Come Out From Them and Be Separate

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Here’s Mike Riccardi’s latest installment of a series he’s writing on those “whom the faithful Christian minister may legitimately partner with in ministry,” a series we highly recommend. In this installment he urges Bible believers not to unite in ministry with the world, “even that part of the world that goes to church and calls themselves worshipers of Jesus.” He describes who these people are and explains why we shouldn’t even pray with them, and that includes those who identify as Roman Catholics. In Riccardi’s view it’s unthinkable to join hands and pray with apostates. It’s also unbiblical, as you will see in his piece over at The Cripplegate. He writes: Continue reading →

Nunes: We Found Links Between Clinton, the Democrat Party, and Russia

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

(The Western Journal) As Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Trump-Russia collusion continues to bear down on Washington, one House Intelligence Committee member stated that it was not Republicans America had to worry about, but Democrats.

House Chairman Devin Nunes spoke to Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Features” to reveal who he claims to be the true antagonist in the collusion between Russia and the U.S.

“We’ve been listening for over a year to the Democrats in this country scare the American people saying they have evidence of collusion with the Russians — no they don’t,” Nunes said. “We also found no collusion between the Trump campaign,” he added. “But we did find links between the Clinton [campaign] and the Democratic Party to the Russians.” View article →

The Joy of the Resurrection is found in being a living sacrifice

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

22 “Therefore, you now have grief, but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice and no one takes your joy from you.” John 16:22 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

According to my stats page, What is Joy?, is one of most popular posts. It was also one of the first ones I wrote when I started this ministry in 2006 and its focus has been the focus I have attempted to maintain since I started, which is the edification of the Body of Christ by pointing all to the true source of our joy instead of what the world attempts to sell us as a replacement, which is just temporal happiness. That true source is our Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that we have eternal life in Him. View article →

Private interpretation and subjectivism

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-14 (NKJV) 

Even though it is discounted by many today, the Protestant Reformation was a wonderful work by God in that the Gospel was freed from the captivity of the apostate Roman Catholic Church. Over the centuries the Gospel had become obscured as the Bishop of Rome was declared perfect with authority over Scripture. …  View article →

See our Research Paper on Roman Catholicism

After years of inquiries, Willow Creek pastor denies misconduct allegations

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

(Manya Brachear Pashman and Jeff Coen – Chicago Tribune) “Many of the women who spoke with the Tribune were loath to come forward for fear of betraying a man who had encouraged their leadership in a way that no other pastor had before and undermining a ministry that has transformed thousands of lives. But when they heard there were other women who had similar stories to tell, even in the last year, they said their silence could not last.”

Last October, the Rev. Bill Hybels stood before worshippers at his packed sanctuary and made a stunning announcement. After 42 years building northwest suburban Willow Creek Community Church into one of the nation’s most iconic and influential churches, Hybels was planning to step down as senior pastor. Continue reading →

SFO Airport Terminal Will Be Named After Sexual Predator Harvey Milk

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(Paul Bios – Dailywire) “Gerald Dols, a Christian convert, explained in a 2008 radio interview with Concerned Women for America that Harvey Milk convinced him to run away from his family in Minnesota and join him in San Francisco when Dols was just a teenager.”

When the world discovered that actor Kevin Spacey had an alleged penchant for underage boys, the world rightfully shunned him from the public space. Civil rights icon Harvey Milk, on the other hand, has received no such condemnation and has now been lifted to progressive sainthood.  View article →

Vatican Cracks Down on Critics of Pope Francis

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(Thomas T. Williams – Breitbart) The Vatican has taken new measures to punish critics of Pope Francis in a move that seems to belie the pope’s earlier calls for greater dialogue and debate within the Church.

On Thursday, the Rome-based Sovereign Order of Malta, which reports directly to the Holy See, suspended historian Henry Sire after he was revealed to be the author of the bestselling book The Dictator Pope: The Inside Story of the Francis Papacy, a critical examination of the pontificate of Pope Francis. View article →

See our Research Paper on Roman Catholicism

True Spirituality

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

…who put no confidence in the flesh. Phil 3:3b

The measure of true spirituality is in contrast to those who put confidence in some self-effort. Paul says, we put no confidence in the flesh. We are living in an age that continually strives to get us to put confidence in the flesh. We are taught from childhood that the way to become proficient and competent and accomplish our aims and desires is to develop our self-confidence. This is what destroys human life.

Self-confidence is not intended to be our strength, but rather it’s to be our confidence in God. We were intended to face life recognizing we are weak, ineffectual, and unable, that it might drive us back upon the one who is totally adequate, and can be our total strength. This is the way God intended us to live. Therefore, the spirit of self-confidence is the most deadly lie that has ever been perpetrated upon the human race. Continue reading on Ray Stedman Daily Devotions

The Republicans Are Still Funding The Abortion Industry Because They Are Cowardly Buffoons

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Trump signed the bill.

(Matt Walsh – Dailywire, 3/22/18) “They passed tax reform. Hooray. Who cares? My money is funding the mass execution of human children. They haven’t done anything about that. They haven’t really tried. They are frauds. They are cowards.”

Republicans in the House passed a trillion-dollar spending bill yesterday. It fully funds Planned Parenthood. Another half a billion dollars to an organization that slaughters 300,000 babies a year. The GOP is now well into its second year in power — controlling the House, Senate, and Presidency — and Planned Parenthood is still making hundreds of millions of dollars from the taxpayers. Continue reading →

Europe’s Youth Abandoning Christianity

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(Michael W. Chapman – CNSNews) “Christianity as a default, as a norm, is gone, and probably gone for good — or at least for the next 100 years.”

A new report, Europe’s Young Adults and Religion, reveals that European youth (ages 16-29) have abandoned the Christianity of their ancestors in large numbers, and now many young people, in some countries more than 50%, do not identify with any religion at all. In addition, large majorities of young Europeans say they never pray.   View article →

Are Catholic Francis Critics Becoming Protestant? Priest Prays Imprecatory Prayer Against Pope Francis

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

(Pulpit & Pen) In a startling move, a Romanist priest has preached a homily in which he relayed an imprecatory prayer for Pope Francis, contingent upon Francis’ obedience to God.

An imprecatory prayer is a statement to God asking for judgment upon another individual. The word, “imprecate,” is a verb that means, “to invoke harm upon or curse.” We see examples of imprecatory prayers in Scripture, and they include Psalm 55, Psalm 69, and Psalm 109, in which David or another Psalmist petitions God to distribute justice upon his enemies. … Continue reading →

‘Put an End to the Genocide’: Woman With Down Syndrome Asks UN to Condemn Abortion of Babies With Extra Chromosome

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(Heather Clark – Christian News Network) A woman with Down syndrome recently addressed the United Nations in Geneva to decry what she sees as eugenics against those who have an extra chromosome.

“The future of Down’s syndrome is in grave danger. Around the world, more than 9o percent of babies found to have Down syndrome are aborted up to birth. A mother’s womb is the most dangerous place for a baby with Down syndrome to be,” lamented Charlotte Fien, 22, of the United Kingdom. View article →

The Christian perspective on suffering in the flesh

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 1 Peter 3:17-22 (NKJV)  (See verses 20-22 on the site)

The Lord Jesus Christ suffered unjustly on behalf of those He came to save because it was God’s will. He perfectly accomplished God’s purposes in this. Even though those in Emergence Christianity are attempting to hijack our Lord’s Crucifixion for their own purposes, let us never forget that His violent, physical execution did terminate His earthly life when He was “put to death in the flesh”, nevertheless, He was “made alive in the spirit” on the third day. View article →

Fighting Off the Wolves

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The Apostles weren’t afraid to speak the truth boldly about those who teach falsely in order to protect the sheep of God. For example, Peter said of wolves in sheep’s clothing:

“They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray.” – Peter, 2 Peter 2:13b-15a

Ouch! Continue reading →

#ChurchToo: Andy Savage Resigns from Megachurch over Past Abuse

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(Kate Shellnutt – Christianity Today) Andy Savage, the pastor who disclosed his decades-old assault on a teen in his former youth group to an applauding congregation, stepped down from his position at a Memphis megachurch on Tuesday.

Savage’s January 7 remarks on his repentance regarding the 1998 incident launched months of discussion among Christians, coverage in national news media, and an investigation by Highpoint Church, where he served as teaching pastor. View article →   …   Disclaimer

The doctrine of original sin is a vital part of genuine Christian orthodoxy

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17 (NKJV) (Read Genesis 3:1-6  & Genesis 3:19  on the site)

The doctrine of original sin is a vital part of genuine Christian orthodoxy. For a long time I didn’t really appreciate how important it is in our concept of the depths of our guilt before our sovereign and thrice Holy God. … View article →

Francis Chan, Speaking of His Critics, Says, ‘Touch Not the Lord’s Anointed.’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Before you read Pulpit & Pen’s post, I must take you to the not so distant past, to a piece I penned in 2014, where I revealed the following about popular “Reformed” preacher Francis Chan:

It’s important to note that last year Reformed pastor, author and conference speaker Francis Chan spoke at Onething where he declared “I love Mike Bickle.” Chan took a lot of heat for agreeing to speak at the conference. When friends and fans urged him to decline the invite, he admitted that he didn’t know much about Mike Bickle and IHOP so,

I kinda went on the Internet and started looking things up.

Whatever he found caused him to fall in love: Continue reading →

Vatican media chief resigns over doctored letter scandal

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(Nicole Winfield – RNS) The head of the Vatican’s communications department has resigned over a scandal about a letter from the retired pope that the communications chief mischaracterized in public and then had digitally manipulated in a photograph sent to the media.

The Vatican said Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Monsignor Dario Vigano on Wednesday (March 21) and named his deputy, Monsignor Lucio Adrian Ruiz, to run the Secretariat for Communications.   View article →      …     Disclaimer

Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Mark 10:17 (NKJV) 

The natural man cannot conceive of eternal life coming to anyone who does not “earn” or somehow “deserve” it. Jesus’ teaching set the record straight, but many today still do not regard what He said. Even preachers and religious leaders have bent the truth and twisted it in such a way so as to provide a way for professing believers to have a “work” they could point back to that marks them as having done that one thing that enables them to inherit eternal life. The Kingdom of God is not earned by people who somehow elevate themselves higher than others through their good works or their religiosity. No, our Lord used children as examples whom He referred to this way, “For to such belongs the kingdom of God.” View article →

Dangers of the Hebrew Roots Movement

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The primary heresy in Hebrew Roots Movement (HRM) beliefs is that Christians must keep the Torah. HRM holds the view that Christ’s death on the cross did not end the Mosaic Covenant, His death renewed it. But is the Torah the foundation of Christianity? Should believers observe the Mosiac laws? In this piece, Tim Chaffey of Answers In Genesis examines HRM and reveals the dangers of the movement.  He writes:

The Hebrew Roots Movement has influenced hundreds of thousands of Christians in recent decades, and many more have encountered arguments from those in that group. The movement places a strong emphasis on Hebrew traditions and the Mosaic law. This article will describe the nature of the Hebrew Roots Movement, examine some of its major beliefs in light of relevant biblical passages, and challenge those who have been influenced by its teachings. Continue reading →

Mississippi imposes toughest abortion ban in US; clinic sues, hearing set

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(Clarion Ledger) Mississippi moved quickly toward a legal confrontation over the nation’s most restrictive abortion law Monday.

Within six hours, the governor signed a bill banning most abortions after 15 weeks of gestation, the state’s lone abortion clinic sued, and a federal judge set a Tuesday morning hearing to consider blocking the restrictions.

Abortion opponents sought the confrontation, hoping federal courts will ultimately prohibit abortions before a fetus is viable. Current federal law blocks such restrictions by states. View article →