Religious Unconsciousness

"There is a condition which has existed in the Church for some years and is steadily growing worse. I refer to the loss of the concept of majesty from the popular religious mind. The Church has surrendered her once lofty concept of God and has substituted for it one so low, so ignoble, as to be utterly unworthy of thinking, worshiping men. This she has done not deliberately, but little by little and without her knowledge; and her very unawareness only makes her situation all the more tragic.

The low view of God entertained almost universally among Christians is the cause of a hundred lesser evils everywhere among us. A whole new philosophy of the Christian life has resulted from this one basic error in our religious thinking.

With our loss of the sense of majesty has come the further loss of religious awe and consciousness of the divine Presence. We have lost our spirit of worship and our ability to withdraw inwardly to meet God in adoring silence. Modern Christianity is simply not producing the kind of Christian who can appreciate or experience the life in the Spirit. The words, "Be still, and know that I am God," mean next to nothing to the self-confident, bustling worshiper.

The loss of the concept of majesty has come just when the forces of religion are making dramatic gains and the churches are more prosperous than at any time within the past several hundred years. But the alarming thing is that our gains are mostly external and our losses wholly internal; and since it is the quality of our religion that is affected by internal conditions, it may be that our supposed gains are but losses spread over a wider field." —A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Excerpt taken from "The Knowledge Of The Holy" by A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) Copyright 1961 HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

Merry Christmas

So many people in this world today really don't understand the meaning of Christmas and why this time of year we celebrate the birth of a child. Why was that child's birth so amazing that over 2000 years later we still stop the world in order to recognize him. What was it about this child's birth that caused time to be divided. We will just let the Bible answer that for us.

John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1:14 "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

2 Corinthians 5:15-19 "and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation."

I love 2 Corinthians 5:19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, that's the reason for the season! Merry Christmas and God Bless you and yours!

Increasing Apostasy

I picked up a little gem today in a tiny antique store in historic downtown Bell Buckle, Tennessee it is titled "Expository Notes on the Epistles of James and Peter" by H. A. Ironside. As I turned to page 86 I read the following that really brought to mind men like Brian McClarin, Rob Bell and Jay Bakker who are heading up the Emergent Church Movement and spreading another gospel. Mr. Ironside quotes the following as he exegete's from 2 Peter 2: 11-17.

"While these ungodly men vaunt themselves against all authority, and as these teachers of error mingle among the people of God they are spots and blemishes, marring and disturbing the fellowship of the saints, giving themselves over to self-indulgence as they feast with Christians as though they belonged to the family of God. Because there is no power in error to subdue nature's sinful lusts they are described as having eyes full of adultery; they cannot cease from sin. It is only the might of the Holy Spirit which can subdue and hold in check the lusts of the flesh. False doctrines never do this. While beguiling or leading astray unstable souls that is, those who are not well-grounded in the truth of God, they prove themselves to be an accursed generation whose hearts are exercised not unto godliness but with covetous practices.

While the propagators of unholy and unscriptural theories profess to have just the message that men need, they actually have nothing that can give victory over sin or relief to a troubled conscience. They are like wells without water which only disappoint the thirsty who go to them, or like clouds that look as though they might soon pour down refreshing showers but are carried away by gales of wind, and so the land is left as dry and arid as ever. The doom of these misleading teachers is sure. The mist of darkness is to be their portion forever. The sad thing is that even among professing Christians so many are ready to listen to these pretentious vendors of false systems only to be destroyed at last when they find that they are left without anything upon which the heart and conscience can rest for eternity."

Excerpt taken from "Expository Notes on the Epistles of James & Peter" by H.A. Ironside, Publisher: Loizeax Brothers (1947)

Holy Advertisement?

I usually don't report one of Slice of Laodicea's articles but this one was just to bad to pass up. It seems that advertising has begun to seep into churches, and this new phenomenon shows no signs of slowing down. Marketing experts are now attempting to target evangelicals while they sit in the pews. Among the wave of early adopters is the Republican Party, which has successfully sold its platform to church-goers in the 2000 and 2004 elections; and Hollywood has also envaded with, Mel Gibson's church-marketed film "The Passion of the Christ" which became a blockbuster; and publishing giants have cashed in, with Rick Warren's best-selling book The Purpose-Driven Life. It seems that the heavenly market is now up for sale, and you can't help but wonder how long it will be before you see Mastercard and VISA, decals on your church windows, or bathroom stalls decorated with Diet Coke ads, and the church nursery with diaper ads on the walls, nope it won't be long now before the First FORD Baptist Church comes to your local community. Read the full article from Out of Ur.

Quote of the Day

“Man has always treated sin as a misfortune, not a crime; as disease, not as guilt; as a case for the physician, not for the judge. Herein lies the essential faultiness of all mere human religions or theologies. They fail to acknowledge the judicial aspect of the question, as that on which the real answer must hinge.” -Horatius Bonar, The Everlasting Righteousness (Banner of Truth: Edinburgh)

Thanks Tony Reinke

Fast Fish!

Today as I was coming home from work I payed close attention to a fish emblem on the back of a car and while looking at it I asked myself why am I not moved by it? What's the purpose of having one of these little emblems? I guess the person in the other car is trying to say to me and the rest of the world hey I am a Christian and I know it because I am not afraid to show it on the back of my car, well that's all good. But I see so many of these emblems every day blowing by me at 85 mph, or drafting behind me like it's the Daytona 500, flashing their headlights, and blowing the horn as if they were late for choir practice or something. (Oh don't let get me started on folks being late for church!) It's becoming increasingly more difficult for me, and I am sure others to give any credulity to these little fish decals because they really don't say anything; it's just a symbol that presupposes a message, unlike some Christian decals from days gone by that just simply said "Jesus is Lord". I found a quote where one woman describes why she puts one on her car. “I put the fish and the other 27 stickers on my car to show how faithful I am to the Lord,” she went on to say. “You know, for everyone who doesn't know that I head the church booster club, volunteer at the Sunday school, and baptize the mentally handicapped. Because everyone needs to know how secure my faith is.” She added, “I assure you, completely secure.” Wow, do I really need everyone to know how secure my faith is? I don't really know what I am trying to say in this piece, I guess if putting a little fish sticker on your car makes you feel better about your faith; hey go for it, but just remember it doesn't convince me when you cut me off at 85 mph.

Still Saved?

1 Peter 1:1-6b "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Praise to God for a Living Hope Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice"

When I think of some of the false teachings that have invaded so many denominations today there is one that really has always been a thorn in my flesh, it is the teaching that a true believer can somehow lose his or her salvation. How in the world do they fit that into the passage above where Peter clearly states "an inheritance that can never perish"? Or Ephesians chapter one or a number of other verse's that clearly teach the security of the believer. I have heard many Christian's that teach the loss of salvation is some how based on what the believer does or doesn't do, as if one can somehow stamp out the sovereignty of God by some sin they commit after God has chosen them to salvation, they fail to understand who God is and they fail to understand that salvation is the work of God and not man. Notice that Peter states that our security is not kept by us but by the power of God. In verse six Peter tells us to greatly rejoice in this, well what is this? Go back to verse 3 and 4, It's the new birth and it's the inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade kept in heaven for you. Well if I could loose my salvation what's left that I may rejoice in? I am also reminded of 1 John 5:13 "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." How can I know I have eternal life if I can loose it? Well lots of folks buy into this false doctrine from false teachers but I think I will stick with the writers of the Bible and let them answer for me.

The Great Humbler

Thanks to Challies for the great post about the five points of Calvinism it's a must read.

The doctrine of unconditional election is the great humbler. We are humbled when we see that we must rest not in the person who wills to be saved, but in God who elects and who has the power to save. We remove all trace of pride, all trace of self-confidence, and rest in the sovereignty of God. We allow this humility to filter to all areas of our lives, for only by God and through God are we saved. We lower ourselves and lift God high. We are humbled, so God may be magnified and glorified. And we live in service to God out of gratitude that His amazing grace extends even to sinners like us -- sinners who would never and could never have chosen Him, but for His gracious and unfathomable choice. Read the full article here.

Calvin on Scripture

II Timothy 3:16-17 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

I believe that the Purpose Driven Movement truly fails to understand or apply this passage in their ministry efforts and the reason I believe that is because they are driven to please the unbeliever rather than edify the faithful. But don't take my word for it, turn back the pages of time and hear what John Calvin had to say about it.

"When we consider that there is nothing but sin and wickedness in us, we must learn to be displeased with ourselves, and serve God fervently, with a pure heart: this is the doctrine contained in the Holy Scripture, We must understand the meaning of St. Paul, when he saith to reprove; that is, if we would be well instructed in the school of God, we must confess ourselves guilty; we must be pricked to the heart; we must be reproved for our faults. When the Word of God is rightly expounded, the faithful are not only edified, but if an unbeliever come into the church and hear the doctrine of God he is reproved and judged. By this we understand that although the unbeliever may be wrapped in darkness, and pleased with his own ignorance, yet when God so enlightened him that he seeth the misery and wickedness in which he hath lived, when he seeth his deplorable situation, while giving ear to the Word of God, he perceived the heavens open, as it were, and that man was not made for this life only, but to be exalted to a higher station. Thus unbelievers are convicted.

And to make it more clear, St. Paul addeth the secrets of the heart are then disclosed; for we know while the Word of God is buried, no man taketh heed to himself; our hearts are in darkness. What then must we do? We must apply the Word of God to our use, and be awakened out of sleep: we must no more forget God, nor the salvation of our own souls; we must search the very depth of our hearts, and examine our whole lives; that we may be ashamed of our filthiness, and become our own judges, to avoid the condemnation that is ready at the hand of God."

Excerpt taken from a sermon delivered by John Calvin (1509-1564) called "The Proper Use of Scripture" which was transcribed from the book Great Expository Sermons compiled by Faris D. Whitesell, copyright 1964 By Fleming H. Revell Company: Westwood, New Jersey

Another Gospel Bookstore

Today I was able to get around the small rural town of Shelbyville, Tennessee which I recently moved near by and really just wanted take it all in so as to get familiar with my new surroundings being new to the community and all. So I spotted one of the local Christian Book stores and decided to stop in. The first thing that caught my eye was smiling Joel Osteen in the front window, I should have stoped right there and just climbed back in my truck, but being a glutton for punishment I went on in. And yep there they were the names of the best known heretics and false teachers from the church growth movement, emerging church movement, Word Faith movement and even the New Age movement. This store was a Charismatics dream come true with the Charisma Magazine right as you walk in and Bishop T.D. Jake's big mug everywhere you looked not to mention other notable TBN All stars like, John Hagee, Joyce Myers, and more. I was floored don't know why but I guess I wasn't expecting such an onslaught of heresy in such a small town. One of the saddest thing for me was seeing the few books by John MacArthur that they did have sitting right next to books by Joyce Myers, oh how in the world can this private Christian retailer park to opposing theologies right next to each other and still sleep at night is beyond me. But it wasn't all bad there was even one Spurgeon book and several books about the Pilgrims, and the Reformation, Calvin, John Knox, Wesley and even a commentary by Matthew Henry, so there is hope or maybe it's just leftovers from glory days gone by? I also noticed that there weren't many books at all, it was more like a Christian Gift Shop with tons of wall decorations, plates, cards, Cd's, and pretty things to sit on the shelf. I guess the most notable outcry was the tiny display area laid out for Bibles, oh how sad that the Word of God has taken a back seat to such trivial stuff. Come Lord Jesus!

Quote of the Day

"The biggest mission field in America is professing-Christianity". --John MacArthur

Intolerance of Intolerance?

I am so sick of hearing the word Intolerance, especially from the homosexual community that quotes the word as if it is a four letter word that is supposed to make someone out to be a bad person. As a Christian I have the responsibility to myself, my family and my God to be intolerant, or even discriminate of certain things, ideas, and behaviors. How many of us would tolerate a murderer? Or a cheating spouse? How about a child molester? I dare say none of us, so why should I have to tolerate what the Bible clearly states as an abomination? Now I am not advocating hate for homosexuals, my heart breaks for the homosexual community I long to see them come to Christ and repent of their sins, and not just the sin of homosexuality but all sin. And before I am bombarded with hate comments please read what the Bible says about the sin of homosexuality and then be tolerant of my intolerance or you are guilty of being a hypocrite being intolerant of my intolerance.

Forbidden - Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. (Le 18:22).

Considered an Abomination - And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. (1 Ki 14:24).

Punishment - If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. (Le 20:13).

Unclean - Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  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: 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. 28 And even as they did not like to retainh God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  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. (Ro 1:24-32).

What is the Main Issue Facing the Church?

The main issue facing the church is the lack of discernment. That is the main issue facing the church. The church doesn't distinguish between truth and falsehood. It has a defective immune system. It has a case of spiritual AIDS. It does not have the ability to fight error because it doesn't know the truth. It doesn't have enough truth antibodies to fight off error. The church is ignorant. It is blissfully ignorant and consequently it is victimized easily by error.

This is a serious, serious problem. Weak theology, shallow, superficial knowledge of Scripture, all kinds of uncalled, unqualified people standing in pulpits who were not sent by God like the false prophets Jeremiah talks about and don't have the Word of God and don't understand it, are inventing all kinds of things that the church is buying into. A superficial knowledge of Scripture, a weak theology, all kinds of error flooding into the church cripples discernment. And what makes it worse is that there is a movement to say that the tolerance of all of this is the purest expression of Christian love, right? And if you call these people into question and you call what they're saying into question and say it's not truth, it's error, you are unloving, you are divisive and you are striking a blow against the unity of the church.

And so, you have error flooding the church. The church is by its theological and biblical ignorance unable to fight against that error. And tolerance is being elevated as a supreme virtue which aids and abets the problem. And this is in contradiction to the command of 1 Thessalonians 5:21, "Examine everything carefully and hold on to what is good and put away what is evil."

The church has gotten itself into a position where it cannot distinguish between God's Word and Satan's lies. That's sad...that's sad.

Now let me go a little deeper into this issue. Of all the issues of discernment, and there are many, there's a lot of confusion in the church, there's a lot of error in the church about a lot of things. There are all kinds of views of the work of the Holy Spirit, the person of the Holy Spirit. All kinds of views about various passages in the Scripture, paradigms for sanctification, forms of baptism, spiritual gifts, views about salvation, about the purposes and work of God, about the sovereignty of God, about the human volition All kinds of views about all kinds of things. And the church not only lacks discernment, but lacks the will to be discerning.

But of all of the issues that are important, there is one that is at the top of the list. If we're going to be discerning about anything, there is one thing we have to be discerning about and it's this...who is a Christian? That's the most critical one of all. That is the most critical issue of all. At the top of my list in this matter of being discerning is we need to know who the true Christians are because if we don't, then we've invited the enemy into the camp.

Excerpt taken from a sermon delivered by John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 80-221, titled "Deliverance: The Neglected Doctrine". You can read the entire sermon here.

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Look closely it's a Christian on a missionary trip to Argentina but that's not the Bible she is sharing is it? No it's The Purpose Driven Life, yes this is a missionary from Saddleback Church where Rick Warren is pastor. Yikes would hate to have to explain that one to God on judgement day. Lucy you have some splaining to do.

Thanks to Chris Rosebrough of Extreme Theology for the post, please be sure to read the entire post at his site.

Benny and The Jets

Well folks, we have a true emergency on our hands! Thousands...no, millions...no, billions of souls may hang in the balance! Yes! The very future of Christianity itself is up in the air. Yeah, poor Benny Hinn needs a new Gulf Stream Jet in order to spread the Gospel according to Benny Hinn, and he's already named his future mode of transportation, Dove One! I mean, we can't have Benny Hinn traveling the way the rest of us mortals travel! No, no, how will all those millions of folks get bilked out of their...I mean, millions of folks get blown over by Benny throwing the Holy Spirit...I mean, get saved? "Oh, look, it's Dove One!" And who gets out? The Spirit...no, the guy who throws the Spirit around like a dodge ball---Benny Hinn. You know what the sad thing is? He'll get his Gulf Stream in the name of Jesus and continue to desecrate the truth and the gospel and give the faith a black eye. It's judgment, nothing but judgment. Then again, would you want to answer before the judgment seat for what he has been doing for years now? I sure wouldn't.

A big thanks to James White for bringing this to our attention.

Grow In Grace

2 Peter 3:18
"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

Grow in grace - not in one grace only, but in all grace. Grow in that root-grace, faith. Believe the promises more firmly than you have done. Let faith increase in fullness, constancy, simplicity. Grow also in love. Ask that your love may become extended, more intense, more practical, influencing every thought, word, and deed. Grow likewise in humility. Seek to lie very low, and know more of your own nothingness. As you grow downward in humility, seek also to grow upward-having nearer approaches to God in prayer and more intimate fellowship with Jesus. Ma God the Holy Spirit enable you to "grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior." He who grows not in the knowledge of Jesus refuses to be blessed. To know Him is "life eternal," and to advance in the knowledge of Him is to increase in happiness. He who does not long to know more of Christ knows nothing of Him yet. Whoever hath sipped this wine will thirst for more, for although Christ doth satisfy, yet it is such a satisfaction that the appetite is not cloyed, but whetted. If you know the love of Jesus as the deer panteth for the waterbrooks, so will you pant after deeper draughts of His love. If you do not desire to know Him better, then you love Him not, for love always cries, "Nearer, nearer." Absence from Christ is hell; but the presence of Jesus is heaven. Rest not then content without an increasing acquaintance with Jesus. Seek to know more of Him in His divine nature, in His human relationship, in His finished work, in His death, in His resurrection, in His present glorious intercession, and in His future royal advent. Abide hard by the Cross, and search the mystery of His wounds. An increase of love to Jesus and a more perfect apprehension of His love to us is one of the best test of growth in grace.

By Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) taken from the Best-Selling Daily Devotional "Morning By Morning"

Who are The False Teachers?

2 Peter 2:1-3
"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. 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."

It seems that most of Christianity just goes along with the flow of what is being taught as Christianity today, and no one seems to buck the trend openly other than a select few teachers but does anyone ever ask just who are these false teachers of today, and what are the damnable heresies that they teach? I guess verse 2 sheds some light on why no one seems to point out the false teachers of today for "many shall follow their pernicious ways" Oh how sad that many have been taken in by false teachers, it reminds me of Matthew 7:22-23 where Jesus said "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

I believe it's clear that the false teachers that Peter refers to are false Christian Teachers who Jesus warned us about in Matthew 7:15 where he said "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Who are the sheep? It's clear that Christians are sheep but these false teachers just look like sheep they are not real Christians but wolves pretending to be Christians. How can we know these wolves? Go back to 2 Peter "by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you" Look for plastic words and the want of money from you will be a dead giveaway and that pretty much describes 90% of the televangelist we see today.

Back Online

After a month and a day I am finally back online, we recently moved out to the country and the first thing I noticed out here is that no one gets in a hurry the builder, the TV company, phone company, water company etc. So I am thankful to be back and the first thing I did was to rush to oneplace.com and downloaded the latest MacArthur sermon, it's like a breath of fresh air. Praise God, Jesus is Lord!

Not Surprised?

To me I guess the saddest thing about the whole Ted Haggard scandal is that no one is surprised or shocked by the behavior of so-called Evangelicals anymore! It seems that no one was really caught off guard by the inappropriate behavior by another crazy christian, it's nothing new, we have seen it too many times before, and the shock factor just seems to bring pity, judgement and I knew it remarks to the transgressor by the rest of Christendom and the world. Why is this? Have we just become so desensitised to sin that we just don't care anymore? Have we become so holy that we no longer need to confess our sins to one another? Do we truly trust our fellow christian to open up our self and tell them which sin it is that we struggle with and need help in overcoming? Or is it possible that the church today as a whole is just playing some kind of game on the outside and faking the faith? I believe it's the later more than the former and if so isn't this kind of attitude really no different than that of the Pharisees that "clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence."? Clean the inside of the cup first, but that requires obedience, selflessness, repentance and death daily! Jesus said the gate is narrow, but the church stops there they forget that the WAY is also just as narrow. The church in America has failed to uphold the credibility of it's self because it no longer is able to distinguish the wheat from the tares, the sinner from the convert, the true believers from the false, and now the church looks just like the world because we have failed to call sin what it is, we have failed to demand repentance, we have failed to teach the whole counsel of God. How did this happen? Because the church has been so busy at meeting our felt needs and pandering to the purpose of our flesh with self centered programs and experiential worship services that it has forgotten to preach about the holiness, sovereignty, judgement and fear of God to the point that the world is able to sit under a preacher without conviction and be labled a Christian and behave like they want and the end result is that no one is shocked by such behavior coming out of the church anymore, and the church is confused because they can't tell who is a real christian, and the world doesn't want any part of it and immature christians aren't sure they want to stay in it. Oh what a terrible reproach to the name of Christ such behavior brings, and this kind of thing goes on everyday in the malls, theaters, factories, and offices across this country as so-called Christians play the game on the outside, they live like hell six days a week and just because they had an emotional experience at church on Sunday they think they are OK with God. Wake up my dear brethren because these are the last days and this scandal is just more proof of the times in which we live in. Repent before it's to late.

2 Timothy 3:1-9

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Return to The Cross

In Michael Miller's article for the Journal Star titled "A return to the basics with an emphasis on cross" says movements like the emergent/emerging church, church-growth/seeker-sensitive, contemplative prayer, the Purpose-Driven Church, and psychology have distracted Christians from the basics of their faith and are even leading, in some cases, to apostasy. It's nice to see this stuff called what it truly is, and even nicer to see a return back to the basic Christian doctrine of Christ and Christ crucified. Keep praying for God's Church to come out of this spiritual fog that has clouded the True Gospel.

What Breaks Your Heart?

Oh! it is this that breaks a man's heart--to think that Christ should have been loving me, with the whole force of his soul, while I was despising him, and would have nothing to do with him.

By: Charles Hadden Spurgeon 1834-1892

Luther's Convictions

Rather than join in the celebration of Halloween, we as Christians should instead celebrate that on October 31, 1517, which is 489 years ago today, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses on the castle church door at Wittenberg, Germany calling the Roman church to embrace the genuine gospel of sola fide. This was one of the greatest events of the past 1,000 years which is called today The Reformation. We are the heirs of Luther's convictions and actions that ultimately birthed the Protestantism of today.

Martin Luther was also responsible for a translation of the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into German. Soon all the countries of Europe followed his example by translating the Scriptures into their own languages. When he was commanded to appear before Emperor Charles V to answer for his writings, Luther gave this fearless reply:

"I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope or to the Councils, because it is clear as day that they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless therefore, I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture ... I cannot and will not retract ... Here I stand, I can do no other. So help me God, Amen."

Happy Reformation!

Morality Damns!

Morality damns just like immorality. And morality does not bring divine blessing. Jesus went head to head with the most superficially moral people in His world, the most religious people in His world, the Pharisees and the scribes. And He used His most scathing, His most searing, His most severe invectives on the religious right of His day. Matthew 23, Jesus addressed the religious leaders of his time, the moral people, the people who were the fastidious keepers of the law of God and human tradition. And He says to them in Verse 13: "Woe," which means damn, judgment, curse, "...you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites." Verse 14, He repeats that. Verse 15, He repeats it. Verse 16: "Woe to you, blind guides." Verse 17: "You fools and blind men." Verse 19: "You blind men." Verse 23: "Woe to you," again, "...scribes and Pharisees. 24: "You blind guides." 25: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites." Verse 26: "You blind Pharisee." 27: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees." And it just keeps going like that all the way along. In the end of the Chapter, He says, Verse 37: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets, you stone those that are sent to you." Verse 38 He says: "Your house is being left to you desolate. Desolate." And He was looking ahead to the destruction in 70 A.D., as well as the profound spiritual judgment.

Jesus never used such words as that on the outcasts, the prostitutes, the criminals. In fact, Jesus spent his time with those people; the outcasts of his day, the tax collectors. And they said, that Jesus was a glutton, "and a drunkard and a friend of tax collectors and sinners." That was a label put on Jesus by the religious right. Moralism was never the message of the Old Testament prophets. It was never the message of the Messiah. It is never the message of the New Testament apostles and prophets. It has never been God's message to the world because, when all is said and done, listen to what Isaiah said: "All your righteousness is filthy rags." Romans Chapter 3 is a very important chapter because it describes the condition of human wickedness. And in Chapter 3 Verse 10 it says: "There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks after God." So whatever imaginary righteousness men have, whatever superficial morality he may exhibit, in the end, they're not righteous before God. It gains them nothing. Nothing. There is no one good enough, "not even one," Verse 12 says. Everybody, Verse 19 says, everybody "under the law," everyone who lives according to the law to some degree or another, will find that their mouths are "closed." They have no defense. And the whole world is "accountable," guilty, "...before God. Because by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight."

So I say again: You can become moral. You can change, you know. You can turn over your life and have some kind of a -- it used to be called moral rearmament. Come through a crisis and decide you're going to turn away from living an immoral life or you're going to start to live a better life, a cleaner life, clean up your act. And that has no bearing on your relationship to God whatsoever. Listen: The biblical message is not that humanity is divided between the moral and the immoral, or that humanity is divided between the good and the bad, or that humanity is divided between the virtuous and the wicked. The message of the Bible is that: "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." That there is no division; they're all immoral, bad and wicked. It's only a question of degree, or kind, or manifestation. Whatever somebody's external degree of morality might be, all are condemned sinners headed to hell.

Excerpt was taken from a message that was delivered at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, By John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 80-257, titled "The Deadly Dangers of Moralism".

Seeker Sensitive? Please!

All this talk about today's modern church's being Seeker Sensitive has me all confused! Because it really doesn't seem that any of today's mega church's are Seeker Sensitive at all, if they were then wouldn't they be about preaching the Gospel like the Apostle Paul preached? They don't understand that God is the only Seeker there is! No man seeks God but it's God that first seeks man. So if a church wants to be more Seeker Sensitive shouldn't they be preaching Christ and Christ crucified, sinfulness and repentance, and to believe in the Good News that Christ has been raised from the dead? Now that would be very sensitive to God the Great Seeker of all Mankind! Now I know some will say that the Bible tells us to seek God yes it does, but it is God that first seeks us to seek him, men don't seek God. We Love him because he first Loved us.

Romans 3:11 - "There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God."

Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Overwhelmed With God's Grace

On this Lord's day I am so consumed with the thoughts of God's Grace that I had to share this with the rest of you. After reading a sermon by Tony Reinke of The Shepherds Scrapbook. I have just been in awe of God's Grace on each and everyone of us. Yesterday as I was pumping gas I couldn't help but look at people and wonder if those around me were totally oblivious to God, His Love, His Forgiveness, then later that night I read these words and it was like Tony had placed my feelings into words. Thank You Tony!!!

"When I look at the world, I see sinfulness, I see an ignorance of God, I see spiritual laziness as souls move ever closer to an eternity – things are black and dark. But also, as I look at the world I begin to see people who have been given great measures of God’s grace. The world has a color to it that comes from God’s grace. When I work or shop or simply talk with people, I meet those who are not Christians who still yet display a level of humility and kindness. He allows His enemies to enjoy life in many ways like He allows everyone to enjoy things like marriage, kids, etc! Wayne Grudem said in his book (Systematic Theology, p. 665) “When we walk down a street and see houses and gardens and families dwelling in security, or when we do business in the marketplace and see the abundant results of technological progress, or when we walk through the woods and see the beauty of nature, or when we are protected by government, or when we are educated from the vast storehouse of human knowledge, we should realize not only that God in his sovereignty is ultimately responsible for all of these blessings, but also that God has granted them all to sinners who are totally undeserving of any of them! … The realization of this fact should cause our hearts to swell with thanksgiving to God in every activity of life”

God is so kind to ungrateful and evil men. This is what makes God’s grace so huge – His grace floods everything – the world is filled with sin – YES – but it’s also filled with artistic talent, architectural beauty, faithful marriages, the joy of children, friendships, an amazing display of humility and morality in others.

God’s grace is most evident in His patience with sinners. If there was no common grace at work in the world, God would judge all sinners immediately. Yet, “’As I live!’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live…” (Ezek. 33:11). God grace is most evident in His patience with judging sinners. The first character of God’s grand grace is it's breathtaking scope in the world!"

You can download the entire sermon in .PDF format which is entitled The Grand Canyon of God’s Grace.

Listen To This Sermon!!!

This is a great sermon please take the time to download and listen to it, if you don't have the right view of Christianty you will after you have listened to this sermon. It brings eternity and the true faith of Christ into clear view. A very pointed sermon that cuts through the overlay of false profession in the Church. Paul Washer humbly yet with boldness speaks forth as the Oracles of God to a crowd of 5000 baptist youth. Would be to God that more would speak with a clear conscience of true Christian virtue and repentance. ( Download MP3 )

Religious Deception

We are living in the midst of the greatest religious apostasy ever known. Freewill, works religion is the greatest religious deception this world has ever known. This man centered, man exalting, man pleasing; God debasing, God hating religion seems to engulf the entire world and all religious sects. The world, for the most part, has accepted the doctrines of antichrist.

Any religion that is man centered; any religion that has for its foundation man's will, man's works, or man's rights; any religion that promotes the honor, dignity, and pride of man; any religion that pampers and cultivates self righteousness, self esteem, and self worth is antichrist.

"For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow strange myths." 2 Tim. 4:3-4

These are indeed perilous times!

by Don Fortner

Ecstatic Baptist? Part 2

Earlier this semester one of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's newly elected trustees preached a chapel message in which he defended the practice of a private prayer language. In an Aug. 29 sermon, Texas pastor Dwight McKissic, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, took issue with the International Mission Board policy refusing to appoint missionary candidates who engage in the contemporary neo-charismatic practice.

Well I am thankful that not only did the Seminary flat out reject this teaching but even Paige Patterson the President of the University also made it quite clear this is not a Biblical practice that Southern Baptist will tolerate. The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary issued a statement that said "It will not knowingly endorse contemporary charismatic practices such as a private prayer language nor hire professors who advocate the practice,". I guess it's fair to say that Mr. McKissic's days as a board of trustee at SWBTS are numbered.

Mr. Patterson said quote "Neither in the past nor in the present have many Baptists believed that the Pentecostal or charismatic movements represented an accurate representation of New Testament doctrine and practice." (Read Article)

Thank God for Godly men who take a stand for truth!
Read Part 1 of Ecstatic Baptist?

Come To Jesus!

Compel them to come in (Luke 14:23)

Now all that God asks of you, and this he gives you, is that you will simply look at his bleeding, dying son, and trust your souls in the hands of him whose name alone can save from death and hell. Is it not a marvellous thing, that the proclamation of this gospel does not receive the unanimous consent of men? One would think that as soon as ever this was preached, “That whosoever believeth shall have eternal life,” every one of you, “casting away every man his sins and his iniquities,” would lay hold on Jesus Christ, and look alone to his cross. But alas! such is the desperate evil of our nature, such the pernicious depravity of our character, that this message is despised, the invitation to the gospel feast is rejected, and there are many of you who are this day enemies of God by wicked works, enemies to the God who preaches Christ to you today, enemies to him who sent his Son to give his life a ransom for many. Strange I say it is that it should be so, yet nevertheless it is the fact, and hence the necessity for the command of the text,—“Compel them to come in.”

Excerpt by C.H. Spurgeon taken from Heritage of Great Evangelical Teaching

Spurgeon on False Doctrine

I cannot endure false doctrine, however neatly it may be put before me. Would you have me eat poisoned meat because the dish is of the choicest ware? It makes me indignant when I hear another gospel put before the people with enticing words by man who would fair make merchandise of souls; and I marvel at those who have soft words for such deceivers. "That is your bigotry," says one. Call it so if you like; but it is the bigotry of the loving John, who wrote, "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed; for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds." I would to God we all had more of such decision, for the lack of it is depriving our religious life of its backbone and substituting for honest manliness a mass of tremulous jelly of mutual flattery. He who does not hate the false does not love the true; and he to whom it is all the same, whether it be God's word or man's, is himself unrenewed at heart. Oh, if some of you were like your fathers, you would not have tolerated in this age the wagon loads of trash under which the gospel has been of late buried by ministers of your own choosing. The apostle spake by inspiration when he said, "If we or an angel from heaven preach to you any other gospel than that ye have received, let him be accursed." According to modem effeminacy he ought to have said, "Let him be kindly spoken with in private, but pray make no stir. No doubt the good brother has his own original modes of thought and we must not question his liberty. Doubtless he believes the same as we do, only there is some little difference as to terms." This is treason to Christ and treachery to truth and cruelty to souls. If we love our lord, we shall keep his words and stand fast in the faith, coming out from among the false teachers. Nor is this inconsistent with charity; for the truest love to those who err is not to fraternize with them in their error, but to be faithful to Jesus Christ in all things.

Why Self Esteem Programs Don't Work!

All these difficulties of yours have their root in the self esteem of our natures, which makes us refuse to be counted altogether sinners, and which shrinks from going to God save with some personal recommendation to make acceptance likely. Utter want of goodness is what we are slow to acknowledge. Give up these attempts to be satisfied with yourself in anything, great or small, faith, feeling, or action. The Holy Spirit’s work in convincing you of sin, is to make you dissatisfied with yourself; and will you pursue a course which can only grieve him away? God can never be satisfied with you on account of any goodness about you; and why should you attempt to be satisfied with anything which will not satisfy him? There is but one thing with which he is entirely satisfied, - the person and work of his only begotten Son. It is with Him that he wants you to be satisfied, not with yourself. How much better would it be to take God’s way at once, and be satisfied with Christ? Then would pardon and peace be given without delay. Then would the favor of God rest upon you. For God has declared, that whoever is satisfied with Christ shall find favor with him. His desire is that you should come to be as one with him in this great thing. He asks nothing of you, save this. But with nothing else than this will he be content, nor will he receive you on any other footing, save that of one who has come to be satisfied with Christ, and with what Christ has done.

Excerpt taken from "God's Way of Peace" by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

Nothing But The Cross!

What do you think and feel about the cross of Christ? You live in a Christian land. You probably attend the worship of a Christian Church. You have perhaps been baptized in the name of Christ. You profess and call yourself a Christian. All this is well. It is more than can be said of millions in the world. But all this is no answer to my question, “What do you think and feel about the cross of Christ?”

I want to tell you what the greatest Christian that ever lived thought of the cross of Christ. He has written down his opinion. He has given his judgment in words that cannot be mistaken. The man I mean is the Apostle Paul. The place where you will find his opinion, is in the letter which the Holy Ghost inspired him to write to the Galatians. And the words in which his judgment is set down, are these, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Now what did Paul mean by saying this? He meant to declare strongly, that he trusted in nothing but Jesus Christ crucified for the pardon of his sins and the salvation of his soul. Let others, if they would, look elsewhere for salvation. Let others, if they were so disposed, trust in other things for pardon and peace. For his part, the apostle was determined to rest on nothing, lean on nothing, build his hope on nothing, place confidence in nothing, glory in nothing, except “the cross of Jesus Christ.” —J. C. Ryle (1816-1900)

Itching Ears

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.—2 Timothy 4:3

"In the church many are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. If you do not like what I am saying, I want to ask you something. Think about the company you run with. What do they talk about most? God and the love of God, or other things? You decide that. Many Christians today will not endure sound doctrine. Paul described these people as having "itching ears" (2 Timothy 4:3). They did not like sound doctrine, but they were Christians. They called themselves Christians, but their ears were itchy. A commentator I read some years back explained this. In Paul's day the pigs had a disease called "itching ears." The symptom was that their ears got inflamed and itched terribly. The only way they could get relief from these inflamed ears was to go to a pile of rocks and rub their ears earnestly and vigorously. The stones scratched their ears for the time being. Paul saw that, smiled a sad smile and said, "I am running into Christians here and there who are just like that. They love pleasure more than God and will not endure sound doctrine. They have itching ears so they will be eager for something else beside the sound docrine and holy ways. They will pile up teachers everywhere and rub their ears for dear life." That is a most dramatic and colorful illustration. A lot of so-called Christians have to have piles of rocks to rub their ears. They will not endure sound doctrine. I think that is a description of the churches, Protestant and evangelical. In the light of New Testament predictions, teachings and standards, is what I just said about the prevailing religious mood untrue? Is what I have said about the prevailing religious mood uncharitable? Is it extreme? I do not think it is, but I only ask you to do one thing: Look around you and look in your own heart. See which of these pictures describes the churches you know." —A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Excerpt Taken from The Tozer Devotional Renewed Day by Day

Doctrine First

I have heard many Christians say over the years, I've got it in my heart I just need to get it to my head. But is that the way it really works? Or should we get it into our head first and then into our hearts? Lets take a peek at Dr. John F. MacArthur's commentary on Ephesians and see what the Apostle Paul had to say about this.

"After laying down eleven chapters of doctrine in Romans Paul devotes the remainder of the book to urging Christians to live in accordance with that doctrine to present their bodies as "a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship" (Romans 12:1). In Galatians Paul devotes the first four chapters to explaining Christian liberty and the last two chapters to exhorting Christians to live by that liberty. That sort of division is found in many of Paul's epistles (see also Phil. 2:1-2; Col. 3:5; 1 Thess. 4:1). Right practice must always be based on right principle. It is impossible to have a Christian life-style without knowing the realities of the life that Christ has provided.

Right doctrine is essential to right living. It is impossible to live a faithful Christian life without knowing biblical doctrine. Doctrine simply means teaching and there is no way that even the most sincere believer can live a life pleasing to God without knowing what God Himself is like and knowing the sort of life God wants him to live. Those who set biblical theology aside also sets aside sound Christian living."

Excerpt taken from The MacArthur New Testament Commentary on Ephesians by John F. MacArthur copyrights 1986 The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago

Missing In Action!

With the presence of the Church Growth Movement in our midst I have noticed a lack of familiar items missing from our Churches, first and foremost are Bibles, with the addition of the big screen so dominate and convenient in mega churches we don't need Bibles in the pews any more, just let the AV guys post it up on the jumbo screen, because there is no need to offend the seeker who doesn't know where the Gospel of John is. Hymnals are also MIA these days and now it's a rare blessing to actually go into a church and pick up an Ole' Hymnal and turn to page 269 and sing "Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine". Thank God for First Baptist Church of Oak Grove, Ky which just happens to be my home church where I was first convicted of sin, repented, and was baptised in 1989. Well it seems that God has blessed them with some new hymnals and my Mother in-law was so kind and able to acquire one of the older versions so that I may have my very own Baptist Hymnal, it was printed in 1956 by Convention Press of Nashville, Tn. It is the fourteenth printing of the hymnal and I will treasure it until my death.

In the Preface it states "This singing of hymns is a Christian privilege given to every redeemed soul. The Scriptures admonish all believers to sing "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord." Each worshiper, as he sings "with the spirit, and ... with the understanding," actively participates in the services. He feels the unifying influence of music. His heart is attuned to God and his purposes for human life through hymns of praise, adoration, prayer, consecration, and testimony."

Are You Satisfied?

"I am not satisfied with my faith," says one. No, of course you aren't; nor will you ever be; at least I hope not! The Bible does not say, "Therefore being satisfied with our faith we have peace with God;" it says, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God."

"I am not satisfied with my repentance." That is wonderful! What would you do with your repentance if you were satisfied with it? Would you find peace in repentance? Would you bring it to God instead of the blood? Oh, what pride and self-righteousness must be in any person who is satisfied with his repentance and faith! That person could never find true peace, for such a refuge of lies must fall.

"I am not satisfied with my love." What? Did you expect, on this earth, to be satisfied with any grace found in you? Was it your love for Christ or His love for you that gave you peace at first?

Now then, there is but one thing with which Almighty God is satisfied –entirely satisfied –and that is the Person and work of His Son. It is with Christ that we must be satisfied, not with ourselves, nor anything about us! When we cease from ALL our labors, and ALL our righteousness, and ENTER INTO HIS REST, pardon and peace will come without delay.

Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

Ultimate Christian Objective

"We take for granted that the object of the Christian ministry is to convert sinners and to edify the body of Christ. No faithful minister can possibly rest short of this. Applause, fame, popularity, honor, wealth–all these are vain. If souls are not won, if saints are not matured, our ministry itself is vain. The question, therefore, which each of us has to answer to his own conscience is, Has it been the end of my ministry, has it been the desire of my heart to save the lost and guide the saved? Is this my aim in every sermon I preach, in every visit I pay? Is it under the influence of this feeling that I continually live and walk and speak? Is it for this I pray and toil and fast and weep? Is it for this I spend and am spent, counting it, next to the salvation of my own soul, my chiefest joy to be the instrument of saving others? Is it for this that I exist? To accomplish this would I gladly die? Have I seen the pleasure of the Lord prospering in my hand? Have I seen souls converted under my ministry? Have God’s people found refreshment from my lips, and gone upon their way rejoicing, or have I seen no fruit of my labours, and yet content to remain unblest? Am I satisfied to preach, and yet not know of one saving impression made, one sinner awakened? Can I go contentedly through the routine of ministerial labour, and never think of asking how God is prospering the work of my hands and the words of my lips?"

Excerpt taken from "Words To Winners of Souls" by Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)

Compellingly Attractive!

I seen this post at The Shepherd's Scrapbook and I wanted to thank Tony for sharing it, I personally don't have any books by John Piper but this quote really blessed me, and I just wanted to share it here as well.

“You cannot merely decide to love classical music or country western music, much less God. The music must become compelling. If you don’t love it, something must change inside of you. That change makes it possible for the mind to experience the music with a compelling sense of its attractiveness. So it is with God. You do not merely decide to love him. Something changes inside you, and as a result he becomes compellingly attractive. His glory—his beauty—compels your admiration and delight.”

By John Piper, What Jesus Demands from the World (Crossway: 2006)

O Wretched Man That I Am!

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. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:18-24)

John Owen Quote:

Let our hearts admit, I am poor and weak. Satan is too subtle, too cunning, too powerful; he watches constantly for advantages over my soul. The world presses in upon me with all sorts of pressures, pleas, and pretences. My own corruption is violent, tumultuous, enticing, and entangling. As it conceives sin, it wars within me and against me. Occasions and opportunities for temptation are innumerable. No wonder I do not know how deeply involved I have been with sin. Therefore, on God alone will I rely for my keeping. I will continually look to Him.

By John Owen (1616-1683)

Faith Club?

Acts 4:12- "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

"The Faith Club: A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew: Three Women Search for Understanding." is the title of the latest attempt by the liberal publishing companies to bring about the inter-faith movement by women of so called faith. Suzanne Oliver the professed Christian of the three says in the book. "I was comfortable in my own religion, having made a difficult decision to leave the Catholic Church of my parents for the relative liberalism of the Episcopal Church. After twelve years in Catholic schools, I was finally going to get an inter-faith education." Suzanne also went on to say that "Muslims believe in the Gospels and the Torah? Our religions were closer than I had ever thought. It was thrilling!" What more could one expect from a liberal Episcopalian?

When Suzanne Oliver was asked by Meredith Vieira on the Today Show what she had learned about herself and each other she said quote "That we had so much more in common than what separated us actually, that we all found God in the same places, that we have the same God that wants us to revere him and to love each other and to treat our fellow man as we would like to be treated."

In USA Today Article the women say, "their views will be too liberal. For people who believe there is exactly one way to one heaven, described and delineated only by their own faith," I would like to see Suzanne squirm as she tries to fit that statement into John 14:6, John 3:3, and Acts 4:12. The article went on to ask "Will everyone be as open, as bold, as willing to press on with these women's mantra of absolute honesty, constantly asking one another, What do you really think?" Shouldn't we be asking what does the Bible say Suzanne?

In a final chapter of the book, they provide detailed advice on how to start a faith club: the questions to ask, the books to read, and most important, the open-minded attitude to maintain in order to come through the experience with an enriched personal faith and understanding of others.

It's a shame that the media has given Suzanne Oliver a platform to speak for the true Christians who do read the Bible and do know the TRUTH about Islam, Judaism and false Christianity.

The Sin of Unbelief

Methinks I see you in some place in Hell, tied to a rock, the vulture of remorse gnawing your heart. And up there is Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom. You lift up your eyes and you see who it is. “That is the poor man who layon my dunghill and the dogs licked his sores. There he is in Heaven, while I am cast down. Lazarus—yes, it is Lazarus. And I who was rich in the world of time am here in Hell. Father Abraham, send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of hisfinger in water, to cool my tongue.” But no! It cannot be. It cannot be. And while you lie there, if there be one thing in Hell worse than another, it will be seeing the saints in Heaven.

Oh, to think of seeing my mother in Heaven while I am cast out! Oh, Sinner, only think—to see your brother in Heaven—he who was rocked in the same cradle and played beneath the same roof—yet you are cast out! And, husband, there is your wife in Heaven and you are among the damned, And see you, father! Your child is before the Throne. And you, accursed of God and accursed of man, are in Hell. Oh, the Hell of hells will be to see our friends in Heaven and yourselves lost. I beseech you, my Hearers, by the death of Christ—by His agony and bloody sweat—by His Cross and passion—by all that is holy—by all that is sacred in Heaven and earth—by all that is solemn in time or eternity—by all that is horrible in Hell, or glorious in Heaven—by that awful thought, “forever”—I beseech you lay these things to heart and remember that if you are damned, it will be unbelief that damns you. If you are lost, it will be because you believed not on Christ. And if you perish, this shall be the bitterest drop of all—that you did not trust in the Savior.

Excerpt taken from a sermon delivered on Sabbath morning, January 14, 1855 by The Rev. Charles Hadden Spurgeon at the New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.

More Sighs From Hell

"For if a man were to have all his sins laid to his own indictment, and must commune with the devils, and endure as much wrath as the great God of heaven can inflict upon him; I say, if it were but for a time, even ten thousand years, and then end, there would be some ground for comfort, and hopes of deliverance. But here is your misery; this is your state forever, here you must be forever. When you look around, and see the innumerable company of screaming devils you are among, you shall be reminded that - this is my portion forever. Oh, when you have been in hell for so many thousands of years as there are stars in the sky or drops in the sea or sands on the seashore, yet you have to live there forever more. Oh, this one word EVER! How it will torment your soul!"

By John Bunyan (1628-1688)

Hated Doctrine

"I am going to speak tonight on one of the most hated doctrines of the Bible, namely that of God's sovereign election,"

"God's sovereign election is the truth most loathed and reviled by the majority of those claiming to be believers. Let it be plainly announced that salvation originated not in the will of man but in the will of God that were it not so none would or could be saved. For as the result of the Fall man has lost all desire and will unto that which is good and that even the elect themselves have to be made willing and loud will be the cries of indignation against such teaching."

"Merit‑mongers will not allow the supremacy of the divine will and the impotency of the human will. Consequently they who are the most bitter in denouncing election by the sovereign pleasure of God are the warmest in crying up the free will of fallen man,"

By A.W. Pink (1886-1956)

The Eternity of Hell-Torments

"O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death!" O foolish mortal that I was, thus to bring myself into these never- ceasing tortures, for the transitory enjoyment of a few short-lived pleasures, which scarcely afforded me any satisfaction, even when I most indulged myself in them. Alas! Are these the wages, these the effects of sin? O damned apostate! First to delude me with pretended promises of happiness, and after several years drudgery in his service, thus to involve me in eternal woe. O that I had never hearkened to his beguiling insinuations! O that I had rejected his very first suggestions with the utmost detestation and abhorrence! O that I had taken up my cross and followed Christ! O that I had never ridiculed serious godliness; and out of a false politeness, condemned the truly pious as too severe, enthusiastic, or superstitious! For I then had been happy indeed, happy beyond expression, happy to all eternity, yonder in those blessed regions where they fit, clothed with unspeakable glory, and chanting forth their seraphic hallelujahs to the Lamb that sitteth upon the throne for ever. But, alas! These reflections come now too late; these wishes now are vain and fruitless. I have not suffered, and therefore must not reign with them. I have in effect denied the Lord that bought me, and therefore justly am I now denied by him. But must I live for ever tormented in these flames? Must this body of mine, which not long since lay in state, was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day, must it be here eternally confined, and made the mockery of insulting devils? O eternity! That thought fills me with despair: I must be miserable for ever."

Come then, all ye self-deluding, self-deluded sinners, and imagine yourselves for once in the place of that truly wretched man I have been here describing. Think, I beseech you by the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, think with yourselves, how racking, how unsupportable the never- dying worm of a self-condemning conscience will hereafter be to you. Think how impossible it will be for you to dwell with everlasting burnings.

The Eternity of Hell-Torments by George Whitefield (1714-1769)

Where Is The Radiance?

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.— 1 John 5:10

"I keep looking, but with little success, for a distinguishing radiance in life and testimony among our evangelical Christians. Instead of an inner witness, too many professing Christians are depending upon logical conclusions drawn from Bible texts. They have no witness of an encounter with God, no awareness of inner change! I believe that where there is a divine act within the soul, there will be a corresponding awareness. This act of God is its own evidence: it addresses itself directly to the spiritual consciousness. Thankfully, there are elements that are always the same among men and women who have had a personal meeting with God. There is the compelling sense of God Himself; of His Person and of His Presence. From there on, the permanent results will be evident in the life and walk of the person touched as long as he or she lives!" —A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

Excerpt Taken from The Tozer Devotional Renewed Day by Day

Grace, Grace, God's Grace

"And he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shouting, crying, grace, grace!"—Zachariah 4:7

The mercy of God is that attribute which we, the fallen, sinful race of Adam, stand in greatest need of, and God has been pleased, according to our needs, more gloriously to manifest this attribute than any other. The wonders of divine grace are the greatest of all wonders. The wonders of divine power and wisdom in the making of this great world are marvelous; other wonders of his justice in punishing sin are wonderful; many wonderful things have happened since the creation of the world, but none like the wonders of grace. "Grace, Grace!" is the sound that the gospel rings with, "Grace, Grace!" will be that shout which will ring in heaven forever; and perhaps what the angels sung at the birth of Christ, of God's good will towards men, is the highest theme that ever they entered upon.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

Sovereign Grace

"Of all the Doctrines of the Bible, none is so
offensive to human nature as the doctrine of
GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY." — J. C. Ryle

We are sure that the gospel we have preached is not after men, because men do not take to it. It is opposed even to this day. If anything is hated bitterly, it is the out-and-out gospel of the grace of God, especially if that hateful word "SOVEREIGNTY" is mentioned with it.

Dare to say "He will have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and he will have compassion on whom he will have compassion" [Romans 9:15], and furious critics will revile you without stint.

The modern religionist not only hates the doctrine of sovereign grace, but he raves & rages at the mention of it. He would sooner hear you blaspheme than preach election by the Father, atonement by the Son, or regeneration by the Spirit. If you want to see a man worked up till the Satanic is clearly uppermost, let some of the new divines hear you preach a free-grace sermon. A gospel which is after men will be welcomed by men; but it needs a divine operation upon the heart and mind to make a man willing to receive into his inmost soul this distasteful gospel of the grace of God.

My dear brethren, do not try to make it tasteful to carnal minds. Hide not the offence of the cross, lest you make if of none effect. The angles and corners of the gospel are its strength: to pare them off is to deprive it of power. Toning down is not the increase of strength, but the death of it. Why, even among the sects, you must have noticed that their distinguishing points are the horns of their power; and when these are practically omitted, the sect is effete. Learn, then, that if you take Christ out of Christianity, Christianity is dead. If you remove grace out of the gospel, the gospel is gone. If the people do not like the doctrine of grace, give them all the more of it! Whenever its enemies rail at a certain kind of gun, a wise military power will provide more of such artillery. A great general, going in before his king, stumbled over his own sword. "I see," said the king, "your sword is in the way." The warrior answered, "Your majesty's enemies have often felt the same." That our gospel offends the King's enemies is no regret to us.

Excerpted from C. H. Spurgeon's sermon #2185 "Our Manifesto" MTP Vol 37, Year 1891, pg. 49, Galatians 1:11

The Church of What’s Happenin’ Now

The biggest fad of all has come with its own built-in expiration date: “Forty Days of Purpose.” The Purpose-Driven Life had sold more than twenty million copies, making it the best-selling non-fiction book of all time, surpassing The Diary of Anne Franke within a few months of its release. According to a news release I read in December, spin-off Purpose-Driven merchandize has generated nearly five million units of additional sales, and that’s nothing to sneeze at. “Forty Days of Purpose” is already the most successful evangelical fad in the history of the world, making a lot of people rich and guaranteeing that we’re going to see a lot of similar marketing plans and 40-day programs in the months to come. Rick Warren has already announced his next one: “Forty Days of Community.” It starts in April, and you can get your church on the bandwagon now. The cost for a ticket to ride this fad is tailored to fit the size of your church. If you have a church of 100 people, it will only cost you $700. Now, I’m not going to try to squeeze a critique of The Purpose Driven Life into this article. There are plenty of helpful critiques available on-line, and one by Nathan Busenitz in the book from Crossway titled Fool’s Gold?.

Even if we had no bone to pick with the content or the underlying philosophy of The Purpose Driven Life is this really the kind of book that deserves to be the best-selling evangelical work of all time? Is there anything profound or original or exceptionally brilliant about the content of this book? Is it great literature, or especially superb Bible teaching, or excellent theology made understandable in simple terms? It’s none of those things. The extraordinary success of this book stems from a very clever marketing scheme that targeted a specific market at the most opportune time. It hit the shelves at a moment when the evangelical culture was ripe for fads and stampedes.The evangelical movement is filled with people who have been trained and conditioned and encouraged to respond to every wind of doctrine. Rick Warren thinks it’s a good thing, and he compares it to surfing. You just ride wave after wave, and that, he says, is the means God uses to bring about church growth. In The Purpose Driven Church, he says this: "At Saddleback Church we’ve . . . tried to recognize the waves God was sending our way, and we’ve learned to catch them. We’ve learned to use the right equipment to ride those waves, and we’ve learned the importance of balance. We’ve also learned to get off dying waves whenever we sensed God wanted to do something new. The amazing thing is this: The more skilled we become in riding waves of growth, the more God sends!" Ah! so that’s why we have this proliferation of fads. Evangelicals have gotten so skilled at surfing the latest fashions that God just sends more and more of them. And they get bigger every time. I always think of my favorite Flip Wilson character, Reverend Leroy. Remember him? You surely remember his best-known parishioner, Geraldine Jones, whose signature catch-phrase was “The Devil made me do it.” Reverend Leroy was the esteemed pastor of “The Church of What’s Happenin’ Now.” In the ’60s, that was funny. These days it’s no joke. It seems like every church wants to be “The Church of What’s Happenin’ Now.”And that is an extremely dangerous position for the evangelical movement to be in. Today’s fad may seem benign enough if you don’t care much about biblical discernment. Rick Warren says he just wants to meet people’s “felt needs” and insists he wants to remain biblical at the same time. Where’s the harm in that? But that philosophy is wrong and unbiblical, because it’s contrary to Paul’s clear command in 2 Timothy 4, to preach the word and refuse to cater to the itch of people’s “felt needs.” Meanwhile, all these fads are moving us further from our evangelical commitment to the principles of sola fide and sola Scriptura.

Excerpt is from a message that was delivered at the 2005 Shepherd’s Conference by Phil Johnson titled "Programs, Get Your Programs:Exposing the Flaws of a Fad-Driven Church" a copy of this message can be obtained at the Shepherd's Conference official website