Your Respectable Sin Is Your Achilles Heel

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“There are many different examples of respectable sins that we often overlook because they aren’t on the same level as open adultery or murder—but they’re just as deadly. Interestingly enough, the small venomous snake is often more deadly because they inject their venom without any restraint when they bite their prey. “

(Josh Buice – Delivered By Grace) The author of Hebrews sounds like a track and field coach explaining the need for proper attire and the danger of unnecessary resistance as he writes, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). The Christian life is not a sprint—it’s a marathon. Who dresses in long jeans and bulky leather shoes for a marathon? Continue reading →

Shroud of Turin Bloodstains Likely Fake, Not of Jesus Christ: Forensic Experts

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , ,

“This is just not what happens to a person on a cross,” Borrini said, noting that the comparison model displayed very different blood angle patterns than the shroud.

(Stoyan Saimov – Christian Post) Bloodstains found on the shroud of Turin burial cloth, believed by many to have once wrapped the body of Jesus Christ, are likely fake, according to new research reported in the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

In June 2017, researchers at the Institute of Crystallography found traces of blood on the 14-foot-long relic, with initial analysis of the particles discovering “a scenario of great suffering, whose victim was wrapped up in the funeral cloth.” Continue reading →

First Lesbian Reinstated to U.S. Army Comes Out Against Transgender ‘Erasure of Women’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“Earlier this month, a group called “Get the L Out” marched against transgenderism at the London Pride Parade. This group claimed that the transgender push for “the social transition of lesbians” is actually a form of conversion therapy, because it turns lesbian women into straight men. The group also warned — rightly — about the long-lasting damage transgender “therapies” can wreak on healthy human bodies.”

(Tyler – O’Neil – PJ Media) Feminists have finally begun to clash openly with the transgender movement, and the strongest attacks have come from lesbians. A lesbian Army veteran with an impressive pedigree has joined the charge, denouncing the transgender movement for erasing women. Continue reading →

The Church, Unity, and Separation

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. – Titus 1:5-9 (NASB) (Read verses 7-9 on the site)

It doesn’t take very long for me to discern whether the person I am dealing with through personal interaction is truly God’s man or woman or is a pretender.  That personal interaction is necessary for me to see the true nature and focus of the person. As we debate or discuss doctrinal or church issues or even secular issues it soon becomes very clear whether I am dealing someone who is walking according to the Lordship of Christ or is their own man or woman. …  View article →

A Sober Warning from the Earliest Christians

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“People today are perfectly willing to tolerate the Christian faith as long as it doesn’t disrupt the unifying principle of tolerance.”

(Tim Challies)  When I was a kid, my family once watched a movie that included vivid scenes of persecution against the earliest Christians. I remember lying awake at night, terrified by these images of Christians burning in the streets and being fed to the lions. I couldn’t help but imagine myself in the place of those beleaguered believers. At the time, I assumed they were being persecuted simply for being Christians, but as I’ve studied early church history, I’ve come to realize it’s not quite so simple. And as simplicity gives way to reality, I see there are some important lessons we can learn today through that early church persecution. Continue reading →

Brannon Howse Scurries to Cover Lies, Justin Peters Responds

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

[Howse] has repeatedly lashed out at Peters for the last year, while Peters has remained stoically silent. Only after these repeated falsehoods has Peters decided to respond.

(Pulpit & Pen) We originally highlighted this story in a post on July 11. However, we then had to update the post on July 13, after Howse filed a copyright claim against Justin’s response video (in a stunningly hypocritical move, considering Brannon used a snippet of a recording that he did not own, also under the Fair Use Doctrine). In the update, we included the video, linked elsewhere besides YouTube, where Howse had it removed under his false complaint. Continue reading →

Come soon Lord Jesus!

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. Revelation 3:11 (NKJV) 

3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV) 

It is one thing to say, “Come soon Lord Jesus!” and quite another thing to live as if you mean it. There are even some today who are of the “progressive” mindset that teach we should live this life with our focus on the here and now rather than eternity. Why? This is to create a better world or make this world a better place. … View article →

Why personal holiness is not optional

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 (NASB) 

Are we to accept the profession of faith from everyone who claims to be a Christian? This is a hot button issue in our time. I know of several people who once fellowshipped here who no longer do because they are convinced that it is wrong to rebuke and contend with those who profess faith in Christ, but whose fruit show otherwise. What about this fruit? Is it an indication of the veracity of one’s faith? According to Hebrews 12:14 we see that only those who possess holiness will see the Lord. This is a way of saying that those who will see the Lord, those who are truly saved, will possess some degree of personal holiness. View article →

Assertions and Assumptions are NOT the Foundation of the Church

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Steven Kozar of Messed Up Church, a blog over at Pirate Christian, believes that much of the bad teaching in churches happens because people who teach often make unbiblical assertions.  And the gullible folks in the pews just assume what they’re being taught is the gospel truth.  After all, pastors/teachers/church leaders would never stray from the truth, right?

Some pastors/teachers/church leaders get away with using assertions by claiming that what they’re teaching came directly from the Almighty, even when what they’re teaching is patently absurd. In other words, they use the “God told me” card to get gullible folks to accept what they’re saying.

So – now to Steve’s piece. He writes: Continue reading →

Pedophiles Believe They Should Be A Part of the LGBT Community

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Many blogs exist on Tumblr showing support for MAPs, claiming that they should be a part of the LGBT community and attempting to create “safe spaces” for these “minor attracted persons”.

(Jessica Jenkins – Daily Caller)  Pedophiles are rebranding themselves as “MAPs” or “Minor Attracted Persons” in an effort to gain acceptance and be included into the LGBT community.

According to Urban Dictionary, the blanket term MAP includes infantophiles (infants), pedophiles (pre-pubescent children), hebephiles (pubescent children), and ephebophiles (post-pubescent children). Some MAPs also refer to themselves as NOMAPs or “Non-Offending Minor Attracted Persons”.   View article →

Related:

Homosexual Agenda

The United Methodist Church has appointed a transgender deacon

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , ,

“I understand the rules of the church,” Barclay said. “But here’s the truth: I’m queer, and I’m called to this. I tried to walk away.”

(Julie Zauzmer – Washington Post) The bishop spoke the traditional words as she placed her hands on the new deacon named M with just a slight difference from the way those words have always been spoken before.

“Pour out your Holy Spirit upon M,” the bishop said. “Send them now to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ, to announce the reign of God and to equip the church for ministry.” Continue reading →

Growing in Discernment

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

How do you measure maturity? It is not a function of how old you are—society is dominated by multiple generations of immature adults who refuse to act their age. Maturity is tested by time, but it’s not a question of how long a person has lived. Rather, it’s determined by how wisely he or she lives.

The same is true in the spiritual realm. It doesn’t matter how long a person has sat under the teaching of God’s Word if his life is still dominated by fickle emotionalism, foolish worldliness, and shallow spirituality. Exposure to the Word alone won’t make us mature Christians—we must be faithful and disciplined to put it to work in our lives.  View article →

The Rise of Woker-Than-Thou Evangelicalism

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“Those of us who don’t believe that kind of “wokeness” reflects biblical integrity have been scolded, shamed, and called racists by key leaders from both organizations.”

(Phil Johnson – Pyromaniacs)  Unless you have been living in seclusion somewhere, you will have noticed that a radical putsch is currently underway to get evangelicals on board with doctrines borrowed from Black Liberation Theology, Critical Race Theory, Intersectional Feminism, and other ideologies that are currently stylish in the left-leaning secular academy. … Continue reading →

More Black Babies in New York City are Killed in Abortions Than Born Alive

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , ,

“The magnitude of the death toll is nothing short of staggering.”

(Dan Undrusko – Life News) Can you imagine the response of Planned Parenthood or New York’s reliably pro-abortion-to the-max Gov. Andrew Cuomo to this proposal made yesterday by Wall Street Journal columnist Jason L. Riley?

Let’s Talk About the Black Abortion Rate

How about no, absolutely no, positively no, and “you must be a racist for asking it”? Continue reading →

Reciprocity Is the Method to Trump’s Madness

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

“During the lifetime of NAFTA, Mexico has encouraged millions of its citizens to enter the U.S. illegally. Mexico’s selfish immigration policy is designed to avoid internal reform, to earn some $30 billion in annual expatriate remittances, and to influence U.S. politics.”

(Victor Davis Hanson – National Review)  Critics of Donald Trump claim that there’s no rhyme or reason to his foreign policy. But if there is a consistency, it might be called reciprocity.

Trump tries to force other countries to treat the U.S. as the U.S. treats them. In “don’t tread on me” style, he also warns enemies that any aggressive act will be replied to in kind. Continue reading →

Walk in the Light and leave spiritual darkness far behind

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 (NASB) 

No matter who has told you otherwise, God’s truth is knowable. Also, His truth is as His attributes and character. He is immutable. His truth is never changing. He is Holy. His truth is Holy, separate from the corruption of the world. His truth, the Word of God, is precise. It supernaturally divides man’s “truth” and understanding from God’s genuine truth. It is sharper than any two edged sword. View article →

Fifteen Ways to Know you are Growing in Holiness

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

“We should be constantly fighting against sin, and going to war with particular sins in our lives. These fifteen examples will prove helpful in our ability to notice growth when going to war against our flesh.”

(Jordan Standridge – The Cripplegate) Over the past few weeks I have been reading Edward Welch’s new book A small book about a big problem. Although I wouldn’t have described myself as someone who struggled with anger this book has revealed how much and how often I do fall short in this area. Continue reading →

Are You Living Worthy of the Gospel?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

“God expects us to live in ways appropriate for citizens of this heavenly nation. We need to live in such a way that we enhance the reputation of the gospel and the Christ of the gospel.”

(Tim Challies)  The Bible tells us that we are to live lives that are worthy of the gospel. Specifically, in Philippians 1 Paul tells the church, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” I recently found myself reflecting on that word worthy. How can we actually live in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ? Is that even a possibility? Continue reading →

Who is the light of the world?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

12 Then again Jesus spoke to them saying, “I Am the light of the world; the one following Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 (NA28 Greek text)

For those who still have issues with the deity of Christ and whether He ever claimed that or not, He made it clear to those who opposed His ministry in vivid terms that he made that claim and they “took up stones” to kill Him for that more than a few times. For the record, he made clear, absolute “I am” statements that made it plain that He equated Himself to be the Son of God in five (5) absolute statements (John 6:20; 8:24, 28, 48; 18:5). He also made seven (7) metaphorical “I am” statements about Himself, one of which we will examine in this post, that referred back to Old Testament prophecies that clearly could be claimed only by the Messiah and the Son of God.  View article →

When Abortion Becomes A Sacrament

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Gloria Steinem once remarked, “If men could get pregnant, abortion would be a sacrament.” But modern-day feminists have determined that abortion is a sacrament specifically because women can get pregnant…

(Ben Shapiro – Daily Wire)  This week, amid widespread Democratic tumult regarding the selection of a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, alleged comedian Michelle Wolf paid tribute to the most important facet of American life: abortion. On her Netflix show on Sunday, Wolf dressed up in red, white and blue, and shrieked into the camera, “God bless abortions, and God bless America!” She explained: “Women, if you need an abortion, get one! If you want an abortion, get one! … And women, don’t forget: You have the power to give life and men will try to control that. Don’t let them!” Continue reading →

Video: Justin Peters Responds to Slander/Libel By Brannon Howse

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“Peters noticed that Howse had made (or updated/re-uploaded) a blatantly untrue video attacking him this Spring. Peters did a response video this morning, with indisputable evidence that Howse knowingly bore false witness against him.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Although he is often right about important issues, Brannon Howse has a scorched-earth policy towards those who disagree with him on non-essential matters. Angered that Justin Peters would politely disagree with James White’s 2017 Interfaith Dialogue but that Peters stopped short of outright condemning White, Howse set his sights on Peters and some of his other Worldview Weekend broadcasters who took a more measured approach of criticism. … Continue reading →

Hormone therapy poses stroke risk for transgender women

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“Clot rates were twice as high for all transgender women. But in the key subset that had begun estrogen therapy, the odds of developing a potentially-dangerous clot were 5.1 times greater after two years compared with non-transgender males.”

(Gene Emery – Reuters)  Hormones given to people to align their sex with their gender pose a significant risk of serious blood clots and stroke among transgender women, one of the largest studies of transgender patients has concluded. Continue reading →

‘Lifeway Women’ Promote Hillsong Prophetess, Christine Caine

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

“Caine considers Joyce Meyer one of her best friends, chief mentor, and “spiritual mother.” Together, they hold to the “little god theology” and Word-Faith heresies, that – like God – you can create destinies and demand temporal blessings simply by decreeing and declaring them into existence.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Lifeway Christian Resources is the retail and publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, known easily as the world’s largest retailer of heresy in the United States, if not the world. As we have thoroughly documented on this news site, Lifeway sells books by Anti-Trinitarians, Word-Faith and Prosperity teachers, New Age gurus, gay activists, mystics, Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics. In fact, the vast majority of what the Southern Baptist retailer sells is contrary to the denomination’s statement of faith, the Southern Baptist Faith and Message, and much of their selection contains troubling theology that Southern Baptist pastors have to regularly teach against. Lifeway has a blog and podcast for women, from their Lifeway Women division, called (accurately), “Marked.” Yesterday, they promoted the wildly unorthodox and charismatic Hillsong prophetess, Christine Caine. Continue reading →

The Cornerstone

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

42 Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. 44 And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” Matthew 21:42-44 (NASB) 

The message to the Christian throughout the New Testament is to deny self, to view with contempt the temporal or world system, to understand that love of the temporal and genuine discipleship are mutually exclusive because it is from the former which all genuine believers are being delivered. This deliverance is progressive mortification of all carnal affections and impediments. This must be so in order for the Christian to attain more speedily the heavenly Kingdom of Christ. It is to Christ’s Kingdom that all believers are called by the grace of God and it is revealed to them in His Son. All believers have received this by faith, possessed it by hope, and are therein confirmed it by Holiness of life. View article →