Faith without Works is Dead

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.  18 But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” James 2:14-18 (NASB) 

The passage I placed at the beginning of this article is one of the most abused and misunderstood passages that I know of. If it is read casually, it can be easily misunderstood. If is exposited by someone possessing a faulty hermeneutic, it can be twisted to say what no other part of the Bible teaches, that faith plus works is required for salvation. Continue reading →

Catholic Archbishop Tells Transgender ‘You Belong to the Heart of This Church’

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“God’s design for sexuality is not a Christian-specific doctrine — it is revealed to us in creation. God’s design is natural and to oppose God’s design is to reject God altogether. This is why even a false Church — the Roman Catholic Church — can for so long hold to the revealed truths of God’s design revealed to us in nature.” 

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  The Roman Catholic Church is a false church. This is an undeniable fact from the vantage point of any sane, Bible-believing Christian…. Continue reading →

How feminism treats heterosexuality as a problem

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“Don’t miss the fact that neither [Miley] Cyrus nor [Julianne] Hough are claiming to have been “born this way.” Bianco does not laud Cyrus and Hough as feminist champions because they possess a fixed, immutable lesbian orientation. Rather Bianco lauds these women for choosing a sexual identity that will bring down the patriarchy. (Yes, in the run-up to legalizing gay marriage, we were assured that orientation is a fixed and immutable reality. I guess that narrative has served its political purpose. It is now okay to treat orientation as a choose-your-own-adventure story.)”  

(Denny Burk)  If you’ve ever wondered about the connection between feminism and LGBT identities, a recent article by Marcie Bianco at NBC News clears things up. Among other things, Bianco says this: Continue reading →

After Years of Warnings, Karen Swallow Prior Finally OUT at ERLC!

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We are thankful that after years of hard work trying to unwed this wicked woman’s influence in the SBC, ever since our first post about her entitled, Gay-Affirming Research Fellow at ERLC, Shocking Liberalism more than four years ago, that her official affiliation with the denomination through the ERLC is now over.

(Pulpit & Pen)  After years of warning Southern Baptists that Karen Swallow Prior was a feminist, animal rights activist, egalitarian, and radical liberal who was serving as a change agent for leftist psuedo-Christianity, she has finally been removed as a Research Fellow for the ERLC. Continue reading →

Video: ‘Sing Hallelujah to the Lord’ Becomes Anthem for Hong Kong Protests Against China’s Communist Push

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“Christian churches run a large number of educational institutions, ranging from nurseries to post-secondary institutions. Moreover, they provide 13 hospitals, a large number of clinics, family centers and old-age homes throughout Hong Kong,” the site InterNations outlines.

(Heather Clark – Christian News Network)  Even though only a small percentage Hong Kong’s citizens profess to be Christian, numerous online videos have captured crowds singing “Sing Hallelujah to the Lord” on the streets in recent months among protests against a bill that some fear would extradite residents to Communist China. The protests — and singing — have continued as the calls have broadened into a wider demand for democracy in the region. Continue reading →

Children of God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him. 1 John 2:28-29 (NASB) 

There are two types of people in the world. There are God’s children and everyone else. One of the reasons I love to read the Gospel of John 1, John 2, John 3, and Revelation is that John, the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:7), wrote very profound words that have no gray areas…. Continue reading →

Bethel Church Responds to Criticism Over Pro-Gay Post, Refuses to Clarify Position on Homosexuality

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Bethel Church was widely criticized for doing anti-Gospel work with the LGBT, as perceived in their Facebook post. Many people have asked Bethel to clarify whether or not they view homosexuality as a sin.

(Pulpit & Pen)  After two weeks of criticism relating to a Facebook post telling gay people that God did not want them to change, Bethel Church responded to criticism but refused to clarify their position on the sinfulness of homosexuality. Continue reading →

Media Bias and the Elusive Gay Gene

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Homosexual activists continue to insist that homosexuality is genetically based, and nothing can be done about it. Science, again, begs to differ. One person who should know is Oxford’s Richard Dawkins, author of The Selfish Gene. Dawkins argues that “the body of genetic determinism needs to be laid to rest.” Says Dawkins, “Whether you hate homosexuals or whether you love them, whether you want to lock them up or ‘cure’ them, your reasons had better have nothing to do with genes. Rather admit to prejudiced emotion than speciously drag genes in where they do not belong.”

(Bill Muhlenberg – Culture Watch)   And there is still no ‘gay gene’.

This is a rule of thumb that you can take to the bank: Do not believe everything you read in the media. That is especially true of the mainstream media, with its blatant secular left bias on most political, religious and cultural issues. And we must also beware of misleading and patently false headlines. Continue reading →

Christian authors blast Amazon for banning their books, selling pedophilia titles

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“It is appalling that Amazon has banned books detailing how one struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction can overcome those feelings and steward his or her sexuality in a biblical fashion, while thinking nothing of selling books that celebrate the kind of deviancy Jeffrey Epstein was accused of.”

(Brandon Showalter – The Christian Post)  Christian authors who once identified as gay or lesbian are highlighting the double standard Amazon is applying by removing their books from the platform while continuing to sell titles that promote pedophilia. Continue reading →

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’

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“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

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“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

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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

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“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

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“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

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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

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“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 →