Why Does It Hurt So Much?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

The words, trouble and comfort, stand out repeatedly in this passage, and the two always go together. Trouble is what we today would probably call pressure or stress.  It is what many of you, perhaps, are feeling right now when you think about going to work…. Continue reading →

Authority: Christ and the Bible

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

The authority of Scripture is a key issue for the Christian church in this and every age. Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are called to show the reality of their discipleship by humbly and faithfully obeying God’s written Word. To stray from Scripture in faith or conduct is disloyalty to our Master. Recognition of the total truth and trustworthiness of Holy Scripture is essential to a full grasp and adequate confession of its authority.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is the Word made flesh, our Prophet, Priest, and King, is the ultimate Mediator of God’s communication to man, as He is of all God’s gifts of grace. The revelation He gave was more than verbal;… Continue reading →

3 Implications That Come With Using the Word ‘Saved’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“We often think being saved is something like this: We are floating in the sea of sin and death about to drown when, with our last bit of strength, we cry out to Jesus who throws us a life preserver. That’s certainly a situation from which we would need to be saved, but that’s not what we see in this passage of Scripture. Instead, the picture here is of a corpse, dead and bloated, floating face down in the sea. No strength. No power. No hope.” 

(Michael Kelly)  You can almost hear the voice of the revival preacher bouncing off the tent folds somewhere in the deep south as he describes the perils of hell and the fact that we’re all headed there. Over and over again comes the question, “Have you been sa-a-a-a-aved-d-d-d-d-d!?!?!?!” Continue reading →

Jackie Hill Perry Uninvited From Answers in Genesis Women’s Conference

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ ,

“Hill Perry’s picture has been removed from the speaker line-up on the Answers in Genesis page — which was also confirmed by Answers staff.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  Jackie Hill Perry is a woke feminist ex-lesbian who is a contributor at The Gospel Coalition and regular speaker in the New Calvinist SBC/PCA speaking circuit. Hill Perry has been in the forefront of Christian news for the last several days due to her obstinance to correction regarding her approval of the false gospel-preaching chicken feather-dropping Bethel Church. Continue reading →

More than Half of American Satanists Identify as LGBTQ

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , ,

The Satanist said, “I think that’s because they feel disowned and disenfranchised from the traditional religious institutions. So, you have a population willing to embrace a religious identification that is boldly willing to speak out to the contrary.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  According to the head of the Satanic Temple of the United States, more than half of the Satan-worshippers in their organization are homosexuals or the gender-confused.

Lucien Grieves (a pseudonym), the head of the U.S. Satanic Temple told a British publication that more than half of the Satanists in America are LGBTQ. Continue reading →

Today’s Emerging Worldview Values Community, Tolerance over Religion, Patriotism, Family

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , ,

“Biblical Christians cannot tolerate what biblical truth forbids. But even our stands on issues such as same-sex relationships and abortion are fueled not by hatred but by love.” 

[Jim Denison – Christian Headlines)  A Southwest Airlines flight from Orlando to Washington was delayed for three hours last Thursday. That’s not surprising news in the world of air travel. What was surprising was how the gate agent responded.

He played games with the passengers as they waited, from a paper airplane competition to a contest for “worst driver’s license picture.” Winners were awarded $25 vouchers and Southwest merchandise.

One passenger called the experience “awesome.” Her social media posts made headlines on CNN. Continue reading →

The Unequal Yoke

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

“Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?”  Nehemiah 13:27

The nations among whom Israel was called to live were unusually degenerate. They practiced public lewdness. Their immorality had spread diseases among their people. They killed their children by throwing them alive into furnaces of fire in worship to their god Molech. To protect the Israelites from these dangerous practices, God had told them not to intermarry with these peoples…. Continue reading →

The Curse of Liberalism

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

“The issue before us is clear: we face the deadly flowering of the curse of liberalism in the PCA. If the denomination continues on this trajectory within a few decades we will not be recognizable as a Reformed and Evangelical expression of Christ’s church. This is no time for timidity but, rather, for Luther-like boldness. We are battling for the very soul of our denomination.  We must call upon our denomination to manifest the marks of the church in her courts.”

(David B. McWilliams – The Aquila Report)  In 1988, stalwart Baptist leader W. A. Criswell addressed the Southern Baptist Convention on the theme: “The Curse of Liberalism.” The curse of liberalism is also what the Presbyterian Church in America now faces…. Continue reading →

New report details Comey plan to ambush Trump with Moscow sex allegation

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

The new IG report is devastating for Comey. His leak of other materials from his memos — sensitive law enforcement material from an ongoing investigation — violated Justice Department and FBI policies, as well as Comey’s own FBI employment agreement, the inspector general wrote. More broadly, Comey set a “dangerous example” for all FBI employees. If other bureau officials acted similarly, the report said, “the FBI would be unable to dispatch its law enforcement duties properly.”

(Byron York – Washington Examiner)  A just-released Justice Department inspector general’s report provides new details on a January 2017 plan by then-FBI Director James Comey, top bureau officials, and the nation’s intelligence chiefs to spring a scandalous allegation on President-elect Trump, quickly record his reaction, use a prearranged secure videoconference to discuss the information, and fit it all into the FBI’s ongoing (but unknown to Trump) “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation. Continue reading →

Mandatory Teacher Training Denigrates Christianity, Exalts Islam

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“Teachers attending the training session were taught to believe in a whitewashed version of Islam. Essa told those in attendance that the word “Islam” is a variation on the Arabic word “salaam” which means peace. As the TMLC points out, Islam is more accurately translated as “submission,” since Muslims must submit to Allah and Sharia law before all other authorities. She also described the phrase “Allahu Abkar” as a refrain used to convey strong emotions; she did not mention that this same phrase is used as a battle-cry by Islamic terrorists conducting attacks.”

(Sarah Dogan – Front Page Magazine)  A Freedom of Information Act request filed by the Thomas More Law Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan revealed deeply concerning information on a mandatory two-day teacher training session on Islam conducted for public school teachers in the state which denigrated Christianity while presenting Islam in an exclusively positive light. Continue reading →

There Is No ‘Gay Gene,’ Comprehensive Scientific Study Finds

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“Will the release of this comprehensive study finally put this issue to rest? Doubtful. Past studies have done little to shift public opinion on this. But, the size and comprehensive nature of this new study ought to crush the “born that way” myth. What is the LGBT lobby to do? It appears they are trying to spin this study as reaffirming to their beliefs.”

(Matt Margolit – PJ Media)   Recent polls have shown that most Americans believe that homosexuals are “born that way” rather than become gay as the result of environmental factors. In fact, perpetuating the belief that sexual orientation is innate has been crucial to the gay rights movement…. Continue reading →

The Nature of Temptation

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

41 Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Matthew 26:41 (NASB)

38 Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Mark 14:38 (NASB)

45 When He rose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow, 46 and said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” Luke 22:45-46 (NASB) 

Temptation: Temptation is any thing, state, way or condition that, upon any account whatsoever, has a force or power to seduce, to draw the mind and heart of a man or woman from his or her obedience, which God requires of them, into any sin, in any degree of it whatsoever. Continue reading →

Todd Bentley sexual misconduct allegations widen to Pakistan

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , , , ,

“I was shown all the evidence, including recorded testimony. I also saw the letters that Stephen wrote to Rick Joyner. There is no threat, just disappointment that a leader in the body doesn’t seem to take these allegations seriously. Unlike what Rick Joyner continues to say—most of the allegations are not false. For that to be true, all of these people (about a dozen) must be lying and have no fear of God. This includes a pastor, who just this May, saw a woman in Todd’s hotel room ‘till late nights and early mornings ALONE’ and his witnessed a pattern of extreme lying. He has banned Todd from going on their mission trips.”

(Leonardo Blair – Christian Post)  Sexual misconduct allegations against Fresh Fire USA leader Todd Bentley have now snowballed to include reports from victims overseas, according to Stephen Powell, the estranged protégé of the popular and controversial faith healer, whom he dismissed in a report last Thursday as “not fit for public ministry.” Continue reading →

James Comey violated FBI policies with memos on Trump discussions, IG report says

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“[E]ven when these employees believe that their most strongly-held personal convictions might be served by an unauthorized disclosure, the FBI depends on them not to disclose sensitive information. Former Director Comey failed to live up to this responsibility, By not safeguarding sensitive information obtained during the course of his FBI employment, and by using it to create public pressure for official action, Comey set a dangerous example for the over 35,000 current FBI employees—and the many thousands more former FBI employees—who similarly have access to or knowledge of non-public information.”

(Gregg Re – Fox News)  A scathing inspector general report released Thursday said that fired FBI Director James Comey violated bureau policies by drafting, leaking and retaining memos documenting discussions with President Trump. Continue reading →

Blind Leading the Blind

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 15:13-14 (NASB) 

What is Sola Scriptura? This is a Latin phrase. Sola has the idea of “alone,” “ground,” or “base” while scriptura means “writings” and refers to Sacred Scripture or what we refer to in the vernacular as The Holy Bible. Sola Scriptura means that Sacred Scripture alone is authoritative for the faith and practice of the Christian….. Continue reading →

Three Reasons Why Jesus Did Not Go to Hell When He Died

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , , ,

The most powerful verse that lays to rest the idea that God was not satisfied with Jesus’ death alone and required him to do more punishment in hell is found in Jesus’ own words from the cross in John 19:30 as John records the words of Jesus, “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

(Josh Buice – Delivered By Grace)  Anyone who has studied 1 Peter 3:18-22 understands that it’s a challenging passage of Scripture to exegete and teach. There are some rather difficult passages to unpack and yet, there is one specific line in that section of verses that has caused many people to embrace a false teaching about Jesus. Continue reading →

SBC President Says Stop Being a Pharisee, Pride, Materialism, Greater Sins Than Homosexuality

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , , , ,

“The Bible most certainly does treat homosexuality as more egregious than other sins. Homosexuality is the only sin that caused God to wipe two cities off of the face of the earth.” 

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  When preaching a sermon on Romans 1 in January, the Southern Baptist president, J.D. Greear said other sins were more egregious than homosexuality. It was during that sermon that he infamously quoted the female pastor from Village Church, Jen Wilkin, Continue reading →

Watch Fake Tongues on Jim Bakker’s Program

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , ,

There is no hint whatsoever that the gifting of “tongues” is nonsense gibberish gobbledegook. Charismatics turn to 1 Corinthians 13:1 which speak of the “tongues of angels,” but Paul clearly was referring to fine oration and lofty speech. We know this because we see angels quite a bit in the Scripture and they are always speaking a human language (even when they’re seen in Heaven). It turns out that angels don’t speak gobbledegook either.

(Pulpit & Pen)  Just for the sake of a discernment exercise, do you want to hear what ‘fake tongues’ sounds like? Here you go. Continue reading →

Did Jesus struggle with his gender and his sexuality? Was he tempted to same-sex attraction?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , , ,

Dani Treweek of The Gospel Coalition Australia interviewed same-sex attracted “Christian,” Ed Shaw, who’s one of the founders of Living Out Ministries. A brouhaha erupted over Shaw’s claim that Jesus “struggled” with His gender and sexuality. So TGC added a postscript to Treweeks article in an attempt to tamp down the strong reaction to what Shaw said about the Lord Jesus. According to Elizabeth Prata, in so doing TGC mishandled Scripture, specifically verses in Hebrews that say Jesus was tempted in every way. Before we get to Prata’s piece, in which she clears up the confusion, here’s the Editor’s Postscript:

In view of some strong reactions on social media to some of the material in this interview, the TGCA editorial panel would like to make clear that we are very grateful for the heroic stand of Christian leaders such as Ed Shaw who have been open and honest about their own struggles with sexuality while defending biblical standards of sexual practice. Continue reading →

The Call to Sound Doctrine

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. 1 Timothy 1:5-11 (NASB)  (Read verses 8-11 on the site.)

Carefully read the passage I placed at the top of this post. What is the aim of the charge of a true discipler? It is to produce the good fruit of of love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. That is the good fruit of genuine prophet of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. On the other hand, our Lord Himself told us in His Sermon on the Mount how to discern whether a prophet was false or not. Continue reading →

Missing Elements in Our Discussions about Apostasy

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

“It is rare that people apostatize all of a sudden. Rather, there will almost always have been a long trajectory away from genuine Christian faith and practice and toward distinctly unChristian faith and practice. I expect that those who knew these men well, those who saw their lives up close, could tell of a slow drift rather than a sudden deconversion.” 

(Tim Challies)  For the past few weeks, apostasy has been a trending topic among Christians. Though the discussion has been spurred by the sad news of some well-known men revoking their Christian faith, the discussion is bringing about the positive effect of engaging a crucial but neglected subject. (Apostasy refers to people falling away from previously held Christian beliefs.) Continue reading →

Michael Brown is An Apologist for the Devil

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:10), and at every point possible, Michael Brown attacks that gift of the Third Person. Brown lamented that Bentley was publicly outed (again) as an adulterer and abuser. He wrote…”I have no comment on the most recent accusations against Todd, since I do not know what is false and what is true. But I do know this (and it applies especially to those of us in leadership): God gives us many opportunities to repent in private before allowing us to be exposed publicly.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Michael Brown is a popular ‘Christian’ apologist who is right on some issues, but damnably wrong on others. But more than anything, Michael Brown is an apologist for the worst and most extreme occultism of hyper-charismania. If you’re paying close attention, you’ll see that Michael Brown is an apologist for the devil. Continue reading →