“They think you’re a pack of morons, they think you’re nothing but rubes, they have no interest at all in what you have to say, in what you have to think or what you want to do.
~ Steve Bannon speaking about the GOP establishment's view of the voters.
The same mentality is very true of the Evangelical Establishment. It's the same exact thinking and thus treatment of those without a seminary degree, those not in the popular, inner circle of approved elite types (yes, that's how immature they are in their thinking--it's high school all over again), those who haven't written a book, are on the speaking circuit, or conference tours (I should say, "approved" books, conferences, etc).
Much like the way the apostles (boy they learned their lesson I am sure--clearly they had to be humbled and taught by the Lord and the Spirit and I do believe they did) dismissed the children and especially the women (the woman at the well, the women to whom the angel spoke to when Jesus was resurrected, and infamously, the sharp rebuke out of anger of the woman who used her own personal vial of expensive perfume to pour on Jesus just prior to His death).
Then there was the treatment of Jesus by the religious elite:
Mat 21:23 When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?"
Today's religious Evangelical experts consider the children of God to be nothing more than uneducated, useless sheep which they can manipulate to gain a following, money, and power. Care for the souls of men and actually treating Scripture AS Scripture instead of sitting in judgment of it ("doctrinal triage") is greatly missing from most of these leaders. Worse, they train other men to be the same way. But this isn't the way of Christ Jesus.
What an indictment upon these "experts" that the Lord's sheep actually have more reverence for His Word (it's ALL important and cannot be sliced into categories they deem as important or less important), more reverence for God (they care about their sin before the Holy One of Israel---even those most Evangelical leaders dismiss as sin), more discernment (they know a wolf when they see one because they know Scripture intimately and have done their research on the wolves), and a burden for their fellow sheep (they warn of the wolves coming in).
The wrath of God towards the priests in Jeremiah 23, etc. ought to ring loudly in their ears because they are committing the same types of error and have the same kind of pride. Those truly in Christ serve and worship the God who really does see, hear, and act. He will vindicate His sheep and He will judge quite harshly these overbearing overlords (1Peter 5:2-3). God doesn't play favorites. In fact, He judges the teacher far more strictly. He can't be fooled.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Friday, September 08, 2017
The Darkness of the Mind
“The darkness of the mind is not only the root of all sin but the cause of most of the corruptions in men’s lives. Hence we find that Paul mentions “fleshly wisdom” as the antithesis of the principle of grace (2 Corinthians 1:12). For the same reason men are said to be “sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge” (Jeremiah 4:22). That this is the cause of the greatest part of the wickedness in the world is clear from Isaiah 47:10: “Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee.” Corrupt reasoning and false judgment are the prime motivations of all our sinning. Pride has its chief place in the mind, as Colossians 2:18 shows.”
Taken from “Man’s Totaly Depravity” by Arthur W. Pink (1886–1952)
The Boaster
(John Colwell, "Little Foxes; The Little Sins That Mar the Christian Character" 1882)
"As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil!" James 4:16
All that the boaster has to say revolves around one center, namely, SELF. The only really important part of speech in his grammar, is the first person singular. When he speaks of himself, which he too often does, it is always in such a way as to impress you with his virtues, his wisdom, or his greatness. And when he does not speak of himself — he elevates self, though it may be in a less direct manner.
The boaster is full of little histories, in which the historian or narrator is always the chief actor. His stock phrases will be painfully familiar to us all:
"When I was in such a place."
"When I was a young man."
"I will tell you what I once did."
Every one of these expressions is the introduction to a long glorification of self.
Why should we employ ourselves in self-praise? "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1 Corinthians 4:7
It is a hard and delicate subject for a man to speak of himself. Therefore, let him who aspires after wisdom take the advice of Scripture, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips!" Proverbs 27:2
"As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil!" James 4:16
All that the boaster has to say revolves around one center, namely, SELF. The only really important part of speech in his grammar, is the first person singular. When he speaks of himself, which he too often does, it is always in such a way as to impress you with his virtues, his wisdom, or his greatness. And when he does not speak of himself — he elevates self, though it may be in a less direct manner.
The boaster is full of little histories, in which the historian or narrator is always the chief actor. His stock phrases will be painfully familiar to us all:
"When I was in such a place."
"When I was a young man."
"I will tell you what I once did."
Every one of these expressions is the introduction to a long glorification of self.
Why should we employ ourselves in self-praise? "For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?" 1 Corinthians 4:7
It is a hard and delicate subject for a man to speak of himself. Therefore, let him who aspires after wisdom take the advice of Scripture, "Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips!" Proverbs 27:2
Not All Who Quote Scripture Are God-Fearing
1Ti 1:6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,
1Ti 1:7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Most of those that use Scripture to beat the heads of the Lord's sheep are unskilled men, full of unbelief in His Word but mighty in faith of their own importance and intellect, mocking those who actually treat the Bible AS the Bible and who therefore believe that it is indeed living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword that can divide motives from thoughts. Instead such religionists use the ways and means of the flesh and the world to lord over those who hold them accountable.
1Ti 1:7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
“Let us not be deceived then and conclude that every one who quotes Scripture to us must, necessarily, be a God-fearing man. Those who quote the Scriptures to condemn others are frequently the guiltiest of all. Those who are so solicitous to point to the mote in another’s eye, generally have a beam in their own.”
Taken from “An Exposition of the Gospel of John” by A. W. Pink (1886-1952)
Mat 7:2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Taken from “An Exposition of the Gospel of John” by A. W. Pink (1886-1952)
Mat 7:2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Most of those that use Scripture to beat the heads of the Lord's sheep are unskilled men, full of unbelief in His Word but mighty in faith of their own importance and intellect, mocking those who actually treat the Bible AS the Bible and who therefore believe that it is indeed living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword that can divide motives from thoughts. Instead such religionists use the ways and means of the flesh and the world to lord over those who hold them accountable.
Unpopular Message
“Where God works, he always does so consistently with his own Word. What I mean by that is this: when he raises up, equips, and sends forth one of his servants, that servant will necessarily preach the Word, and denounce all that is opposed to the Word: hence, his message is bound to be unpopular, in fact hated by all who are not regenerated. Was it not thus with the Old Testament prophets? Would even the Israelites of their day endure sound doctrine? Would they do so when the Lord Jesus preached it? Would they when the Apostles taught it? Would they in the time of Luther and Calvin? And poor, fallen human nature is the same now! Mark it well, my dear friend, that the people to whom the Old Testament prophets, Christ and the apostles preached were not irreligious! No, indeed far from it! They were very religious: but they were determined to have religion of their own, which suited them, and they would not tolerate anything which condemned them. So it is now.”
—A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
—A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Unsound Teacher or Preacher
“They are Arminians to a man; they deny the absolute sovereignty of God, his eternal choice of an elect people, and that Christ bore their sins only. They deny the total depravity of man, for they insist that he possesses a free will and can accept Christ and be saved by a decision of his own; thus directly repudiating God’s word, as found in John 1:13; 6;44; 8:36; Rom 9:16, and other passages. And where any teacher or preacher is unsound on these basic truths, no confidence must be placed on him on any other subject. If he is all wrong at the foundations, his superstructure is bound to be faulty.”
Taken from a “Letter to Lowell Green, August 19, 1934″ by A. W. Pink (1886-1952)
I would add that if any teacher or preacher denies the Creation account in Genesis that states God created all things in 6 literal 24 hour days, he cannot be trusted on any other subject. Genesis is foundational.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the men of old gained approval.
Heb 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.
Fighting The Good Fight of the Faith
1Co 1:20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
“It is “the good fight of faith” to which we are called, but if we be regulated by our reason or feelings it soon becomes a fight of unbelief.”
Taken from “Gleanings in Joshua” by A. W. Pink (1886-1952)
1Co 2:2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
1Co 2:3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
1Co 2:4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1Co 2:5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
1Co 2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
1Co 2:8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
“It is “the good fight of faith” to which we are called, but if we be regulated by our reason or feelings it soon becomes a fight of unbelief.”
Taken from “Gleanings in Joshua” by A. W. Pink (1886-1952)
1Co 2:2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
1Co 2:3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,
1Co 2:4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1Co 2:5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
1Co 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
1Co 2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory;
1Co 2:8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
Millions of Nominal Christians
“Never were there so many millions of nominal Christians on earth as there are today, and never was there such a small percentage of real ones... We seriously doubt whether there has ever been a time in the history of this Christian era when there were such multitudes of deceived souls within the churches, who verily believe that all is well with their souls when in fact the wrath of God abideth on them.”
—A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
—A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Changing Views
“Why is it that so many professing Christians change their view so easily and quickly? What is the reason there are so many thousands of unstable souls who are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14)? Why is it that this year they sit under a man who preaches the Truth and claim to believe and enjoy his messages; while next year they attend the ministry of a man of error and heartily embrace his opinions? It must be because they were never taught of the Spirit.”
—A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
—A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Politics
“One form of worldliness which has spoiled the life and testimony of many a Christian is politics. We will not now discuss the question whether or not the saint ought to take any interest in polities, but simply point out what should be evident to all with spiritual discernment, namely, that to take an eager and deep concern in politics must remove the edge from any spiritual appetite. Clearly, politics are concerned only with the affairs of this world, and therefore to become deeply absorbed in them and have the heart engaged in the pursuit thereof, will inevitably turn attention away from eternal things. Any worldly matter, no matter how lawful in itself, which engages our attention inordinately, becomes a snare and saps our spiritual vitality. We greatly fear that those saints who spent several hours a day in listening to the speeches of candidates, reading the newspapers on them, and discussing party politics with their fellows during the recent election, lost to a considerable extent their relish for the Bread of Life.”
Taken from “Spiritual Growth” by A. W. Pink (1886-1952)
Preachers In This Apostate Age
“The great majority of the preachers in this apostate age are only adding to the number of the deceived, by telling them that all God requires of them is to believe in the Gospel and receive Christ as their personal Savior.”
Taken from “The Sermon on the Mount” by A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Paid Pulpiteers
“Many of those who are paid to stand in our pulpits and defend the Truth of God are now the very ones who are engaged in sowing the seeds of unbelief and destroying the faith of those to whom they minister.”
Taken from “The Divine Inspiration of Scripture” by A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Dealing With the Accusation That Obedience to Scripture and It's Author Is "Legalism"
“Here is the final word against those who decry godly obedience as “legalism.” The incarnate Son walked according to His Father’s commandments. He “pleased not himself” (Romans 15:3). His meat was to do the will of the One who had sent Him. And He has left us an example that we should follow His steps.
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even
as he walked” (1 John 2:6).
The one who disregards God’s “commandments” is not walking as Christ walked; instead, he is walking as the world walks. Let no one heed the idle quibble that the “commandments” of Christ are opposed to or even different from the commandments of the Father. Christ and the Father are one — one in nature, one in character, one in authority.
“The commandments of Christ include the whole of the preceptive part of the inspired volume, with the exception of those ritual and political statutes which refer to the introductory dispensations which have passed away” (Dr. John Brown).
And let it be said again, that no Christian can abide in Christ’s love unless he is keeping Christ’s commandments!” —A. W. Pink (1886–1952)
Taken from “An Exposition of the Gospel of John” by A. W. Pink (1886-1952)
Some Experts Are Too Smart To Be Deceived, So They Think
Confirming what I've said: he and James White and their followers consider themselves too smart to ever be deceived, much less wrong. Scripture says something about such arrogance and unteachability:
1Co 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
1/3 Brannon Howse’s rocket scientist says I've taken a wrong turn and am headed for “heresy”: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/radio/audio/jason-pratt-september-5-2017 …
Starts @ 21:11
Scripture tells leaders to be careful of themselves:
To the Ephesian elders Paul warned:
Act 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
Act 20:29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;
Act 20:30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
Act 20:31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
1Ti 5:19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.
1Ti 5:20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
1Ti 5:21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality.
1Ti 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.
Jud 1:12 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;
2Pe 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2Pe 2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
Leaders can often be deceived and that is why they lead their churches into apostasy.
Also the unrepentant sin of favoritism is great among Johnson, White, Peters, MacArthur, etc and their cheerleaders. They fight for their man, friend,pastor, and get emotional and unreasonable about it instead of coming from a biblical stance without partiality.
Also the unrepentant sin of favoritism is great among Johnson, White, Peters, MacArthur, etc and their cheerleaders. They fight for their man, friend,pastor, and get emotional and unreasonable about it instead of coming from a biblical stance without partiality.
Rom 2:11 For there is no partiality with God.
Gal 2:6 But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me; God shows no partiality)--well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.
1Ti 5:21 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
Jas 2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Jas 2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Moreover, consider where Johnson's Post-modern pragmatism & bombastic words end. He is creating a schism based on personality as he tries desperately to redefine inter-faith dialogue and then say Jesus did it all the time, all the while still holding to "our church and I wouldn't do it". If Jesus did it all the time, then you SHOULD do it. But HE didn't. Evangelism isn't an inter-faith dialogue. IFD's purpose is to find common ground and that can't happen with Christians and unbelievers.
Pragmatism is unbelief in Scripture. Post-Modern thinking makes so many "nuances" and qualifications that one can't make a dogmatic, absolute stand on anything except the one who tells him he's wrong. Truth and goodness is seen in wolves and in error ("after all, who's perfect?" they say). This thinking paralyzes people to not take a hard stand against false teachers that seem ok but are in reality in error--in fact many might agree the man is in error on certain doctrines but will still offer such hypocrites as sources to go to for truth. God never tells us to spit out the bones because He demands faithful preaching of His Word (the meat), not truth and error mixed and just hope the sheep can discern what is error and "spit" it out. What a very low view of the believer, the child of the Most High God!
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,
Pragmatism is unbelief in Scripture. Post-Modern thinking makes so many "nuances" and qualifications that one can't make a dogmatic, absolute stand on anything except the one who tells him he's wrong. Truth and goodness is seen in wolves and in error ("after all, who's perfect?" they say). This thinking paralyzes people to not take a hard stand against false teachers that seem ok but are in reality in error--in fact many might agree the man is in error on certain doctrines but will still offer such hypocrites as sources to go to for truth. God never tells us to spit out the bones because He demands faithful preaching of His Word (the meat), not truth and error mixed and just hope the sheep can discern what is error and "spit" it out. What a very low view of the believer, the child of the Most High God!
Monday, September 04, 2017
Regeneration
"Regeneration is indispensably necessary before any soul can enter Heaven. In order to love spiritual things a man must be made spiritual. The natural man may hear about them, and have a correct idea of the doctrine of them, but he cannot love them (2 Thess. 2:10), nor find his joy in them. None can dwell with God and be eternally happy in His presence until a radical change has been wrought in him a change from sin to holiness; and this change must take place on earth."
~ Arthur Pink, "Regeneration or The New Birth"
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