The Plight of Churchless Christians

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Eric Davis addresses Christians who choose not to go to church for one reason or another. “Is it inconsequential for the professing believer to remain a flockless sheep?” he asks.

So, what’s to become of flockless sheep? Does the Bible give any outlook for them? Actually, it does. And according to Davis the outlook is bad.  Not surprisingly, there are some consequences for those who insist on remaining churchless Christians, which he shares in his piece over at The Cripplegate. He writes:

Sadly, it’s become a norm within American Christianity. Incredibly, it’s a regular thing amid evangelicalism. Embarrassingly, it’s widely accepted among many professing Christians. “I’m a Christian, but I don’t really go to church.”

Churchless Christians. Flockless sheep. Bodyless body-parts. Continue reading →

Another One? Now Kristen Bell Knocks ‘Snow White’ Because The Prince Kisses Her Without Consent

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“Don’t you think that it’s weird that the prince kisses Snow White without her permission?”

(Paul Bios – Daily Wire)  Whether by coincidence or cosmic irony, this just happened to be the week where actresses flash their feminist street creds by bashing Disney princesses.

Within 24 hours of actress Keira Knightley announcing her ban on the films “Cinderella” and “The Little Mermaid” for her three-year-old daughter for sending false messages on female empowerment, “Frozen” actress Kristen Bell blasted “Snow White” for teaching girls false messages about consent and talking to strangers. Continue reading →

Mall Retailer Spencer Gifts Sells ‘Let’s Summon Demons,’ ‘Let’s Sacrifice Toby’ T-Shirts: Viral Video

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“A third shirt, bearing the same “Activities for Children” wording, also reads “Let’s Summon Demons” and depicts a boy lying on a drawing of a pentagram with candles surrounding him. Other children encircle him, including a young girl holding a teddy bear.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News Network)  A video posted to social media informing Christians that mall retailer Spencer Gifts sells t-shirts bearing messages such as “Let’s Summon Demons” and “Let’s Sacrifice Toby” has gone viral. Continue reading →

How To Master Experimental Theology

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If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

The two most important things in our holy religion are the life of faith and the walk of faith. He who shall rightly understand these is not far from being a master in experimental theology, for they are vital points to a Christian.

You will never find true faith unattended by true godliness; on the other hand, you will never discover a truly holy life which has not for its root a living faith upon the righteousness of Christ. Woe unto those who seek after the one without the other!   View article →

Confessions Of A Former Charismatic

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“I can still remember the day it all hit me like a ton of bricks. These elders were saying they had access to insight that I could not have or had not been given. They had a special lens for seeing and I did not. And that I knew was an evil error. Unaccountable knowledge based on special intuition placed my leaders above the Scriptures not under them. They denied it in theory, but it was clearly what they practiced.”

Posted over at R. Scott Clark’s The Heidelblog:

Dr. Clark,

A few weeks ago you posted a warning against the desire for ongoing prophecy. [See also this—Ed.] In it you told a story of what happens when people look to words from God beyond Scripture. I wanted to stand as a witness to the dangers you highlighted. Continue reading →

Does Plagiarism Matter to Christians?

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“For her article, Belz spoke with publishing industry insiders. She reported that one answer was better plagiarism detection software. My answer is to hold authors to a high standard. They should do their own work.”

(Warren Throckmorton) Judging by reaction to recent plagiarism cases, I don’t think plagiarism matters much to most Christians.

Of late, professor Aaron New has brought forward multiple clear examples of plagiarism involving Tim Clinton and the American Association of Christian Counseling. I have published most of them on this blog. The response has been interest from the Christian Post but other than that, a resounding yawn. … Continue reading →

God-pleasing sacrifices

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1 Therefore, I urge you brothers through the compassions of God to present your bodies as living, holy sacrifices, well pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service. 2 And do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may discern the will of God, that which is good and well pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

Several years ago, I wrote a post about how God is not pleased with our religiosity, but is, instead, well pleased in His people when they become living sacrifices who have left their dead works behind and are living out their faith daily walking before their Lord in repentance and obedience. Those “church builders” don’t like this topic very much. They want to have their people submissive to them and feeling guilty when they slip up on their religiosity duties they have been given. Let’s look at a passage that talks about this and has been misused by many to force church-goers to become overburdened with religiosity and churchianity. View article →

‘Eat the meat and spit out the bones’: A proper response to NAR teaching?

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“When listening to Johnson’s sermon, one may get the impression that, for him, the bottom line isn’t orthodoxy vs. heresy. The line is not godliness vs. immorality. The issue for Johnson appears to boil down to one word: power.”

(Holly Pivec – Spirit of Error) “Eat the meat and spit out the bones” is a common refrain in NAR. Typically, it means that if you hear a teacher give a questionable teaching — something that you don’t understand or that seems off somehow —  ignore that particular teaching. But don’t stop listening to his other teachings. Continue reading →

The 2018 State of Theology

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Once again Ligonier Ministries has commissioned a survey to assess Americans’ theological understanding. The survey contains charts and some must-read information. One thing we learn from the survey is that most evangelicals strongly believe in justification by faith alone; however, “they are confused about the person of Jesus Christ. On one hand, virtually all evangelicals express support for Trinitarian doctrine. Yet at the same time, most agree that Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God, which was a view espoused by the ancient heretic Arius.”

Now to Ligonier’s survey: Continue reading →

New Bible Published to Help Catholics Catch Up With Protestants In Scripture Knowledge

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“Many Catholics that I meet feel that scripture is kind of inaccessible to them. They don’t feel like scripture is something they can pick up every day and read and have a conversation with God through it.  But this Bible is going to help people do that.”

(Daily Caller – Joshua Gill) Bible scholars have developed a new edition of the Bible designed to help everyday Catholics overcome the notion that scripture study is particular to Protestants. Continue reading →

Why does the persecution come upon believers?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, 27 and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning. John 15:26-27 (NASB) 

We live in a time of biblical ignorance. Much of the ignorance is intentional. There are some “so-called” Christians who seek to separate Jesus from Holy Scripture. Those who are immersed in the Word of God as they walk before the face of God in their sanctification see this movement with a great deal of incredulity. How can anyone learn about Jesus and what is expected of His disciples if all understanding of Him comes extra-biblically? View article →

Is Cultural Marxism America’s New Mainline Ideology?

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“The way toward the rule of the cultural Marxists is the moral corruption of the people. To accomplish this, the mass media and public education must not enlighten but confuse and mislead. The media and the educational establishment work to put one part of the society against the other part. While group identities get more specific, the catalog of victimization and history of oppression becomes more detailed.” 

(Anthony P. Mueller – Mises Institute)  Another name for the neo-Marxism of increasing popularity in the United States  is “cultural Marxism.” This theory says that the driving force behind the socialist revolution is not the proletariat — but the intellectuals. While Marxism has largely disappeared from the workers’ movement, Marxist theory flourishes today in cultural institutions, in the academic world, and in the mass media. … Continue reading →

To Deal with Leftists, Imagine You’re Confronting Satan

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“Connedservatives, stop being conned. One of the Left’s tactics, outlined in its devilish “bible” Rules for Radicals (dedicated to Lucifer), is to get the other side (us) to live up to its own rules.”

(Selwyn Duke – RenewAmerica)  If you’re a conned-servative who gets sand thrown in your eyes, your kneecaps kicked off and slashed with a broken bottle, and then still fights the next time by Queensberry rules, this article isn’t for you. But if you’re disturbed by the Left’s behavior these last years and want to know how to handle these people whose “mask has been dropping,” understand this: Behind that mask is the Devil. Continue reading →

Biological Male Wins World Championship In Women’s Cycling

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“Focusing on performance advantage is largely irrelevant because this is a rights issue. We shouldn’t be worried about trans people taking over the Olympics. We should be worried about their fairness and human rights instead.”

(Peter Hasson – Daily Caller)  A biological male who identifies as a transgender woman won a women’s world championship cycling event on Sunday. Continue reading →

All of the Children of God have a purifying hope in Christ

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.  14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, Ephesians 3:11-19 (NASB) (Read verses 15-19 on the site)

All in Christ have much in common no matter what doctrines they hold. Therefore, this post’s focus is on the marvelous outcome of our salvation that we are Children of God and because of that we have a “purifying hope” in Christ. View article →

Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment

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24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24 (NASB) 

What is the definition of the English word “fact?” The following is from the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary.

Main Entry: fact

Pronunciation: \ˈfakt\  Function: noun  Etymology: Latin factum, from neuter of factus, past participle of facere

Date: 15th century

1 : a thing done: as a obsolete : feat b : crime <accessory after the fact> c archaic : action 2 archaic : performance, doing 3 : the quality of being actual : actuality <a question of fact hinges on evidence 4 a : something that has actual existence <space exploration is now a fact b : an actual occurrence <prove the fact of damage 5 : a piece of information presented as having objective reality

— in fact : in truth

The part that says, “a piece of information presented as having objective reality” is where I would like to concentrate in this post. …  View article →

How To Love God?

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Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8:35 

How do you love God? You love him by answering this question. Who or what is going to separate us from the love of Christ? Is there any force, anywhere, that can come between you and Jesus? Who can remove us from Christ, once we fully come to him? Paul’s answer is, Let’s take a look at the possibilities.

First, can all the troubles and dangers of life separate us from his love: Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Romans 8:35b) That is life at its worst. Will that do it? Will hardship do it? That means the tight, narrow places we have to go through sometimes. Will persecution do it? That is hurt deliberately inflicted on us because we are Christians. View article →

Andrew Brunson, American pastor detained in Turkey, is freed, sentenced to time served

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The Trump administration advocated persistently for Brunson’s release, leading to an intense economic showdown between the two NATO allies. In August, the U.S. slapped sanctions on an array of Turkish officials and on some goods, sending Turkish currency into freefall.

(Greg Norman – Fox News) Andrew Brunson, the American pastor who was imprisoned and then placed under house arrest in Turkey due to his alleged ties to an outlawed group, was ordered freed on Friday and sentenced to time served — and is now expected to stop in Germany for a medical exam before returning to the U.S. Continue reading →

Witches to Hex Justice Kavanaugh in Occult Ritual in NYC

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According to the Oxford English Dictionary, to hex, as a verb, means to “cast a spell on; bewitch.” As a noun, hex means “a magic spell; a curse.”

(Michael W. Chapman – CNSNews.com) Witches plan to place a public hex on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh through an occult ritual on Oct. 20 in New York City, an event sponsored by Catland Books, which describes itself as “Brooklyn’s premiere occult bookshop & spiritual community space.” The planned ritual has been advertised on Facebook. Continue reading →

‘Allegedly Transgender’ Prisoner Gets Life After Raping Two Women, Sexually Assaulting Inmates in Female Jail

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A “predatory and controlling” biologically male rapist has been jailed for life after attacking vulnerable female inmates in women’s prisons whilst claiming to be transgendered and for the previous rapes of two other women.

(Liam Deacon – Breitbart)  Karen White, 52, who was previously known as Stephen Wood, identifies as a woman and was allowed into the female prison. She has now been described as a danger to women and children.

White was originally jailed for violent crimes and admitted sexually assaulting the women in a female prison as well as raping another two women outside jail at Leeds Crown Court, PA reports. Continue reading →

Personal holiness and inward cleanliness

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24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Matthew 23:24 (NASB) 

A huge trap that Christians can fall into is self-righteousness. It is a form of idolatry and that always causes spiritual blindness (Romans 1:24-25). Self-righteousness puts all effort towards godliness in the wrong place. It creates a form of piety that is all about outward appearances while putting little or no priority on matters of the heart. It is all about being concerned about appearances and what others think rather than being totally committed to abiding in Christ from within first. The self-righteous are consciously holy. However, that is not what we are called to be. Christians must be consciously repentant and unconsciously holy. The difference is huge for these are totally opposite walks. View article →

Activists Firebomb Man’s Truck Because It Had Pro-Trump Bumper Stickers

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“I literally just put them on this weekend. If I would’ve known somebody would’ve taken politics this far — I saw them, I thought they were funny and apparently somebody didn’t get the joke.”

(Steven Ertelt – LifeNews)  The harassment of and violence against pro-life conservatives continues. This time, in Washington state, a man whose truck had bumper stickers supporting President Donald Trump arrived to his vehicle after parking it overnight in a parking garage only to discover it had been firebombed. Continue reading →