Thursday, August 30, 2012
For the Church of Christ
For the Church of Christ who denies Creeds & Confessions
Creeds & Confessions in the Bible
The following scripture passages are considered by many to be creeds or declarations of faith. These are taken from both Lieth's Schaff's books.Creed – Yahweh and Yahweh alone is God, He is my God
Creed – Yahweh and Yahweh alone is God
Creed - The Jewish Rabbi Jesus and only Jesus is the Messiah the Jews have been waiting for and he is on par with Yahweh himself
Creed - Yahweh is a Trinity (or Triune) the 1 God is also 3 Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Creed – Jesus is on par with Yahweh himself, Jesus reigns
Creed – Only though Jesus is the gift of Eternal Life given, He is God
Creed - Jesus is my only King and God
Creed – Jesus is the Messiah, and on par with Yahweh himself
Creed – I confess the Kingship of Jesus, he is my Savior
Creed – Jesus and God are One and the same, King Jesus created and sustains all things the way we confess Yahweh created and sustains all things
Creed – Jesus not Cesar, not President Obama, not Vladimir Putin is King I will swear my allegiance to Him alone
Creed – I confess the Resurrection.
Creed – God ordained Jesus to be God in-“fleshed” and he did all that God commanded him to do and he Jesus now sits on the throne of Heaven as the sovereign King of Heaven and Earth and everything, which brings glory to God the Father
Creed – I believe in the incarnation of God in the form of Jesus Christ and his work and in his ascension.
Creed – I believe in Salvation by Grace alone through faith alone not done at all by works, and I believe in the eschatology the coming judgment of all, both the living and the dead.
Creed – I confess the incarnation of God in the form of Jesus Christ
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
a must read from Blood Stained Ink....
Multi-Site Churches: Paving the Road to a “Cult of Personality”
Earlier this week, the Leadership Network of Dallas, Texas issued a new report
that highlights the explosive growth of Protestant churches committed
to the practice of multi-site gatherings. As recently as 1990, there
were only 10 documented examples of North American churches utilizing
video technology to “beam” the teachings of a charismatic pastor to a
variety of locations around a particular geographic region. But by
2005, the influence of these early methodological pioneers had
fundamentally changed the spiritual architecture of the Protestant
Church. As more than 1500 churches were now engaged in the practice of
multi-site ministry, smaller ecclessial bodies began to take notice of
the practice and its impact upon the numerical “success” of the larger
churches in their area. Consequently, many of these smaller bodies
began to adopt a similar strategy, which, in turn, has only served to
accelerate the widespread adoption of this multi-site ministry model.
Now today, in 2012, there are more than 5000 churches employing a
multi-site church growth strategy in North America alone.
And
the question that begs to be asked is this: how is this development
shaping our understanding of the church and the role of the senior
pastor?
Clearly, as the evidence above suggests, the dominant solution just 12 years into the new millennia appears to be a move towards multi-site venues and the building of a ministry almost exclusively around the charismatic figurehead of the “mother church.” For while most multi-site churches have elected to deploy local worship teams on their various campuses, the one unifying factor across all locations appears to be the digitized pulpit pastored by the often self-described, “visionary leader” who sees his own gifting as essential to the growth of the movement.
Interestingly enough, there appears to be little discernible blow-back from the congregations at large. According to the Rev. Gary Shockley, executive director of New Church Starts at the Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church, at least 50% of the 621 new churches started by the UMC since January of 2008 were multi-site venues. What’s more, Shockley goes on to say that of the 1,000 new churches they intend to start between 2013 and 2016, they are “targeting 60% to be multi-sites, extensions or satellites of vibrant existing United Methodist Churches.” All that to say, if the people in the pews were openly rebelling against these pixelized pastors, we wouldn’t be seeing the explosive growth in this trend, nor would we see church planting ministries building their future strategies almost exclusively around this concept.
So what is the problem? Well, as I have already hinted at above, the one unifying element that is present at every multi-site church every Sunday morning is the presence of the Senior (or Teaching) Pastor. This, of course, raises the question as to why his (or her) presence is considered to be the essential ingredient. If a congregation truly desired to worship as “one church on many campuses,” would it not stand to reason that there should be one worship band, “beamed” to all the sites, so that the church could worship together as a corporate whole? And what about one reading of Scripture common to all? Or one breaking of the bread lead by the pastor standing before the entire body?
When it comes right down to it, if we are going to make an argument for “one church on many campuses,” why is there only one element – the charismatic preacher – that is common to all the sites, while everything else involved in the practice of communal worship is passed off to be handled at the local level? What is so vital about his (or her) contribution?
While the answer may not be pleasing to the ears of those that lead these churches, an argument could be made that as opposed to centering the practice of the church on the life, death and resurrection of the Christ and the proclamation of His Word, many of these churches have made a subtle shift towards centering the church on “the proclamation.” That is to say, an argument could be made that many of these churches are leaning more upon the rhetorical giftings of their Senior Pastors than they are upon the content of their message. And when they begin to slide in this direction, they begin the slow, inevitable descent into what is commonly referred to as the “cult of personality.”
Now, almost certainly, there will be those that will argue that a “cult of personality” can develop in small churches just as easily as it can develop in large, multi-site churches. Fair enough. I think many of us know what it is to be around a small church, where many feel the need to be personally ministered to by the pastor, as if his greetings and ministry were more important than those of others around us. But here is why I think that the potential for this problem to emerge is far greater in multi-site churches than it is to emerge in small, single-site communities.
When a small, single-site congregation gathers each Sunday to study together, to worship together, to serve together, and to partake in the sacraments as a community of believers together, no one element of the service has been artificially inflated above the importance of the other elements. Moreover, when the pastor is onsite, serving amongst the community of believers, his life is on full-display for all to see. This breeds a certain form of accountability via visibility, as the pastor is never seen only when he is “on” and “fired up.” Instead, the pastor/shepherd is seen as he walks amongst his people, and as he interacts with his wife, his children, his staff and even the surrounding community outside the walls of the church. In other words, in single-site settings, a pastor is rarely afforded the status of spiritual super-hero because he is genuinely known by his people, warts and all.
Conversely, when a pastor preaches live at a remote site, or even in an empty television studio, the congregation that watches him onscreen never sees him outside of a carefully scripted and controlled environment. So all they see is the meticulously stage-managed image of a spiritual giant coming at them on hi-def, state-of-the-art, jumbo screens.
Now consider, if you will, the words of the Apostle Paul as he writes to his disciple, Timothy, and instructs him regarding the qualifications of an elder/pastor:
“The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity. But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God? He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact. And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.”Notice how little time Paul spends exalting the rhetorical gifts of the potential elder in question. While it is true that the elder must be able to rightly interpret Scripture and protect the congregation from false teaching, Paul does not seem terribly concerned with charisma and verbal prowess. Instead, he seems much more interested in discussing the character of the man in question because both the private and the public character of the man is going to shape the character of the congregation, both lost and saved alike. Thus, Paul argues that the elder must be temperate and self-controlled, not prone to violence, but gentle, free of a contentious spirit and free from the love of money. In fact, if you look carefully, you’ll even note that he must be thought of well by those outside the faith, suggesting that the surrounding community must know him to be a man of integrity and character as well.
In a multi-site church, these qualifications simply cannot be put on display in any meaningful way. When satellite “campuses” are often separated by upwards of 20 miles (I personally know of some states away from the "main campus"), there is no way that the surrounding community in one region could possibly speak to the character of the pastor on the screen. Moreover, how many people within the satellite congregation, itself, could speak to his character? How can you speak to the integrity of a man when you’ve never met him, never seen him interact with his family or his staff? You can’t. And so you don’t know whether he lives in a massive home and loves money. You don’t know if he’s a gambler, a prescription drug addict, or an abuser of children. You know nothing about the man save for the image that is meticulously crafted, cultivated and finally “beamed” to your campus for your spiritual consumption. Consequently, you don’t truly have a pastor. Instead, you have a pleasing “image,” an “image” that knows how to turn a witty phrase as he delivers a sermon he often didn’t even write by his own hand.
Isn’t it interesting that during the time of the Byzantine Empire (730-842 AD), the Christian church became embroiled in an internal conflict over the use of icons and images. While some found the use of icons helpful in worship, many believed that images often stood between mankind and the thrice-holy YHWH, a constant looming temptation to worship the created as opposed to the Creator. But now, more than a millennia removed from the struggles of our forefathers, we don’t even hesitate to look upon “images” in an attempt to see through to the holy. Now, we invite these “images” into our lives, and often ascribe to them the same kind of veneration that was once condemned as idolatry.
What do you think? Do you think the use of a disembodied, digitized pastor runs the risk of creating an “image” that isn’t representative of a genuine human being? Do you think that multi-site churches are prone to developing a “cult of personality?”
(There is no question that I do)
10 commandments of Bible reading
Commandment One:
Remember that the Bible isn’t one book.
Commandment Two:
Remember that the Bible isn’t magic.
Commandment Three:
Remember that the Bible isn’t all that long.
Commandment Four:
Remember that you don’t have to be a genius to understand it.
Commandment Five:
Remember that most people need to read the Bible.
Commandment Six:
Remember that the Bible wasn’t written in English.
Commandment Seven:
Remember that the Bible wasn’t written yesterday.
Commandment Eight:
Remember that the Bible wasn’t written by one person.
Commandment Nine:
Remember that the Bible should be read at face value.
Commandment Ten:
Remember that the Bible is not a Human ‘User’s Manual.’
For more detailed information please click this link
New Reformation Press Freebies !
and get 3 Bible In An Hour Bonus E-books for FREE!
Remember that the Bible isn’t one book.
Commandment Two:
Remember that the Bible isn’t magic.
Commandment Three:
Remember that the Bible isn’t all that long.
Commandment Four:
Remember that you don’t have to be a genius to understand it.
Commandment Five:
Remember that most people need to read the Bible.
Commandment Six:
Remember that the Bible wasn’t written in English.
Commandment Seven:
Remember that the Bible wasn’t written yesterday.
Commandment Eight:
Remember that the Bible wasn’t written by one person.
Commandment Nine:
Remember that the Bible should be read at face value.
Commandment Ten:
Remember that the Bible is not a Human ‘User’s Manual.’
For more detailed information please click this link
New Reformation Press Freebies !
and get 3 Bible In An Hour Bonus E-books for FREE!
Friday, August 24, 2012
is it steven furtick or stuart smalley ?
Click this link for Apprising Dot Org:
Is it Steven Furtick or Stuart Smalley ?
Steven Furtick
or Stuart Smalley
And then check out:
SF's Word Faith Ritual
Is it Steven Furtick or Stuart Smalley ?
Steven Furtick
or Stuart Smalley
And then check out:
SF's Word Faith Ritual
Contradict - my new favorite bumper sticker!
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
(John 14:6 ESV)
Check out the Contradict Website HERE!
(John 14:6 ESV)
Check out the Contradict Website HERE!
Thursday, August 23, 2012
the 10 Commandments taught by Christian Fathers
I. The
Ten Commandments
As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.
We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.
We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.
We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need [in every need and danger of life and body].
We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life in words and deeds, and each love and honor his spouse.
We should fear and love God that we may not take our neighbor's money or property, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business [that his means are preserved and his condition is improved].
We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.
We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, and obtain it by a show of [justice and] right, etc., but help and be of service to him in keeping it.
We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and [diligently] do their duty.
What does this
mean?--Answer.
God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments. Therefore we should dread His wrath and not act contrary to these commandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him, and gladly do [zealously and diligently order our whole life] according to His commandments.
As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.
The
First Commandment.
Thou
shalt have no other gods.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
The
Second Commandment.
Thou
shalt not take the name of the Lord, thy God, in vain.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may not curse, swear, use witchcraft, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
The
Third Commandment.
Thou
shalt sanctify the holy-day.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.
The
Fourth Commandment.
Thou
shalt honor thy father and thy mother [that it may be well with
thee and thou mayest live long upon the earth].
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may not despise nor anger our parents and masters, but give them honor, serve, obey, and hold them in love and esteem.
The
Fifth Commandment.
Thou
shalt not kill.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may not hurt nor harm our neighbor in his body, but help and befriend him in every bodily need [in every need and danger of life and body].
The
Sixth Commandment.
Thou
shalt not commit adultery.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may lead a chaste and decent life in words and deeds, and each love and honor his spouse.
The
Seventh Commandment.
Thou
shalt not steal.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may not take our neighbor's money or property, nor get them by false ware or dealing, but help him to improve and protect his property and business [that his means are preserved and his condition is improved].
The
Eighth Commandment.
Thou
shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray, slander, or defame our neighbor, but defend him, [think and] speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.
The
Ninth Commandment.
Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's house.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may not craftily seek to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, and obtain it by a show of [justice and] right, etc., but help and be of service to him in keeping it.
The
Tenth Commandment.
Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor
his maid-servant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.
What does this
mean?--Answer.We should fear and love God that we may not estrange, force, or entice away our neighbor's wife, servants, or cattle, but urge them to stay and [diligently] do their duty.
What
Does God Say of All These Commandments?
Answer.
He says
thus (Exod. 20:5f): I the Lord, thy God, am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto
the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing
mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments.
God threatens to punish all that transgress these commandments. Therefore we should dread His wrath and not act contrary to these commandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all that keep these commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him, and gladly do [zealously and diligently order our whole life] according to His commandments.
a Christian MUST READ!
From New Reformation Press:
Gift?
An imaginary dialogue
A reformation sermon by Dr. Rod Rosenbladt
A reformation sermon by Dr. Rod Rosenbladt
(The initial caveat from Dr. Rosenbladt when he delivered this,
“Don’t let anybody tell you I don’t hold to Sola Scriptura.
This is strictly a literary device, no more!”)
“Don’t let anybody tell you I don’t hold to Sola Scriptura.
This is strictly a literary device, no more!”)
| Sinner: | I see. I see for the first time. It’s clear to me. You died for me and for my sin. You took my verdict. |
| God: | I did. |
| Sinner: | So tell me what I can do to show you how grateful I am. |
| God: | You’re not ready for that. |
| Sinner: | I am. I am. Just tell me what to do. I feel like a runner on the starting blocks. Aren’t I supposed to do something “religious” now? |
| God: | You imagine that I am impressed by “religion.” I am not. I hate “religion.” |
| Sinner: | You hate religion? But you’re God! You’re supposed to like religion. |
| God: | I told you. I hate religion. Religion was your idea – not Mine. You have forgotten what Anselm said: “You have not yet considered the depth of your sin.” |
| Sinner: | But I want to show you I have. I really have. I know it is really deep. Talk to me. Teach me sanctification. |
| God: | I told you. You aren’t ready for sanctification yet. You just imagine that you are ready. You are arrogant and you don’t know it. |
| Sinner: | What do you mean? I am ready. |
| God: | You are not. If you were, you wouldn’t be talking like you are talking. |
| Sinner: | Well, what then? |
| God: | Just sit there. Sit there for a long while. |
| Sinner: | And do what? |
| God: | Consider the shed blood. Consider that the blood was enough. Think about the fact that it isn’t your repenting that has saved you. Think about the fact that it isn’t your faith that is saving you. |
| Sinner: | Can’t I just, as you said, just think about my sin and the depth of it? |
| God: | That is a start. But you like doing that. You like it too much. |
| Sinner: | This makes no sense. What are you saying? |
| God: | I am saying that you like atoning for yourself by feeling guilty. And you like atoning for yourself by thinking about your faith. |
| Sinner: | Well, what else is there? |
| God: | There is Jesus Christ – but you don’t consider Him. You are not used to gifts. You don’t think much about them. Gifts make you nervous and tense. You don’t know what to do, so you jump to trying to impress Me. I am not impressible. |
| Sinner: | I’m confused. |
| God: | You are. |
| Sinner: | Are you saying that I find a thousand ways to avoid your graciousness to me in the cross of Jesus, the shed blood of Jesus? |
| God: | I am. |
| Sinner: | Are you saying that I try to buy your gifts, try to pay you for them so I don’t think about them being gifts? Because I’m afraid that if they are gifts, it is really too good to be true? |
| God: | That is what I am saying. |
| Sinner: | You mean I don’t like letting you freely justify me? I resist what is really a free justification? |
| God: | Yes. You like what is inside of you. You like your commitment, your Christian life. And you shouldn’t like it. You don’t see that it is your enemy. You like seeing Me as your mother. I am a lot of things. But I am not at all like your mother. What impressed her does not impress Me. |
| Sinner: | But remember how for years I responded to her needs when my brothers just indulged themselves. I was the one who listened to her needs and they just went out to play. |
| God: | They knew that their play delighted Me. You did not. I am your Father. I conceived you and it was no accident. I chose to bring you into the world. |
| Sinner: | You adopted me. |
| God: | That’s right. I adopted you. And you delight Me. You delight Me because of blood outside of you, because of a verdict based on Me – not on anything inside of you. |
| Sinner: | You mean the substitution. You mean His righteousness imputed to me, don’t You? |
| God: | That is what I mean. |
| Sinner: | Well, I’m going to worship you every day. |
| God: | I don’t need your daily worship. I don’t need your daily anything. I am not your mother. |
| Sinner: | Well, do you want me to remember Your greatness, Your glory every day? |
| God: | That is a start. But even pagans recognize My greatness. |
| Sinner: | Well, what then? |
| God: | Remember the inheritance. I am about inheritances. Think about My generosity to you in the blood. |
| Sinner: | But that’s so free. It scares me to think about that. You scare me. |
| God: | I know. That is why you want to skip to sanctification so quickly. You like thinking about your gratitude. You like thinking about you. |
| Sinner: | Mom didn’t see things that way. |
| God: | I know. Your obedience impressed her. But it doesn’t impress Me. I want you free. |
| Sinner: | That sounds like some kind of “free lunch!” There is no “free lunch!” |
| God: | My cross is the only “free lunch” that has ever been. |
| Sinner: | Could I tell you something? |
| God: | Yes. |
| Sinner: | The Lord’s Supper scares me. I go. But it scares me. |
| God: | Why do you think that is? |
| Sinner: | I wonder if I’m ever really ready to come to it. |
| God: | I know. |
| Sinner: | Well, why is that? |
| God: | I told you why. My gifts make you nervous. You want to think about you. You like thinking about you. You would walk a thousand miles barefoot over glass shards to avoid My gifts to you. |
| Sinner: | This is driving me crazy! |
| God: | No, it is not. Right now, I am driving you sane. The sanity is in seeing the free blood – on the cross and in the cup. The insanity is your inclining to your devotion, your obedience, your commitment. That is what is insane. |
| Sinner: | Why haven’t I seen this? |
| God: | Because you are a child of Adam. |
| Sinner: | I know. But I’m not stupid. I have two master’s degrees. I’m a child of Adam with two master’s degrees. |
| God: | It is not a matter of intelligence. It is a matter of sin. |
| Sinner: | Well, what’s the answer? |
| God: | I’ve been telling you the answer all along. The answer is the gift, the blood. The answer is you looking for once in your life to something other than yourself. Your religiousness is your enemy! You don’t hate it. And you should. I do. |
| Sinner: | You hate my religiousness? You’re kidding. |
| God: | The object of your religiousness is your sanctification. It is not the gift. It is not the blood. The object of your religiousness is you. |
| Sinner: | You mean I worship me? |
| God: | That is what I mean. Your sanctification is your golden calf. You love thinking about your lack of it. And you love thinking of how full you are of it. Either way, you are your own favorite idol. |
| Sinner: | Well maybe I’m not elected. Maybe you chose for me to be lost. |
| God: | You are elected. You’re just trying to “get off the dime.” |
| Sinner: | No, I’m not. I think I just need more information. |
| God: | You do not need more information. You are just trying to avoid the gift. You want the blood not to be enough. You are avoiding Me and the free blood by using your intellect. |
| Sinner: | That’s not true. I just want to play my part. |
| God: | You have no part. |
| Sinner: | Well, a fine kettle of fish this is! A salvation without me as even a part of it. |
| God: | That’s the only kind of salvation there is. |
| Sinner: | Well, I give up. There’s just no cutting a deal with you. |
| God: | You are beginning to see. What you just said is true. I cut the deal with Myself a long time ago. I did not consult you and I’m not consulting you now. You and your spouse and your children are the beneficiaries of My deal with Me, but it wasn’t in view of your qualities. You don’t have any qualities. Just be glad I never took your qualities into account other than to die for them. |
| Sinner: | But this whole thing sounds so cold. |
| God: | It is as hot as you will ever hear. You just think its “cold” because you can’t impress Me. You imagine that if you can’t impress Me, I don’t love you. |
| Sinner: | Well, that’s how it is with everyone I’ve ever met. |
| God: | I’m not “everyone.” |
| Sinner: | This is so good, I feel giddy! |
| God: | I’m not impressed with your giddiness. Now you’re using your excitement to avoid the free blood, the gift, the inheritance. |
| Sinner: | Well, if You’re not impressed by my thoughts or my feelings, what does impress you, anyway? |
| God: | Nothing in you impresses Me. |
| Sinner: | Well, does anything impress You? |
| God: | My Son’s shed blood impresses Me. And His shed blood is yours. It is reckoned to you. And you drink it every Sunday. |
| Sinner: | What you are saying, then, is that all of this has to do with You and not me? |
| God: | I didn’t say that. |
| Sinner: | Well, what are you saying, then? |
| God: | You are my beloved child. And I made you that. You don’t like it. But I am the Father anyway. You do everything that you can to avoid that I am your Father. |
| Sinner: | I don’t want to avoid it. |
| God: | Yes, you do want to avoid it. But I know that. |
| Sinner: | Oh, Father, I’m sorry. |
| God: | You are. And I gave you that, too. |
| Sinner: | You gave me, “I’m sorry?” |
| God: | Yes. |
| Sinner: | Is there anything good or true that I don’t get from your generosity? |
| God: | No. |
| Sinner: | But why? |
| God: | All you need to know about is the blood, the gift, the free inheritance. You need to think more often about the forgiveness of sins. |
| Sinner: | I do think about that. |
| God: | Yes, but only in a particular way. You wallow in the sin. You imagine the forgiveness is based on your devotion, your religiousness. It isn’t. It is based on Me and on the blood. Your churchmanship and devotion suck. |
| Sinner: | But not everyone in my church does what I do for You. |
| God: | You’re trying to impress Me with the church and your churchmanship. I could care less about your churchmanship. It’s another way of you avoiding the blood and the gift. You are using it because you want to talk about you again. |
| Sinner: | The church? As a way of avoiding your gift, your Fatherness? You’re kidding. |
| God: | I am not. |
| Sinner: | Well, I thought the church was your creation. What is it then? |
| God: | It should be the place where the same thing I am telling you is delivered to you. The Gospel, the blood. |
| Sinner: | But You’re saying it isn’t? |
| God: | Not always. And you chose that church because you “liked it.” |
| Sinner: | Yes, but how else is one to choose a church? |
| God: | On the basis of a real Baptism, the imputed righteousness, the Father’s voice in the Gospel, the presence of the blood in the Supper. That’s how you are to choose a church. The truth of the matter is that you were impressed by the legs of the Sunday School superintendent. How would you like it if I revealed that to your wife? Don’t try to impress Me with your church choice. I am not impressible. |
| Sinner: | All right. I get the idea. |
| God: | I’m saying that you are using the church and your churchmanship to shift the subject back to you again. The church won’t save you. And your churchmanship is just another way of you again trying to impress Me. I cannot be impressed. |
| Sinner: | Do you mean that my being your child, my inheriting the kingdom, my being reconciled to You and made Your friend instead of Your enemy, my ticket into heaven and all the rest has nothing to do with me? |
| God: | Almost. |
| Sinner: | What do you mean, “Almost?” |
| God: | Except for your sin. It was your sin I had to deal with. That had all to do with you. It required blood and death. And your blood and death was not enough. Only My blood and death would deal with your sin, would forgive you. So you were a part of the deal as a debit. |
| Sinner: | You mean I had no part? |
| God: | Your sin was your part. |
| Sinner: | But my faith, my devotion, my Christian life are not? |
| God: | All of those suck. |
| Sinner: | Well, what was redeemable in all of it? |
| God: | You were. |
| Sinner: | But not on the basis of anything about me? |
| God: | No. |
| Sinner: | Why did you do it then? |
| God: | Because I loved you before you were. |
| Sinner: | But you’ve said that there was nothing in me that was attractive, right? |
| God: | Right. |
| Sinner: | Well, why then? |
| God: | I told you. Because I loved you before you even were. And it cost Me the Son to do it. |
| Sinner: | I can’t take any more of this. But when I recover, can we talk again? |
| God: | Yes. |
| Sinner: | Will you still be like you’ve been just now? |
| God: | Yes. I do not change. I was the Father from all eternity, I am the Father now, and I will be the Father tomorrow. The Good Father. Unchanging. |
| Sinner: | Can I count on it? |
| God: | Yes. And, in specifics, you can count on the shed blood. |
| Sinner: | Alright. Thanks. |
| God: | You’re welcome, child. |
Where then is boasting? It is excluded By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. (N.A.S.B.)
The idea of what was done above first came from Not Me, God by Sherwood Wirt. Mr. Wirt was the editor of Decision Magazine from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
For All The Saints - Hymn Lyrics
For All The Saints - Hymn Lyrics
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The Lutheran Classic A Mighty Fortress is our God!
1. A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevaling. For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal. 2. Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing, were not the right man on our side, the man of God's own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he; Lord Sabaoth, his name, from age to age the same, and he must win the battle. 3. And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him. 4. That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; the Spirit and the gifts are ours, thru him who with us sideth. Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; the body they may kill; God's truth abideth still; his kingdom is forever.
good hymn lyrics
Thy Strong Word
I wish in church we sang "Thy Strong Word." This hymn is written in a minor key, has six long verses filled with King James language, and is basically a good example of what some people hate about hymns. But the words are poetic and rich. Read them a couple times. The fifth verse especially never fails to convict me, and notice the description of the Trinity at the end.
Thy strong Word did cleave the darkness;
At thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank Thee
While thine ordered seasons run
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia without end!
Lo, on those who dwelt in darkness,
Dark as night and deep as death,
Broke the light of thy salvation,
Breathed thine own life-giving breath.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia without end!
Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous;
Bright with thine own holiness,
Glorious now, we press toward glory,
And our lives our hopes confess.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia without end!
From the cross thy wisdom shining
Breaketh forth in conqu'ring might;
From the cross forever beameth
All thy bright redeeming light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to Thee who light dost send!
Alleluia without end!
Give us lips to sing thy glory,
Tongues thy mercy to proclaim,
Throats to shout the hope that fills us,
Mouths to speak thy holy name.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
May the light which thou dost send,
Fill our songs with alleluias,
Alleluias without end!
God the Father, light-creator,
To Thee laud and honor be.
To Thee, Light from Light begotten,
Praise be sung eternally.
Holy Spirit, light-revealer,
Glory, glory be to Thee.
Mortals, angels, now and ever
Praise the Holy Trinity!
Westboro Not-so-Baptist vs Calvary Baptist Dog Kennel?
If you haven't heard I (you're dearly beloved Reformed Baptist) recently preached a sermon on John the Baptist at my Church - Calvary Baptist Church in Lenexa, KS and now the infamous Westboro Not-really-Baptists have decided to picket us this Sunday from 9-9:30am as we enter for worship services and who are the Westboro-ist using as their model - you got it John the Baptist.
Here is the reason why from the Westboro Baptist Church website:
"Calvary Baptist Church in Lenexa, KS August 26, 2012 9:05 AM - 9:30 AM
John the Baptist should be your guide, and he told you to bring for fruit (evidence) meet (appropriate) for repentance.
We will be at this so-called Baptist Church (read dog kennel) because they are so much worse then the perverts that call themselves open, tolerant and accepting of fags. Out of one side of your mouth you say that sodomy is a sin and out of the other, that God loves everyone! WHAT?? Listen up you liars -
Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
Mal 2:17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
You better read Jeremiah 23 and for that matter read the entire Bible EVERY DAY! STOP lying and blaspheming God! He will and IS repaying you to your face!"
@@@@
Its certainly true that I call all (every single) human being a sinner (just like the Bible) straight sinners, gay sinners, military sinners, non-military sinners. And I tell people that God loves sinners that's why He sent Christ (just like the Bible does). I'm not sure what the problem is, aside from Westboro wants us to teach that God does not love sinners but we can't because the Bible doesn't say God doesn't love sinners.
Just a couple of thoughts for Westboro, I'm so sorry to your congregation that you know so little scripture to be led astray by the false teachers of Westboro if you leave feel free to come to Calvary and worship with us we have an extensive Bible study/Westboro de-brainwashing curriculum that may be helpful to you. I would personally volunteer to teach if you so desired.
Here is the reason why from the Westboro Baptist Church website:
"Calvary Baptist Church in Lenexa, KS August 26, 2012 9:05 AM - 9:30 AM
John the Baptist should be your guide, and he told you to bring for fruit (evidence) meet (appropriate) for repentance.
We will be at this so-called Baptist Church (read dog kennel) because they are so much worse then the perverts that call themselves open, tolerant and accepting of fags. Out of one side of your mouth you say that sodomy is a sin and out of the other, that God loves everyone! WHAT?? Listen up you liars -
Eze 13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
Mal 2:17 Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?
You better read Jeremiah 23 and for that matter read the entire Bible EVERY DAY! STOP lying and blaspheming God! He will and IS repaying you to your face!"
@@@@
Its certainly true that I call all (every single) human being a sinner (just like the Bible) straight sinners, gay sinners, military sinners, non-military sinners. And I tell people that God loves sinners that's why He sent Christ (just like the Bible does). I'm not sure what the problem is, aside from Westboro wants us to teach that God does not love sinners but we can't because the Bible doesn't say God doesn't love sinners.
Just a couple of thoughts for Westboro, I'm so sorry to your congregation that you know so little scripture to be led astray by the false teachers of Westboro if you leave feel free to come to Calvary and worship with us we have an extensive Bible study/Westboro de-brainwashing curriculum that may be helpful to you. I would personally volunteer to teach if you so desired.
- But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (John 5:42-44 ESV)
- Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
(John 8:42-47 ESV) - For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:6-7; Romans 5:8-11 ESV)
- Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:33-38; Romans 8:39 ESV) - But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:4-10 ESV)
- See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. (1 John 3:1-3 ESV)
- Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.(1 John 4:7-21 ESV)
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
for those who aren't afraid to be insulted by Luther...
try this great link
Luther Insults!
And still evangelicals wonder why I love God's little foul-mouthed pitbull, Martin Luther so much!
Luther Insults!
People of your sort are hirelings, dumb dogs unable to bark, who see the wolf coming and flee or, rather, join up with the wolf.
From Against Latomus, pg. 146 of Luther's Works, Vol. 32
I think that all the devils have at once entered into you.
From Defense and Explanation of All the Articles, pg. 46 of Luther's Works, Vol. 32
Gently, dear Pauli, dear donkey, don't dance around!
Oh, dearest little ass, don't dance around - dearest, dearest little
donkey, don't do it. For the ice is very solidly frozen this year
because there was no wind - you might fall and break a leg. If a fart
should escape you while you were falling, the whole world would laugh at
you and say, "Ugh, the devil! How the ass has befouled himself!" And
that would be a great crime. Oh, that would be dangerous! So consider
your own great danger beforehand, Hellish One.
From Against the Roman Papacy, an Institution of the Devil, pg. 280 of Luther's Works, Vol. 41
There you are in the chains of divine judgment, bound in hell like all the devils.
From Against Hanswurst, pg. 249 of Luther's Works, Vol. 41
You are in all you do the very opposite of Christ as befits a true Antichrist.
From Defense and Explanation of All the Articles, pg. 61 of Luther's Works, Vol. 32
May the Lord Jesus protect me and all devout souls from your contagion and your company!
From Against Latomus, pg. 138 of Luther's Works, Vol. 32
You are the devil's donkey.
From Against Hanswurst, pg. 190 of Luther's Works, Vol. 41
Snot-nose!
From On the Councils and the Church, pg. 150 of Luther's Works, Vol. 41
You condemned the holy gospel and replaced it with the teaching of the dragon from hell.
From Defense and Explanation of All the Articles, pg. 82 of Luther's Works, Vol. 32for those moralist who think my language against false teachers is too strong
Martin Luther's Volatile Language
“Neither the vulgarity nor the violence nor the charges of satanic motivation nor the sarcastic mocking is unique to [Luther’s later Jewish] treatises. If anything, Luther’s 1541 Against Hanswurst and his 1545 Against the Papacy at Rome, Founded by the Devil contain more scatology, more sallies against the devil, more heavy sarcasm, and more violence of language and recommendations. The polemics of the older Luther against the Turks and Protestant opponents are only slightly more restrained. Against each of these opponents- Catholics, Turks, other Protestants and Jews- he occasionally passed on libelous tales and gave credence to improbable charges. In all these respects Luther treated the Jews no differently than he treated his other opponents.”[ii]
Some think that illness and depression caused the “old” Luther to explode in violent harsh outbursts of profanity towards his enemies. It is a convenient explanation which locates the cause of his harsh polemics in unavoidable human frailty: senility, disease, and depression. But, a much more likely explanation is that put forth by Heiko Oberman. Oberman traces Luther’s harsh language as far back as sermon preached in 1515, thus proving the young Luther used the same type of speech as the old Luther. Most importantly, Oberman provides insight rather than psychological condemnation. He points out, “In the total historical context, …Luther’s scatology-permeated language has to be taken seriously as an expression of the painful battle fought body and soul against the Adversary, who threatens both flesh and spirit.”[iv] Luther’s rough language was therefore a weapon to use against the devil. “…[A]ll true Christians stand in a large anti-defamation league and are called upon to combat the God-awful, filthy adversary, using his own weapons and his own strategy: ‘Get lost Satan…”[v] In other words, Luther used scatological language to fight against Satan. Since Luther felt Satan was the mastermind behind works-centered religions (like Judaism), Luther attacks those religions using Satan’s own weapons against him.
For Luther, his use of scatological language exposes the Devil, who has hidden himself in the papacy, behind the Turks, and in the theology of Judaism. Since it is the Last Days, Satan must be resisted with all one’s might: with as much energy and all the vehemence possible. By exposing Satan in these systems, Satan becomes enraged and fights harder against God. By fighting harder, the Last Day approaches quicker.[vii]
Luther also felt he was following the example of Christ. Luther asks rhetorically if the Lord used abusive language against his enemies: “Was he abusive when he called the Jews an adulterous and perverse generation, an offspring of vipers, hypocrites, and children of the Devil?… The truth, which one is conscious of possessing, cannot be patient against its obstinate and intractable enemies.”[viii] In similar fashion, Luther responded to his opponent Latomus:
“He [Latomus] says that I lack the evangelical modesty which I enjoin, and that this is especially true of the book in which I replied to the sophists of Louvain when they condemned my teachings. Now I have never insisted that anyone consider me modest or holy, but only that everyone recognize what the gospel is. If they do this, I give anyone freedom to attack my life to his heart’s content. My boast is that I have injured no one’s life or reputation, but only sharply reproached, as godless and sacrilegious, those assertions, inventions, and doctrines which are against the Word of God. I do not apologize for this, for I have good precedents. John the Baptist [Luke 3:7
] and Christ after him [Matt. 23:33]
called the Pharisees the “offspring of vipers.” So excessive and
outrageous was this abuse of such learned, holy, powerful, and honored
men that they said in reply that He had a demon [John 7:20]. If in this instance Latomus had been judge, I wonder what the verdict would have been! Elsewhere Christ calls them “blind” [Matt. 23:16], “crooked,” “liars,” “sons of the devil” [John 8:44, 55]. Good God, even Paul lacked evangelical modesty when he anathematized the teachers of the Galatians [Gal. 1:8] who were, I suppose, great men. Others he calls “dogs” [Phil. 3:2], “empty talkers” [Tit. 1:10], “deceivers” [Col. 2:4, 8]. Further, he accused to his face the magician Elymas with being a “son of the devil, full of all deceit and villainy [Acts 13:10].” [ix]
Monday, August 20, 2012
Satan’s Whore = the Emergent Church!
Ian Lawton is an
Anglican ordained Minister and Pastor of what was once a church called Christ
Community Church in Grand Rapids, MI. Ian has for many years been the
poster-boy Purpose-driven motivational speaker of an Emergent, evolving,
inclusive, spiritual-yet-not-religious cohort since he removed both the
“offensive” cross and name of Christ from his church as he changed its name to
the “C3 Exchange” and started preaching new doctrines like Evolution, god’s
acceptance of Homosexual lust and practice, and Ecumenicalism.
Recently in mid-July Ian preached a sermon in which he
confessed that for the last 20 years he’s been an Atheist (Atheism is, in a broad
sense, the rejection of belief
in the existence of
deities. – WIKI).
So this just leads to 3 quick questions since Ian is finally
being honest and has confessed that he is not a Christian or a “new kind of
Christian” (Brian McLaren & Tony Jones term) or any such rubbish why, why
in God’s name was the Anglican Church so stupid as to ordain an unbeliever? And
why, why did Christ Community Church call an unbeliever to be their pastor and
allow him to actively un-church their church? And why did the Emergents who
still pretend to be Christians at least in name or ideology if not in practice
want us to idolize and exalt this unbeliever in the first place?
The Bible often depicts those who worship false gods or
allow for the inclusive worship of false gods in Yahweh’s place as whores or
whoring so that is why I’ve entitle this post as Satan’s Whore = the Emergent
Church. Please join me in praying that God will convert unbelievers like Ian Lawton, Rob Bell, Brian McLaren and Tony Jones because as much as I hate the harm they've done to the Bride of Christ (the Church) I don't want even these heretics to be tormented forever in Hell.
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