The Undershepherd's Observations

Where is America Going?

2011-08-24T13:06:00.002-05:00

At one time one of our mottos was “Land of the Free, Home of the Brave.” Are we? Really? If we are free, why is there no longer private property? That’s right. There is no truly private property in America. Please allow me to explain.

Ownership is determined by several components. One of the major components of ownership is the power to destroy. Not power as in strength, but power as in authority. If I own a chair, I am free to destroy it. If I own an article of clothing I am free to destroy it. Destruction of property is reserved to the owner of the property. Someone else may destroy your property but they would owe you for the destruction of your property.

Now lets consider taxes. We are bound by both law and God to pay our taxes. We are to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. When in 1819, Chief Justice John Marshall observed in McCulloch v. Maryland, “The power to tax is the power to destroy,” it should have set off some major warning bells about private ownership of property, if the property is taxed.

What do we own that is not taxed? Additionally, when our private property is taxed on an annual basis, are we nothing more than holders of the property and not owners of it? When my forefathers came to this land from Wales, they were true property owners. There was no property tax, and they could dispose of it in any method they wanted. They could improve it, plant trees, cut trees, build a house, or just let it lay with no obligation to the government.

Today the government, through the power of taxation, zoning and permits, has become the owner. Pay your taxes and you are permitted to live on the land. Refuse to pay and the government will kick you off and put someone there who will pay. In a sense, the tax has become a payment of rent. We no longer own, we rent. An additional proof of non-ownership is the permission you must have from the government to build or modify a building. In a sense, the “owner” asks permission if he can build an structure, even a shed, on the property before it can be built. Another foreign idea to our forefathers.

Oh, by the way, remember those “wild” animals our forefathers could shoot and eat at any time? They have also become the property of the government. The government regulates all aspects of the previously “wild” animals. Notice again, the aspect of destruction of an item helps you determine who owns it. Every deer, turkey, owl, and skunk is regulated. No animal may be killed unless at government approved times and using government approved methods, unless you are permitted by the government to have a waiver.

One last item, as I think of hunting and gun ownership, I think of the abolition of the Second Amendment. Yes, I said abolition. The Second Amendment says, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” Notice the wording of the second part: “The right of the People to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED.” Just a question: Isn’t requiring a permit, like a CCW or a Concealed Carry Permit, an infringement? Yes, of course it is. Our forefathers understood this Amendment was not a permit from the government but a recognition of a RIGHT given by God. They knew they had the right to carry a weapon, concealed or not, when they wanted. Are not people who agree to getting the permit also agreeing to, or consenting to, the infringement of their Second Amendment right?

There are other amendments being violated too, but I come to the question: So what? What’s the point? The point is understood when you realize government ownership of property and the destruction of the Bill of Rights are all a part of a greater plan. These issues are all connected to a greater goal of a global government, a global economy and the control of the commerce of every human on the planet.

The government of the beast will require every person in the world to join it. Revelation 13:16 says this world government will have the power to force ALL to join it. The America of our forefathers, where private property was truly privately owned, where wild animals were truly wild, and arms could be carried any way they thought best, is no more. Those rights we have surrendered to the government will never be returned, but don't despair.

We don’t need to stock up on gold, guns or ammo. Remember the warning found in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 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;”

What is the best thing you can do to prepare for the future? 1) Get saved, commit your heart and life to Jesus Christ and trust Him to be your King; 2) Get right, repent of your sins and live a life obedient to God’s Word; and 3) Get busy, the world is being overtaken by the evolutionists, they need to be told of the Creation, the Creator and the Coming Judgment.

How Many Gods?

2011-04-12T09:50:00.003-05:00

There are several places in the Bible which seem to imply more than one God. One of the most popular passages is found in Matthew 3:16-17, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Three Gods or one?

What about Revelation 3:21, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Are there two thrones for two Gods or is there only one God?

John 3:16 says, “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.” Since the Son is equal to God and begotten from God, does this make Jesus another God?

A good rule to follow is found in 2 Timothy 2:15-16, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” Another good rule is to allow scripture to explain scripture. If your understanding violates scripture, don’t change the scripture, change your understanding to fit the scripture.

With these rules in mind, how many Gods does the Bible claim? Remember, every passage is written after the existence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The first passage contains one of the most important scriptures in this study: Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Notice the explicit clarity found here. There is one, and only one LORD.

Deuteronomy 4:35 says, “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.” Later in verse 39 it says, “Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.” There is, was and will be none else.

Isaiah 43:10-11, “Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. 11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.” Isaiah 44:6, “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.”

From a careful study of God’s Word it is very clear there is one God, and only one God. The Baptist Faith and Message 2000 says, “There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.” This view of God is supported by a myriad of scriptural references. (See sbc.net for more information.)

Since there is one, and only one God, ever, only and always, how do you explain passages like Matthew 3:16-17, or Revelation 3:21, or John 3:16? One thing you don’t do is make these passages, and passages like them, say there is more than one God. To say God the Father and Jesus are two Gods is to become a polytheist (a worshipper of many Gods), and not a monotheist (a worshipper of one God). This means you have left the ranks of the Baptists, and orthodox theology, and joined the foundation belief of the Mormons. God the Father is God; Jesus, the Word, the Son of God is God; The Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost), is God; there is no division of nature, essence or being, there is one and only one God, not three.

To say God the Father is God and Jesus the Son is God is not to say there are two Gods. David could go into the Tabernacle and say, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” and then write under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” in Psalm 110:1 without contradiction. David knew there is, was, and always will be one, and only one God.

Maybe a couple of New Testament passages will help to make the complexity of God’s character more apparent. Look at John 3:13, “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” Notice this is Jesus speaking of Himself, the Son of man. Where is Jesus saying this? On earth. Where did Jesus say the Son of man was? In heaven. How could Jesus be on earth speaking and yet make this statement true by being in heaven at the same time? Since Jesus is the one and only God in the flesh, He is omnipresent. Although his flesh is limited by matter to a finite area, Jesus’ Spirit was capable of being in all places at the same time.

John 1:48-49 says, “Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” Where was the body of Jesus when he saw Nathanael under the fig tree? Wherever it was, Jesus was not physically with Nathanael under the fig tree. This is only possible if Jesus is omnipresent, a trait of only one Being, the One and Only God.

John 10:30 says, “I and my Father are one.” And yet John 1:18 says, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” Exodus 33:11a says, “And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” And Exodus 33:20 says, “And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” 33:23, “And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.” (If this is the pre-incarnate Christ, why could He not show His face; If this is God the Father, how could a Spirit have a face?) John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Jesus said in John 10:38, “But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” Had enough yet? God doesn’t fit any box.

God, the Only One and True God is loving, just, merciful, infinite, eternal, omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient, gracious, strict, exacting, holy, and He eternally exists in three persons. Let’s accept the fact we will never plumb the depths of the abilities of God’s Being in the fullness of His power, knowledge and presence with our puny finite mind. God is a single Being and yet He is also three persons, not three Gods, one God.

Keep Studying Scripture!

The Book

2010-08-09T10:48:00.001-05:00

Once upon a time there was a book, a very important book. It was important because it was written by the Creator of All Things to His creation. It told the creation about the Creator and what the Creator expected from His creation. A long time ago, the book was a very rare book and very few people had one. It was so rare and so important people would come from miles around just to hear someone read the words of the book. Not just anyone was permitted to read the book, there were special people, Book Teachers, who read the book at special times and only in special places. The Creator wanted people to read the book often so they would understand good from bad and live a good life.

The Creator has an enemy. The enemy is called the Destroyer. The Destroyer hates the book and does not want people to read it. Having only a few books made him happy because he did not want anyone understanding good from bad. The Destroyer saw the people gathering often to hear the words of the Book Teachers and he was not happy. One day the Destroyer came up with a plan. The plan was a sneaky way to get the people distracted from the words of the book.

First, the Destroyer planted an idea in the minds of the Book Teachers. “This book is very special,” the Destroyer whispered in the Book Teacher’s ear. He continued, “It is so special it needs to have a special cover made to protect the book.” The Book Teacher’s eyes lit up and he started designing just the right cover for the book. “After all,” the Book Teacher thought, “this is no ordinary book, it is special.”

In the morning, instead of reading the book like he did each morning, the Book Teacher started designing the book cover. “It must have many expensive metals and stones, and it must have a lock to keep it safe.” Day after day the Book Teacher became more and more excited about making the book cover, and each day he studied the book a little less.

By the end of the week, the people gathered to hear the words of the book, but something was different. Instead of a nice long study of the book, the Book Teacher taught a short lesson and filled the rest of the time with a report on the making of the book cover. All of this made the Destroyer very happy and the Creator very sad.

Week after week the people heard less and less about the words of the book and more and more about the book cover. Finally after many weeks the book cover was done and it was ready to be shown to the people. At the end of the week, the people gathered to hear the words of the book. Instead of teaching the book, the Book Teacher unwrapped the book cover and showed it to all the people. “Oooooooo,” said the people, “look at all the gold and diamonds and rubies.” “I have never seen such a beautiful book cover,” they said, “surly a book cover like that must cover an important book.” But instead of teaching the book, the Book Teacher started explaining about the process of making the book cover.

The Destroyer was never so happy. That night the Destroyer spoke once again into the mind of the Book Teacher. “If only the people knew how important the book is,” he whispered, “then they would want to hear it more.” Of course the Destroyer did not want the people to hear the words of the book more, he wanted to distract them once again. “What needs to be done is a Book Opening Ceremony to bring out the book in the beautiful book cover, then the people would know this book was very special,” the Destroyer breathed into the ear of the Book Teacher.

Every day of the whole next week the Book Teacher decided to spend designing the Book Opening Ceremony. There had to be trumpets and banners and music and a small parade to carry the book to the place for reading. Of course all these events took time and practice to get them just right. So instead of studying the book, and teaching the book, the Book Teacher designed elaborate costumes and ceremonies to honor the book. Each week the people were taught less and less of the book and each week their Creator became more and more sad. As the people learned less of the book, they broke more and more of the Creator’s laws. They could not see the difference between right and wrong or between good and bad.

One day, just like it says in the book, the Creator is going to return and hold the Book Teachers responsible for listening to the Destroyer. The Creator is going to punish the bad people, but He will punish the distracted Teachers much more severe. It is time the Book Teachers, also known as Pastors, Preachers and Evangelists get back to teaching the Word of God instead of seeking more and more exciting ways of embellishing its contents.

God through Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 tells us, “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

The Husband of One Wife

2010-07-13T14:59:00.003-05:00

Last week, in our Family Meeting, I was asked to state my meaning of, “the husband of one wife”. I was not warned about this question and I gave my best “off the cuff” answer. I have studied this passage in the past, but new information was presented to me and I started re-examining my views. At the time I was not prepared to give my answer, but I did the best I could. I am writing this document to clarify and explain my views, and my position, on this important issue. Before we begin let me build a foundation of understanding about God’s Word.

The Bible is the Word of God. It is truth with no mixture of error and it is authoritative for us today. Although the Bible has many writers, it has only one Author, God and He has only one meaning intended for every passage. The receivers of the original writings understood what was said and what was intended by the message. The Bible still says what it says and means what it means.

Today, the Bible student must be careful to understand God’s intent in the receiver’s context and then properly apply it in our context. Over the years there have been several cultural changes from ancient Hebrew and Greek culture to our modern American culture. We must study to find God’s intent.

For example 1 Corinthians 11:5-6 says: “But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.” Without the proper understanding of context, and the proper application in the church today, someone may wrongly think this passage requires a woman to wear a hat in church. Some people may wrongly want to forbid women from the church if their head is uncovered.

So what does, “the husband of one wife” mean? In my study I have learned the meaning of this passage is not solid among all Southern Baptist theologians. That means Southern Baptists who have studied the Bible for more years than me, and possess more theological understanding, do not have a consensus. First, let me share the various viewpoints, then I will talk about its application.

Here are the scriptural passages as printed in the King James Version:
1Timothy 3:2 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach”; 1Timothy 3:12 “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”; Titus 1:6 “If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.”

There are five basic interpretations, and several variations, theologians, scholars and preachers defend today concerning “the husband of one wife.” It is important to understand them.

1. Not single. This position says a church pastor or deacon could not be a single man. Defenders of this position look at a single man, and a widower, as being disqualified. This group would also generally disqualify a married man who had no children or had only one child.

2. Not polygamous. This position says a church pastor or deacon could not be married to more than one woman at the same time. Everyone, in all groups, agrees a person involved in polygamy is disqualified from being a pastor or a deacon. The defenders of other positions say, “Just because this passage excludes polygamy it does not mean it has to ONLY exclude polygamy.”

3. Not divorced. There are several factions within this one general group. Some say the candidate for pastor or deacon must have never been divorced at any time for any reason. Others see a difference between divorced before salvation and divorced after salvation. Still others see a difference between a permitted divorce (because of sexual sin) and a non-permitted divorce (see Matthew 5:31-32; Matthew 19:9; 1 Corinthians 7:15 – Both Jesus and Paul recognized biblical reasons for divorce).
(Note 1: The Greek word for “fornication” used in Matthew is “pornea.” It is the same Greek word at the root of the word, “pornography.” Jesus said divorce because of “Pornea” is not sin. According to Jesus, all divorce is not the same. Additionally, “pornea” is not limited to having sexual relations with someone outside of marriage, it includes all forms of sexual sin. Jesus said if you look upon a woman to lust after her you have committed adultery already in your heart (Matthew 5:28). )
(Note 2: If someone makes all reasons for divorce the same, they void the exception Jesus gave, and place themselves above the Author of Scripture. In a sense, they are telling Jesus what is sin.)
(Note 3: Some say it seems strange a person who has committed murder in the past can be qualified, a person who has molested children in the past can be qualified, but a person who has been biblically divorced, even prior to salvation, is disqualified. Was this God’s intent?)

4. Not remarried after becoming a widower. Some scholars say a widower who remarries cannot be a pastor or a deacon. A few people take this a little differently saying an otherwise qualified widower is only disqualified, if he marries a divorced woman. 1 Corinthians 7:39 says, “The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.” This says the widow, or widower, is free to remarry, as long as they marry a Christian. Forced singleness was taught by false teachers (1 Timothy 4:3).

5. Marital faithfulness. The final view interprets this phrase directly from the Greek: mias gunaikos. This Greek phrase literally means a “one-woman man,” a faithful husband to the wife he has. The Greek does not give any information about any previous marital conditions or situations. There are Greek words for situations, like divorce, but they were not used here. This whole passage is a picture, a snapshot, of what the person is, not what the person was. If a man is not faithful to his wife, he is not a one woman man, he is disqualified to be a pastor or deacon, even if he was never divorced.

Notes from a few commentaries:
Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible says, “At a time when polygamy was not uncommon, to say that a man should “have but one wife” would be naturally understood as prohibiting polygamy.”
Robertson’s Word Pictures says, “1Ti 3:12 Of one wife (mias gunaikos). At a time, as in 1Ti_3:2.”
J. Vernon McGee Commentary says, “I think that the primary meaning here is that the bishop or elder should not have two wives. Polygamy was common in Paul’s day, and bigamy was certainly prevalent. The officer in the church should be the husband of one wife.”
John MacArthur in his book, The Master’s Plan for the Church, on page 249 says, “The concept of a one-woman man has nothing to do with marital status. Paul was giving moral qualifications for spiritual leadership, not outlining what an elder’s social status or external condition should be. One-woman man speaks of the man’s character, the state of his heart. If he is married, he is to be devoted solely to his wife. Whether or not he is married, he is not to be a “ladies’ man.” “Unfortunately, it is possible to be married to one woman yet not be a one-woman man. Jesus said, “Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matt. 5:28). What Paul told Timothy is that a married – or unmarried – man who lusts after many women is unfit for ministry. An elder must love, desire, and think only of the wife whom God has given him.”

My Opinion and my Position
My opinion on this matter? Over the years I have found the only person not permitted an opinion is the pastor. In fact it is true, my opinion is not important. God’s opinion is the only opinion that matters, and His opinion is not just an idea, it is law. Before we continue it is important to understand three principles which come into consideration here.

First, there is the principle of the hedge. A hedge is placed on a property line to recognize where the line is, and to warn a person when they are about to cross it. This principle is found in many scriptural references, beginning in Genesis.

In Genesis 3:2-3 there is evidence Adam gave the Woman the hedge of, “neither shall ye touch it,” for her protection. The Jews wanted to protect the people from breaking the Law of Moses found in the Torah so they wrote the Talmud. The Talmud was a set of extra laws to help prevent the breaking of God’s law. These extra precautions became so elevated in importance Jesus warned the Jews in Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

We may make a hedge around certain laws by making our ways and actions conform to a more strict interpretation of God’s law, but we must never allow our actions to be more permissive than God’s law. God’s law says husbands ought to love their wives and in my family, I don’t only love my wife but we have a “date night” every week. Our date night is an extra hedge we have added to maintain stability, communication, and love in our relationship. It is one way we protect our relationship.

The second principle is the principle of application. The Bible says what it says and means what it means, but there is found in Scripture the principle where you apply it differently than it is written. Paul said it this way in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.”

Just because Scripture allows us to do something does not mean the Scriptures requires us to do it. This principle is found in 1 Corinthians with the permission given to eat meat offered to idols. In Paul’s day pagans brought live animals to pagan temples to sacrifice them to the idols. The pagan priests would burn some, eat some and sell some. The markets where they sold the meat offered to idols were called, “shambles.” Shambles were often the better meat markets of the day.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:25-27, “Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.” Paul knew idols were really nothing and meat offered to idols was just as spiritual as meat from the barn. Even a feast given by pagans was ok to attend and to eat the meat, as long as the Lord was not convicting you for it. In those situations Paul said in a sense, “If you don’t know where the meat is from, don’t ask so you don’t even have to consider the issue.”

What Paul meant, the principle of application, is better understood through the next passage, 1 Corinthians 10:31-33: “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” The main issue is not idols or meats, it is doing what it takes to get people saved.

In Romans 14 Paul is again applying this important principle. The principle of application says one Christian should restrict their freedom in Christ for the benefit of other Christians. Romans 14:13 says, “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.” Romans 14:19 says, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” In Romans 14:21 Paul gets to the core principle, the principle of application when he says, “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” Mature Christians often must limit their freedoms for the benefit of others.

The third principle is the principle of love. Love is the central issue. It is to be the mark by which we are known as Christians. Remember the passage in 1 Corinthians 10? Look at verse 24, “Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.” We are not to seek our own desires, even if they are within the law, but we are to seek the benefit of others out of a heart of understanding and love.

We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 13:2, “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” And who can forget the impact of the final verse of the chapter, verse 13, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).”

My Official Position:
I have no doubt what the Scripture says in 1 Timothy 3:2; 3:12; and Titus 1:6. I also have no doubt what God’s intent was when he supernaturally wrote them through Paul (and Paul’s scribe). There are times when a pastor, after much study and prayerful consideration, must give his best advice. The pastor’s opinion may be one thing while the pastor’s position, for the benefit of the church, must be guided by principles found in God’s Word to place hedges, apply scripture appropriately, and to do all things in love with the big picture in mind – the winning of the lost to Christ.

As long as I am Pastor of New Testament Baptist Church I will continue to stand on the Word of God as I have from the beginning. I will only ordain men as deacons and pastors who qualify for their position according to God’s Word. Scripture forbids, and I will not ordain, a woman, nor a homosexual for any reason. I will only ordain a genetic male living as a godly male in holiness.

As it pertains to the passage (the husband of one wife) – I will not, nor was it ever my intention, ordain, either as a pastor or a deacon, a divorced man, no matter when the divorce occurred, even if the divorce was on biblical grounds. I will not ordain a polygamist, or a bigamist. I will not ordain a man who is a womanizer, a whoremonger, a fornicator, a pornographer, or a pedophile whether they are single or married, even if they have never been divorced. The candidate for ordination may be single (never married), but if they are married they are to be married only once, to a godly Christian woman. If the wife has died the widower is free to remarry a Christian woman or remain single, according to God’s will. I will ordain a qualified widower, single or married, as long as they are otherwise scripturally qualified.

I apologize for any confusion or misunderstanding because I was not properly prepared when this issue was originally brought up. In hind sight I should have deferred my answer until the next meeting, so I could give the subject a better examination and then a more appropriate reply.

The best way to close this topic is to study what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Perseverance of the Saints – The P of “TULIP”

2009-07-21T14:35:00.008-05:00

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

We mean that the saints will and must persevere in the obedience which comes from faith. Election is unconditional, but glorification is not. There are many warnings in Scripture that those who do not hold fast to Christ can be lost in the end.

This means that the ministry of the word is God's instrument in the preservation of faith as well as the begetting of faith. We do not breathe easy after a person has prayed to receive Christ, as though we can be assured from our perspective that they are now beyond the reach of the evil one. There is a fight of faith to be fought. We must endure to the end in faith if we are to be saved.

This is why we believe in eternal security--namely, the eternal security of the elect. The implication is that God will so work that those whom he has chosen for eternal salvation will be enabled by him to persevere in faith to the end and fulfill, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the requirements for obedience.

Nevertheless, we must also own up to the fact that our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith. The way these two truths fit together is that we are justified through our first act of faith because God sees in it (like he can see the tree in an acorn) the embryo of a life of faith. This is why those who do not lead a life of faith with its inevitable fruit of obedience simply bear witness to the fact that their first act of faith was not genuine.

We are not left to ourselves and our assurance is very largely rooted in the sovereign love of God to perform that which he has called us to do.

Therefore we should be zealous to make our calling and election sure.

Most people claiming to be a less than five point Calvinist say they agree with the teaching of the Perseverance of the Saints. In order to come to this decision they reject Calvinist definitions and embrace definitions they invent. This causes confusion about what is meant or what the person believes. In order to understand the term properly, you must go to the people in this system and ask for their definitions.

Confusion abounds in the Calvinist explanation of the Perseverance of the Saints when they say, “…God will so work that those whom he has chosen for eternal salvation will be enabled by him to persevere in faith to the end…” and then saying, “…our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith.”

Even if we are, according to them, Unconditionally Elected, are included in the Limited Atonement, we come to have faith because of our Election, and we are not left to ourselves because of the power of the Holy Spirit, BUT then they say our final salvation is contingent on works? This is being said by a Calvinist? Should they have not said, “…our final salvation is made evident by the subsequent obedience…” and not, “…made contingent upon…”?

For most Calvinists, Perseverance of the Saints is a direct result of the other points of Calvinism. According to their view, God has chosen the elect from before the foundation of the world. Since only the elect have their sin forgiven through the Limited Atonement of Christ, and the blood of Christ is effectual only for the elect, only the elect will have a persevering relationship with Christ. According to the Calvinists, if someone “falls away” it shows they never were chosen in the first place.

So how can they say, “…our final salvation is made contingent upon the subsequent obedience which comes from faith…”? How can that statement fall into alignment with their view of God’s Unconditional Election? It can’t. Or how can it mesh with their understanding of God’s sovereignty? It doesn’t. As an out they say obedience comes from faith, and faith only is given to the elect, so only the elect will have faith, but they don’t stop there.

In one place they say salvation is 100% God and 0% man, then describe Perseverance as some mixture of God and man, maybe a 50/50 or a 60/40 ratio, if you are saved. Remember, according to the Calvinist, “There is a fight of faith to be fought. We must endure to the end in faith if we are to be saved.” Sounds like an erroneous Arminian view of salvation retained by works, to me.

Do I believe a person can loose his salvation? No. Do I believe retention of a person’s salvation is based upon his behavior? No. Does the Bible teach either of these ideas? No. Do I embrace the Calvinist teaching of “Perseverance of the Saints”? No. Why not? What does the Bible teach?

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2Timothy 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Jude 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Clearly once you are truly saved, you are always saved. There is no loss of salvation to those who have salvation. We are secure by the blood of Christ and the strength of God’s Word.

If someone was claiming to be saved because they were chosen, how could they have any confidence in their sanctification? A Calvinist has no real ground to stand on when claiming salvation because the ultimate test will come at judgment and then it is too late. Until judgment, a Calvinist can only hope they have been chosen.

I know I am saved, not because of what I have done but because I have placed my faith in what Christ has done for me. I was given the promise: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10 and Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” I did that and based upon the strength of God’s Holy and Infallible Word, I am saved.

Now that I am saved I have the confidence of God’s promise, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29 and then there is 1John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

Additionally, I know God will actively “help” me to become more like Christ as He said in Hebrews 12:6-11:

“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

I rest secure in the knowledge I am in Christ and He is in me because if I have truly committed my life to Christ and repented of my sin, there is a relationship that can never be broken. This is not the Perseverance of the Saints but the Perseverance of the Promise.

Irresistible Grace – The I of “TULIP”

2009-07-07T11:44:00.005-05:00

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”

2009-06-28T17:47:00.008-05:00

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”

2009-06-17T13:58:00.003-05:00

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”

2009-06-12T09:14:00.002-05:00

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?)

2009-04-30T13:39:00.002-05:00

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.

2009-04-11T18:27:00.002-05:00

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)

2009-03-04T21:57:00.002-06:00

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

2009-02-26T22:35:00.002-06:00

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

2009-02-24T20:14:00.002-06:00

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?)

2009-02-19T21:31:00.003-06:00

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

2009-02-17T19:10:00.003-06:00

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)

2009-02-08T16:47:00.001-06:00

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

2009-01-24T10:33:00.001-06:00

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!

2009-01-20T23:30:00.002-06:00

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?

2009-01-13T19:19:00.000-06:00

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)

2009-01-09T17:18:00.001-06:00

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

2008-05-08T18:15:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-21T12:11:00.000-06:00

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?

2007-09-06T15:12:00.000-05:00

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

2007-08-22T17:32:00.000-05:00

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

2007-03-06T10:53:00.000-06:00

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?

2007-02-16T21:54:00.000-06:00

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

2007-02-06T11:48:00.000-06:00

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

2007-02-03T07:21:00.000-06:00

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

2007-01-27T09:37:00.000-06:00

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.

2007-01-23T11:17:00.000-06:00

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

2007-01-09T21:56:00.000-06:00

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!

2007-01-01T10:57:00.000-06:00

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?

2006-12-19T17:29:00.000-06:00

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?

2006-12-12T08:51:00.000-06:00

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

2006-12-05T08:43:00.000-06:00

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?

2006-11-27T10:53:00.000-06:00

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

2006-11-21T18:16:00.000-06:00

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

2006-11-15T13:40:00.000-06:00

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?

2006-11-14T14:06:00.000-06:00

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

2006-11-07T18:20:00.000-06:00

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

2006-11-06T10:32:00.000-06:00

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?

2006-10-10T10:08:00.000-05:00

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)

2006-10-09T22:01:00.000-05:00

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?

2006-09-27T16:14:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-09-26T06:26:00.000-05:00

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!