, Click Here!

How we treat the Lost

I thought I'd post this music video from Casting Crowns. This is one of my favorite songs from the past year. It is a great reminder to all Christians and those who say they are about how they sometimes inadvertantly push the lost away when they come seeking refuge in our midst.

What exactly is "Repentance"?

When I share the Gospel with people, most understand the problem humanity faces and why we need Saving. Once someone understands they have a problem, they are much more open to the solution! It's what we must do to be saved, that is usually a bit foggy in the minds of most; Faith and Repentance.

The english language is continually evolving. Over time the nuances within the meanings of words can be altered. New words are created, and older words seem to have their definitions expand. Both of the words, "Faith" and "Repentance", now have much wider meaning than they once had.

When sharing my faith, I'll often ask if the person to whom I'm witnessing if they know what repentance is! The most common response I get is "asking for forgiveness". While that is true, it's only a part of what it means to Repent.

The idea of repentance in the old testament is usually represented by the hebrew words, "shuv" (to return), or "nicham" (to feel sorrow). In the new testament, the greek word, "metanoia" (which means to change ones thinking, or to have a change of heart accompanied by regret and change of conduct) is used.

At the beginning of the sermon on the mount, Jesus listed eight statements that are commonly referred to as the Beatitudes. Let's look quickly at the first three, it will help us understand and reaffirm a clear concept of Repentance.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Being poor in spirit means that you have realized that you cannot live without God. It is Humility. It means that you realize that you have a problem. You know that you have a sinful nature that can only be oversome fully with strength from the Holy Spirit.

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." The mourning here doesn't just refer to people who are mourning the loss of a loved one, but also a true sense of remorse and regret that comes from knowing how you've treated your Creator.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." Once who is meek becomes gentle and kind, and exhibits a docility of spirit, even in the face of adversity and hardship. A person that is meek is one that exhibits self-control.

Within these three first Beatitudes that Jesus outlined, we can clearly see the attributes of repentance. They were probaby stated first since they are imperative to having the payment by Christ on the Cross credited to our account! The reamining five beatitudes deal with the virtues of living a righteous and obedient life that will provide a way of life that promises salvation. They also provide peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations on this earth.

If I were to slap you in the face every ten seconds, what would you want me to do? Ask for forgiveness? Of Course! But wouldn't you also want me to stop doing it? So repentance is not only acknowledging what you've done wrong, and apologizing for it! It's also not doing it again, turning away from doing those things.

Some people find themselves, repenting over and over and over again. While we may slip up again because of our sinful nature, one who has Really Repented, will not return to that particular sin as an on-going lifestyle or regular basis.

What is the "Chocolate Cake" Truth?

Welcome to my new blog! I am a Christian! You hear that quite abit, don't you? Well there's a whole bunch of people all over the world who call themselves christians when what they are practicing is a diluted-christianity that very well may fall short of providing the true route to recieving God's Grace and Salvation. After all, during the sermon on the mount, Jesus said, "the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it, but small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

The credit for the title of the blog goes completely to a listener of the "wretched radio" show. He offered the following analogy to explain why a true christian who is sharing the Gospel and will not listen to a false teaching is not being arrogant;

Imagine we all lived in a remote village that had never ever had any contact whatsoever with the outside world and I left and actually made it out of the jungle, to civilization. While in the outside world I actually tried a nice big slice of chocolate fudge cake...mmm mmm... I head back to the the jungle and somehow manage to make it back to the village. I tell everyone all about this wonderful chocolate cake I experienced and people start believing in chocolate cake. But there are some skeptics in the village who say I really didn't go anywhere, I just hid in the jungle, and this "chocolate cake thing" is a fabrication. They claim to have all kinds of "evidence" that points to their theories being true. I absolutely refuse to let them show me any of their "evidence" or listen to their misguided reasoning. See, I actually had the chocolate cake, put it in my mouth, felt it, tasted it, experienced it and all of its effects...so how could you call me arrogant for not listening that I know for a fact is not true!

One of my greatest hopes in writing this blog is that maybe someone will stumble upon some of the truth I present. Not be decieved by the Wrong Theology of the prosperity preachers, word faith movement, and the diluted theology presented my the emergent movement. Pray for discernment and wisdom for yourselves, check everything against the Word of God, and don't be afraid to tell people the Truth...their lives depend on it!