The Heresy of Worshiptainment

The Heresy of Worshiptainment

The great heresy of the church today is that we think we’re in the entertainment business.  People want to be entertained while they are edified.  Would it still be possible in most places to get people to attend a meeting where the only attraction was God?

What if we take away the cool music and the cushioned pews? What if the screens are gone and the stage is no longer decorated? What if the air conditioning is off and the comforts are removed? Would His Word still be enough for His people to come together?

The message of the church – the message the world needs to hear from us – is not, “Come and have a good time”, “Come and be entertained” or “Come and find you best life now”.

Christ calls us to carry a cross; not to come and have fun in His name.

The message of the church is the message of the Cross.  Lest we forget, Christ’s cross was only a source of entertainment to those who mocked Him as He hung on it.

“But our methods are attracting and winning people!” some will say.

Winning them to what? To true discipleship? To cross-carrying? To self-denial? To separation from the world? To crucifixion of the flesh? To holy living? To nobility of character? To a despising of the world’s treasures? To hard self-discipline? To love for God? To total committal to Christ?

Let the Word itself do the work.  People are hungry.  They are hungry for a diet of substance and not candy.  More of the Word.  Deeper into the Word.

Praying for your country

“Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” Psalm 133:1

Yesterday, I had the privilege of attending a community-wide prayer service for our churches, our communities and our country.  Held at the Harrison Central High School gymnasium, the event was organized in cooperation with over ten different area churches and ministries.  Featured speakers included pastors representing various denominations, including Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Missionary Baptist and the Chaplain of the local prison ministry.  It was great to see a community of believers come together, despite doctrinal or denominational differences.

Topics covered in prayer were:

• Prayers of Personal Repentance (Psalms 32:1-5)

• Prayers of Corporate Repentance (2 Chronicles 7:12-15)

• Prayer for our Pastors (John 17:4-26)

• Prayer for Revival (Psalms 85:4-7)

• Prayer for local City & County Leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

• Prayer for Law Enforcement (Romans 13:1-7)

• Prayer for First Responders (Luke 10:29-34)

• Prayer for our Military (Joshua 1:9)

• Prayer for current National Leaders (Proverbs 21:1-3)

• Prayer for future National Leaders (Proverbs 22:1)

Each of these specific sub-categories featured a brief introduction by a local minister, a short chorus or song, reading of a scripture passage, time for congregational prayer and a benediction by the introductory minister.

I would encourage my friends to be in constant prayer for our nation and leaders, not just at election time, but year round.

The Plan of Salvation

1.       Understand that God loves YOU.

a.      John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2.      Realize that Eternal Life is ABUNDANT

a.      John 10:10 – The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

3.      Recognize that we are ALL SINNERS

a.      Romans 3:23 – For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

4.      Understand that Eternal Life is God’s FREE GIFT

a.      Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

5.      Know that Christ DIED FOR US

a.      Romans 5:8 – But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

6.      We MUST RECEIVE Christ

a.      John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

7.      We MUST REPENT

a.      Acts 3:19 – Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

8.      CONFESS. BELIEVE. ASK.

a.      Romans 10:9, 10 & 13 – 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.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

When to Keep your Mouth Shut

When To Keep Your Mouth Shut

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles” – Proverbs 21:23

Don’t Open Your Mouth:

1. In the heat of anger.  Proverbs 14:17
2. When you don’t have all the facts.  Proverbs 18:13
3. When you haven’t verified the story.  Deuteronomy 17:6
4. If your words will offend a weaker brother.  1 Corinthians 8:11
5. If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or your friends and family.  1 Peter 2:21-23
6. When you are tempted to joke about sin.  Proverbs 14:9
7. When you would be ashamed of your words later.  Proverbs 8:8
8. When you are tempted to make light of holy things.  Ecclesiastes 5:2
9. If your words would convey a wrong impression.  Proverbs 17:27
10. If the issue is none of your business.  Proverbs 14:10
11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie.  Proverbs 4:24
12. When your words will damage someone’s reputation.  Proverbs 16:27
13. If your words will destroy a friendship.  Proverbs 16:28
14. When you are feeling critical.  James 3:8-9
15. If you can’t speak without yelling.  Proverbs 25:28
16. When it is time to listen.  Proverbs 13:1
17. If you may have to eat your words later.  Proverbs 18:21
18. If you’ve already said it more than once (nagging).  Proverbs 19:13
19. When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person.  Proverbs 24:24
20. When you are supposed to be working instead.  Proverbs 14:23

Smoking Thick Ribeyes (2"+)

How to smoke thick (2”+) rib eye steaks

• ·         Soak your wood chips in water for at least 30 minutes before hand.
• ·         Build a charcoal fire under ONE HALF of your grill (for direct heat).
• ·         Under the other half, place a pan of water (for indirect heat).  I use the disposable aluminum “loaf” pans, one or two depending on the size of the grill
• ·         While your fire is really hot (as soon as your coals turn white, or slightly before) sear the steaks well on both sides over direct heat.  Approximately 3 to 5 minutes per side.
• ·         After both sides are seared, remove the steaks from the direct heat and add your soaked wood chips to the coals.
• ·         Place the steaks on the side of the grill directly over the water pan(s) – indirect heat.
• ·         If possible, open the lowest baffle near the coals, and the highest baffle near the water pans, to direct the smoke “through” the steaks.
• ·         Allow to smoke for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on level of doneness desired. 

Is the Transgender Military Ban Really a "Long Con"?

I have a theory about the Transgender Military Ban (TMB).

If you take the TMB at face value, it is obviously despicable, and openly discriminatory toward a segment of the population who has volunteered to serve their country.  Personally, I feel that if a person is able and willing to defend their country – at the possible cost of their life – they should be shown all the respect and honor we can give.

On the other hand, if you take a step back and look at the TMB in a broader light, it appears to be more of a political move by the GOP, intended it influence the midterm elections.  A political move so brilliant, that I don’t believe President Trump conceived it on his own. 

Allow me to explain.

According to the various reports that have been floated, there are anywhere from 6,000 to 15,000 transgendered people serving in the military.  If you take the most liberal of these estimates, this ban will directly impact 0.00005% of the population (15,000 transgendered military members / 323,100,000 US population).  Granted, it will “piss off” a lot more than that, but it will only DIRECTLY impact 5/100,000ths of one percent – a proverbial “drop in the bucket”.

In light of that fact, I don’t believe that the TMB is about transgendered people in the military AT ALL.   In fact, I think that whoever conceived this plan (someone smarter than Trump) probably doesn’t care one way or the other whether or not transgendered people serve in the military.  It is actually a “long con” – and it’s only real purpose is to impact the midterm elections. After all, this is the end of July 2017.  We are about to enter the midterm campaign season. 

I believe that the sole intent and purpose of the TMB was to get progressive, liberal, democrats to “blow up” social media, cable news channels and other information outlets with posts and stories bemoaning Trump (and by association the GOP at large) for being uncaring, hateful, bigoted scum.  They want to see Facebook and Twitter flooded with posts by liberals about how they are “literally in tears” or “too angry for words” over this ban, implying that anyone who doesn’t share their view must also be a hateful bigot.

For the most part, the LGBT community generally congregates together in large metropolitan Coastal areas, i.e. San Francisco, New Orleans, New York, etc. 

The GOP is focusing more on Middle America – places like Dubuque, IA, Topeka, KS, and Muskogee, OK.  In these more rural “heartland” areas, the vast majority of people have no connection to the transgendered community at all – they are not transgendered, no one in their family is transgendered, and they don’t personally know anyone who is transgendered.  Therefore the Transgendered Military Ban has no impact on them whatsoever.  These are people who get up and go to work every morning, come home, eat supper, drink a beer, watch a little TV, and go to bed – only to get up tomorrow and do it all again.  They also don’t like being “preached to” about how they should be more tolerant and inclusive of people they don’t know, don’t know anything about, have never met, and probably never will meet.

The GOP is counting on these blue-collar, rural Americans to enter the voting booth next November and associate all the condescending Facebook “bitching & whining” with the (D) column on the ballot – and as a result, place their checkmark next to the (R) column.

I believe that this whole “Transgender Military Ban” is simply a long con designed to gain seats in the midterms.

Spiritual Markers

“And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua.” - Joshua 4:8



Spiritual memory is crucial in the Christian life. It would be tragic if, in your haste to advance in your Christian faith, you neglected to leave spiritual markers at the key crossroads of your life. Without the help of these markers, you will lose your spiritual bearings. The Israelites experienced a tumultuous pilgrimage. Their doubt that God was powerful enough to give them victory cost them forty years of wandering in the wilderness. 



Then God miraculously parted the waters of the Jordan River so they could pass over and continue their conquest. God knew that at times the Israelites would face intimidating enemies and would need a reminder that He was powerful enough to protect them. The Israelites might be tempted to think they made a mistake entering Canaan. For this reason God instructed them to build a monument on the banks of the Jordan River. Whenever they returned to this spot, they would see the monument and be reminded of God’s awesome power. This marker would give them confidence to meet the new challenges they faced.



A spiritual marker identifies a time of decision when you clearly know that God guided you. Were there specific times when He called you to His ways of living? Can you point to times when He guided you in a decision or spoke powerfully to you about a commitment you should make? Keep track of these important moments! This will help you understand God’s activity in your life and give you a sense of direction as you face future decisions.

A Different Look At The 3rd Commandment

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain” – Exodus 20:7a

                All my life I’ve been taught that this third commandment means to refrain from using God’s name in an irreverent manner; such as cursing, swearing to God, etc.  In fact, Charles Ellicott, in his commentary on this commandment notes that it forbids vain, profane and false swearing.  Albert Barnes interprets it as forbidding any profane or idle utterance of the name of God.  Matthew Henry, in his commentary notes that it references the MANNER of our worship – that it is to be made with all reverence and seriousness, forsaking all false oaths and profane cursing. 

But what if there’s a different interpretation?  Consider the following:   

What does it mean to TAKE THE NAME?

When a woman becomes a bride, she “takes the name” of her husband, the bridegroom.  My wife did not become “Deborah GREEN”, until she became the bride of Steve GREEN.  When we were married, she became my bride, and she “TOOK MY NAME”.  When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we become the bride of Christ, and we TAKE HIS NAME, becoming “Christians”.     

What does it mean to do something IN VAIN?

                The word VAIN, and its idiom “IN VAIN” are derived from the word VANITY, and can be defined multiple ways.  Let’s look at a few.

1.       Excessively proud, conceited or concerned about one’s own appearance.  Example: He made vain remarks about his accomplishments.

2.       Fruitless, ineffectual, unsuccessful or futile.  Examples:  vain hopes, a vain effort, a vain war

3.       Without real significance, value or importance.  Examples:  vain pageantry, a vain display

4.       To no avail or no purpose; without effect or results.  Examples:  Lives lost in vain, to apologize in vain

                Paul implores us in 2 Corinthians 6:1 to not receive the grace of God in vain.  Strong’s defines Grace as the Divine Influence upon the heart, AND it’s reflection in the life.  If there is no reflection in your life of God’s influence on your heart, have you not received His grace in vain?

                Perhaps this commandment can be interpreted this way:  If we CALL OURSELVES Christians (TAKING THE NAME of CHRIST when we became His bride), yet we do so because of pride, or a desire to “look good” in front of our friends; and our lives are fruitless, showing no result of Christ living in us . . . Have we not TAKEN THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN?

Why Are Millennials Leaving The Church?

A 2014 study shows that 80% of people aged 14 - 33 years old feel that church is not important.  How can we combat this? 

One of the things the church must NOT do is change the message of the Gospel to accommodate the culture.  We must be sensitive to the need to change the METHODOLOGY, but not the MESSAGE.

Young people are looking for authenticity and consistency.  They are not satisfied with those of us who proclaim the Gospel with our lips, but fail to demonstrate the Gospel with our lives.  Young people are discouraged when there is proclamation of the Gospel, but no practice of the Gospel.

We need to focus more on young people “becoming Christians”, instead of on young people “doing Christian things”.

Repentance

REPENTANCE

The Necessity of Repentance

·         Luke13:3 – “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

·         Acts 3:19 – “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”

The Time for Repentance

·         2 Corinthians 6:2 – “ . . . Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation”

Christ’s Call to Sinners

·         Luke 5:32 – “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

What True Repentance Involves

·         Acknowledgment of the enormity of sin

o   Psalms 51:4 – “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”

·         Godly sorrow for sin

o   2 Corinthians 7:9 – “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.”

·         Forsaking Sin

o   Isaiah 55:7 – “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.”

o   Ezekiel 18:31 – “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

o   Matthew 3:8 –  ^“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”

God’s Gracious Assurance

·         Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

·         Ezekiel 18:21 – “But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.”

·         Acts 2:38 – “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

·         1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Grace

Grace

I’ve heard folks talk bad about Baptists, because of the emphasis they put on grace. 

They’ll say things like:

·         Those Baptists love to play the “grace card”.

·         They think “Oh, I’m saved by grace, so I can live however I want to.”

To me, this line of thinking shows an incomplete understanding of “Grace”.

True, the Bible teaches that we are saved by grace alone.  That is strikingly clear in Ephesians 2:8-9.  But let us look at what Grace is:

• ·         Grace is an undeserved free gift.
• ·         Grace is unmerited favor.
• ·         Grace is receiving the opposite of what we deserve.
• ·         Grace is “the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man” (Titus 3:4)

And it is only on this basis that we can expect God to save us.

But grace has a TWOFOLD manifestation:

1.        In Salvation (Eph. 2:8-9, Romans 3:24)

2.       In the walk and service of the saved (Romans 6:15)

You’ve got to look at BOTH manifestations of grace.  Not only as a method of divine dealing in salvation, but also as the method of God in the believer’s life and service.  As saved, the believer is not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).   Having by grace brought the believer into the highest conceivable position (Eph. 1:6), God ceaselessly works through grace, to impart to, and perfect in the believer, corresponding graces (John 15:4-5, Gal. 5:22-23). 

Grace, therefore, stands connected with:

1.        Service –

a.       Romans 12:6, 15:15-16,

b.      1 Corinthians 1:3-7, 3:10, 15:10

c.       2 Corinthians 12:9-10

d.      Galatians 2:9

e.      Ephesians 3:7-8, 4:7

f.        Philemon 1:7

g.       2 Timothy 2:1-2

h.      1 Peter 4:10

2.       Christian Growth

a.       2 Corinthians 1:12

b.      Ephesians 4:29

c.       Colossians 3:16, 4:6

d.      2 Thessalonians 1:12

e.      Hebrews 4:16, 12:28-29, 13:9

f.        James 4:6

g.       1 Peter 2:9, 3:7, 5:5 & 10

h.      2 Peter 3:18

i.         Jude 1:4

3.       Giving

a.       2 Corinthians 4:15

b.      2 Corinthians 8:1, 6, 7, 19

c.       2 Corinthians 9:14

Going back to our passage in Ephesians, after the Apostle Paul declares that salvation is by grace alone in verses 8-9, he says in the next verse that, "We are [God's] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."  Good works do not lead to salvation, but rather salvation leads to good works. When we are saved by grace, we are made new in Christ and good works will follow. But these are never performed as an effort to gain salvation. They are always the fruit of salvation that is given freely to us in Christ.

The evidence of true Christian faith is not a momentary decision, but rather the fruit of a faithful life.

Abiding in Christ

What does it mean to “abide in Christ”?  Abiding in Christ is discussed in John chapter 15.

To abide in Christ is, on the one hand, to have no known sin unjudged and unconfessed, no interest into which He is not brought, and no life which He cannot share.  On the other hand, the abiding one takes all burdens to Him, and draws all wisdom, life and strength from Him.  It is not unceasing consciousness of these things, and of Him, but that nothing is allowed in the life which separates from Him. 

To better understand “Abiding in Christ”, let’s look at “Fellowship with Christ” as discussed in 1 John chapter 1.

^“3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

⁴ And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

The conditions of fellowship

1.        To walk in the light

⁵ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

2.        The fact of indwelling sin admitted

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

3.        Sins confessed, forgiven and cleansed

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

What it is to “walk in the light” is explained in verses 8-10.  “All things . . . are made manifest in the light” (Ephesians 5:13).  The presence of God bring the consciousness of sin in the nature (v. 8), and sins in the life (v. 9, 10).  To walk in the light is to frankly confess both.  The blood of Christ is the divine provision.  In the Cross “sin” was condemned (Romans 8:3), and “sins” put away (Hebrews 9:26).  “In the light” means acknowledgement of these facts, and belief in Christ crucified as the remedy.

Bearing Fruit

Bearing Fruit (John 15)

Three conditions of the fruitful life: Cleanliness, Abiding and Obedience.

1. 1) Cleanliness (verses 2, 3)
1. a) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (v. 2)
2. b) Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (v. 3)
2. 2) Abiding (verse 4)
1. a) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (v. 4)
3. 3) Obedience (verses 10,12)
1. a) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (v. 10)
2. b) This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. (v.12)

Three degrees in fruit bearing: Fruit, More Fruit and Much Fruit.

1. 1) Fruit (v. 2) 
1. a) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (v. 2) 
2. 2) More Fruit (v. 2) 
1. a) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. (v. 2) 
3. 3) Much Fruit (v. 5, 8) 
1. a) I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (v. 5) 
1. b) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (v. 8) 

As we bear “much fruit” the Father is glorified in us. The minor moralities and graces of Christianity are often imitated, but never the ninefold “fruit” of Galatians 5:22 & 23. Where such fruit is, the Father is glorified. The Pharisees were moral and intensely “religious”, but not one of them could say with Christ, “I have glorified thee on the earth” (see John 17:4)

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE UNASHAMED

I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed.  I have the Holy Spirit’s power.  The die has been cast.  I have stepped over the line.  The decision has been made.  I am a disciple of His.  I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.  My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure.  I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity.  I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded or rewarded.  I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.  I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.  I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

I won’t give up, shut up, or let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.  I am a disciple of Jesus.  I must go until He comes, give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He stops me.  And when He comes for His own, He will have no problems recognizing me . . . FOR MY BANNER WILL BE CLEAR!

On The Syrian Refugee Crisis

SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS

The Syrian refugee situation has been in all over the news and social media recently.  I try to maintain an open mind, see all sides of an issue, and then make an informed decision.  I’ve seen all manner of arguments in favor of denying asylum to the Syrian refugees, including:

• How do we suddenly have housing and money for 10,000 Syrian refugees, but not for our 50,000 homeless veterans?
• I know not ALL Muslims are terrorists – only a small percentage are radical jihadists. But if I gave you ten grapes and told you that two had been injected with cyanide, how many would you eat?

I understand exactly where those who feel this way are coming from.  Believe me, I’ve been there. I’ve been solidly there for the last couple of months.  I would ask myself, “How on earth could ANYONE possibly think this is a GOOD IDEA???”

I understand now that this line of thought comes from a spirit of fear, and is not from God.  The bible tells us in 2^nd Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

What if the refugees do come in and attack us for being “infidels”?  Matthew 5:10 says, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

What if they even KILL us?  Read 2^nd Corinthians 5:8, where it says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.  You can’t scare me with Heaven!

I believe the final arbiter in all decision making should be the inspired Word of God.  Search the scriptures and find what the Bible says regarding situations like this.  Pray beforehand, asking God to direct you to passages He wants you to read.  I’ve done this, and would like to share some passages from God’s word with you:

• Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy – Matthew 5:7 (KJV)
• You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt –Deuteronomy 10:19 (NIV)
• Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world. – James 1:27 (HCSB)
• Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. – Matthew 5:42 (KJV)
• Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. – Ezekiel 16:49 (NIV)
• Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. – Hebrews 13:2 (ESV)
• Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?   Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. – Matthew 25:41-45 (KJV)

Don’t forget the story of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus tells of a priest and Levite who passed up a man in need, offering no help, and of a Samaritan who gave aid.  After the story, he asked the lawyer which of the three was a true neighbor, to which the lawyer answered “the one who showed mercy”.  Jesus responded by saying “Go and do likewise”. 

I urge you to search the scriptures on your own, asking God for discernment in order to formulate your own opinion.  

Is The Old Man Dead?

Is The Old Man Dead?

“Now and then an old friend of mine I haven’t seen for some time,

Stops by & asks me, “Where’ve you been? What’s on your mind?”

He wonders why I’m not drinking, or still painting this old town red.

I tell him I’m serving Jesus now, and the old man is dead.” – Del Way

One thing that troubles me about the modern church is the leading of small children in the “Sinner’s Prayer”.  Read the following scenario, and realize that this same situation plays out in churches of all denominations across this country every Sunday.

             Reverend Smith, a large imposing figure with a booming voice, delivers a foot-stomping, fist-pounding message about the realities and dangers of Hell.  He tells of a lake of eternal, unquenching fire; prepared for the devil and his angels, filled with brimstone (sulphur), much wailing and gnashing of teeth – a place where people beg for just a drop of water to cool their parched tongue.  A place of indescribable pain and suffering that will last for ETERNITY! It will NEVER END!

 At the end of the sermon, 8 year-old Johnny comes walking down the aisle.  Reverend Smith kneels down next to Johnny.  He wants to be on the boy’s level – he needs to look him in the eye.

             “Do you want to go to Hell, Johnny?” Reverend Smith asks, while placing a firm hand on the boy’s shoulder. 

             “No, sir”, mutters a timid and tearful Johnny.

             “Then repeat after me . . .”

             He leads Johnny in a Sinner’s Prayer, and then together they stand and turn around to face the congregation.  Reverend Smith presents little Johnny to the church as having been saved, when in reality, Johnny is no more saved than the man in the moon.

When a person truly accepts the free gift of salvation offered through Christ’s sacrifice at the Cross, there is a change that takes place in the heart. 

Romans 6:6 tells us “that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”

Know this:  If the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living inside of you, you WILL BE a different person.  That’s not just one man’s viewpoint – That’s a fact.

Are you a brand-new man? Is the old man dead?

Don't Stand Around Naked

Don’t stand around naked.

In Ephesians chapter 6, the bible discusses the Armour of God.

We’re told to put on the WHOLE armor of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

“A lot of folks will put on the Helmet of Salvation, and then stand around buck-naked from the neck down, wondering why they’ve got darts all in them” – Rev. Lowry Anderson

 Notice that I’ve emphasized the word WHOLE.  To me, that is the operative word in the passage.  In other words, don’t just put on PART of the armor, but put it ALL on.

We need the WHOLE armor of God, because as verse 12 tells us, we wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.

The author then goes on to list the individual pieces that make up the whole armor of God.  I’ll briefly touch on each one.

• The Belt of Truth (v.14) - Trusting and believing what is in the bible. See Psalms 119:105
• The Breastplate of Righteousness (v.14) - Using Christ’s record and perfection given to us.  See Romans 3:21-24
• The Shoes of Preparation of the Gospel of Peace (v.15) – Walking life with the peace that we are children of God, and willingness to share that Gospel.  See Galatians 3:26-29 & 5:16
• The Shield of Faith (v.16) – When facing trials . . . looking and focusing not on the things we see, but on what God has promised.  See Hebrews 11:1
• The Helmet of Salvation (v.17) – Thinking of future Glory, provided freely by the Grace of God.  See Romans 13:11-14
• The Sword of the Spirit (v.17) – The Word of God.  The only offensive piece in the set.  Use God’s word to attack the evil one against the thoughts and temptations he gives.  See 2 Timothy 3:16  

John MacArthur notes that the Christian life is a battle; warfare on a grand scale.  The Armor of God is His provision for our protection. We should use ALL OF IT.  Don’t just put on the Helmet of Salvation and then stand around naked.  That’s one man’s viewpoint.

Beware of Religiosity

Beware of Religiosity.

Don’t get so caught up in “Religion”, that you lose sight of the “Relationship”.  Don’t let being bogged down in doctrinal legalism keep you from fully realizing your relationship with the One who created you.

There are many different opinions between various Christian denominations today.  Some say you must be baptized by submersion, some say that having the baptismal waters poured over your head is good enough.   Still others are satisfied with merely sprinkling.  Matthew 28:19 instructs us to baptize them in the “name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost”, whereas Acts 2:38 declares that we should be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ”.  The thief on the cross was not baptized AT ALL, yet still went to Heaven.

Some say Christ will return BEFORE the tribulation.  Some say He will return AFTER the tribulation.  Still others say Christ will return MIDWAY THROUGH the tribulation.  In reality, all of these people are lying, for Matthew 24:36 says that NO MAN knows the hour or day – not even the angels of Heaven.

Your best bet is to be prepared.  If you live by the river and prepare for the flood, but the flood doesn’t come, you’ve lost nothing.  By contrast, if you DON’T prepare for the flood and the flood DOES come, you’ve lost everything. 

We are told several times in the New Testament (Matt. 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-31, Luke 10:25-8) that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.  The second is to love your neighbor as yourself.  It’s really quite simple: Love God, Love Each Other.  There’s no need to make it more complicated.  I believe that if we as Christians would focus more on simply loving God and loving each other, then a lot of our disagreements, disputes and drama would take care of itself.

But that’s just one man’s viewpoint.