Much of the evangelical movement has been acting for a long time as if our main duty is just to keep in step with the fads of worldly culture in order to gain the approval of each succeeding generation. That strategy will never fail to find enthusiastic support among those who are immature, weak, ignorant, or cowardly, but it can never be truly effective. Without truth, no spiritual transformation is possible (1 Peter 1;22-25; John 17:17).
– John MacArthur
Ingrid Schlueter (of Slice of Laodicea and Hope in Laodicea) hosts this edition of Crosstalk. Her guest is Justin Peters (of JustinPeters.org) and they discuss the heresy of the Word of Faith movement.
In this episode, A Call For Discernment – Exposing the Word-Faith Movement, audio clips from Benny Hinn, Gloria Copeland, and Creflo Dollar are examined. They also discuss Todd Bentley.
This is the meaning of grace. We cannot obtain a right standing with God because of our works. It must be a free gift. We can only receive it by faith, cherishing it as our great treasure. This is why the Bible says, “By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ suffered and died so that good works would be the effect, not the cause, of our acceptance. Not surprisingly, then, the next sentence says, “For we are . . . created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). That is we are saved for good works, not by good works.
– John Piper
It is a great mistake to give a man who has not been convicted of sin certain passages that were never meant for him. The Law is what he needs . . . Do not offer the consolation of the Gospel until he sees and knows he is guilty before God. We must give enough of the Law to take away all self-righteousness.
– D.L. Moody
1837 – 1899
Why have international terrorist Osama Bin Laden, and Iranian madman President Mahmoud Ahmad both offered the United States of America an opportunity to convert to Islam? Experts say that an invitation to convert to Islam always precedes an attack.
What kind of attack on the U.S. are officials worried about? An E.M.P. attack. What is an E.M.P. attack and how would it affect us?
For more on these questions I highly urge you to listen to this alarming 13 minute audio clip excerpt from Ron Rhodes’ message Islam: What You Need to Know. It may serve to wake some of us up to the reality of what’s coming ahead.
“What’s coming ahead?” I’m glad you asked. Check out the following news articles to get a possible idea.
A former head of Israel’s Mossad has warned that if Israel does not destroy Iran’s nuclear program within 12 months, they will be susceptible to a nuclear attack. He further warned that Israel may need to act sooner if the U.S. elects Barrack Obama.
Despite offering incentives, the West has failed to persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium. Israeli officials believe the diplomatic process is useless and have been pressing President Bush to launch air strikes before he leaves office on January 20 next year.
They apparently fear that the chances of winning American approval for an air attack will be drastically reduced if the Democratic nominee wins the election. Mr Obama advocates talks with the regime in Tehran rather than military action.
Read the entire Telegraph article here.
The U.S. Pentagon is concerned about Israel attacking Iran’s nuclear facilities before 2009.
Senior Pentagon officials are concerned that Israel could carry out an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities before the end of the year, an action that would have enormous security and economic repercussions for the United States and the rest of the world.
Read the entire ABC News article here.
Iran is preparing to dig 320,000 graves to allow for burial of enemy soldiers.
“We have plans to dig 15,000 to 20,000 graves in each of the border provinces or a total of 320,000,” the general said, some of them mass graves if necessary.”
Read the entire BreitBart article here.
Joseph Lieberman has suggested the possibility of a terrorist attack on the United States in 2009.
“Our enemies will test the new president early,” Lieberman, I-Conn., told Face The Nation host Bob Schieffer. “Remember that the truck bombing of the World Trade Center happened in the first year of the Clinton administration. 9/11 happened in the first year of the Bush administration.”
Read the entire CBS News article here.
Further speculation that Israel will move against Iran soon.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert visited Israel‘s main nuclear reactor on Tuesday, setting off a round of commentaries in Israeli media about Israel’s intentions toward Iran and its nuclear program.
Read the entire AP article here.
Russia is warning that an attack on Iran would be a catastrophic event.
Any military attack on Iran would have a “catastrophic” effect on the Middle East, a Russian foreign ministry official said Wednesday after reports that Israel might launch such an attack.
Read the entire BreitBart article here.
Any attack on Iran would provoke an unimaginably fierce response.
Any attack on Iran would provoke and unimaginably fierce response and add to further turmoil to the already seething oil market, the country’s oil minister warned Wednesday.
Read the entire AP article here.
Race and nationality likewise offer no immunity from sin; the most cultured of nations are just as capable of genocide as the most barbaric. The gas chambers of the “civilized” are merely sophisticated forms of the machetes wielded by the “uncivilized.”
– Charles Leiter
Your sermon of the week is America’s Greatest Need by Russ Sukhia.
“As we celebrate our country’s birthday, many Americans, as grateful as we are to live in this land of freedom and opportunity, are aware that in some critical areas, America seems to have lost her way. In fact, Christians can see some striking parallels between modern America and Israel and Judah before they were taken captive centuries ago. Perhaps no passage of Scripture speaks to our nation more directly than Jeremiah 2.
It is a powerful warning of impending judgement, and a call to national repentance.”
A regeneration which a man can have, and yet live carelessly in sin or worldliness, is a regeneration invented by uninspired theologians, but never mentioned in Scripture. . . . In a word, where there is no sanctification there is no regeneration, and where there is no holy life there is no new birth.
– J.C. Ryle
1816 – 1900
What would happen if you went into your local Carvel, Baskin Robbins, or Dairy Queen and were told that they no longer serve ice cream?
What would happen if you went to your local quickie lube-change location and they advised you that they no longer do oil changes.
What if you went to your local library and the librarian informed you that they no longer lend out books?
Would you not likely wonder why these places remain open if their main staple and reason for existence is no longer offered?
Well, would you believe me if I told you that this is exactly what’s happening in some Western churches? Although these churches left their primary purpose for existence (to glorify God) long ago, they are now ceasing to provide their other main purpose for existence: The preaching of the Gospel.
Welcome to the new age of pseudo-Christianity in which the “church” is no longer in the business of preaching the Gospel or converting souls!
Don’t believe it’s possible? Think it would be like Starbucks refusing to sell coffee? Well, check out the following three examples.
EXHIBIT A:
At St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church in California, their page on What is Our Mission? boldly declares:
Our emphasis is not on converting souls to Jesus so that individuals will be rescued from hell. Our emphasis is on partnership with Jesus Christ, and our challenge as followers of Jesus is to live our lives his way—believing in what he believed in, loving what he loved, opposing what he opposed.
This is what you get when a heretical, apostate, liberal church is too busy caring for the environment and boasting about being “an inclusive community with open arms and open minds” (code for we ignore God’s clear teachings against homosexuality), instead of following the commands of Jesus and seeking the salvation of men. Hmmm, kind of reminds me of Romans 1:18-32.
EXHIBIT B:
At a Calvary Chapel in Nevada, their “motorcycle ministry” has a page with the following:
Are You thinking? “Hey I like to ride [motorcycles] but that Jesus stuff is not for me”. No worries, we offer a safe group riding environment free of alcohol and drugs. We promise not to “preach” to you but please know if you need prayer we can pray with you and if you have any questions we will gladly answer them.
That “Jesus stuff“??? We expect the world to speak in such a flippant manner about the sacred and holy things of God, but a church? Seriously, is this any way for a church to be speaking about our Lord and Savior? Could a truly regenerated believer refer to their Savior and the one true Faith with such disrespect? And bear in mind that this is coming from an extension of Calvary Chapel that’s identified as a “ministry.”
Sadly, it doesn’t surprise me the least bit that a “church ministry” that refers to the precious Lamb that was slain (and His Bride) as “that Jesus Stuff” would then have to post the following disclaimer for participants in their church “motorcycle ministry” rides:
* Requirements to join us in an open ride: Maintain Current motorcycle endorsement (not permit), registration and insurance as required by law. PLEASE NO ALCOHOL OR DRUGS. Thank You!
Shouldn’t no alcohol and drugs be a foregone conclusion for a “church ministry”? I wonder if Chuck Smith knows about this.
***** UPDATE *****
Since the publishing of this post, Calvary Chapel has changed their candid “Jesus stuff” remark so as to not be so revealing. But being unequally yoked for the sake of hanging out to ride bikes together is apparently still acceptable.
EXHIBIT C:
According to The Christian Post, the recent Episcopal gathering in Baltimore, Maryland for the Everyone, Everywhere World Mission Conference had the following startling revelation on evangelism:
On day two of the conference, the Rev. Paul-Gordon Chandler, an Episcopal missionary and author, spoke about working with Muslims. He urged participants to “bridge this chasm of misunderstanding” between Christianity and Islam by not focusing on converting the Muslim, but rather to form an interfaith friendship that explores the commonality between the two faiths.
Chandler said Muslims who are pressured into converting to Christianity suffer what he calls a “total break with society.” He gave as example real stories of Christian converts from Islam in Senegal who were exiled from their community when they followed Christ.
“They ended up getting Jesus, but the rest of their life was hell,” said Chandler, who had lived in Senegal with his parents who were Christian missionaries.
The Episcopal missionary recommended Christians to use the Five Pillars of Islam to introduce the common religious heritage between Christianity and Islam when approaching Muslims. The central common factor is that Jesus was a Middle Eastern man whom Islam reveres.
So what you’re saying “Reverend” Chandler is that the best way to love a Muslim is to let him die in his sins and burn in Hell forever? Wow, what a noble thing to do.
Ichabod!
Ichabod!
Ichabod!
Turn [the TV] off! It isn’t necessary for relevance. It is a deadly place to rest the mind. You are least capable of critical interaction. Its pervasive banality, sexual innuendo and God-ignoring values have no ennobling effect upon the human soul. It kills the Spirit. It drives away God. It quenches prayer. It blanks out the Bible. It cheapens the soul. It destroys spiritual power. It defiles almost everything.
– John Piper
Source: Social Hazard
For those who watched the videos in this post on the false prophet who claims to be Christ and wondered to yourself how could anyone believe that stuff, here’s your chance to see how this anti-Christ’s followers justify their belief. I haven’t seen this much Scripture twisting since the last time I talked to Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. Same lies, different cult.
Although there seems to be a lot of disorder, and Scripture is simply thrown back and forth, I do commend these guys for their valiant effort to confront the error of this cult (I wish there were those willing to confront Joseph Smith and Charles Taze Russel when they began their cults).
Parts one and two of the video take place inside the cult’s church building. Parts three and four take place outside. All in all it is a very interesting debate (and I sure do miss that south Florida rain).
Part One:
Part Two:
Part Three:
Part Four:
Apostasy poses real and present dangers today as always. Actually, the threat may be more imminent and more dangerous than ever, because most Christians nowadays simply don’t care about the prevalence of false doctrine, nor do they take seriously their duty to fight against apostasy. Instead, they want a friendly atmosphere of open acceptance for everyone, tolerance of opposing ideas, and charitable dialogue with the apostates.
– John MacArthur
This is a fantastic video comparing the truth of Scripture with that of Kenneth Copeland’s false teachings spawned from the abyss of Satan. If you want to view the complete video (about 7 minutes longer than the one below) you can find it here.
You and I may not have met each other, but of one thing we can be certain even before our introduction—both of us are sinners. Every man, woman, and child on the face of the earth, no matter how old or how young, is a sinner. Even small children, when allowed to go to their own way, are capable of the most exquisite cruelties to animals and to one another.
– Charles Leiter
I first heard this song On Faith Alone on the radio and quickly came to love it. I would like to take this opportunity to share it with all the readers of DefCon.
Not only is the music beautiful, but the lyrics (which I’ve included below the video) are biblically solid–not the sappy, happy, clappy, hip-hop, bubblegum pop that so fills the Christian airwaves of today.
This song ranks right up there as one of my new favorites alongside At The Crossroads. I am certain you will enjoy it and it will be a blessing to you this Lord’s day. Sola Fide!
On faith alone I stand.
There is no higher ground.
I give all I am.
for my soul will never doubt.
Though the storms they may be raging.
You have always held my hand.
To thy cross my heart will always cling.
On faith alone I stand.
On faith alone I live.
Not in what I say or do,
But the blood you freely give covers me and makes me new.
For your love is ever with me.
Lord Jehovah great I am.
O my trust grows stronger on my knees.
On faith alone I stand.
Hallelujah,
hallelujah,
hallelujah.
On faith alone I stand.
When I reach my final breath,
and I fall into your arms.
I’ll proclaim with no regret.
On faith alone,
sola fide,
sola fide,
sola fide.
On faith alone I stand.
Hallelujah,
hallelujah,
hallelujah.
On faith alone I stand.
On faith alone I stand.
One single soul saved shall outlive and outweigh all the kingdoms of the world.
– J. C. Ryle
1816 – 1900
Todd Bentley bragged (in the video on this previous post) about kicking a lady in the face with his biker boot to heal her. In that same video he also boasted about tackling, leg-dropping, punching, and choking people to generate “healings.” Well, now he’s battered someone for real and it’s been caught on video.
And why did Todd Bentley unexpectedly and without warning run up to this dying man with colon cancer and knee him in the stomach? Because, as he says, “I had to be obedient to the Lord, sir.”
No, Mr. Bentley, if you were obeying the Lord you wouldn’t be doing this stuff.
Source: Slice of Laodicea
The god which the vast majority of professing Christians love is looked upon very much like an indulgent old man, who himself has no relish for folly, but leniently winks at the indiscretions of youth. But the Word says, “Thou hatest all workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5). And again, “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11). But men refuse to believe in this God, and gnash their teeth when His hatred of sin is faithfully pressed upon their attention.
– A.W. Pink
1886 – 1952
I interrupt your previously scheduled Saturday sermon series, Studies in Ephesians, to bring you the following thought-provoking and brutally honest sermon by John Piper.
There’s been a lot of scuttlebutt lately regarding all the hoopla going on with Todd Bentley’s circus show in Lakeland, Florida. This has brought up some serious questions about whether or not signs and wonders are for today. Well this message by John Piper (from the early 1990’s but rebroadcast now) is very timely and I recommend it to all those who want a serious look into the matter.
Are Signs and Wonders for Today – Part One (Sermon starts approximately 5 minutes in)
Are Signs and Wonders for Today – Part Two
Now in case anyone’s wondering, I personally don’t ascribe to the complete and utter cessation of all signs and wonders, and I base this solely on the fact that God can use any sign, wonder or healing at His will. He’s God.
I do not, however, believe what we are seeing from Bentley (or any of those other charlatans on TBN) is genuine. Some of the most godly people I’ve ever known don’t speak in tongues, heal the sick, etc. Yet when I was in the charismatic circles back in the 1990’s, every Tom, Dick, and Harry (and every Julie, Sally, and Sue) had some “gift” or were prophesied to one day possess some gift. Even though so many of their lives in no way reflected true, regenerated followers of Jesus Christ and Biblical Christianity, I was still supposed to believe that God was pouring out His anointing on them. Oh what foolishness I embraced. I am so grateful that gone are the days of “activations” and coaching someone to speak in tongues. “Repeat after me . . .”.
And by the way, I’m still waiting for my “healing ministry” that my former (and recently divorced) female pastor (who now heads the church without her husband) prophesied that I would have. It’s only been a decade and a half and she’s still giving out prophetic words like candy and the sheeple still keep eating it up.
But I digress. When a gift happens, it will just happen. It’s not something anyone can conjure up, force, or make happen (as if God’s our puppet and we’re some pagan witch doctor barking out our orders to the Almighty that He must obey).
And when it happens there won’t be big healing revivals or conventions. That’s not the way it was done by the Apostles and that’s not the way God would do it today. To borrow a favorite verse from Charismatics–no, not “touch not my anointed;” their other favorite verse–“God is the same today, yesterday and forever.” If the Apostles didn’t batter people or market themselves as “healing prophets” (and thus draw attention away from the Savior) then those who God chooses today to heal through will also be humble, not market themselves, and not expect God to act upon their every demand.
So in a nut shell, I believe that God can perform any miracle through anyone He chooses, I just have yet to meet someone who has performed a genuine and legitimate sign or wonder. And every time someone claims to be anointed with these gifts, I do the following:
1) Test the spirit.
2) Watch to see who is really getting the glory.
3) Examine their lives.
This is a very effective way to tell a genuine from a counterfeit and to keep from being deceived and led astray.
People who embrace apostasy are destroyed by it. Churches wither and die because of it. Consider the fact that by the end of the first century, when the apostle John wrote Revelation 2-3, five out of the seven churches in Asia Minor were either beginning to defect from the faith or were already apostate bodies. . . . Christ’s central message to all but two of the churches included a mandate to deal with apostates in their midst. The battle for truth in the church has always been a very, very difficult but necessary conflict.
– John MacArthur
Christ Alone Wyoming 