Category: Culture

Roman Catholic Mysticism Creeping into Reformed Camps

John Piper shares a time of Transcendental Meditation with, Christian Mystic, Beth Moore

 The photo, above, is a link to “Apprising Ministries'” website. And there, it has posted an article to inform believers of the deceptive approach to synergising Christianity with New Age practices. It is proof that the New Age religion not only targets unorthodox churches, but all denominations. Therefore, we all must practice discernment. Reformed Theology is not a shield to protect us from deception and error, but God’s word is. It speaks to every matter of faith and practice. Therefore, Scripture is what we must meditate upon, day and night.

2Timothy 3

16    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17    that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The New Christianity Pt. 4 – Earth-Based & Works-Based Salvation

The fourth part in this article series deals with the new Christianity’s subtle focus upon carnality and human effort. Note that since Christians are saved by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, it wouldn’t at all do to teach works for salvation directly. Therefore, this new Christianity has to take a more subtle approach so that it will better appear to be authentic Christianity. That means that this religion will always affirm salvation, by grace through faith, to the masses. At the same time, this religion teaches it’s adherents to put their focus on their own effort and the things of this world. The result will be that when believers become suspicious of this earth-based and works based focus, the adherents will be quick to remind the dissenters of the religion’s affirmation of sound doctrine. It this way, adherents are deceived by the hypocrisy of this religion, and will even do apologetics for it.  

How is this religion “earth-based”???

By distorting the gospel through taking the message of salvation out of the context of Scripture and placing it into a present day context, so that it will appeal to people who mind earthly things, rather than “set their minds on things above” (Colossians 3:2). And this act will not take the label of “distortion of the gospel”, but “contextualizing the gospel to the modern day audience”.

How does this religion promote a “works-based” salvation???

By convincing it’s adherents that their is hope for a better world, and that it can be achieved through the unified effort of the adherents. However, the religion will not deny Christ’ return to set up his earthly kingdom. That doesn’t appeal to the masses who still believe in Christ’ return. Instead, it encourages it’s adherents to focus upon other things, such as the here and now, rather than Bible prophecy, as though there really is virtue in willful ignorance. It will even go as far, in some cases, as to shame those how are interested in the doctrine of Christ’ return, and label them as extremists and conspiracy theorists.  In this way, the adherents affirm salvation by grace through faith, while working toward an earth-based salvation, brought about by their own effort.

This works-based salvation is focused upon the preservation  and restoration of this sinful world, rather than Christ’ coming judgment and restoration. This causes ministry to be redefined. Ministry now includes, the adherents 9 to 5 job, humanitarian work along side non-Christians, and philanthropy. This is what joins the new Christianity to the world, because the world longs for peace, unity and restoration. And the new Christianity is more than willing to work with the world in bringing it about. It is “Kingdom Now Theology”; teaching some that the church’s mission is to establish the physical kingdom of Heaven on earth. This religion is opposed to Jesus’ teachings, while claiming to speak on his behalf.

  Matthew 10

34    “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
35    For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’;
36    and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’
37    He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38    And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39    He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

This new Christianity of peace and unity is not from Jesus Christ, since it contradicts him. Instead, it is a supporter of the New World Order. Also, through peace, it leads the masses toward their destruction.

1Thessalonians 5

1    But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2    For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3    For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.

There is another reason as to why this new Christianity of peace causes it’s adherents to ignore Bible prophesy. That is  because it’s principals are the foundation of the spirit of antichrist. Therefore, it’s peaceful ambitions are deadly in it’s application. And it’s deadly force will be directed toward anyone who will not comply with it’s beliefs/law, such as Christians. 

Daniel 8

24    And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
25    And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.

Our work cannot bring about a better world. According to Scripture, both our work and our world is cursed. Therefore, our only hope is for Christ’ kingdom of Heaven to come to earth, and to purge this world of sin through judgment.

Genesis 3

17    Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: ” Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.
18    Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19    In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.”

Revelation 6

5    When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.
6    And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.”

This new Christianity and it’s support of the New World Order is built upon ancient Babel’s agenda of unification against God and man’s ambition to glorify himself. It is the old Babylonian mystery religion come into the church to deceive the world with a great, false, hope. It’s deception will make the world drunk. It is paving the way for the man of sin. And because the people of the world do not want to separate themselves from their sin and turn to Jesus Christ, history will repeat itself. Just as the ancient people were unified in sin under Nimrod, the new Christianity will unify people in sin under the ultimate false Christ; the Antichrist.

Genesis 8

8    Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.
9    He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD.”
10    And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

Genesis 11

1    Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.
2    And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.
3    Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.
4    And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”

2Thessalonians 2

3    Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4    who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5    Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6    And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7    For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
8    And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
9    The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
10    and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11    And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
12    that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Revelation 17

1    Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
2    with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
3    So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4    The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
5    And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6    I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
7    But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
8    The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9    “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
10    There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.
11    The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.
12    “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.
13    These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

18    And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.

And what are God’s commands to his church concerning this new Christianity?

Revelation 18

4 “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
5    For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
6    Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.

Colossians 2

4    Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
5    For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6    As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7    rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8    Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9    For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10    and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Therefore, God’s people must not partner with, nor adhere to, the new Christianity in anyway. Instead, they are to flee from it and pronounce it’s judgment.

Jude 1

20    But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21    keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22    And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23    but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
24    Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25    To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

The New Christianity Pt.3 – Inclusivism

Third third part of the “New Christianity” series addresses one of the goals of this false religion, which has invaded Christ’ church. This particular goal is “inclusivism”.

  What exactly does this religion include???

That would be “non-believers”. It does this by fooling people into thinking that Jesus will accept them whether they repent of their sins or not. Repentance is optional. The doctrine that it uses to support this claim is known as “easy-believism”. This doctrine makes the claim that their are two kinds of Christianity. Both are approved by God; though one is more noble than the other. One form of Christian living merely accepts Jesus Christ as a Savior, but not as Lord. This form of Christian living does not obey Christ, who said, “…blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28), and, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out”. This type of Christian is called a carnal Christian. The other form of Christian living is identified by it’s obedience to Jesus’ teachings. According to this false religion, both parties should feel secure in their salvation, and one should not warn the other “daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, saying, “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion” (Hebrews 3:13-15). The people who say this are branded a judgmental, heretical, pharisee. 

This religion can be identified by it’s evangelical message, which states, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life”, “you have a void in you’re life that only God can fill”, and “you need to invite Jesus into your heart and ask him to save you”. This message is usually followed by an “alter call” where people are led into what is called, “the sinner’s prayer”. At that point, Jesus is supposed to come into the person’s heart, and this is their idea of salvation. And when sin is mentioned, it is not properly addressed to the hearers.

But what is the problem with that? And what harm could this message and prayer do to anyone???

The problem with the message is that it is Scripturally incorrect, since Jesus didn’t merely come to fill a void in some one’s heart. Jesus said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32), and “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” Luke 19:10). This is because we “…who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1-3). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And “…the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). And it was “…through one man that sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). The good news of Jesus Christ is “…when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

This then leads to the harm of this message and unbiblical prayer. If we do not understand the concept of our sin and God’s righteous judgment, then we cannot understand the gospel. And without this proper understanding of the gospel, there can only be false conversions. Not to mention the wrong teaching on being born again as a sovereign act of God, in which we do not and cannot participate. And not even to mention, just yet, the lack of the doctrine of Christ’ resurrection and how it impacts the life of a believer. This wrong understanding of salvation leads people into the heart of the new Christianity and all of it’s hypocrisy and blasphemy. Therefore, it is of no surprise that many churches have abandoned baptism. Without the true gospel being proclaimed, baptism has lost it’s significance and has been reduced to a mere ritual that isn’t needed, and is even frowned upon by some. If we don’t understand the significance of sin and the need to turn away from it, considering our life of sin to be dead, as Christ was dead and buried, and that we have been raised to a new life in Christ, by the Holy Spirit, just as Christ was raised from the dead, then baptism is a waste of time to the new Christianity.And without the understanding of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, we cannot see the importance of looking forward to our own resurrection from the dead, and our eternal reign with Christ when he returns.

The significance of the gospel proclamation is that it calls people to do what only one who is born of God can do. And that is repent from their sins.

Luke 3

7    Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8    Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
9    And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10    So the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11    He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.”
12    Then tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”
13    And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you.”
14    Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Another way that inclusivism has brought in false believers, is by the lack of the proclamation of the gospel in many churches. This is by teaching church leaders the insufficiency of the “alter-call” due to the understanding that what has recently become the traditional alter-call doesn’t produce true conversions. They then teach new church leaders to go to the other extreme by excluding the alter-call altogether. This is deception since it deliberately overlooks the fact that there is no alter-call in Scripture, but there is the gospel proclamation throughout the four gospels and the book of Acts. This false religion teaches church leaders to abandon both the alter-call (to receive Jesus into one’s heart) as well as the gospel proclamation. Instead, it teaches leaders that Christians beget other Christians when nonbelievers are in the company of other Christians. It also teaches that evangelism should not take place until a relationship has been established between individual Christians and nonbelievers, as well as between a church and the neighborhood in which it exists. However, this philosophy flies directly in the face of Scripture.     

Matthew 3

1    In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,
2    and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

John 1

19    Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20    He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
21    And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22    Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23    He said: “I am ‘ The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ” Make straight the way of the LORD,” ‘ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

Acts 16

11    Therefore, sailing from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day came to Neapolis,
12    and from there to Philippi, which is the foremost city of that part of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in that city for some days.
13    And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.
14    Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
15    And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us.

It is not our relationships with people and their confidence in us that changes the heart, but the gospel.

Romans 1

16    For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17    For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

Romans 10

14    How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
17    So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2Corinthians 4

3    But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4    whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5    For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
6    For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7    But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

The power for salvation is the gospel message. It must be proclaimed. To try a new approach will lead to false conversions. And we are reborn by the Holy Spirit when hearing the gospel being preached. Therefore, to ask Jesus to come into one’s heart is a redundancy since he is already there, and has come without our invitation; regardless of our “free will” doctrine.

But couldn’t the mass church attendance of nonbelievers only lead to conversions, since they are in the company of other Christians???

If a church’s system is built upon affirming the salvation of people who have not repented of their sins, then the result will be (if the church prospers in it’s false evangelism) church growth in members that are dead in their sins, and will grow until they out number the true followers of Christ. Then these false believers will eventually become church leaders and continue in this false system. Then these false believers, who are now leaders, will go on to beget more false believers. From that will come all kinds of hypocrisy and blasphemy. And it will grow until the false religion of these false believers become “The New Christianity”. And that is exactly, what has been, and is happening.

So what are we to do? Should we try to stop this movement???

We are to simply obey Scripture. That is all that our Lord requires of us.

Ephesians 6

10    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
11    Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12    For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13    Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2Corinthians 10

3    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4    For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5    casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6    and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Jude 1

3    Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
4    For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rvelation 2

24    “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.
25    But hold fast what you have till I come.
26    And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations

2Timothy 4

1    I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
2    Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
3    For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
4    and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
5    But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
22    The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

The New Christianity Pt.2 – Casting Truth to the Ground

Part two of the “New Christianity” series addresses the false Christianity’s method for “determining what is true”, which is called epistemology. But before addressing the epistemology of the new Christianity, lets first understand true epistemology according to Scripture.

Deuteronomy 8

3 “…man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.”

Psalm 119

9    How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
10    With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11    Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.

Psalm 1

2    But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3    He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

John 17

17    Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

2Timothy 3

14    But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,
15    and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16    All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
17    that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Based upon Scripture’s affirmation of itself, it is truth, it makes us wise for salvation, we live by all of its commands, it is good for equipping us for every good work, it purifies us, it causes us to prosper, and it keeps us from sin. Therefore, the correct epistemology is studying and obeying Scripture.

The epistemology of the new Christianity is built upon a rejection of God’s word and replacing it with something else (lies), while claiming that it’s doctrine and practices are from God. According to Scripture, this form of epistemology is called “taking the Lord’s name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). Therefore, this form of epistemology is sin. And it is also called blasphemy since it equates the doctrines of false teachers with God’s commands, and even says that they are God’s commands. This is exactly what the false prophets of Judah did in Jeremiah’s day. They led God’s people in rebellion and destruction with their lies. And so does the false teachings of the new Christianity.

This religion claims that it’s teachings comes from the Bible, even though they actually contradict the Bible on major points. But these teachings are not from Scripture, but other sources. It’s epistemology is derived from demons and the carnal minds of men, who do not have the Holy Spirit. It’s authority’s are the traditions and doctrines of men that bring God’s word to no affect.These doctrines are carnal and teach people to mind earthly things instead of the Holy Spirit. The result is to give license to sin, and will even call what is carnal the work of the kingdom of Heaven. And just like the serpent in the Garden of Eden, it’s approach is subtle, causing lies to appear as truth. However, when lies appear to be true it is deception. And many follow these lies because they appeal to the sinful desires of the mind and body. This deception will even appear to be in the best interests of others as it claims to be doing the work of the ministry. But it takes the biblical description of ministry out of it’s scriptural context in order to give it an earthly twist so that it isn’t ministry at all. But it looks like ministry work to those who are unskilled in the word of God. In this way, sincere, ignorant, people are being deceived into following a wicked agenda, who really just wanted to serve God by doing good. And to add insult to the violence that it does to Scripture, many are going as far as to call this approach, “contextualizing the gospel”. The teachers of this religion try to convince Christ’ church that their teachings are needed in order for the church to mature in the faith and to be relevant to society and culture.

But does God’s word teach that Christ’ church is in need of anything more than the Holy Spirit and Scripture?

Romans 8

5    For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6    For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7    Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.
8    So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9    But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
10    And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Colossians 2

4    Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words.
5    For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
6    As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7    rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
8    Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
9    For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
10    and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

John 17

17    Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

1John 2

20    But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things.

24    Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.
25    And this is the promise that He has promised us — eternal life.
26    These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.
27    But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

Colossians 3

1    If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2    Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3    For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

This religion can be identified by it’s refusal to submit to the clear teachings of Scripture on major doctrines, even to go as far as redefining Jesus Christ, his gospel, and the ministry of the church. It has no true regard for Scripture because it is rooted in rebellion. That is why it cast truth to the ground and makes itself an authority over Christ’ church. But it is actually the spirit of antichrist disguised in Christian raiment. Suitable description of this religion is “hypocrisy & blasphemy”.

Revelation 13

4    So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”
5    And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
6    Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven.
7    It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them.

2Thessalonians 2

3    Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
4    who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

The new Christianity has many different forms, but is actually one religion. It can be likened to an octopus; having many legs, yet one head. It’s epistemology is postmodernism. It’s method of Scripture interpretation, or hermeneutic, is the pragmatism of eisegesis since it uses the Bible to achieve it’s own ends through reading it’s own interpretation into the text. It is not an interpretor of Scripture, but a perverter. 

But how can we be sure that these various false doctrines are actually rooted in the same religion???

We can be sure that it is all the same religion by the fruit it produces; heresy. And that there are only two religions in the world. One is from Satan, the god of this world, who has a monopoly on all the religions of the world. And the other is from Jesus Christ, the true God of all creation. The many religions of Satan turn people farther away from the true God. The gospel of Jesus Christ reconciles people to the true God. Satan’s religions offer a salvation that is attained through work. Salvation through Jesus Christ is a gift, and is never granted based upon human excursion. Satan’s religions are built upon lies. The gospel of Jesus Christ is built upon truth. Therefore, since the head of the world’s many religions is one (Satan), and their goals are the same, they are all one religion, while containing many denominations.

More will be discussed on these two religions throughout this article series. So far, what has been established is that the new Christianity…

  • Has no regard for truth, but it casts truth to the ground.
  • It makes itself an authority over Christ’ church.
  • It redefines Jesus Christ, his church,  and ministry work.
  • It is rooted in rebellion.
  • It gives license to sin.
  • It justifies carnality.
  • It comes in many forms.
  • It’s epistemology is rooted in the traditions and philosophies of men.
  • It misinterprets Scripture.
  • It takes people away from the true God.
  • It is driven by the spirit of antichrist. 
  • It is Satan’s religion made to appear as Christianity. 
  • It is the religion of the world come into the church.

As you may have realized already, the “New Christianity” is actually very old, since it is the religion that Jude warned us, in the first century, of already being in the church.

  Jude 1

3    Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
4    For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 …these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
10    But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
11    Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
12    These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
13    raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
16    These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
17    But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
18    how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
19    These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
20    But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
21    keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22    And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
23    but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

24    Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25    To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

The New Christianity Pt.1 – Aselgeia

This article series, called “The New Christianity” is written for the purpose of informing it’s readers of the basic core doctrines and practices of the religion that is currently existing in our churches. The focus of the articles will not be on particular ministries or personalities, but it will, instead, focus on the universal doctrines of the religion that has infiltrated many of our church’ denominations throughout the western world. This approach is intended for the purpose of aiding the reader in identifying the infiltrating religion wherever it is being taught and practiced.Therefore, this article series is an overview of the universal doctrine of the new Christianity, which is manifested in many different forms, yet is the same religion. In fact, one could rightly say that this new Christianity has many denominations.

  Lets start with the first component to the religion, which is “Aselgeia” (also called lasciviousness, lewdness and lawlessness) . The Greek word “aselgeia” means unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, and insolence. This is the word used to describe the religion brought into the church, by certain men marked for destruction, as stated in Jude’s epistle. The characteristics of aselgeia is always present in some form within this religion, which masquerades as Christianity. To give licenses to the practice of these acts  is to practice a different religion altogether because the “unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1Corinthians 6:9-10). And the new Christianity approves of these sins.

In what ways have we seen these characteristics of lawlessness practiced within Christianity so far?

  • A refusal to practice church discipline of Christians who openly live in sin, within particular churches, as directed in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-17 & 1Corinthians 5:9-13).
  • A refusal to hold other Christians, who are overtaken by a sin, accountable to the New Covenant standards of holiness, as commanded in Scripture (Galatians 6:1 & Hebrews 3:7-15). 
  • Teaching that the atonement of Jesus Christ sets us free from any moral standard in Scripture, but that we are only to love God, despite the clear teaching of Scripture on this subject (1Corinthians 6:9-11 & Galatians 5:19-21).
  • Teaching people to deny the fact that they still struggle with the presence of sin after becoming Christians, and therefore,  do not have to admit to committing any sin at present, regardless of Scripture’s instruction on this matter (1John 1:5-10 & James 4:1-10). 
  • Refusing to do everything decently and in order, to glorify God, as the Scripture commands (1Corinthians 14:40 & Romans 14:6-9).
  • It teaches that Christ suffered on earth so that we would not have to suffer hardships in this life, and some will even go as far as to teach that those who do suffer in this life aren’t as spiritually mature as a particular elite within the body of Christ, despite what Jesus himself taught on this topic (Mark 10:29-31 & John 15:18-21).
  • It gives license to covetousness, which is an eagerness to have more, especially of what belongs to others, and to be greedy of gain, despite the clear teaching of Scripture on this matter (1Timothy 6:3-10 & Luke 12:13-34)
  • It practices blasphemy against God in many way, because of it’s low regard for the God of the Bible, and reduces the holiness of God down to something common and unholy (Ezekiel 22:23-26, Matthew 24:45-51, 1Corinthians 11:23-34). 
  • Hypocrisy is practiced by pretending to be followers of Jesus Christ, while living in open disobedience to Scripture (2Timothy 3:5, Mathew 5:17-20, Matthew 23:1-3).

Blasphemy is so pervasive in the church and society that it is something that Christians are not sensitive to. This insensitivity to the holiness of God is overcome through our growth in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and his gospel. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). And what is this fruit? Paul spoke of it when he said, “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1Timothy 6:11). This is what happens when we study and obey Christ’ teachings. That is what “abiding in Christ” means. When we abide in Christ, the Holy Spirit empowers us to live godly lives. Peter described it as “…His divine power that has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us…” (2Peter 1:3). Therefore, spiritual growth is a result of faithful, in-depth, study of and obedience to Scripture. 

Hebrews 5

13    For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
14    But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Those who are mature, or skilled, in the word of God are able to discern truth from error. Those who are not mature, or skilled, in the word of God are not able to discern truth from error as well as those who are. Instead, they are more likely going to fall pray to this new Christianity, which is really just a false Christianity, that has crept into the church. The only way to arm one’s self against false doctrine is through the word of God. And the only way to contend for the faith once delivered is through the word of God. For the Scripture says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith” (1John 5:4). And we must “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:3-4). But we cannot defend what we do not know. Therefore, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2Timothy 2:15).

 

The Dark Side of Theology – by C Michael Patton

I want to share an insightful article with you by C. Michael Patton.


I have come to have a love-hate relationship with theology. I love it because it can deepen one’s faith, helping people to rejoice more because they understand and know God better (Jer. 9:24). There is nothing more exciting than the look on peoples’ faces when they are being theologically transformed. It is the “wow, this is really true” look. I live for that both in myself and in others.

However, there is a dark side to theology. I see it everyday. I pray that this does not infect my students, but inevitably, there are always one or two who take their theological knowledge and create a recipe of sin and shame. These are people I call “theologically dangerous.”

The theologically dangerous have no grace. They get some right answers and then become the judge, jury and executioner of people. What should have been the path toward humility turns into the path of arrogance. Their self-justification for their graceless belligerence is this: “I am not arrogant, I am discerning.” Correct theology becomes a virtue that swallows up virtues of tenderness, grace, respect, and kindness, offering only a black hole of hopelessness unless people conform. Those who come in contact with them are judged only by their statement of faith. Their fellowship circle is small and friends few. The distinction between essentials and non-essentials does not find a place in their diary. They hunt and hunt for bad theology until they find it. They correct others with pride. When they are not invited to the parties, they interpret this as a mark of persecution for a theology well-played.

These are the type of people who are on the dark side of theology. Unfortunately, those who are theologically dangerous are the most vocal (and possibly, the most numerous). Since they have yet to be theologically humiliated, they can’t stop talking. The fear of God, they have yet to learn. They set themselves up as the watchdogs of Christian orthodoxy. They are the first to comment and correct on the blogs. They are the first to raise their hand in Sunday School when you say, “Does anyone have any questions?” Yet after ten minutes of talking, you ask yourself ”what part of the word ‘question’ do they not understand?” They question people’s salvation based on minor theological points of disagreement.

Fortunately, many eventually increase in their theological knowledge to a point where they become theologically transformed. This happens when one becomes theologically humiliated. It is like the transition from uninformed adolescence, to a know-it-all teenager, to a mature adult. The mature adult has wisdom and grace due to their coming of age theologically. All the things they thought they knew as a teenager goes through the trials of life. Doctrinal battle scars evidence a ripening of the fruit of belief. Their categories become more diverse. They realize that while there are some black and whites to our faith, there is also a lot of grey. In other words, they recognize that there is a lot we don’t know. They tighten their grip on the main things and losen it on others. They choose their battles very carefully. It is a transition from ignorance to arrogance back to some degree of informed ignorance.

At this point, fellowship can resume. The lynch mob is sent home. The invitations to parties trickle in. The lantern of the hope of the gospel is shinning bright. At this point, the dark side of theology is over.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dear, Brother & Sisters in Jesus Christ,

Let us remember,

1Peter 5

5    Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ” God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
6    Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time

1Corinthians 13

1    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3    And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4    Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5    does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6    does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7    bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8    Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
9    For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
10    But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11    When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12    For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13    And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

“A Better America” & “Our Role in bringing it about”

What does our hope for a better America look like? And how do we work together to bring it about?

These are the questions that we’re faced with as a nation. And there have been plenty of answers given on the subject. But it is an extremely complex undertaking. For example, “How do we increase the size and functionality of our government, while at the same time, avoiding the trap of tyranny”, “How do we bring down the level of violent crime without taking away the civil liberties of everyone”, “How do we provide for our poor without becoming communists”…etc.

Many have their views on what a better America is, as well as what is required to improve the state of our country. But what is the true solution. Who can speak as an authority on this issue? That would be, none other than, God; “The Sovereign Lord” & “Creator of Heaven & Earth”.

So lets find out what he has to say in the Bible about making a great country.

Deuteronomy 28

1    “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.
2    And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:
3    “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
4    “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
5    “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
6    “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7    “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8    “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.
9    “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.
10    Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.
11    And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.
12    The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
13    And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
14    So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Scripture tells us that our national survival, wellbeing,  and prosperity is directly dependent upon our obedience to God’s law. But we obviously are not obedient to God’s law. For example, we, like the Jews, could not even keep the first commandment;  ” You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3). Our country is filled with false religions.

Question,

Can any nation prosper in its rebellion against God? Lets learn from God’s discipline of the Jewish nation; Judah.

Jeremiah 30

11  For I am with you,’ says the LORD, ‘to save you; Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, Yet I will not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’

But this is because of God’s unique covenant with the Jews, not us Gentiles. God hasn’t made a covenant with America or any of the other Gentiles for that matter. So how can God hold Gentiles, like America, accountable to a covenant that he has not made with them???

This is how.

John 1

29 “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Isaiah 42

1    “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
6     ” I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles,

Luke 22

19    And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”
20    Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

John 6

35    And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
50    This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.
51    I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”
53    Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.
54    Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

Isaiah 49

1    “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
6     Indeed He says, ‘ It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ “
7     Thus says the LORD, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, To Him whom man despises, To Him whom the nation abhors, To the Servant of rulers: ” Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, Because of the LORD who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel; And He has chosen You.”

John 8

12    Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
23    And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
24    Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

Acts 17

30    Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
31    because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

Revelation 1

7    Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.

The Scriptural evidence of the covenant that Jesus Christ has made with the world is overwhelming and without dispute. Therefore, it is true, that God is holding the Gentiles, including America, to his Law. Not the Old Covenant Law for the Jews, but the New Covenant which Jesus Christ has made with the world. That is the law we must all obey. The first commandment of this law is, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15). But this we refuse to do as a nation. And how could we? After all, the Scriptures says, “…whoever commits sin is a slave of sin” (John 8:34).

Our country, as well as the rest of the world, is enslaved to sin. Therefore, we are under God’s curse, and not his blessing. Deuteronomy chapter 28 describes God’s blessing upon a nation that obeys him. And the chapter also describes the many curses that comes upon a nation that disobeys him. “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation” (Hebrews 2:1-3). We shall not.

The curse of the law is described in this way, “…visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me” (Exodus 20:5 & Romans 1:18-32), as well as, “tyranny, war, famine and mass deaths of all kinds” (Revelation 6:1-8 & Deuteronomy 28:15-68). These curses are upon the whole world because the whole world rejects Jesus Christ, persists in false religions and even persecutes Christ’ church. And America is not exempt. As long as we continue in these sins, there is no hope for a better America. And there is no role for anyone to play in removing God’s curses. “These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”” (Revelation 3:7). Our vote cannot stay the hand of God, who is neither democrat or republican.

Ezekiel 14

12    The word of the LORD came again to me, saying:
13    “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it; I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it.
14    Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness,” says the Lord GOD.

So what do we do???

There is only one course of action to take. And it starts in one’s own life and in one’s own home. It is this, “”Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household” (Acts 16:31). It is not a national plan of action, but a person to person plan of action. There is no hope for our country and world. There is only hope for those who follow Jesus Christ.

And this is the way,

Luke 9

23    Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
24    For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
25    For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
26    For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.

Romans 10

9    that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Our present life of sinful living most die, and a new life of righteousness must arise. That is the significance of our baptism.

Romans 6

3    Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?
4    Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
10    For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11    Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1John 2

2    And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3    Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

1John 1

7    But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9    If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

As for our country and world,

1John 2

15    Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16    For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world.
17    And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Our allegiance is not to America or any political party. Instead, we merely obey it laws. But we who are in Christ are not its citizens. Our citizenship is in Heaven.

Philippians 3

17    Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
18    For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19    whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things.
20    For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21    who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

That is our hope. It is not the hope of a better country, but Christ’ return. And he will provide us with a better world. A world ruled by the Son of God in righteousness, instead of this present world, ruled by Satan in unrighteousness. And understand that a world ruled by the god of this world (Satan) has no hope, “…because the god of this world is judged” (John 16:11). Therefore, America’s future is cannot be better than it’s present, but worse.

This evaluation of America is not based upon the latest news report by our media, but the word of God. It alone is the authority on sin righteousness and judgment because it is “truth”. And it is not mere text, but a person. Therefore this report on the future of our nation, and world, has been brought to you by Jesus Christ; The Word of God.

John 1

  1    In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2    He was in the beginning with God.
3    All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Revelation 19

11    Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
12    His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
13    He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

1John 1

1    That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life —
2    the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us —
3    that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Can Astrology be Trusted?

Can Astrology be trusted? To find the answer to this question, lets first understand both its definition and origins.

  Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs which hold that the relative positions of celestial bodies and related details can provide information about personality, human affairs and other “earthly” matters.

Astrology originated in ancient Mesopotamia after the biblical flood account described in Genesis. Civilization had its second beginning in this region. That includes the religious beliefs, practices and mythology. One of which is astrology. Astrology can be found all over the world because these same people took their religion with them as they spread throughout the world. 

But how was the craft invented? Or more specifically, “Who invented it”?

When God created the Heavens, he had a purpose for the various planets and stars.

Genesis 1

14    Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
15    and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.

But this isn’t the same as astrology. Also, God specifically speaks against astrology and other forms of religious practices by calling it divination and prohibits his people from practicing it.

Deuteronomy 18

9    “When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations.
10    There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer,
11    or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
12    For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you.
13    You shall be blameless before the LORD your God.
14    For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you.

Deuteronomy 4

19    And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the LORD your God has given to all the peoples under the whole heaven as a heritage.

Jeremiah 10

2    Thus says the LORD: ” Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.

So far we see that God is not the one who invented or handed astrology down to mankind. But we do see, from these passages, that God is actually against it. Therefore, whoever invented or handed astrology down to mankind is not a friend of God, nor a servant of God. On the contrary, such a one must be God’s enemy.

Question;

Who in the Bible, does God acknowledge as his enemy?

Genesis 3

1    Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
2    And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden;
3    but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ “
4    Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
5    For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
14    So the LORD God said to the serpent: ” Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.
15    And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Revelation 12

7    And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought,
8    but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer.
9    So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

From these passages we can clearly see that the enemy of God is Satan.

Now that God’s enemy is identified, lets see if we can also learn…

Who exactly is Satan?

And why did he invent astrology for mankind to live by?

Ezekiel 28

12 You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13     You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
14     ” You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
15     You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.
16     ” By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.
17     ” Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor

Isaiah 14

12     ” How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!
13     For you have said in your heart: ‘ I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
14     I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
15     Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

Isaiah 42

8     I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.

John 10

10    The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

John 8

44    You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Based upon these passage, Satan is…

  • A fallen angel
  • Wise
  • Majestic to look upon
  • A thief; He tries to steal worship from the true God by deceiving angels and mankind to worship him instead.
  • A liar
  • A murderer
  • One who desires to be like God
  • One who desires to be worshiped
  • The one who exalted himself above the stars of Heaven.

So where is the connection between what we know of Satan and astrology?

Remember that Satan said this in is heart…

I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne above the stars of God

I will also sit on the mount of the congregation

On the farthest sides of the north

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds

I will be like the Most High.’

Therefore, Astrology was invented by a lying, murdering, thief. His goal is to deceive the nations and lead them to destruction.That is why Satan invented astrology as well as the other occult religions of the world. In astrology, the stars and planets are gods. This is one of the major ways in which Satan receives worship, because he, as leader of the fallen angels, is honored as the most high god among all of the gods of the cosmos. 

But is astrology even needed???

Remember,

Jeremiah 10

2    Thus says the LORD: ” Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
3     For the customs of the peoples are futile

Matthew 4
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ “

Therefore, astrology is futile. But the word of God abides forever.

And what word/teaching does God want us to know and live by.

John 3

14    And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15    that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
16    For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17    For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18    “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Romans 3

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 5

12    Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

18    Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19    For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Romans 5

6    For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7    For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
8    But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 14

6    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Mark 1

14 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

1John 2

2    And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

1John 1

8    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9    If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10    If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

John 8

12 “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

31    Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32    And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
34    Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35    And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
36    Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

1John 5

18    We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
19    We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.
20    And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.
21    Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

 

The Homosexual Gene

If scientists can identify a homosexual gene, what would this mean in regards to morality and sin? Would it mean that homosexuality is a natural part of the, God given, human design, and that it should no longer be considered abnormal or sinful? And should Christians then be obligated to rethink their moral convictions on this matter? Should they begin to wonder if the Bible was wrong on this issue since modern day scientists have been able to show that God, himself, made people this way?

To understand all of this better, lets start with our idea of what is “natural”. We think of it as being in accordance with or determined by nature. But that definition then leads to another, more important, question, which is, “who determined nature?” We can be sure that mankind did not create himself, nor the cosmos. Therefore, mankind has absolutely no say in validating his scientific discoveries of the natural world as either moral or immoral. That judgment goes to the one who determined how the natural should be. That would be the creator. He, alone, has the right to take the role of judge over this matter. That is because he is the judge, and all natural and supernatural law proceeds from him. That is why he is God.

So what does God have to say about the matter of morality and sin in the Bible?

Mark 12

29 “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.
30    And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
31    And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

What does God have to say about the morality of mankind?

Romans 5

12    Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned

So mankind does not keep the law of God, but, instead, have sinned . But does this mean that we do not try to love God?

Romans 3

10    As it is written: ” There is none righteous, no, not one;
11    There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
12    They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

But how can it be said that we reject God when the world is full of religions, and the people worship God in those religions??? These claims from the Bible are simply outrageous and do not have the ring of truth to it!  What does the Bible have to say about these various religions? Does it even acknowledge them?

Romans 1

18    For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19    because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
20    For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21    because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22    Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23    and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
25    who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Therefore, the various religions of the world are not mankind searching after God but their attempt to replace him with what they know are lies. These religions are not validated in anyway by God, because they were not formed to worship God, but to further reject him.

God’s original creation of man was without sin. Through Adam, mankind rebelled against God and has been enslaved to sin to this day. And we did not relent and turn back to God. Instead, we persisted in rejecting the true God and worshiping idols. And what was the result of rejecting God and worshiping idols?

Romans 1

24    Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25    who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26    For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27    Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28    And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29    being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30    backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31    undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32    who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Therefore, the moral decline of man is due to the sin of rejecting God and worshiping anything else. As it is written,

Exodus 20

3    ” You shall have no other gods before Me.
4    ” You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
5    you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
6    but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Many Christians have made the mistake of telling homosexuals and other people who are  entrapped by extremely shameful sins, that if they practice these sins, God will punish them. This is true. But we fail to understand that these sins are practiced because mankind has already been punished for rejecting God and worshiping false gods. Homosexuality doesn’t just lead to punishment, but it, in itself, is punishment from God, passed down to the third and fourth generations of those who hate the true God. 

The conclusion to the matter is this; Homosexuality is not to be isolated from other acts of depravity, but it is to be understood as God’s judgment upon mankind for persisting in its rejection and idolatry, which goes directly against the most important of God’s commandments; “You shall have no other gods before Me“. When we do this, we do not have the privilege of being respectable sinners. On th contrary, it has cursed our genes down to the third and fourth generations of those who hate God. That’s why we are enslaved to the absolute worst of sins, and therefore cannot turn away from it. The best we have been able to do is find a way to legitimize our sins, thus eliminating the shame. But there is a more effective way to eliminate the shame.

John 8

  31    Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32    And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
34    Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35    And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
36    Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Luke 19
10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

2Corinthians 5

17    Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18    Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19    that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20    Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21    For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Romans 10

9 if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
13    For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

1John 2

2    And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
3    Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.
4    He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

1John 1

7    But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8    If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9    If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Jesus Christ and his good news of salvation is the only hope for being free from our shame since he provides forgiveness, right standing before God and eternal life. But if we harden our hearts and continue to refuse to believe in the Son of God for forgiveness and cleansing from sin, then we’re left with our feeble attempts of self-righteousness, such as claiming to have a homosexual gene. We must not be lovers of sin, but lovers of God and his Son, Jesus Christ, who says,

John 14

15    “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

John 15

9    “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10    If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
13    Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
14    You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

So will we humble ourselves before the true God, and cease to reshape him into something false?

Be reconciled to God. And drop this attempt of self-righteousness through pseudo science. It can only disappoint.

Put your trust in Jesus Christ.

Romans 10

11    For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Columbine Child of Darkness

 

Groping in the dark

this child doesn’t know that the lights are out

He’s feeling and touching

Creeping and crawling

He doesn’t know that the viper might strike-out

 *

It’s a lonely dark room

And he has nothing to do

How could he even know

that he needs to be found

*

So he stumbles and play

He’s come a mighty long way

Going nowhere

so no difference does it make

*

His toys are his friends

and some of them are benign and cute

But if it weren’t for the dark

the others would bring terror

Because they’re less toys, than they are spooks

 *

They crawl

They climb

They’re covered in slime

They’re full of venom that can paralyze

And some can kill with one bite

 *

But that won’t be the fate of this little one’s demise

He’s in for a much darker surprise

Because although this child is in the dark

he is anything but alone

Hovering over him is a beast from Sheol

That’s hungry for his soul

 *

He has a devious plan

for this lost son of limbo

That is a spectacular show of terror

To inspire all those like himself

who thrive on darkness’s power

Condemned to rejection’s black isolation

They shall shine in their darkest hour

 *

Chanting the death lullaby

The nursery-rhyme of terror

It’s pain internalized

Turned into evil

Climbing new heights

Knocking down doors

Shooting from the tower

 *

Their persecutors are running for cover

It sounds like murder

It smells like blood

They’re crying out in anger

“Our generation is lost”

 *

Beware of the danger

Take heed to the cross

Christ, the “Risen Savior”

has paid the high cost

For the child who sits in darkness

He is the chief cornerstone

whom the builders cast off

 *

For all of those rejected and isolated

He was stricken and afflicted

Nevertheless he was innocent

Being led like sheep to the slaughter

Even his disciples abandoned him

 *

In isolation he carried our sins

where none would dare to wander

He paid the price for transgressions

He was the “Chief of Martyrs”

*

 Shinning in his darkest hour

Bringing an end to the reign of terror

And redeeming those who thrive on darkness’s power

 *

And the “Gospel of Peace”

 for pain morphed into evil

Secluded to the confines of the lonely dark tower

It sounds like redemption

Is it the end of deprivation

It smells like a new creation

For all those who sit in darkness

The Lord and his Christ

Has become their salvation