Linking to noteworthy articles from other blogs and websites.

…the executives did not want to have Linus reciting the story of the birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke. The network orthodoxy of the time assumed that viewers would not want to sit through passages of the [...]]]>

More Linkin!

Linking to noteworthy articles from other blogs and websites.

…the executives did not want to have Linus reciting the story of the birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke. The network orthodoxy of the time assumed that viewers would not want to sit through passages of the King James Bible.

As far as I understand it, R.C. Sproul believes alcohol is a gift of the Lord; his dear friend John MacArthur regards the consumption of alcohol as unbiblical; their mutual friend John Piper believes that even if drinking is not a sin, it is very unwise. Three men, three leaders, three perspectives.

This is my confession:

I was born into a believing family through no merit of my own at all.

I was given a mind to think and a heart to feel through no merit of my own at all.

I was brought into the hearing of the gospel through no merit of my own at all.

CHRIST… is our fixed point of reference by which we can sail safely across turbulent tides and arrive home. Knowing Him as Lord and Savior is the difference that makes all the difference.

I attended their concert last Sunday night in Cleveland, and one of the highlights for me was their performance of this song with no amplification equipment.

We come to our Bibles with this most fundamental presupposition—whatever the Bible may be saying, it can’t be telling me that my life needs to be fundamentally changed. Wherever the Bible calls for such change, it must be addressing someone else.

CLICKING THE IMAGE WILL OPEN ‘THE STORY’ IN A NEW WINDOW.

Whether you are a long-time believer, an unbeliever or anywhere in between, I think you will enjoy this story. It is a true story that never gets old or boring, that always refreshes and renews.

In the story of my life, I suppose it isn’t a very big deal, but I’m definitely a little saddened by it. I was de-friended by someone who I knew in high school and hadn’t seen or talked to in nearly 30 years. He didn’t like my politics or my [...]]]> I was recently ‘de-friended’ on Facebook.

In the story of my life, I suppose it isn’t a very big deal, but I’m definitely a little saddened by it. I was de-friended by someone who I knew in high school and hadn’t seen or talked to in nearly 30 years. He didn’t like my politics or my religion, so he cut me off. It’s his Facebook, it’s his choice. I’m not angry about it, but I am a little sad.

What I’m saddened most about, I think, is that I failed to reach my friend with the good news of Jesus Christ. I think I came off as an intolerant, hyper-critical, “I’m better than you are,” Christian. Looking back at the messages and posts we exchanged, I don’t see any of that in what I wrote, but I have no doubt that he perceived my words in that way. I write as one convinced of the veracity of the Gospel and brook no untruthful, worldly foolishness.

I guess I have to keep reminding myself of this: 1 Corinthians 1:18.

A lot of people today don’t want to discuss deep subjects. “Keep it light, keep it shallow,” is their mantra. On Facebook it takes the form of posting pictures, silly videos, or hollow, pseudo-spiritual quotations. Some people just post about drinking and eating all the time; others just play games all day. In meatspace (as opposed to cyberspace), it takes the form of talking about the weather, sports or just gossiping. Some venture into deeper waters and talk about relationships and politics, but that is usually just among very good friends.

We seldom talk to casual acquaintances about deep, meaningful subjects; things like life and death, salvation and damnation, or right and wrong. American society fosters shallowness by showcasing the insipid and inane, by making celebrities of criminals and sociopaths, and by exalting people like Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer as “spiritual.” Meanwhile, Christians who discuss the person and work of Jesus Christ are shunned for being insensitive or even bigoted.

I guess I have to keep reminding myself of this: 1 Corinthians 1:18.

If I could say one more thing to my former Facebook friend, I think it would be this: I love you and care about you more than your ‘friends’ who just want to make your time on earth happy and carefree. Rejecting me as a friend doesn’t equate to rejecting the Gospel and I will pray that God will save you from yourself someday, just as He saved me. I’m not any better than you are, I’m just a wretched beggar who found some food and wants to share it with his friends.

“Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die,” is the highest truth for those who reject Jesus as Savior and Lord.

I guess I have to keep reminding myself of this: 1 Corinthians 1:18.

It is at the same time a joyful and depressing verse.

On The Offense of the Cross

My dear Brethren, do not try to make the gospel tasteful to carnal minds. Hide not the offense of the cross, lest you make it of none effect.

The angles and corners [...]]]> This entry is a blatant ripoff an homage to one of the best Christian websites on teh Intarwebz:

On The Offense of the Cross

My dear Brethren, do not try to make the gospel tasteful to carnal minds. Hide not the offense of the cross, lest you make it of none effect.

The angles and corners of the gospel are its strength: to pare them off is to deprive it of power. Toning down is not the increase of strength, but the death of it. Why, even among the sects, you must have noticed that their distinguishing points are the horns of their power; and when these are practically omitted, the sect is effete. Learn, then, that if you take Christ out of Christianity, Christianity is dead. If you remove grace out of the gospel, the gospel is gone.

If the people do not like the doctrine of grace, give them all the more of it. Whenever its enemies rail at a certain kind of gun, a wise military power will provide more of such artillery.

A great general, going in before his king, stumbled over his own sword. “I see,” said the king, “your sword in is the way.”

The warrior answered, “Your majesty’s enemies have often felt the same.”

That our gospel offends the King’s enemies is no regret to us.

But a ‘but’ is beautiful when it changes a bad beginning [...]]]> The word ‘but’ changes whatever comes right before it. A ‘but’ is not always pleasant, like when somebody says to you, “I think you have a good idea, but…” It doesn’t matter what comes after a but like that, it isn’t going to be good.

But a ‘but’ is beautiful when it changes a bad beginning into a good end. For example, “I was sick last week but I got better” or “I once was lost but now am found.”

Here are some of my favorite buts in the New Testament

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.’” (Quoting Deut. 8:3)

John 1:17 – For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 3:17 – For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 11:22 – Behold then the kindness and severity of God ; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness ; otherwise you also will be cut off.

1 Corinthians 15: 56-57 NKJV – The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:10 – In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Revelation 21:27 – and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Each of these verses contrasts two different states of being. Death and Life. Romans 6:23 makes this clearer, perhaps, than any other verse in the bible. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. I think this is the most beautiful but in the Bible.

Here is where I usually spend time summing up the point, but my words are useless. Read God’s word through His servant Paul.

Ephesians 2:1-10 – And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved ), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith ; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Truth.

Q. How and when should biblical discernment skills be used?

A. Let’s take the last part of the question first. When should discernment skills be used?

The most important times that they can be used is [...]]]> We now continue the Q & A on Biblical Discernment. I hope you’ve studied; there is a test at the end. Seriously!

Q. How and when should biblical discernment skills be used?

A. Let’s take the last part of the question first. When should discernment skills be used?

The most important times that they can be used is when you are listening to a sermon or reading a book or an article on religion, or when you are involved in a conversation about Christianity. When listening to a sermon even your favorite, most trusted minister can get things wrong. If you have studied your bible and have prayed fervently for wisdom you should start to trust your instincts a little more. If a minister says something that doesn’t sound quite right, something that sets off your “Spidey Sense” or that might not be supported by scripture – write it down.

Now we get into the “How?” part of the question. The first thing you should do when you have a question about a sermon is to ask your minister about it. Give him a chance to explain it better. It is possible (hopefully even probable) that you have just misunderstood him. If it is not a misunderstanding, don’t back down if the truth is at stake. Tell him that it still isn’t clear to you. Respectfully ask him to cite the scripture from which he gets his statement. (Acts 17:11) Don’t put him on the spot in front of others and be sure to give him time to research the matter and get back to you when it is convenient. In the meantime, research the matter yourself. Dig into the Bible and research what various commentators have said on the subject. The Blue Letter Bible and Crosswalk.com have excellent Bible study tools available online.

Remember, the whole point is to come to a better understanding of God’s word; for you and for your minister.

Q. Sounds like a good plan, but what about when you read something that bothers your “Scripture Sense?”

A. The same goes for when you are reading a book or an article about religion, write down the statement that strikes you as wrong and take it to your minister or a trusted elder in your church. Ask them to help you understand what is being said. Rely on godly people you trust to guide you to the scripture that explains your question. Oftentimes, researching things on your own will answer your question, but sharing it with a brother in the faith can often help strengthen the discernment skills of both of you.

Q. What about when you are involved in a conversation about Christianity? It’s not as easy when you’re on the spot and have to defend something controversial.

A. That is true. You should rely on what you are certain that you know. Again, don’t back down when the truth is at stake. In the Bible, the main things are the plain things and the plain things are the main things. You should have a solid understanding of the “main things” before you engage anyone in serious discussions relating to Christianity.

Something that should not be forgotten is that you should always be respectful and loving in your dealings with brothers in the faith. We are called to speak the truth in love. (Eph. 4:15) If the question involves an issue that is secondary to Essential Christian Doctrine, be sure to point that out and don’t argue with brothers over issues where we have the freedom to disagree without breaking fellowship.

Don’t get all worked up, this is just a practice test. Take a look at this statement from an American Mainline Protestant church.

We believe that the persistent search for God produces an authentic relationship with God, engendering love, strengthening faith, dissolving guilt, and giving life purpose and direction. We believe that all of the baptized ‘belong body and soul to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.’ No matter who – no matter what – … no matter where we are on life’s journey – we all belong to God and to one worldwide community of faith. All persons baptized – past, present and future – are connected to each other and to God through the sacrament of baptism.

On the surface, this looks like a solid theological statement. Who could possibly argue with a persistent search for God or an authentic relationship with God? Who could disagree that baptized people are all part of a worldwide community of faith?

But here are some questions I had after reading it three or four times: Where in the Bible does it say that simply searching for God produces an authentic relationship with Him? Is baptism what binds believers together or is it something else?

John 3:3 states very clearly what is necessary for somebody to have a relationship with God. Searching for knowledge of God is a good thing, but the search doesn’t produce faith or a relationship. Only by repenting and believing can one be born again to new life in Christ Jesus.

And about that baptism thing… I don’t deny that all believers are part of a worldwide community of faith (aka The Invisible Church), but it isn’t a sacrament that makes it happen. Believers’ baptism is an outward sign of an inward change. (Acts 10:44-47) There are probably millions of non-believers who have been baptized. The thief on the cross can attest to the fact that baptism is not absolutely necessary for salvation. (Luke 23:42-43)

The above statement is part of the “What We Believe” statement of the United Church of Christ – or at least it was at one time. The UCC changes what they believe the way the wind changes direction in a tornado. This was taken from the UCC’s old website. This statement is not on their current website as far as I can tell. If you have time, read the whole thing. Tell me if I missed the place where it says you have to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus. The statement is also available here.

Watch this video and then read the page at the link below.

Interpretation of the above video.

What do you think? Use your discernment skills. Is this a biblical interpretation of the clouds in the video or not? Is it a message from God? Are you sure?

Nancy Bush certainly does seem to know the bible, she even quotes Latin and Greek. She is obviously not an opportunist who sees the Virgin Mary in a partially eaten grilled cheese sandwich and sells it on eBay for $28,000.

What do your discernment skills tell you? Please post a comment. I’ll try to approve comments within a few hours and once you’ve had one comment approved, your subsequent comments will post immediately.

One last thing: please remember to speak the truth in love. Thanks.