Satan’s Strategies for Temptation – Part 2

At The Crossroads by Hugo Simberg

“Sin leads toward death. It kills relationships. It destroys families. It ruins careers. It may seem fun for a season but it will leave you destitute, despised, and miserable. No sin can leave you fulfilled in life because you weren’t made for sin. Sin only destroys.”

(Alan Nelson IV – Things Above) Last time, we saw that Satan tempts us in doubting God’s Word and downplaying the consequences to sin. In this post, we will look at 2 final strategies Satan uses for temptation in Genesis 3:1–5.

 

Distorting God’s Character Continue reading

Surprise ‘coming out ’ middle school assembly angers parents

“Sharing one’s sexuality to 11-year-olds, many who aren’t even thinking about sex, has absolutely no place in our publicly funded schools. Why did they think this was appropriate? And why did they think it was okay to teach our children without our knowledge or consent? And on top of that, use our tax money to teach our children beliefs we disagree with?

(Linda Harvey – Mission: America) Most parents don’t like to be the last to know what’s being presented to their children, and Dayton, Ohio-area families were appalled to learn about a school-wide assembly held at a middle school. Continue reading

What divides what should be unified in the Body of Christ?

9 Therefore, we also from the day which we heard, do not cease praying for you and asking that you be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,10 to walk worthy of the Lord in every way pleasing to Him in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God;  Colossians 1:9-10 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

In discussions with other believers we have all come to the conclusion that our walks in this life are actually a continuous series of tests and trials, putting us into places of contention in which it is has become apparent to us that the way we have gone before is not how God would have us go and be walking worthy of the Lord in every way pleasing to Him in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God…. Continue reading

ERLC, Cru, Gospel Coalition, NAE Among Soros-Funded Organizations

The Gospel Coalition: This organization receives “Dark Money” through Soros’ numerous grant-funded shell charities that keep the organization pushing evangelicalism to the left, trying to turn a key conservative voting demographic against the GOP.

(Pulpit & Pen)  If you’re wondering why so many evangelical organizations are getting “woke,” wonder no more. This is a compiled list now circulating of the various organizations funded or partially funded by George Soros. In regards to evangelical or Christian institutions, we’ll remind you that Soros’ “rented evangelicals” are well-documented. Continue reading

AG Barr Blasts ‘Militant Secularists’ in Speech on Religious Freedom

“This is not decay,” he said. “This is organized destruction. Secular forces and their allies have marshaled all the forces of mass communication, popular culture, the entertainment industry, and academia, in an unremitting assault on religion and traditional values.”

(Caleb Park – Fox News)  Attorney General William Barr blasted “militant secularists” and their attacks on Judeo-Christian values in a blistering speech at Notre Dame Friday, saying “religion has been under increasing attack” over the past five decades. Continue reading

Boldness not Insolence

7 Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God having been given to me according to the working of his power. Ephesians 3:7-13 (translated from the NA28 Greek text) Read verses 8-13 on the site.

If we are honest, we must all agree that that there is a growing disrespect of God in today’s various teaching on prayer let alone worship. While boldness does mean that those who are truly in Christ need not have any inhibitions as they come before God, they must still never forget that God is God…. Continue reading

Southern Baptist Pastors Promotes Prosperity Gospel False Teacher, Paula White

“Robert Jeffress, a celebrity Southern Baptist pastor who is recognized in the convention as one of the most controversial political advocates for right-wing politics is promoting Paula White’s heretical book, Something Greater.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  When you have a common god, you share a common cause. In this case, their common god is right-wing politics.

Disclaimer: I am very conservative and support most of the Trump administration’s policies. Continue reading

God Does Not Help Those Who Help Themselves Or Why The Reformation Still Matters

“With the rise of the Modern missions movement in the 18th century and with the rise of the modern Pentecostal movement in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Reformation doctrine of sola Scriptura remains relevant. The history of Modern missions (since the 18th century) is replete with examples of unverified claims of apostolic-like direct revelation or other sorts of quasi-apostolic miracles and wonders. On this see B. B. Warfield,  Counterfeit Miracles (1918). The patterns that he observed a century ago have only intensified with the growth of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movements. The claim that Muslims are receiving dreams, visions, and apparitions of the risen Lord is a part of the culture of Modern missions and especially of Modern Charismatic and Pentecostal piety. We are not obligated to accept these claims, which are almost always second or third-hand accounts.”

(R. Scott Clark – Abounding Grace) Sometimes when we talk about the Reformation we give or receive the impression that it was purely a historical event with no continuing relevance or even that Reformation is one thing and mission is another…. Continue reading

Consumerism Is Driving the Church

“I recently read an article by an Evangelical vicar of the Church of England warning of the church’s inevitable exile from the already estranged culture. So, in addition to the dangers of compromise that this fellow-Evangelical observes, I would add that the particular American danger for the church is its preoccupation with providing an entertaining experience for the 8:00 am, 10:30 am, and 11:30 am Sunday crowd.”

(Theodore Zachariades – Pulpit & Pen)  It should not surprise one that the church in its larger contours is eaten up with consumerist mentalities. The wider culture in North America is certainly rushing full-throttle on the capitalist train, so it should not be a shock to see the “church at large” imbibing marketing strategies and selling its product. Continue reading

The Authority of the Son

25 Amen, amen I say to you that an hour is coming and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those having heard will live. John 5:25 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

The misunderstanding or false teaching about two truths pertaining to our Lord Jesus Christ and man are at the center of much of the false teaching that passes for “Christian theology.” It has always been so…. Continue reading

Satan’s Strategies for Temptation

At The Crossroads by Hugo Simberg

“We live in a day where the Word of God is abused, unheeded, twisted, unread, unlearned, not cherished, not prized, not studied, not properly preached, dismissed, set aside, not trusted, and doubted. And I’m not talking about the world right now. I’m talking about people who profess to be Christians and even entire denominations claiming to be Christian.”

(Alan Nelson IV – Things Above)  Genesis 3 is a horrific chapter in terms of the fall of humanity. What takes place in Genesis 3 is out-and-out rebellion against a and holy God, a God who had provided a very good environment, a luscious landscape, clear flowing rivers, and offered His very presence and blessing. Continue reading

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Bill Mandating Free Abortions at All Colleges and Universities

Womb baby at 8 weeks.

“California Department of Finance report predicted that the donations will not be nearly enough to fund the program over the next several years. That means California taxpayers and students will be forced to pay for unborn babies to be aborted across the state.”

(Steven Ertelt – Life News)  California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a radical bill that would force colleges to provide free abortions on campus.

The pro-abortion bill, which passed the state legislature in September, mandates that all public colleges and universities provide abortion drugs for free to students up to 10 weeks of pregnancy starting Jan. 1, 2023…. Continue reading

ERLC Promotes Man-on-Man ‘Intimacy’ As a Substitute for Traditional Marriage

“Roach argues that lifelong celibacy is as valuable and respectable a lifestyle as marriage (it, of course, is not). This is a necessary talking-point to affirm Same-Sex Attraction (SSA) in evangelicalism.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) – the leftist lobbying PAC owned by the Southern Baptist Convention and run by Democratic staffer, Russell Moore – just posted an article about 4 Things God Wants Us to Know About Sex. The post minimizes and trivializes “traditional marriage” while encouraging man-on-man “intimacy” as a replacement for real marriage. Continue reading

It’s been called the world’s largest ouija board and it’s about to descend on Salem

The word occult means “hidden.” Occult practices are forbidden by God. These practices include the ouija board, holding séances, tarot card reading, numerology, palm reading — in other words, dabbling in the magic arts (Gen. 41:8). God’s people are not to participate in sorcery, i.e. witchcraft (Deut. 18:10). No on astrology (Isaiah 47:13), spell casting (Deut. 18:11), consulting with spirits (Deut. 18:11), and spiritism (Deut. 18:11).  “The LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.”

(Arianna MacNeill – Boston.com)  Whose spirit will be summoned with the help of the what’s being touted as the world’s largest ouija board? Those visiting Salem on Saturday are about to find out. Continue reading

Preaching the Word Out of Season

1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NASB) 

Without a doubt the culture in the 21st Century is “out of season” for the Gospel. Resistance to the truth of God’s Word is strong because our society has rejected absolute truth…. Continue reading

Liberalism or Christianity?

There are really only two groups of people. There are those who are in Christ and those who are in their sins. These are Jesus’ own words, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24 ESV) Any form of Christianity that seeks to subvert the clear message of the Gospel is not Christianity, but instead, is some heresy. Any form of Christianity that is bound in relativism has its roots in liberal philosophy not the Word of God nor is it a product of the pure light of God’s truth. Continue reading

A Meme of Mass Violence: ‘Joker’ and the Rise of ‘Demonic Anti-Heroes’

“But I have seen “The Dark Knight” and, despite Heath Ledger’s incredible performance, his Joker—like Milton’s Satan—is not the intended hero. The fact that so many received the character as a hero says a lot about our culture. It betrays a culture-wide fascination with evil we now bring to the theater.”

(John Stonestreet & Shane Morris – Christian Headlines)  Batman’s arch-nemesis is back on the silver screen in full face paint and purple suit, along with the uncomfortable questions his character raises about the state of our culture. Continue reading

Planned Parenthood: The Killing Machine

“In our day, when there is a greater outrage to cutting down a tree or to hunting an animal than to the relentless killing of unborn children, we are sliding headlong into the oblivion that such prior monstrous societies have erstwhile gone speedily.”

(Theodore Zachariades – Pulpit & Pen)  The Killing Machine, Planned Parenthood, is planning to dump 45 million dollars into a concerted effort to oust President Trump and thereby secure the continuing validity of Roe Vs. Wade…. Continue reading

He’s Just Blind

“Perhaps there’s someone in your life you’ve shared the Gospel with time and time again. You’ve explained the Gospel so clearly. You have poured yourself out to them,  you’ve listened to them, and have answered their questions as best you can,  and yet they simply will not believe. You need to be reminded of the blindness of man.”

(Jordan Standridge – The Cripplegate)  It doesn’t matter how many times you share the Gospel, you still need encouragement from time to time. Continue reading

‘What Is A Girl Worth?’ A Particularly Helpful Book

“[T]he book explains that sexual predators deliberately work their way into communities in which their position will give them access to potential victims. They look for communities in which they will be given positions of trust and access to vulnerable people. If this is true of the world of gymnastics, it is equally true of the church.” 

(Tim Challies)  Rachael Denhollander’s What Is a Girl Worth? is a hard book to read. But it’s also an important book to read. While it tells of the horrendous crimes perpetrated by just one man, it warns that many similar crimes have been and are being perpetrated by a great many other predators…. Continue reading

Liz Warren, CNN Cheer the Abuse of 9-Year-Old Children Paraded as Transgender

Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 9-year-old transgender girl “Jacob.”

“Jacob” trusts the people who tell her she can become a boy. But these people support pumping her young body with testosterone and “puberty-blocking” hormones that could give her a disease — hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. If the human body does not produce enough of the right sex hormones, the brain and other organs do not develop normally. Even if “Jacob” decides not to get irreversible surgery to remove her female organs, these hormones will cause her long-term damage.

(Tyler O’Neil – PJ Media)  At the LGBT Democratic town hall Thursday night, CNN celebrated two mothers who paraded their 9-year-old gender-confused children. These children are barely old enough to understand what gender is, much less whether or not they will regret the transgender hormones and surgery that will be foisted upon them by an unscrupulous medical establishment…. Continue reading

NBA Coach Steve Kerr Ignores Brutal History Of Communist China, Attacks United States. Critics Shred Him Online.

“I watch this guy, Steve Kerr, and he was like a little boy. He was so scared to be even answering the question,” Trump said. “He couldn’t answer the question. He was shaking.  ‘Oh, I don’t know. I don’t know.’ He didn’t know how to answer the question. And yet, he’ll talk about the United States very badly.”

(Ryan Saavedra – Daily Wire)  Left-wing Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr ignored the murderous history of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on Thursday during a press conference when he was asked about human rights abuses in China as he pivoted to attacking the United States for its “record of human rights abuses.” Continue reading

Fiery Darts

11 Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.” Revelation 22:11 (NASB) 

The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan is a allegory of the journey of one man, Christian, who is saved and makes the journey to escape his home town, The City of Destruction. The journey takes him to the cross by him entering the narrow way by way of the narrow gate that few find. After the burden of sin is taken away at the cross he journeys until he reaches the Celestial City. Continue reading

Christianity Is Teaming With Creepy Con-artists, Soothsayers, Heavenly Tourism Peddlers & Partakers In ‘Faith-based’ Yoga

(Marsha West – Christian Research Network)  “It’s not easy being green,” crooned Kermit the Frog. “People tend to pass you over…because you’re not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water, or stars in the sky.”

It’s not easy being a “Christian Discerner” either. But, as Kermit sang, “I think it’s what I want to be.” Like the little green frog, I’m not standing out like flashy sparkles.  But I’m okay with that….because I think a discerner is what God wants me to be.

For the time being, anyway.

Over the years I’ve spent a great deal of time investigating the cults, occult, and all sorts of aberrant religious movements that have crept into evangelicalism like a thief in the night. Whenever I come across something that violates biblical principles, I don’t keep it to myself.  I share it on my blog, Christian Research Network and on my Facebook page. Continue reading