Christian authenticity is radical Christianity

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

28 Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. – Mark 12:28-34 NKJV (Read 30-34 on the site)

The rabbis of Jesus’ day engaged in an ongoing debate to determine which commandments of the Law were “light” and which were “weighty” (Matthew 23:23). It reminds me of the debate in certain circles of the visible Church today in which some are concerned with how far they can push their “Christian Liberty.” This concept is no more biblical than that of the rabbis attempting to compartmentalize their religion. Does our Lord’s answer to the Pharisee in Mark 12, Matthew 22, and Luke 10 have any significance to the Christian? View article →

Idols in the Temple of God

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Mike Riccardi’s latest installment of a piece we recently posted entitled Idolatry, Demons, and Ecumenism is over at The Cripplegate. Discover how believers are considered “unequal” to unbelievers. Riccardi points out that all false religions are demonic; thus, all other religions, including Roman Catholicism, are incompatible with Christianity. He writes:

A long time ago, in a land far, far away, I began a series on whom the faithful Christian minister may legitimately partner with in ministry. First, I briefly surveyed the history of the ecumenical movement in order to vividly illustrate the terrible consequence of disobedience to Scripture on this matter. …

Continue reading →

Israel Has Only Had 2 School Attacks in 44 Years, Here’s How They Make Sure Their Kids Are Safe

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(The Western Journal) In the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting that claimed 17 lives last week, there has been a renewed debate surrounding gun control and children’s safety, leading some to make a comparison to the changes Israel made in response to a terror attack more than four decades ago.

In 1974, Palestinian terrorists took over the Netiv Meir Elementary School in what has been called the “Ma’alot Massacre,” which left 22 children dead and many others injured.

The attack forced Israel to come up with a solution in order to prevent such a situation from ever happening again. The nation requires its schools to have a security system, and that policy is still going strong after 40 years. View article →

Secretary Mattis Recommends Allowing Transgenders to Serve in Military—If They Are Deployable

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(Christian News Network) Defense Secretary James Mattis has recommended that transgenders be allowed to serve in the military as long as they are deployable, according to reports from several outlets.

Fox News states that Mattis made the recommendation to President Trump this week. It notes that Mattis recently rolled out a policy outlining that if a member of the military is not able to deploy with their unit for more than one year, with the exception of being wounded in combat, he or she will be released from the Armed Forces. View article →

The Cure to Fear

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria. Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?(Isaiah 37:10-11) 

This communication came in the form of a letter to Hezekiah. Clearly, it was intended to keep his heart fearful and anxious. It was a threat for the future, saying that although the king of Assyria was leaving for the moment, he would return again to wreak a terrible vengeance on Judah. Had Hezekiah taken the Assyrian message in that way, he would have lived in constant fear. Continue reading on Ray Stedman Daily Devotions

The Trans Teen Industrial Complex

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(Rod Dreher – The American Conservative) “Know what you’re getting into when you seek psychiatric care for your child or teen. In this case, a referral for anxiety and depression “quickly turned into” a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Forewarned is forearmed.”

Y’all remember around 2003, the media started propagandizing for gay marriage? I don’t mean “reporting on the emerging movement in favor of gay marriage”; that would have been entirely understandable. I’m talking about openly advocating for it, and ignoring counterarguments. I can remember as far back as 2005 being told by fellow journalists that there is no argument against it other than the naked assertion of bigotry, and that we were under no more obligation to be fair and balanced in our coverage of the issue than we would be if we were covering the Civil Rights movement. (emphasis added) Continue reading →

Christian Joy Best for Charismatics and Not Cessationists, Says John Piper

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(Pulpit & Pen News) Although once a popular figure among all stripes of Calvinist believers, John Piper’s increasing social justice activism and increasing charismaticism have largely reduced his popularity to that of The New Calvinists and, oddly enough, evangelicalism at large.

Those who hold to the tenets of classical Reformed theology, however, have grown increasingly cautious of John Piper. His endorsement of figures like Rick Warren, his crecommendation of Beth Moore as a preacher even to men, and his bizarre introduction of “Christian Hedonism” have all been thoroughly criticized by serious Reformed theologians. Peter Masters of the London Metropolitan Tabernacle explains… Continue reading →

Armed Deputy at Florida School Waited Outside During School Massacre

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(PJ Media) Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel announced at a news conference Thursday that Scot Peterson, a school resource deputy who was on duty at the Parkland, Fla., school where 17 people were massacred last week, did not enter the building during the shooting and instead waited outside.

Israel said that Peterson, who was armed and in uniform, waited for about four minutes while the shooting was going on inside the school, taking up a position outside the school. He never entered the building. View article →

Great is the mystery of godliness

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

14 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; 15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 (NKJV) 

The best place for a Christian to be is at the Cross, before the Saviour, in complete agreement with God that without His saving Grace he or she would be on their way to Hell, and without His sustaining Grace he or she would lose all ability or desire for His godliness. In fact, Christians are in a great deal of trouble when they think otherwise. … View article →

Heroic Parkland Shooting Survivor Calls Out CNN for ‘Scripted’ Questions

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(NewsBusters) The Wednesday CNN town hall promoting gun bans and moderated by Jake Tapper was arguably a train wreck from the beginning. Between a student saying Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) reminded him of the shooter and shouts of ‘murderer’ at NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch, it was out of control. But in the wee hours of Thursday morning, things got worse for the anti-gun network when the local Florida ABC affiliate WPLG-TV reported that CNN had been planting questions.

The whistleblower was Colton Haab, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who heroically shielded his fellow students from the bullets with sheets of Kevlar and was a member of the Junior ROTC program. “I expected to be able to ask my questions and give my opinion on my questions,” Haab told reporter Janine Stanwood. View article →

Mattis Moves to Clean Out Military, Remove Soldiers Who Just Can’t Cut It

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(Western Journal) A new Pentagon policy will remove service members who have not been deployable for over a year.

Defense Secretary James Mattis said that the deploy-or-leave policy is about fairly sharing the deployment burden within the forces, PJ Media reported.

The exceptions to this policy are pregnant or wounded warriors. According to the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness Robert Wilkie, “about 13 to 14 percent of the force is medically unable to deploy,” on any given day. View article →

Standing firm in God’s truth no matter the cost

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the ruler of the demons He casts out demons.” 23 So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? – Mark 3:22-30 (NKJV) [Read verses 24-30 in the article]

Several years ago I got into a comment and email exchange with a fellow who insisted that God will not condemn anyone to an eternity in hell. He said that it is only a temporary place that will be emptied when all things are reconciled to God in eternity. It did no good to use clear scripture references to show him that he was ignoring a great deal God’s truth. One thing that struck me was his stance that Romans 5 was blasphemous in reference to the doctrine of Original Sin and condemnation for all men by it, but there is justification and life for ‘the many’ (Romans 5:12-17). Was this a case of ‘blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?’ View article →

CNN, HLN Enjoy Teen Activists Smearing ‘Blood Money’ NRA as ‘Child Murderers’

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(Tim Graham – NewsBusters) The liberal media’s current infatuation with teenage activists ripping into the National Rifle Association extends to letting them smear gun-rights activists with no correction. This presents a serious issue for tonight’s CNN “Students Demand Action” town hall meeting. Are the teenagers going to be able to say anything without a check on their facts or their civility?

There is nothing wrong with teenaged activists speaking out. But if we’re teaching these students how to engage in politics, then we should teach them they will be held accountable for their words, and they should expect to be criticized from an opposing point of view. … View article →

Fallen PTL preacher Jim Bakker is back with a new message about the Apocalypse

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Three decades after his PTL empire near Charlotte crumbled amid financial and sex scandals, Jim Bakker is back on TV with a different, darker message:

The Apocalypse is coming and you better get ready.

Ready to be judged by God, sure. But the main mission of “The Jim Bakker Show” – broadcast from a Christian compound deep in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri – appears to be to sell you fuel-less generators, doomsday guidebooks and freeze-dried food with a shelf-life of up to 30 years. View article →

Billy Graham, America’s Pastor – Dead at age 99

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(Seth Dunn – Pulpit & Pen News) One of the world’s most well-known evangelists, Billy Graham died today at the age of 99.  He was so prominent and well known as an evangelist and servant of Christ Jesus that it seems superfluous to try to describe his notoriety by listing his accomplishments or citing facts about his life.  Perhaps the best way to illustrate who Billy Graham is and just what his life has been about is an oft-told joke:

Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte after a speaking engagement. When his plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home in Montreat. As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver. Continue reading →

Who will and who will not inherit the Kingdom of God?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NKJV) 

There are only two religions in the entire world. There is genuine Christianity and then every other form of religiosity including humanism and atheism. All but genuine Christianity are opposed to the truth and are part of the rebellion against the sovereignty of God. Genuine Christianity is made up of those who have been redeemed from the slave market of iniquity. This slave market preys on people and keeps them in bondage to the flesh. On the other hand, Genuine Christianity, which is the Church, is spiritual. … Continue reading →

ABC flooded with 25,000 complaints after Joy Behar mocks Mike Pence’s Christianity

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(The Washington Times) Joy Behar’s mocking of Christianity as a mental illness isn’t going away as an issue.

According to the Media Research Center watchdog group, more than 25,000 people had called ABC by early Monday morning to complain about a segment on “The View” in which the comedian specifically said Vice President Mike Pence suffers from the delusions of prayer.

“It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you… that’s called mental illness … hearing voices,” she said. View article →

Hillsong’s Bobbie Houston Claims Apostolic Anointing For Husband, Brian

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(Pulpit & Pen News) Bobbie Houston is the wife of Brian Houston, and calls herself the “co-senior pastor of Hillsong church.” Hillsong is the Australia-based global phenomenon that has been growing throughout the world through its Arian Snare pop-music, Word-Faith theology, and celebrity endorsements. With satellite churches in New York, Los Angeles, and the Americas, Hillsong is the point of the spear of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a charismatic movement that is seeking to unite the charismatic world – Protestant and Catholic – under its two main doctrinal distinctives, continuationism and the prosperity gospel. … Continue reading →

Dr. Michael Brown — When Dangerous Becomes Delusional

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“This is another hallmark of the Michael Brown playbook,” chides Anthony Wade. “He always wants to sound like the more reasonable party in the discussion. So he pays lips service to the cause of the other side.”

In the following quote, Brown actually admits that some online apologetics and discernment ministries,

are exposing error and rebuking false teachers. This is healthy and positive. I don’t doubt that in some cases, they are doing God’s work, and I deeply appreciate that. Constructive criticism is a lifesaver.

Continue reading →

The Tower of Babel error

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

6 Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, or He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:6-9 (NKJV) 

The emergent movement and actually all forms of “Christianity” that has a problem with preaching the whole Gospel and the Law in order to “remain relevant” and to “not offend” seekers, such as the Purpose Driven paradigm are, in fact, repeating a very old error. As we study Genesis 11 we see the gathering together of all people into one group by the settlers of Babel in disobedience to God’s commands. … View article →

Hillsong Sponsoring Contemplative Alpha – Allows Catholic Mass at Conference

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(Mark Jefferies – Emergent Watch) In what appears to be one of the latest atrocities in the ecumenical war against God’s church, Hillsong churches are partnering with Alpha – a contemplative program that originated in the heretical Anglican Holy Trinity Brompton – the church that was the European home of the ‘Holy Laughter’ heresies.

The mega-ecumenical Alpha Conference 2018 in the U.S. was just held at Hillsong Phoenix on Feb. 8-9, and featured popular Catholic artist Matt Maher, the Hillsong Phoenix worship team, Eleanor Mumford of the Vinyard Int’l Executive, Catholic Bishop Eduardo Nevares, and former Willow Creek executive Craig Springer.  > See their promo vid: https://vimeo.com/239912965  View article →

Building a Biblically Healthy Women’s Ministry

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The following piece, written by Pastor John Chester of Piedmont Bible Church and Parking Space 23, is published on Michelle Lesley’s blog. One piece of advice he offers to pastors who desire to build healthy women’s ministries is “Be willing to veto a book, a curriculum, or even a topic that the women’s Bible study wants to use.” Pastors must also be willing to take the blame for the veto. Here’s more great advice:

It is no secret that I am not a fan of discernment ministries, and that I think the concept of Biblical discernment is grossly misunderstood by many. But that in no way means that I don’t think telling truth from error and sound theology from errant (or even heretical) theology is unimportant. Continue reading →

8 Reasons Why The Next Missionary You Support Should Be A Cessationist – Part 2

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(Jason Bullington – Things Above)

THE PRELUDE

This series is predicated on the important truth that the continuationism vs. cessationism debate is no small deal. You are either one or the other, and there is no squishy middle (though some might lead you to believe there is). The key question is whether or not God is still speaking new revelation to His people today through audible voices and spiritual impressions. If so, then that drastically affects cross-cultural church planting methodology.

It isn’t minor, it’s yuuuuuuuge. Continue reading →

The Lord tests the righteous

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

4 The Lord is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Psalms 11:4-5 (NKJV) 

According to some professing Christians, if anything unpleasant comes into their lives then it proves that God is displeased with them. They say it proves that God is punishing them. Also, they proclaim that the ones suffering are simply victims in the ongoing battle between God and Satan. Is there another explanation? Let’s see! View article →

To live is Christ, to die is gain!

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 (NKJV) 

It seems that most of what we post here has to do with the Gospel. It is vital that we do that. On the other hand, the way we handle it here and the way we demand that it be handled in our churches has, at times, been quite unpopular with certain people who have issues with preaching the Gospel and law together as well as how genuine Christians are called to walk in repentance until they are taken home to be with the Lord forever. … View article →