Is Christmas Pagan? You Decide.

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“Just because pagans used a day, an object, or a symbol for their wicked practices hundreds or thousands of years ago does not mean those days, objects, or symbols carry the same meaning today. Think about the way a mere word can change meanings in such a short time.”

(Michelle Lesley)  If you’re a Christian, you might have heard the anti-Christmas rumblings on social media, or maybe even in real life: Christmas has pagan origins…Santa’s elves started out as demons…the Roman winter solstice celebration of Saturnalia morphed into Christmas…Mithras…Krampus…the “naughty list” about the origins of Christmas goes on and on. Are these things true? Should Christians celebrate Christmas? Continue reading →

Is It Better To Die?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. Job 3:1

In this chapter we find that Job asks three very poignant questions. The first one is, Why was I ever born? Job hopes his birthday will be forgotten. He is looking back to the day of his birth, and, although he cannot change it, he is saying, May its anniversary be ignored. Let it be a day that is darkened; let no one rejoice in it. Let it be a day of cursing instead of blessing. The reason for Job’s outcry is this was the day he was born, the day that produced him. You can see at this point how his life has become so miserable that he longs for death. Even all that he has enjoyed in the past seems of no value in the face of this tremendous anguish that he must endure. Continue reading →

New Video Surfaces Showing that Al Mohler Fully Subscribes to Critical Race Theory

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

“[D]rawing from the Critical Race Theorist Jarvis Williams and his book, Removing the Stain of Racism from the SBC — says that slavery is a “stain” on the denomination that it will carry for ever until Jesus returns. This is an outright denial of the power of the gospel to remove the stain of sin.” 

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte) In a video posted on Vimeo between Al Mohler and several of his protégés at Southern Seminary, during part of the panel discussion, Mohler opens up and fully embraces Critical Race Theory and applies it to the Southern Baptist Convention. Continue reading →

Professor Forced out at Baptist Seminary for Sharing Biblical Views on Sexuality and Sex Abuse

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , , ,

According to Lopez, his supervisors cited opposition to him from the and the Southwestern administration….

(Capstone Report)  A prominent professor at Southwestern Baptist has been dismissed from the well-known seminary for his position on same-sex relationships and his advocacy for victims of same-sex abuse. Professor Robert Oscar Lopez, who is formerly gay and an abuse survivor, has written multiple books on the topic including and The New Normal: The Transgender Agenda. Continue reading →

Pawns for Godless Climate Extremism

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“Am I suggesting mankind has absolutely no impact on the planet? No. Am I saying it’s impossible for humans to harm or improve the earth? Nope. But we need to look to God as the source of truth, keep things in perspective, do what we can responsibly, and stop obsessing over what we cannot control.”

(David Fiorazo) Greta Thunberg was the answer to one of the clues on Jeopardy last night. Up to this point, I’ve tried ignoring the teenage climate activist from Sweden – but Jeopardy? She has arrived! Continue reading →

By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

“By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8)

Understanding that sin makes us thick-headed, unwilling to accept certain truths when they receive minimal emphasis, the biblical authors repeat foundational doctrines so that they might penetrate our hearts and minds. The man-made religions of this world prove that without the work of the Holy Spirit, people think that they are basically good and can contribute something to their salvation. This strips glory from God and gives it to us, for if we can do even one thing to merit salvation, then we deserve some credit. All belief systems except biblical Christianity encourage us to believe that we contribute to our salvation, even if they deceitfully assert otherwise. Continue reading →

ACLU Tweets for International Men’s Day: Transgenders ‘Who Get Pregnant and Give Birth Are Men’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , ,

“If the ACLU prevails, it will demand that a man identifying as a woman be allowed to sleep in the same room as abused women at an overnight shelter. It will demand that high school boys identifying as girls be allowed in the girls’ shower. And it will demand that any male identifying as a female be allowed to take a female’s place on a women’s sport team, or on the winner’s podium.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News)  The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently posted a tweet supportive of women who identify as men in recognition of International Men’s Day. Continue reading →

Disassociating Paul from Jesus

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“At the turn of the twentieth century, the church faced a form of theological liberalism in which theologians sought to disassociate Jesus and Paul. Although the driving factors in the theological liberalism of the twentieth century were somewhat different from our current ecclesiastical controversies, the method and desired end were strikingly similar. Attacks on the organic unity of Scripture led professors at Princeton Theological Seminary to proffer some of the greatest arguments for the defense of the unity and progressive development of the canon of Scripture.”

(Nicholas T. Batzig – Feeding On Christ)  By means of sophisticatedly crafted statements on social media, certain prominent voices in the evangelical wing of Christendom have revealed their penchant for pitting Jesus’ ethical teaching against that of the Apostle Paul…. Continue reading →

Rosaria Butterfield Promotes Sam Allberry’s Theology, Catholic Priest Who Says God is Gay and Occultic Scholar

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

“Rosaria Butterfield’s hospitality theology, many of her themes and mantras, the framework for the entire SSA celibate queer movement as well as many of the talking points over at Living Out and Russell Moore’s ERLC SSA panels are regurgitations of that blasphemous Roman Catholic priest, Zen guru, Marxist, queer theologian, Henri Nouwen.  So who is this man?”

(Diane Gaskins) Whenever one mentions the topic of homosexuality around conservative Christians, they are usually met with “Have you listened to Rosaria Butterfield? She is holding the line on these issues.” Not being one who relishes an argument, I often sigh inwardly to encounter these comments. I get it. I followed Butterfield as a fan for a time, have read all her books, and have listened to dozens of her lectures and interviews. Over the past few years, however, I have grown increasingly disturbed by a closer examination of what Rosaria Butterfield is actually saying, and particularly by the overt and covert messages in her most recent and highly acclaimed book, The Gospel Comes With a House Key. Continue reading →

The Biblical Evidence for Hell

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Would a loving Jesus really teach about hell? Yes, and so does every New Testament author. Let’s consider what they teach.

Hell in Matthew

In the Sermon on the Mount, often known for its emphasis on love and the kingdom, Jesus teaches the reality and nature of hell (5:20–30; 7:13–27). In Matthew 5:20–30, Jesus contrasts hell with the kingdom of heaven and warns that hell is a real danger to unrepentant sinners. The fire of hell, the justice of hell, and the extreme suffering in hell are particularly stressed. The unrepentant are warned to use extreme measures to avoid being cast into it by God. Continue reading →

ABC Broadcasts Pop Music From Hell

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

The Hell theme continued with 17-year-old songstress Billie Eilish, who offered her song “All the Good Girls Go to Hell.” It begins with the words “My Lucifer is lonely.”

Brace yourself…

(Brent Bozell & Tim Graham – Townhall)  ABC aired The American Music Awards on Sunday, Nov. 24, and the big surprise was that none of the featured pop stars launched into a political diatribe about the horrors of the Trump era. The shock factor was reserved for one of the most vicious assaults on God ever projected by Hollywood. Continue reading →

Hillsong Phoenix Hosting Roman Catholic Speaker in January 2020 along With Francis Chan

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

“The idea of the conference is to bury the distinctions between biblical Christianity and other false churches, particularly the Roman Catholic Church and the New Apostolic Reformation — nothing new for Chan.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  In January, Hillsong Phoenix will be hosting the Alpha Conference 2020 which will feature such ecumenical false teachers as Francis Chan and a Roman Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of Halifax, James Mallon. Continue reading →

Apologia Church Saved Private Clergy-Penitent Recordings, Then Released Them to Punish Critics

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

[U]nbeknownst to Hurd, the church was secretly recording his call, even though they knew that the discussion of sin would be the topic of conversation, an unconscionable thing for a church to do. Not knowing he was recorded, Hurd even eluded to the alleged sins of others, who did not agree to have their sins divulged to the elders, and certainly not to the world at large.

(Pulpit & Pen)  Imagine you had a private conversation with ordained clergy, confessing your sins. Then imagine those clergy members secretly recorded that call and later chose to anonymously put that info online in order to punish you. Continue reading →

Martin Luther On Confession: Tell Your Brother His Fault ‘Between You and Him Alone’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

Now we have heard all the things which ought to be considered here, except confession. Of this we shall speak now.

In the first place, there is a confession which is founded on the Scriptures, and it is this: when anybody committed a sin publicly or with other men’s knowledge, he was accused before the congregation. If he abandoned his sin, they interceded for him with God. But if he would not listen to the congregation [häuffen], he was cast out and excluded from the assembly, so that no one would have anything to do with him. And this confession is commanded by God in Matthew18:15, “If your brother sins against you (so that you and others are offended), go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” Continue reading →

Sin and Our Relationship to God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

“Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”  – Psalm 85:10

Atonement is central to Christian theology, and without the cross we do not have Christianity. Much of the New Testament is devoted to explicating what happened on the cross of Christ, and the atonement was necessitated by the problems that sin brought to our relationship with God (Rom. 3:21–26). To understand the atonement, therefore, we must first understand how our transgressions affect our relationship with our Creator. Continue reading →

Hallmark Channel Under Assault by Race Hustlers and LGBTQ Cult, ‘Too White’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , , ,

“But in a culture that values offensive sex acts, profanity, and violence overall, the Hallmark channel is doomed. The diversity activists will never be satisfied until everything white people like is canceled, including white people themselves. And they will eventually get their wish because white people in America will become a minority in the not-too-distant future.”

(Megan Fox – PJ Media)  Every Christmas season, it appears we have to endure listening to the race hustlers and the gay patrol complain about the one channel left in America that does not partake in envelope-pushing. The Hallmark channel really is the last known entertainment that does not engage in the culture wars by pushing “diversity” for the sake of pleasing the agitators and instead focuses on its demographics; white moms and grandmas…. Continue reading →

Higher Education Union: Anyone Can Self-Identity As ‘Black, Disabled, LGBT+ or Women’

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

We’ve all seen it coming—once you open the door to “self-identification” based solely on feelings, anything goes. If a man can identify as a woman and legally be considered a female (and vice versa), despite his male biology and chromosomes, then anyone should be able to self-identify simply based on personal feelings, regardless of biology or fact. That’s exactly what the world’s largest higher education union is arguing.

(Ken Ham – Answers In Genesis)  This United Kingdom-based union, the UCU, announced that “anyone should be able to identify as black ‘regardless of the colour of their skin or background.’”…. Continue reading →

Why Are So Many Christians Paralysed by Fear and Compromise?

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

“The other side keeps winning because we are far too fearful and willing to compromise. We keep putting up the white flag of surrender when we should be resisting and trusting God. We are involved in a full-scale Satanic attack, and only the full armour of God will suffice here.”

(Bill Muehlenberg – Cultural Watch)  The other side keeps winning because we live in fear, and too easily capitulate

I know of entire churches and denominations that have caved and capitulated to the world, to the militants, and to the activists. And there are many parachurch groups and Christian businesses doing the same. And plenty of individual Christians are following suit as well. Continue reading →

Paula White Teaches ‘Treasury of Heaven’ Exists for Seed-Faith Offering Scams

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

During his show, Jim Bakker whines that he’s having a hard time raising money and that he’s hoping people will send him $10,000 — or perhaps a check for $1 million. So Pastrix Paula decides to help her pal out by reminding the audience that they stand to be rewarded by God if they send their hard earned money to Bakker. Pulpit & Pen has the story as well as a video clip of the show. P&P writes:

We originally wrote on this travesty in the post, Trump Advisor, Paula White, Says It’s God’s Command to Support Jim Bakker. Essentially, the basic gist is that Paula White appeared on Jim Bakker’s program to help him raise the money to complete the building of a new survival supplies infomercial studio. Continue reading →

Analyzing Unanswered Prayer

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:29-31

Our prayers are sometimes not answered because we pray in vague generalities. When all our prayers are either vague or universal in their scope, it is difficult to experience the exhilaration that goes with clear and obvious answers to prayer…. Continue reading →

The Democratic Cold War on Christianity Heating Up

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“Democrats mumble the occasional platitude and claim to be Christian since they still need to hoodwink a sizable portion of their voting base, but it is far more important to pay attention to their actions.  The vile Equality Act being pushed openly by Democrat politicians is meant as a frontal attack on Christianity and to open the door for unending lawfare against Christians.  It will almost assuredly be rushed into law the minute Democrats control government.” 

(Fletch Daniels – American Thinker)  One of the great unknowns in terms of the future electorate is the effect the Democrats’ increasingly radical anti-faith stance will have on its voting coalition.  Continue reading →

Spiritual Disciplines and the Appearance of Wisdom (Reprise)

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Spiritual Formation ….Contemplative/Centering/ Apopathic/Breath Prayer…. ”Christian Yoga“….Enneagram (you’ll learn about this below) are terms Bible believing evangelicals must become familiar with. All of these practices have been introduced into mainstream evangelicalism. Where do they come from? You don’t have to dig very deep to discover that practices such as these are rooted in Eastern mysticism. In other words, neo-paganism. What’s concerning is that nearly everyone dabbles in some form of mysticism (occult knowledge). Even the Church is entrenched in “Christian” mysticism (much of it borrowed from Roman Catholicism) and they don’t even know it. However, many professing believers do know. They’ve heard the warnings and continue down the neo-pagan path that leads to death. Why? Because having to give up things we enjoy is hard!  And besides, God understands…. right? Continue reading →

This Thanksgiving, I embrace my Christian privilege

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

“A grateful heart is one that sees through the eyes of faith the blessings God has poured out on others, and then praises Him for it, rather than curses Him for not giving it to us instead. A thankful soul is one whose perspective is calibrated on eternal things, and therefore recognizes the unfathomable privilege God has gifted to all who follow Him.”

(Peter Heck – Disrn) I do a lot of complaining; far more than I should. Continue reading →

Harvest Report Shows ‘Massive…Governance Failure,’ Allowing James MacDonald to Misuse Millions

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According to Stoner, some of the $1.9 million may have been legitimate church expenses. “But too often, there is insufficient documentation or no documentation at all to confirm the intent of the payment,” he said. “And it appears the decisions to spend these funds were too often made unilaterally without proper budget procedures, oversight, or approvals.”

(Julie Roys)  Harvest Bible Chapel (HBC) suffered “a massive corporate governance failure,” which enabled former senior pastor, James MacDonald, to “extensively” misuse millions in church funds “for improper financial benefit.” Continue reading →