"The righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1)

Righteous Boldness by Henry Morris III, D.Min. From, ICR's Words of Praise:

"The righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1)

A holy boldness is imparted to those who seek to speak the truth of God (Acts 4:31). The miracle of the Pentecost outpouring of the Holy Spirit was followed by several incidents where the various apostles and early Christian leaders spoke "boldly in the Lord" (Acts 14:3, etc). Where does this boldness come from?

The Presence of the Holy Spirit: The Sanhedrin "saw the boldness of Peter and John" when they were dragged before them (Acts 4:13), after they had healed the lame man shortly after Pentecost. Peter was "filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 4:8) and boldly answered the farcical questioning of those self-righteous leaders, and they "took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). When we speak with God's authority, we speak boldly.

The Words of God's Word: The first church prayed "that with all boldness they may speak thy word" and they were enabled to speak "the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:29, 31). When Paul was starting the church in Ephesus, he "spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God" (Acts 19:8). We should have boldness when we have opportunity to "make known the mystery of the gospel" (Ephesians 6:19).

The Assurance of a Righteous Life: "According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death" (Philippians 1:20). Several godly traits of righteous men are given in Hebrews, "so that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me" (Hebrews 13:6).

These are from where that boldness comes. HMM III

Liberty University Invites Mormon Glenn Beck to Speak At Graduation

Liberty University (founded by Jerry Falwell), has yet again proven to be a proponent of error and not truth.

Not to be out done with strutting Carrie Prejean on stage (invoking godly cat-calls from the spiritual audience), Liberty silently revamped its President, Ergun Caner's, biography so his lies wouldn't be noticed.....Liberty now proudly presents Mormon Glenn Beck to speak to the young graduates at what used to be a "Christian" university.

While Beck might be right on many political or moral issues, he also brings in talk of “god” and even “Jesus”, which the discerning and well-informed Christian, knows that’s a false Jesus and false god–the ones of Mormonism. (Recall a few years ago Focus On the Family interview painted Beck as a Christian not as a Mormon, and had to kill the article because of the rightful criticism they got).

Liberty is proving to be like all other “Christian” universities and seminaries—compromise Truth because of a low view of Scripture and therefore a low view of God. Its the name-game and appeals to the flesh which is not of HIM.

Then again guys, Liberty has been silent on the lies of their Prez, Ergun Caner, who has been a brilliant example to all their students that you CAN lie on your resume and keep the top job!

So what’s a little Mormon cheerleading?



TIME TO SEPARATE FROM THIS EVIL.

And btw, I have a family member who was thinking Beck is a Christian b/c of his Jesus talk—we had to explain and then send info to her that he is a Mormon and that they are not Christian in any way.


2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?
2Co 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you,
2Co 6:18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

Kay Warren: Orphans Are the Litmus Test of Being A Christian

Mat 6:1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Mat 6:2 "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Don't call yourself a Christian if you aren't caring for orphans," Kay Warren said at the recent Catalyst West Conference.

My thoughts are in italics.

Quote:

"If we are doing little to nothing, how dare we, how dare we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ," she said Friday. "Followers of Jesus Christ care about widows and orphans and they understand that it is a litmus test.

"It is not an option."

A litmus test? Who defines "little" "nothing" or "enough"? Its Kay. Read on.

The Litmust test: Scripture says:

2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

Joh 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."

Is. 8 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

As for the issue of orphans:

First of all those of us in the USA pay a lot of money to the poor and needy, not just here but worldwide. That's a fact. Also, its presumptuious for Warren to dictate how we live out our faith--what if we are not given the opportunity to PERSONALLY house and feed orphans? What happened to our priority to our own families God has given to us first?

Also:

Jas 1:22 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.... 26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

Kay purportedly is borrowing from James on orphans, however her twist is not in the context of Scripture. The context of caring for orphans is about obeying the Truth of Scripture versus hypocrisy. Doctrine dictates our behavior. If a person claims to be religious but isn't bearing fruit, they should examine themselves to see if they are in The Faith. We are to obey the WORD, not some woman's social justice band wagon. Kay's agenda is that poverty can and shall be eradicated via her husband's 5 point PEACE plan: "1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger"

James isn't saying you if you don't care for the orphans, then you aren't a Christian. After all, the poor we will always have with us.What he IS saying is that hypocrisy is wrong. He's showing the nature of true salvation. Considering that the Warrens don't have The Gospel makes Kay's words all the more hypocritical. God says TRUE religion, that is, true FAITH is a heart issue and grounded in biblical Truth.

Warren wants the orphan issue to determine who's saved or not, but she ignores the REST of the verse: "and to keep oneself unstained from the world. " This she and her husband have NOT done. The Warrens are infested with worliness and the world hears them for they are of the world (1John 4:5).

I also believe 1John 3:17 would bear light on this issue as well: 1Jn 3:17 "But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? "18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

The weighty words were delivered to thousands of church and ministry leaders on the final day of Catalyst West, a three-day conference designed to challenge leaders to be change agents in the culture.

Warren is violating clear Scripture:

1Tim2: 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.

James 3:1 says not many should become teachers, and that includes Kay and Rick Warren.

Kay's twisting of the orphan issue shows exactly why women are not to teach men. This isn't the only issue she's been wrong on; she's also pro-homosexuality and has taught men in the past as well.

"It has nothing to do with personality, it has nothing to do with spiritual gifts, it has nothing to do with economic status, it has nothing to do with your season in life," she stressed. "It has to do with accepting the responsibility that God will one day hold us accountable."

She's right on this one thing: her view on orphans has NOTHING to do with spirituality. Rather its merely social justice that the pagans participate in to soothe their guilty conscience or to look better than the next guy. Its fleshly, not spiritual. Its legalism. And its what Rick's PEACE plan is here to save the day.

And it's not just a matter of personal responsibility either, she indicated.

There is a theological reason all Christians are to do something to help vulnerable children.
Warren highlighted: "What our Heavenly Father does for us spiritually, He expects us to do physically."

This is not supported by Scripture as some sort of mandate. This is nonsense. How can you do physically was is spiritual? By its very definition, its not physical. Besides that, this is a twisting of Scripture. For instance how will she atone for her sin? How does one do PHYSICALLY what Jesus did on the cross? She's the one who said what God does for us spiritual He EXPECTS US TO DO PHYSICALLY. Doesn't this smack of Romanism?

"You and I were all spiritual orphans," she said. "We're not just cleared of the guilt of our sin. We belong in God's family. He has taken us and made us part of Himself.

"Now He shares with me everything that He has. Everything that belonged to Jesus belongs to us."

Again, I don't know where she gets this notion. First of all, we either have God as our Father or the Devil:

Joh 8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
Joh 8:43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word.
Joh 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

We aren't spiritual orphans. Also we are not part of God. This is like Rick's sympathy to panentheism views. Its pagan. We are IN Christ, those who are truly saved that is, but God does not make us part of Himself. He is always distinct from His creation.

While Christians have a spiritual home, there are 143 million children around the world who don't even have a physical home.

What does "spiritual home" mean? If she means a church, then that is NOT comparable to a physical home. God commands us to be in a local church, which He provides. But not all His children have physical homes (think of Christians who were dispersed during the first century for instance, but still had biblical churches---or those who sold their homes for money to give to brothers truly in need). This is earthly thinking. Jesus did not have an earthly home. And no, I'm not saying its good to be homeless. What I am saying, is that Kay again, is twisting what Scripture says. Consider that in her view, since we who are truly in Christ are blessed by God with every spiritual blessing and spiritual riches, therefore that means that all 143 million children (where did she get that number?) should have all the riches in the world? Can spiritual riches even have an earthly price tag? How in the world can spiritual blessings have any equivilance to the temporal, fallen things of the earth?

Yet many believers likely are unable to name the names of five orphans, Warren noted.

And? This is the test? List five names of orphans? Seriously? If someone can name six are they better than one who can name 3? And does how knowing or not knowing the names of orphans matter?

What about those who live in remote places where there are no orphans? What if someone is too poor to support an orphan? And how does Warren define "orphan"? I've witnessed a woman claiming to be so poor that she can't feed her "orphan son". She was typing this online. On a computer. So these things need to be defined. Additionally, this is a pride issue.

The orphan advocate clarified that the Bible isn't necessarily calling every person to adopt a child. She and her husband, renowned pastor Rick Warren, have not adopted, she noted.

Yes, do as they say, not as they do. But they'll brag about what they do, too.

But, she added, the Bible does say Christians have a personal responsibility to do something, whether it's contributing to the fund of a family trying to adopt, providing house cleaning for a family that adopted, or getting involved with church sponsorship of children.

Where does the Bible COMMAND this? Seriously, cleaning for a family who has adopted? The wife can't clean her own house? Why? What does having an adopted child have to do with that?And what about the family that is raising their children in a godly way? They're what, less worthy? This is elitism and really, Phariseeism. Is Kay cleaning houses? Why won't she adopt? She said the "season in life" is not an excuse. And when is enough, enough, according to Kay?

At the same time, it's not enough to simply send some money or place children in orphanages.

There's your answer. So she slams people for not meeting her expectations regarding orphans, and when they DO do something as she said they should, she then says that's not enough. What a harsh task master.

"God is a relational God," she said. "And orphanage is an institutional solution."

End quote.

Social justice defines a TRUE Christian, she says. And this from a woman who has no idea what biblical doctrine is, much less what a biblical church is and what its called to do.

I wonder if John and Noel Piper are fine with their new buddy's wife teaching men? Oh wait, Ricky told Piper he thinks women should not be hold the office elders. Yet his wife repeatedly teaches men. I pointed this out years ago too. Warren IS a feminist. Both of them are. But hey, what's biblical doctrine and obeying it?

And what about the widows? Where is her litmus test for that? We know that Scripture says the family is to look after their widows first and if they have no family, then the church they are members of, should care for ONLY the widows in DEED and 60 years or older--those who truly have NO HELP at all. This IS a command of God to the local church in 1Tim. 5.

The problem is that we have "Christian" families that are splintered and destroyed by immorality, selfishness, and divorce. "We" can't even get our act together in marriage let alone raising our own flesh and blood, but Warren commands such horrific families to be religious by adopting MORE kids they can't care for? The churches can't even function somewhat biblically, but she says the issue of orphans are THE TEST of faith? Just what is she proposing to do with that "143 million" group of children? Dump them into families where neither parent is home? Where the mom is out working and throws her own kids into daycare?

Did Kay Warren ever consider why these children are orphaned? And is this tied to Rick's horrific PEACE plan?

You betchya.

This Catalyst conference was chock full of Emergents including women teaching men. Emergent leaders speaking include:

Andy Stanley
Dallas Willard
Erwin McManus
Kay Warren
Mark Driscoll
John Ortberg

Others:

Charlene Li
Don Miller
Eugene Cho
Louie Giglio
Reggie Joiner
Scott Belsky
Wess Stafford
Chris Tomlin

Some of the Sponsors:

Compassion International
David C. Cook
Indiana Wesleyan University
Alpha USA
Fuller Theological SeminaryNavPress
Saddleback Community Church
XXX Church

For the record, because I know I'll get some snarky comments about how I hate the orphans and have no compassion, etc. etc., as I have already stated, I'm taxed out the wazoo to pay for the homeless, the hungry, the widowed and the orphans. I will not disclose what I do for anyone because that would be prideful, fleshly, and letting the "right hand know what the left hand is doing".

In addition to that, I have given Scripture that talks about the heart issue when we see a brother in need and have the means to meet that need but refuse to do so. "Brother" and "need" are key words here. So caring for orphans is a GOOD thing, but it is not the litmus test of a true Christian. After all, the Roman Catholic Church, Theresa of Calcutta, the Mormons, etc. can do all of this as well, but they do not have a religion that is truly of God--not of Truth according to Scripture.

And remember this: Kay's agenda is the PEACE plan--with the hope to change our society and churches into socialistic states. This is a factor that cannot be ignored.

Helpful Heretics

2Jn 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Nicholas Batzig contemplates the issue of Tim Keller having N.T. Wright to share the platform at Keller's church Redeemer Presbyterian Church in this article. I had addressed this problem back in March here. After the damage has been done (typical of today's "Christian leadership") its a little too late to be concerned about it, not to mention surprised. I will say at least Batzig sees something wrong, which is far more than Keller, his church, or apparently his Presbytery sees.

I'd like to take note of a few things, however.

Keller did the same thing as Piper (even in regard to this VERY issue on Justification by Faith alone): give poison to your audience and label it as "grace" and "tolerance" to "engage" in conversation and consider your brother's point of view. Its "fair and balanced", or so they think. Scripture says its damnable doctrine and the elders especially are to not only rebuke, but SILENCE such nonsense. In other words, don't even GREET such a man, otherwise YOU TOO partake of his WICKED DEEDS.

Tit 1:7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
Tit 1:8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
Tit 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Tit 1:10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
Tit 1:11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

This passage alone shows the failure of not just Keller, but Piper and others who continue to defiantly support them in their SIN. Yes, its SIN to offer false teachers to their sheep. Its SIN to NOT silence false teachers. Its sin because it violates the direct and numerous COMMANDS of God to elders. And its SIN because its MORE THAN GREETING a false teacher, its INVITING HIM to feed off of the sheep they were supposed to protect!

Its Treason and its Derelction of Duty. Its unfaithfulness to the Lord and to the vulnerable sheep.

One thing that was noted by Batzig is that N.T. Wright was passing through to sell his wares. Moreover he was also prostylitizing with his heretical views, however subtle. But his bait was his book on "Christian character". Its a way to get more people to consider his rank heresy--the book is the bait, the poison is the NPP. Yet the "leadership" continue to think, he can't be that bad if he's right on "Christian" character, afterall. Right?

Wrong. Here's an example:

"My one critique would be that reliance upon the grace of God to accomplish our sanctification is assumed by Wright but not discussed prominently; at one point in the lecture, Wright parenthetically reminds us that “of course, all this is to be done by [God’s] grace alone through faith [in Christ] alone.” I suspect this oversight is due to deficiencies in Wright’s understanding of Union with Christ and to his convictions regarding the role of good works in the future justification of believers." - Batzig

This is the same issue with Doug Wilson and John Piper. But I digress.

A heretic cannot help but bring in his heresy in vital areas,(dare I say all areas, of one degree or another) because according to Scripture, its all connected. Once the water is poisoned, its ALL poisoned. Scripture likens it to the leavened loaf. Jesus said to stand your guard against such loaves.

Perhaps the litte-too-late concern by Batzig is due in part to his relationship with Keller and RPC:

"I know Dr. Tim Keller and RPC well enough to say without reservation that he and his church are NOT advocates of the NPP.My intent here is not to call into question RPC’s full commitment to a Reformed understanding of Justification by faith, as expressed in the Westminster Confession of Faith."

This is dangerous because people do change their doctrine over time, either for good or for bad. They are either growing in biblical doctrine and godliness, or away from biblical doctrine to ungodliness. There is no neutrality. I've seen first hand how people who were once thought of as sound, years later proved to be quite unsound and disqualified from their leadership position. But no one had a clue until after they witnessed this change (and typical of today's "leadership" were UNWILLING to pull the guy from the pulpit, but let him repeat his inane empty talk for two services).

This also demonstrates what I've seen repeatedly: compromise of doctrine because of a relationship.

Furthermore, Keller IS an advocate of NPP simply by inviting the heretic to his pulpit. This is also what Phil Johnson said about Piper not being an advocate of Warren. The wolf knew it and used it to his advantage. His latest book was merely the foot in the door or the bait.

Here's a question for these men who claim its not an advocacy of such teaching: is the invitation of someone "solid"considered to be advocacy of what they teach? In other words, if the church/pastor agrees outwardly with the doctrine of a man, his invitation is considered support of it. If he "disagrees" (silently or otherwise), its now considered NOT supporting it? Do you see the hypocrisy here? The pulpit is used to teach the sheep. Its support of the teacher, period.

Here's a follow up question: if offering heretics in the pulpit is not support or advocacy, then what would you call it? And what exactly, would it look like for the pastor to NOT SUPPORT such nonsense in his pulpit?

Besides all that, who would want to and who could try to sift out Wright's infamous teaching of heresy and just cling to that which he think is good? That's just thinking its possible, even desireable to sift through the vomit, and find something nutritious to eat. Rather Scripture says to outright reject not only the teaching but the man as well! Look at what Paul said about Hymenaeus and Philetus in 2Tim. 2:16-19, or John regarding Diotrophes in 3John9-10.

1Th 5:21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

Is not a false gospel, a false justification therefore evil? A works-justification is damnable, Paul says in Romans, just as a false gospel is according to Galatians (as is the One through whom its taught).

Finally, Batzig says: "My concern is that in attempting to expose the Body of Christ to Wright’s helpful teachings on Christian character, they may have unwisely exposed that Body to questionable teachings that would undermine its assurance of salvation and proper understanding of Justification by faith alone, the doctrine upon which the Church stands or falls.”"

I saw this would happen, as did Ken Silva and others. Yet no one heard us, nor believe us. Same re: Pipergate. This is EXACTLY what Jesus was talking about when He warned the disciples to BEWARE of the leaven of the Pharisees; to avoid false false prophets and false brothers. Wright can't separate his damnable heresy on justification by works from the rest of his theology, so why did anything think he would and more importantly why did anything think THEY could? The man not only infused his heresy in his teaching, he was selling his wares at the back of the church! A den of thieves to be sure!

What's even worse is that Batzig, like so many, think that the doctrine of Justification by works is merely "questionable" NOT DAMNABLE. Furthermore, he brings the Justification by Faith to the foundation of the church...rather it should be brought back clearly to The Gospel and Salvation of individuals. Without the RIGHT Gospel, one is unsaved and earning Hell. Its about the LOST SOUL, not the foundation of some invisible church. I think I know what he's trying to say, but he's already lost the battle by minimizing the issue to something optional

Its impossible to bring in a wolf and not expect him to do wolf things. The bread is leavened. You can't UNleaven it.

Its too late.

The Wolf came, goreged on the sheep, and moved on. Such easy prey! Even the shepherd was too easy!

He'll be back. With his friends.

The Fatal Deficiency Of The Religious

"One thing you lack" Mark 10:21

Those words addressed by our Lord to the rich young ruler who had approached Him with such apparent eagerness and earnestness, and in whom there were some admirable qualities which are rarely found in young men, especially those of affluence.

Yet there was a fatal defect, for the sequel informs us that he turned from Christ, and "went away sad" (Mark 10:22). What was wrong with him? "'One thing you lack--Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.' At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth." (Mark 10:21-22).

There was a struggle between his convictions and his corruptions; he desired to serve two masters--God and mammon; and when Christ told him that was impossible, he was chagrined.

His fatal deficiency may be described in a variety of ways. He had no conviction that he was a ruined, lost and Hell-deserving sinner, no consciousness that he was a spiritual leper in the sight of God, no realization of his utter helplessness to better his condition. Though religious, he was still in nature's darkness, and therefore, his affections were not raised above the vanities of this world. There was no love for God within him; and consequently, he was unwilling to deny himself, abandon his idols, and give God His rightful place in his life--serving, pleasing, and enjoying Him. He lacked a real and unreserved surrender of his heart to God.

Is that the case with you, dear reader?

~ What was wrong with him?(Arthur Pink)

Seems to be a good question for even "evangelical leaders" let alone their followers and readers.

How John Piper Got To Where He Is Today And Why Many Readers Have No Problem With It

John Robbins of The Trinity Foundation had serious problems with John Piper even back in 2002. Too bad most didn't see what he saw.

Take heed of what you read and who you expose yourself to.

Piper exposed himself to error early on through the influence of Wheaton College where he minored in Philosophy (this is a direct violation of Co. 2:8where he studied Romantic Literature with C. S. Kilby, a C. S. Lewis scholar (CS Lewis was not even a Christian, but a Romanist). Piper went to Fuller Theological Seminary after that, to be influenced by Daniel Fuller (see below), and then after a stint at University of Munich in West Germany, he went on to teach at liberal Bethel
College.

The post-modern idea of playing with words and blurring lines has come through Piper himself.

Piper plays with significant words. Flowery poetic speech obfuscates clarity and moves away from concrete,biblical definitions and declarations. This includes pairing up opposing views to come up with a new word ("Christian" Hedonism). To redefine justification by faith alone, to one of faith and works, is not only to go back to Rome, it shows exactly why Piper invited Douglas Wilson later on, it shows that he already got that idea out to his readers so they easily accepted it and did not rebuke him and separate from him. Justification by works is what Rick Warren teaches as well...the blending of faith and works.

So, on to Robbins' article on the Pied Piper.

Excerpts:

[Daniel Fuller of Fuller Theological Seminary]Fuller wrote: "I would say that Moses was justified by the work, or obedience, of faith.… [There are] many passages in Scripture in which good works are made the instrumental cause of justification."

As we have already seen, Fuller explicitly denies justification by faith alone and explicitly asserts justification by faith and works. Piper, his faithful student, trusted friend, and editor, arrives at the same conclusion. Piper denies justification by faith alone while professing to accept Biblical soteriology—which makes his work all the more dangerous. The most effective attack on truth, the most subversive attack on the doctrine of the completeness and efficacy of the work of Christ for the salvation of his people, is always couched in pious language and Biblical phraseology.


The phrases "future grace" and "faith in future grace" appear hundreds, if not thousands, of times in the book. It is a clever propaganda device that has been used many times: Repeat a phase so often that the reader cannot get it out of his mind.

But what does Piper mean by the phrase? In fact, what does he mean by "faith"? The answers are revealing. Here are his own words: "…the focus of my trust is what God promised to do for me in the future" (6).

This may not be the central error of Piper’s book, but it comes close. The focus of saving faith is not what God has promised to do for us in the future, but what God has already done for us in Christ. Christians preach and trust only Christ crucified, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Christ crucified is the sole focus of Biblical, saving, faith; it is the focus of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, by which we remember the Lord’s death; and it is the focus of worship in Heaven (see Revelation 5), with endless future ages before it. Piper wants to change that focus, from Christ crucified to something else. In attempting to change the focus of our faith, he avoids discussing, although he grudgingly admits, that all the benefits Christians receive from God are because of what Christ has already done on their behalf and in their place.11

Piper’s admission is grudging, for he wants to argue that our future happiness, benefits, and final salvation depend upon our meeting conditions that God has established for receiving those blessings. In Piper’s Plan of Salvation, despite what Christ said on the cross, "It is not finished." The believer must complete the work of salvation that Christ began. Future grace is conditional, and it is we, not Christ, who must meet those conditions.

Piper’s propensity to play with words is also evident in his treatment of faith. Harping on a tire-some theme of the Neolegalists, Piper asserts that "belief is not merely an agreement with facts in the head; it is also an appetite for God in the heart" (86).

One of the subtlest ways to deny justification by faith alone is to change the definition of faith. Piper presents us with several different definitions of faith:

But I want to say a bit more than [Charles] Hodge does. I don’t want to say merely that faith in promises produces "confidence, joy and hope," but that an essential element in the faith itself is confidence and joy and hope. [Aren’t these three elements?] It is not false to say that faith produces these things. But that does not contradict the other truth: that confidence and joy and hope are part of the warp and woof of faith…. [T]he essence of saving faith is a spiritual apprehension or tasting of spiritual beauty, which is delight (205).

Again Piper obscures truth with his pied, pink prose. What, exactly, does "tasting spiritual beauty" mean? Is it akin to "smelling spiritual loveliness"? What good purpose is there in deliberately obfuscating the nature of faith with such vague and meaningless figures of speech? On the next page, "It is the ‘embracing of spiritual beauty’ that is the essential core of saving faith." Just a few lines earlier, Piper had told us that "an essential element of faith is a sense of revulsion."

In chapter 19, "How Many Conditions Are There?" Piper actually enumerates 11 conditions we must meet if we want any "future grace": loving God, being humble, drawing near to God, crying out to God from the heart, fearing God, delighting in God, hoping in God, taking refuge in God, waiting for God, trusting in God, and keeping God’s covenant, which he says is the summary of the first 10. Piper proclaims: "I am hard pressed to imagine something more important for our lives than fulfilling the covenant that God has made with us for our final salvation" (249).

Consider his words carefully. Piper does not mean that the work of Christ in perfectly fulfilling the covenant on behalf of his people is the most important thing he can think of for our final salvation; he says that we personally, or as he says, "experientially," fulfill the covenant on our own behalf, and that our fulfillment of the covenant is the most important thing for our final salvation. We ourselves "fulfill the covenant that God has made with us for our final salvation." Furthermore, keep in mind his description of "future grace": "the heart-strengthening power that comes from the Holy Spirit…is virtually the same as what I mean by future grace."

Therefore, if we fulfill the conditions required of us, if we obey the covenant, then God will give us "the heart-strengthening power that comes from the Holy Spirit," and we will be saved. This is not the Gospel. It is a pious fraud.

To return to Piper’s various definitions of faith: "All these acts of the heart [the 11 conditions he has cited for receiving future grace] are overlapping realities with saving faith. Faith is not identical with any of them, nor they with faith. But elements of each are woven into what faith is" (252). Keep in mind that Romanism has only seven theological virtues; Piper has out-poped the papists.

But the worst is yet to come: There are still more conditions required for obtaining future grace: doing good deeds, not practicing the works of the flesh, and loving the brethren, to name three.

End quote.

This is where Warrenism comes in: good works or as its currently labled, "social justice". Between Warrens' affinity for Romanism (calling it merely another "denomination" of Christianity, and his good works push (PEACE plan--the thing Piper admires), it makes for a perfect fit for Piper who denies apparently, justification by faith alone--or at the very least propagates its denial via Fuller and Wilson.

For Piper, the influence of Daniel Fuller eventually led to ebracing Doug Wilson, which led to embracing Rick Warren. Once error is embraced, it becomes easier to believe and proclaim....and defiantly defend.

You think reading opposing views of biblical doctrine won't taint your view of Scripture or your doctrine? Look what happened to Piper.

Or is biblical doctrine optional?

This goes against the very heart of the commands to elders particularily:

"Part of Paul's challenge then to young Timothy is to get him to hold the truth and then to pass the truth to the next generation, to avoid the insidious and debilitating and damning influence of false teachers and false teaching. And as I said a moment ago, I believe that the stream, the polluted corrupt vile and filthy stream of false teaching is deeper and wider than it's ever been in human history because it's cumulative."

As A.W. Pink said:

To turn away from the lifeless preachers and publishers of the day—may involve a real cross. Your motives will be misconstrued, your words perverted, and your actions misinterpreted. The sharp arrows of false report will be directed against you. You will be called proud and self-righteous, because you refuse to fellowship empty professors. You will be termed censorious and bitter—if you condemn in plain speech—the subtle delusions of Satan. You will be dubbed narrow-minded and uncharitable, because you refuse to join in singing the praises of the "great" and "popular" men of the day. More and more, you will be made to painfully realize—that the path which leads unto eternal life is "narrow" and that FEW there are who find it. May the Lord be pleased to grant unto each of us—the hearing ear and obedient heart! "Take heed what you hear" and read!

The Danger of False Teaching

By John MacArthur

Exerpts:

The effects of false teaching have been devastating and damning. That is why the Bible calls them damnable, or destructive heresies which lead men to destruction. And I believe that as we get closer to the coming of Christ, these deceptions, lies and falsehoods, misrepresentations will increase.

Now any servant of the Lord then must be aware of false teachers. Any servant of the Lord must be warned about lies.

That is why in Acts 20 the Apostle Paul for three years night and day with tears warned the believers in Ephesus and the leaders in Ephesus of those who would come from among them and from outside of them with lies.

The issue of false teaching is not isolated to the section we're looking at now. In fact in the first epistle of Timothy in chapter 1, chapter 4 and chapter 6 it's a major theme. In 2 Timothy in chapter 1, chapter 3, and chapter 4 it's a major theme as well as here in chapter 2. It then becomes incumbent upon any of us who is a servant of Jesus Christ in the church to be very much aware that we are set for the defense of the truth, that part and parcel of what we exist to do is to save people from drowning in the sea of deceit which Satan propagates.

Part of Paul's challenge then to young Timothy is to get him to hold the truth and then to pass the truth to the next generation, to avoid the insidious and debilitating and damning influence of false teachers and false teaching. And as I said a moment ago, I believe that the stream, the polluted corrupt vile and filthy stream of false teaching is deeper and wider than it's ever been in human history because it's cumulative.

Denials of the trinity, denials of the deity of Jesus Christ, denials of the inerrancy and authority of Scripture, denials of the salvation by grace alone through faith which God has provided, counterfeit gospels, false ideas of true spirituality, misrepresentations of the character, nature and work of God, misrepresentations of the character, nature and work of Christ, misrepresentations of the character, nature and work of the Holy Spirit abound. There are a myriad of people espousing all kinds of lies in the name of God's truth.

And from verse 14 to 19 he tells them to avoid false teaching and gives them a handful of reasons why...why.

First of all, because it...follow this...it ruins the hearers, verse 14, "Solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers."

The first thing you want to realize about false teaching is it ruins those who listen to it. Let me go back for a moment to the word "solemnly charged." Again it has the idea of a constant reminder and a constant command. Constantly reminding them of their positive duty and constantly warning them to stay away from false teaching. The warning is serious because of the use of the verb diamarturomai, it has to do with a solemn command. But it's made even more serious by the next phrase, "Solemnly charge them in...whose presence?...the presence of whom?...of God."

The painful feeling arising from the consciousness of having done something dishonorably...shame. Anyone who propagates any false teaching ought to be ashamed and has reason to face God and be ashamed. This has reference over the shame that we have for the work we have done when it's inspected by God. In other words it's worthy of condemnation, not commendation.

Let me put it simply. Anyone who misrepresents, who misinterprets, who ignores or distracts from God's Word by giving false teaching or confusing people with useless human reason has cause to be ashamed no matter how many degrees you have, or how many PhD.s or how erudite you think you are, if you violate the Word of God or misrepresent its glorious truth, you have every reason to stand before God in shame. And you should feel painfully the consciousness of having done something dishonorably, and that is mishandling God's precious Word. So the issue here is that it shames the one who teaches it. So he says in verse 15, "Be diligent..." That's the first principle.

How do you avoid being a shameful teacher? How do you avoid being ashamed before the Lord? First of all, be diligent. I know the Authorized version says "study" but that's really not the word, the word spoudazo means to give diligence, to give maximum effort, to give persistent zeal, to do your best, to be eager. Simply put it this way, make a maximum effort...make a maximum effort.

You know how you avoid being a shameful teacher? By making a maximum effort. This verse is close to my heart, you know that. And I think being a teacher that is not ashamed starts with making a maximum effort. You have to give your whole life to it. That's why 1 Timothy 5:17 says, "The elder who labors in the Word and doctrine is worthy of double honor." It's a labor.It's a work to the point of sweat and exhaustion. It demands a maximum effort. It demands a commitment to excellence.

End quote.

Consider these words in light of what John Piper has been doing for years including lately with Rick Warren.

Hypocrisy

I just read Terri's blog on the hypocrisy of one Piper's defenders and a big boy blogger here. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who sees the hypocrisy on multiple levels.

This double standard is nothing short of bullying those of us who have for years, sought to stand for the Truth without apology, wavering, and favoritism.

I've noted in this post how "shrill" and emotive the apostles were regarding false teachers.

People, the enemy is in the camp already! The wolves, offered by "shepherds" ARE TEARING THE SHEEP TO SHREADS! And yet you think its not important enough to wage war? I see loyalty to theological circles and personalities, NOT to CHRIST AND HIM ALONE AT ALL COSTS.

Piper: Promoting "Evangelical" Fads

"I do think he’s deeply theological. He’s a brilliant man. He wouldn’t have the church he does or the Peace Plan, or all the influence he does and of course the greatest sentence in the Purpose Driven Life is the first one isn’t it? It’s not about you, it’s about God. The Glory of God. So I don’t think he’s emergent. At root I think he is theological and doctrinal and sound.” ~Piper from the audio

It seems inconsistant with what Johnson himself said a few years ago about Rick Warren:

Excerpts:

But let’s set the critiques aside for a moment. Even if we had no bone to pick with the content or the underlying philosophy of The Purpose Driven Life—is this a really the kind of book that deserves to be the best-selling evangelical work of all time? Is there anything profound or original or exceptionally brilliant about the content of this book? Is it great literature, or especially superb Bible teaching, or excellent theology made understandable in simple terms? It’s none of those things. The extraordinary success of this book stems from a very clever marketing scheme that targeted a specific market at the most opportune time. It hit the shelves at a moment when the evangelical culture was ripe for fads and stampedes.

In The Purpose Driven Church, he says this:
At Saddleback Church we’ve . . . tried to recognize the waves God was sending our way, and we’ve learned to catch them. We’ve learned to use the right equipment to ride those waves, and we’ve learned the importance of balance. We’ve also learned to get off dying waves whenever we sensed God wanted to do something new. The amazing thing is this: The more skilled we become in riding waves of growth, the more God sends!

Ah! so that’s why we have this proliferation of fads. Evangelicals have gotten so skilled at surfing the latest fashions that God just sends more and more of them. And they get bigger every time.
Today’s fad may seem benign enough if you don’t care much about biblical discernment. Rick Warren says he just wants to meet people’s “felt needs” and insists he wants to remain biblical at the same time. Where’s the harm in that? But that philosophy is wrong and unbiblical, because it’s contrary to Paul’s clear command in 2 Timothy 4, to preach the word and refuse to cater to the itch of people’s “felt needs.” Meanwhile, all these fads are moving us further from our evangelical commitment to the principles of sola fide and sola Scriptura.

End quote.

Its ok that Piper promotes the very fad and anti-biblical philosophy he just repudiated some years back? Is it right to defend a man behind a pulpit who consistantly, repeatedly, and defiantly offers false teachers? Does this not show a lack of biblical doctrine and practice, wisdom and discernment?

Perhaps its all mere opinion, including unfaithfully preaching the word and parading around a false teacher. So its not so much unbiblical or wrong, but just different?

God's Word

(J. R. Miller, "Counsel and Help" 1907)

"I have put my hope in Your Word." Psalm 119:81

So long as there are . . . tears and sorrows, and broken hearts, and crushed hopes, and human failures, and lives burdened and bowed down, and spirits sad and despairing--so long will the Bible be a needed book.

It is full of inspiration, light, help and strength for earth's weary ones.

"The law of the LORD is perfect--reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy--making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right--giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant--giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure--enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.They are more desirable than gold--even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey--even honey dripping from the comb. By them is Your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Psalm 19:7-11

Is Biblical Doctrine Optional?

2Co 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

As Apprising Ministries is reporting, Reformed Blogger Adrian Warnock is fully supporting Piper in his invitation of Rick Warren to the Desiring I Don't Know What Kind Of God Conference.

What has Piper done to merrit such uncritical, unrelenting, full support of such destructive teachers and doctrine?

The rejection of the Doctrine of Separation is yet ONE MORE DOCTRINE DEEMED AS OPTIONAL.

Is there a man these Reformed bloggers and pastors would be willing to wholy and completely separate from? On what basis?

The claim of Piper having a "unique gifting and authority" is odd. I don't see anything unique here (he might as well say (or does he?) about Warren or Hinn or Graham?), except that he has a wide audience that crosses denominational lines. When someone is so widely popular without hardly any criticism, that should be a red flag. Why? Because it means that compromise is going on.

Don't believe me? Then ask yourself this:


Is Justification by faith alone an optional doctrine?

Is foul-mouth language and sexually explict talk an optional way to preach and live?

Is a different gospel an option?

Is finding common ground with those in darkness possible?

If you believe Scripture, the answer to all the above should be: NO. This is based on multitude of biblical passages throughout Scripture.

Justification can ONLY be by faith alone apart from works:

Rom 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works…

Gal 2:16 yet we know that a person NOT JUSTIFIED BY WORKS of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and NOT BY WORKS of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

Foul mouths and sexually charged language:

Eph. 4: 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Eph 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

A different gospel isn’t optional:

Joh 8:24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins."

Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to A DIFFERENT GOSPEL-- 7 NOT THAT THERE IS ANOTHER ONE, but there are some who trouble you and want to DISTORT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you A GOSPEL CONTRARY to the one we preached to you LET HIM BE ACCURSED.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Rom 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Titus 2: 1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

False Teachers and the Doctrine of Separation:

Mat 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Mar 13:22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Rom 16:17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; AVOID THEM. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 

2Co 11:12 And what I do I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

2Jo 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.

1Co 5:11 But now I am writing to you NOT TO ASSOCIATE with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one.

Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." (1Co 15:33)

Tit 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

2Jo 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

1Jo 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2Tim. 4: 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

3 John 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.

2 Tim. 2: 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

Are you willing to say that despite all that God has said in the above passages, its still ok to strutt a false teacher in front of the sheep?

Common Ground with Those Outside Jesus Christ:

2Co 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."

3Jn 1:7 For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles.

Jesus calls for whole churches to repent of the tolerance of false teaching among their midst. He certainly did not say just to ignore the bad parts. His rebuke was widespread:

Rev 2:2 "'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.

Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 2:20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.

The myth of “fair and balanced” (offering truth alongside falsehood; false teachers and true teachers) as biblical is repudiated by Christ Himself.

Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 15 "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Mat 16:6 Jesus said to them, "Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

1Co 5:8 Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

1Co 5:6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?

Gal 5:7 You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Mat 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' 23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Luk 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?

Warren and PDL Contiue to Promote RCC: this is the theological depth that Piper's ok with

Watcher's Lamp's report : MORE proof that Warrenism continues to push Roman Catholicism through his PDL junk.

But it doesn't matter to a reformer like Piper. This is "Christian Hedonism"! As long as we all claim Jesus and maybe through in a tulip here or there.

If Piper is ok with Justification by works (via Federal Visionism and Doug Wilson, whom he promoted at the DG conference last year), what's more of the same via Warren's inter-faith junk which includes Roman Catholicism and Islam?

Bill Clinton Gives Advice (warning, bullying) To the Tea Party People

Bill Clinton

"This Tea Party movement can be a healthy thing if they're making us justify every penny of taxes we raised and every dollar of public money we spend," Clinton said. "But when you get mad, sometimes you wind up producing exactly the reverse result of what you say you are for."~Source

Yeah, like the American Revolution! Those men should've just calmed down. They went too far. That's exactly the type of think Clinton is insinuating.

Funny how anger on the Left is always justified, but never on the right.

And why is anger always considered a bad thing by most people, even Christians? Why is passion so distasteful--except when its from the liberals? I see it as a way to just shut down the conversation and try to bully others into quiet submission. People in error don't like the Truth to shine upon their darkness. Its actually the liberals (in any arena) that are the ones that have no reasonableness to their anger--just the mindset of "You aren't the boss of ME!" . While claiming to be tolerant, they are extremely INtolerant of any and all opposing viewpoints.

Friend of the World is to be an Enemy of God

Jas 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.


1Jn 4:5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.

O stand amazed at His free grace!

(Thomas Sherman, "Divine Breathings; Or, a Pious Soul Thirsting after Christ")
O precious saint! Three questions call for your answer:

1. What were you?
2. What are you?
3. What shall you be?

1. What were you?

Dead in your transgressions and sins, a rebel to your God, a prodigal to your Father, a slave to your lust, the devil's captive, on the highway to hell.

2. What are you?

Redeemed by Christ, a royal child of God, the spouse of Christ,the temple of the Holy Spirit, the heir of a priceless eternal inheritance!

3. What shall you be?

A glorious saint, a companion of angels, a triumphant victor, a crowned king, an attendant on the Lamb, a participant in those soul-ravishing and ineffable excellencies that are in God! You shall behold the King of Glory face to face--and enjoy immediate communion with Jesus Christ! Nay more, you are made one with Him:

clothed with His excellencies,
enthroned with His glories,
crowned with His eternity,
and filled with His felicity!

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined . . . what God has prepared for those who love Him!" 1 Corinthians 2:9

O stand amazed at His free grace--and render all the glory to God!

A Year Later: Chillin With False Teachers

A revisit to an excellent article written n 2009: Chillin' With False Teachers: Another View by Ingrid Schlueter:

In part says:

Rick Warren has been on a PR campaign to win over his critics for some time now. A year ago, I and other writers who have been exposing the man-centered false teachings of Rick Warren and his rejection of biblical evangelism (going to synagogues and mosques to tell them how to use Purpose-Driven methods to grow) were personally invited on an all-expenses paid trip to Saddleback to meet with Warren. Apparently, the thinking was that if we could just meet Rick, encounter his magnetic and winning personality, be impressed with his fabulous church campus and personal importance, we would tone down our rhetoric and cease to be critics. I personally turned down the invitation. A man who has sold as many books as Rick Warren, features his sermons online and who has been virtually omnipresent in Christian and secular media in the last few years does not need to explain his teachings in person. I am not interested in Rick Warren’s personality, charm or expensive facilities. I do not object to the man on personal grounds. I object to Rick Warren based on what he has taught and written, because it does not line up with Scripture. This is essential to understand.

Rick Warren’s defenders, like the Reformed blogger in question, like to protray Warren critics as having a personal axe to grind with the Purpose-Driven author and as being harsh, unfair and unloving. We are painted as portraying Rick Warren as some sort of red-caped fiend, permanently surrounded by a sulfurous cloud, demonic laughter coming out of his mouth. What nonsense. Of course, Rick Warren is a congenial, friendly guy who is no doubt charming to be next to at a dinner gathering. He would make a great golf partner, host at a BBQ and, no doubt, would be the life of any party. He is likely compassionate, a good neighbor and he would stop to help you if you had a flat tire on a lonely highway. Then again, I could say the same for my Mormon neighbor, or the Hindu family that lives down the street, or the Unitarians up the block.

The people I have worked with over the years in exposing Purpose-Driven’s false teachings have not been interested in Rick’s personality. They have consistently addressed Rick’s teachings, line by line. These are men such as Pastor Bob DeWaay, who has not only met with Rick personally, but has taken his teachings and held them up to the light of Scripture in his excellent book, Redefining Christianity: Understanding the Purpose-Driven Movement, or Joseph Farah, a newsman who has corresponded with Rick Warren over his outrageous role as apologist for Syria and North Korea, or Chris Rosebrough who sat in a room at Saddleback with Rick Warren and personally discussed the specifics of Warren’s false teachings. DeWaay, Farah and Rosebrough were not interested in Rick’s personality. They focused on his teachings.

Warren, after these meetings, is unchanged. He recently addressed a Muslim convention and never once preached Christ crucified. He instead invited the followers of Allah to embark on a joint campaign with Christians to solve the world’s social ills. Warren continues to advise non-Christian religious groups how to grow their cause using his own Purpose-Driven methodology.

While the Reformed blogger prides himself on being able to hand bouquets to Mr. Warren despite their disagreements on certain issues, the tragic spiritual reality remains. I have heard for years from Purpose-Driven refugees whose churches have been destroyed by the teachings of Rick Warren. There are spiritual victims who limp off into the night, wondering what in the world happened to the churches they have loved and supported for years. No one has done greater damage to the true Gospel in the American evangelical church than Rick Warren with his man-centered teachings and emphasis on works, churches driven by entertainment to please the unregenerate and draw large crowds, his abandonment of biblical evangelism in favor of a social gospel, his de-emphasis on sound doctrine, and his participation with international political organizations who openly work for inter-spiritual apostasy.

From Crosstalk Blog.

Again I say, as I did last year, well said! And look how far we've now come? Now Piper, who clearly has a larger following than Challies (that's just so wrong anyway), has invited and is defiantly defending Rick Warren--as are many Reformers now as they follow the Pied Piper. You think it can't get any worse? Bet you said that last year.

Just wait.

Celebrity Christians and Lying

2Co 4:2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.

Wade Burleson wrote a good article on Celebrity Idols and the need to turn to the Gospel itself.

Ergun Caner's lies and fraud have finally caught up with him. And quietly Liberty University revamped his biography. Caner has lost his integrity both within the Christian community and those outside.

Liberty University has also lost its integrity: first by ignoring the issue, secondly but not
repenting, and thereby removing their President. What does this say to the students? You CAN get by with lying on your resume? I mean, if the PREZ of a Christian University can do it and keep his job, why not the students when they graduate and look for jobs?

To continually lie (including trying to skirt the issue or back pedal when the issue has come to light) without repentance, shows a dark and hard heart. To ignore it instead of dealing with it, especially publicly because it was publicly done, is to partake of those wicked deeds.

Psa 26:4 I do not sit with men of falsehood, nor do I consort with hypocrites. 5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked.

Eph 4: 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.

Will he be disciplined at his church? The lies have been known for a while now--what has his church done? With no repentance, his church needs to step in and start disciplining him without partiality.

As for the idol of Christian Celebrities (be they academic or entertainers, etc.), consider the Word:

Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

1Co 3:1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? 4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? 5 What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. 7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

Gal 2:6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.

Jas 2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory... 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?...8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

1Co 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?...23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles...26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

What are Christians relying on when it comes to evangelism? Men of great fame and influence? Or the power of the Gospel and the Person and work of the Holy Spirit? At what price will they covet and cover men of "Christian" fame?

Will they rely on the Famous Christians who really can get people saved or really get them to see the Truth, because there's no one else of equal repute or influence? We'll just leave the REAL ministry of evangelism to the Professionals?

Where is the faith and conviction in the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit? After all, men aren't saved by appealing to their fleshly minds and hearts. They are saved by the Holy Spirit using Scripture to remove that veil over their minds. It is not just the heart, but the mind and whole man, that is totally depraved and hostile toward God.

Rom 8:7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."

Staying Strong To the End

Our pastor at church on Sunday was going over the disciples Jesus calls unto Himself in Mark 3. It made me consider how far they had grown by the end of their lives, and finished the race well.


In growing old, they grew in love, but not compromise.
They loved Truth more, as well as hated error more.
They didn't pretend some fake humility of "ignorance" --they KNEW the Truth and stood firm in it with grace and power of the Holy Spirit.


So many professing Christians today compromise as they get older. I don't know why. But we have examples of men who stayed true to Christ Jesus the Lord, and His sheep. It CAN be done. Going off into liberalville in the golden years shouldn't happen. Instead, as men and women grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, they should be discipling the younger men and women to stand firm. Just like Paul, Peter, John and Jude did. We need men and women who won't give up Truth for relationships, to pass on their biblical wisdom, to train, the next generation.


As it is, we've got a LOT of people who think doctrine doesn't matter.


But it does.

I was so encouraged to see how some men truly did finish the race well, they fought the fight, they did not compromise. May the Lord ignite the same love, passion, wisdom, and discernment in all of us who are truly in Him.


Also, I've thought how incredible it is to see Scripture in such amazing harmony.


Mar 3:13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.



Jesus called each by name (some by new names), by HIS will, not their own. He did this so that they might be WITH Him.


Act 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.


How faithful the Spirit of God is! Were they educated? Did they go to seminary? Did they have degrees? Did they have a website or write a book? Did they have a library full of their favorite theologians?


No.



Simply uneducated men (by the world's standard--a bunch of nobodies), who had the mark of Jesus all over them. Confounding the "wise" of the world, these men were KNOWN to have been with Jesus.



And that included dear Peter, the man who at one point was afraid of being identified with Jesus, now stood clearly with Him.



So amazing!

1Co 1:20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

1Co 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
1Co 1:24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1Co 1:25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1Co 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
1Co 1:27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
1Co 1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
1Co 1:29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.


1Co 2:1 And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
1Co 2:2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
1Co 2:4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1Co 2:5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.



1Co 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.



That is why the apostles were so effective. They were not using men's logic rules, philosophies, or argumentation; they did not try to sway others by degrees, drop names of theologians they idolized and used as some sort of spiritual standard, or appeal the fallen mind of men. They certainly did not pull up false teachers so that both truth and error could equally be heard. They stood firm on the Truth, not giving an inch to false brothers and false teachers.

They simply proclaimed Christ Jesus and Him crucified, in the power and grace of the Person of the Holy Spirit. They feared God not men. They actually believed that the Gospel IS the power of God unto salvation for all who believe, first to the Jew then to the gentile.

In their twilight years, they didn't fein mock humility of "not knowing" the truth and therefore pretended to go to others to learn the truth. Rather, they GREW in the Truth, so that at end they could say:

1Jo 2:21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT, and because no lie is of the truth.

Ignorance isn't a virtue, and we see that in Scripture. The apostle of love also was the one who told Christians to not even greet a false teacher for in doing so they will partake of his wicked deeds. He had a heart for Truth and souls and didn't give up the fight and compromise because of relationships. He, along with Peter, Jude, etc. stayed strong.

I pray that those in Christ will too.

The Apostles Were "Shrill" and "Hysterical" Too

What will it take for Christians to totally reject a false teacher from among their circles? I'm afraid most never will.

A man can deny justification by faith alone, deny Creation in six days, deny the Lordship of the Lord, deny the Gospel, deny the need for biblical truth, promote homosexuality, Islam, Romanism...and still be called a brother with just a different methodology? Seriously? So then you must accept the RCC even though it has a different gospel, a different justification, denies the Lordship of the Lord, hides homosexual preditors, promotes common ground with Islam. Yup I've seen that too.

So what would it take, exactly, for Christians to reject a church, a ministry, a man completely and thoroughly?

Think of what defenders of Piper, Warren, Wilson, and Driscoll are really saying when confronted with biblical practice and Truth....

Act 20:29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish everyone with tears.

Sounds like Paul was a bit "hysterial" here, eh? Come now, let's not get all emotional! Its not THAT bad!!

Perhaps Paul should've stated that there's some good and truth that the wolves can offer the sheep. Paul should have given more respect them.

2 Tim. 2: 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.

Again, Paul should've taken the middle ground and exhorted the readers to accept the false teachers, because after all, they have some truth to teach the children of God. No doubt Hymenaeus and Philetus had some truth, but they just had a different opinion! Paul, where's your grace?

2Jo 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, DO NOT RECEIVE HIM into your house OR GIVE HIM ANY GREETING, 11 for WHOEVER GREETS HIM TAKES PART IN HIS WICKED DEEDS.

Now, hold on a minute. John is waaaaay too "shrill" and "hysterical". John should've told the believers to accept the good, ignore the bad, and enjoy the warm fellowship and company of the false teachers. How unbalance, unfair, and narrow-minded of John!

Jud 1:11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves FOR THE SAKE OF GAIN to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast WITH YOU WITHOUT FEAR, SHEPHERDS FEEDING THEMSELVES; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.

Talk about "shrill"! Perhaps Jude should've been given a "paper bag to breathe into" after all his "hysterics"! I mean, really, he was going just a tad overboard, eh?

2Tim. 4: 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

Wow, that's some respect there Paul! Why couldn't you just tell them to consider the good things about Alexander, and while disagreeing with some of his erroneous doctrine, personal issues shouldn't be the factor in telling OTHERS to guard against him! After all he's not THAT bad!Where's your respect for Alexander??

3 John 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.

Is it obvious? The apostles were just way to "shrill" and "hysterical" about "brothers in the Lord" (*cough*) who weren't THAT bad.... they just differed on some things.

Or was that just for then and this is now? Perhaps the wolf-friends are seeing Scripture as not so relevant for today. Perhaps its all nothing more than an interesting book, but has no power to dictate their actual practice. Or is it merely for others, not themeselves and their paper theologians? In other words, hypocrisy in defending men who are participating in wicked deeds, while slamming Christians for doing exactly what Scripture demands us to do: seperate, call attention to, and reject false teachers.

Funny how the big boy bloggers/teachers/elders give tolerance, love, and passionately defend those who rebel against clear Scripture, but don't show the same passion and tolerance and appreciation for those that obey it.
Jas 2:1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory... 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?Jas 2:8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

Gal 2:6 And from those who seemed to be influential (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--those, I say, who seemed influential added nothing to me.