Author: Pilgrim

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Sermon of the week: “What Was Paul Doing on Mars Hill?” by Phil Johnson.

If you’re one of those people who think the Apostle Paul’s proclamation of being all things to all people meant “anything goes,” then you desperately need to listen to this message.

This sermon answers all those worldly doctrines built on shifting sand that try to use the excuse that Paul employed examples of Greek culture in his preaching to reach the lost therefore we can employ whatever we deem as relevant (i.e. sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll or whatever other lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh you happen to be engaging in and enjoying).

For all those who live by these erroneous beliefs, I strongly encourage you to take a break from leaving scathing comments on DefCon and listen to Phil Johnson’s apropos sermon: What Was Paul Doing on Mars Hill?

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Albert Mohler on the false health & wealth gospel.

Prosperity Heresy

Albert Mohler discusses on his audio blog and radio show the false gospel of health and wealth, and those who preach this false gospel (e.g. Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Hagin, etc.) stemming from this New York Times article.

They’re worth a listen.

Audio blog (5 minutes):

It Promises Far Too Little – The False Gospel of Prosperity Theology

Radio show (38 minutes):

The Gospel and Wordly Wealth – The Myth of the Prosperity Gospel

Here’s a slideshow from the latest pulpit pimping extravaganza put on by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland.

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Quotes (587)

Stephen Charnock A man may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant. . . . A man may be excellent in the grammar of Scripture, yet not understand the spiritual sense of it. . . . The highest rational knowledge of God cannot profit without the knowledge of faith. . . . It can be of no more advantage to us than it was to the Jews knowing Him, or to Judas living with Him. In the Scriptures, Christians are not called knowing persons, but believers.

– Stephen Charnock

1628 – 1680

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Bud ‘n Bubba: Redneck Jesus Freaks.

Rednecks for JesusI can’t make this stuff up. First there was the Cotton Patch Gospel, now this.

In a world where everyone feels they have the license to contextualize the gospel message as they see fit, we have all sorts of “ministries” out there pushing all sorts of “Christianity.” For some reason we refuse to believe that the sovereign Creator of the universe is still capable of saving His elect with that old gospel of 2,000 years ago. We feel that we must help God out by doctoring up the gospel to make it “relevant.”

Truth be told, we simply don’t trust that He is capable of saving His elect, that the gospel itself has the power to save, and that God alone is the one who does the saving.

So we end up doing it our way, (because we think we’re so much better at it than God). Thus we have a gospel message contextualized for the hip hop/urban crowd, the sports-nut crowd, the Gothic crowd, the teen crowd, the punk rock crowd, the biker crowd, and the list goes on and on. Now we have a gospel for the redneck crowd.

Meet Bud ‘n Bubba; self-described redneck Jesus freaks.

Bud 'n Bubba

Bud ‘n Bubba are a couple of good ‘ole southern, God-fearin’, America lovin’ boys that love to make people laugh. Some folks call ‘em REDNECKS. Hailing from Booger Holler, these guys travel the south in their official “touring vehicle” (ok, it’s a travel trailer) and share their unique brand of humor with any unsuspecting audience they can pin down.

These guys are also on Facebook (here) and they even have a fan club whose only requirement is that you pledge that you love the Lord, your family, and your country, and, like Christ, you’re willing to lay your life down for all three.

I wish this was just another mockery by the world, but it’s not. It’s just another mockery by the professing church who thinks their strange fire is acceptable to God.

Bud ‘n Bubba’s ministry is explained on their website:

The ministry of Bud ‘n Bubba exists to provide some fun, family-friendly entertainment that is appropriate for all ages, and to combine this silliness with the message of Jesus Christ.  Through music and comedy, this pair of Redneck Jesus Freaks will entertain you with their own brand of insanity.

Combining ministry and entertainment? Combining redneck silliness with the message of Jesus Christ?

Oh, how we have lost the understanding of what it means to suffer as Christians. As countless brethren are persecuted around the world, being beaten, tortured, and killed for the faith; as children grow up without parents (who have either been imprisoned or martyred for Jesus Christ), we in America just can’t be amused enough.

Today, Bud ‘n Bubba’s desire is reach out to as many people as possible and use the power of laughter to share the message of hope.

Since when did laughter ever save someone? Where is one example of laughter being the impetus of salvation? Where does conviction of sin, a broken spirit, and repentance factor in during all this laughter? What is so funny about our sin and what it cost for Jesus Christ to atone for our sin? And in such serious matters one also has to wonder what’s so funny about the consequence of those who reject Christ’s substitute for their sins.

And, although I couldn’t find even a cut-and-pasted generic doctrinal statement on their website, I did find their Redneck Jesus Freaks temporary tattoo for only $2.00.

Does not even the church take Jesus seriously anymore? American Christianity has become one big running joke. It’s been turned into a carnival and there’s plenty of rides to keep you busy and entertain you to death.

It’s a true sign of the spiritual state of the visible church when the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ simply isn’t enough, but instead we must be constantly amused. But can we blame these guys? They’re only providing what the biblically illiterate, doctrinally shallow, tares of the mile-wide, inch-deep church of America demand: “More entertainment, less gospel truth . . . and we want it now!”

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. – 2 Timothy 4:3-4


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Comparing the two witnesses of Jesus Christ.

Virgin Birth

The following is from 4 Mormon:

BIBLE’S WITNESS OF CHRIST

BOOK OF MORMON’S WITNESS OF CHRIST

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem. (Matthew 2:1 and Micah 5:2)

Jesus Christ was born at Jerusalem. (Alma 7:10)

Jesus Christ promised: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
(Matthew 24:35)

“…there are many plain and precious things taken away from the book, which is the book of the Lamb of God.” —1 Nephi 13:28

During Jesus’ death, darkness covered the earth for three hours. (Matthew 27:45)

At Jesus’ death, darkness covered the earth for three days. (Helaman 14:20, 27)

Christ’s followers were first called “Christians” at Antioch (after Jesus’ ascension into Heaven).
(Acts 11:26)

Christ’s followers were called “Christians” at 73 B.C. (70+ years before Christ was born).
(Alma 46:15).

Melchizedek (a picture of Christ in the Old Testament) was “without father.” (Hebrews 7:3)

Melchizedek “did reign under his father.”
(Alma 13:18)
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Quotes (585)

voddie-baucham If you want to know whether or not someone truly loves God, watch what he or she does. If a person does not do the things that God says are pleasing and acceptable, and in fact does the things that God abhors and forbids, and yet claims to love God, it will be tough to support that claim. In fact, John argues, “The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected” (1 John 2:4-5a).

– Voddie Baucham

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Quotes (584)

john-bunyan.jpg Shun therefore the evil ways of Christians, but cleave to the way that is Christian. . . . Take heed therefore of picking up a quarrel with Jesus Christ, and with His ways, because of the evil doings of some of His followers. Judas sold Him; Peter denied Him: and many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him; but neither Himself nor His ways were the worse for that.

– John Bunyan

1628 – 1688

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Sermon of the week: “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” by Russ Sukhia.

sukhia.jpg Your sermon of the week is Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered by Russ Sukhia. The sermon overview from Sermon Audio reads:

This Reformation Day sermon, the fourth in a series on Galatians, looks at justification by faith, and endeavors to clearly explain exactly how our redemption is accomplished. This message, which includes a summary of Luther’s life and a fictitious account of a breakfast meeting with Arnold Schwerzenneger and Bill Gates, was well-received. One member said it was ‘the best gospel message I have heard in 40 years as a Christian.’

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Quotes (582)

John MacArthur Worldly preachers seem to go out of their way to put their carnal expertise on display—even in their sermons. In the name of connecting with “the culture” they want their people to know they have seen all the latest programs on MTV; familiarized themselves with all the key themes of “South Park”; learned the lyrics to countless tracks of gangsta rap and heavy metal music; and watched who-knows-how-many R-rated movies. They seem to know every fad top to bottom, back to front, and inside out. They’ve adopted both the style and the language of the world—including lavish use of language that used to be deemed inappropriate in polite society, much less in the pulpit. They want to fit right in with the world, and they seem to be making themselves quite comfortable there.

– John MacArthur


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The Cotton Patch Gospel.

Cotton Patch Gospel As if I needed more evidence of the decline of the visible church in America, I stumbled upon the following DVD offered in a Vision Videos Christian catalog. The Cotton patch Gospel is described as follows:

This award-winning musical drama is a leg-slappin’, toe-tappin’, hand-clappin’ hoe-down of a story that retells the Gospels of Matthew and John—translated into present day Southern vernacular. It brings the far away places of Nazareth, Jerusalem and Bethlehem closer to home—Atlanta and Valdosta, Georgia. From his birth in a trailer in Gainesville, Georgia to his Good Friday lynching and Easter Sunday victory, the story of Mary Davidson’s son, Jesus, is presented musically with zest and uninhibited joy.

Imagine if you will, that someone made a video like this of Islam, and depicted Mohamed in the same fashion as they did Jesus Christ. The Muslims would be up in arms.

Not us, though. We shrug at it and order a copy for our church youth group.

Ichabod! Ichabod! Ichabod!

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I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

– Galatians 1:6-9

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Quotes (582)

spurgeon-pic.jpg If we let passion take the place of judgment, and self-will reign instead of Scriptural authority, we shall fight the Lord’s battles with the devil’s weapons, and if we cut our own fingers we must not be surprised.

– Charles Spurgeon

1834 – 1892

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Quotes (581)

awpink.jpg There are those who profess to believe in the existence of God . . . yet they have not His fear upon them and are not in subjection to Him. So there are many who claim to trust in the finished work of Christ, yet their daily walk is no different from that of thousands of respectable worldlings. They profess to be Christians; yet are covetous, unscrupulous, untruthful, proud, self-willed, uncharitable; in a word, utterly unchristian.

– A.W. Pink

1886 – 1952

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Film review: “The Monstrous Regiment of Women.”

Having no idea what this video was about, I recently watched The Monstrous Regiment of Women. I quickly found myself not wanting it to end. It was a great documentary detailing the effects that feminism has had on our culture. This documentary includes interviews with Phyllis Schlafly (of the Eagle Forum), Stacy McDonald (who wrote Raising Maidens of Virtue) as well as a feminist and several pro-abortion supporters.

One of the most fascinating parts of the documentary is a trip inside a Planned Parenthood event for kids and an interview with former abortion mill operator Carol Everett (of The Heidi Group) who reveals the dark secrets of the abortion industry.

Although the video starts off a little slow (about the first ten minutes) it picks up and leaves you wanting more. I highly recommend this video to the readers of DefCon, but be cautioned, some scenes may not be suitable for children (e.g. video of an aborted child).

The Gunn Brother’s second documentary, goes all out to demolish the feminist worldview. From a consistently Christian perspective, they show how feminism has had a devastating impact on the church, state, and family. Starting with the infamous 16th century essay written by the reformer John Knox against the reigning female monarch, the Gunn Brothers find plenty of application to America’s political landscape; where feminists vie for every possible office including the presidency. Featuring an all star, all female cast, the Gunn Brothers prove that feminism has in fact restricted choices for all women, brought heartache to the lives of many, and perpetuated the largest holocaust since the beginning of time.

Here’s the trailer (suitable for family viewing):

You can purchase the video at MonstrousRegiment.com.

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Quotes (579)

The Stranger Just because the Moral Law is unable to restore the broken relationship with God does not mean it is without value. Just as physical laws create order in the universe, so spiritual laws create order in a nation. Many countries have rejected the biblical code of conduct at the risk of living in a morally-neutral society. No such society truly exists. No such civilization has ever survived. To take no stand is, in effect, to take a position. The rejection of biblical absolutes has resulted in a callousness towards wrong, with each generation becoming more comfortable with sin. The Bible teaches that this will eventually lead to chaos.

– John R. Cross

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Sermon of the week: “Gaining the World and Losing Your Children” by Paul Washer.

image-4-14280 Your sermon of the week is Gaining the World and Losing Your Children by Paul Washer. It is yet another challenging message directed toward fathers in how they treat their wives and children. When you are done with this sermon I highly encourage you download his message Biblical Manhood Part 1 found on this post.

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Seeking your forgiveness.

Moon Oftentimes in our zeal to defend truth and contend for the faith, we cross the line. And in spite of having a team of contributors that hold each other accountable, sometimes things slip through the cracks that should have never seen the light of day.

A while back a contributor posted a video that mocked our Savior. The post was quickly pulled and when explained to this brother why it was pulled, he was gracious and completely understood. Unfortunately I have fallen into this same error myself and posted a video from The Church You Know that, in retrospect, I should have never posted.

I think my justification was “it’s not as bad of a mockery of our Lord as that other video we pulled.” But is any mockery acceptable? Is there a level of mockery that is ok to post and a level that isn’t? Certainly not. All mockers–no matter how reserved or how intense–will suffer the wrath of God.

I have refrained from publishing many posts in the past that I felt could be a stumbling block to another, but sadly I failed to be as diligent in my last post. Regardless of the motive, or my intentions, I contributed to the mockery of the Church by posting a video on DefCon that I never should have. For this I am truly sorry.

Although my intention was not to offend or cause a fellow brother or sister to stumble, I believe that I have done just that. It is for this reason that I firstly ask forgiveness from God, and secondly ask forgiveness from you.

I am truly sorry to any and all who I caused to stumble and to God whom I have offended. I take full responsibility for what has happened and I have removed the video. I ask DefCon readers to forgive me.

Sincerely,

– The Pilgrim