I have no intention of making a mountain out of a mole hill, but I found an interesting post on the blog True Discernment and thought some of you may want to weigh in on it. (Also see Independent Conservative’s similar post here). It features Christmas greetings from two popular women “pastors.” As supposed Christian leaders, do you see any problem with Juanita Bynum and Paula White’s Christmas greetings? Is this just a by-product of who they truly are? I mean Christ of the Bible is often times absent from their “sermons” (in place of health, wealth, prosperity, and even sex) so why should He be included in their Christmas greetings? What do you think?
Month: November 2007
Are you a Monergist or Synergist?
Just some food for thought for today: Are you a Monergist or a Synergist?
Some noteworthy monergists include:
John MacArthur, RC Sproul, John Piper, D. James Kennedy, Charles Spurgeon, John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and Martin Luther.
Noteworthy synergists include:
Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, Tim Lahaye, Charles Stanley, Jerry Falwell, John Wesley, Charles Finney, Bill Hybels, Rick Warren, and the Catholic church.
Not sure what a Monergist or a Synergist is? Couldn’t identify them if you met them on the street? Well then, check out the explanation by clicking here.
HT: Old Truth.
Nehemiah wall discovered in Israel.
Another archaeological find in Israel further supports the reliability and credibility of the Bible. Read the news article by clicking here.
Quotes (84)
I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present or there will be no manifestation of Christ to His people. He waits to be wanted. Too bad that with many of us He waits so long, so very long, in vain.
– A.W. Tozer
1897 – 1963
Another “preacher” on Larry King . . . another missed opportunity.
The female version of Joel Osteen has been discovered. Regarding Paula White’s book You’re All That, Larry King asks “This is a self-help book?” She responds, “Well, I believe the Bible helps yourself. So I think, you know, it’s based around the biblical principles and truths that transform me.”
Thanks to Independent Conservative for this video. Check out his commentary on this video here.
Paula White putting on a show.
I could only stomach a little bit of this before I could stand no more. Why is she acting like this? All show and no substance. And did she really say that the Apostle Paul lacked the ability to articulate and communicate?
Quotes (83)
One of the most impressive blessings in America is religious liberty. Not only do Christians have access to radio and television, unheard of in most nations of Asia, but they are also free to hold meetings, evangelize, and print literature. How different this is from many Asian nations in which government persecution of Christians is common and often legal. . . . Coming from India, where I was beaten and stoned for my faith, I know what it is to be a persecuted minority in my own country. When I set foot on Western soil, I could sense a spirit of religious liberty. Americans have never known the fear of persecution. . . . From India, I always looked to the United States as a fortress of Christianity. With the abundance of both spiritual and material things, affluence unsurpassed by any nation on earth, and a totally unfettered church, I expected to see a bold witness. God’s grace obviously has been poured out on this nation and Church in a way no other people ever have experienced. Instead I found a Church in spiritual decline. . . . These people, I knew, were capable of so much more. They were dying spiritually, but I knew God wanted to give them life again. He wanted His Church to recover its moral mandate and sense of mission. . . . God did not shower such great blessing on this nation for the Christians to live in extravagance, in self-indulgence, and in spiritual weakness.
– K.P. Yohannan
Islam vs teddy bear teacher UPDATE.
Sermon of the week: “The Fruits of Repentance” by Tim Conway.
This week’s sermon is by Pastor Tim Conway and is entitled (Shut your mouth if you don’t have) The Fruits of Repentance. Warning to the nominal professing Christian: this sermon will step on your toes.
Click on the link to listen streaming, or right click on the link and click “Save As” (Internet Explorer) or “Save Link As” (Mozilla) to save to your computer. From there you can burn this to a CD or upload it to your MP3 player.
Does your “Bishop” and “Prophetess” live in a 2.5 million dollar home?
And these two can claim they still lived modestly compared to this pastor.
Thanks to Independent Conservative for this video.
Joseph Smith: The Enchanter
I just received a copy of the brand-new, full-color, 32 page comic The Enchanter produced by Chick Publications. The comic is on the life of Joseph Smith and I was very anxious to read it.
After reading it I was very disappointed on many levels. Although the design, layout, and artwork are good, it failed to touch on the many problems with Mormonism that it could have.
The story starts with a modern-day crime scene and cover-up. The Mormon Doctrine of Blood Atonement is exercised and the Mormon-run police force conclude the murder was a suicide. The victim’s wife seeks financial help from some men in another city to flee the town of Mormons. The two gentlemen who send this lady money to help her, have their curiosity piqued and seek to know more about Mormonism. Another man meets with them and the rest of the book is their conversation with illustrations of Joseph Smith and early Mormonism. The story never returns to the woman who lost her husband.
I have to admit, in my years of studying Mormonism, this comic alleged several things I never came across in my studies (not saying that they’re not true, I just never heard of them). Almost all of the other errors and lies of Mormonism were neglected.
I feel that Chick completely dropped the ball on this one. They missed so many grand opportunities and focused on matters that had less of an impact.
Additionally, I did not like the lack of documentation. If you’re going to make the allegations that this comic did, it only stands to reason to footnote where this information came from. This way when Mormons charge that you are lying and made this stuff up (like Jim did in this post) they can research the information for themselves; if they dare.
After reading this comic, I felt more like it was designed to just bash Joseph Smith and Mormons, not intellectually examine the facts and point the reader to the true Christ. Although the gospel message is included, it gets lost in all the drama.
In conclusion, I feel this comic may do more harm than good in sharing the Gospel with Mormons and enlightening those who are unfamiliar with the organization and its gross errors.
I think that many times Christians in their zealousness to share the truth do much damage. That’s why I cannot recommend this comic. Its attempt to cast Mormons in the light it did, does not sit well with me. Just the other day I was listening to Issues Etc on Pilgrim Radio on the topic of Jehovah’s Witnesses. One caller referred to the Mormons by saying something to the effect “when talking to the morons, uh I mean Mormons . . .” which he did intentionally. This grieves me and angers me at the same time. People who would say that does not have the Mormon’s best interest in mind (their eternal soul) but are just trying to win arguments.
I have yet to meet a Mormon I didn’t like. It’s their false doctrine I take issue with, not the individual Mormon. I get falsely accused all the time of being anti-Mormon and being a Mormon-basher. It usually comes from Mormons who can’t engage in the debate because they know that the Truth is not on their side. In reality, I love the Mormon people. I want to see them saved from the eternal fate they are in, (the deception and the lies which will lead them to Hell), and come to a true relationship with the Jesus of the Bible.
** UPDATE **
It has been brought to my attention by OB Server (thank you) that Chick Publications has referenced the material in this comic on their website. You can see it by clicking here. I wish they had put the references in the book, not everyone will have the opportunity to refer to the website.
K.P. Yohannan sermon.
Part One
Part Two
It’s not too late to send a Christmas gift to support a native missionary to help further the gospel. Just click here.
An examination of the Prosperity “gospel.”
This video was made by fellow blogger and brother in Christ, Fourpointer. He did a great job on exposing some of the many lies of the Word of Faith cult. (That’s right, I said “cult”).
Quotes (82)
Now, the word legalism is oftentimes brought up today. And it’s just used totally out of context. Anybody who has any kind of conviction about anything, seems to be called a legalist. Now a legalist is someone who believes that they are going to have a right standing before through their own obedience, their own virtue and merit; and that’s a legalist. Now, Jesus Christ said, also in Matthew chapter 7, He said, “depart from me, you workers of lawlessness, I never knew you.” And what He’s saying there basically is depart from Me all of you who claim to be My disciples but lived as though I never gave you a law to obey.
– Paul Washer
Quotes (81)
There is much in the attitude of professing Christians in this day which fills me with concern, and makes me full of fear for the future.
-J.C. Ryle
1816 – 1900
Islam: The religion of “peace” is at it again.
In this news article with accompanying video, a school teacher is in a Sudanese jail facing 40 lashes for allowing children in her class to name a teddy bear Mohammed.
As I shake my head at the barbaric behavior in which Islam constantly finds itself, I have to wonder if we harnessed just 10% of their fanaticism and applied it to our faith how much Christianity would be different than it is today in the West. I’m not talking about violence, cruelty, and terrorism. I’m talking a reverence for God, not watching movies where His name is blasphemed, not allowing an Elvis impersonator to lead worship, not depicting our Lord as a duck, not preaching sermons on the topic of God Loves Sex, not glorifying Las Vegas and poker in church, not inviting someone who’s opposed to everything our faith holds dear to speak at your church, not mocking the very Word of God with heretical versions of the Bible, not having scantly clad girls dancing on stage at a “Christian” Christmas concert, and the list goes on and on.
Maranatha!
Chuck Smith examines the secrets of Mormonism (full 41 minute video).
Quotes (80)
Another test from Reformation Nation.
Here’s your test for the day: If I showed you a picture (see below) of two men; one dressed as Batman and the other as Superman, with the caption:
“This Halloween, Batman and Superman came to the costume party as homosexuals.”
Where would you think this came from?
A. A gay bar.
B. A gay pride parade.
C. A “Christian” Church.
Sadly, (but not unexpectedly) we have strayed so far from holiness and the Word of God that the answer is C.
How many light bulbs?
I found this gem on Symphony of Scripture.
Q: How many charismatics does it take to change a light bulb?
A: One, since his hands are in the air anyway.
A: Three, one to cast it out and two to catch it when it falls!
A: Twenty one, one to change it, and twenty to share the experience!
Q: How many Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. God has predestined when the lights will be on.
Q: How many hyper-Calvinists does it take to change a light bulb?
A: None. If God wants the light bulb changed He will do it Himself!
Q: How many liberals does it take to change a light bulb?
A: 10, as they need to hold a debate into whether or not the light bulb exists. Even if they can agree upon the existence of the light bulb they may not go ahead and change it for fear of alienating those who use fluorescent tubes.
These were all good, but one was missing so I thought I’d add my own:
Q: How many evolutionists does it take to change a light bulb?
A. None. They figure it will change itself in a billion years.