Irresistible Grace – The I of “TULIP”

What the Calvinist says about Irresistible Grace: (Taken from: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/#Grace)

The doctrine of irresistible grace does not mean that every influence of the Holy Spirit cannot be resisted. It means that the Holy Spirit can overcome all resistance and make his influence irresistible.

The doctrine of irresistible grace means that God is sovereign and can overcome all resistance when he wills. "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases" (Psalm 115:3). When God undertakes to fulfill his sovereign purpose, no one can successfully resist him.

More specifically irresistible grace refers to the sovereign work of God to overcome the rebellion of our heart and bring us to faith in Christ so that we can be saved. If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of irresistible grace. If we are dead in our sins, totally unable to submit to God, then we will never believe in Christ unless God overcomes our rebellion.

Now we come to two huge issues with Calvinism’s view of God: First, God’s sovereignty dictates and empowers every action of man, and second, God’s call to salvation, because of His sovereignty, is irresistible.

Before we delve into these two issues let me again draw your attention to their claim. They said, “If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of irresistible grace.” As stated, the tulip of Calvinism must contain every petal or it does not exist. There is no three-point or four-point Calvinist. If you agree with the Calvinists on just one of their points, in the Calvinist way of understanding, you have bought the whole tulip.

Back to the issues at hand, the sovereignty of God and God’s irresistible call to salvation. One more clarification is necessary here. It is impossible to read the Bible and believe God is anything less than totally sovereign. God is totally sovereign. God is completely sovereign. God does whatever He pleases anytime He pleases.

Scripture is abundantly clear about God’s sovereignty. I have no issues accepting the fact of God’s sovereignty. I do not accept the Calvinist version of God’s sovereignty. Calvinism defines God’s sovereignty as God’s complete control over every thought and movement of every living being at all times.

To the Calvinist, especially John Piper, if God is not controlling and directing every person, every animal, every dust mite, and the direction of every hair on your body, then God is somehow less than completely sovereign. John Piper likes to say there is only one will of God, the perfect will of God and everything happening is at the center of His will. This is not a scriptural view of God’s sovereignty. Need some proof?

Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

Did you notice the phrase, “to see what he would call them”? As God made the animals He brought them to Adam to be named. Of course God knew what Adam would call them, but there is something God did to give Adam the ability of choice. Since God is totally sovereign, is He unable to give man the ability to choose? Is a King less sovereign when His subjects exercise the choice He gives them? Is one verse not enough? How about this passage:

Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

When Lucifer rebelled did it make God less of a King? No. Was God less sovereign when Lucifer became full of pride and rebellion? Of course not. Actually this shows God’s sovereign power and how it remains in spite of rebellion. Did God’s sovereignty have to be the reason for Lucifer’s fall? By no means.

According to the Calvinist view, God, because His sovereignty requires complete control of everything all the time, is the author of sin. How absurd. Calvinists believe God was in complete control of Lucifer’s thoughts and actions, even when Lucifer rebelled. Calvinists have a problem understanding the difference between being in control and taking control. Biblical sovereignty shows God is in control even when He does not control.

When God allows another being to make a choice (and I did not use the Armenian concept of “free will” because it is just as wrong) God does not loose any of His power or authority. When I, as a Father, allow my children to make a choice, I am not any less of a Father. In fact, when my child makes a wrong choice, I am given the opportunity to show the strength of my authority and my “sovereignty” as the head of the family. Their disobedience is not my preference nor is it my will. In fact I am saddened by my opportunity to show my authority in the face of disobedience.

The Bible has plenty of examples showing the total sovereignty of God does not require God to dictate every movement and every thought of man. Look at the three times Paul tried to go to Asia. Look at how Peter wrongly replaced Judas with Matthias. Look how Peter wrongly associated himself with the Jews and Paul had to correct him. Does this show God’s complete control of every detail? I believe it shows the sovereignty of God by allowing men to make wrong choices and yet God is still in control, even when He did not control the minutia.

With this understanding of God’s sovereignty, we are now ready to look at the Calvinist idea of Irresistible Grace. Look at what they say again, “More specifically irresistible grace refers to the sovereign work of God to overcome the rebellion of our heart and bring us to faith in Christ so that we can be saved. If our doctrine of total depravity is true, there can be no salvation without the reality of irresistible grace.”

Does God sometimes call a person in an almost irresistible way? Yes. The testimony of Paul will verify the near irresistibility of God’s call. Does the conversion of Paul prove the position of Irresistible Grace in the life of every believer? No.

The only way for irresistible grace to conform to the Bible is to use it in a logical sense. For example, I am saved because I did not resist God’s grace. In fact, we are all saved because we did not resist God’s grace. So for us (the Christians) we can say we found God’s grace to be irresistible. Not because we could not resist, but because we did not resist.

This is not the understanding of the Calvinist. According to the Calvinist, when God elects someone to salvation He will continually present Himself in ways and times the elect unsaved person will find impossible to resist. Man is considered to be so Totally Depraved God must make His grace irresistible or else man will not be saved. If there is one small opportunity for man to resist God’s grace, he will because of his Total Depravity. The only saving grace for the Totally Depraved must be, according to the Calvinist, Irresistible Grace.

What does the Bible say?

Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

Matthew 22:2-3 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

Proverbs 1:23-25 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.

Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Romans 1:20-21 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Scripture is clear on this issue. God’s grace is resistible. Man is responsible for his choice and man’s choice does not negate the sovereignty of God. God is sovereign and man is able to choose and bears the responsibility of his choice alone. When man chooses sin and bears the consequences of sin, God is still just as sovereign as He ever was.

If you read the original statement closely there is a hint of contradiction. This opposing view is visible in their statement: “When God undertakes to fulfill his sovereign purpose, no one can successfully resist him.” See it? “When God undertakes to fulfill his sovereign purpose…” So are they saying God does not always work to fulfill His sovereign purpose? In their understanding of things, if God does not control everything, He is not completely sovereign. This is simply not true.

Limited Atonement – The L of “TULIP”

What the Calvinist says about Limited Atonement: (Taken from: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/#Grace)

The term "limited atonement" addresses the question, "For whom did Christ die?" But behind the question of the extent of the atonement lies the equally important question about the nature of the atonement. What did Christ actually achieve on the cross for those for whom he died?

If you say that he died for every human being in the same way, then you have to define the nature of the atonement very differently than you would if you believed that Christ only died for those who actually believe. In the first case you would believe that the death of Christ did not actually save anybody; it only made all men savable. It did not actually remove God's punitive wrath from anyone, but instead created a place where people could come and find mercy—IF they could accomplish their own new birth and bring themselves to faith without the irresistible grace of God.

For if Christ died for all men in the same way then he did not purchase regenerating grace for those who are saved. They must regenerate themselves and bring themselves to faith. Then and only then do they become partakers of the benefits of the cross.

In other words if you believe that Christ died for all men in the same way, then the benefits of the cross cannot include the mercy by which we are brought to faith, because then all men would be brought to faith, but they aren't. But if the mercy by which we are brought to faith (irresistible grace) is not part of what Christ purchased on the cross, then we are left to save ourselves from the bondage of sin, the hardness of heart, the blindness of corruption, and the wrath of God.

In the Calvinist view Jesus only died for those he Unconditionally Elected. According to them there are only two choices, either someone is saved by the total activity of God or they are saved by the total activity of man.

Read again their claim in the last paragraph describing what remains if Limited Atonement is not true. According to their explanation, Jesus not only purchased salvation, He also purchased the means of delivering salvation. Where do they get that out of God’s Word?

They unsuccessfully try to use Scripture to support their position like Mark 10:45, Matthew 26:28 and Hebrews 9:28, but none of these passages speak about Christ purchasing the means of delivering salvation.

In fact, Matthew 26:28 says, “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” The blood of Christ was shed, not for the means of delivery of salvation but for the remission of sins. Even Hebrews 9:28 said, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many…”. Again, no mention of the method of delivery of salvation.

In Hebrews we are given an analogy, a comparison, between what happened in the fall and what happened on the Cross. Let’s take a few minutes to examine the passage:

Romans 5:12-16 says: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

The analogy begins with showing how sin was applied to the entire human race, by one man.

13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Sin is the transgression of the law. Where God has not established law, sin is not imputed.

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Although no one else ate of the Tree of Knowledge, they were still going to die because of the sin nature handed down through the generations. Notice the final phrase: “…who is the figure of him that was to come.” Here comes the comparison.

15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

Observe here the term used, “free gift.” If someone has a deadly disease and I purchase them a free (free to them, expensive to me) gift what good will it do them if they refuse the offer? No good at all. Must someone accept a free gift? No. If someone refuses a free gift does their refusal mean they will ultimately get the gift by working for it? No.

Also pay careful attention to the use of the term, “many.” “For if through the offence of one many be dead…” means how many are dead? A few or all? All. Therefore the gift, purchased by Jesus Christ has abounded to the same number impacted by the sin, “many.” The term, “many” does not exclude the meaning of “all.”

Does, “Many of my children are in the house,” cancel the possibility they are all in the house? No. Or if I say, “The sun arose on many days,” am I saying the sun did not rise on some days? No. “Many” does not have to exclude the possibility of “all”.

16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

The gift, the free gift, is not like the sin. Adam sinned once and his judgment led to the condemnation of all (many sins). In contrast, the many sins did not need many payments. The one free gift provides justification for the many (all) offences (sins). When a sinner is saved, how many of their sins are forgiven? Many? Yes, since we have already seen many is inclusive of the term all and not necessarily exclusive.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)

“They which receive abundance of grace…” are not receiving the means of delivering salvation, it is salvation. Righteousness for mankind is only possible after salvation has occurred.

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

Here again is the comparison: condemnation came upon all men; by Christ the free gift (free to us, costly to Him) came upon ALL men. Is this saying all men receive the free gift? No. The free gift came upon them by being accessibile.

19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Here we are again, when one man disobeyed, how many were made sinners? Many? Yes! Was there anyone who was not made a sinner? No. How many will be made righteous? Many? Yes! Is there any sinner Christ did not die to save? No. Just as many as were made sinners, those are the ones made righteous (all who believe).

Does the passage above mean all people will be saved? Of course not! Just because all people can be saved does not mean all people will be saved. It means all people have the opportunity to be saved because of the payment Jesus made for all sin.

Look at John 3:16 from the Analytical-Literal Translation: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten [or, unique] Son, so that every [one] believing [or, trusting] in Him shall not perish, _but_ shall be having eternal life!”

Calvinists misunderstand the application of the death of Christ. The death of Jesus Christ must apply to the entire human race just as the sin of Adam. Through one man, Adam, sin and death came to the entire human race. The one God-man, Jesus Christ, died once to purchase redemption for those same people.

Just as Adam’s sin was a one time event having eternal consequences for all, so too Jesus’ payment was a one time event offering eternal forgiveness as wide as the curse was found.

“Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Hebrews 9:25-26

“For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” 1Corinthians 15:21-22

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.”

1John 4:14-15

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1Timothy 2:5-6

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” 2Corinthians 5:14-15

Just as Adam in his sinless state had the ability to choose sin, sinful man has the ability to choose salvation. How? Because of Christ. Christ calls, Christ draws, Christ initiates, Christ paid, Christ convicts and when man responds in repentance and faith, Christ chooses him.

I close here with one final passage from Isaiah 53:

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Unlimited Atonement –Unlimited Love – Unlimited Grace – Amazing Grace!

Unconditional Election – The U of “TULIP”

Unconditional Election – The U of “TULIP”

What the Calvinist says about Unconditional Election: (Taken from: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/#Grace)

If all of us are so depraved that we cannot come to God without being born again by the irresistible grace of God, and if this particular grace is purchased by Christ on the cross, then it is clear that the salvation of any of us is owing to God's election.

Election refers to God's choosing whom to save. It is unconditional in that there is no condition man must meet before God chooses to save him. Man is dead in trespasses and sins. So there is no condition he can meet before God chooses to save him from his deadness.

We are not saying that final salvation is unconditional. It is not. We must meet the condition of faith in Christ in order to inherit eternal life. But faith is not a condition for election. Just the reverse. Election is a condition for faith. It is because God chose us before the foundation of the world that he purchases our redemption at the cross and quickens us with irresistible grace and brings us to faith.

The TULIP of Calvinism is a single “flower”. I recognize there are five “petals” making this flower but they are inter-related. If you have one, you have them all. If you remove one, you invalidate them all.

I have said it before, and I will say it again here, there are no “4 point Calvinists” or “3 point Calvinists.” There are Calvinists or non-Calvinists, you are, or you are not, there is no ground in between. It is the same with the Arminian perspective, either you are or you are not. If you are not in either camp, like me, why not claim to be a Biblicist or a Bible-ite or a Biblican or even a Biblocrat, but don’t try to claim parts of an inseparable doctrine.

If you are claiming to be something other than a “5 point Calvinist” you must have changed the their definition of the points. Either you have made it something more palatable for your theology, or you have redefined the terms in order to find some “common ground” where there is none.

Calvinism is a single “flower”, take away any of the “petals” and the flower wilts into a pile of dust. John Piper has successfully added two leaves to this “flower” which are logical assertions to TULIP, but nothing can be taken away with sacrificing the structural integrity of the whole.

Unconditional Election is made of two parts: God does not use any criteria for choosing those He has chosen, and God does the choosing then comes faith. Notice again how the Calvinist uses the term unconditional: “We must meet the condition of faith in Christ in order to inherit eternal life. But faith is not a condition for election. Just the reverse. Election is a condition for faith.”

Do you see what they are saying here? 1) Faith is the condition to salvation; 2) Faith comes after election; 3) If there is no election, there is no faith; 4) Election happened before the world began. Now put that together with two points from the previous post about Total Depravity: “Depravity affects every human.” and “Man’s inability to submit to God and do good is total.”

So, let’s put together everything we have so far:
A) A person is elected before the world begins;

B) When that person is born they are Totally Depraved although they are elected; (If you are elected to become saved, how can you be TOTALLY Depraved?)

C) Because of their election, they grow in their understanding and faith, but they are still Totally Depraved and they are unable to submit to God and do good; (Again there must either be a violation of Total Depravity or a violation of their statement, “We must meet the condition of faith in Christ in order to inherit eternal life.”) (Remember, in Unconditional Election our faith is the fruit of God’s election so in effect we don’t meet any condition, God meets the conditions.)

D) Eventually this person comes to faith, a faith they can not resist, because of God’s effectual call and election. When this person finally, and eventually, comes to saving faith he is not doing anything good, because salvation has its beginning and ending in God and not man.

Are you confused yet? In Calvinism, prior to the act of salvation, the entire race of man is totally depraved, even the elect. The elect may gain in their knowledge and understanding of God, and the salvation available through Jesus Christ, but this is not considered a good act because of Total Depravity.

The second half to the position of Unconditional Election is the belief of Reprobation. (John Piper’s sixth point of Calvinism) Reprobation is the logical understanding coming from the idea that since God elected some to salvation and Heaven, then those unelected are “elected” to be forever lost and burn in Hell.

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) in Chapter 10, article IV says it this way: “Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word, and may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet they never truly come to Christ, and therefore can not be saved: …” (Chapter 10, Article IV)

The Westminster Confession of Faith also states: “Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit, who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth.” (Chapter 10, Article III) This recognizes the effect of being elected prior to birth means some infants, dying while an infant, are elected to Heaven while the rest are elected to burn in Hell. This is a painfully sad misunderstanding of God and the Scriptures.

This stands in stark contrast to the Word of God in several verses:

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Peter 3:9

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Titus 2:11

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:15-17

Finally, if Unconditional Election is taught by God’s Word as the Calvinist describes, how can one make his election either more or less sure as in 2 Peter 1:10-11? Or what about Romans 4:13 or 10:1-15?

In Calvinism these passages make no sense.

God’s Salvation is available to all. God does call people, draw people and choose people to be saved, but the choice takes place after man calls on the Lord. How else could 1Timothy 2:4 be true when it says, “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Total Depravity – The T of “TULIP”

What the Calvinist says about Total Depravity: (Taken from: http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1985/1487_What_We_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/#Grace)

Human Depravity Is Total in at Least Five Senses

1) Depravity affects every human.

2) Our rebellion or hardness against God is total, that is, apart from the grace of God
there is no delight in the holiness of God, and there is no glad submission to the
sovereign authority of God.

3) In his total rebellion everything man does is sin.

4) Man’s inability to submit to God and do good is total.

5) Our rebellion is totally deserving of eternal punishment.

It is hard to exaggerate the importance of admitting our condition to be this bad. If we think of ourselves as basically good or even less than totally at odds with God, our grasp of the work of God in redemption will be defective. But if we humble ourselves under this terrible truth of our total depravity, we will be in a position to see and appreciate the glory and wonder of the work of God discussed in the next four points.

Calvinists use a variety of Scripture to support each of these five points. Since we know God’s Word is true, if these points are properly interpreting Scripture, there should be no contradiction with Scripture found in other places, as long as they are interpreted properly.

Genesis 3:6-23 tells us about sin entering the world and the punishment of sin. Look closely at the events of that day:

First, Man and Woman were created without a sinful, fallen nature. According to the Calvinist, once sin happened, Man and Woman were “Totally Depraved”. Now examine closely what happened when man was in his “Totally Depraved” state.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

I am not claiming Adam after he sinned was still sinless. I am only asking for a fair evaluation of the facts. Although Adam sinned he: 1) Covered his nakedness; 2) Recognized God’s voice; 3) Did not ignore his sinful status; 4) Obediently answered God’s question; and 5) Feared God’s consequences.

I understand Adam used inappropriate materials (fig leaves) for his covering, but he still committed an act that God also did. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21 Also take into consideration, God never corrected Man for making clothing.

Ignoring all Adam’s other actions, and focusing in on this one act, the making of clothing, was this action sin? Was it an act of “total rebellion”? Was man unable to do any good? Did this action totally deserve eternal punishment?

Additionally, take into account the fact God did the exact same action, make clothing, for Man and Woman. Consider also man’s need to make future garments. When Man made a garment for his children, was this a sinful act or not? According to the Scriptures, man would have made future clothing without being specifically commanded to do so by God.

To better understand what happened, think about this: God created man as a three-part being. God made man with a body, a mind, and a soul. The body is the physical, the mind is the cognitive, and the soul is spiritual. All of these parts constitute one being and all were made in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-31; 2:7; 2:15-25)

God told Adam: “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17

When man ate of the fruit, man immediately died. Did man’s body die? No, not instantly. Did man’s mind die? No, he could still think. It was man’s soul that died and then needed to be born again.

Man’s sin did not erase the image of God found in man’s mind. This is not only confirmed by the events surrounding the day of man’s first sin, but by Paul in Romans.

Romans 1:19-21 says, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

Does this passage support item number 3: “In his total rebellion everything man does is sin.” No. Does it support item number 4: “Man’s inability to submit to God and do good is total.” No. Is Total Depravity supported by the entire Word of God? NO!

Remember, we must allow the Calvinists to define their own terms. What would be the benefit of everyone having their own definition of “Total Depravity”? We must allow the definition of the entire TULIP to have its origin in the Calvinist camp.

Before you quickly label me an Arminian let me say, they are equally in contradiction with many biblical doctrines. I reject the Arminian position of “Natural Ability” as much as I reject Total Depravity. As I will explain in future articles, I am neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian.

Until next time – Keep Studying Scripture!

Your Future (Part4 - What do we do?)

In this fourth and final part of this article, we are looking at what this means for Christians today? Should a Christian be implanted with an RFID device? If a Christian is implanted before the establishment of a world government, are they accepting the mark of the beast? What does the use of RFID say about the nearness of the rapture?

So here we are: RFID tags, RFID ink, RFID implants, RFID tattoos, WiFi antennas, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses, Biometric Identification, what do these changes mean for Christians and the church? The church of the future will be very different from the churches we see today. Christians, authentic Christians, will behave differently than they do today. Please keep in mind, we are venturing into the area of things on a very practical and personal level. I will share my ideas and opinions but they are in no way intended to provide legal or medical advice. I share with you my opinion on these matters, but it in no way is to be considered an edict or a commandment.

It is entirely possible a Christian will be required to carry an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL). When the need arises, I see no issues with carrying and using one. I fully expect to use biometrics, like a fingerprint, for identification and personal information access. I may also, one day, carry a card with an RFID chip or ink, for purchasing items or for identification. I have already been fingerprinted and I have identification linked to them through my service in the US Army. There are churches today using fingerprints as a way to check in or register children and for giving. For me, these too pose no threat.

I draw the line on the insertion, or the tattooing, of an identifier either under or on my skin, for any purpose. It is one thing when a hospital places an RFID band on my wrist, it is another thing when they want to implant an RFID chip under my skin, or tattoo a RFID code on my skin. Yes, I know we do not have the one world government in place. Yes, I know the Beast is not the ruler of the world, at this time.

I also know the solemn warning from Revelation 14:9-11: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

I hate Satan, the False Prophet and the Beast and I refuse to receive anything into my skin that might cause someone else to think I support the mark of the Beast. One day my doctor may say I have to be implanted to monitor a health issue. He may also say if I do not consent to being implanted I can not be covered by my health insurance. I have already determined not to have anything implanted in me or tattooed on me resembling the mark of the Beast, no matter the cost, period.

Our lives will be changed by the use of RFID and biometric scanning. Many of our purchases will become more convenient and our lives simplified. All of our credit, debit and identification cards will be reduced to just one card. I understand some of this must happen. I imagine someone with the right understanding could make money from buying stocks in companies supporting the Beast. I have determined to avoid financial involvement in stocks, like biotech, helping to develop the mark of the Beast. I don’t invest in or support RFID ink companies, RFID chip companies or donate to non-profit groups supporting implanting RFID chips into humans. As much as possible, I don’t want to help the world system prepare for the one world government or one world religion.

Not only will we be living in a different world, but we will be attending a different church. The authentic church, may find a greater advantage without tax exemption. It is likely the church of tomorrow will forfeit their tax exempt status in order to continue preaching the Bible. We know the government will determine many parts of the Bible to be “hate speech,” they already do. Teaching state defined “hate speech” from the pulpit, will engage stiff penalties. Church members will no longer be allowed a tax deduction for giving to an unauthorized church. I expect many so-called Christians will not give if they can’t take the deduction.

The authentic church may function without owning property. Their members will personally own many of the items and allow them to be used by the church for ministry. There is a distinct advantage to the lack of church owned property. If the church owns nothing, the state will find it hard to seize it. “Church” will once again be defined by the assembly of believers and not the address of the building. A church will identify who you are and not where you go on a certain day.

Authentic church members will become engaged in the ministry on a personal level. No longer will church membership be defined as a name on a list or by a place in a pew. The authentic will have no fear to engage church discipline for unrighteous behavior. If someone is looking for entertainment they will be attending the government approved churches along with the unrepentant abortionists, homosexuals and whoremongers.

Notice how Jesus shows a transition in Matthew 24:7-9. In verse 7 Jesus says nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Then in verse 9 all the nations are together. No longer are they warring with each other, now they have a common enemy – The Christian. Jesus said, “and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.” The hate will come from governments and society at large.

Society will push authentic, sin hating, Christ honoring, neighbor loving Christians into the classification of terrorist. Not because of any radical actions, but because of “radical” beliefs. Beliefs that say Jesus is the only way to God, all other belief systems are wrong, the Bible is God’s Holy Word, sin is wrong, and salvation requires repentance will be labeled as dangerous and destructive. The teaching of these values will ultimately lead the state to remove children from a Christian home.

As we watch government try to “fix” society by buying parts of the major banks and businesses, we must wonder what the cost will be in the future. Government never gives money without strings being attached. Government money leads to government control. We are journeying ever closer to a one world government, just as God said in the Bible.

It won’t be long until we see the unity of governments and commerce into one, and the unity of religion into one, but also the marriage of religion to government. Remember, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 tells us the one world ruler will sit in the Temple of God and be worshipped as God. Even now our world is preparing for that day. Maranatha!

How Bad is the Economy? Really.

The news of our terrible economy is everywhere. The economy is in such terrible shape some are even saying we are in a “free fall”. If you believe the reports, you might think millions of people are loosing their homes and jobs and dying of starvation in America. The hype started when President Bush was in office, and now, as of this writing, President Obama has declared there are “glimmers of hope” now visible. So how bad did it get? How bad is it?

I am not ignoring the Americans who have lost their jobs, but Americans are always loosing their jobs. Remember when we have a 5% unemployment rate we must also have a 95% EMPLOYMENT rate. If you examine the 5% called the unemployed you will find the temporary unemployed moving from one position to another. You also find people “working the system” who intentionally work just long enough to receive unemployment benefits.

Additionally there are those who are “looking for a job” of course only in those pay levels of an acceptable range. These people are not satisfied with a job, they want a specific job with a specific amount of benefits and a specific type of benefits. If you count only those who really want to work and really can’t find a job, the numbers go down significantly.

Now, back to the economy, I do not evaluate the economy by the newspapers, TV or even by the internet. I don’t like to have people tell me how bad it is, I want to see it for myself. I use a few practical gauges found in the way people spend money and the way companies price their merchandise.

First, I look at how the restaurants are doing. How many restaurants have customers? In the great depression, the REAL depression, people did not go out to eat, because they had little or no disposable income. What do the restaurants of today show about the economy? When was the last time you went out to eat? When was the last time you found an empty restaurant? We have found just the opposite. When we have gone out to eat, we never find an empty restaurant, to the contrary, we have had to wait over an hour to get a seat on a Friday or a Saturday. Does this sound like a distressed economy to you?

What about places like the Disney parks complex, Sea World parks, water parks and amusement parks? See any of them shutting down, limiting hours, laying off workers (except for seasonal people)? What amusement parks have closed during the “recession”? How many amusement parks were full during the Real depression? How many were even open? Still think we have a distressed economy?

I also like to look at how many people are customers of cable television, cell phones and internet companies. It seems strange how people, in our suffering economy are still able to afford cable TV, cell phones and the internet, even when there are ways to avoid the use of these items. Any cell phone companies going out of business? How about cable TV companies? Any internet providers closing their doors? Oh sure, there are claims of reduced PROFITS, but a profit, any profit, shows they are paying all their bills, people and costs and still have money left over.

So if the economy is not really so bad, why are so many sources saying it is? Is there a conspiracy? Is it a right-wing conspiracy or a left-wing conspiracy? I submit to you it is a conspiracy of a higher order. We are warned in Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Yes, there is a conspiracy to move the world away from Christ and toward the satanic goals of satanic rulers.

What is one of their satanic goals? Money. Remember the instruction of God’s Word in 1Timothy 6:8-10: “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Then in verse 11 of the same passage we read: “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” Jesus in Matthew 6:24 said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

In 2Peter 2:1-2 we are warned, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

This may leave some of you saying, “Yeah, so what?” But notice now the next verse: “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” A newer version says it this way: “In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake!”

Notice how the world media drives the economy through fear. By fear people give up freedoms given by God. Through fear people invest, or refrain from investing. Fear is the overall motivational force driving our economy. Second only to fear is greed. The greed of man is only limited when his fear stands in the way.

But fear and greed are not the ways of God’s Kingdom. We walk in the ways of love and we know perfect love casts out fear as it says in 1John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Do you fear the news reports, the “economic turmoil” or the government? Are you gathering guns and ammunition for a war only won by the power of God? Do you find comfort knowing our King promised us, “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:31.

Have you forgotten the provision promised in Matthew 6:26, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

Provision or no, the command from our King is clear: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. If you believe it, talk like you believe it, live like you believe it.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Ephesians 4:11-15

Jesus is Jehovah (A Reply to Daniel's Comment)

I appreciate the comments people leave on this blog. Thank you, Daniel, for your patients as you waited for this reply. When you leave a comment, it comes to my email and, if it represents an authentic question, I will respond. Many times the author is “anonymous” and the comment is meant to attack. I read those and add them to the long list of unpublished comments.

At other times I get a comment from a real person who have enough courage to leave their name and have enough interest to post an authentic issue. Such is the case of Daniel from Nevada. Just for your information, I am using Daniel’s name because he gave it and it may or may not reflect his true identity.

Here is Daniel’s comment to my Open Letter to Jehovah's Witnesses, “Rev. 3:12 “‘The one that conquers—I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will by no means go out [from it] anymore, and I will write upon him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which descends out of heaven from my God, and that new name of mine.” Please tell me how someone who has a God can be The Almighty God?

I am sure if we could talk face to face, we would agree there is only one God. You might think it strange, but I do not believe in many Gods and yet I believe Jesus is Jehovah. I know this can be as difficult to understand, but please allow the Scriptures to testify the truth to you.

How can this be? How can both Jesus and God be one God? Jesus let us in on this understanding in Matthew 22:41-45. “Now while the Pharisees were gathered together Jesus asked them: 42 “What do YOU think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him: “David’s.” 43 He said to them: “How, then, is it that David by inspiration calls him ‘Lord,’ saying, 44 ‘Jehovah said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet”’? 45 If, therefore, David calls him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?” 46 And nobody was able to say a word in reply to him, nor did anyone dare from that day on to question him any further.”

Notice the words Lord and Jehovah. In the Greek New Testament Jesus used the exact same Greek word, kurios. It is interesting that Jesus would use this one word when quoting the Old Testament passage found in Psalm 110:1. In the Hebrew, this passage uses two different words, YHWH (Jehovah) and Adon.

Jesus quoted the Old Testament passage accurately because there is no record of the Pharisees correcting the quote. To say both “Lord” subjects are not the same is to say David worshipped someone other than God. Since Jesus used only one word, it makes the first LORD and the second Lord the same person.

Here is another issue to consider, look at the names for this baby in Isaiah 9:6: “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Again you are left with the question, “Who is Jesus?” If Jesus is a man or an angel, how could He be both the Mighty God and the Eternal Father? Those terms are only used for Jehovah. If those terms are used independently for Jesus and Jehovah then we have two Gods. We both don’t believe that one. Since there is only one God, there is just one way to make them both true. Jesus is Jehovah.

We know Jehovah God is Omniscient because of Psalm 139:4, “For there is not a word on my tongue,But, look! O Jehovah, you already know it all.” Notice how this compares to John 2:24-25: “But Jesus himself was not entrusting himself to them because of his knowing them all and because he was in no need to have anyone bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.” Since only Jehovah is Omniscient and Jesus is Omniscient then Jesus is Jehovah. No man or angel could claim such knowledge.

We also know Jehovah God is Omnipresent because of Psalm 139:7-10: “Where can I go from your spirit,And where can I run away from your face? If I should ascend to heaven, there you would be; And if I should spread out my couch in She´ol, look! you [would be there]. Were I to take the wings of the dawn, That I might reside in the most remote sea, There, also, your own hand would lead me And your right hand would lay hold of me.” Compare this with the claims of Jesus in Matthew 18:20: “For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst.” No man or angel could ever make this claim, only Jehovah.

Also notice how Jesus demonstrated this power in John 1:47-49: “Jesus saw Na·than´a·el coming toward him and said about him: “See, an Israelite for a certainty, in whom there is no deceit.” Na·than´a·el said to him: “How does it come that you know me?” Jesus in answer said to him: “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Na·than´a·el answered him: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are King of Israel.” Neither men nor angels can be everywhere at the same time. The only way for this to be true is for Jesus to be Jehovah.

Jesus was either really was Jehovah as the name Immanuel claims (Matthew 1:23) or Jesus and Thomas were both in error in John 20:28-29 where it says, “In answer Thomas said to him: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe.”” If Jesus is not Jehovah, Thomas was wrong to worship Him and Jesus would have been wrong for accepting his worship.

Notice what happened when John tried to worship an angel in Revelation22:8-9, “Well, I John was the one hearing and seeing these things. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel that had been showing me these things. But he tells me: “Be careful! Do not do that! All I am is a fellow slave of you and of your brothers who are prophets and of those who are observing the words of this scroll. Worship God.”” Only Jehovah is to be worshipped and yet Thomas called Jesus his God and Jesus accepted this title. The only way for Jesus to be right is for Jesus to be Jehovah.

Now to your question: You asked, “Please tell me how someone who has a God can be The Almighty God?” Since we know there is only one God, we must also understand the passages above do not stand in opposition to there only being one God. God is a being unlike man and unlike angels. It is impossible to completely describe God with human wisdom or human language.

It would be like trying to describe color to a blind man, or the perfect pitch of the middle C to a deaf man. Even a greater challenge would be to explain how to build a rocket ship to a monkey. Imagine God explaining how He makes an acorn grow into a huge oak tree. Paul was correct in Romans 11:33-34, “O the depth of God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments [are] and past tracing out his ways [are]! For “who has come to know Jehovah’s mind, or who has become his counselor?””

With that understanding in mind, we know there are some things about God we don’t understand. How can we truly understand Omniscience or Omnipresence. I don’t even understand how an Omniscient God fits with this passage in Genesis 2:19, “Now Jehovah God was forming from the ground every wild beast of the field and every flying creature of the heavens, and he began bringing them to the man to see what he would call each one; and whatever the man would call it, each living soul, that was its name.” Notice Jehovah God brought the animals to man, “to see what he would call each one.” This seems to say Jehovah was not Omniscient but that would be a wrong understanding of this passage.

Just as Jehovah God is the Father God so too is The Son of God, Jehovah God. That is how Jesus could make this claim in John 10:29-30, “What my Father has given me is something greater than all other things, and no one can snatch them out of the hand of the Father. I and the Father are one.”” Notice the response of his hearers in verse 33, “The Jews answered him: “We are stoning you, not for a fine work, but for blasphemy, even because you, although being a man, make yourself a god.”” This is one place the NWT is confusing. The Jews would have been stoning Jesus for claiming to be Jehovah. That is what blasphemy means. To claim you are “a god” is bad enough but not blasphemy like claiming to be The God.

This claim in John 10 lines up with Jesus’ claim in John 5:17-18, “But he answered them: “My Father has kept working until now, and I keep working.” On this account, indeed, the Jews began seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath but he was also calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God.” So every time Jesus claimed to be the Son of God He was claiming to be equal with God. Either Jesus just made several mistakes or Jesus knew what He was doing. Since He knew what He was doing, Jesus was claiming to be Jehovah because Jesus is Jehovah.

Jesus can have a “Theos” just as the Father Jehovah can have a Son, Jesus. How can someone who has a God be The Almighty God? The same way the Father and the Son are one. The same way Jesus can be Omnipresent. The same way Jesus can be Omniscient. The same way saying God is your Father is making you equal with God. Can we fully comprehend God? Never, but we can know Jesus is Jehovah.

Illegal Interpreting

A woman interprets the worship music at a local church. She is an uncertified and unlicensed volunteer communicating the gospel in song. Just before she sits down, government agents from the state arrest her for “Interpreting Without a License.” In another church, a Deaf man stands to preach. He opens the Word of God and starts communicating the Scripture into ASL. Just as he finishes, government agents approach the platform and place him under arrest. The charge? “Interpreting Without a License.” Sounds extreme? If the interpreting laws in the state of Missouri are enforced as they are written, these scenarios might become headlines.

Additionally, law makers and law enforcement will need to examine if churches in Missouri are an unwitting accomplice to illegal interpreting? Many people, including interpreters for the deaf, do not realize the state has decreed, “Interpreting for the deaf is a regulated profession in Missouri.” So says Pamela Groose, Executive Director, State Committee of Interpreters, a state government agency employee responsible for overseeing the regulation and licensing of interpreters.

When Groose says regulated, she’s not kidding. Violating the state interpreting laws is a Class A misdemeanor, and the convicted offender faces up to one year in jail. Groose refers to the Missouri Code of State Regulations (http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/5csr/5c100-200.pdf) listing many specific events requiring a specific type of certification, and licensing, to interpret in the listed situations.

There are no exceptions or exclusions in the law for churches, church related volunteers or religious content. According to Jennifer J. Thompson, MICS Coordinator, Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, “The Skill Level Standards does not specify "church" as a setting.” The implication says churches are included in the regulation.

Thompson continues, “There are many different situations at church, and you would need to make sure you are not putting yourself in a situation that falls under another area in the Skill Level Standards that you may or may not competent to work in.” The Skill Level Standards are found in 5 CSR 100-200.170

Some of the events requiring a licensed and certified interpreter are: (my commentary in parenthesis)

8J1 Any program for the education or rehabilitation of inmates in a correctional system. (no exception for Bible training or religious services)

9D1 Any self-help program relating to health/well-being (no exception for volunteers at a Crisis Pregnancy Center)

10B5 Offices and clinics of counselors (no exception for pastoral counseling)

11A-C Any School program Preschool – Grade 12 (no exception at Christian Schools)

11G1-4 Any Professional Development Conference, Seminar, Workshop or Training (no exception for Bible training delivered by a church to deaf pastors)

11H1 Any program or activity offered by schools, colleges or universities in the community that promotes learning. (no exception for religious programs)

14C3 Public Meeting of Individuals meeting with a public official (no exception for a public official speaking / preaching at a church service)

15A-B Unrehearsed or Rehearsed performances including Theaters, Concerts, Comedy Shows, Magic Shows, “Any type of stage performance” (no exceptions for events as a part of a worship service)

15C1-11 Social Activities including: Festivals, Fairs, Sports Leagues, Recitals, Camps, “Any type of activity for entertainment purposes only” (no exceptions for evangelistic events)

It seems as if a church is offering the counseling, hosting a Bible conference, has a Christian music concert or “Any type of stage performance,” the interpreter must be appropriately licensed and certified. There is no expressed permission given to minister as an interpreter unless the person has current and valid licensing and certification.

Missouri Revised Statutes 209.285(15) defines "Interpreting", as, “the translating of English spoken or written concepts to any necessary specialized vocabulary used by a deaf person or the translating of a deaf person's specialized vocabulary to English spoken or written concepts; provided that a telecommunications operator providing deaf relay service or a person providing operator services for the deaf shall not be considered to be interpreting.”

If the state chooses to enforce the strictest interpretation of this law, a Deaf pastor could be violating the law when “translating” the written English of the Bible into American Sign Language. If a person knows sign language and reads a tract to a deaf person, it could be defined by the state as “interpreting.”

Another interesting twist to this law is found when the interpreting is done as a part of the relay service. According to this statute, a doctor is talking to his deaf patient over the relay service would not constitute interpreting, but “Bo-bo the Clown” would need a certified and licensed interpreter at a deaf party. This is utterly ridiculous!

In addition to those events listed, Groose explained: “If a setting is not described the MICS skill level settings (5 CSR 100-200.170), an interpreter must limit his or her practice to areas of demonstrated competence, as documented by relevant professional education, training, experience and certification. 209.321.3 RSMo.” Pay attention she said, “…as documented by professional education, training, experience AND certification” which requires ALL of the conditions to be met.

Notice, if a specific setting is not mentioned in 5 CSR 100-200.170, an interpreter “must limit their practice” to areas of demonstrated competence as documented by certification. There are no exclusions or exceptions for churches as Groose and Thompson seem to be saying.

Remember the Deaf pastor “interpreting” Bible verses from English into Sign Language? According to the explanation given by Groose and Thompson, the definition of interpreting could include the regulation of a preacher preaching in Sign Language. Under this understanding of the law, preachers preaching in Sign Language would have to be licensed and certified by the State of Missouri as an interpreter.

The views of Groose and Thompson seem to take a narrow interpretation of Title 20 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, Division 2232, 3.010. Paragraph 4 does not consider a person to be interpreting if “in a casual setting” a person is acting as an interpreter “gratuitously,” or if the interpreting is “incidental to traveling.” Subparagraph A defines a casual setting as, “any event in which the sole purpose of communication is social or family intersection and at which no decision are made with long-term effects of a legal, financial, or medical nature.” (This information is found at: http://www.sos.mo.gov/adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c2232-3.pdf) In reality, spiritual decisions made at a church sponsored event have not just long-term effects, but eternal effects.

This section appears to exclude certain activities from being classified as interpreting, but the church, and religious content, are not specifically mentioned as exclusions. Is the sole purpose of communication in a church considered social? Is a church a “casual setting” where a volunteer is interpreting “gratuitously?” The pastor “interpreting” a passage from an English Bible is “paid” to deliver the sermon. Is this illegal interpreting?

In other states, extremely gifted and skilled, but uncertified and unlicensed interpreters are permitted to interpret. They know certification and licensing does not guarantee competency. There are deaf people in the state of Missouri claiming they have been serviced by certified, licensed and yet incompetent interpreters. Are the laws regulating the profession of interpreting robbing deaf people of greater access to information? Is the state of Missouri preventing deaf people from greater access to the gospel and to the Bible? How can the state regulate a church’s ministry of interpreting for the deaf?

According to Groose, the way to find out if someone is in violation of the state interpreting laws is to turn them in. Groose advises, “If someone believes that a violation of interpreter law is occurring or has occurred, they should file a complaint that and the Committee will investigate. After the facts are established by the investigation, the Committee will carefully consider all of the circumstances in determining how to proceed.” Is this how we determine the illegalities of an action?

According to information gathered from Gallaudet University, Missouri is currently (2008) home to approximately 13,438 deaf people or .23% of our total population. Most of these deaf people communicate with some form of Sign Language. That would make Sign Language the fourth most used foreign language in the state right behind Spanish (1.16%), German (.63%), and French (.39%). Of all the foreign languages in the state, Sign Language is the only one requiring licensing and certification.

If you live in Missouri, please write your state legislator and do what you can to change the interpreting laws and free the deaf population. Write letters and make your voice known or it won’t be long until it will be illegal to evangelize the deaf residents of Missouri with the gospel.

If you do not live in Missouri, check your state laws and examine how they are written. Are only “certified” interpreters available for deaf people, or are deaf people allowed the freedom to also choose qualified interpreters? Be aware of what is happening or the Deaf Christian may become an “endangered species.”

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer nor am I attempting to act as a lawyer. This article does not attempt to interpret law. I am explaining the content of emails sent to me and I am asking questions about unclear information. Should you need any legal advice, or legal comment, please consult a lawyer. No legal decision should be based solely on the content of this article.

The above article was written as a collection of information available from the internet and personal emails between Angela Graves, Jennifer J. Thompson, Pamela Groose, and Gov. Matt Blunt’s office. I have the originals available. If you would like to see a copy of the original emails just send me a request through my email or by leaving a comment. I have had no further communication from anyone in government changing any of this information.

Twenty Answers About Deaf Culture

Well, I guess it is time to let you in on the answers. Since there are several answers you will not expect, I will also put some reference information to help show you that I’m not just making this stuff up. If you want to see the quiz without the answers, go here: http://theundershepherdsobservations.blogspot.com/2008/05/twenty-questions-about-deaf-culture.html


1) Current authors about Deaf culture say, the Bible teaches Deaf people can’t be saved because they can’t hear.

TRUE
Unsaved modern writers want to make Christians and the Bible look like a bunch of illogical, illiterate idiots. Such is the case of James Roots who in his book “The Politics of Visual Language: Deafness, Language Choice and Political Socialization” written in 2000 said, “The Bible declares repeatedly that a person must hear the word of the Lord, and that faith in Jesus will “open the ears of the deaf and the mouths of the dumb”. Saint Paul stated that “Faith comes through hearing the Word of God” (Romans 10), which Saint Augustine influentially interpreted literally to mean that “This impairment [i.e., deafness] prevents faith” (Contra Julianum Pleagianum, 3, 10).
Notice how, in this statement, he does not use God’s Word to define the error in what Saint Augustine said. He used Saint Augustine to redefine Scripture. In this one statement he does three things: He impugns the omniscience of God, he maligns the authority and accuracy of Scripture, and he implies Christians still think this way. If only he knew a few Deaf Christians he would know the “hearing” spoken about in this passage is the hearing of the heart and not the hearing of the ear.

2) Currently there are no books that teach Christians still believe all Deafness is the result of sin.

FALSE
Michael J. Hoggatt wrote “Moving to the Manger: A Journey from Exclusion to Inclusion” in 2008 and he said, “The idea that one’s disability is the result of sin has been proven time and time again to be a ridiculous notion; however, it seems that many in the church still cling to this belief despite the overwhelming evidence against it.” He then did go on to say a Godly person living with a disability could prove this to be ludicrous.
Thank you Mr. Hoggatt for perpetuating myths about people “in the church.” The true church is a gathering of saved believers living in the love and wisdom of Christ. Mr. Hoggatt makes no distinction between the unsaved thinking they are the church and the real church members.


3) Many years ago all school interpreters believed the Bible.

TRUE
Here is where you can get half credit for an unclear question. I should have qualified this statement by saying, “Many years ago all school interpreters in America believed the Bible.” How can I make this statement? Remember back when Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet returned to America from Paris to establish a school for the deaf in Hartford, CT? At that time there were no school interpreters for the deaf. It was the Reverend Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet interpreting for Laurent Clerc serving as the first school interpreter.
It is also not hard to imagine that every interpreter in the Hartford school believed the Bible. Why? Rev. Gallaudet established the school to be the “gate of heaven” for the deaf children. His goal was to instruct the deaf children about the, “the immortality of their souls, of their accountability to God, of their future state of being, of the destinies which await them, of the corruption of their own hearts, of the necessity of repentance toward God, and of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ”.


4) Two Christians brought an organized signed language to America for the purpose of evangelizing the Deaf community.

TRUE
Both Rev. Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc were very open about their faith in Jesus Christ and their desire to reach the deaf community in America with the gospel. One good source is Laurent Clerc’s journal he maintained about the voyage from France to America called “The Diary of Laurent Clerc's Voyage from France to America in 1816.” This can be viewed at: http://www.disabilitymuseum.org/lib/docs/687.htm


5) The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf prohibits Christian Interpreters from using the Biblical model of correction before using the RID Ethical Practices System.

FALSE
The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf encourages any person, “involved in a complaint situation to make every effort to resolve the conflict without implementing the EPS, when possible.” So even RID certified interpreters can feel free to engage the biblical model for correction taught by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17.


6) There is a Christian Member Section in the RID.

FALSE(See comment on number 7)

7) There is a Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, and Transgendered Member Section in the RID.

TRUE
As of this writing (February 24, 2009) the only member sections in the RID are: Deaf Caucus, Interpreters in Educational and Instructional Settings, Interpreters in Legal and Court Settings, Interpreters with Deaf Parents, Interpreters for the Deaf-Blind, Interpreter Service Managers, Interpreters and Transliterators of Color, Video Interpreter, and the Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, Transgendered Interpreters/Transliterators. There are no Member sections to advance the cause of Christ in the RID. What does this say about Christian members of the RID?


8) Alexander Graham Bell would permit the use of the Rochester Method of sign language for people who were completely deaf.

TRUE
Alexander Graham Bell was a student of sign language for a while. He desired to make English the “native language” for the deaf community. You will find it interesting to read: “The Question of Sign-Language and the Utility of Signs;” 1898; by Alexander Graham Bell. Found here: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/magbell:@field(DOCID+@lit(magbell37600801))


9) Alexander Graham Bell believed Darwinian Evolution and not the Bible.

TRUE
In a letter to his parents dated January 27, 1873 A.G. Bell said: “Geology has shown us that the scriptural account of the Creation cannot be taken in a literal sense. To me it is infinitely more reasonable to suppose that Man is lineally descended from a monkey, than that he was moulded out of a piece of dirt!”
Bell was an avid reader of Darwin and even advised others to consider Darwin’s writings.


10) Alexander Graham Bell encouraged deaf people to marry deaf people.

FALSE
Bell misunderstood genetics and followed the teaching and logic of Charles Darwin. This lead him to write "Upon the Formation of a Deaf Variety of the Human Race" in 1884. This fear also caused him to be opposed to residential deaf schools, deaf clubs and all deaf social events because it might lead to deaf people marrying deaf people. He applied the ideas of natural selection to the offspring of the deaf parents and thought it would cause a “deaf race” of people.


11) William (Bill) Stokoe is the “Father” of the Cultural View of Deafness.

TRUE
The cultural view of deafness is also called the anthropological view. Is there anyone familiar with Bill Stokoe who would doubt this? Of course not.


12) William (Bill) Stokoe believed the Bible and not Darwinian Evolution.

FALSE
Just like Bell, Stokoe believed in the Darwinian view of Evolution. In “The Study of Signed Languages: Essays in Honor of William C. Stokoe” Douglas C. Baynton said, “Darwin convincingly demonstrated that humans shared many expressions in common with animals, and that the origins of human expression were to be found in their animal ancestors. In short, facial expression was no longer distinctly human, but, like gesture, a mere vestige of our animal past.” Found at: http://books.google.com/books?id=Pc-Rcg2-L0UC&printsec=frontcover#PPA28,M1
Stokoe supported Darwin in his book, “Language in hand: why sign came before speech, By William C. Stokoe” found at http://books.google.com/books?id=ME_64lsKO3kC&printsec=frontcover#PPA22,M1;
Anyone reading the Bible would clearly understand that speech came before sign. Unless of course, you count God placing man in the Garden as “sign language.”


13) Deaf people should focus on evangelizing and teaching deaf people and hearing people should focus on evangelizing and teaching hearing people.

FALSE
Although we each have our areas of comfort and skill, every Christian is ordered to preach the gospel to EVERY creature across the whole earth. Deaf Christians are just as required to reach hearing people as are hearing Christians to reach deaf people.


14) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet changed his mind and did not become a preacher so he could educate deaf children.

FALSE
It was the Rev. Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet that preached in America before going to learn Sign Language, preached on the ship going to England, preached in England and in France while learning Sign Language, preached on the ship coming home from France, preached while supervising the Hartford School, became a missionary to the west after the Hartford School, and became a Chaplain for longer than he served at the Hartford School.


15) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet’s goal for his school was to lead deaf children to Christ.

TRUE
(See the note on number 3.)


16) After leaving his School for the Deaf in Hartford, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet became the chaplain of an insane asylum.

TRUE

See the “Life of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet: Founder of Deaf-mute Instruction in America” by Edward M. Gallaudet at: http://books.google.com/books?id=xCciAAAAMAAJ&printsec=toc#PPA189,M1 and “Tribute to Gallaudet: A Discourse in Commemoration of the Life, Character and Services of the Rev. Thomas H. Gallaudet, LL. D.” by Henry Barnard at: http://books.google.com/books?id=rxkFAAAAYAAJ&printsec=titlepage#PPA117,M1


17) There are two philosophies about deafness: Pathological and Cultural.

FALSE
Did you forget about the Biblical view of Deafness? Both the Pathological and the Cultural (Anthropological) view of deafness find their basis in Darwinian Evolution. Only the Biblical view is founded on the Creator’s wisdom.


18) Deaf people should learn to read, write and speak English.

TRUE
Of course they should. How else will they reach unsaved hearing people? Even Laurent Clerc learned to write proper English so he could be understood. In fact Christians should learn as many languages as possible to reach as many people as possible.


19) God will judge deaf people differently than hearing people.

FALSE
We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and answer for what we have done. The scriptures never give special permission to any group to sin. Holiness is required of everyone.


20) Non-Christian teachers teach lies to Christian Interpreters to use them for financial gain.

TRUE
2 Peter 2:2-3 says, “Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth. In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake!”


Well, how did you do? Do you know deaf culture and deaf history as well as you thought you did? Here are the grades: 0-2 wrong = A; 3-4 wrong = B; 5-6 wrong = C; 7 or more wrong = You need to study your deaf culture!

I will be a guest speaker at the Missouri Baptist Conference of the Deaf on March 13-15, 2009; at the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association building; 3859 Fee Fee Road, Bridgeton, MO. I will be preaching the evening message on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. I will also be teaching a workshop during the day. Come and join us.

Registration costs $75 per person, $125 per family. (Family means with or without children. A couple will be $125.00) If you want to attend part-time the cost is $30 per session. No charge for Sunday activities and worship. $10 for youth to age 21. Be aware that $20.00 of the registration fee is non-refundable. You can make your check or money order payable to: MO Baptist Conference of the Deaf and send it to: Friendship Baptist Chapel of the Deaf, 9125 Manchester, St. Louis, MO 63144

Your Future (Part 3 - The Beast's Mark?)

Previously we explored the real reason the government wants the analog TV frequencies. This month we will look at the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and just a little of what it can do. I gave a short lesson about RFID last month. I explained how the RFID chip broadcasts information, like a tiny radio station. If a computer antenna (WiFi receiver) is tuned to the right frequency, the computer can “read” the information on the chip. The RFID chip only has to transmit a number and the computer can match the number with a file of information.

RFID chips are currently used to track a variety of assets. Chips are not the only way RFID is used, the Somark Corporation makes an ink from a metal base. This metallic ink works like an RFID chip and transmits a number to a WiFi receiver when activated. RFID ink tattoos are being used on ranches and farms to manage cattle and other livestock. This special ink can be printed on a label, activated and read just like a chip. These RFID labels are being used in retail stores and by the military to manage and track their assets. (fyi – An “asset” in the military may also include people.)

Currently RFID, either by ink or by chip, is being used in to identify people. Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDL) containing RFID are being used near the Canadian and Mexican borders to speed the process of crossing the border. Travelers may also choose to apply for a driver’s license sized plastic Passport Card from the State Department that also contains an RFID transmitter.

In Texas, and in other states, EDL s are being merged with the owner’s bank account. Some Wal-Mart owned gas stations in Texas offer a special discount to customers purchasing fuel with their EDL. Very soon all your banking cards, identification cards and licenses will be contained on one card. This will be the first step toward human implanted identification and we have already started the moving that way.

As these RFID numbers pass by a scanner, inventory is immediately taken of every item, even if it is in a bag, a box or even a pocket. The scanner reads what items are being purchased and also reads the RFID in the Enhanced Driver’s License without having to take it out of your pocket or purse. Instantly your primary bank account is charged the cost of the items you removed from the store.

People using an RFID EDL card for their purchases will be given special treatment. They will be mailed “members only” discount coupons and special offers. They will have exclusive access to “fast” checkout lanes and skip waiting in line with the slower non-members. Stores will then put fewer cashiers on the lanes making the lines longer and slower. It won’t take much and people will be flocking to sign up for an Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL), or an implanted RFID chip, linked to their bank account.

The medical profession will also help people become implanted with RFID. Doctors are currently encouraging patients to be implanted with RFID chips because the chips can be designed to monitor glucose levels. Once a diabetic is implanted, they no longer need to prick their finger and test their blood, the RFID implant does it automatically. The reading can be sent to an insulin pump and the dosage is automatically adjusted to match the need.

Ultimately Doctors, and insurance companies, will make the RFID implant required for their patients. In addition to RFID chips monitoring blood glucose, a person’s body temperature and blood pressure can also be monitored. The military can know the condition and location of their soldiers on the battle field. Prisons could know the condition and location of their prisoners. Hospitals could monitor new born babies. Schools could monitor the health of the children. Police and Fire departments could know the condition of their employees. This list could include everyone in any occupation.

City-wide WiFi antennas can be used RFID devices to not only identify person, but also know their location. RFID implants would be used for tracking pedophiles and other criminals. The uses of RFID and WiFi are going to explode in the next few years.

Faster service at the store will not be the only benefit. The EDL will be used for identification, Door Access at home, work and cars, Clocking in and out at work, Banking, All Purchases, Toll road collections, and even to logging into the computer. Cash will become a thing of the past. Ultimately the whole world will be cashless. Not every door will use RFID enhanced EDLs but every dollar bill will only be good for a collector’s item.

After a short while, the convenience will become a necessity. It will be illegal to buy or sell something without using an EDL enhanced with RFID. Becoming a EDL holder will be the patriotic thing to do. If you don’t get one, you will be labeled un-American.

Revelation 13:16-17 says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

Next, the government will require every person to have the information from their card implanted on their body, due to safety concerns. These transmitters, either using RFID chips or inks, will be embedded or tattooed onto a person’s right hand or forehead as the Scriptures say. Everyone will be forced to receive the mark. Everyone refusing the mark will be labeled a terrorist. If you do not receive the mark, you will be killed. Once the Rapture happens, implanted RFID will be mandated by the world government to monitor, track, and control the citizens of the earth.

Next timewe will examine what this means for the Christian in the fourth and final part of this series. What does this mean for Christians today? Should a Christian be implanted with an RFID device? If a Christian is implanted before the establishment of a world government, are they accepting the mark of the beast? What does the use of the RFID say about the nearness of the rapture? Until next time, keep studying the Bible.

An Open Letter To Jehovah's Witnesses

I invite you to take just a few minutes to look with me into Jehovah’s Holy Word. I believe we both want to worship Jehovah with spirit and truth (John 4:24). I would like to show you something from Jehovah’s book, the Bible, you may have never seen before. Please take the time to examine this information carefully.

I believe you would agree all scripture is inspired of God (2 Timothy 3:16). The Bible is written by several writers but inspired (breathed) by one all-knowing, all-wise God. There are no mistakes or contradictions in the Scriptures because they all originate in the mind of Jehovah.

You may be surprised to know in chapter 2 of Genesis we are introduced to the name Jehovah Elohiym. This includes God’s name and title. Notice in Genesis 2:4 it was Jehovah God that made earth and heaven. Again in Genesis 2:7 Jehovah God formed the first man out of dust from the ground. Genesis 2:19 says, “Now Jehovah God was forming from the ground every wild beast of the field and every flying creature of the heavens…” (NWT) showing it was Jehovah creating all things.

I found John 1:3 to be very interesting in the light of the Genesis passages. John 1:3 says, “All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.” (NWT) Then verse 10 says, “He was in the world, and the world came into existence through him, but the world did not know him.” (NWT) We both would agree these two passages are speaking of Jesus.

These passages agree with Colossians 1:15-16 that says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All [other] things have been created through him and for him.” (NWT)

I would like you to consider the question, “Who created the earth and all living things?” According to Genesis 2:4, 7, 19 it was Jehovah God that formed man and the animals. According to John 1:3, 10, and Colossians 1:15-16, it was Jesus that formed man and the animals. Since we know Jehovah does not contradict Himself, the only way for this to be possible is if Jesus is Jehovah.

We would both agree that Scripture must never conflict with Scripture since they are given from one Supreme Author, Jehovah. Is there any other evidence that supports this idea? Yes. Look in Matthew 1:23 as it quotes from Isaiah 7:14, “Look! The virgin will become pregnant and will give birth to a son, and they will call his name Immanuel, which means “With Us Is God.””

This is also confirmed in his list of titles found in Isaiah 9:6, “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Notice the names “Mighty God” and “Eternal Father”.

Isaiah 10:21 says, “A mere remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God.” And Jeremiah 32:18 says, “the One exercising loving-kindness toward thousands, and repaying the error of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them, the [true] God, the great One, the mighty One, Jehovah of armies being his name,” The Mighty God can only refer to Jehovah and yet it is being used for Jesus. Giving even more evidence it the name “Eternal Father”. How is a baby, just recently born, able to be called “Eternal Father”? The only Eternal Father we have is Jehovah, and the only way for this to be true is for Jesus to be Jehovah.

There is more evidence showing Jesus is Jehovah. In Matthew 3:1-3 it says John the Baptist came to prepare the way of Jehovah. Matthew 3:3 says, “… “Listen! Someone is crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah, you people!” John the Baptist was preparing the way of Jesus. Jesus even claimed to be Jehovah. When he was being tempted by the Devil, Jesus said in Matthew 4:7, “Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’” Who was the Devil testing? Jesus, and Jesus told the Devil to not put Jehovah to the test. The only way for this passage to be understood is for Jesus to be claiming to be Jehovah.

You probably have doubts and are wondering how this can be true. The evidence is clear in Scripture, Jesus is Jehovah. That is a fact that you can not overrule with other Scripture. Scripture does not conflict with Scripture, Scripture enhances Scripture. Thank you for your attention, and I hope this helps you to investigate the Scriptures more, not in the light of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, but in the light of Scripture. Commit your life to Jesus as the True Jehovah.

Your Future (Part 2 - RFID)

In the previous part we looked at the Rapture of the Church and how it is different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This installment we are looking at some signs of the coming world government ruled by the Beast. Remember, as I said, the closer these events come to unifying the world, it makes the Rapture much nearer. The Rapture can happen today or tomorrow because there is nothing preventing the Lord’s return.

Also previously, we briefly looked at Revelation 13:16-17 that says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” We could see from this passage we can look for the establishment of a one world economy, a mandatory identification system, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.

This time we explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. Our first question this month is: Why is the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Is the government really so concerned with the quality of your picture or the addition of extra channels? Is there another reason? A reason they don’t want you to know or are less willing for you to learn?

When you go to the official government website, DTV.gov, you can find a bunch of information. They tell you when the change will happen, how to attach your digital converter box, their partners in the transition, and how to get your $40 discount coupon. One question they are not answering is: WHY they are forcing this change. Here is what the official government website has to say: “Why are we switching to DTV? An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).”

Notice they start their answer by answering a question that has not been asked. The question was “Why are we switching to DTV?” Their answer fits the question, “What is an important benefit of the switch to DTV.” I don’t want to know an important benefit, I am sure there are many benefits of the switch, but WHY are we being forced to switch?

Here is the answer I found in my research. Back in the 1920’s when broadcast frequencies were being regulated, the government ordered certain wavelengths or frequencies to only be used for certain purposes by certain licensed organizations. If a company had a license from the government (FCC) for a frequency in the AM Radio range, they could broadcast an AM Radio program only on that frequency. This kept one station from using the frequency of another station. AM Radio, FM Radio, Television VHF and Television UHF were assigned their own frequencies. There was no thought given to the need for future needs generated by new technology.

Some time later a new broadcast signal was invented called WiFi. These radio waves were permitted at certain frequencies after most of the useable frequencies had already been assigned. Businesses liked WiFi because they could connect a computer to a printer, a scanner, another computer or even the Internet without using expensive and clumsy wires. WiFi quickly became very popular. It rapidly became a standard installation in most laptop computers. Next it moved into phones, making them able to access a computer or the internet without using a wire.

At the same time WiFi was becoming popular, another related technology started to grow. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip was being used in pets, products, and people. The RFID chip emits a signal, like a tiny radio station, that can be read and tracked by a WiFi system. RFID chips are now found in many animals, attached to products, embedded into Driver’s Licenses and Passport Cards, and inserted into the hands and arms of humans. Each of these devices, when activated, sends out an identification number. When a computer receives this number it instantly matches it to a database of information. This system can take instant inventory of a whole palate of products by simply driving the forklift past a reader.

Currently RFID is being used in “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses”, Passport Cards, and Credit and Debit cards. As this technology will be ultimately used to identify every person in the world, and used for the buying and selling of every product, there is an immediate need to get useable radio frequencies. Once analog TV frequencies are made available, RFID and WiFi can be used in a wider array of situations. This is the real reason for moving TV off the analog frequencies. The TV frequencies will be used for WiFi antennas to receive signals from RFID chips coming soon to your ID and banking cards.

Next installment we will look at how you will be able to purchase a loaf of bread with your driver’s license or buy merchandise with the wave of your hand. Revelation 13:17 says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Until next time, keep studying the Bible.

Why the government wants you on DTV

Last article in this series we looked at the Rapture of the Church and how it is different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This time we are looking at some signs of the coming world government ruled by the Beast. Remember, as I said, the closer these events come to unifying the world, it makes the Rapture much nearer. The Rapture can happen today or tomorrow because there is nothing preventing the Lord’s return.

Also last time we briefly looked at Revelation 13:16-17 that says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” We could see from this passage we can look for the establishment of a one world economy, a mandatory identification system, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.

This month we explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses. Our first question this month is: Why is the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Is the government really so concerned with the quality of your picture or the addition of extra channels? Is there another reason? A reason they don’t want you to know or are less willing for you to learn?

When you go to the official government website, DTV.gov, you can find a bunch of information. They tell you when the change will happen, how to attach your digital converter box, their partners in the transition, and how to get your $40 discount coupon. One question they are not answering is: WHY they are forcing this change. Here is what the official government website has to say: “Why are we switching to DTV? An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads). Also, some of the spectrum will be auctioned to companies that will be able to provide consumers with more advanced wireless services (such as wireless broadband).”

Notice they start their answer by answering a question that has not been asked. The question was “Why are we switching to DTV?” Their answer fits the question, “What is an important benefit of the switch to DTV.” I don’t want to know an important benefit, I am sure there are many benefits of the switch, but WHY are we being forced to switch?

Here is the answer I found in my research. Back in the 1920’s when broadcast frequencies were being regulated, the government ordered certain wavelengths or frequencies to only be used for certain purposes by certain licensed organizations. If a company had a license from the government (FCC) for a frequency in the AM Radio range, they could broadcast an AM Radio program only on that frequency. This kept one station from using the frequency of another station. AM Radio, FM Radio, Television VHF and Television UHF were assigned their own frequencies. There was no thought given to the need for future needs generated by new technology.

Some time later a new broadcast signal was invented called WiFi. These radio waves were permitted at certain frequencies after most of the useable frequencies had already been assigned. Businesses liked WiFi because they could connect a computer to a printer, a scanner, another computer or even the Internet without using expensive and clumsy wires. WiFi quickly became very popular. It rapidly became a standard installation in most laptop computers. Next it moved into phones, making them able to access a computer or the internet without using a wire.

At the same time WiFi was becoming popular, another related technology started to grow. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip was being used in pets, products, and people. The RFID chip emits a signal, like a tiny radio station, that can be read and tracked by a WiFi system. RFID chips are now found in many animals, attached to products, embedded into Driver’s Licenses and Passport Cards, and inserted into the hands and arms of humans. Each of these devices, when activated, sends out an identification number. When a computer receives this number it instantly matches it to a database of information. This system can take instant inventory of a whole palate of products by simply driving the forklift past a reader.

Currently RFID is being used in “Enhanced Driver’s Licenses”, Passport Cards, and Credit and Debit cards. As this technology will be ultimately used to identify every person in the world, and used for the buying and selling of every product, there is an immediate need to get usuable radio frequencies. Once analog TV frequencies are made available, RFID and WiFi can be used in a wider array of situations. This is the real reason for moving TV off the analog frequencies. The TV frequencies will be used for WiFi antennas to receive signals from RFID chips coming soon to your ID and banking cards.

Next article in this series we will look at how you will be able to purchase a loaf of bread with your driver’s license or buy merchandise with the wave of your hand. Revelation 13:17 says, “And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Until next time, keep studying the Bible.

Here Comes the Change!

Hey America, you wanted change? Here it comes! This information is gathered from http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/ on January 20, 2009, at 10:47 PM.

Combat Employment Discrimination: President Obama and Vice President Biden will work to overturn the Supreme Court's recent ruling that curtails racial minorities' and women's ability to challenge pay discrimination. They will also pass the Fair Pay Act, to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work, and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: President Obama and Vice President Biden will strengthen federal hate crimes legislation, expand hate crimes protection by passing the Matthew Shepard Act, and reinvigorate enforcement at the Department of Justice's Criminal Section.

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes: In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported and made up more than 15 percent of such crimes. President Obama cosponsored legislation that would expand federal jurisdiction to include violent hate crimes perpetrated because of race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical disability. As a state senator, President Obama passed tough legislation that made hate crimes and conspiracy to commit them against the law.

Fight Workplace Discrimination: President Obama supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, and believes that our anti-discrimination employment laws should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. While an increasing number of employers have extended benefits to their employees' domestic partners, discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace occurs with no federal legal remedy. The President also sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples: President Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples legal rights and privileges equal to those of married couples. Obama also believes we need to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions. These rights and benefits include the right to assist a loved one in times of emergency, the right to equal health insurance and other employment benefits, and property rights.

Expand Adoption Rights: President Obama believes that we must ensure adoption rights for all couples and individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation. He thinks that a child will benefit from a healthy and loving home, whether the parents are gay or not.



What do you think will happen to preachers that preach from Romans 1:26-32.

Rom 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Rom 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Rom 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Rom 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Rom 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Or what if a preacher brought a sermon from 2 Peter 2:5-9?

2Pe 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2Pe 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2Pe 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2Pe 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Or preach against the sin of Sodomy from Genesis 18:20 – chapter 19

Gen 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
Gen 18:21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

Gen 19:13 For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

Once this CHANGE in our laws becomes a reality, preachers will either have to stop preaching the WHOLE Word of God or face the possibility of going to jail for a hate crime. Churches may even have to hire homosexual workers against their own moral stand.

Preaching against sin is not hate – it is the truest expression of love. When a parent tells a child to not swim in a sewer, is it a hate crime? If a parent protects a child from a higher rate of disease, sorrow and grief is it from hate or love? Sodomy is a sin. Sodomy is wrong. Anyone who engages in Sodomy will suffer under physical, mental and spiritual judgment. The good news is that Jesus Christ offers forgiveness and the opportunity to be free from Sodomy and experience a joyous relationship with the One True God.

Is it a hate crime to say this? It will be. Please pray for God’s protection to surround every Christian, and Church, not afraid to teach the WHOLE Bible.

Are you attracted to change?

My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both? Proverbs 24:21-22

Your Future (Part 1 - The Rapture)

What is the Rapture and how is it different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? What will happen after the Rapture and how close are we? Are you ready for the Rapture? Is the Beast alive today? Who is the Beast? Who is the False Prophet? Is America mentioned in the book of Revelation? In the next few articles, as the Lord wills, I will be examining these issues and looking at them from the Bible.

First question: What is the Rapture and how is it different from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ? The term “Rapture” is never found in Scriptures. This is also true with the words, “Trinity” and “Bible” as well as the terms, “Microwave” or “Electricity”. The concept of the Rapture is found and described both by what the Bible says and by what the Bible does not say. The word “Rapture” is the English version of a Greek word meaning to be “caught up” or to be “snatched away.”

The Rapture of the church is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Notice the emphasis here given to meeting the Lord in the air and meeting the others in the clouds.

Contrast this passage with one that describes Jesus’ Second Coming found in Revelation 19:11, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.” And in verse 15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Here there is no meeting in the air, only war on earth.

In the Rapture, Jesus comes to gather and in the Second Coming, Jesus comes to make war. As you read these passages you see two entirely different events. Another evidence is found in what is missing. Study the book of Revelation and you will find the term “church” used often in the first three chapters. From chapter 4 to the end, the church is not mentioned again. It is not an error in the text, it is because the church no longer exists on the earth. It has been removed prior to the plagues of Revelation.

Additional evidence is found in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Notice what verses 6 through 8 say: “And now you know what holds back, for him to be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already working, only he is now holding back until it comes out of the midst. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the breath of His mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming,”

Look again at the order of the events. First there is a person “he,” holding back the power of the beast from taking full power. The Beast is not permitted to take his full position as World Ruler until the restraining power, the Holy Spirit, is removed. Since Christians are sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30), the Holy Spirit can not be removed without the Christians also being removed. Again notice how this event differs from the Second Coming of Christ when a war breaks out and a battle is fought.

It is clear in Scripture that no man knows the day or the hour of Christ’s return. However, we are encouraged to study the events happening around us and discern the times. Listen to what Jesus said, “And learn the parable of the fig-tree: when her branch is still tender and puts out leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, at the doors.” We can not know the day of the Lord’s return, but we can know the season and know when it is near.

When you look at the signs of future events you must remember you are looking at distant future and not near future. There are no events that need to happen prior to the Rapture. The Rapture can happen today or tomorrow because there is nothing preventing the Lord’s return. Signs we can look for are the preparation of the Earth for the rule of the Beast.

For example, Revelation 13:16-17 says, “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” From this passage we can look for a one world economy, a mandatory identification, an ID that controls buying and selling, devices or technology that people use for commerce placed into the right hand or forehead, and other similar items or events.

You have to remember, the Rapture will happen before these technologies and events are fully developed because they are used after the Rapture by the Beast for his reign. The closer these events come to unifying the world, it makes the Rapture even nearer. In the next article we will explore what is happening with DTV, RFID, WiFi, Enhanced Driver’s Licenses and why the United States Government is so interested in moving people toward Digital instead of Analog Television. Until next time, keep studying the Bible.

Twenty Questions About Deaf Culture

It has been a while since my last post and I have been busier than a one armed paper hanger! I guess that is to be expected when you have 8 busy kids and an active wife. Well it is time to renew some activity with a few postings.

This set of postings will be about deafness and deaf history. Some of the content will be examined further in the book I am currently writing and some of the content I hope to present at the Association of Southern Baptist Interpreters for the Deaf (ASBID) Conference at the Southern Baptist Conference of the Deaf (SBCD) in St. Louis, MO, July 12 – 18, 2008. Go to www.sbcdeaf.org for more information.

Here is a little test to see how you do with Deaf History and Deaf Culture:

TRUE or FALSE? 1) Current authors about Deaf culture say, the Bible teaches Deaf people can’t be saved because they can’t hear.

TRUE or FALSE? 2) Currently there are no books that teach Christians still believe all Deafness is the result of sin.

TRUE or FALSE? 3) Many years ago all school interpreters believed the Bible.

TRUE or FALSE? 4) Two Christians brought an organized signed language to America for the purpose of evangelizing the Deaf community.

TRUE or FALSE? 5) The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf prohibits Christian Interpreters from using the Biblical model of correction before using the RID Ethical Practices System.

TRUE or FALSE? 6) There is a Christian Member Section in the RID.

TRUE or FALSE? 7) There is a Bisexual, Lesbian, Gay, Intersexed, and Transgendered Member Section in the RID.

TRUE or FALSE? 8) Alexander Graham Bell would permit the use of the Rochester Method of sign language for people who were completely deaf.

TRUE or FALSE? 9) Alexander Graham Bell believed Darwinian Evolution and not the Bible.

TRUE or FALSE? 10) Alexander Graham Bell encouraged deaf people to marry deaf people.

TRUE or FALSE? 11) William (Bill) Stokoe is the “Father” of the Cultural View of Deafness.

TRUE or FALSE? 12) William (Bill) Stokoe believed the Bible and not Darwinian Evolution.

TRUE or FALSE? 13) Deaf people should focus on evangelizing and teaching deaf people and hearing people should focus on evangelizing and teaching hearing people.

TRUE or FALSE? 14) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet changed his mind and did not become a preacher so he could educate deaf children.

TRUE or FALSE? 15) Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet’s goal for his school was to lead deaf children to Christ.

TRUE or FALSE? 16) After leaving his School for the Deaf in Hartford, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet became the chaplain of an insane asylum.

TRUE or FALSE? 17) There are two philosophies about deafness: Pathological and Cultural.

TRUE or FALSE? 18) Deaf people should learn to read, write and speak English.

TRUE or FALSE? 19) God will judge deaf people differently than hearing people.

TRUE or FALSE? 20) Non-Christian teachers teach lies to Christian Interpreters to use them for financial gain.

Tricky? Do you think you know them all? Do these questions make you think? I hope they do. Now for the answers. The answer for all these questions and many more will be taught at the ASBID Conference, July 12 – 18, 2008.

I will write a post after the conference with the answers and a short explanation for those people that could not attend. Here are a couple of hints: They are not all true or all false. There are 9 False statements and 11 True ones.

The Golden Compass

The beginning of a new year is a good time to rediscover a few things we may have forgotten. We sometimes need to step back and get a proper perspective of ourselves and the world around us. Without looking back from time to time, we tend to forget boundaries God has clearly established and grey the black and white of morals.

We should never forget that while we are on this earth the Christian does not sin because they have to but because they want to. James 1:13-15 says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” God does not draw us away, our own lust does.

Sin is resistible. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer (allow) you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Every temptation can be resisted. We sin because we choose to commit the sin instead of choosing to resist.”

Temptation will come from many sources both internal and external. Man is a three part being and two of the three parts is able to be tempted. As a Christian, our soul is possessed by the Holy Spirit as it says in 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” Although our soul is complete we are still attached to a sinful, and sin prone, body and mind.

The body can become addicted to all kinds of sin and tempts us to continue in sin. We must be careful of giving the body too much of anything it enjoys. Romans 7:18 says, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” Our minds can be fooled and justify sin. Proverbs 16:25 says, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

The world is not our friend, it is our enemy. The world has no interest in helping us to live godly, holy, righteous lives. James 4:4 says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” The world offers many ways to stray from God’s laws and commandments. 1 Peter 1:14-16 makes it clear that God commands us to be holy. The world calls us to be unholy.

There will be many tools the world uses to draw us away from a renewed mind. A renewed mind is a mind that is being made new by the power of Christ by the Word of God. Colossians 3:1-17 is a great passage explaining the process of renewing our minds. Ephesians 5:25-27 says God uses his Word to wash the mind of man and make His church renewed. The world wants us to stay away from the Word of God and be disobedient to the will of God.

There are many movies and books the world will produce for the purpose of drawing us further and further from living a holy life. The Harry Potter series by JK Rowling is a blatant example of books and movies designed to make evil look good. In Hot Type, Evan Solomon interviewed JK Rowling who said, “Well, you see, Harry is good.” In the same interview she said, “I loved writing Dumbledore and Dumbledore is the epitome of goodness.” In late 2007, JK Rowling announced that Dumbledore was a homosexual and his nemesis was actually his ex-lover. This is proof JK Rowling calls evil good.

Scripture tells us in Isaiah 5:20, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” We need to watch out for those who, according to 2 Timothy 3:5, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” They say they are a Christian or say they love Jesus but they produce teachings which lead people away from godliness and holiness. We are to actively turn away from worldly entertainment.

Fables and parables can be used for good. Jesus often used parables, fables that have a moral message, to teach about the Kingdom of God. C. S. Lewis, a Christian and an author, wrote The Chronicles of Narnia which teach the truths and morals found in Scripture. But fables and parables are not always used to teach good messages. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

The world uses fables to teach their evil doctrine too. Along with Harry Potter, another worldly fable will be coming out in movie form soon. “The Golden Compass” is a fable based on Phillip Pullman’s book Northern Lights from his trilogy His Dark Materials. In this story, a girl travels through worlds of witches, armor-plated bears, and evil church-sponsored assassins to finally defeat the oppression of a senile God. At the end of the trilogy the main characters kill God.

The world loves their own. John 15:19a says, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own…” That is why this trilogy has received the Carnegie Medal for Children’s Literature in 1995, although the author, Philip Pullman, said, “I don't profess any religion; I don't think it's possible that there is a God; I have the greatest difficulty in understanding what is meant by the words 'spiritual' or 'spirituality.”

Philip Pullman is open about how his writings are anti-religion and anti-God. In a 2003 interview, Pullman said, “My books are about killing God" and in a 2001 interview he said he was "trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief." Can it be any clearer? If you open your mind to these stories, their message gets in and makes you spiritually weak.

There is no reason for a Christian to watch worldly movies, free or otherwise. Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Romans 12:2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” And finally, Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Who is the Elohiym of Genesis 1?

The Hebrew word “Elohiym” is used throughout the Old Testament. What does this term mean? Who did it identify in Genesis 1? Does it refer to the Trinity?

Genesis 1:1 says:
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

This verse makes a declaration that God (Elohiym) created the heaven and the earth.

Elohiym is defined in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible’s Hebrew Dictionary as:
H430; אלהים; 'elohiym; el-o-heem'; Plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative: - angels, X exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), X (very) great, judges, X mighty.

As you can see in this definition there are many uses for this term. It can identify the Supreme God, to gods, to angels, to human judges, and even to large cities.

In Amos 2:8, Elohiym is used of a false god:
“And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.”

In Nahum 1:14, Elohiym is used for false gods:
“And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.”

Elohiym is also used to describe a very large city in Jonah 3:3:
“So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.”

There are many things called Elohiym in the Old Testament – but what about in Genesis 1? Although the word Elohiym could mean many different objects and people, in Genesis 1 it only had one intended meaning. This is true of any biblical passage, each has only one intended meaning although there may be many applications.

The individual writers were moved by the Supreme Author to write one intended meaning, as explained in 2 Peter 1:20-21.
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

The application could be for a limited time to a limited number of people. Such is the case with the Mosaic laws on divorce. The application may be wider, applying to the reader at the time of the writing as well as applying to the reader of today.

The use of the term Elohiym, in Genesis 1, can only have one intended meaning. Who or what was meant? Could the term have meant any of the definitions equally? Could it mean, “Take your pick” as to the meaning of Elohiym? What was the singular intent of the Supreme Author when guiding Moses to use this term exclusively in Genesis 1?

One of the keys to unlocking this question is stated in several texts of the Old Testament. Notice how Elohiym is used in the book of Jonah 1:9:
“And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.”

Here Jonah is describing to the pagans which Elohiym he worshipped. This is the LORD (YHWH), the Elohiym of heaven, the maker of the sea and the dry land.

Jonah feared THE YHWH, THE Creator Elohiym. This connects with passages in Genesis:
Genesis 1:24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Elohiym is used exclusively to refer to the Creator God from Genesis 1:1 through Genesis 2:3. From Genesis 2:4 the term YHWH Elohiym is almost exclusively used for this same being.

Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 2:19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

This was not just any Elohiym creating the heaven and the earth, it was the YHWH Elohiym.

Why was Elohiym used as the exclusive name for God in Genesis 1? Elohiym embodied the essence of God – a plural name, not for a plural God, but for one God, and yet look at this one God:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

God – YHWH Elohiym was present
The Spirit of God – Ruach of Elohiym was present
And according to John 1:1-3 the Word of God – Logos Theos was present

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

From Matthew Henry’s Commentary:
"(2.) The author and cause of this great work - God. The Hebrew word is Elohim, which bespeaks, [1.] The power of God the Creator. El signifies the strong God; and what less than almighty strength could bring all things out of nothing? [2.] The plurality of persons in the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. This plural name of God, in Hebrew, which speaks of him as many though he is one, was to the Gentiles perhaps a savour of death unto death, hardening them in their idolatry; but it is to us a savour of life unto life, confirming our faith in the doctrine of the Trinity, which, though but darkly intimated in the Old Testament, is clearly revealed in the New. The Son of God, the eternal Word and Wisdom of the Father, was with him when he made the world (Pro_8:30), nay, we are often told that the world was made by him, and nothing made without him, Joh_1:3, Joh_1:10; Eph_3:9; Col_1:16; Heb_1:2. O what high thoughts should this form in our minds of that great God whom we draw nigh to in religious worship, and that great Mediator in whose name we draw nigh!"

This presence of the Godhead is also verified in Romans 1:20:
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”

Without a doubt, the Elohiym of Genesis 1 refers to the Triune God. The word Elohiym does not only refer to the Triune God, but the word Elohiym in Genesis 1 can refer to no other being.

There is only one God as stated in Deuteronomy 6:4:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:”
The YHWH our Elohiym is one YHWH.

This One, Triune, Eternal, Creator, God is the one and only Elohiym of Genesis 1.

An Open Letter to Southern Baptist Churches

An Open Letter to Southern Baptist Churches
Especially those of the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association

This letter is written specifically to the member churches of the St. Louis Metro Baptist Association (SLMBA). I am offering the contents to the rest of the churches of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) because this issue is at the heart of how we define ourselves as Southern Baptists. Please take the time to give careful consideration and prayer about the contents of this letter, and the upcoming Missouri Baptist Convention.
On September 16, at 5:00 pm, the member churches of the SLMBA will be meeting together for our Annual Meeting at Parkway Baptist Church. There will be an item of business brought to the floor about The Journey Fellowship (The Journey) I feel ought to be addressed prior to our meeting.
The Journey is currently a mission of the SLMBA. They have petitioned the Association for full membership status. The Journey is already an official member church of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). The Executive Board of the SLMBA voted at their regular meeting on Monday, August 6, to bring The Journey before the Annual Meeting for a vote. This vote will change their status from an SLMBA mission church to a member church. Prior to the vote there were several questions, and statements made, both in agreement and in disagreement. In the final vote, the motion to bring it before the Annual Meeting passed with only 2 dissenting votes.
In the recent past, some people have said many negative statements about The Journey. There have been efforts to associate this emerging church with the unscriptural Emergent Church Movement. In my research, I have found no connection. The leadership of The Journey, to my knowledge, stands with John MacArthur, and with the MBC, against the Emergent Church Movement.
There have also been efforts to associate the leadership of The Journey with supporting the recreational use of alcohol. According to a document produced by the Church Relations and Administrative Teams of the SLMBA, The Journey officially does not corporately endorse or promote the use of alcohol. The “Theology at the Bottleworks” (TATB) is a ministry lead by lay leaders from The Journey. According to an article written by Darrin Patrick, Pastor of The Journey, dated June 2007, The TATB is a successful attempt to create a common space where people openly exchange ideas and Christianity is given a fair hearing along with the rest.
I am a conservative, some would even say a hyper-conservative, Southern Baptist. Without a doubt, it is my conviction, Scriptures stand against recreational alcohol, smoking, charismatic tongues, gambling, pornography, Piper’s version of Calvinism, Arminianism, Freemasons, gossiping, laziness, gluttony, and many other issues. I realize not every Christian, or every Southern Baptist for that matter, agrees with me on every point of my theology. To be a Southern Baptist, you don’t have to agree with me on these issues. We just have to agree on one statement – The Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
The Journey has been attacked for how they obey the Great Commission, and for how they “do church.” They have even been asked to defend their decision in selecting the name of their church. There are many who would stand with me in disagreement of Pastor Darren Patrick on many issues. I admit, Pastor Darren doesn’t “do church” the way I “do church,” but one thing we have in common, his Statement of Faith is my Statement of Faith – The Baptist Faith and Message 2000.
Southern Baptists churches are autonomous and have the freedom to “do church” differently. There are limits, however, to this freedom. Those limits, and those freedoms, are in the Word of God and have been historically expressed, for Southern Baptists, in our Baptist Faith and Message. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is not a creed, nor is it a confession, for we are “people of the Book.” Sola Scriptura. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is, however, an expression of Baptist Christians sharing like precious faith. This should serve to unite us, in spite of our differences, under the banner of Southern Baptists and thus move us to the fulfillment of our Lord’s desire expressed in John 17:21, that we all may be one.
For the churches of the Missouri Baptist Convention, I encourage you to come together on the common ground of The Baptist Faith and Message 2000. For the churches of the SLMBA, please prayerfully consider casting your vote to support this expression of both diversity and unity in the Spirit of Christ. Let us not forget the Scriptural Mandate in Ephesians 4:3-6: “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
In the Bond of Christ, Rev. Bruce Tegg
Associate Pastor; First Baptist Church of Lemay

Public Schools try again to silence Christians

Liberty Counsel
NEWS RELEASE

Contact: PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT - 800-671-1776

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 2, 2007

Twelve Students Receive 10-Day Suspension for Praying Before School
Vancouver, WA - Today twelve high school students at Heritage High School were suspended for ten days for gathering to pray before school. Liberty Counsel is providing legal assistance to the students who were suspended.

A few weeks ago, the students tried to start a prayer club, but the school's vice principal, Alex Otoupal, would not let them meet in a private room. The students gathered in the cafeteria before school to pray, but a Satanist student went to the school office and complained. As a result, Vice Principal Otoupal told the Christian students they could not pray in the cafeteria but would have to go outside. After the students insisted on praying in the cafeteria because of inclement weather, Otoupal suspended them for ten days.

Anita L. Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, commented: "It is absolutely outrageous that the school allowed one Satanist student to exercise a heckler's veto over the other students' speech. This situation underscores the ignorance of school officials regarding the constitutional rights of students."

Staver concluded: "Most of the students who were suspended are immigrants from Russia. We must show them that America is still the land of the free. School officials must immediately reverse the suspensions."

For more information go here: http://www.lc.org/index.html

For a secular view of the same event go here: http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/03022007news110888.cfm

Is Fasting Required?

Fasting is not glamorous or easy but for a Christian, it is necessary.

Jesus fasted:

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. Matthew 4:1-2

Jesus commanded fasting:

Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:16-18

Jesus also spoke of fasting as a thing that will happen when He is gone:

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. Matthew 9:14-15 (Mark 2:17-20; Luke 5:31-35)

There is even special spiritual power connected to fasting:

Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. Matthew 17:19-21 (and in Mark 9:28-29)

Notice these other Scriptures on fasting:

As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 13:2-3

And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Acts 14:23

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. 1Corinthians 7:5

Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2Corinthians 6:3-10

Is there any reason to believe that fasting is not a part of the normal Christian life?

What is fasting? Abstaining from all food except for water for a period of time.
See: http://www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=110&o=91786

When Jesus and the disciples fasted they did not stop watching TV (although that is not a bad idea) or refrain from eating chocolate. Fasting is limiting your intake to water only. The disciples ate nothing for the time they were fasting.

Fasting may be from Sunrise to Sunset (12 hours), Sunset to Sunset (24 hours), or for several days. You may want to talk to your doctor before embarking on an extended fast but the 12 hour fast is a good place to begin.

Remember, fasting is not only abstinence from food but it also involves prayer and quiet time to study God’s Word. It is for the purpose of drawing near to God for His special power to meet the challenges ahead of us.

Are you a fasting Christian or a Christian in need of fasting?

Inform and Activate Your Public School Students

Here is some information from the United States Department of Education for the Students, Teachers, and Administrators of the Public Schools.

You can read it yourself at:
http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html

Section 9524 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ("ESEA") of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires the Secretary to issue guidance on constitutionally protected prayer in public elementary and secondary schools. In addition, Section 9524 requires that, as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, a local educational agency ("LEA") must certify in writing to its State educational agency ("SEA") that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools as set forth in this guidance.


Students may pray when not engaged in school activities or instruction, subject to the same rules designed to prevent material disruption of the educational program that are applied to other privately initiated expressive activities. Among other things, students may read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, and pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour, or other noninstructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities. While school authorities may impose rules of order and pedagogical restrictions on student activities, they may not discriminate against student prayer or religious speech in applying such rules and restrictions.


Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, and "see you at the pole" gatherings before school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non-curricular student activities groups. Such groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other non-curricular groups, without discrimination because of the religious content of their expression.


However, where student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce their meetings—for example, by advertising in a student newspaper, making announcements on a student activities bulletin board or public address system, or handing out leaflets—school authorities may not discriminate against groups who meet to pray. School authorities may disclaim sponsorship of non-curricular groups and events, provided they administer such disclaimers in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech.


Teachers may, however, take part in religious activities where the overall context makes clear that they are not participating in their official capacities. Before school or during lunch, for example, teachers may meet with other teachers for prayer or Bible study to the same extent that they may engage in other conversation or nonreligious activities. Similarly, teachers may participate in their personal capacities in privately sponsored baccalaureate ceremonies.


Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Such home and classroom work should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school. Thus, if a teacher's assignment involves writing a poem, the work of a student who submits a poem in the form of a prayer (for example, a psalm) should be judged on the basis of academic standards (such as literary quality) and neither penalized nor rewarded on account of its religious content.


Where student speakers are selected on the basis of genuinely neutral, evenhanded criteria and retain primary control over the content of their expression, that expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious (or anti-religious) content.


Is your school cooperating? Are you using the laws we have to exercise the Christianity you have?

If you need to enforce your rights I encourage you to contact the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) at:
http://www.aclj.org/

American Center for Law and JusticeP.O. Box 90555Washington, DC 20090-0555

Legal Helpline Phone: 757-226-2489Legal Helpline Fax: 757-226-2836
Radio call-in number: 1-800-684-3110 (from 12-12:30 PM EST/EDT.)

Now go out there and be the Christian the Public Schools need.

NFL Throws Flag at Church Superbowl Party

The National Football League (NFL) has pulled the plug, not just on one church but on all churches using the Superbowl as a means to evangelize.

Get the story here:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6436876

and here
http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/6959.article

According to my understanding, here’s the criteria:

1) Does your church plan to show the Superbowl (or any NFL game) on a TV screen, or a projected image, larger than 55 inches?
2) Any time during the program (during commercials, half-time, etc) will your church divert the attention of the attendees away from the televised program to a message of your own?
3) Will your church show the game on more than one source? (i.e. a TV and a Bigscreen)
4) Will your church be taking an offering or a collection of any kind at the event?

If your church party answers yes to any of the above questions then your church will be violating the NFL copyright law.

Here’s the exception:
Are you a sports bar?

If you are a bar or a tavern you have no restrictions like a church. You may charge for people entering your establishment (cover charge), someone may carry on a conversation about other things and divert your attention away from the game, they may present the game on more than one source, and they may have viewing sources larger than 55 inches.

If you want to do something about that here’s the contact information for the NFL commissioner:

Roger Goodell
Commissioner
National Football League Inc.
280 Park Ave.
New York, NY 10017
NY Tel. 212-450-2000
Fax 212-681-7599 or 212-681-7573

Here’s a little about the Commissioner:
This is from
http://www.answers.com/topic/roger-goodell

Roger Goodell was born on February 19 1959. He became the Commissioner of the National Football League on August 8, 2006. He began his tenure on September 1, 2006. Goodell was born in Jamestown, New York and is the son of former New York Senator Charles Goodell. The Goodell family moved to Bronxville, New York, in 1971, where Roger graduated from high school. Goodell is a 1981 graduate of Washington & Jefferson College in Washington, Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.

Goodell is married to Fox News Channel anchor Jane Skinner and they have twin daughters. He has four brothers, among them are Tim, a member of the worldwide executive committee of international law firm White & Case; and Michael, long-time partner of Jack Kenny, creator of the short-lived NBC series The Book of Daniel. The Goodell family was the inspiration for the Webster family on the show.


Don’t like what the NFL is doing? Tell them.

Circles of Inclusion

When you read my last posting, you may feel I am encouraging unity at any price, but that is not what I said. Unity in the Christian body is important but there are times when you not only should divide but you must divide.

There are circles of fellowship that are built on a biblical model and there are those who are not in any of our circles. For example, within the twelve Jesus had the three but Jesus did not embrace the wolves in sheep’s clothing.

The first circle of inclusion is to determine whether or not the person is a Christian. This is determined by how a person talks and walks.

A person can not be saved and deny the deity of Jesus Christ according to 1John 4:2-3.

Hereby you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 1John 4:2-3

In addition, Jesus requires us to be “fruit inspectors” by determining the strength of the relationship based upon the persons actions.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20

A part of confessing that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is recognizing the source from which we learn about Christ is authoritative. Accepting the Inerrancy of the Scriptures is key to embracing the Jesus Christ of the Scriptures.

If you do not accept the truth and reliability of the Scriptures, Jesus Christ may be redefined to mean another person than the God Incarnate, Word who became flesh, who is the only way to God the Father.

There are people today who are working at forming alliances between “Baptists.” They do so embracing other “Baptist” but overlooking the Word of God. Their common ground is not Scripture, or the Jesus Christ of Scripture, they wish to stand on the basis of their own preferences.

Here are some quotes from an article in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/20/AR2007012001295.html

Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are leading an effort to forge dozens of small and medium-size, black and white Baptist organizations into a robust coalition that would serve as a counterweight to the conservative Southern Baptist Convention.

The new coalition, which is Carter's brainchild, would give moderate Baptists a stronger collective voice and could provide Democrats with greater entree into the Baptist community. But Carter and other organizers are trying to walk a fine line, insisting that the alliance is not directly political while touting its potential to recast the role of religion in the public square.

The covenant would not be not a new denomination but a coalition of four historically black Baptist churches -- including the 7.5-million-member National Baptist Convention USA and the 2.5-million-member Progressive National Baptist Convention -- and several predominantly white Baptist groups, including the 1.4-million-member American Baptist Churches USA and the 500,000-member Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Together, they have more than 20 million members, outnumbering the SBC, which was not invited to the Atlanta meeting.

Make no mistake about it, this coalition is not based upon Christ but upon a political cause. This cause is not scriptural; it is purely anti-SBC.

I have no doubt this new coalition will have some success in their political agenda – but only for now. Most of this coalition will still be here after the Christians are removed in the gathering, spoken of by Paul.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thessalonians 4:16-17

I do not fear this new group; I do not embrace them or their cause either. I do, however, embrace all Southern Baptists who stand with me inside the circle of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000.

That document can be found here:
http://www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp

A Few Facts You Might Not Know.

Paul required Timothy to be circumcised before they worked together.
Acts 16:3

Paul called on the power of the Holy Ghost to strike Elymas with blindness and that was the event that immediately preceded John Mark leaving Paul.
Acts 13:7-13

Paul was so mad at John Mark for leaving that he would not permit him to go on his next missionary journey.
Acts 15:37-41

Paul believed it was necessary to shave his head and take a Jewish vow.
Acts 18:18

No one ever asked for John Mark to be removed from his apostleship.

No one ever asked for Paul to be removed from his apostleship.

Almost everyone knows Peter denied Christ and repented but few know that Peter liked to go fishing naked.
John 21:7

When Peter put on his clothes and swam to shore to meet Jesus, Jesus did not ask him why he was fishing naked.

The great preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, smoked a cigar.
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm


Spurgeon’s picture was also used on a card to advertise for the sale of tobacco.
Here’s what the card said: “When I have found intense pain relieved, a weary brain soothed, and clam refreshing sleep obtained by a Cigar, I have felt grateful to God and have blessed His name.”
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm

He also owned a slave named George.
http://www.spurgeon.org/misc/cigars.htm

Many preachers who do not support the use of tobacco or owning slaves often quote Spurgeon.

I have never heard of anyone trying to kick out Spurgeon from the ranks of the Baptists. To the contrary, many in the ranks of Southern Baptists, especially Calvinists, embrace him as a spiritual father.

The Reverend Elijah Craig, (1738-1808) a Baptist pastor from Kentucky, not only founded Georgetown College and built the first fulling mill and paper mill in Kentucky, drank whisky. Not only did he drink it but he was one of the original distillers credited with the creation of Bourbon Whisky from moonshine.
http://www.straightbourbon.com/articles/ccname.html

When Elijah Craig’s life was described in Cathcart’s Baptist Encyclopedia not one word about alcohol was mentioned.
http://www.21tnt.com/biographies.htm#CraigE

There were no Baptists trying to remove Elijah Craig from his pastorate for making, selling, and drinking Bourbon Whisky.

Charles Stanley was divorced in 2000 and yet is still the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Atlanta, GA
http://www.fba.org/

Charles Stanley is still listed as a pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention.
http://www.sbc.net/ministersearch/pastordetail.asp?pid=MTgyMDgy

Anyone can see God still using Charles Stanley to do a mighty work. God is using his son, Andy, to reach many people today also.

As you can see by the articles on my blog, I do not support smoking, drinking, divorce, and many other issues. I am not ashamed to say I am a conservative, fundamental, Southern Baptist.

I also understand that God has used, and continues to use, imperfect people. Just look at some of the people God used in the past – Rahab (a prostitute), Samson (a whoremonger), Paul (a legalist who called himself the chief of sinners), Peter (a denier who enjoyed fishing naked), and even you and me (a sinner).

Our Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is a good place to stand together as Baptists. It is not a creed, but a quoting of the fundamental doctrines found in Scripture. We must not be silent about sin, but let us follow the example given to us by Jesus in Mark 9. After the children were placed on Jesus’ lap, John makes an important statement:

“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he does not follow us: and we forbad him, because he does not follow us.” Mark 9:38

John was upset that there was someone doing the work of God another way. This person did not eat the same food as John. This person did not walk the same way, or talk the same way. John saw this person in competition to their ministry.

Jesus quickly corrected his concerns:
“But Jesus said, Do not forbid him: for there is no man which will do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part.” Mark 9:39-40

I believe the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 is a great statement of truths found in the Bible. I believe they are not to be used as a creed to divide us, but are a summary of the great doctrines of the Scripture which should unite us.

Someone does not have to be exactly like me for me to accept them as a brother in Christ. If we continue in the direction we are currently going, we will one day have a banquet where everyone attending will be sitting at a separate table because we can't get along.

Let’s make 2007 a year of unity within our Southern Baptist Convention.

Unity without Uniformity

Imagine being back in time just prior to World War II. Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and the nation is outraged. West coast states form their own armies and start attacking the Japanese. The east coast states start attacking Germany. The Mississippi Valley states attack Italy. Florida attacks Cuba. Texas attacks North Africa.

Would we have won the war? Would we even have a chance?

We won the war because we fought a unified battle. Every state had to overlook the issues that were separating them and come together for a greater good.

Jesus told us:

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20

These are our marching orders and Jesus made it clear that unity is our method.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:20-23

Does this mean we overlook sin in the camp? Are we suppose to embrace sin? In no way. God calls us to holiness.

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1Peter 1:14-16

We also have the obligation to correct an erring brother:

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Matthew 7:3-5

This correction has a process:

Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Matthew 18:15 - 17

Paul gives us additional instructions:

I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. 1Corinthians 5:9-13

As we face a new year we must be careful to do all things decently and in order. We must love the brethren. We are to do good – especially to the household of faith.

We must be careful to have our facts straight before bringing an accusation against the leadership of a church or of our convention.

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 1Timothy 5:17-20

If our leadership rules well – we need to compensate them well (and get out of their way, let them lead, and support them.)

If our leadership sins – we need to bring the witnesses and address the sin. The sin is addressed to correct the relationship and restore the fellowship. If the sin disqualifies the person from keeping their present position, replace them.

And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 2Thessalonians 3:14 -15

In the next few years we will be addressing the issues of:
Social Drinking, Speaking in Tongues, Tobacco, Gambling, Freemasons, House Churches, Saddleback, Elder Leadership, and even styles of music.

As you consider making resolutions and motions in our upcoming state and national conventions remember: what you propose will either unite us in the battle, or will divide and defeat us. Be very careful how you word your proposal and the intent of your action.

Ben Franklin said:
We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately.
http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/quotable/quote71.htm

As Ed Young preached at the SBC Pastor’s conference: We must not get off onto side streets.

Happy New Year!

My Bible passage for this year is:

Jeremiah 9:23-24

“Thus saith the LORD,

Let not the wise man
glory in his wisdom,

neither let the mighty man
glory in his might,

let not the rich man
glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this,

that he understandeth and knoweth me,

that I am the LORD

which exercise lovingkindness,

judgment,

and righteousness,

in the earth:

for in these things I delight,

saith the LORD.”


May God richly bless you as you seek to know Him better,

May your worship cause God to delight,

And this year may you be a cleaner vessel than ever before.


Let’s get ready for Heaven in 2007!

Get a great free EBIBLE from e-sword: http://www.e-sword.net/

Say thank you to them by giving a generous donation.

What Does The Future Hold?

As we prepare to close one year and open another, it is a good time to realize we have only a few more years here on Earth until Christ returns. When you consider how close we are to the establishment of the Kingdom of God on Earth, it should make the start of each year more exciting than the previous one.

Everyone has a theory, or at least an idea, about when Jesus is to return. When Jesus left, the angels declared Jesus would return.

And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Acts 1:10-11

We were given a glimpse into the future in several passages, but the passage I like the best about the coming of the Lord is found in 2Thessolonians 2.

Let’s take a closer look at verses 1-12 and see what is soon to happen.

2Thessolonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

The coming of our Lord is His second coming when He actually touches His feet on the Earth again. Prior to that event there is a gathering of the church out of the earth before the tribulation.

Check the book of Revelation. Where do you find the church? From chapter 4 until chapter 22:16 the church is not mentioned. Why? We are not here. We have been gathered out.

Our gathering together unto Him is the event depicted in 1Thessolonians 4:16-17

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thessolonians 4:16-17

The fact that we are reading the newspaper before it happens should not scare us, as we are encouraged in the next verse:

2Thessolonians 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

Jesus’ return to earth, when He actually touches the Earth, will not happen until there is an anti-revival. There will be the form of religion but people will actually be moving away from the true Christ. People will be teaching others to know about God without knowing God.

The second event to happen before Jesus returns to Earth is that the Beast (the man of sin) is revealed. At a particular point in time the Beast will be revealed as the one world ruler. The ruler of the one world government will also rule the one world religion.

Buddhists will see him as the reincarnation of Buddha.
http://peacejournalism.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=7018

Islam will see him as the 12th Imam.
http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/bios/12thimam.html

Jews will see him as the messiah and the “Christians” (who are not true Christians but only in name) will see this beast as the returned Jesus.

2Thessolonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
2Thessolonians 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Notice that this beast will be sitting in the temple of God. There isn’t a temple today, but there are plans for one.

When it comes to looking for the return of Jesus, I like to look for the return of the third Temple. The building of the third temple will be after the gathering (rapture) of the church so the closer the temple gets, the gathering of the church to Christ is even closer.

Here are some sites I like to watch for this event:

http://www.jewishmag.com/16MAG/TEMPLE/temple.htm
“It is, therefore, worth dedicating a few minutes to consider how the Temple relates to us today. By this, we mean, of course, the Third Temple, whose re-building and long-awaited presence will usher in the Messianic Era.”

http://www.templemountfaithful.org/
“…the home page of the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful Movement. The goal of the Temple Mount Faithful is the building of the Third Temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem in our lifetime in accordance with the Word of G-d and all the Hebrew prophets and the liberation of the Temple Mount from Arab (Islamic) occupation so that it may be consecrated to the Name of G-d.”

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=24662
“In what could trigger further violence between Jews and Palestinians, an Israeli organization says it has rescheduled earlier plans to "lay and anoint" the cornerstones for the "Third Temple of Israel."”

http://www.thirdtemple.com/photogallery.htm
Third Temple Photo Gallery

http://www.templemount.org/
http://www.templemount.org/tempprep.html
Preparations for a Third Jewish Temple

http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/
This website is about the re-established Jewish Sanhedrin.

http://www.templeinstitute.org/
http://www.templeinstitute.org/events.htm
“In these days leading up to the celebration of Chanukah - the rededication of the Holy Temple in the days of the Maccabees, The Temple Institute is pleased to unveil two new exciting projects: the construction of a new, state-of-the-art kior - brass laver, and the building of King David's Lyre.”

We are living in exciting times!

Just remember, while the Holy Spirit is here, He is holding back the evil that can not have full power until He is taken out of the way. Since we are sealed with the Holy Spirit – His removal is when we will be leaving to meet the Lord in the air.

2Thessolonians 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
2Thessolonians 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Thessolonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

After this, the beast will finally be revealed for the Antichrist he really is:

2Thessolonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Thessolonians 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

Those who currently are not Christians and have heard the word of the truth, can only come to Christ before this event. After this event they are doomed to receive the recompense of their decision.

This takes care of anyone who says they will wait until after the Lord returns to receive Him as Savior. If you wait – you will loose the opportunity.

Every person refusing Christ now, left behind after the gathering, will be forever dammed.

2Thessolonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Thessolonians 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Thessolonians 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Now is the time we need to get busy and win as many as possible to the Lord. Time is passing faster than we choose to believe it. Let us not grow weary in well doing.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Is Heaven a Real Place?

Is Heaven a place or a relationship? Are there physical aspects to heaven or is it all metaphysical and allegorical? Is heaven a place we can touch?

Here are a few quotes from some wrong sources:

“Fundamentally, heaven is not a place at all. It is our definitive relationship with God, just as hell is the eternal severing of that relationship. 'Heaven' is where God is; and to be with God is to be 'in heaven'.”

“Thus, heaven is not a place, but "spirit." Heaven is not up or down, because Jesus was saying in Luke 17:20-21 that one cannot see heaven...it is not a physical place.”

“We talk about dying and “going to” heaven, as if we hop on a bus and ride from Point A to Point B. It may be that we better understand heaven as “the presence of the Lord, (Job 1:12)”.”

I have heard these claims myself. But I can assure you, there is a Heaven. It is a real, tangible place as much as St. Louis or Springfield. There is ample evidence in Scripture to support my view. We learn in Scripture about various places called heaven:

There is the first heaven, the atmosphere, where birds fly and clouds gather:

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. Genesis 1:7-8

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. Genesis 1:20

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 1Kings 18:44-45

Next is the second heaven, the stratosphere, where the Sun, Moon, and Stars are located:

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, Genesis 1:14-17

Finally there is the third heaven, the place of the Lord’s Throne:

The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. Psalm 11:4

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Matthew 5:34

And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon. Matthew 23:22

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. Revelation 16:17

The concept of multiple heavens is not unusual to the Scriptures:

Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is. Deuteronomy 10:14

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 2Corinthians 12:2

People are often confused between “Heaven” and “Kingdom of Heaven”. This confusion is not necessary. The Third Heaven contains the Throne of God. God, as The King Eternal, is ruler over His Kingdom.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

This Kingdom is referred to as either the Kingdom of God or the Kingdom of Heaven.

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14

We become a part of this Kingdom when we acknowledge our sin and we humble ourselves and receive the payment for our sin made by Christ on the cross. We then are members of the Kingdom upon Salvation. Joining the Kingdom of Heaven does not mean we have gone to Heaven.

Heaven, the third heaven, is an actual place. God’s Throne is not just a symbol of God’s judgment, but it is a actual, tangible, throne located in a specific location. The Throne of God is located in the Temple of Heaven.

And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. Revelation 16:17

We are given a better picture of heaven when we look at what Lucifer tried to do:

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. Isaiah 14:12-15

In the north side (yes, there is north, south, east, and west in heaven) of the mount of the congregation (there are mountains too) Lucifer wanted to enter the Temple and assume the power and authority of the Throne of God. He failed. Even after his failure, he still stands before the Throne to give audience to the King as recorded in Job:

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. Job 1:6

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. Job 2:1 -2

There is evidence too we are going to heaven:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. Revelation 19:1 -5

For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. 2Corinthians 5:1-4

Heaven is a real place. In the future, we will be able to walk its width and breadth in our glorified body. This is the reality of Scripture.

Until Next Time, Keep Studying The Scriptures.

Fighting Demons with Daisies

Recently, we as Christians have been threatening, and employing, boycotts as weapons to bring about moral change. Not only are we aiming at the wrong target, but we are using the wrong weapons as well.

Corporate policies will only really change when the hearts of the owners have been transformed by the power of Christ. The hearts of the owners will be won to Christ by the power of God and our use of the spiritual weapons He has given.

As long as there have been businesses selling things, and consumers buying things, there has always been the opportunity for the consumer to punish the business with their purchasing power. This power has been used, from time to time, to change the direction of corporate policy and corporate behavior.

Personally, I avoid any movie made by Martin Scorsese. His movie, “The Last Temptation of Christ” repulsed me so much that I stay away from anything upon which he puts his name. I also do not watch any program, or movie, with Adam Sandler in it because I have found him to be a vile, nasty, anti-Christian actor. He reminds me of all the vile filth that stands against God.

I do not avoid them, however, because I am trying to bring economic ruin upon them. I know they will live just fine without my money. I do not buy from them for the same reason I don’t buy candy at a liquor store, and I don’t go into a porn store to find a newspaper, or for any reason. The liquor store and the smut shops will have to survive without me. The main reason I don’t go there is because the environment repulses me.

With this understanding in mind, I ask this question: Who made the economic boycott a weapon of spiritual warfare? What Scripture tells us to wage spiritual war by the use of the dollar? What true, lasting benefit to the Kingdom of God will come from any boycott?

To my knowledge the Jews in the Old Testament never boycotted anyone. In the New Testament, people bought meat offered to idols from the shambles. Paul never instituted a boycott against the shambles. Paul never boycotted Alexander the Coppersmith. Alexander became angered because people stopped buying idols. If Alexander made candle holders or copper trays, he probably would have still made a good income.

I understand the need for good stewardship in the use of our money, but what can you buy that has absolutely no profit for the pagans? When you purchase a car, you either purchase from a supporter of homosexuals, or a follower of Shinto. Do we forgo medication because the drug company owners are not Christians? Are every one of your doctors Christian? Of course not.

I have an idea, make a list of all the companies completely owned by Christians and produce a product completely made by Christians. Now buy from only the companies and products found on your list. What would you have to do without? Almost everything.

When we use the wrong weapons we lose the tactical advantage of the right weapons God designed for our warfare. God gave us specially designed weapons to fight this spiritual battle, and those weapons have nothing to do with the physical world around us.

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2Corinthians 10:4-6

What are our weapons? Removing pride, bringing every thought into obeying Christ, and putting on the whole Armor of God.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” Ephesians 6:10-18

You want real spiritual power? Live a holy, pure life. Pray and fast. Give generously to those who can not pay you back. Live with the courage to judge sin and show compassion to the sinner. Live a disciplined life of moderation. Evangelize. Forgive others the way you want God to forgive you. Serve. Be kind. Then rebuke, reprove, and exhort with all longsuffering and patience. These are the real sources of spiritual power.

When we try to use an economic boycott to transform the heart of a company, or an individual, we end up with the same results as fighting demons with daisies.

What About Drinking Alcohol?

For the Christian, drinking alcohol is only permitted as a medication, and then only when necessary.

Jesus did not drink, Timothy did not drink, and we are not to drink either.

How do we know Jesus did not drink? The Bible says so.

First, remember who Jesus is: He is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Our Great High Priest, Prince of Peace, The Holy One, Mighty God, The God-Man, and The Pure Lamb of God.

Jesus is perfect – always was, always will be.

As the King of Kings, and Prince of Peace Jesus was bound by:

“It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:” Proverbs 31:4

As the Mighty God – Man, Jesus was bound by:

“Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:” Isaiah 5:22

As the All Wise God, Jesus was bound by:

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1

As our Great High Priest, Jesus was bound by:

“And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:” Leviticus 10:8-9

As the Holy One and the Pure Lamb of God:

“And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” Leviticus 10:10-11

Look how Jesus is described in this office of Great High Priest from Hebrews:

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Hebrews 7:24-26

As our Great High Priest, Jesus would also be bound by:

“Neither shall any priest drink wine, when they enter into the inner court.”
Ezekiel 44:21

Why?

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

Jesus is not the only bound by the Leviticus law for the priests. We are a priesthood of believers:

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” 1 Peter 2:9

We are commanded to be holy.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (behavior); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

As a Priest in the Kingdom of God we are required to abstain from all alcoholic beverages. Timothy understood this requirement. Timothy did not drink alcohol. No wine. No mingled wine. No strong drink.

Timothy even refused to drink wine when there was a medical necessity. That is why Paul had to tell him:

“Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” 1 Timothy 5:23

Paul told him to use wine, but only permitted its use for medicinal purposes. Is there a reason Paul did not open the issue any further than he did? Yes. Paul did not support recreational drinking.

Here are further instructions:

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." Proverbs 23:29-30

That was the observation – Here’s the command:

"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright." Proverbs 23: 31

The command is don’t even look at wine with desire. Why?

"At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again." Proverbs 23:32-35

Are Christians permitted to drink socially or recreationally? No.

The miracle at Cana, Jesus being called a wine-bibber, and the fact that the general population of Israel drank intoxicating drinks can not change the facts presented above.

Since Scripture does not contradict itself, those events must be understood in light of these laws and not in ignorance of them.

Don’t Drink. Until Next Time: Keep Studying the Scriptures.

The Good Undershepherd

Once upon a time there was a shepherd. He was called an Undershepherd because he did not own the sheep, he reported to the Great Shepherd who owned the sheep. The Undershepherd did not work alone; he worked with other Undershepherds who also cared for the sheep. They all loved the sheep very much and they all worked very hard to take good care of them.

To make sure the job was done right, the Great Shepherd wrote out His instructions. He taught them exactly what to feed, and how to care for, the sheep. The Great Shepherd held his Undershepherds accountable for following His orders and delivered to them rewards or punishment based upon their performance.

The Undershepherd worked hard to memorize and follow the Great Shepherd’s instructions. There were the ordinary problems associated with caring for sheep. The sheep got sick, the sheep strayed, and the sheep were sometimes stubborn and did not want to go where they should. There was one more thing that was a danger to the sheep – wolves.

The Great Shepherd ordered the Undershepherds to feed the sheep a strict diet of grass, grain, and water. The Great Shepherd ordered the Undershepherds to keep the sheep moving toward the Kingdom. And the Great Shepherd ordered the Undershepherds to teach the sheep to recognize wolves and stay away from them.

The weird thing about these sheep was, they wanted to decide which orders their Undershepherds were to follow. They also wanted to decide which orders were to be taught to them.

The sheep liked to know where to eat the best grass, grain, and water. The sheep liked to hear about the Kingdom and what was waiting for them at the end of the trail. But the sheep became mad and irritated when the Undershepherd tried to teach the sheep about the danger of wolves, how to recognize wolves, or to stay away from wolves.

Do sheep need to learn about wolves? Do sheep need to recognize danger from wolves in sheep’s clothing? Should the Undersheperd obey the sheep or the Great Shepherd?

When Does Life Begin - Simplified

I recently received this comment:

So, you never actually took a stand... When does life begin? Conception? When the heart beats? When the brain has activity? Just wondering, since you never really stated.

I never stated, but the Scriptures did. Life begins before the heartbeat, before brain activity and even before movement.

Psalm 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

Life begins at “substance” when the human is yet incomplete.

I guess it would be considered conception, whether naturally or by SCNT, the result is the same – growth and maturity. If either is implanted into a womb the result will be a baby.

The point is, either way, the baby is a human long before it breaths air.

Is that any clearer?

When Does Life Begin?

Stem cell talk is everywhere. I want to approach this topic from another perspective. When does the Bible say life begins.

For those of you who don’t know – Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) is when the egg of a female has it’s nucleus (the yolk of a chicken egg) removed and replaced with the nucleus of another like being.

For a human, the egg is taken from a woman. The nucleus of the egg is removed. The complete nucleus from another person is transferred to the egg. The now completed egg is stimulated to grow. If this SCNT egg is placed inside a woman’s womb – it produces a baby.

The supporters of SCNT do not place this completed egg back into the woman. Instead they incubate the egg while it divides and at some point in time (about 200 cells old) they tear apart the developing egg and inject them into an ailing person as a treatment.

You can read more about this at webmd:
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/90/100668.htm

Stem cell research is one thing. Cloning human babies is another. Yet the two issues are so mixed up, we risk the worst of both worlds.
There are all kinds of stem cells. But the ones from which we can learn the most are the cells that make up an early human embryo. They're formed in the first 14 days after a human egg is fertilized by sperm or when a human egg has its own DNA replaced by DNA from an adult cell.
Scientists call this latter technique somatic cell nuclear transfer or SCNT. It's also the first step in cloning.


Another site to read is PBS:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/stemcells.html

One way to do this might be to combine Thomson's stem cell work with the cloning technology developed by Ian Wilmut and his colleagues at the Roslin Institute. (In 1997, Wilmut and his team announced the birth of the cloned sheep Dolly, the first mammal cloned from the cell of an adult animal.) A somatic cell could be taken from the recipient individual, its nucleus inserted into an enucleated egg cell that is stimulated to begin dividing, and the resulting blastocyst-stage embryo then disaggregated to produce a histocompatible pluripotent stem cell line.

So far, everyone agrees how SCNT is done and what happens. Where they disagree is when is it considered living.

According to the supporters of this “therapy” life begins when the baby takes it’s first breath. If it has not breathed air– it is not a baby.

What does the Bible say?

Psalms 139:13-18
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Human life begins long before the child starts breathing.

Ecclesiastes 11:5
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.

A bone is still a bone even while being formed in the womb.

Luke 1:39-44
And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

According to Scripture, Life begins before breathing.

It is morally wrong to intentionally take the life of one person to hopefully improve the life of another.

If you live in Missouri and you voted yes on Amendment 2, you are an accomplice to the murder of human life.

If you live in Missouri and you did not vote on Amendment 2, you are also an accomplice to the murder of human life. (If you don’t understand how not voting is really a vote, read the principle in action in Numbers 30:1-16.)

We will reap what we have sown. Work now to REPEAL AMENDMENT 2.

Until next time, Keep Studying The Scriptures.

A Comment on a Comment

I received a brave comment from a Mr. (or Miss) Anonymous. I thought it may represent the thought of others too so I will address it here. Here is the unedited message:

Anonymous has left a comment on your post "Cutting to the Chase": “http://home.bluemarble.net/~heartcom/capturedbytongues.html The man who wrote this article is a Seventh Day Adventist which most traditional Southern Baptists believe to be a cult. Why don't you list some reliable resources for your research instead of this cult. Southern Baptists are traditional cessasionists - the sign gifts were available at the time of the Apostles, but ceased with their death and the close of the canon. You completely misterpreted 1 Corinthians 14 - the supernatual gift of tongues (speaking in a language unknown to the speaker) was available at the time Paul was writing to the Corinthians but by the time Hebrews was written we see evidence that the "sign gifts" were rare or completely gone. You really should look at what reliable Southern Baptists have to say on this matter since you claim to be affiliated with a Southern Baptist Church. Jerry Vines, two time president of the SBC, wrote several books on this subject.”

First – I do not know if bluemarble.net is SDA or not but if a SDA says Jesus is God in the Flesh, I am going to agree with them. I do not choose to agree or disagree with someone based upon their denomination, I look at whether or not they agree with Scripture. On this topic of Tongues, this person is worthy of quoting.

Second – I do not agree with any SBC just because they are SBC. I have in my False Doctrines collection material printed by the SBC which say ecstatic utterance is a scriptural form of tongues. I like Jerry Vines and I am sure he is very knowledgeable. Jerry Vines, and Jerry Falwell for that matter, would agree with the concept of the Priesthood of the Believer. I am responsible to God, directly. Jerry Vines will not be standing up for me in judgment. I, and you, are responsible to be obedient to the command:

2Timothy 2:15-16
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

We are not to rely on the scholarship of others. We can read them, study them, and evaluate them, but the ultimate responsibility for showing ourselves approved to God is us. Just because Jerry Vines, or any one else has said this or that does not make it equal to Scripture. If what I am saying lines up with Scripture, and I try to make sure it does, wonderful, but you are ultimately responsible for testing and trying it against the Scriptures.

Acts 17:10-11
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Since ecstatic utterance was not a part of either Acts or Corinthians, then they could not have been included in Corinthians 13 to cease. Ecstatic Utterance is Pentecostal, it is Charismatic, but it is not Scriptural.

Until next time, Keep Studying the Scriptures.

Cutting to the Chase

Recently my Pastor started reading a book. He liked it so much that he bought one for each of the staff. I’m still in the process of reading it but it has changed several of my methods. The book is, “Why Men Hate Going to Church” by David Murrow. Currently it is only 13.99 from Lifeway.

To cut to the chase, it says I write too much. I agree. So I’ve decided to cut to the chase on a few issues. The number of words may have scared off some people so I’m going to be brief.

First, the root of the articles on Calvinism is: You are either a Calvinist or you are not. Hyper-Calvinism is a myth. Hyper-Calvinism is really, plain, old, authentic Calvinism. If you embrace all the points of Calvinism – you are a Calvinist. If you embrace any of the points (even just one) you must embrace them all. Each point of Calvinism is inseparably linked to each of the others. You can say you are a four point Calvinist but to embrace the reality and doctrine of the four points forces you to also embrace any of the other points you do not wish to embrace.

Secondly, Calvinists are always claiming to be based on Scriptures Alone. This is a lie. They base their doctrine and theology on a combination of the Bible AND Creeds AND Confessions AND Catechisms. If you don’t believe me just ask them about non-elect infants burning in hell if they die as an infant. That is not based on the Scriptures Alone.

Third, now we come to Speaking in Tongues. Again let me cut to the chase on the issue: ecstatic utterance as found in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches is not scriptural. Nowhere in scripture do we find even one instance of ecstatic utterance. Compare the events in Acts. Compare the instructions in the TOTAL chapter of 1Corinthians 14. Ecstatic utterance has no history in the church. Even books about Azusa Street confirm that ecstatic utterance was brought into the church from the outside. In the 1600’s, 1500’s, 1400’s, 1300’s, and so on, where do you find this ecstatic utterance? An interesting article is found here: http://home.bluemarble.net/~heartcom/capturedbytongues.html . It agrees, as do several other sources, that before ecstatic utterance was in the church it was in Satanic Worship but never in the Scriptures.

Fourth, 1Corinthians 13:8-11 is claimed by a group of people who do not accept ecstatic utterance in the church, who say they are cessationists. A cessationist is a person who agrees with the ecstatic utterance view of tongues but uses this passage to say it is no longer in existence. I have news for you, it never did exist in the church at that time or in the Scriptures. If it never existed in the church it could not have ceased. This passage speaks of things existing today that will cease when Jesus comes. I believe the Scripture to be the inerrant, infallible, plenary, Word of God. But the Bible is not what this passage is referring to when it says, “When that which is perfect is come…” knowledge has not vanished, neither has languages, neither has prophecy (last I checked, Revelation has not happened yet, no matter what Hank says.)

These four summaries should help you understand the roots of my other longer articles. I will try to not be so verbose in the future so you don’t have to wade through a bunch of stuff before finding the root of the issue. Until next time, Keep Studying the Scripture.

What about Speaking in Tongues?

I thank Pastor McKissic and Baptist Press for making us aware that the issue of Charismatic Tongues http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24005 is not yet settled. I also thank The Pathway for printing the story and making the issue published. I looked through my recent articles and sermons and I realized, much to my surprise, that I have not addressed this issue in a long time.


The Bible uses 6 Greek words that the translators of the King James Bible translated into the word “tongue” or “tongues”. The main word in dispute is the term “glossa” used 50 times in 47 verses. It has a variety of uses from the tangible tongue as in Mark 7:33 and the intangible speech as in Acts 2:4.


For our study we will focus on those verses which use the term glossa to refer to intangible speech. The question arises, what speech? The main areas of dispute occur within the books of Acts and 1Corinthians with an additional verse in Mark 16:17.


Much of what people call Tongues has been defined by the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches. Since there is a whole group of churches that claim to be Pentecostal churches it bears our examination to determine if they are truly after the order of the events on that Pentecost when the Holy Ghost was given.


To properly examine the Pentecostal position on Tongues we should first look at the references in Acts. The major account occurs in chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost.


What happened on Pentecost when the Holy Ghost filled the people assembled in Jerusalem? Because of a lack of space here, I will not quote the entire chapter, but I do want to draw your attention to the main passages and compare them to the Pentecostal churches of today.


Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.


Do Pentecostals experience the sound of a rushing mighty wind filling their churches? No.


Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.


Do Pentecostals experience visible cloven tongues like fire resting on each of them? No.


Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.


Pentecostals claim that this happens, “These early “Pentecostals” believed they were experiencing the same infilling of God’s power as the apostles did on the Day of Pentecost.” but investigate the Scriptures further:


Act 2:5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Act 2:6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
Act 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
Act 2:8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?


Pentecostals speak in unintelligible languages. Their “tongues” are ecstatic utterances . In fact they try to blend unconnected Scripture found in 1Corinthians with the events in Acts. Read Acts 2 then read 1Corinthians 14 and it is easy to see there are two different events being addressed.


For being called Pentecostal they don’t measure up to the events that happened on Pentecost.


Tongues as found in Acts chapter 2 are clearly known languages. It even tells us that the disciples were speaking in the specific dialect (dialektos) of the hearer (Acts 2:8). To make the point even clearer it gives us the people groups represented:


Act 2:9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Act 2:10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Act 2:11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.


Acts 2 should not be used by anyone wishing to speak in Charismatic Tongues. It is nothing more than a newspaper account of the events at Pentecost when the Comforter was given to the Jews. But Jesus did not just promise the Holy Spirit to the Jews.


In Acts 10 we see another account of speaking in Tongues. Again I will not quote the entire chapter but it would be beneficial for you to read it. The central verses about this issue are:


Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
Act 10:47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
Act 10:48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.


When the circumcised Jewish Christians saw the same event happen to uncircumcised Gentile Christians that happened to them, it was incontrovertible evidence that the Holy Ghost was given to all believers.


From this account, it would be reasonable to understand the Gentiles through the Holy Ghost probably spoke in Hebrew. This would be consistent with the Acts 2 account. It would also not be a springboard from which to support the Pentecostal or Charismatic definitions of Tongues.


The final Acts passage is found in Chapter 19.


Act 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
Act 19:5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Act 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
Act 19:7 And all the men were about twelve.


Again in this account there is no ground from which to launch a journey into the Charismatic movement. This was the giving of the Holy Ghost as in the previous passages and tongues were the demonstration of the power of God to reach all people. This is what the Mark 16:17 passage was talking about.


By looking back there is nothing in Acts or Mark to support the idea of an unintelligible prayer language or an ecstatic utterance. There are no rules and no precedents from which to establish a doctrine or a practice of speaking in tongues today. There are no churches which are truly experiencing the events that happened on Pentecost. That means there are no truly Pentecostal churches.


The major part of the debate on Charismatic Tongues comes from the book of 1Corinthians. This book bears some background. Of all the books of the Bible, 1 and 2 Corinthians, the books written to spiritual babies , are where we find this subject. This is the church of which Paul said:


1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?


This passage shows, by Paul’s own admission, that this book is written as spiritual milk, not spiritual meat. It does not mean the book is any less inspired. It is just as much the infallible inerrant Word of God as is Genesis or Galatians. What it does mean is that Paul is here addressing issues you do not need to address in a spiritually mature church. It does not make the information found in 1Corinthians less powerful but it does give us the setting and the audience for what we are about to study.


Another point of note: this issue must be understood within the context of the Corinthian church. Paul was addressing problems and correcting issues that were leading the Corinthian church down the wrong road.


What we find on Tongues here must be defined and understood by the other information surrounding it. We should never use our own definitions and biases when approaching the Scripture. As best we can, we must study the meaning in the context to get the proper application to our lives today.


Finally, before we study this issue, we need to understand we are talking about an issue that is not considered a doctrine of division. If we were arguing about the Deity of Christ or the Trinity, that would be a significant issue if we did not agree. We can disagree about Tongues and still embrace each other as brothers in the fellowship of the believers. Your stand on Tongues will not determine your Salvation. There are some that believe it does, but I do not believe they are Southern Baptists.


With that having been said, we are ready now to explore this issue. The first mention of tongues is in chapter 12. Chapters 12, 13, and 14 mention tongues or glossa repeatedly and since the term “tongues” has a tainted understanding, I will substitute the word glossa.


1Co 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
1Co 12:2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.


Paul is now going to instruct the Corinthians about spiritual gifts, administrations, and operations. The term “gifts” in 12:4 is the Greek word “charisma”, a spiritual endowment. “Administrations” in 12:5 is the Greek word “diakonia” from which we get our word deacon, and it means a minister, or a servant. “Operations” in 12:6 is the Greek word “energēma” and it is used only 2 times in the New Testament, here and in 12:10 translated “working.”


The next few passages lists several of these items that are given to every man to profit everyone. Notice how it says one gets this, and another gets that. According to how they are listed, no one gets more than one:


1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of Glossa; to another the interpretation of Glossa:
1Co 12:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.


The items mentioned are: Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning of Spirits, Diverse Kinds of Glossa, and Interpretation of Glossa.


It is interesting that the only one of these gifts that we are disputing as Southern Baptists is the Diverse Kinds of Glossa. We are not investigating the “Word of Wisdom” or the “Working of Miracles.” Those issues seem to be settled as Southern Baptists – even without the Baptist Faith and Message addressing them directly. Some things make you want to say, “Huh.”


The next passage in chapter 12 that mentions Glossa is:


1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of Glossa.
1Co 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1Co 12:30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with Glossa? do all interpret?
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.


The church has people gifted with various abilities and talents, spiritually endowed to help guide the people in developing a proper relationship with God. Notice how in chapter 12 the gift of Glossa is always followed by the interpretation of Glossa. Does this sound like ecstatic utterance to you? Does it sound like a private prayer language? No. Does it sound like the gift involved known languages? Yes.


Do you really want us to believe the Corinthian people were so developed in their spiritual maturity that they needed guidance in the super spiritual issues? Notice too how teacher is always mentioned in a superior position to Glossa.


Chapter 12 sets the stage to understand the use of Glossa in Chapter 13. Glossa is only used twice:


1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the Glossa of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.


1Co 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be Glossa, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.


We would all agree the main focus of this chapter is not Glossa but Agape (Love). This chapter is known as the love chapter and it was written to spiritual babies who did not know what true love looked like.


Some people have used some verses from this chapter to try and prove that Glossa has ceased. They use 13:8 quoted above and:


1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.


The question to be answered is, “What or who is “that which is perfect”?” Some say it refers to Jesus and His Second Coming, others say it is the completion of the Bible. Those who say it is the Bible use this passage to say that since the Bible has come, Glossa has ceased. If this is true then according to verse 8 prophecies, Glossa, and knowledge will all cease.


People who support this position say yes, special prophecies and special knowledge have ceased as well as Glossa. They see the completion of Canon ending the need for the special gifts used to verify the message.


No matter what your position is on Glossa, I believe we can all agree, this chapter does not contain any doctrine to use in building a case to define it. So far we have examined the entire New Testament on the Glossa issue and of the approximately 260 chapters found in it, only one chapter, in a book written to a bunch of spiritual babies, even addresses it.


Do not misunderstand what I am saying. Biblical Truth is still just as powerful when only mentioned once, but I do find it very interesting.


Now let’s examine this one perplexing chapter. Remember we must understand the difficult verses on Glossa based upon the information we have already been given. What have we been given so far?


So far we have Glossa meaning known languages that either do not need an interpreter, as in Acts, or that have the ability to be interpreted. In either situation it does not fit the current Pentecostal or Charismatic method of ecstatic utterance. It also does not fit the “private prayer language” definition. We must use the previous information to help us understand the unknown when we address Glossa from chapter 14.


One reoccurring word that the translators added actually adds more confusion than clarity. That is the word, “unknown”. For the sake of clarity we will omit the words added by the translators and I also continue using Glossa in place of tongues.


Seeing the importance of this one chapter on this issue, and considering the space necessary to address this issue properly, I have given my commentary on this entire chapter in an earlier article. Please read the article several times in it’s entirety before continuing in this document.


For those where the link does not work please type this into your browser:


http://theundershepherdsobservations.blogspot.com/2006/10/what-about-1corinthians-14-speaking-in.html


Notice how the term Glossa is set in this key passage:


1Co 14:21 In the law it is written, With other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
1Co 14:22 Wherefore Glossa are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
1Co 14:23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with Glossa, and there come in unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
1Co 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1Co 14:25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.


Look how verse 22 says Glossa are for a sign to unbelievers. Then in the next verse it gives an illustration about an unbeliever seeing Glossa spoken and thinking they are mad. Does that strike you as strange? If the Charismatic were asked to explain verse 22 they would say ecstatic utterance is a sign to convince the unbeliever of the presence of the Holy Ghost. But ask them to explain 23 and they start getting confused because here is the perfect opportunity to show a sign to the unbeliever and we are being discouraged from doing it. That is one of the reasons why I have chosen the vocabulary as I have in the commentary. It just makes sense.


Also notice how this reads:


1Co 14:2 For he that speaketh in an Glossa speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.


1Co 14:27 If any man speak in an Glossa, by two, or at the most three, and by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.


If no man understands, how does one interpret? In the Charismatic Tongues version the “interpretation” is just as spontaneous as the speaking of “tongues”. This works contrary to the rule given in verse 28. The only way for this to be understood is if Glossa is a known language. So what about verse 2? “No man understands,” is referring to no other man, else how could all verses compliment each other?


Charismatic Tongues is not rooted in Scripture. The roots are elsewhere and I have alluded to them above. By the admission of the Pentecostals themselves, the real spread of Charismatic Tongues did not occur until 1906 from the Azusa Street mission. Up until that year, Charismatic Tongues was not found


Additional readings can be researched here:

http://www.sendrevival.com/history/azusa_street/


Please notice these links are not to Southern Baptist versions of what happened. They are from the people that are actually in the movement.


Is there any room for people who speak in Charismatic Tongues in Southern Baptist churches? Yes! As I said before, speaking in Tongues is not to be a point of division. It does not make a person unsaved or unable to be used by God for His Kingdom.


I hope you realize that Charismatic Tongues is not Scriptural and it is not necessary for an abundant life and ministry filled with the power of the Holy Ghost.


1Co 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Keep studying Scripture!

What about 1Corinthians 14? (Speaking in Tongues)

Note to the reader. This blog entry is not to be read as a replacement for Scripture but it is only a commentary on one of the most misunderstood chapters of the Bible.

In order to read this information properly you must have first read 1Corinthians chapters 13 and 14 prior to reading this commentary. It would also be best to read your favorite version of the Scriptures before and after you read this commentary.

I have not strictly followed the Greek, word for word, but I have added intent and nuance in with the content of the verses.

I encourage you to send me your comments. No comments are posted but they are received and reviewed. If you send me an email, I will respond. Thank you.

1Corinthians 14

1 Pursue Love and desire spiritual gifts, but give preference in your pursuits and desires to proclamation of the Word of God.

2 Because when you use your Native Language the people can’t understand you – God can – but no one else will understand what you are saying even though you are speaking spiritual hidden doctrine.

3 In contrast, when you proclaim God’s Word in a language they can understand, you teach, and encourage, and comfort.

4 He that uses his Native Language develops ideas in a way that is comfortable to him in that language, but he that proclaims the Word of God in the understood language teaches the church.

5 I wish that you all were multi-lingual, but my preference is for you to use the language of the hearers to proclaim the Word of God: The person that uses the appropriate language to proclaim God’s Word is more beneficial to the Kingdom of God than someone who speaks their own Native Language, unless, of course, there is an interpreter who puts that foreign language into a language that is easily understood, so the church may receive the instruction.

6 Now brothers, let me present this idea with an illustration: If I come into your church, and I am speaking my native language, what benefit will you have from that? Unless I gave you a revelation, or a special understanding, or a proclamation of God’s Word, or doctrine extracted from God’s Word in a language you understood?

7 Even things without voices follow the same logic. If a flute or a harp makes noises that are not understood by the hearer, how will the hearer know what is happening?

8 If a battle bugle is blown in a way that makes indiscriminate sounds, how will the army know to obediently run toward the enemy to attack?

9 This is the exact picture to remember if you use your Native Language for your comfort but you don’t say words that are easy for the hearer to understand. How is that person of a language different than yours suppose to understand you? All you end up doing is passing a lot of hot air over your lips.

10 There are many different languages and dialects in the world and every one of them is important.

11 They are important because they are tools with which to reach the people that use them. If I don’t use the proper language with the proper people there will be no benefit.

12 This has direct application to your situation – you think that your ability to speak other languages makes you appear more spiritually mature, but if you were truly spiritually mature you would seek to teach the Word of God in a language that was easy to understand.

13 That is why those of you who know more than one language should pray and ask God’s help to interpret from one language to another clearly and accurately.

14 Because if I even pray out loud in my own Native Language, I may be praying with my whole heart and soul, but those listening to me will not understand me.

15 What should I do in this situation? I should do both. I pray in my thoughts using my native language but what comes out of my mouth are words that are easy for the listener to understand. When I sing, I will sing with my whole heart but the audible words I sing will be easy for the listener to understand.

16 It that were not the case, and I was giving a blessing from my heart with my Native Language, how would a person who does not understand my speech participate with me by saying, “Amen” at the appropriate times, seeing he does not understand what I am saying.

17 You may be very skilled at praying in your Native Language but the other people present not instructed by what you say.

18 I thank God I am better skilled as speaking other languages more than any of you (because you do not know what to do with them.)

19 Even though I have this superior skill compared to you, I would rather speak five words in a language the people understand so I can teach them God’s Truth, than to speak ten thousand words in my Native Language that – although it may sound good – it is without value.

20 Brothers you need to have mature wisdom in understanding this matter: In the matter of hurtful behavior (which is what you are doing by excluding someone by your choice of language) you should be as innocent as a child. You need to have a mature perspective on this matter.

21 The Old Testament law says: With other mouths and other lips will I speak to this people and even if I use people of other cultures to bring the Word of God, you will not receive it, says the Lord

22 That’s why speaking in your Native Language is primarily for the evangelism of unbelievers as compared to proclaiming doctrine from God’s Word which is primarily focused on educating the believer.

23 For example, if a group of believers all gathered into one place, speaking their Native Languages (let’s say Hebrew), and someone walks in who does not understand that language (let’s say Greek) or even if they use unfamiliar vocabulary – that Greek visitor will think you are crazy – speaking jibberish.

24 Use the same illustration and instead of everyone speaking their own Native Language (let’s say Hebrew), they were proclaiming the Word of God in the common Language (let’s say Greek) then an unbelieving Greek person walks into the meeting, or someone unfamiliar with Christ, then he becomes convinced by everything he hears by doctrine he can understand. The very thoughts and intents of his heart are judged by the Word of God he hears proclaimed in a language he understands.

25 The very secrets of his heart are unlocked and are laid bare; and when that happens, he will fall on his face and worship God, and it does not stop there, he will tell others that God is indeed in you.

26 Since this is the case, how is it my brothers that when you come together each of you is doing your own thing, in your own favorite language? This person is singing, this person is teaching doctrine, this person is speaking their Native Language, this person is revealing biblical truth, and this other person is interpreting another language. This is not the right way to assemble as a church body. You should come together to build each other up.

27 To help eliminate the confusion, here are a few practical rules to follow – If anyone wants to speak in their Native Language, that’s fine, but limit the number of people who do to just two or at the very most three. The speaker must have someone present when they are speaking to interpret what is being said into a language that is easily understood by those present.

28 If you want to speak your Native Language and you look around and do not see anyone there who knows your Native Language, and the language of the hearers, and is able to interpret properly from one language into the other language, then you are commanded to not speak in your Native Language in the church – you can think it, but don’t say it.

29 If you are authorized to proclaim the Word of God in a lesson, there can be two or three teachers too – when someone is teaching, the spiritually mature are to examine what is said in the light of the Scriptures and evaluate it’s accuracy.

30 If in the course of teaching another spiritually mature person is used of God to add a point or to enhance the lesson, then the teacher should allow that person to say what God has laid on their heart.

31 Everyone can say what God has laid on their heart as long as you speak one at a time so everyone can hear, understand, and learn and everyone will be comforted by it.

32 All the truly spiritually mature people are able to control themselves, this is not something that is out of their control,

33 Because God is not the author of confusion, God is the author of peace and all the truly Christian churches should be filled with peace.

34 Do not permit women to proclaim God’s Word in the church assembly, because it is not permitted that they exercise power, control, or authority over men, but they are to be submissive to God through submitting to the men in leadership, just as the Law says.

35 If a woman, in the course of the assembly at church, has a question about the information being taught, instead of interrupting the speaker, and by it interrupting the proclamation of the Word of God, it is better if she asks her husband at home and avoid the disruption. If a woman does interrupt the sermon to ask a question, it will cause her shame and embarrassment as well as shaming her before God by interrupting His work.

36 I am giving you these rules to govern your assemblies because the Word of God did not come to you exclusively and it sure wasn’t invented by you. It came from God for everyone.

37 If you believe yourself to be spiritually mature, or if you are acknowledged as a preacher of the Word of God, then I encourage you to examine what I am telling you in the light of Scripture, and see if they stand. They will stand because I am writing the commandments of God.

38 If you choose to ignore these commands, you can do that, but it does not reduce the fact that they are from God.

39 In the light of the information I have just discussed, please grow in maturity so that you may proclaim and teach God’s Word to God’s people using God’s methods; don’t prevent someone from using their Native Language but use it for the Glory of God.

40 All things must be done in a decent and orderly manner.

What about Gun Control?

Who said this?

“This year will go down in history. For the first time, a civilized nation has full gun registration. Our streets will be safer, our police more efficient, and the world will follow our lead into the future.”
This quote is attributed to Adolf Hitler in 1935 – Adolf Hitler never said it.

For more information about it take a look at:
http://www.guncite.com/gun_control_gcbogus.html

But this does bring up an important issue. Guns. Weapons in general.

Our US Constitution protects our right as a citizen to keep and bear arms.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

What does the Bible say about gun ownership? What about the use of deadly force for the protection of life and property? How is shooting someone exercising love, “turn the other cheek,” or “do good to your enemies”?

There were many times when God told the people of Israel to go to war. Some people may say, “But that was in the Old Testament. What about the New Testament?”

We are warned by Paul: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

Notice how this passage speaks of having non-carnal weapons. Does this then exclude the use of carnal weapons? No. This passage ends with the command “and being ready to punish all disobedience.” We use spiritual weapons of prayer and God’s Word to do our warfare on spiritual ground but not exclusively.

Jesus understood this concept when He told the disciples: “Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. … So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough." Luke 22:36-38

Jesus knew He would soon die on the cross and His disciples were going to be without his physical presence. When Jesus was preparing to leave He told the disciples, “he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.”

In the beginning of their ministry, the disciples were instructed to not carry a money bag and they did not have any savings account. After following Jesus for three years the disciples would not have many garments. Since they were traveling all the time they had no place to store their clothing. They would only have the clothes on their back and one extra change of clothes. Their extra clothing was probably the most valuable thing they owned. Jesus told them if they did not have a sword they were to sell their garment and buy a sword. Jesus did not instruct them to give the money to the poor or use the money to by something for someone. This proves Jesus placed a very high value on the disciples carrying a sword.

It also shows something else. Jesus permitted the disciples to carry weapons while they were traveling with Him. Notice what the disciples said in reply: “So they said, “Lord, look, here are two swords.”” Two of the disciples did not need to go get a sword because they already had one.
Here is Jesus, King of Kings, Creator of the Universe, and he is allowing his disciples to carry a weapon. What would happen if pastors encouraged the deacons to carry weapons? I can just imagine the gossip.

Jesus knew there were spiritual weapons and their power. He also knew there was a need for physical weapons too. The sword was the most powerful weapon used by the citizens of that day and Jesus supported carrying one. The principle is found as an illustration in Luke 11:21 where it says: “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are in peace.” and in Mark 3:27.

Jesus was not against the use of weapons for personal defense. We have spiritual weapons we are commanded to employ, but physical weapons are necessary at times too. Jesus said we can move mountains by prayer and faith in Matthew 21:21. We can also move mountains by tools and strength.

Consider this:
David didn’t only use faith to defeat Goliath. God used David’s weapon and skill to bring victory.

Gideon at times used a sword to kill and at another time used a pitcher with a lamp inside.

For the rest of the New Testament there are no recorded incidents with the disciples and swords.

"Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" Matthew 26:52-53

What Jesus did not say to never carry one. Jesus said to put the sword up into it’s place, not throw it away.

A faithful, loving, caring, biblical, Christian will support the right to carry a weapon.

Most of all the biblical Christian will live biblically.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Revival, Project Management style.

In years gone by it was not too uncommon to see a tent revival in and around our communities. When I was in High School in Indianapolis I was blessed to be a part of more than one tent revival. Our Youth Pastor would borrow a big tent, find some vacant land and secure permission, then we would set up the tent and borrow chairs from the church.

Next we would go door to door inviting people in the area to come to the tent revival. In the day we would visit and go soul winning and in the evening we would hold revival services. We would collect an offering and pay our expenses and buy our food with the offerings. Our Youth Pastor and 3 or 4 of us would sleep in his pickup truck camper and spent a whole week in this process.

In our churches we have transitioned from revivals that would last 2 or 3 weeks. Every evening there would be preaching on various topics of righteousness, sin, salvation, hell, heaven, holiness, morality, mortality, etc. People attended not because they had to but because they wanted. People actually looked forward to getting together every evening and hearing the Word of God preached by a man of God.

If you strip away all the exterior, what is left? What is revival? Today, many people see no need for a revival and more do not know what one is. Some people have never seen a true revival. Probably there are a few who hope they never do – (after judgment they will think differently).

The word “revival” never appears in scripture. But there are several times when revival occurred both in the Old and New Testaments. Habakkuk prayed for God to revive His work in Habakkuk 3:2:
“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.”

Samuel preached a very simple revival message and because of obedient listeners, it became a national revival in 1 Samuel 7:3-4:
“And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.”

Second Chronicles 7:14 puts it this way:
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

In all these passages there is a process to revival. It is not the result of magic spells or of clever tricks. Revival is the result of work.

Paul understood the work of righteous living and drawing near to God and the influence godliness has in power.

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1Corinthians 2:1-5

There are clear duties involved in revival. First, Recognize you are not where you need to be.

In project management they teach you to do a gap analysis. The first step in this analysis is to get an accurate picture of what is happening now. So what is happening now? Are your prayers being answered? Are you witnessing and leading people to the Lord? Are you talking the talk and walking the walk? Do you have the joy of the Lord? Do people see you as an example of what to do, be, and say? Is Jesus first? Get a real good picture of where you are in your relationship to God. How is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control being expressed in your life?

The next step of the project management is to develop a model of where you should be. What is the biblical picture of the ideal Christian. If all conditions were perfect, what type of relationship would you have with Christ?

Next you have to look at the distance from where you are and where you need to be and see the ‘gap’ between the two. Let the scope of that distance sink in.

After you understand the gap, develop measurable steps to go from where you are to where you should be. The key word is measurable. To say, “pray more” is fine but it would be better to say, “I will pray every morning for at least 15 minutes.” Now you have something measurable to gauge whether or not you are successful in making the change.

Once you have made a map or a plan for change, work the plan. Do it. Make necessary changes in your behavior to do what God says to do.

But that is not the end to a good Project Management plan. There are still two more steps.

Next, after you have worked the plan for a week, reevaluate. Take another look at the progress you have made in the past week. Does your plan need to be modified to make it successful? Are your steps to revival to large to be practical.

Paul reminds us:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2Corinthians 5:17

The Christian life begins with an event and becomes a lifetime process.

Finally, the last step to the process is, after you have reevaluated your plan and adjusted your steps, do your plan until your next reevaluation time. Reevaluation is an important part of the growth process.

That’s a look at revival through a project management lens.

The main part of revival is to love the Lord with your whole heart. Don’t be a half-hearted Christian. Your love for Christ should be so deep it should bring tears to your eyes. There should be nothing that stands between you and the Saviour.

When this happens you desire to put away worldly distractions (wicked ways). A revival is an opportunity to get clean. You not only want to put away ungodliness, you do it. You actually stop doing things that grieve the Holy Spirit and start doing things that please God.

Sometimes we get dirty in places we can’t see. The revival preacher holds up the mirror of the Word of God so we can see the dirt we may have missed. It’s embarrassing to find dirt on your face, but even more so in the presence of the King at Judgment. The time to get clean is before you go to court.

Finally, after we have become a clean vessel, get busy serving. We are given blessings to be blessed but more importantly to bless others. What better blessing can we share than to share the Salvation of Christ? Tell someone about what Jesus has done for you. Tell them how they can have the Love, Joy and Peace you have. Tell them you love them by telling them about Jesus.

You may attend a revival, but will you have revival? That decision is up to you.

Will you pray for revival in your own heart? Will you invite / bring people to the services to hear the Word of God? Will you pray for revival in the hearts of others? Will you commit to finding ways to serve the Lord? (Teach / assist in a children’s Sunday School Class, Cook meals, write cards, welcome visitors, call and invite the unsaved)

Let’s not just wait for revival – let’s go get one!

What about Racism?

Recently it was brought to my attention that the Council of Conservative Citizens website posted my article on a Communist America. Although I am encouraged that people are reading these important articles, I feel the need to make this next point extremely clear.

I am not now, nor have I ever been a member or a contributor to the Council of Conservative Citizens. I support the work of the members of God’s Kingdom where they align with the Word of God. If a person claims to be a Christian, they must be Christ-like and a true follower of Jesus Christ – God with us.

I have not researched the Council of Conservative Citizens enough to determine if they are racist or not. Making a list of racist organizations is not the purpose of this blog. Recently some of the comments I have read leads me to believe now is a good time to present the biblical perspective on race and racism.

To look at the problem of racism clearly we have to start from the beginning.

In the first chapters of Genesis we learn that God made one man and one woman. There was only one “race” because there was only one family.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

As time went by, this one family became larger and larger. Some people may ask the question, what race were these first two people? One thing for sure – no matter what race you are, you are one of their descendents.

Genesis 5:4-8 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos: And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died.

Because of sin, mankind moved away from obedience to God’s commands. What race were these people – that depends on how you define race. They were from one family, as are we all.

Families became more numerous and sin became more prevalent until God had enough. As they say in the computer world, God felt it was time to format and reinstall the human population.

Genesis 6:5-8 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

God was saddened, not by the races, creeds, or colors of men. What upset God was that “every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” You see, race was not then, and is not now, the issue, sin is.

After the flood, man was given a new start, and again it was through a single family – Noah. What was the race of the family? Godly. They were of the Godly race. This is the race of men and women of many nations, languages, and colors that worship the One True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in spirit and in truth. The Godly race is the only ones to be admitted into heaven. The Godly race is the only race with eternal life. Color had nothing to do with it – faith did. Today, the just shall live by faith. This is not selective of color, race, language, or nation.

Abraham was given the promise:

Gen 22:15-18 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

Read carefully that final verse. All the nations of the earth are blessed because of the obedience of Abraham. It is important to remember that Abraham was not a Jew.

Gen 11:27-31 Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child. And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

By nation Abraham was a Chaldean of the race of men, a son of Adam. We do not all trace our lineage back to Ur, but we do to both Noah and Adam.

Since Noah exited from the ark, man has continued to make the choice to either follow God or turn from Him.

Separation, segregation, climate, diet, genetics, language, and time have all added their modifications to the outside appearance of the one race of man. Today, as in the past, there are only two “races”. Godly and ungodly.

The principle is laid out in the Old Testament.

Exodus 12:48-49 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.

Notice, being a Jew was not about birth. It was not about race. It was not about color. It was about being a follower of God. If you obey the law like a Jew you were accepted as a Jew. Red, yellow, black, brown, or white all were welcome into the Godly line. Look at Rahab who was accepted into the blood line of Jesus Christ himself, but she was not a Jew by birth, and she is not the only one. Jesus Christ was a Jew by birth and was proud to be one. That is good enough for me. I am not Jewish but I am related to them by blood from Noah - so are you. I am also related to the King of the Jews, He's my King, Brother, and Advocate too.

Matthew 12:49-50 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and (Jesus) said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Last I checked, John 3:16 says:

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

Who is a racist but he who would deny salvation to anyone based upon national origin? It is impossible to be a Christian racist when the Bible says God loves the whole world, and that anyone can be your brother by their embracing the same Heavenly Father in salvation.

I am convinced there are racists found in all races. There are Chinese who hate people of other races. There are Africans who hate people of other races. There are Latin Americans who hate people of other races. And, yes, there are Anglo-Saxons who are racist. God is not pleased with any racism. He loves everyone – that is why He provided salvation to all. It grieves Him that anyone refuses His offer of salvation and it should grieve us too.

What About Calvinism (TULIP)?

Back in September of 2005 I started an article about Calvinism and it’s five points, called TULIP. My desire was to immediately follow that article with several articles walking through each point. I became so taken in the study that it is just now being completed and I am now ready to share that research with you.

Calvinism is rampant in Southern Baptist circles today. It is getting to be where we can not draw a line of differentiation between the Baptist, Reformed, or the Presbyterian beliefs. Many Baptists are taking a stand on the issue of Calvinism. Many churches have split over the issue. It is nearly the single greatest issue facing the Southern Baptist today. It strikes at the very roots of who we are and why we do (or do not do) various activities. What is Calvinism; and is it Biblical?

Calvinism is often divided into types like: Hyper-Calvinism, Pseudo-Calvinism, and Neo-Calvinism. These terms are often used to try and divide out “radical” Calvinists from those who are less inclined. There are people who call themselves a Calvinist, but who deny the very essence of what the Calvinists believe. These prefer to use the label of Calvinist and yet do not embrace Calvinism. Those who do embrace true Calvinism are labeled a Hyper-Calvinist.

Calvinism has been around for a long time. In fact, much of what is called Calvinism was not invented by, nor embraced by John Calvin. Proponents of Calvinism support The Westminster Confession of Faith as their doctrine – even when it stands, at times, in opposition to well established biblical doctrine.

We are going to investigate the claims of the Calvinist – not Hyper, Pseudo, or Neo, but Calvinist. If you understand Calvinism in the light of their understanding – you either take the five points of Calvinism as a whole, or you do not. There is no “Four Point,” “Three Point,” or even “Two Point” Calvinist. To accept any of the five points of Calvinism, in the way Calvinist believe, mandates agreement with the remaining points. It is like pregnancy either you are, or you are not, there is no middle ground. Either you are a Calvinist, and you hold to all five pedals of the TULIP or you do not.

Personally, I stand squarely outside of the Calvinist camp. I am neither a Calvinist, nor an Armenian. I find error in both belief systems. I am a Biblicist. I am a Baptist who does his best to understand what the Bible says without forcing it to fit in a pre-determined mold. I recognize I am far below the academic level of many who would oppose me. That only forces me to make my arguments and defenses that much more sure. Many Calvinist would also claim to be a Biblicist, but when you examine their teachings, it doesn’t fit the Bible. You must deny, or redefine, clear scriptural teachings to embrace either Calvinism or Armenian doctrine.

The Calvinist information below is quoted from the classical Calvinist website: www.apuritansmind.com. I have tried to select a font that will distinguish their quotes from my comments and still be clear to read. Please remember, this is not what I am saying about Calvinism. This is what Calvinists say they believe. I have only edited out some of the verse references due to space limitations. You are welcome to study their site and see if I am incorrect in quoting their information or leaving out important information. I am quoting now from their website:

“Total depravity is the extensive ruin of man's nature. Man is made up of two parts primarily: the material (body) and the immaterial (soul). Both the body and soul are corrupted because of the fall. This does not mean that people are as a bad as they can be, but rather, that the effects of the Fall have completely ruined the total being of man. It is not just that man's mind is ruined, or that just his body is ruined, or that just his soul ruined. It means the whole man is corrupted with sin. This would mean that man cannot fundamentally do anything to please God. This depravity begins at conception. Depravity of the heart is completely extensive so that the creature (us), cannot will to do any good. All we do is evil. All we love is ourselves. We suppress God, and exalt ourselves.”

If you compare this definition with scripture, you find several problems. Their first two sentences (“Total Depravity is the extensive ruin of man’s nature. Man is made up of two parts primarily: the material (body) and the immaterial (soul).”) shows their ignorance of creation, and the first three chapters of Genesis. They then contradict themselves in the fifth sentence by mentioning the three parts of man.

Go back to Genesis and study man. Man has three parts, not just two as they teach. Man is a triune being made by the Triune God. He has a body (flesh), a mind (spirit, emotions, cognition), and a soul (eternal spiritual self). When the fruit was eaten God said they would die that same day. What died? The body did not die, Adam lived 930 years. The mind did not die, he could still recognize God and the Woman. He could still recognize people, remember things, and receive instruction.

When Man and Woman died that same day, it was the soul that died. Instantly upon eating the fruit, their soul was dead (cut off from the fellowship and presence of God). Was man’s complete being, all three parts, dead on the day he ate? No. Was man’s mind corrupted with sin? Yes. Was his soul killed by sin? Yes. Was man so totally depraved by sin that he could not do any good thing? No. It was God’s gift of the soul that died that day. Man’s nature was unrestrained and became the focus of the mind.

The Calvinist says, before we come to Christ we cannot will to do any good and all we do is evil. To give their argument substance they misuse: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9. It is interesting they miss the verses above and below this verse which stand against Calvinist theology. In Jeremiah 17:7, the person who trusts the Lord is blessed, not the person that is arbitrarily selected. Also in Jeremiah 17:11, man is rewarded according to his ways and not some arbitrary sovereignty. We will cover the content of Romans 3 in the future.

Back to the issue: Is man totally depraved prior to salvation? Was it true of the first man? Study the time immediately after he sinned, and before God judged him. What happened? Man knew he had done wrong before being approached by God. Was the recognition of sin an evil thing? No. Since he could recognize his state of guilt, was he totally depraved? No. Man then made leaves to cover himself because he saw he was naked. Was covering his nakedness, an evil thing? If it was, what do you call it when God covered him? Logic would say that if man’s actions were evil, then God’s actions would have to be considered evil too. OOPS! God and man did the exact same thing – they used different materials, they had different motives, but they did the same thing, a good thing.

Can an unsaved man do anything to please God? Yes. Remember, man ate of the tree of knowledge – the knowledge of good and evil. Man can know good and evil as a result of the tree’s fruit. Paul said:

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:18-21

Does this sound like man is totally depraved to the point of not recognizing good and evil? Does this sound like, as the Calvinists say, man can not will to do any good? It is true, we all have sinned. We are sinners. We also have been created in the image of God. That image is not destroyed by sin.

Adam, after sinning, could recognize the voice of God. That was good. Adam hid because he was ashamed of his sin. That was good. Adam tried to cover himself after his sin. That was good. Was Adam covering himself to do evil, or hiding because his act of hiding was evil? No, of course not. He hid because he was ashamed of his sin, that’s a good thing. Total Depravity is wrong.

I pause here to remind you. Each of the five points of Calvinism is linked to the next. They do not stand independent of each other. If you accept Total Depravity, then man has no hope unless there is Unconditional Election. If man is Totally Depraved and is Unconditionally Elected, there must be Limited Atonement. These five points stand as a whole. They are indivisible.

Now we will take a look at Unconditional Election. The Calvinist information quoted below is from the classical Calvinist website www.apuritansmind.com.

“Unconditional Election is defined this way through the catechisms and confessions: God did, by His most wise and holy counsel, of His own, freely and unchangeably ordain some men to heaven and some men to hell by the nature of His good pleasure. In eternity, God has predetermined the course of everything and everyone. He had foreordained the eternal destiny of everyone whether to heaven or to hell for His glory. Men are unconditionally elected by God for His purposes without any prior works (good or evil) by which God would judge them good or evil. The election of men rests solely on the counsel and purposes of God. God has not decreed anything which he foresaw in the future, for that would place His decree upon foreseeing something in the creature.”

I want to thank the writer for his honesty in the first sentence. Notice what he says, “Unconditional Election is defined this way through the catechisms and confessions:” That statement is exactly correct. It is not only true of Unconditional Election but of the whole of Calvinism. It comes from catechisms and confessions and not from the Word of God alone.

The Calvinists claim “Sola Scriptura” (Only Scripture) but when closely examined there are claims and doctrines that come from catechisms and confessions alone. Their favorite source is The "Larger Westminster Catechism" (1688)—adopted by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. That is where you find not only the roots of TULIP, but also infant baptism, and unelect infants that die in infancy burning in hell. These catechisms and confessions of man are not “Sola Scriptura.” They were the attempts of the theologians, under the influence of a Roman Catholic background, to reform Roman Catholic Doctrine.

Roman Catholic Doctrine is what they Reformed. Theologians of that time Reformed Roman Catholic thinking to better match the Scriptures. Most of the reformation theologians were born, baptized, confirmed, and raised as Roman Catholics in the Roman Church. Many had received “Holy Orders” prior to changing their stand. The reformation was not a truly “Sola Scriptura” stance, but it was closer to standing on the Scriptures alone than what the Roman Catholic Church teaches.

Now, back to Unconditional Election. The quoted paragraph gives some light into the Calvinist understanding of the Sovereignty of God. To the Calvinist, God’s Sovereign means there is only one “will of God”. There can be no other will, or violation of God’s Will, because it would mean God is not in total control. Calvinists define God’s Sovereignty as an authoritative dictatorship.

In Unconditional Election there can be no resistance to the Will of God, because EVERYTHING happens by God’s design and influence to make it happen in a particular way. Verses where Jesus, or God, wanted one thing to happen and another thing happened, does not fit in their view of the Sovereignty of God. When a verse does not fit their theology, it must be ignored, discarded, or redefined.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matthew 23:37

How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: Proverbs 1:22-25

According to Calvinists, man’s sin is a result of God’s will, not man’s choices in violation of God’s will. In Unconditional Election, everlasting fire is a part of God’s plan for some men although it contradicts Scripture. Matthew 25:40-41 says it was prepared for the devil and his angels and 2Peter 3:9 says the Lord is not willing that ANY perish.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:40-41

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Peter 3:9

Any time you use man’s catechisms and confessions as the basis of doctrine, instead of Scripture, you will err. In the first sentence the writer claims it is the good pleasure of God to send some people to hell. Where do the Scriptures say that? God enjoys sending people to hell? “Sola Scriptura”? Are we to believe since God is Sovereign and since everything that happens is His plan then God is never grieved? What about Mark 3:5 that says Jesus was grieved because of the hardness of their hearts? What about the passages like Psalms 78:40 that says God was grieved for 40 years by the children of Israel while they were in the desert? Even Genesis 6:6 says the wickedness of man grieved Him at His heart.

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Mark 3:5

But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. Psalms 78:38-41

1Chronicles 29:17 says God has pleasure in uprightness. Psalm 5:4-6 says God does NOT have pleasure in wickedness but hates all workers of iniquity. Are we to rewrite this passage to say God enjoys the destruction of the workers of iniquity? That is not what it says. It grieves God to have to destroy people because of their wickedness.

I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. 1Chronicles 29:17

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. Psa 5:4-6

The God of Scriptures is not one who enjoys the destruction of the wicked but the redemption of the wicked. Look at what Ezekiel says:

But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Eze 18:21-23

Study the Scriptures and give me one reference, Old or New Testament, that says (in proper context) that God is pleased to send man to hell. There isn’t one. Unconditional Election is a fabrication based upon catechisms and confessions.

The second sentence said, “In eternity, God has predetermined the course of everything and everyone.” This is what I call Doris Day Theology. “Que Sera Sera what ever will be will be” It is the theology of Christian Fatalism. It involves the Islamic concept of fate but they attempt to dress it in Christian regalia.

This theology is destructive in that it leads the person to believe they have no choice about their condition. According to Calvinism, if a Christian does not have a close relationship with Christ it is because your relationship was predetermined to not be close. If you are a Calvinist and you are reading this article, God has determined before the world began that I show you the errors of Calvinism.

In the fourth sentence of their creed they again contradict their own theology. They said, “Men are unconditionally elected by God for His purposes without any prior works (good or evil) by which God would judge them good or evil.” In the Calvinistic definition of Total Depravity, man can not have any good works prior to salvation. According to their own explanation, “Depravity of the heart is completely extensive so that the creature (us), cannot will to do any good. All we do is evil.” Their fourth sentence should read, “…without any prior bad works by which God would judge them evil.”

Now we arrive at the single point where most non-Calvinists have their problem. Many non-Calvinists believe you can embrace the other points of Calvinism and leave this one out. I have even interviewed Calvinists who have a hard time with this doctrine and would rather call it “Special Atonement”. It still has the same meaning and theology, they just don’t like the harshness of the title “Limited”. Whatever you call it, Limited Atonement is a indivisible link in this chain of Calvinism.

Here’s what they say from www.apuritansmind.com.

Limited Atonement
Limited atonement is that fundamental Christian doctrine which states that Jesus Christ came and died for a limited number of people. He did not die, or redeem, every individual for all of time, but for some individuals, i.e. His sheep. He died for some people, and secured the salvation of those people through his death which took away their sin and imputed His own righteousness to them. It is true, as the Scriptures state, that he died for "all men" (defined) and that God loves "the whole world" (defined). In these cases "all men" does not mean every individual inclusively. Nor does it necessarily follow that Christ died for the whole world because God loves the whole world inclusively. Jesus secured the salvation of those for whom He gave his life, and for those God imputes His righteousness upon them. Jesus does not infallibly secure the salvation of all men, for thence, all men would be saved.

The error, again, is found in their opening salvo, calling Limited Atonement “that fundamental Christian doctrine”. This doctrine is definitely not fundamental to Christianity. This concoction can only be found in the warped imagination of a person following man’s creeds, instead of the Bible. Jesus only dying for the chosen is nowhere supported in scripture. The only reason for this doctrine of Limited Atonement is to mold God’s grace and love, so it fits within the confines of Unconditional Election.

Jesus did not, “die for all men (defined),” He died for ALL men (and women). God does not, “love the whole world (defined),” He loves the WHOLE WORLD. In violation of Proverbs 30:6, they place qualifiers where the scriptures are silent. In fact, that whole sentence is contradictory.

In the beginning they say, “It is true, as the Scriptures state,” and then they say, ““all men” (defined)” and ““the whole world” (defined)”. Apparently, it is not “as the Scriptures state,” because the scriptures do not have the hidden meaning they impose. They try to have it both ways. They want the scriptures to be true, and they want Limited Atonement to be true, this cannot be.

Just because Jesus offers salvation to all, does not mean all have accepted His offer. Their last sentence says, “Jesus does not infallibly secure the salvation of all men, for thence, all men would be saved.” This sentence should read, “Jesus does infallibly secure the salvation of all men, therefore, all men could be saved.”

In Luke 5:32, Jesus clearly refutes this Calvinist theology when He said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” If they were chosen from the foundation of the world, they would be the righteous. Jesus came to call (not force), sinners (not just chosen sinners), to repentance (something they do to become saved). What more proof do you need than the words of the Saviour Himself?

Another point to ponder along this same line is found in John 1. We are told Jesus made all things and that if He didn’t make it, it doesn’t exist. Did Jesus make all things or only a select few things? I understand the Greek word “pas” can be used in more than one way, but even with that understanding look at these same uses of the same Greek word.

References
John 1:7 that all men through him might believe
John 1:9 which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
John 1:16 of his fullness have all we received (“all” here is tempered by “we” to make it limited)
John 2:24 Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,
John 3:8 so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. (again “all” is understood in light of the rest of the sentence.)
John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish (Are we to understand that “whosoever” means a limited, chosen few? – Hogwash.)
John 3:16 so loved the world (cosmos), that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, (a limited chosen few?)
John 3:20 for everyone that doeth evil hateth the light
John 3:31 He that cometh from above is above all: …he that cometh from heaven is above all.

How can anyone, especially a learned theologian, look through the book of John and come to the conclusion that atonement is limited to a select few?

Books could be written on this subject, but it is enough to say, Limited Atonement is a man made invention. An Unlimited God has no Limited Atonement.

Look at 1 John 2:1-2, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

He is the continual payment for our sins (saved people): and not for ours (saved people) only, but also for the sins of the WHOLE WORLD (not saved people too) (holos kosmos). A pardon isn’t an executed pardon, until it is accepted by the guilty party.

The next heresy in this chain of Calvinism is called Irresistible Grace. They say:

Irresistible Grace
Since grace is undeserved by any person, Irresistible Grace teaches that when the Spirit of God is sent to change a person's heart, that person cannot resist the change. This is when the Spirit of God applies the work of Christ to the soul. This does not mean that the person is unwilling to be changed because the Spirit of God is "fighting against them", rather the Spirit changes the heart of stone to beat as a heart of flesh. The change opens the eyes of the spiritually blind to the work of Christ. It is that which the Spirit of God does on his own, previous to any act of man. The Spirit of God will accomplish what He is sent out to do and will not be frustrated in His work of changing the sinner's heart.

Well they got the first phrase right, but after that first comma, it goes down-hill fast. God’s grace is undeserved by anyone, but is it irresistible? Notice again, from the first sentence they use man made doctrine to do the teaching, and not the God-breathed scriptures.

Let me clarify a few issues. This statement says that man has no choice. Man does not choose Christ, Christ chooses man. Man is saved even before he realizes he is lost. Notice how they say it, “It is that which the Spirit of God does on his own, previous to any act of man.” There is no repentance, no conversion, no calling on the Lord for salvation. The Holy Spirit, according to Irresistible Grace, is the one sent to save the chosen, and they will be saved, even if they do not yet realize it.

Here again let us bring up a previously quoted event from scripture: In Matthew 23:37, or Luke 13:34, Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” Does this sound like the absence of grace, or the resistance of God’s grace? Resistance, of course.

How about 2Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Does this qualify for Irresistible Grace? No way. How about, Immutable Grace, a grace that is patiently calling and waiting for all to come and repent. Will all come? No, and this in no way infringes upon the sovereignty of God. God desires, but does not force, man’s repentance. God sovereignly created man with the ability to freely choose. Man’s exercise of his God given ability does not reduce God’s power.

We are empowered to choose, right or wrong, and to bear the consequences of our choice. To make God’s grace irresistible we reduce salvation to nothing more than automation. It is Lotto Theology and salvation is the big prize for which we hope we are chosen. Scripturally speaking, Lotto Theology doesn’t have a chance of standing in light of Scripture.

The final point of Calvinism as listed on www.apuritansmind.com is Perseverance of the Saints. They say:

Perseverance of the Saints
Perseverance of the Saints does not mean "once saved always saved". This corruption of the doctrine has been popular in recent years, but has never been a true representation of the doctrine. "Once saved always saved" is more keenly given the name "Perseverance of the sinner" instead of "the saint". For it teaches that man can be saved by Christ and then sin habitually, do whatever he wants, and then still "persevere to the end". Perseverance of the saints does not teach this. Perseverance of the saints teaches that once God has renewed the heart of a sinner through the application of the redemption wrought by Christ upon the cross, he will continue to be saved and show forth the fruits of that salvation. The sinner perseveres because of Christ, but he continually shows himself as one who has been changed by Christ. God has saved the individual and will sanctify him until the end when he is ultimately glorified, and in heaven. It does not mean man has a license to sin. Those who think they have a license to sin are not changed and saved by grace. They are still in sin. Those who are saved by grace and changed, desire to show forth the fruits of that salvation. God motions the heart to good work, and continues that good work to the end.

I can find common ground only on the first sentence. “Perseverance of the Saints does not mean "once saved always saved".” This is true. Remember, each of the points of Calvinism do not stand alone. Each one leads to the next, and together, they make a whole that is indivisible. People who are not Calvinists usually start here to find some common ground. There isn’t any.

If you read what they are saying, you persevere because of Unconditional Election and Irresistible Grace, not because of the blood of Christ being paid once for all. Whoever wrote this must be confused. I can not believe that any true, non-Calvinist student of the scriptures would believe we are given a license to sin. We have the ability to sin, and we do sin, but we have no license to sin. If anyone would feel a “license to sin” it would be someone who feels chosen. Just see what immunity from prosecution will do for someone. It always leads to criminal actions. People driving on the roads often feel the license to break the traffic laws when they do not see a policeman present.

We do have a license, but it is a license to not sin. 1Corinthians 10:13 says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

That verse gives us the ability to say no to sin. It must also be understood that, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1John 1:8-10

We continue in righteousness, not to be saved, but because we are saved. The saints do persevere, but there are saints that don’t persevere too. Paul writes to warn them:

“If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” 1 Corinthians 3:14-17

It is possible to be a saved person, and have no rewards. Apparently there are some people that persevere better than others. But what happens if the person refuses to persevere? Ezekiel gives us that answer:

“Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezekiel 3:20-21

Notice, when a righteous man uses a “license to sin”, God will not only take him out of the world, but that person will loose his reward as well. What’s that you say? This does not apply because it is in the Old Testament? Look at what Paul told the Ephesian elders:

“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Acts 20:26-27

Paul here uses the same blood illustration and places himself under this Old Testament passage. Just so no one is left out, the passage also includes the unrighteous man too. (Ezekiel 3:18-19)

The TULIP of Calvinism is a deadly flower. It can rob you of rewards, it can divide friendships, and it can even split churches. It’s seed is being spread by some of the most unlikely places and we need to lay hold firmly to Biblical Doctrine and not give heed to seducing spirits that call us to another gospel.

We need to heed the admonition found in Galatians: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9

If you are a Calvinist or if you are considering the claims of Calvinists, Puritans, or Reformed Theology, here are a few questions:

Why do we have a Bible? What would be the purpose in telling everyone the plan of Salvation and how to live? Since according to your theology it is not a book for Salvation, is it only to be considered a history book or a book of poetry?

Are you chosen? How do you KNOW? What if you only think you are? How can you tell the difference? Is it just because you do good? What about Matthew 7:22-23, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

If you give an invitation to salvation, why do you? In an invitation, aren’t you just taunting the un-chosen with the salvation he can never get?

Why are we called to evangelize? Why taunt the unsaved with that which they can never have, even if they want it?

Was David lying or guessing when he said, “But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2Samuel 12:23? Do you really believe there are infants burning in hell?

I stand with our Calvinist brothers when it comes to the Diety of Christ, or the Trinity. But when we start talking about the availability of salvation and the meaning of sin ~ the Calvinists are way outside the camp.

What about a Communist America?

Did you ever think a frog could teach a person about compromise? It’s true. Frogs are similar to people with how they accept small changes to their environment without feeling the need to do something about it. In fact, you may even cook a frog with its permission.

A person may take a frog and place it into a pan of room temperature water and the frog will be satisfied. If the temperature is increased gradually, the frog will stay in the water until the water boils and it is cooked. If a frog were thrown into boiling water it would protest violently. The trick is to make slight changes to the water temperature over time.

There are many ways this illustration parallels our lives. We live in a world of change and change is a necessary part of life. Change is not always bad but there are changes that will lead to a more blessed life, and changes that will lead to disaster. Blessing or disaster will depend on the choices we make and what we choose to resist.

Sometimes we do not realize the distance we have drifted off course until someone shows us where that path is going.

We know the world is moving down the path toward one-world government. This future government will have one leader, a president of the World, you might say. This future government will be in complete control so that no man may buy or sell anything without governmental approval. We know these things by what we read in the Bible.

The last part of Revelation 13:3 says, “And all the world marveled and followed the beast.”

The whole world will follow this one world ruler. In the same chapter, verses 7 and 8 says,

“It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

The one world ruler will make war against the Christians. Christians will be counted as if they were terrorists and killed. The unsaved people will worship the one world ruler and wonder why the Christians do not.

Revelation 13:16-17 says, “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

This event will seem normal. Anyone refusing the mark will be severely punished and eventually killed.

In this not too future world, there will be no private property. The government will own all property and will regulate its use. There will have to be a central bank controlled by the government. Transportation will also be government controlled as well as farms and factories. A government like this will not come cheap. There will be a heavy tax placed upon the people with the wealthier people paying a greater percent of the tax.

Does this world of the future seem vastly different from the time where we now live? Would it surprise you to know this world of the future was being planned from before 1848? In 1848 Karl Marx wrote “The Communist Manifesto” and it was translated into English and edited by Friedrich Engels in 1888. This Communist Manifesto had 10 steps to make any country truly communist.

These ten steps are:
1. Abolition of privately owned real estate and all rent of the land goes to public purposes.
(Our current system of property taxation requires the owner to pay the government rent (taxes) to "own" the property. Don’t pay your rent and you will be evicted from your own land.)

2. A heavy progressive or graduated income tax. (We are heavily taxed now.)

3. Abolition of all right of inheritance. (Currently, we double tax someone's inheritance, once when the giver makes it, (income tax) and once more when we receive it. (inheritance tax))

4. Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels. (Emigrants currently do not have property confiscated, but anyone considered a rebel does. In some states you may have cash and property seized by the police, without a trial, and without a conviction, if there is a suspicion of a drug related crime.)

5. Centralization of credit in the hands of the state by means of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive monopoly. (The Federal Reserve Bank is currently privately owned but notice how this almost directly quotes the Bible.)

6. Centralization of communication and transportation in the hands of the State. (We are not there yet, but again notice how this is foretold by Scripture.)

7. Increase the number of factories owned by the State and make a government plan for the improvement of the soil and wastelands. (We do not have government owned factories but we have given our National Parks to the government of the United Nations to protect and oversee.)

8. Equal liability of all to labor. Establishment of industrial and agricultural armies. (Ever heard of OSHA or the EPA? These are the government enforcement arms inside the industrial and agricultural fields.)

9. Combine agriculture with industry. Gradual abolition of distinction between town and country, by a more equitable distribution of the population. (Ever heard of the suburbs? Suburbs spread the population more into the country.)

10. Free education for all children in public schools. (Currently public school education is not mandatory for every child, praise God. Private schools and home schools are still allowed to exist, but there seems to be more and more restrictions every year. There will be a time when only public government schools will have the permission (certification) to teach.)

Do you feel threatened by the way America is going and the coming one world government? Did you realize how close we are to it? These events should make you rejoice to know, the Lord will soon arrive.

When you are at work, and working hard at what you are paid to do, it is not a problem for the boss to come around and watch you. If you are slacking when the boss comes, you will be embarrassed. We are responsible to do what Christ has commanded in a way that brings Him honor and glory. We need to be always ready because we don't know when our Master will return.

What is the Cost of a Casino?

Wow, God is not finished with America yet! We won major victories recently: Book of Daniel is off the air! The local man breaking into churches was captured and is in jail! Judge Alito was confirmed to the Supreme Court! The President Casino is still in bankruptcy and has been for over 3 years. The city of St. Louis has made parking prices increase around the casino from under $2.00 to nearly $25.00. The President Casino’s revenues are continuing to decline. If we don’t go – they can’t get our money.

There is much that has been done and much to celebrate, but the work is not finished yet. Pinnacle Casinos still have plans to build 3 more casinos in the St. Louis metro area. Their River City casino complex will be built in our own back yard. These are the same guys that have been found repeatedly guilty of flying prostitutes in from other states to “entertain” rich gamblers. Watch for their golf tournaments because these events are used to cover many illegal and godless activities.

What does gambling cost us? In fiscal year 2002 Missouri residents gambled and lost $1,212,125,485 to the casinos. That’s 1 BILLION, 212 MILLION dollars. Imagine if that money was placed into the rescue missions, homeless shelters, free clinics, and schools. Just the tithe on that money would be over 121 MILLION dollars.

Calculating a 20% state tax on that money, the casinos paid $242,425,097 to the state. That is a lot of tax money just from gambling, but what was the social cost to the state?

According to a university study (details available upon request) the cost for each pathological gambler is $13,586. That does not sound like much until you look at the whole picture. The population in our state at that time was 3,997,000 people. The pathological gambler rate is 1.5% of the population. That means, that same year (2002), there were 59,586 pathological gamblers the state was servicing. Multiply 13,586 dollars for each of the 59,586 pathological gamblers, you find the state of Missouri used $814,548,630 to treat the effects of their gambling addiction.

Remember how much the casinos paid in taxes? ($242,425,097) Compare that to what it cost the state to service only the pathological gamblers ($814,548,630). That means the casinos cost the state of Missouri $572,123,533. Add that number to the actual money lost by Missouri citizens at the casinos ($1,212,125,485) and you get a better picture of the cost of the casinos ($1,784,249,018).

Is it worth it? 1 BILLION, 784 MILLION dollars missing from our economy? This number does not reflect the spiritual and moral cost we pay for allowing this sin to continue.

Please visit the bulletin board outside the church office and see which county council members voted for the casinos. These council members voted against the majority of the population, although the majority of the population voiced strong opposition to the casinos. Let’s not forget to “reward” these council members when it comes time to vote. Your vote does make a difference.

In First Timothy 6:8-11 the Bible says:
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Our state motto is: “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law.” Is it?

What about Gambling?

"For years, our economy has depended almost exclusively on tourism and gaming [gambling], rather than by exporting goods and services. Three out of every four of our tax dollars are collected from sales and gaming taxes; taxes vulnerable to swings in the economy. … Implicit in this tax strategy was a belief that the revenues from gaming and tourism could keep pace with our growing and diverse population. Unfortunately, this strategy has failed. … My fellow Nevadans, the lesson from the last 20 years is clear; our revenue system is broken because it has relied on regressive and unstable taxes [from gambling]."
2003 State of the State Address, Gov. Kenny Guinn, Nevada

Gambling is an issue that attacks from a multiple front. It casts its destructive shadow on politics, local communities, schools, families, and even churches. Everyone pays when gambling comes in.

Here are a few conclusions contained in a report from the National Council on Problem Gambling, a government commission investigation into gambling:

“Nevada regularly reports the highest rate of suicide among all 50 states.”

“53.5 percent of identified pathological gamblers reported having been divorced, versus 18.2 percent of non-gamblers.”

“Individuals with gambling problems seem to constitute a higher percentage of the homeless population.”

“One domestic violence counselor from Harrison County, Mississippi, testified that a shelter there reported a 300 percent increase in the number of requests for domestic abuse intervention after the arrival of casinos.”

“Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr. has likewise reported a linkage between expanded gambling and increases in domestic violence in numerous locales.”

“Children of compulsive gamblers are often prone to suffer abuse, as well as neglect, as a result of parental problem or pathological gambling. The Commission heard testimony of numerous cases in which parents or a caretaker locked children in cars for an extended period of time while they gambled. In at least two cases, the children died.”

“Local government becomes “a dependent partner in the business of gambling.”

“What has made it complex is the fact that along with the real benefits of gambling, come equally undeniable and significant costs. This Commission heard testimony about the growing numbers of individuals suffering from problem and pathological gambling, which often results in bankruptcy, crime, suicide, divorce, or abuse.”
http://govinfo.library.unt.edu/ngisc/reports/7.pdf
National Gambling Impact Study Commission Report Gambling’s Impacts on People and Places

I remember an old song my mother enjoyed called, “How much is that doggie in the window?” To get the doggie, a price had to be paid. Gambling is one doggie that has too high of a price tag. Gambling is expensive in many ways. More wives and children will be beaten, more family members will commit suicide, more families will declare bankruptcy, and more children will be abandoned because of gambling.

Will gambling give some benefit to the community? Just like poisoned water will quench the thirst of a thirsty man, but it’s the arsenic in the water that will kill him. The cost of drinking the water is the pain suffered from the poison it contains. Such is the case with gambling. Cool, clear, poisonous water.

This brings us to the question: Is gambling sin? What does the Bible have to say about gambling? Is “casting lots” the same as gambling?

When you can not directly find a topic in the Bible you have to do a little research. First inspect itsroots, what is generating the event, and the fruit, what comes as a result of the event.
What are the roots of gambling? Biblical Love, Joy, and Peace? NO. What draws people to the gambling tables is covetousness and greed. Every person is drawn to the casinos with the hope of coming home with more money than they took. James says:

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:14-15

Godliness can not be found in the root of gambling but what about the fruit of gambling? Compare the fruit of gambling to the fruit of the Spirit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Is there more love, joy, and peace in a community after the casinos arrive? No.

Now compare the fruit from gambling to the works of the flesh:

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21

Secondly, is gambling found in the Bible? Yes. The only time we see gambling happening in the Bible is when the Roman soldiers used casting lots to divide the clothes of Jesus under the cross. Not a very spiritual event. Casting lots was used by pagans to gamble.

Is casting lots the same as gambling? No. Casting lots can be used to gamble just like a penny can be flipped to gamble but that is not the purpose of the object. Casting lots was used in both Old and New Testaments to discern God’s choice. It was used by both godly and ungodly people. The priests used lots to decide issues or to select the scapegoat. The sailors used lots to discover Jonah was the reason for the problems. God never instructed His people to use lots for gambling. Lots were always used to discover the mind of God on various issues.

The last time casting lots was used, it replaced Judas with Matthias. This was wrong because God had already chosen Saul (Paul) as the Apostle called out of due season to be the 12th Apostle. Lots can be misunderstood and misinterpreted. If the disciples would have let one of the lots represent no one, they would have been more accurate with their decision from casting lots. Either way there is never a case where lots were cast by God’s people to make a wager.1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says,

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”

When you are a new creature in Christ you change and become different from the world. You must exist in the world but you are not of the world. Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world.

What about opposition?

When I was in training to become a certified Project Manager we had to learn about the strength, influence, and process of negotiation. We also learned about the use and authority of an agent. Agents are representatives of someone or something with the authority necessary to do the job. Agents are also found in the spiritual realm. Angels are agents on God’s behalf.

People can be agents too. People can be agents to accomplish God’s work or to hinder it. People can be either agents of God’s Kingdom or of Satan’s forces by what they choose to do. In our Christmas musical we heard that Christmas is a story about choices. That is true, but our choices don’t just happen at Christmas.

Everyday we are faced with hundreds of choices. These choices will either align us with God’s goals and plans or Satan’s. We can know God’s plans and His heart by reading and studying the Bible. The Bible teaches us about the decisions we should make when faced with a choice.

In addition to daily choices, there are larger issues we will either influence toward love and righteousness, or we will choose to leave it alone. The Bible is clear – to not make a choice is to choose. It is true with salvation. To not choose Heaven is to choose Hell. To delay doing the right thing is to choose the wrong thing.

When Nehemiah was moved by God to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem, he had to make several choices. To delay would have been sin. Nehemiah had to approach the king of the same country that came and destroyed Jerusalem, and carried its people into slavery and exile. Nehemiah was terrified to speak, but he knew what he had to do. The tension of the situation made Nehemiah depressed and the king noticed his sad disposition. The king asked why Nehemiah was so depressed – it had never happened before. (That’s a good model for us to follow.)

Nehemiah told the king about the state of Jerusalem and what he wanted to do. Notice how it happened:

And I said to the king, Let the king live forever. Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire? And the king said to me, For what do you ask? So I prayed to the God of Heaven, and I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I pray that you would send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, so that I may build it. Nehemiah 2:3-5

Nehemiah prayed and spoke to the king. These days we call this, “multi-tasking”. Nehemiah placed his faith in God, then he took courage, and did what was necessary.

God wanted Jerusalem rebuilt. Nehemiah was working to setup the logistics and plans to get the job done. The king was willing to support the project with funding, materials, and time off with pay, for Nehemiah to get the job done. Wow! Seems like nothing can go wrong, until Nehemiah arrives in Judah. Look what happens next:

And I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. And the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. And Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard. And it grieved them very much that there had come a man to seek the good of the sons of Israel. Nehemiah 2:9-10

It grieved Sanballat and Tobiah that Jerusalem was going to be rebuilt. Because of their attitudes and actions Sanballat and Tobiah were acting as the agents of Satan. There is not enough room here to explain everything that happened in the book of Nehemiah, but notice, for every person acting as an agent of righteousness there are Sanballats and Tobiahs waiting to hinder the work. They don’t want to use their resources to help someone else. They will gossip and back stab to get their way. They will look like us, but they are not truly one of us.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 7:15

In the years to come we will be given many opportunities to be agents of righteousness. We will have opportunities with those in our own neighborhood, people across the nation, and around the world. When the time comes to make a decision about what to do, use the phrase – “What Would Jesus Do?” Would Jesus help the people of Pass Christian, MS? Would Jesus stand against gambling? Would Jesus show compassion to the homeless and hungry? We will be someone’s agent, who’s agent are you?

What about Tithing?

“Come on, I dare you!”

I imagine you have either said that or have heard it some time in your life. It is a challenge to do something someone else is giving you as a test of courage. Sometimes these challenges are to do good things and sometimes it isn’t. “I dare you to jump off the roof,” is usually not a good dare. “I dare you to read your Bible daily,” is a wonderful dare.

Did you know God gives dares? That’s right, God dares us to do something. God says it this way, “Prove Me.” It is just like God saying, “Test Me,” or “Check Me out and see if I am lying to you or not, I dare you!” There is only one area of our total lives where God dares us to prove Him and that is with our money.

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts."
Malachi 3:10-12

Tithing is as much a part of Christian living as is praying or studying the Bible. In fact tithing is the only area where God says to try Him. God promises if we tithe we will receive much more than we give.

When we tithe God will:

1) open the windows of heaven to us and pour out a blessing so large there is not room to receive it all;

2)God will also rebuke the devourer – things will not decay or be used up as fast and our labor will have a greater and sweeter yield; and

3)we will be called blessed by others as a testimony of what God has given us for our obedience. How can you go wrong with promises like that?

What is a tithe?

Giving to God can be classified as either a tithe or an offering. The first tithes recorded in the Bible were given by Abraham to the Jewish Priest King Melchizedek.

As you may remember Abraham and Lot came into a disagreement and Lot chose to live in the well watered valley of Sodom and Abraham chose to live in the desert valley to the east. Lot camped close enough to Sodom he could see the town every morning when he came out of his tent.

There was a band of warriors from the north that came down and raided Sodom. Lot lived close enough he was raided too. Lot and his family were taken captive by the warriors along with the people, the king, and the things stolen from Sodom. Abraham heard about the raids and took a large group of his servants to fight the warriors and free his nephew. Abraham and his men caught up to the warriors and God gave Abraham the victory. Abraham found a nearby Priest – King to offer thanks to God for the victory.

Abraham gave Melchizedek one animal out of every animal that had been recovered. He also gave him one pound of gold and silver for every ten pounds recovered. Additionally Abraham gave a price to God for every person rescued. Abraham had additional possessions at home, but he tithed off the increase of the victory given to him by God.

Tithing is not the only way to give. After we give 10% of our increase we are then able to give offerings. Offerings are additional gifts we give in addition to the tithe. Offerings don’t start until the tithe has been given. Once the tithe is paid the offering can begin. Tithes are required, offerings are love gifts. Tithes come to your local church to support the mission it has in the community. Offerings go to special projects and events as God burdens your heart to help. Once given both the tithe and the offering are no longer yours. You are not to receive a benefit from the place where you put your tithes and offerings.

It may be easier to understand it in light of the Old Testament system of offering animals. A family would raise crops or animals to make a living. They would then take the very best they had and bring it to the temple to be offered to the Lord. When the animal or grain was brought to the temple, the priest would take a portion of the meat and grain to eat himself. The rest of the gift, except for the unclean parts, would be burned in the fire to God. When the family gave the lamb there was no benefit to the family, except for the joy of giving. The family had to release the animal completely to the priest. They could not direct who, what, when, where or how the gift was to be used. The whole animal may be burned or it may go to feed the priests. Once the gift was given, the family had no power over it.

Often when we speak of tithes and offerings many people only apply it to money. Money is to be tithed and offered to God as gifts but we are to tithe other things as well. We should tithe our time. We are to give God one day out of every seven. We should tithe our talent.

We need to donate our God given abilities to minister to people, this would include our singing, reading, listening, encouragement, and discernment. We can even make offerings of praise, thanksgiving, and testimony.

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Hebrews 13:15

God is not just in us giving but in us giving properly. A gift given with the improper attitude does not have the same reward as gifts given the right way.

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

We are also to have a right heart attitude toward our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Jesus said:

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23-24

God loves us and wants to bless us. Many times we get in the way of God’s blessing with our lack of faith and our disobedience. Test God and see what He will do for you in this new year. This year make your resolve to be a cheerful giver of tithes and offerings.

Which way are you looking?

This article was originally written in December of 2005

Christmas time is here again. I trust you had a great Thanksgiving and are looking forward to a fantastic Christmas. I am sure there will be several wanted items under the tree and great time of sharing with the family. This Christmas marks the 12th Christmas since my Mom went home with the Lord and the 11th Christmas since my Dad passed away. My parents were not just parents but friends as well and I miss them very much. I can see a picture, hear a sound, or smell an aroma and memories of them will come rushing in, uninvited. It seems at those times that the hands of time turn backwards and I expect to hear their voice again.

I have had to change my perspective over the years from looking back to looking forward. When I look back I remember good times, but that just makes me miss them more. When I miss them I become depressed and feel lonely. It does not make sense for a guy with a loving wife and eight great children to feel lonely but if I dwell on what I don’t have, but it can happen.

If I permit that feeling to grow, it can influence every part of my being. My physical, mental, and spiritual health suffers from the dark cloud I have permitted to stay. Not only does it impact my present condition but it clouds the horizon of my future. It becomes hard to see what the next step should be and harder to find the energy to do it.

Looking back is dangerous. It cost Lot’s wife her life when she looked back at the things she was leaving behind. Although her sons and her daughters-in-law were being destroyed in Sodom, God said to keep looking forward. She paid for her disobedience with her life.

In Genesis 19:17 it says:
"So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."

""But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt."
Genesis 19:26

God tells us today the same thing in Luke:

“And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."”
Luke 9:61-62

And in Philippians 3:13–14, Paul says it this way:

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Everyday, I have a choice to live in the past or press ahead. Looking back I miss people but looking forward I become excited at seeing them and our Saviour. Looking ahead keeps focused on what is important. What do you need to do today, what can you do today, to earn rewards in heaven? Which way are you looking?

Beyond thinking about which way you are looking, what are you doing? What can you do today that will put a smile on Jesus’ face? What can you do to encourage someone else to look up and look to the Lord of Comfort and Hope. What can you do?

What about the Eucharist?

This article was origianlly written in September of 2005.

It’s about that time again. It seems like the year just gets started and it’s Fall already. We barely get hot and the summer is over. Where did it all go?

It seems the retail industry can’t wait to introduce us to the next holiday. Back-to-School sales barely end before Halloween candy appears. The Halloween costumes are still on the rack when the Christmas items appear. The children are taught art of indulgence.

For Back-to-School, children do not have to make their own wish list – the school has done it for them. Parents oblige the desires of the school, and the child, by purchasing everything on the list, and a little extra.

Halloween comes and the child is taught to say, “Trick or Treat” when everyone really knows it means, “Gimme some candy.” While the child is still gorging himself on the Halloween candy we start asking them what they want for Christmas. To the undisciplined child, Christmas is just a second birthday party so they can continue to be self-absorbed.

Isn’t there something missing? What happened to Thanksgiving? What happened to stopping the whole retail driven buying spree and saying, “Thank you.”? And not saying thank you to the sky, clouds, and trees but to thank God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.

What do we teach our family about the importance of giving thanks to our God? Do you spend more time, effort, and money on Halloween than on Thanksgiving? Should you? What are your children learning from your actions?

Our God desires, and deserves, our thanks – every day. Thanksgiving is a great time to show the world how a Christian appreciates the one and only God.
In New Testament Greek the word that is most often used for giving thanks is: “Eucharisteo” (yoo-khar-is-teh'-o).

The Catholic church uses the word, "Eucharist" often. They define the Eucharist as the time when the bread and wine of the mass become the literal body and blood of Christ to be sacrificed again for the sin of man. (The Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (December 4, 1963), esp. ch. 2, on the Eucharist).

Because of this wholesale takeover of the word Eucharisteo we as Baptists have resigned the fight and therefore the word has been redefined. If we go back to the Bible and research the word we would find there is no fight and no need to give up a perfectly biblical word.

The first use of the word Eucharisteo in the New Testament is found in Matthew 15:36 when Jesus gives thanks (Eucharisteo) to God the Father for the seven loaves and the fish he was about to feed to the more than four thousand people gathered that day.

“And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, (Eucharisteo) broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.” Matthew 15:36

I don’t believe the Catholic church uses fish as a part of their Eucharist. Another time Eucharisteo was used was when the one leper returned to give thanks to Jesus for being healed in Luke 17:15-17.

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?”

The term Eucharisteo is also used in a negative way as found in Luke 18:10-11: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.”

The Pharisee said thanks but was not truly thankful. His heart was corrupt and his motive in prayer was to brag and not praise or thank. In the Gospels the word Eucharisteo was most used by Jesus. Jesus thanked God for food prior to eating and for hearing His prayer prior to raising Lazarus from the dead.

This Thanksgiving why not use the occasion to launch a year of daily Biblical Eucharist. Pray daily and often. Pray a prayer of thanksgiving prior to every meal, even when you are by yourself. Pray prayers of thanksgiving for the everyday things (air, water, health, family, church, job). It has become a cliché but it can be said again, "pray and live your life with the attitude of gratitude."

First Thessalonians 5:16-18 says:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; (Eucharisteo) for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

What is Church Growth?

What is church growth? What constitutes the growth of the church?

Jesus said, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Matthew 16:18.

We understand Jesus was not going to build His Church on a human, but upon the rock of the confession Peter made: “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

The church is built upon Jesus Christ; and not people, not government, not even hell can prevail against it. Jesus’ church continually grows. The church of Jesus Christ has been growing since it began at Pentecost and has not slowed down since.

So why don’t we experience this growth in our church?
That is the problem. Did you see it? Look at the question again because therein is the answer. The question asks why we do not experience growth in our church. In OUR church. That’s the problem.

We have taken possession of the church and made it our church. It is not ours. We belong to the church, the church does not belong to us. Jesus is the owner and the leader, we are members and followers. The church is not a club for the advancement of good feelings. The church is a spiritual place of evangelism, growth, and healing.

What if we really took the Great Commission as an order from our Commanding Officer?

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

What if at the beginning of the year each church member deposited $100.00 into an account with the church. And what if, at the end of the year, you could get back your money by proving you went, taught, and baptized people into the church in obedience to the Great Commission. How many of our people would qualify to get their money back? Would you?

Is it your church, or do you belong to His Church? Have you been overcome by the eight myths of church membership? John S. Powers while the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, VA wrote what he saw as eight myths of church membership. Let’s take a close look at each one and see if you have been fooled by any of them.

Myth One: The church is a volunteer organization.
The average church member has been led to believe that activity within a local church is strictly voluntary, meaning members can come, give, share and participate as they please. Church rolls have too long carried the weight of inactive and spiritually immature people who wrongly believe they may do as little as possible and still remain part of the local church.

Myth Two: We should use guilt to enlist people.
How many people have been recruited to serve by means of guilt-ridden phrases such as "If you love Jesus, you will serve in our preschool"? Any person who serves the Lord out of a sense of guilt loses the joy of ministry.