Why A Young Creation Doctrine Matters

Excerpts from ICR's "Why Recent Creation Matters":

As a result, many people who consider themselves creationists have been intimidated against this biblical concept. Instead, they try to cling to the 19th-century evolutionary compromise now known as the “day-age theory” and “progressive creation.” Some take refuge in the “gap theory,” hoping they can ignore the problem by pigeonholing the evolutionary ages of the geologists in an imaginary gap between the first two verses of Genesis. Both theories attempt to accommodate the geological ages, even though it is the geological ages that provide the main basis and framework for evolution. We “young earth creationists” are an embarrassment to both the progressive creationists and the gap creationists, and so they urge us to acknowledge that recent creation is merely an optional interpretation that is unimportant and expendable.

When the biblical and theological data are also considered (in a church or another Christian context), the doctrine of recent creation becomes critically significant, integrally interwoven with the doctrine of creation itself. 

“Progressive creationism” is not a modern interpretation developed to bring the Genesis record into harmony with modern science, but it is a very ancient concept devised to impose a theistic connotation upon the almost universal pagan evolutionary philosophies of antiquity. 

~John M. Morris, PhD, ICR

Francis Chan on Hell: He can't be sure about eternal torment; not feeding the poor could send you to hell

Francis Chan has stated (on his article about Hell):

Jesus evidently hates it when we tear into our brothers or sisters with demeaning words, words that fail to honor the people around us as the beautiful image-bearing creatures that they are.

Then he goes on to say:

Yet many hellfire preachers are overfed and overpaid, living in luxury while doing nothing for the majority of Christians who live on less than two dollars a day. 

Oh the irony there.

Chan goes on to distort Matthew 5:

Jesus threatens hell to those who curse their brother (Matt. 5:22). He’s not warning drinkers or smokers or murderers. Jesus preaches hellfire against those who have the audacity to attack a fellow human being with harsh words. It’s ironic—frightening, actually—that some people have written books, preached sermons, or written blog posts about hell and missed this point completely. In fact, some people have slammed their Christian brothers and sisters in the process, simply because they have a different view of hell, missing the purpose of Matthew 5: Whoever calls his brother a fool may find himself guilty of hell.

Pitting Jesus against Paul who stated:

1Ti 1:10  the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,

1Co 6:9  Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 1Co 6:10  nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Moreover both Paul and Jesus condemned sodomy as a damnable act.

Mat 11:23  And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Luk 17:29  but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—30  so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

Does  Chan ever define "poor" or any of his other claims and terms when he states, "pastors who are overfed and overpaid, living in luxury,  while doing nothing for the majority of Christians who live on less than two dollars a day" ? Who exactly is doing nothing? How much is enough?

He goes on to say:

And what about the poor? Jesus is crystal clear about the necessity of reaching the poor. Yet many hellfire preachers are overfed and overpaid, living in luxury while doing nothing for the majority of Christians who live on less than two dollars a day. [2] Contrast that with Jesus, who in His longest sermon about judgment made helping the poor a vital criterion.

Put simply, failing to help the poor could damn you to hell.

I know, I know, everyone wants to qualify this. We want to add all sorts of footnotes to fix Jesus’ shaky theology in Matthew 25—justification is by faith, not by works; you don’t really have to help literal poor people, etc.... [3]

Let’s keep the teeth of both truths. There’s a literal hell, and helping the poor is essential. Not only did Jesus teach both of these truths, He saw them as necessary and interrelated.

However, the poor Jesus was referring to in Matthew 5, "the poor in spirit" that are blessed, is just that---those who recognize their spiritual poverty and look to Him for salvation. This has nothing to do with material goods at all. For a Master's Seminary grad, he should know better.

Jesus had shaky theology? What? And who says we don't have to help the literal poor people? Who exactly has ever stated that? Names, please, because I haven't met anyone who has ever said that and I grew up and have been in various churches all my life. That is nothing but a disingenuous straw man argument. And he's knowingly marrying works (feed the poor) to the Gospel, because Chan defends against "justification by faith and not works" AS "shaky theology" of Jesus. That's blasphemous. It is also a gospel of works. It is a social justice "gospel" which is damnable according to  Eph. 2:8-9, Gal. 1:7-9 and 1Cor. 15:1-2 for example.

Moreover James 2 states:

Jas 2:5  Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 

God decides what state to place each person. Social justice is really an entirely different gospel. Indeed, Christians are to help with the poor as God gives opportunity and means, but we are not a welfare system nor are we to be about trying to eradicate poverty from the world. Jesus said we'd always have the poor with us. God also tells us in Scripture to be especially helpful with those within the household of God (Christians). But to say we'll go to hell if we don't, isn't biblical. It's phariseeism. After all, can the poor help the poor? Of course not. So are they a special class of Christians? If it's a command, it's a command to all, is it not? You can see the conundrum Chan gets himself into.

In an interview in 2011 on his book about Hell:

In your book you seem agnostic as to whether hell is a conscious eternal torment or annihilation.

That was one of the things I was a little surprised by: the language. I would definitely have to say that if I leaned a certain direction I would lean toward the conscious torment that's eternal. But I couldn't say I'm sure of that, because there are some passages that really seem to emphasize a destruction. And then I look in history and find that's not really a strange view. There are some good, godly men—and maybe even the majority—that seem to take the annihilation view. I was surprised because all I was brought up with was conscious torment. And I see that. I see that in Scripture and I would lean more that way but, I'm not ready to say okay I know it's this one. So say here "Here are a couple of views." I don't even remember if I wrote that I lean towards that, but maybe it comes across.

I'm still open. And I hope that's because of my study and not because I'd rather have the annihilation view. I don't know what was harder, researching or keeping a check on my heart and making sure there are no weird, ungodly motives in everything I wrote.

End quote.

Scripture in both the Old Testament as well as the New is dogmatic on this:

Isa 66:24  "And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."

Mar 3:29  but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an

eternal sin"--

Mat 25:46  And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Destruction is eternal. Just like the bush that burned in front of Abraham without being obliterated, so too will the soul who never repents of his sin.

Not Recyling Is More Immoral Than Viewing Porn According To Teens And Young Adults, New Barna Study Shows

New Barna study reveals:

The nationally representative online survey of 3,000 people also found that about 21 percent of youth pastors and 14 percent of pastors say they struggle with using porn, and 12 percent of youth pastors and 5 percent of pastors say they're addicted to it.

Additionally, 27 percent of young adults (ages 25-30) say they first viewed pornography prior to puberty.

A news release said the research is the "most comprehensive, in-depth and wide-ranging study to date on pornography among the American population."

This finding was revealing of just how social justice is controlling the minds of our children:

"Teens and young adults say "not recycling" is more immoral than viewing porn."

End quote.

Consider also that these teens later become youth pastors and directors....Folks, sexually immorality and not recycling is sin, condemned by God, and disqualifies a man from being a leader in the local church (1Tim.3, Titus 1)

Jen Hatmaker: An Unbiblical Author

Well there's yet another new book that women are mindless following7:An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker. For a fuller treatment, The End Time Blog has two articles here and here. I'll share my own concerns based on the quote used in the first article (along with things I've read on Hatmaker's blog), which says:

Here is the Amazon.com book blurb:

American life can be excessive, to say the least. That’s what Jen Hatmaker had to admit after taking in hurricane victims who commented on the extravagance of her family’s upper middle class home. She once considered herself unmotivated by the lure of prosperity, but upon being called “rich” by an undeniably poor child, evidence to the contrary mounted, and a social experiment turned spiritual was born.”

“7 is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.”

“Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. They would spend thirty days on each topic, boiling it down to the number seven. Only eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in seven places. Eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe “seven sacred pauses.” So, what’s the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It’s the discovery of a greatly increased God—a call toward Christ-like simplicity and generosity that transcends social experiment to become a radically better existence.”

End quote.

First of all, her guilt came from hurricane victims who commented upon her lifestyle. This isn't true conviction of Holy Spirit by the Word; it's actually ingratitude it seems, from victims who had the gall to say something so ungracious. I mean, judging those who are able to take you in (while presumably wanting to not be judged) is not only bad form, it indicates jealousy. Also, how is "poor" defined? In the US, the poor rarely are truly poor. Our "poor" are actually rich compared to the real world poor. Hurricane victims typically get federal help, too.

"a social experiment turned spiritual was born.”

It was a social experiment, not a biblical principle or conviction, first. That's from the flesh and not of Christ, so it has no benefit in honoring Christ Jesus nor having any spiritual benefit to the person. You cannot change something of the flesh into something spiritual because by definition it didn't come from the Holy Spirit. Slapping on Jesus' name to a fleshly endeavor doesn't sanitize what is filthy flesh.

" modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.”

Greed, materialism, and overindulgence seem repetitive words to describe the one thing: greed. But none of these are diseases. To medicalize sin is to necessarily deny the reality that greed is a spiritual condition of sin and needs to be repented of.  This disease model is borrowed from humanism's psychology to remove the sting of reality that it's nothing less than sin. As with the term "poor", greed, materialism and overindulgence should be defined. When one is infested with anti-American, pro-socialism, and white guilt, how they define greed etc.is going to likely be different along with their motives, on how and who they define as such. In Scripture, the poor really were poor--they had to beg for food or money every single day. They weren't supported by government programs, they didn't play the system or fake their poverty, and they were known in their communities for being truly poor. Not so today. 

"Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress." 

This list is arbitrary and I'm sure the author admits that. But if it it's arbitrary, then it's not biblical, is it?
Joh 12:4  But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 
Joh 12:5  "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" 

Joh 12:6  He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 

Lev. 19: ^15 ”‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.

Exo 23:2  "You shall not follow the masses in doing evil, nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to

turn aside after a multitude in order to pervert justice;3  nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his dispute. 

The reverse of  this verse is also true:

Jas 2:4  have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil

thoughts? 

To pretend to be poorer than one is by living with the poor for a few weeks or months, is artificial

and insulting to those who are truly poor. To literally jet into a poor area, live there for a little bit,

then jet back out is not compassion nor real. Poor people can't jet out of their poverty. They're stuck

there for likely all their lives. 

Prov. 21: ³  To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Mar 14:7  For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.

In the parable of the talents:

Mat 25:16  He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.

Mat 25:20  And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.'

Mat 25:21  His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'

Of the one who did nothing with the one talent the master had given him:

Mat 25:25  so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

Mat 25:26  But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

Mat 25:27  Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

Mat 25:28  So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

Mat 25:29  For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Consider that while Jesus is explaining a spiritual truth, He also isn't condemning making more money, otherwise that would give reproach to His teaching. Wise investments with money is commended, not condemned.

Scripture doesn't condemn being rich; it condemns relying on riches instead of Christ as we see with the rich young ruler who wouldn't give up his riches to follow Jesus Christ (Matt. 19:16-24). Nor does Scripture uphold the poor as more spiritual; being poor and without Christ Jesus means you are still lost (and today, weirdly, the poor are actually idolized as are those who think they are helping them). God is the creator of both.

"adopt seven green habits, and observe “seven sacred pauses.”  "

Green habits is nothing more than socialism wrapped up in environmentalism. Most "green habits" are really not very efficient anyway, like with recycling which is costly and spends quite a lot of energy in the process. Environmentalism is predicated on unbiblical principles for the most part; New Age worship of "mother earth" or Gaia is often behind much of this, as is socialism (a way to reject capitalism and to control people's behavior and spending and living habits).

"So, what’s the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It’s the discovery of a greatly increased God—a call toward Christ-like simplicity and generosity that transcends social experiment to become a radically better existence.”

As you can see, this whole restrictive structure isn't for honoring Christ or others, but Self. What do "I" get out of it? In Hatmaker's view, her god is increased. That is not the triune God of Scripture who is immutable (without change)--Mal. 3:6.

Where does Christ call us to simplicity in how we live in every day circumstances like her 7 areas she's posted? Would she have called King David's life, a man after God's own heart, "simple"? What's her standard of what is simple? Where's the Scripture to support this?

On Hatmaker's blog "About" page she says in part:

"I understand God best through people; their gifts and strengths, their love and compassion, their character and courage. I sincerely believe we were made in God's image, and when I evaluate the goodness of people, I love God more. I crave a world of justice where people are safe, loved, empowered. I plan to use whatever influence I've been given on behalf of edged-out people for all my days. If I loved well, I will consider my entire life a success. "

This is not biblical. First of all there are no good people; we are all totally depraved (Rom. 3:9-18; Eph. 2:1-3).  Therefore to use this as a way to love God more is fleshly. Also this social justice is of the flesh. Jesus said the poor we'll always have with us. Poverty won't be eradicated and certainly not by fleshly means. This is either liberation theology or dominionism. She marks her success by her social justice "love". But Scripture states that our "success" isn't in and of ourselves; rather it's if we obey and love Christ as His slaves.Joh 14:15  "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Col. 3 tells us:

Col 3:1  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 

Hatmaker's got her eyes set on earth, with results on what she can see, and things done in the flesh.

Jesus didn't come to bring social justice (His own disciples then and now, will not see justice done, but rather often will be victims of injustice b/c the world hates Christ). True biblical righteous justice will only happen when Jesus returns as Judge and a Lion (for example, Is. 14, 16, Rev.18-19 )

Now, as I peruse Hatmaker's blog I see she lists a couple of feminist books, one book and one books' forward by false teacher Rachel Held Evans--a rabid Evangelical feminist; a book by mystic Brother Lawrence, another on Roman Catholic mystic Henri Nouewen, and some social justice books (one claims to end "extreme world poverty", one is of speeches made by plagiarist and womanizer Martin Luther King Jr., and one claims that the Gospel of Jesus Christ includes socialism (aka liberation theology). In fact, one of Hatmaker's  categories of books is "Christian Contemplatives, Fathers, and Mothers)".

Hatmaker's "sacred pauses" seems to be coming from Eastern mysticism like Contemplative Spirituality. One blogger writes an article called "Seven Sacred Pauses 1: Vigils":

The Ammas and Abbas, the holy mothers and fathers of our faith, made a practice of praying the Liturgy of the Hours—the seven holy pauses during the day which call us to draw together in community and become deliberate in our consciousness of God’s presence.

We begin with Vigils, also known as Matins. Vigils is the first hour of the day, between midnight and dawn. It’s the time of darkness, of unknowing. In the words of Christine Valters Paintner, “Vigil prayer is one of waiting, tending, listening, and surrendering to the wisdom of the night.” (The Artist’s Rule, p. 54)

Day begins with night. This may not seem to be good news if we fear the dark, if we rebel at the idea of not being in control. Yet darkness comes before light, gestation before birth, death before resurrection. The seed must be planted in the darkness of the soil if it is to blossom and bear fruit.

So I invite you to offer yourself up to the holy darkness. Take a breath. Relax. Listen, in the stillness, for the wisdom that comes at midnight.

End quote.

I suspect Hatmaker's obsession with the number seven comes from one of her favorite authors, Richard Rohr, who wrote "What The Mystics Know: Seven Pathways To Your Deeper Self". She didn't list this book, but she listed this author, who is a mystic/gnostic.

This is just a few of the resources she's found helpful, but which are anti-biblical. Clearly these authors have influenced her thinking, behavior, and writing.

Hatmaker is definitely another author to reject. What she offers isn't Christian, but pagan phariseeism which will only enlarge the flesh because it is of the flesh and not of Christ Jesus.

Earth's Magnetic Field Confirm Young Earth

Scripture is enough to know we live on a young Earth, but real science confirms it. For example:

The strength of the magnetic field has been reliably and continually measured since 1835. From these measurements, we can see that the field's strength has declined by about seven percent since then, giving a half-life of about 1,400 years. This means that in 1,400 years it will be one-half as strong, in 2,800 years it will be one-fourth as strong, and so on. There will be a time not many thousands of years distant when the field will be too small to perform as a viable shield for earth.

Calculating back into the past, the present measurements indicate that 1,400 years ago the field was twice as strong. It continues doubling each 1,400 years back, until about 10,000 years ago it would have been so strong the planet would have disintegrated--its metallic core would have separated from its mantle. The inescapable conclusion we can draw is that the earth must be fewer than 10,000 years old....

Magnetic field decay also involves a whole earth measurement, and on this large scale...

~Excerpts, John D.Morris, PhD, ICR

Rick Warren Demands Imagination is Essential to Faith

The latest massacre on Scripture by Rick Warren:

When you can’t see something physically, you have to imagine it in your mind. Imagination is essential to living by faith.

Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” (NLT, second edition).

Faith is when we hope for something, and we know it’s going to happen. In order to hope for something, you have to picture it in your mind.

Hebrews 11 is God’s Hall of Fame. When you read through the heroes of faith, you realize that every one of them became heroes of faith because they used their imagination....

The Bible says you need to focus on the things that will last — the things you can’t actually see with your eyes. So how do you focus on things you can’t see? You use your imagination.

Imagination shapes your life because it is essential to living by faith. 

End quote.

Warren does quite a bit of eisogesis (reading into Scripture what isn't there). This is contrary to Scripture. :

Heb 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Faith: pis'-tis

From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

Assurance: hupostasis

hoop-os'-tas-is

From a compound of G5259 and G2476; a setting under (support), that is, (figuratively) concretely essence, or abstractly assurance (objectively or subjectively): - confidence, confident, person, substance.

Hoped: elpizō

el-pid'-zo

From G1680; to expect or confide: - (have, thing) hope (-d) (for), trust.

Conviction: elegchos

el'-eng-khos

From G1651; proof, conviction: - evidence, reproof.

Nowhere is "imagination" in this verse. Quite the opposite. God is saying faith isn't wishing or imagining. It is confident expectation and assurance of what God has said in His Word (and notice He starts with creation by His Word), and certainly not things you want to get or accomplish.

persuasion

confident

expectation or confidence

trust

proof, evidence,conviction

These are the words to describe "faith". The believers mentioned in the chapter didn't imagine anything (how can you imagine what you can't see or conceive of?). Imagination is fleshly, fallible, and temporal. It is precisely what isn't faith. It's an attempt to walk by what one sees with one's mind.

In the KJV there are three uses of the English word "imagine":

Mar 13:11  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Act 4:25  Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

1Ti 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 

Imagine: meletaō

mel-et-ah'-o

From a presumed derivative of G3199; to take care of, that is, (by implication) revolve in the mind: - imagine, (pre-) meditate.

The NASB has it in this verse:

1Ti 4:15  Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

So, Warren is twisting Scripture by using it and inserting into the text what isn't there, and then claiming it's "essential to  living by faith".

Slick, Warren, but not slick enough to fool everyone.

He's preached about "dreaming" (you dream, "God" dreams, etc),and having "visions" (vision casting, "God's" visions for us) etc...all of which are not only unbiblical, because he's a false teacher and lost so he has no understanding of spiritual things (1Cor. 2:14), but they are indeed mystical.

God's Word is enough to live by, after all that is the point of Heb.11; the old saints trusted in  God and His Word even though they couldn't see it. These men and women were tortured, persecuted, and killed for their faith--hardly a time to be walking around imagining things when stones are hitting your head or you're being sawed in two. Rather, keeping Scripture foremost in one's mind--the Word of God which is living, active, perfect, powerful, and true, is what anchors our minds. It is Scripture that we set our minds on, not vain imaginings.  Scripture is "the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16). His Word is our bedrock foundation, our anchor, unmoveable, unchanging, established Truth. After all Scripture comes from the mouth of God. The point is to walk by what God says, not by what we think or wish things to be or what we wish to have or whatever. 

1Pe 1:13  Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Yet John Piper said about Rick Warren:

“.. 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.” ~John Piper, 35 minutes in on Rick Warren and his invitation to Warren to attend his Desiring God Conference 2010 (via Take Heed Ministries) 

What Warren taught at DGC in October 2010: Here's one quote:"We all have a mental illness. It’s called sin. This means we can’t trust what we ourselves even think." If that sounds like Robert Schuller, you'd be right. Schuller was a mentor of Rick Warren. Warren also said at the DGC: "Nothing happens till somebody starts dreaming. What we need today are great dreamers."

The panel discussion of the speakers at DGC Conference 2010 on Rick Warren's message, a few quotes you just read above:

Quote:

1. Can you give us your initial reflections on the message we just heard from Rick Warren?

Burk Parsons: I saw a man with character and with simple, childlike dependence on Christ.

John Piper: An unbelievable communicator with incredible application. Be encouraged and relax with who you are, and give it all to Jesus while learning all you can from Rick.

Col 2:2  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 
Col 2:3  in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 
Col 2:4  I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. 

Col 2:5  For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
Col 2:6  Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,
Col 2:7  rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
Col 2:8  See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 

Col 3:1  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 

Col 3:3  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

Col 3:5  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 

Col 3:6  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

1Co 2:11  For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 
1Co 2:12  Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by 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. 

Sin and Hell

photo source

Opposition to divine sovereignty

photo source

Opposition to divine sovereignty is essentially atheism. Men have no objection to a god who is really no God; I mean, by this, a god who shall be the subject of their caprice, who shall be a lackey to their will, who shall be under their control; they have no objection to such a being as that; but a God who speaks, and it is done, who commands, and it stands fast, a God who has no respect for their persons, but does as he wills among the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of this lower world, such a God as this they cannot endure.

~ C.H. Spurgeon

Wayne Grudem Joins Rick Warren As Spiritual Advisor to Roman Catholic Marc Rubio

Wayne Grudem, a Charismatic Old Age Earther is now the "religious advisor" for Roman Catholic Marc Rubio, along with Rick Warren.

When you deny Scripture in the Beginning, and deny it regarding the Charismatic gifts, you are denying the Word's absolute and sole authority and truthfulness as well as it's clarity. In doing so, you end up acting upon such unbelief in Scripture such as spiritual harlotry with Catholics and heretic Rick Warren.


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,

Who says politics don't reflect one's religion? 

US Supreme Court Justice Scalia Confirms Constitution Supports Religion In Our Society

Speaking about religious freedom at Archbishop Rummel High School in a Louisiana suburb of New Orleans, Scalia insisted that in American constitutional tradition, there has always been a presumption of the benefit of religion for society.

It is “absurd” to think the Constitution bans the government from supporting religion, he said.

“God has been very good to us,” Scalia said. “One of the reasons God has been good to us is that we have done him honor.”

~More at Breitbart

The Apostasy of David Jeremiah

The latest is that David Jeremiah is joining other heretics at the Jumpstart conference in May 2016, which includes Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen.

But this is not the first problem Jeremiah has had. He's been on the apostasy trajectory. The End blog has listed this journey of apostasy, not the least of which is when Jeremiah showed up on TBN teaching the health-wealth false gospel. But there's more. He joined Roman Catholic mystics Roma Downey and her husband Mark Burnet to push their "new tv show A.D. and Jeremiah's new companion book based on the biblical book of Acts. The interview was held on March 12, 2015 at the church." 

Additionally Jeremiah reads from his own book in the pulpit at his church. This is total arrogance and certainly not feeding the sheep the only food that will benefit their souls: Scripture. 

Lighthouse Trails Research noted:

David Jeremiah’s 2003/2005 book, Life Wide Open, has a subtitle of “Unleashing the Power of a Passionate Life.” In the introduction of the book, Jeremiah tells readers that “A Small handful among us have discovered what the rest of us would pay dearly to know: How can we bring real, living excitement into this life?” Jeremiah goes on to tell readers that “This book is a map to the life of passion and purpose, the life wide open…”  (p. xii) Who are these small handful of people who have discovered the secret? Well according to Jeremiah’s book, his list includes Rick Warren, contemplative, feminine spiritualist Sue Monk Kidd (When the Heart Waits), contemplative Calvin Miller (Into the Depths of God), Buddhist sympathizer Peter Senge (The Fifth Discipline), emerging church leader Erwin McManus, contemplative Michael Card, and Brother Lawrence (Practicing the Presence of God).
Also, Lighthouse Trails Research found that David Jeremiah had Emergent John Ortberg preach at his church. LTR explains:

John Ortberg has been a major contemplative advocate for many years. It was he and Ruth Haley Barton (trained at Shalem Institute) who put together the spiritual formation (i.e., contemplative prayer) curriculum for Willow Creek a number of years ago. What’s more, in a book that Barton and Ortberg co-authored, An Ordinary Day with Jesus, they tell readers to practice lectio divina (what they describe as a slow meditative practice) and to repeat a word in a mantra-like fashion. They also include panentheist Tilden Edwards (along with other contemplatives) in their additional resources section of that book.

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.
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, 
2Jn 1:11  for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

Jefferson Bethke

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So apparently Jefferson Bethke is a 20 something year old Youtube celebrity. From this interview, he's just another youngin' who thinks he's got a handle on Christianity, but he doesn't. It's another case of "the children telling the parents what to do". Too bad the Millennials are too arrogant to learn from the older folks. Youtube fame doesn't a solid Christian leader make. It just makes another flash in the pan. He admits to not being very knowledgeable and yet he's now attacking the Rapture doctrine, as well as preaching to people about what he thinks is wrong with Christianity (not sure if he's even at a church). By the way,Ed Stetzer's questions are also disturbing and reveals he hasn't left his Emergent roots.

As someone once said, it's time to stop blaming the sheep for the goats' behavior. And it's also time to stop with this reckless, Emergent view of Christianity in which arrogance and hypocrisy is a hallmark (some of the things they judge Christians and churches for).

Here he attacks and mocks the doctrine of the Rapture (again, this kid has admitted to not being an expert, a scholar, or a pastor). Exegesis? Scripture? Not to be found. Historical and biblical accuracy? No that's not there either. He does perpetuate the tale of the Rapture starting or being made popular iwth Darby. Again, not accurate. Frankly, he sounds more like a Dominionist as well as a parrot of Chan-Platt-Keller-Driscoll.  There's absolutely nothing new with this kid. Not even with the accolades of being "fresh" "new" etc....that's what they said about the aforementioned Emergents 12 years ago. Biblical Christianity, by the way, has nothing new nor does it need something new, bold, fresh in it's approach. It is the eternal Word of God and therefore needs no enhancing. It alone is living and active (see Heb. 4:1e and Is. 55:11).That kind of talk is coming from a bored 20 something year old who is searching for meaning and excitement. Go ask Driscoll how that edgy life and believe system has worked out for him. Bethke seems to be into social justice, which is another hallmark of Emergents and their children, which fits well with Dominionism or Amillennialism.

Regurgitating Emergents and other authors doesn't qualify a person to know the Scriptures or the Author of them. It merely means one can read and recall. Sound bites and "clever" approaches are merely appeals to the flesh and do not give the meat of the Truth. Preaching and teaching cannot be remade into to an "ADHD", fast-food approach. God is the God of precision and we are to carefully and skillfully and biblically handle the very Words of God with great precision. It is dangerous to play fast and loose, not to mention trivially and fleshly with the Sword of the Spirit. 

2Ti 2:15  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 

2Ti 2:16  But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 

Jas 3:1  Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 

Kevin DeYoung critiques his "word" Youtube poem here.

Landon Chapman deals with Bethke's  admiration of a radical liberal rapper, as well as his intolerance of being asked if he evangelized the rapper when he saw him. He shuts out the person who asked the question--therefore proving he's a hypocrite. The thing he hates "religion" (read, "church"), is the very thing he does. Nice.

More Doctrinal Triage: SBC President Ronnie Floyd Speaks At Heretical Mike Bickel's IHOP Conference

As Jeff Maples  at Pulpit and Pen reports:

"I’m not here tonight to highlight our theological differences, but to bend my knee, next to yours, and to ask God to have mercy on America. I also know that my being here is not an endorsement of your theology or your endorsement of my orthodoxy, I did not get asked to this gathering tonight because the leaders agree with all of my theological convictions. In fact, if we’re totally honest with one another we know that thousands of us who are filling this convention center and thousands more who are streaming live around the world, we’re not in total agreement about a lot of the secondary matters of life, ministry, and even the bible. Yet my being here is a clear indication that these are times when people must come together and pray." - Ronnie Floyd, president of the SBC

"As I reported before, the IHOP gathering is a mish-mash of different professing Christian groups, from charismatics to Catholics. It should go without saying to any Southern Baptist that Roman Catholicism is not a true expression of Christianity, and for that matter, neither are the blasphemous false manifestations of the Holy Spirit that are put on by charismatic cults like IHOP." - Jeff Maples

Jeff goes on to show why this is a problem, as everything is reduced to social justice/dominionism to make things better, not about people repenting of their sins and turning to Christ Jesus alone in submission for salvation and forgiveness and biblical new life.

IHOP and Bickle are also highly endorsed by Emergent Francis Chan.

What's ironic is that Floyd said, "I’m not here tonight to highlight our theological differences, but to bend my knee, next to yours, and to ask God to have mercy on America. I also know that my being here is not an endorsement of your theology or your endorsement of my orthodoxy" which is exactly why God is judging America. It is precisely because of this spiritual harlotry and apostacy that God's wrath is against this so-called Christianity and their "churches". Floyd and IHOP ARE the reasons for God's wrath and they are so deluded and arrogant they don't even know it.

Mat 4:4  But he answered, "It is written, "'Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

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. 
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, 
2Jn 1:11  for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. 

1Ti 6:3  If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4  he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,

1Ti 6:5  and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. 

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.

Eph 4:14  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

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. 

So Why Celebrate Christmas?

Luk 1:26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary.
Luk 1:28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!"
Luk 1:29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be.
Luk 1:30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luk 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luk 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Why did Jesus come to Earth and take on flesh?

Heb 10:4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 
Heb 10:5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 
Heb 10:6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 
Heb 10:7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.'" 
Heb 10:8 When he said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), 
Heb 10:9 then he added, "Behold, I have come to do your will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 
Heb 10:10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Php 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 
Php 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 
Php 2:7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 
Php 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

He came in humiliation in order to not only fulfill the prophecies about Him, as well as the Law (breaking God's laws, even one, is sin and sin earns death--which is why all people die, because all people are sinners), but to die on a cross in the stead of sinners, taking the full wrath of the Father against sinners so that God's justice would be met and that people would be saved from His eternal wrath (because if you die in your sins, you remain in your sins and therefore in eternal damnation). 

This is why Christmas is a reminder of what a blessing it was for Christ Jesus to come (as prophesied multiple times and in detail)--because really it was to die in the place of ill-deserving sinners so that they would be saved and glorify God for His abundant grace, forgiveness, love, eternal life, and all the things we have in Christ.

Luk 24:4  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 

Luk 24:5  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 

Luk 24:6  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 

Luk 24:7  that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." 

It's Not Guns That Are the Problem....The Real Problem Might Surprise You

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