If you cannot come to Christ with a tender heart and burdened conscience, then come to Him for them.
– A.W. Pink
1886 – 1952
Jesus
Sermon of the week: “Ministry in an Age of Itching Ears” by John MacArthur.
Today’s sermon is another great one from John MacArthur entitled Ministry in an Age of Itching Ears. This is not a message that most American pastors would appreciate; which is precisely why it’s DefCon’s sermon of the week.
The plight of Paul and Zabeth Bayne.
I wanted to share with the readers of DefCon a sad story concerning a Christian family in Canada. This was brought to my attention by a faithful reader of DefCon, Paul Bayne, and this is his story.
A Surrey family that had their three children seized by the government of British Columbia in October of 2007 is still desperately trying to get them back more than 26 months later. Their children were taken by the province after Child Services believed that the parents had shaken their then two-month-old baby girl, Bethany, even though those allegations now seem to be false, and government workers even advised their boys be returned as early as November of 2007.
The children have been in foster care ever since. The two boys who are aged five and four, respectively, and Bethany, now two, were taken by the Ministry of Child and Family Development when Paul and Zabeth Bayne were suspected of shaking their baby girl causing a head injury. The accusation is commonly known as “Shaken Baby Syndrome.” The Bayne’s insisted the injury occurred when their younger son tripped and fell on their daughter, but those pleas fell on deaf ears.
But the case has been fraught with concern about the power that government authorities have to seize children from their parents on slim evidence, and the lengthy time it has taken to restore the children to their parents again. Worse yet, evidence has surfaced which indicates the province had numerous opportunities to return their children, but for some reason did not. (Source: http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/communityofinterest/archive/2009/12/28/a-family-in-need-of-reunification.aspx)
The lawyer representing the children’s ministry had suggested the return of the two older boys to the parents because there was no evidence of harm done on the boys, according to documents obtained by CBC News on Friday.
Government lawyer Finn Jensen believed the case for holding the two boys would not hold up in court, and John Fitzsimmons, a community services manager, was aware of the lawyer’s position, according to a ministry correspondence dated July 14, 2008.
“[A] medical report of November 2007, completed shortly after the two older children came into care, indicates that there was no evidence of harm of injury to the children,” the correspondence said.
“No new evidence has come to light, which would indicate a risk to these children,” it said.
Jensen’s opinion on the case was that “the director should consider a return of the two children to the parents.”
The couple consulted more than a dozen experts in Canada and the U.S. — including pediatricians and pathologists — who all concluded there was no evidence of inflicted injury, abuse and injury from shaking on the girl.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/03/05/bc-child-seizure-protest.html#ixzz0l6KqALBF
The Baynes have posted ten experts reports on their website which confirm that no abuse occured and the history of their son falling on their baby was consistent with the injuries seen. Some of the experts involved include the chief neuroradiologist from Stanford University Dr. Patrick Barnes, child forensic expert Dr. John Plunkett, biomechanics, Dr. Chris Van Ee and Dr. Kenneth Monson. You can view these reports online here: http://apleaforjustice.org/Reports.aspx
In May of 2008 the Baynes attended a mediation in which the Ministry of Child and Family Development returned their two oldest children to them. Unfortunately prior to the mediation Global TV had interviewed them and following mediation aired their story. You can view this interview here: http://paulandzabethbayne.wordpress.com/2010/01/24/global-tv-bayne-family/ In response to this the Ministry canceled their agreement with the Baynes.
The Surrey couple, Paul and Zabeth Bayne, also obtained internal documents from the Ministry of Children and Family Development that suggest their daughter likely suffers glutaric aciduria, a rare disease often mistaken for child abuse.
Glutaric aciduria is a genetic disorder with varied symptoms, sometimes including bleeding and swelling of the brain.
Several doctors told CBC News on Thursday that the disorder has been mistaken for child abuse in other cases, and children suffering from it can die.
The Baynes, who hadn’t heard of the condition until they obtained the ministry documents, said they want their daughter assessed and treated immediately: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/04/02/bc-surrey-parents-children.html
Surrey councillor Marvin Hunt is personally stepping into the fight of a former Hope couple to regain custody of their children seized more than two years ago by the B.C. Children’s Ministry.
And Hunt is not alone among the doctors, social workers and others imploring the ministry to follow its own rules and return the three children.
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In the creation, man was made in God’s image; in the incarnation God was made in man’s image. . . . He took our flesh that He might take our sins, and so appease God’s wrath. . . . Christ’s taking our flesh was one of the lowest steps of His humiliation. . . . For Christ to be made flesh was more humility than for the angels to be made worms. . . . He stripped Himself of the robes of His glory, and covered Himself with the rags of our humanity.
– Thomas Watson
1620 – 1686
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The loathsome carcass does not more hatefully swarm with crawling maggots, than an unsanctified soul with filthy lusts. Look backward; where was ever the place, what was ever the time, in which you did not sin? Look inward; what part or power can you find in your soul or body which is not poisoned with sin? . . . Call to mind your omissions and commissions; the sins of your thoughts, words, and actions; the sins of your youth, and the sins of your riper years. Do not be like a desperate bankrupt that is afraid to look over his books. Read the records of conscience carefully. These books must be opened sooner or later.
– Joseph Alleine
1634 – 1668
Sermon of the week: “Saving Faith: Genuine or False?” by Steven Cole.
Your sermon of the week is Saving Faith: Genuine or False? by Steven Cole of Flagstaff Christian Fellowship (fcfonline.org). This is a great exposition on the erroneously ‘supposed conflict’ between James and Paul on the matter of justification.
Quotes (729)
So much of the music invading the churches today seems little more than a carnal imitation of the world. There is very little difference between that which is presented on the church platform and that which is presented on the television or the worldly floor show—except of course, that “religious” words are uttered rather than “secular” ones. But the spirit is of the world; the appeal is to the flesh. This we abhor and reject as having no place in the worship of God. That which is sacred ought not to be prostituted and used as entertainment. If men want to be entertained let them be honest enough to go to some secular hall of amusement and be entertained; let them not pretend to be worshiping or in a service when entertainment is the order of the day. No! When we gather to worship, we want to keep the world out; we want to appeal not to the flesh but to the spirit; we want not the sophistication of the world but the simplicity of Christ.
– William Payne
1938 – 1997
Another CCM star comes crashing to earth.
As we’ve reported on numerous occasions in the past, the rot that is underlying in the Contemporary Christian Music industry seems to keep oozing to the surface as time marches on. We’ve seen numerous examples of this and it appears that there’s no end in sight for the skeletons falling out of the closet of this “Christian” music industry.
The latest news to reverberate through today’s “positive and encouraging” Christian music world is that there is yet another Christian musician who has chosen their sin over their Savior. According to this news article, CCM recording artist Jennifer Knapp has now “come out of the closet” as a “gay Christian.”
Jennifer Knapp doesn’t consider herself to be a crusader for the gay community and she still considers herself to be a Christian, a gay Christian [Emphasis theirs]. Her new album will be a little more mainstream and she hopes her fans, Christian and non-Christian alike, will give it and her a chance.
I encourage everyone not to ridicule Ms. Knapp like some will do, or coddle and affirm her in her sin like many will do, but sincerely pray for her to be convicted of her sin and turn to the only One who can truly make her a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are all great sinners in need of a greater Savior and the fact is, if we claim to have fellowship with the Savior but walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth (1 John 1:6).
And in spite of this and many similar stories of CCM artists who have embraced their sins in contradiction to holy writ, the drumbeat continues as thousands of professing Christians will continue to thrive on intoxicating doses of Contemporary Christian Music, thrust themselves deeper into idolatrous frenzies at CCM concerts, and continue to garner most of their theology from music lyrics.
I ask, how many more Christian musical artists, icon, idols have to come forth announcing their decision to embrace and practice their love of sin before evangelicals begin taking a serious look at what they entertain themselves with?
I read a great quote from a commenter a few years ago on another blog that is so apropos:
“When I got saved I threw away all my secular music. When I really got saved I threw away all my Christian music.”
The Church of No Offense
[This article by Paul Proctor really speaks to so much of what we see in the church today. The church that uses pragmatic and carnal means and foolishly believes that these flesly tools are going to do a spiritual work. Sadly, this betrays a complete ignorance of the truth that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The word of God that likewise must be quickened or made alive by the Holy Spirit else it will fall upon deaf ears.
But such truths are not believed by countless preachers who would rather employ gimmicks, rock and roll, skits, dramas and the like, instead of faithfully preaching the whole counsel of God’s word. And why not because you cannot grow a successful money-making business unless you have a product that will appeal to a mass market. Peter Drucker taught his church growth disciples well and they are doing their utmost to give the people what they want.
Enjoy the article…brother Michael]
By Paul Proctor
April 7, 2010
NewsWithViews.com
From compromise to capitulation
There was a time during Jesus’ earthly ministry when the crowds that followed him grew quite large. He had become what we would call today, a “celebrity” and, by those same societal standards, a “success,” even though He had not yet faced the cross for which He came.
The Gospel of John tells about “a great multitude that followed Him because they saw His miracles.” When Jesus looked up one day and surveyed the enormous crowd before Him, He knew they needed to eat. So, taking “five barley loaves and two small fishes” that were found among them, He fed His followers. The men alone numbered five thousand.
Considering the seductive tactics many churches use to draw crowds these days, it is important to note that Jesus did not use food or the promise of it to bribe people into following Him. More…
Quotes (728)
Christian mothers too often neglect their home-centered role for the empty promises of fulfillment in the workplace, while they warehouse their children in daycare centers. Parents send their children to secular schools where God is outlawed, and they allow them to watch trashy movies and listen to vile music—and hang out with those who do the same. After years of training in the ways of rebellion through godless schooling, debauched entertainment, and peer association, Christian parents are somehow surprised when their teenagers rebel, forsaking the God of their fathers.
– Philip Lancaster
Easter 2010.
Last Sunday was Resurrection Sunday (Easter) and I thought I’d give you a peak at what services were like at a few churches in America.
SOS church had a message based on Avatar.
You’re invited this Easter. Bring your family and friends to come and experience CHRIST IN 3D! The one true AVATAR!
Granger church had a message based on The Matrix complete with a marching band.
You never know how GCC might open an Easter service. This year, for the “Wake Up! What if some dreams only come true when you’re awake?” series, it was a little bit of The Matrix and a marching band of volunteers performing “This Too Shall Pass.” It was an unexpected and must see arts element.
And North Point church had a laser light show described as a “spectacular Easter laser show” to kick off their “Paparazzi” theme.
If your pastor presented a doctrinally sound exposition of Scripture that exalted the risen Lord without all the distractions, consider yourself blessed and part of an ever-shrinking and endangered populace within American Christianity.
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See also, last year’s DefCon post: What is the sermon topic at your church going to be for Resurrection Sunday?
The Coalescing of the Christian Right with Apostolic Dominionism
[Posting an article on Dominionism from Herescope.com. This being something that has been on my heart recently as I watch with rapt attention what is going on in the world. No doubt evil is growing not only in America (and has been for years long before Obama) but also across the land as evil men and seducers wax worse and worse as they strive to unite the world in a one-world union.
Here, not only in America, but across the globe, serfs or the common man are viewed by the PTB (powers that be) as nothing more than cattle who need to be under the constant eye (look at the back of your dollar) of the state as she watches their every move and listens to their every word. Based of course on the pretense that we need to give up liberty in order to be protected from those nasty terrorists; terrorists who in fact may be you! Cameras recording conversations and actions are ubiquitous, e-mails and phone calls are often tracked and archived for years, full-body scans are now being implemented; in short, personal freedom and privacy are vanishing and are quickly being replaced with an Orwellian police state.
What is more, the economies of most industrialized nations are in shambles. Largely due to the concerted efforts of politicians to redistribute wealth to third world nations. Hence, jobs and industries that existed in many of these countries have disappeared from their given shores and are now off-shored in nations such as India, Mexico, China and elsewhere. Thus, in America at least, we have an unemployment rate that is well into the double-digits (see Shadow Stats for real numbers and not the govt/media lies) where many people wonder how they will make in through the next week and where they will find a job that pays more than $8.00 an hour.
All of this and more is causing many Americans to rise up and express their anger at the current administration across all areas of government (Congress, Presidential, State Governers, etc.). Their anger and passions being directed and even fueled by “conservative” talk show hosts/personalities like Lou Dobbs, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage, Ted Nugent and others. Also, there is the “grass roots” Tea Party movement that is gaining much traction as it attracts many folks from across the nation; some of them Christians, but many not. Thus, you will have the ecumenical mixing of light and darkness as Christians inevitably will be called upon to compromise in many, many areas the more involved they become. How about praying with Mormon Glenn Beck, or listening to Ted Nugent’s wicked rock at a Tea Party rally, or suffering Michael Savage to blaspheme God?
And, I won’t even touch the host of “conservatives” in these movements where many (I don’t speak to all Rebublicans any more than all Democrats) are nothing of the sort but rather are sly politicians using the state of affairs as an opportunity to advance the same globalist goals of the Democrats. This being so much easier for a Rebublican since most evangelicals give anyone with a “R” after their name a free pass (think George Bush). My encouragement here is for the reader to not for a moment think the good guys/gals are the Republicans and the bad the Democrats for nothing, and I mean, nothing could be further from the truth.
In ruminating on these things and more I wonder what is the Christian response? Of course I know that we as Christians are to do good and be lights in our world which certainly does not preclude civic involvement, yet I cannot escape the words of the Lord where he says that his kingdom is not of this world. And if his kingdom is not of this world, then it follows by course that the kingdom of his followers is also not of this world. Yet for many Christians the truth be told, their kingdom is of this world and for many that kingdom is America. A nation that many wrongly ascribe to be Christian and God’s New Testament apple of his eye even as Israel was for the Old.
Personally, I fear for the days ahead where violence may well come to our land with Christians facing a crossroad as to whether to pick up the sword, or turn the other check. This does not mean I am advocating that Christians do not protect their families if a criminal breaks in. No, I am talking instead about the Christian purposely employing the physical sword to battle the government. Much as was done in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War where if you study history you will find that many professed Christians took place in the shedding of blood. Blood which by fact would have involved that of their fellow Christian brothers who found themselves on the other side of the battle field! Something which per my reading of the Scriptures I cannot in any way justify or support.
Well – enough of my words, following is the intro to the Herescope article with a link to the full paper.
bro Michael
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It is not about FREEDOM, it is about DOMINION
The NEW BREED of Christian is poised to take over the earth, precinct by precinct. God’s Army is rising up. It is time to put on the militant garb. The glint in the eye becomes fixed as the exhilaration of the hour sweeps through the masses. They can make a difference! The world has been waiting with bated breath for this LAST DAY GENERATION. False prophets in their midst are caught in sin, under discipline, yet their tapes sell to believers of their false prophecies. The call for unity is the common cause bringing them from every denomination. They are calling their unity “revival.” After all, when they have set up the Kingdom here on the earth – they will have fulfilled the mandate given to Adam to subdue the earth. A new sound is heard in the land. The music gets louder and the beat gets stronger (even bringing in rock, metal, and funk) but oddly enough the lyrics are always the same! – The choruses proclaiming the triumphant song of the conquerors! [“The Kingdomizers Have Arrived!” Discernment Newsletter, May/June 1992]
Note to Herescope readers: What follows may be the most important article ever published by Discernment Ministries in its 21 year history. The first edition of the Discernment Newsletter, published in May 1990 began chronicling the activities of a group of men calling themselves “prophets” and “apostles,” claiming to have extra-biblical revelation and calling to build an elite army to take over the Earth.
Quotes (726)
Long ago I ceased to count heads. Truth is usually in the minority in this evil world.
– Charles Spurgeon
1834 – 1892
Sermon of the week: “Jonah” by Randall Easter.
Your sermon of the week is simply entitled Jonah. I listened to this sermon after posting my short piece on Jonah (found here) and wish I had listened to it earlier.
This is yet another powerful hour of preaching from Randall Easter. He pulls no punches as he steps on toes while preaching the gospel that is so desperately lacking in far too many churches.
HT: The Bororean
Quotes (725)
Surely that man must be in an unhealthy state of soul who can think of all that Jesus suffered, and yet cling to those sins for which that suffering was undergone. It was sin that wove the crown of thorns; it was sin that pierced our Lord’s hands, and feet, and side; it was sin that brought Him to Gethsemane and Calvary, to the cross, and to the grave. Cold must our hearts be if we do not hate sin and labor to get rid of it, though we may have to cut off the right hand and pluck out the right eye in doing it.
– J. C. Ryle
1816 – 1900
My thoughts on “Easter,” and a plea to pastors.
I must admit, I do not care much for Easter. The one day of the year that most people go to church is the one day of the year that I would prefer to stay home. (And this has nothing to do with the pagan celebration of the spring equinox.)
As I sit back and watch the church advertisements roll in, there’s one common theme I see among the churches vying for your annual attendance. The day that Christians recognize as the day our Lord rose from the dead seems to be all about entertaining kids.
Will someone please tell me what colored eggs, grass filled baskets, pastel hats, face painting, bounce houses, coloring contests, chocolate bunnies, and jelly beans–all of which are being endorsed and even performed in many churches this weekend–have to do with the resurrection of the Lamb of God? The disciples did not celebrate the resurrection as a “holiday,” but they did celebrate the passover, which I’m certain did not include a ham dinner.
All of this “stuff” serves only to diminish the truth and reality of the day. And sadly, the churches that are supposed to be lifting up Christ so that all men will be drawn unto Him, have acquiesced and now do just as much to distract the sinner from the meaning of the day as does the rest of the secular world.
The once-a-year church goers will flood churches all across America tomorrow, never to be seen or heard from again until next Easter (except maybe some at Christmas). This is a fantastic opportunity for pastors to present the gospel to those who would never sit through a sermon any other time. My experience has been, however, that this opportunity is usually squandered on a vain attempt to make those in attendance feel “comfortable.”
This Sunday is a day when the greatest shows are put on: The goats adorn themselves with their Sunday best and put on a show to appear as though they’re as spiritual as everyone else. The pastors put on their show too. Their marketing strategies will crescendo this Sunday as they put on display their best humor, finest story-telling abilities, and most stunning oratory prowess in an attempt to prove to the unregenerate visitors that they’re just like them and just as worldly as them but they have Jesus as an icing on their cake. And this is all done to secure the return of those once-a-year attendees, while Christ and His gospel simply take a back seat.
Resurrection Sunday in America has become a display, but not of the risen Lord.
Soft, feel-good messages about how the resurrection of the Son of God can help improve your life, finances, marriage, etc. will be the sermon de jour in far too many congregations tomorrow. Pastors, hoping that some of the visitors will return, will shove the message of sin, judgment, wrath, and propitiation aside in order to not offend or upset those who need to hear this truth the most.
If you are a pastor reading this, and you are planning on offering a gentle, watered-down, comfortable “talk” to those in your Church tomorrow, I encourage you–no–I beg you to reconsider. This will be the one and only opportunity for many people to hear the true, unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ, and tomorrow it will be your responsibility to deliver it to them.
Please, take just a moment and read this brief plea I wrote to pastors back in 2007: A Sobering Call to Pastors, Preachers, and Teachers.
And for those of you who are going to lay it on the line and preach a Sinners-in-the-Hands-of-an-Angry-God type Edwards sermon this Sunday, not caring one bit if someone is offended by the preaching of the cross because it’s your job to do so, then I commend you and offer this post as an encouragement: Thank You: An open Letter to Faithful Pastors.
Oh, and have a very happy Resurrection Sunday, for He is risen!.
Quotes (723)
Men wish to go their own way, to please themselves, to gratify their lusts. They want to be comfortable in their wickedness; therefore, they resent that which searches the heart, pierces the conscience, rebukes their evil. Christ was absolutely uncompromising. He would not wink at wrongdoing but unsparingly denounced it, in whomever He found it.
– A.W. Pink
1886 – 1952
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Some think that because God made them, surely He will not damn them. This is true, if they had continued good, as He made them. God made the devil good, yes an excellent creature, yet we know that He shall be damned (Matt. 25:41). If God spared not His holy angels (Jude 6), after they became sinful, shall man think that God will spare him? A sinful man shall be judged at the last day, not according to what he was by God’s first making; but as he shall be found defiled and corrupted by the devil, and by his own lusts.
– Henry Scudder
1585 – 1659
Sermon of the week: “The Atonement: Real or Potential?” by John MacArthur.
Your sermon of the week is a fantastic one. Grab a pen and paper because you will be taking copious notes (I had to keep pulling the car over to write). I bring you this Thursday’s sermon by John MacArthur entitled The Atonement: Real or Potential?
This is a great message. The only disappointment I had was that in this 30 minute sermon MacArthur did not (in my opinion) spend enough time dealing with the arguments against limited atonement. For another great sermon on limited atonement in which the opposing arguments are dealt with in greater depth, check out the sermon Grace Secured: Limited Atonement found on this post.
MacArthur sums up the universalist atonement proponent’s argument perfectly when he says those who reject limited atonement believe that Jesus died for everybody in general, and no one in particular.
Christ Alone Wyoming 