How can we determine what doctrines are essential and what are they?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

John MacArthur of Grace to You presents his view of the essential doctrines of the faith:

To begin with, the strongest words of condemnation in all the New Testament are aimed at false teachers who corrupt the Gospel. Therefore the Gospel message itself must be acknowledged as a primary point of fundamental doctrine.

But what message will determine the content of our gospel testimony? The biblical message of instantaneous justification through faith alone-or a system of rituals and sacraments that are supposed to convey grace to the participants with no guarantee of ultimate salvation? What authority will we point people to? The Scriptures alone-or a papal hierarchy and church tradition? Those two gospels are flatly contradictory and mutually exclusive.

All these considerations determine what message we proclaim and whether that message is the authentic Gospel of true Christianity. Therefore we are dealing with matters that go to the very heart of the doctrines Scripture identifies as fundamental.

Can we get more specific? Let’s turn to Scripture itself and attempt to lay out some biblical principles for determining which articles of faith are truly essential to authentic Christianity.

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‘What’s Next – Temple Prostitutes?’

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Lighthouse Trails has a piece that deals with some of the garbage that is being promoted by “Christian” leaders such as Tony Campolo, Ann Voskamp and Dr. Daniel Amen. Ever heard of Tantric sex?  Well you’re about to — no details are given. This is one of those blog posts we dislike publishing; however, in order for the Body of Christ to become informed as to what’s trending in the Christian community, we believe it’s necessary.  So – read it and weep:

Bridal spirituality was a common theme of medieval nun Teresa of Avila’s books where she records a vision she allegedly had in which the Lord Jesus appeared and declared they were married.

LTRP Note: This short article might be disturbing to read, but what is being described here is happening now in the church. Please take heed and pray for discernment as you listen to Christian speakers and read their books. The links below this article are to articles that substantiate what Lynn Lusby Pratt is saying.

By Lynn Lusby Pratt

About a decade ago, I became aware of the new wave of false teaching entering the church. One aspect of that teaching hinted that our experience with Jesus was (should be?) sexual. (Christians who use a mantra, as in contemplative prayer, and go into an altered state of consciousness sometimes have erotic experiences, which they mistakenly believe to be “union” with God/Jesus.) There was new interest in/promotion of the “bridal mysticism” of medieval nuns like Teresa of Avila: “Body and spirit are in the throes of a sweet, happy pain . . . and a spell of strangulation . . . swoon-like weakness . . .” There were quotes in Christian books, like Tony Campolo saying, “There is nothing wrong . . . with eroticism in worship.” And Ann Voskamp: “Mystical union. . . . God as Husband in sacred wedlock, bound together, body and soul. . . . To know him the way Adam knew Eve. Spirit skin to spirit skin . . .” [One Thousand Gifts, p. 217]. Ken Wilson: “I was having feelings of connection with the divine . . . [that] reminded me very much of the amorous feelings I have for my wife” [Mystically Wired, p. 27].

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Important questions for church leaders

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Berean Research has some questions for those who are supposed to shepherd their flocks:

These questions are for elders, pastors and ministry leaders who outsource the feeding of their female sheep to women’s conferences like the IF Gathering. I ask because it seems like a huge discernment disconnect that you would trust your women in the hands of those who themselves lack discernment.

Here goes:

Were you wondering why this year’s 2017 IF Speaker lineup did not appear on the website except to registrants?  Were you reassured last October when IF Gathering founder Jennie Allen gently, regretfully, and tearfully distanced herself from her bestie Jen Hatmaker over the homosexual marriage issue? Were you relieved to learn that Hatmaker (Also an IF founder), mysteriously disappeared from the IF Gathering lineup of speakers? Are you convinced Allen is wise and discerning?

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United Arab Emirates To Build First City On Mars By 2117

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ ,

“Don’t ever think that Islamic states are stuck in past civilizations,” cautions Technocracy News, “rather, they are leading the world into Sustainable Development and Technocracy.” Gulf News has the story:

The UAE will build the first city on Mars as part of the 2117 Mars project in collaboration with specialised international organisations and scientific institutes.

The Mars 2117 Project was announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

As part of a 100-year national programme, the UAE will set a plan to prepare national cadres that can achieve scientific breakthroughs to facilitate the transport of people to the Red Planet over the next decades.

The 100-year plan will involve scientific research programmes to nurture national cadres specialised in space sciences at universities in the UAE. It will also entrench a passion for space in younger generations.

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Flagship Southern Baptist Church Welcomes Charismatic Word of Faith Teachers To Stage in Atlanta, GA

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Jeff Maples admonishes Southern Baptists to wake up and smell the coffee, as they’re being led astray by undiscerning SBC leaders such as Johnny Hunt. According to Maples, “The infiltration of God-denying and Holy Spirit blaspheming charlatans and false teachers into bible-believing churches is increasing exponentially.” In this piece over at Pulpit & Pen, he reveals who some of these wolves in sheep’s clothing are and what they’re up to.  He writes:

I have a prickly feeling in my neck right now. It came from the double facepalm I gave myself when I found out what FBC Woodstock is up to. Just when you think Johnny Hunt is trying to do things right, you find out he’s up to some other shenanigans. Hunt, who recently apparently denounced the sex predator Clayton Jennings, is the senior pastor of the flagship Southern Baptist Church in Atlanta Georgia, FBC Woodstock. Hunt is certainly a mixed bag of nuts as his church is hosting David Platt’s Secret Church, a relatively solid bible teaching program, in April of 2017, he’s also hosting the Outcry Tour in May.

The Outcry Tour is a mishmash of false teachers and Holy Ghost blasphemers. The main participants in the tour are Jesus Culture, Elevation Worship, Steven Furtick, Levi Lusko, and Lauren Daigle. According to the website…

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What Is Sound Doctrine?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

Scott Swain of Ligonier Ministries weighs in on the importance of believers receiving, confessing and following sound doctrine.  He writes:

When I was young, I only thought of my future: Whom would I marry? What vocation would I pursue? Where would I live? Now that I am the father of four children, I think only of their futures.

As he approached the final days of his ministry, the Apostle Paul set his thoughts on the future well-being of Timothy, his “beloved child” in the faith (2 Tim. 1:2). He wrote to him about the things that matter most for life and ministry. Not only did Paul commend to his young protégé the glorious gospel of God (vv. 8–10) and the divinely inspired Scriptures (3:16–17), but he also instructed Timothy regarding the importance of sound doctrine: “Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you” (1:13–14). According to Paul, doctrine is among the things that matter most for the well-being of the Christian and the church. Sound, or “healthy,” doctrine provides a pattern that, when followed, promotes healthy faith and love. Sound doctrine is a valuable heritage that is to be treasured in this generation and faithfully transmitted to the next (2:2).

What is doctrine? In its basic sense, doctrine is any sort of teaching. The Bible, for example, talks about the teachings of men (Mark 7:7–8), the teachings of demons (1 Tim. 4:1; Rev. 2:24), and the teachings of God (John 6:45; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 John 2:27). Here, we are concerned with divine teaching, the teaching of God. According to one definition, doctrine is teaching from God about God that directs us to the glory of God. This definition provides a helpful anatomy of sound doctrine, identifying doctrine’s source, object, and ultimate end. We will consider these elements of sound doctrine. View article →

 

How Obama is scheming to sabotage Trump’s presidency

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , ,

According to New York Post columnist Paul Sperry, former president Barack Obama is “gearing up for battle, with a growing war chest and more than 250 offices across the country” to sabotage Trump’s presidency. “Now is the time for some organizing,” Obama said in a conference call. “So don’t mope.” Who has he recruited? Young liberal activists who are currently being trained to become community organizers. Sperry reveals that once the activists are trained, OFA will arm them with Obama’s 2012 campaign database.  The plan is to “get out the vote for Democratic candidates it’s grooming to win back Congress and erect a wall of resistance to Trump at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.”

Now to Paul Sperry’s article:

When former President Barack Obama said he was “heartened” by anti-Trump protests, he was sending a message of approval to his troops. Troops? Yes, Obama has an army of agitators — numbering more than 30,000 — who will fight his Republican successor at every turn of his historic presidency. And Obama will command them from a bunker less than two miles from the White House.

In what’s shaping up to be a highly unusual post-presidency, Obama isn’t just staying behind in Washington. He’s working behind the scenes to set up what will effectively be a shadow government to not only protect his threatened legacy, but to sabotage the incoming administration and its popular “America First” agenda.

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College Progressives Are Taught to Battle Conservatives

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According to LifeZette:

A “fight club” at Central Florida University in Orlando, Florida, has trained leftist students to physically fight conservatives and Republicans.

You read that right. “In response to the record number of hate crimes against Latinos, Immigrants, Muslims, Women, the LGBTQIA+ community, Jews, African Americans and other minorities since the rise of Donald Trump and other Alt-Right Neo-Nazis, the Knights of Socialism has decided to host a series of self-defense clinics for anyone that wants to learn how to BASH THE FASH,” the event description on Facebook read, according to Campus Reform.

An update for the Feb. 5 event invited female students because “the Commander in thief [sic] is a sexual predator and rapist” — and they expect sexual assault to “skyrocket” over the next year.

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Trump Admin Withdraws Obama-Era Request for Stay of Block on ‘Transgender’ Restroom Use Policy

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Christian News reports:

In what appears to some as being a signal that the Trump administration is not going to defend the Obama administration’s directives requiring public schools to allow male students who identify as female—and vice versa—to use the restroom that correlates with their “internal sense of gender,” the U.S. Department of Justice has withdrawn the previous administration’s request for a stay of an injunction against the Obama-era restroom policy.

The filing, submitted on Friday, notifies the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that it desires to withdraw the motion, as well as the oral argument scheduled over the matter, which was to be held on Tuesday.

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Cru gives students free tickets, mixed messages about The Shack

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ ,

Berean Research has the story:

Should Christians ever use and consume entertaining apostasy like the heretical The Shack movie to witness to those who aren’t Christians?

Cru™ (Formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ), is promoting its free ticket giveaway to college students to see the film and take their friends. And in an almost apologetic way, the ticket site includes a caveat stating that Cru “does not endorse the movie.” That’s the small-font italicized quip at the very bottom of the website’s page. A footnote.

Free tickets. Not endorsing.

Without giving any warning or explanation as to why they don’t endorse, the site provides four videos from Cru and Family Life leadership clearly endorsing and encouraging movie lovers to not miss this “wonderful” film.

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True Christian unity

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3:12-17 (NASB) 

The number one accusation thrown at those who take up the armor of God and use it in the battle as they are called to do, is that they are full of pride. Those who use this fiery dart are equating certainty with pride. Extra-Biblical revelation should never be used in the battle by God’s warriors. Instead, the source of truth that is used is the sword of the Spirit itself, the Word of God. Experience is extra-Biblical. Man’s teachings, if contrary to the Word of God, are extra-Biblical. One’s own private interpretation of Scripture and/or experience is extra-Biblical.

These battles may appear to cause disunity in the Body, but unity that is held together through compromise is false. Christians should never seek to be yoked up with those who hold doctrine or beliefs that are contrary to the truth from God’s Word or are based solely on extra Biblical sources. Unity in the Body of Christ is commanded in God’s Word, but that unity is not based in compromise, but love and humility within those who are obedient to the truth. View article →

The problem with evil is its beauty

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

In part 2 of a series on how to spot evil, Elizabeth Prata of The End Times deals with narcissists, sociopaths and psychopaths of society. She explains how to spot people, including professing Christians, who exhibit antisocial behavior — and her depiction of these people is chilling. Evil “does come in a beautiful package,” says Prata.  She warns us not to be, “lulled by Hollywood’s depiction of it and don’t be fooled if you unfortunately meet up with this kind of beautiful and deadly evil.”

What does the Bible tell us about evil? “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). So now listen to Elizabeth describe what’s under the light so that you won’t be fooled by appearances.  She writes:

In part 1, I began with a reminder that evil exists. This reminder is necessary nowadays due to the increasing penchant of people to deny the fundamentals of the faith.

I also established that though we are all evil pre-salvation, there are degrees of evil within people that are more deadly than others. Not everyone is as bad as they could be, but some people are. These essays are about how not to be deluded if you unfortunately encounter one of these more evil people.

I ended the previous essay by showing that two of the most beautiful living organisms in the world are also beautiful, the very deadly water hemlock plant, and the deadly but beautiful cone snail. Oftentimes it is the most beautiful that is the most deadly.

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The Child-Friendly Voo-Doo ‘Christianity’ of Bethel Church

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

“One of the most saddening things hurled out of Bethel is a vigorous “ministry” geared towards children,” states Bud Ahlheim. He’s speaking of the infamous Bethel Church in Redding, CA, pastored by New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) “Super Apostle” Bill Johnson. Ahlheim continues:

The effort is couched sufficiently in Christianese and slathered with enough of a “Jesus loves the little children” veneer that makes the endeavors seem noble, authentic, and upright.  But the depth of false teaching behind the shiny, welcoming veneer is toxic to the true Christian faith and reveals an effort to indoctrinate children into the bootleg Bethel brand of unbiblical supernatural religion.

In this piece over at Pulpit & Pen, Ahlheim alerts us to the K-8 private school operated by Bethel, a so-called church that no discerning pastor would wish to emulate, that indoctrinates Redding youngsters into what Bud terms “voo-doo ‘Christianity.'”  He begins with a quote by Charles H. Spurgeon:

Nothing short of the total destruction of a believer will ever satisfy our adversary. Satan would rend the believer in pieces, break his bones, and utterly destroy him if he could. Do not, therefore, indulge the thought that the main purpose of Satan is to make you miserable. Satan is pleased with that, but that is not his ultimate end. Sometimes he may even make you happy, for he has dainty poisons sweet to the taste that he administers to God’s people. If he feels that our destruction can be more readily achieved by sweets than by bitters, he certainly would prefer that which would best effect his end. 

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Children do better with married parents, confirms new report

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According to The Christian Institute:

Marriage is “associated with more family stability for children across the globe”, and cohabitation “typically associated with more instability”, a new study has found.

The report by the Social Trends Institute also stated that there is a “growing consensus” that children are more likely to thrive in a stable family than in an unstable one.

Sir Paul Coleridge, chairman of the Marriage Foundation, called the report a “wake-up call” for the UK and called for the Government to act.

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522 ‘Johns,’ 30 Pimps Arrested in Super Bowl Sex Trafficking Sting

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NBC4 reports:

A national sex trafficking sting ended in the arrests of 552 would-be sex buyers or sex traffickers.

The National Johns Suppression Initiative began three weeks ago, ending on Super Bowl Sunday. 23 law enforcement agencies in 14 states took part in the crackdown.

“Sex trafficking continues to destroy countless lives, and this broad national movement should send a strong message to prospective johns that their ‘hobby’ is much more than a ‘victimless’ crime,” said Cook County, Illinois Sheriff Thomas J. Dart in a news release. “It’s particularly meaningful that this sting culminated on the day of the Super Bowl, which unfortunately has emerged as a prominent haven for sex trafficking.”

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The Holy War

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Zechariah 3:1-2 (NASB) 

Is there a war going on between God and His forces on one side and Satan and his forces on the other? If you listen to certain preachers such as Joel Osteen you won’t hear anything about that. However, as we saw in this post several months ago, persecution is the natural result of teaching or preaching God’s Word without compromise. Of course the implication of that is to avoid persecution and stay out of “The Holy War” then all Christians need to do is compromise and be friends with the world. Before we take a look at this Holy War, please carefully read the following passage. It is one of the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation. It is to the church at Smyrna, which is the only one of the seven that was not rebuked by our Lord. Read it carefully.

8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this: 9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’ Revelation 2:8-11 (NASB) 

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What Is Antinomianism?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

4 Πᾶς ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν καὶ τὴν ἀνομίαν ποιεῖ, καὶ ἡ ἁμαρτία ἐστὶν ἡ ἀνομία. 5 καὶ οἴδατε ὅτι ἐκεῖνος ἐφανερώθη, ἵνα τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἄρῃ, καὶ ἁμαρτία ἐν αὐτῷ οὐκ ἔστιν. 6 πᾶς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ μένων οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων οὐχ ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν οὐδὲ ἔγνωκεν αὐτόν. 7 Παιδία, μηδεὶς πλανάτω ὑμᾶς· ὁ ποιῶν τὴν δικαιοσύνην δίκαιός ἐστιν, καθὼς ἐκεῖνος δίκαιός ἐστιν· 8 ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν ἐκ τοῦ διαβόλου ἐστίν, ὅτι ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ὁ διάβολος ἁμαρτάνει. εἰς τοῦτο ἐφανερώθη ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα λύσῃ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ διαβόλου. 1 John 3:4-8 (NA28)

4 Everyone practicing sin also practices lawlessness and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that he was manifested to take away sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 No one who abides in him continually sins; those who continually sin have not seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you; the one practicing righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous 8 The one practicing sin is of the devil for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this cause the son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:4-8 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

Antinomianism means “opposed to law.” Antinomian views are those denying that God’s law in Scripture should directly control the Christian’s life. Dualistic antinomianism appeared early in the Gnostic heresies. The Gnostics taught that salvation was for the soul only, making bodily behavior irrelevant both to God’s interest and to the soul’s health. The conclusion was that one may behave riotously and it will not matter. View article →

When Christians Act Like Mormons

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Jordan Standridge shares his concern that in their approach to evangelism, many evangelicals actually look more like Joseph Smith than Jesus. In this piece over at The Cripplegate, Standridge lays out three areas in particular where Christians are tempted to behave like Mormons. He writes:

The other day I was getting ready to take the kids to our park when there was a knock on the door. Thinking it was a present from Amazon, I looked out only to find an even greater present: three Mormon missionaries. I’m sure you’ve experienced this. A long time goes by before your last visit and you start getting excited about the next time Mormons come knocking at your door. Every time I see Mormons, I get this sudden urge to talk to them. And every time I walk away discouraged and saddened for how blinding their religion is. And the cycle continues. Over the last few years, I’ve had many interactions with Mormon “elders.”

Mormons are usually very sweet people. They genuinely believe their religion, and they do believe that what they teach is the truth. They believe their religion is best and that you will be happiest if you follow it. But what is fascinating is the training that they receive before coming to your door. They are taught to focus on the positives. They are all about image and the way they present themselves. They are, in fact, salesmen, and they sell their product through smiles and offering “hope.” Over the last couple of years, I’ve asked Mormons what they are selling. I say, “Ok, you guys have come all the way to my house and to my door, what do you guys want me to do?” “What are you guys offering?” and whether it was Virginia, California or a random Chick-Fil-A in Georgia, they all said, “Happiness in this life and hope for the next!”

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See our Research Paper on Mormonism

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Ivanka Trump promotes gay and transgender rights

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , ,

Renew America has a piece by media critic Cliff Kincaid covering the expanding assault on traditional religious values. “The involvement of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in the culture war – on the side of the liberal/left lobby – has been a shocking development,” says Kincaid.  Another shocking development was hearing the news that Vice President Mike Pense, a conservative evangelical Christian, joined President Trump in siding with the powerful sexual rights lobby regarding Trump’s decision to let stand President Obama’s executive order on LGBT rights. Kincaid also tackles the Boy Scouts of America’s recent decision to permit girls who identify as boys to become Boy Scouts. He writes:

She’s been labeled the “Daughter-in-Chief” by the tabloids and, in this case, it appears to be the truth. According to several news accounts that have not been denied or debunked, Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, persuaded President Donald Trump to retain an executive order from the Obama administration that prohibits companies from doing business with the federal government unless they hire and promote open homosexuals and transgendered people.

The so-called “transgendered” are people confused about their “gender identity” who may be in various phases of transition to the opposite sex, in some cases involving gender mutilation and surgery. In short, they are DNA deniers, a category of people considered to be engaged in immoral and perverted conduct by the standards of traditional morality and religion.

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Reading, Writing, and Revolution on Our College Campuses

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LifeZette reports:

It’s official: Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, is jumping on the anti-Trump bandwagon, sponsoring a workshop to train students in activism against the new president and his administration.

Parents of students who attend should certainly know their tuition money is going toward this endeavor, which is sponsored by the university’s program in gender, sexuality, and feminist studies.

One 1973 Duke graduate is saddened by the university’s out-and-out commitment to progressive ideals. “Founded by Methodists and Quakers, this university was supposed to offer the best education possible for young minds,” the Charlotte, North Carolina, resident told LifeZette. “I often wonder what they [the founders] would think about the knee-jerk activism and total hysteria going on today.”

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Mary: Who She Was (and Wasn’t)

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙ ,

According to John MacArthur of Grace to you, “Mary, not Christ, is the central focus of worship and religious affection for millions. They think of her as more approachable and more sympathetic than Christ. They revere her as the perfect Madonna, supposedly untouched by original sin, a perpetual virgin, and even co-redemptrix with Christ Himself.”

So, should Mary be an object of veneration?  Following  was adapted from MacArthur’s book “Twelve Extraordinary Women.”

Of all the extraordinary women in Scripture, one stands out above all others as the most blessed, most highly favored by God, and most universally admired. Indeed, no woman is more truly remarkable than Mary. She was sovereignly chosen by God—from among all the women ever born—to be the singular instrument through which He would at last bring the Messiah into the world.

Mary herself testified that all generations would regard her as profoundly blessed by God (Luke 1:48). This was not because she believed herself to be any kind of saintly superhuman, but because she was given such remarkable grace and privilege.

Myths About Mary

While acknowledging that Mary was the most extraordinary of women, it is appropriate to inject a word of caution against the common tendency to elevate her too much. She was, after all, a woman—not a demigoddess or a quasi-deiform creature who somehow transcended the rest of her race. The point of her “blessedness” is certainly not that we should think of her as someone to whom we can appeal for blessing; but rather that she herself was supremely blessed by God. She is never portrayed in Scripture as a source or dispenser of grace, but is herself the recipient of God’s blessing. Her Son, not Mary herself, is the fountain of grace (Psalm 72:17). He is the long-awaited Seed of Abraham of whom the covenant promise spoke: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18).

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12th Dead Sea Scrolls cave discovered in Israel

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Fox News reports:

Researchers have discovered a new cave in Israel that they say once held Dead Sea Scrolls, making it just the 12th such cave of its kind found. The find is thus a milestone, according to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The cave was looted long before the archeologists excavated it, but inside they found telltale signs that scrolls had been there: broken storage jars and lids on its edges and in a tunnel in the back.

“This exciting excavation is the closest we’ve come to discovering new Dead Sea scrolls in 60 years. Until now, it was accepted that Dead Sea scrolls were found only in 11 caves at Qumran, but now there is no doubt that this is the 12th cave,” Oren Gutfeld, an archaeologist at the Hebrew University’s Institute of Archaeology and director of the excavation, said in a statement.

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Sleazy Movies, Sleazy Culture

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

In this piece over at News With Views, Lee Duigon examines what happens to a culture when the family breaks down, nobody bothers to obey the law, and a political party boos God at its national election.  He writes:

No one spends $100 million to make a movie intending it to lose a heap of money. They expect to make money. They expect a lot of people will pay to see it.

Soon to be released, “Fifty Shades Darker” is the sequel to “Fifty Shades of Grey,” a movie celebrating and promoting the perversion of “bondage and domination”—in which one partner, usually the woman, gets her jollies by being tied up and smacked around by the other. In the “Fifty Shades” franchise, it’s always the woman. Somehow this is supposed to be liberating, and feminists are too busy protesting in favor of abortion to devote any time to protesting against this. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?

According to a review by The Express, this sequel is “far kinkier than the original” and “almost pornographic at times.” Almost? What do they have to do to go beyond “almost”? Never mind, I don’t really want to know.

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How Does Satan Propagate False Doctrines? THIS Fast

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , ,

Elizabeth Prata of The End Time warns of “IF : Gathering.”  The title comes from the group’s motto, “If God is real, then what?” Prata reveals that, “The purpose statement on their IRS forms is to equip women by having them share their feelings about Bible passages posted online.”

Elizabeth recently penned “If : Gathering: more information, including video claiming direct revelation” where she said this:

The ‘gathering’ part is actually brilliant. They purport to disciple women in gatherings at homes and other locales, sometimes churches. They know where to gather through social media, which is employed in a major way. That’s why their embeddedness and vigorous activity is hidden from view and thus their danger is not readily seen. There aren’t posters, advertisements, billboards, pamphlets. etc. There’s texts, social media whispers, person-to-person promotion, all of it done in a way that is more subterranean than any other generation’s activity.

Satan’s fingerprints are all over this, brethren. So we urge you to bone up on the rapidly growing IF movement because it’s not going away any time soon.

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Phariseeism and the Religion of Do

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 10 The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:7-10 (NASB) 

Over the last several months I have encountered many professing Christians on Facebook who claim that to be truly following what the Bible teaches then you must also believe that the Earth is flat. They also insist that their model of how the Bible really teaches us how the Earth and Sun and Planets behave then the Sun is not over 90 Million miles away from the Earth as the Heliocentric model tells us, but is just a spot light that is only 1000 miles away that moves around while the Earth remains stationary. They decry all scientific teachings about the Heliocentric model claiming they are hoaxes and that includes all the history we have from NASA and trips to and from the Moon that took place in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. I have attempted to debate these people, but have found them to be as hard-hearted and close-minded towards the truth as the worst atheist is towards the Gospel. I have resolved to simply pray for them because it is absolutely a complete waste of time to try to reason with them.  View article →