Author: Pilgrim

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Quotes (158)

brotherwasher So many of us–so many times–fight against a certain work of God without which we will never produce excellent fruit. We have been so led into believing that everything difficult, everything that conflicts, everything that scrapes us and works as a rasp in our life to take away our comfort–that it’s from the devil. That’s what America has taught us; a comfortable Christianity. When what we do not realize is those who say such things are blaspheming. Because in the life of God’s people, in His Church, in His vineyard, God the Father is the vine dresser and He is the One that is cutting away at us. He is the One that is pruning us. He is the one that is cleaning us.

– Paul Washer

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Trampling on the holy Word of God.

This has got to be one of the dumbest ideas in all of “Christian” Commercialism. Scripture verses on shoe inserts. Dumb from a practical, common sense, and reverential perspective, but probably not so dumb from a marketing perspective. I am certain there are enough lemming Christians who will buy this garbage to make the company that sells them a success.

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But why just stop there? Witness while you walk with these dumb socks embroidered with a word like love, hope, praise, blessed or joy. Proof that if you slap the label “Christian” on it, cultural Christians will buy anything.

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Speaking of “buying anything,” check out this company’s ministry links here. The marketing of shoe inerts and socks comes as no surprise when the company links to such ministries as:

Creflo Dollar Ministries
T. D. Jakes Ministries
Joyce Meyer Ministries
Paula White Ministries
Joel Olsteen

I guess the company figures if these guys can fleece the flock, they might as well get in on it too. If the sheeple are blind enough to send money to the above charlatans, then these same folks will quickly part with their money to buy a “Christian” shoe insert and a sock.

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Jesus of Mormonism: Born of the Holy Spirit or not?

“They tell us the Book of Mormon states that Jesus was begotten of the Holy Ghost. I challenge that statement. The Book of Mormon teaches no such thing! Neither does the Bible. It is true there is one passage that states so, but we must consider it in light of other passages with which it is in conflict.” Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Volume 1, Page 18

. . . The child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 1:20

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Quotes (157)

washerpic.jpg Every other source of strength outside of Jesus Christ is a bitter source that will bare poisoned fruit. You take the most self-righteous, the most disciplined, religious person on the face of the earth, and externally their works might appear to be pristine; [but] their fruit is biter gall, it is poison, it will lead to damnation and hell. God accepts nothing from our flesh but only that which is produced from the source of life that flows from His dear Son.

– Paul Washer

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What really happens in a Dilation and Extraction Abortion?

For those who were more shocked and horrified that I had the audacity to post pictures of actual victims of infanticide (rather than being shocked and horrified about the murder of innocent children itself), perhaps this artist’s conception will be more palatable for you. But of course, if this is still too much for you to handle, you don’t have to click on the picture to enlarge it for detail.

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Sermon of the week: “Fighting Hypocrisy in the Church” by Francis Chan.

francis-chan.jpg If you were impacted by Francis Chan’s previous sermon posted here on DefCon, then you certainly don’t want to miss this one: Fighting Hypocrisy in the Church. It should be heard as a follow-up to his previous message.
This sermon is a very candid examination of hypocrisy in the church and its ramifications. This message needs to be heard by all Christians and I even recommend it to those who are not Christians, especially those who have chosen to leave the Church because of the hypocrisy they see in the lives of everyone around them.
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.
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Quotes (156)

john-macarthur.jpg The modern canonization of compromise represents a detour down a dead-end alley. Both Scripture and church history reveal the danger of compromising biblical truth. Those whom God uses are invariably men and women who swim against the tide. They hold strong convictions with great courage and refuse to compromise in the face of incredible opposition.

– John MacArthur

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Ryhmes with “funny,” “honey,” and “bunny.”

Recently I was changing the channel of a television set at a convalescent facility I was at when I came across Mike Murdoch who was holding one of his own books as he was preaching (not the Bible). And guess what he was talking about? It was the very same thing he was talking about when I came across him on TV back in October (see this previous post). I’ll give you one guess and three hints as to what he was talking about–what his “gospel” is. Se if you can guess correctly.

Hint 1: It rhymes with “funny.”

Hint 2: It rhymes with “honey.”

Hint 3: It rhymes with “bunny.”

As a side note, the video below is an update on another wolf leading the flock astray: Kenneth Copeland.

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Cleaning house. A letter to the readers of this blog.

sweep.jpg Reformation Nation was launched on August 10, 2007. Today, (our six-month anniversary), we reached our 80,000th hit. I have chosen today’s occasion to make a change to how things are done here. I am going to put a stop to the incessant anti-Christian, hate-mongering that some can’t seem to refrain from. In effect, I will begin cleaning house.

Many come in here and get angry with what has been posted. (Then they judge me, my intentions, and my heart while telling me not to judge.) They can’t see to figure out how to stop visiting this blog (like those who can’t find the power button on their TV and so complain about the content that they’re “forced” to watch). So in spite of being offended and despising what is said in here, for some reason they are driven to return time and time again. While here they spew their venom as they are “forced” to read these posts. In doing so they are compelled to leave their hateful, arrogant, condescending, and rude remarks wherever they see fit. It ‘s their way of being an example of “love” while they instruct us to be more loving.

Others come in here just to tell me–ad nauseum–what I should or should not blog about.

So I go to thinking, hey, whose blog is this anyway? And who is this blog for? As the tag line says, it’s for the “fellow Pilgrim” not the pagan rock worshipers, God-hating atheists, and any other group whose sole purpose in life is to take their anger and hatred for God and project it onto Christians. You see, they have no problem with nominal Christians, cultists, and any other group as long as they’re all fighting against those who are on the narrow path.

It’s also very quaint and apropos how each of these groups give the other little pats on the back in appreciation for one another. It’s amazing to see how nothing brings so many diverse and opposing groups together in harmony like their common hatred for genuine, non-conforming, non-compromising Christians. Nothing binds their hearts together quite like their common hatred for God’s elect.

I originally set a standard on what comments were acceptable, but I allowed that bar to be lowered for comments directed toward myself. For example, I have not allowed people to insult Mormons in here and have actually deleted comments in which the whole purpose of the comment was to make fun of Mormons. (Ironically, as I was writing this post I had to remove a comment that was hostile to Atheists that I felt was inappropriate. If any of you are interested in seeing what I deemed “inappropriate” I will be more than willing to e-mail the entire comment to you.) I understand that most don’t know these things because they don’t see what happens behind the scenes, but it wouldn’t matter anyway, because they think they’ve got me all figured out.

I, on the other hand, have put up with the insulting, rude, and vitriolic comments directed toward me and this blog, allowing them to remain in the public domain. (This type of abuse by those who keep claiming they’re loving–I understand–is part of the reason Ingrid stopped allowing comments on Slice of Laodicea.)

Well, starting today, this will change.

One individual who prowls around this blog like a roaring lion to plant his “seeds” has this very disclaimer on his own blog: “Contributing to this site is a privilege, not a right. If you are unable or unwilling to exercise tolerance for perspectives that differ from your own, I reserve the right to limit or restrict your access.” Of course this same standard of tolerance is not extended to me when he’s on my blog: It’s the classic “do as I say, not as I do.”

I also found this disclaimer by fellow Pilgrim, Jim Bublitz, on his blog Old Truth: BE OUR GUEST, NOT OUR TROLL. You are a guest on this privately owned website, but that doesn’t mean that you must agree with our views. However, if you find that your comments disagree more often than not, or if you think that you should hang-out here for the purpose of providing a regular, ongoing, “counter-balance” to our views, then this site is not for you. In such a case, we recommend that you open your own blog, and use it to express yourself there. In return, you can expect that our authors will abide by this same rule on your blog.

So after pondering these ideas, I have decided to follow suit and apply the same rules as these experienced bloggers have done. If you cannot comment on here respectfully and without personal attacks, or if the whole point of your comment is an attack itself (like this one: “What kind of false doctrine do you follow? Apparently you know more about my church than myself so enlighten me.”) then expect your comment to be deleted. I will also moderate some commenters specifically due to their incessant hateful comments.

I am happy to announce that as of today I am returning this site to its original purpose and intention; a lifeline for fellow Pilgrims. Does this mean that I will not accept any opposing views? Certainly not. It’s not the opposing views I have issue with, it’s the few people (normally Atheists, Agnostics, and the occasional Witch) who vicariously spew their hatred for God by attacking His people. You don’t have to agree with everything in here, in fact you don’t have to agree with anything in here, just as long as your comments are respectful and add to the discussion. If, however, you choose to camp on this blog just to insult everyone else, then I suggest getting your own blog if your addiction is that incurable.

In this world we live in everyone is permitted to have their own opinion on any subject, now matter how corrupt, perverse or outlandish that opinion may be. Everything is now acceptable and tolerated. However, Christians are supposed to conform to the “wisdom” of this world or “keep their mouths shut.” This of course is called “tolerance.” The views and opinions of those who have such a hate for Christians can be found just about anywhere in this world, but I will no longer provide a platform for their scoffing. I know some will be grateful for this decision; wondering what took me so long, and others will be angry; demanding that they have carte blanche access to say what they want. Well, you have abused that privilege and it is now henceforth revoked.

If there’s any parting words I can give to those who loath Christians, it’s this: Just hang in there, a time will come–and it won’t be very long–in which you can act out that blind rage and burning anger. The day will come when people like you will be permitted to put people like me to to death (Matthew 24:9-11). Granted, you may not be the one to pull the lever, but the powers that be will do so with your hearty approval and while you think you’re doing God a service (John 16:2). That time is approaching and it will come. You just have to be patient.

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. – Jesus Christ

John 15:18-19

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What Mormons have said about the Apostle Paul.

You’ve seen what Mormons really think of Christians, but what have they taught regarding the the Apostle Paul?

Jedediah M. Grant:

“When Peter came to Antioch,” says Paul, “I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed,” &c. Paul does not gain much credit with the Mormons for taking this course. We know he had no right to rebuke Peter; but some man said he was like Almon Babbit, he wanted to boast of rebuking Peter. He thought it was a feather in his cap because he coped with Peter and rebuked him. Had that affair come before a “Mormon” tribunal, they would have decided in favour [sic] of Peter, and against Paul. We believe when Paul rebuked Peter, he had in him a spirit of rebellion, and was decidedly wrong in rebelling against the man who held the keys of the kingdom of God on earth. Journal of Discourses, Volume 1, Page 346, 1853

Joseph Smith:

[The Apostle] Paul, if Joseph Smith is a blasphemer, you are. I say there are Gods many and Lords many, but to us only one, and we are to be in subjection to that one and no man can limit the bounds or the eternal existence of eternal time. Hath he beheld the eternal world, and is he authorized to say that there is only one God? He makes himself a fool if he thinks or says so, and there is an end of his career or progress in knowledge. History of the Church, Volume 6, Pages 474-475

Paul had seven churches, and they drove him off from among them; and yet they cannot do it by me. History of the Church, Volume 6, Page 478

I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet. History of the Church, Volume 6, Pages 408-409

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Quotes (154)

yahannan.jpg If you knew the horrors of the potential judgment that hangs over us–if we really believed in what is coming–how differently we would live. Why aren’t Christians living in obedience to God? Because of their unbelief. Why did Eve fall into sin? Because she did not truly believe in the judgment–that death really would come if she ate what God forbade. This is the same reason many continue in lives of sin and disobedience. – K. P. Yohannan
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Quotes (153)

john-macarthur.jpg The goal of human philosophy used to be truth without God. Today’s philosophies are open to the notion of God without truth–or to be more accurate, personal “spirituality” in which everyone is free to create his or her own god. Personal gods pose no threat to sinful self-will, because they suit each sinner’s personal preferences anyway, and they make no demands on anyone else.
– John MacArthur


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Denying Hell: The bandwagon is getting quite full.

The topic of Hell came up in another post (read the comments here). One commenter–a Mormon–has found himself on the side of Universalists, Agnostics, Atheists, Wiccans, Jehovah’s Witness and Carlton Pearson in either down-playing, altering or denying the existence of Hell. Regardless of whether this is just his personal view or the LDS organization’s new PR move, either way, the denial of hell is beginning to gain in popularity.

For clarification, the denial of the doctrine of Hell doesn’t have to be confined to denying the existence of Hell. There are multiple ways of twisting, spinning, and distorting Scripture all while asking, “Hath God really said?” These include questioning the duration, the type of punishment, the degree of punishment, adding the teaching of purgatory to it, denying that most people will find themselves there (usually preceded with “A Loving god would never do that,” or “My god would never do that“), etc.

As the ecumenical movement gains momentum we find more and more beliefs merge in areas where they once found themselves in disagreement. The doctrine of Hell is yet another “politically incorrect” orthodox teaching of Christianity that is being discarded for the more modern, God-light view shared by an ever-increasing number. As people continue to form a personal, conscience-easing god in their own image tailored to suit their own tastes, we will continue to see more and more people denying biblical doctrines such as Hell. It usually starts with “I just can’t believe ______ ” fill in the blank.

Compromising biblical doctrines (like the deity of Christ, the atonement of Christ’s shed blood, the Trinity, the authority of holy Scripture, etc.) are frequently being done now in the name of the new Greatest Commandment: Unity.