WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?
A FOLLOWER OF GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST HIS DEAR SON WHO TAUGHT US THE WAY OF SALVATION, AND HOW TO LIVE OUR LIVES.
WE ARE ALL SINNERS, AND WILL NEVER COME CLOSE TO THE GLORY OF GOD IN OUR OWN WILL, STRENGTH, OR POWER.
- ROMANS 3:23 “FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.”
WE HAVE A DAMAGED NATURE THAT WAS INHERITED FROM THE FALL THAT OCCURRED AT THE BEGINNING OF MANKIND WITH THE DISOBEDIENCE OF ADAM AND EVE.
- ROMANS 5:12 “THEREFORE, JUST AS SIN CAME INTO THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN, AND DEATH THROUGH SIN, AND SO DEATH SPREAD TO ALL MEN BECAUSE ALL SINNED.”
GOD PUT A MORAL LAW INTO OUR HEARTS. HE WROTE IT IN STONE ON MT. SINAI TO SHOW ITS PERMANENCE. THESE LAWS WERE TO BE A GUIDE TO US FOR LIVING, AND TO SHOW US HOW WE ALWAYS FALL SHORT AND OFFEND GOD. THEY WERE NOT MEANT AS A WAY OF ETERNAL SALVATION.
- ROMANS 2:14-16 “FOR WHEN GENTILES, WHO DO NOT HAVE THE LAW, BY NATURE DO WHAT THE LAW REQUIRES, THEY ARE A LAW TO THEMSELVES, EVEN THOUGH THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LAW. THEY SHOW THAT THE WORK OF THE LAW IS WRITTEN ON THEIR HEARTS, WHILE THEIR CONSCIENCE ALSO BEARS WITNESS, AND THEIR CONFLICTING THOUGHTS ACCUSE OR EVEN EXCUSE THEM ON THAT DAY WHEN, ACCORDING TO MY GOSPEL, GOD JUDGES THE SECRETS OF MEN BY CHRIST JESUS.”
OUT OF THE MASS OF CORRUPT HUMANITY, GOD CHOSE ABRAHAM TO BE A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE CAME OUT OF HIM.
- JAMES 2:23 “AND THE SCRIPTURE WAS FULFILLED THAT SAYS, "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS"—AND HE WAS CALLED A FRIEND OF GOD.”
GOD CHOSE THEM TO BE A PECULIAR PEOPLE TO HIM. THIS IS WHY HE GAVE THEM A LAW. HE MADE THEM A POWERFUL NATION.
- DEUTERONOMY 14:2 “FOR THOU ART AN HOLY PEOPLE UNTO THE LORD THY GOD, AND THE LORD HATH CHOSEN THEE TO BE A PECULIAR PEOPLE UNTO HIMSELF, ABOVE ALL THE NATIONS THAT ARE UPON THE EARTH.”
EVEN WITH ALL GOD’S LOVE AND ATTENTION, THEY MANAGED TO WORSHIP IDOLS AND STRAY FAR AWAY FROM THEIR GOD.
- 2 KINGS 17:15 ” THEY DESPISED HIS STATUTES AND HIS COVENANT THAT HE MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS AND THE WARNINGS THAT HE GAVE THEM. THEY WENT AFTER FALSE IDOLS AND BECAME FALSE, AND THEY FOLLOWED THE NATIONS THAT WERE AROUND THEM, CONCERNING WHOM THE LORD HAD COMMANDED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD NOT DO LIKE THEM.”
WHEN THE TIME WAS RIGHT, GOD SENT HIS SON JESUS CHRIST, WHO WAS AND IS GOD IN THE FLESH, TO BE OUR SAVIOR.
- ROMANS 5:6 “FOR WHILE WE WERE STILL WEAK, AT THE RIGHT TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY.”
NO LONGER WAS IT A REQUIREMENT TO BE A JEW OR CONVERT TO JUDAISM AND LIVE IN ISRAEL TO BE A CHILD OF GOD. THROUGH FAITH IN GOD’S SON JESUS CHRIST, ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD COULD BECOME THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
- GALATIANS 3:28 “THERE IS NEITHER JEW NOR GREEK, THERE IS NEITHER SLAVE NOR FREE, THERE IS NO MALE AND FEMALE, FOR YOU ARE ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.”
THROUGH FAITH IN GOD’S HOLY SON JESUS CHRIST, ALL WHO COME TO HIM CAN HAVE FORGIVENESS OF THEIR SINS (SIN=THE BREAKING OF GOD’S LAW).
- MATTHEW 26:28 “FOR THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW COVENANT, WHICH IS SHED FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS.”
JUST LIKE ANY HUMAN LAW, BEING SORRY FOR BREAKING THE LAW DOESN’T GET ONE OUT OF TROUBLE. YOU MUST PAY THE FINE, WHETHER IT BE MONETARY, AS IN THE CASE OF A SPEEDING TICKET, OR YOUR VERY LIFE, AS IN THE CASE WITH MURDER. HOW DOES THE BREAKING OF GOD’S LAW GET PAID FOR? NOTHING UNHOLY CAN ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD. UNHOLINESS IS SIN, AND YOU AND I HAVE SINNED MANY, MANY TIMES. GOD WOULD BE TOTALLY JUST IN SENDING US TO HELL. JESUS CHRIST, PERFECT MAN AND GOD IN THE FLESH, PAID YOUR FINE FOR YOU, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO SHARE IN GOD’S MERCY AND HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. ALL GLORY AND HONOR BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST!
- JOHN 3:16 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE.”
- ROMANS 10:9-10 “BECAUSE, IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED. FOR WITH THE HEART ONE BELIEVES AND IS JUSTIFIED, AND WITH THE MOUTH ONE CONFESSES AND IS SAVED.”
- JOHN 3:18 “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE STANDS CONDEMNED ALREADY BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF GOD'S ONE AND ONLY SON.”
WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE? KEEP READING.
- 1 CORINTHIANS 6:9-10 “OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS WILL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD? DO NOT BE DECEIVED: NEITHER THE SEXUALLY IMMORAL, NOR IDOLATERS, NOR ADULTERERS, NOR MEN WHO PRACTICE HOMOSEXUALITY, NOR THIEVES, NOR THE GREEDY, NOR DRUNKARDS, NOR REVILERS, NOR SWINDLERS WILL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”
- REVELATION 22:15 “OUTSIDE ARE THE DOGS AND SORCERERS AND THE SEXUALLY IMMORAL AND MURDERERS AND IDOLATERS, AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES AND PRACTICES LIES.”
IF YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE LIST, YOU PROBABLY NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT A LITTLE MORE. WHO’S RIGHT? YOU OR GOD WHO SAYS ALL HAVE SINNED? ONE LIE, ONE THEFT, ONE CASE OF ADULTERY, ONE HATRED, ONE GREEDY MOMENT, ONE CASE OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY, MAKES YOU A SINNER AND SEPARATED FROM GOD, JUST LIKE ONE RAPE MAKES ONE A RAPIST AND ONE KILLING MAKES ONE A MURDERED. GOD=TOTAL PERFECTION AND HOLINESS. MANKIND=SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOLY BUT WE'RE NOT.
MAYBE YOU THINK THIS SOUNDS TOO HARSH. THINK ABOUT IT. AM I LYING TO YOU? WHAT HAVE I GOT TO GAIN BY TELLING YOU WHAT THE SCRIPTURES SAY? IF YOUR HOUSE WERE ON FIRE I WOULD BANG ON YOUR DOOR TO WAKE YOU UP AND GET YOU OUT OF THE FIRE.
SO, THE CHOICE IS YOURS. BELIEVE WHAT YOU THINK IS RIGHT IN YOUR HEART (THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMS RIGHT TO A MAN, BUT ITS END IS THE WAY TO DEATH. – PROVERBS 16:25) OR BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS, WHICH IS THE WORD OF THE LORD. (EVERY WORD OF GOD PROVES TRUE; HE IS A SHIELD TO THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM. – PROVERBS 30:5)
THIS ISN’T WRITTEN TO MAKE YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT YOURSELF. THIS IS SIMPLY WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS. THIS IS WRITTEN TO LET YOU KNOW HOW GLORIOUS AND WONDERFUL OUR SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST IS!
HOW DOES ONE GET SAVED/BORN AGAIN/BECOME A CHRISTIAN?
- ACTS 16:30-31 “SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? AND THEY SAID, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED, AND THY HOUSE.”
- MARK 16:16 “WHOEVER BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED, BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE WILL BE CONDEMNED.”
THERE IS MUCH MORE TO WRITE, BUT THE BASICS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE ARE BELOW.
- GALATIANS 5:14 “FOR ALL THE LAW IS FULFILLED IN ONE WORD, EVEN IN THIS; THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.”
- JOHN 13:34 “A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER: JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, YOU ALSO ARE TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”
- 1 JOHN 4:7-8 “BELOVED, LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER, FOR LOVE IS FROM GOD, AND WHOEVER LOVES HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD. ANYONE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE.”
- JAMES 4:6 “BUT HE GIVES MORE GRACE. THEREFORE IT SAYS, "GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Classical, Liturgical, Confessional
I get Google Alerts on a couple Anglican topics, and they are so depressing that I usually just wind up deleting them. The ACNA is already having struggles between those who do/don't want woman's ordination, Anglo Catholics and Evangelical Anglicans (who, by the way, seem to be simply doing what all the mega churches are doing-selling out to the world), Charismatics and everyone else, which Prayer Book to use, etc. And, of course, the never ending blasphemy and heresy coming out of TEC and ELCA lands in my email inbox every day. Bahhh! It's all so tiring. I know where I stand and I can focus on the things that matter, like doing the works Christ told us to do; making disciples, feeding the poor, helping children and widows, etc., but mostly, proclaiming Lordship of Jesus Christ and the glorious salvation offered in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
I consider myself to be a Christian that happens to like confessional Christianity and traditional liturgy. Many, if not most, Anglicans and Lutherans of varying denominations have it backwards. They are Christians who put their denomination, disputes, errors and everything else before their Christianity. Such a shame. Such a waste of time.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Be what you want your children to be
A mother and her son were watching the Discovery Channel when, to the mother’s surprise, the little boy saw a statue of Buddha and said, “That’s the religion of some Asian people and in India too, I think”. The mother said “Do you know what they believe?” to which the boy replied, “I think they believe in a fat bald man who gives you good luck if you rub his belly. Some of them wear orange robes and are really nice and peaceful people.”
So she got out the encyclopedias and showed the boy other religious pictures, starting with a crescent moon, representing Islam. The boy said, “That’s the religion where ladies wear long black robes and cover their faces and all the men have beards. They really like their religion so much that they practice it all the time, even when they’re not at church.” “Wow” replied the mother “You really know your stuff! Where did you learn that?” The boy said “A friend at school lives by one of them.”
Then she showed him a Star of David. The boy said “That’s the Jews. A lot of them were killed by bad people. Some of the men wear all black and have black hats and curly sideburns. They go cry at a wall in Jerusalem because they are sad.” “Where did you learn that?” asked the mother. “From watching a movie on the history channel” said the boy.
The mother then showed the boy a Cross, to which the boy replied “Oh, I know that one. That’s about Jesus.” “You’re right!” said the mother. “What do we Christians do?” The boy said “They build really humungous and pretty buildings that nobody goes to, except for little kids, like when you drop me off at Vacation Bible School. But it’s hard to tell who a Christian is because they act, look and talk just like everybody else.”
At his response the mother started crying, realizing that she should have been practicing what she had claimed to believe.
The point is that one should be careful what one claims to be. In the United States, the vast majority of people claim to be Christian, or have been baptized in a Christian Church, and then never darken the doors of the Church with their shadow. Subsequently, their lives show absolutely no Christ-likeness, no change. You can’t say you love God and never visit Him, never worship Him, never do anything to grow closer to Him by learning obedience to His Word. That sort of a relationship doesn’t work with your parents, or especially with your wife or husband, does it? Try telling them you love them, then never visit them, never try to please them, and basically ignore their existence until you absolutely need them for something. This is the same way people treat God. Perfection isn’t possible, but love is, and Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. “
- Paul Thompson
So she got out the encyclopedias and showed the boy other religious pictures, starting with a crescent moon, representing Islam. The boy said, “That’s the religion where ladies wear long black robes and cover their faces and all the men have beards. They really like their religion so much that they practice it all the time, even when they’re not at church.” “Wow” replied the mother “You really know your stuff! Where did you learn that?” The boy said “A friend at school lives by one of them.”
Then she showed him a Star of David. The boy said “That’s the Jews. A lot of them were killed by bad people. Some of the men wear all black and have black hats and curly sideburns. They go cry at a wall in Jerusalem because they are sad.” “Where did you learn that?” asked the mother. “From watching a movie on the history channel” said the boy.
The mother then showed the boy a Cross, to which the boy replied “Oh, I know that one. That’s about Jesus.” “You’re right!” said the mother. “What do we Christians do?” The boy said “They build really humungous and pretty buildings that nobody goes to, except for little kids, like when you drop me off at Vacation Bible School. But it’s hard to tell who a Christian is because they act, look and talk just like everybody else.”
At his response the mother started crying, realizing that she should have been practicing what she had claimed to believe.
The point is that one should be careful what one claims to be. In the United States, the vast majority of people claim to be Christian, or have been baptized in a Christian Church, and then never darken the doors of the Church with their shadow. Subsequently, their lives show absolutely no Christ-likeness, no change. You can’t say you love God and never visit Him, never worship Him, never do anything to grow closer to Him by learning obedience to His Word. That sort of a relationship doesn’t work with your parents, or especially with your wife or husband, does it? Try telling them you love them, then never visit them, never try to please them, and basically ignore their existence until you absolutely need them for something. This is the same way people treat God. Perfection isn’t possible, but love is, and Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. “
- Paul Thompson
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
An email to my wife about spiritual things...
Hi my love,
Remember the other night when you said that you don't know if you believe that the Genesis account and other stories are just spiritual illustrations teaching us a cosmic lesson, instead it is less confusing and right to believe that these stories are literal? Well, you are right. When does one stop taking things as figurative and start taking it literally? You could take it all the way from Genesis to Revelation figuratively if you wanted to, but then where is truth in that? One could read Aesop's Fables and get a good lesson from it. I think it is right to think that when the Bible is figurative it is blatantly figurative, and when it is literal, it is blatantly literal.
Also, if you'll think about it, there is NO harm in playing it safe and believing less, or the bare minimum, but there is harm in believing heresies or stories as truth. So, take, for instance, a Baptist, who believes that the early church was simple, independent, having only a bishop (pastor or shepherd) and deacons like the New Testament says, and believes in "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved". Then they meet together, sing hymns, pray together and hear the word preached, and lead holy lives. They stick only to what the Bible says. There is no harm in this. How could there be?
On the other hand, some church traditions treat their church traditions as if they have been there since the beginning. Sometimes these people begin to worship the idea of the church instead of the Lord. Then, as is evident in Catholicism and Orthodoxy, traditions such as the assumption of Mary, purgatory, intercession of saints, indulgences, immaculate conception and other doctrines become something that you MUST believe to avoid being a heretic. What does that do with the early church people who didn't believe in these doctrines? Make them heretics?
About Apostolic Succession and Apostolic Churches, I realize the purpose behind it, to ensure that godly men were put in place after the death of the previous bishop, but it took on a different form, becoming almost like a magical transmission of truth and power. That's not the case. Apostolic Succession never secured the church from error, and has never perfectly preserved the truth, has it? Any man who has a great knowledge of the Bible and leads an upright life can effectively teach the Scriptures to others and be their pastor. Truth is preserved in men who love God and desire truth, not in the laying on of hands.
Also, I have seen a lot of liturgical churches that have the scripture verse, "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" above a picture of an altar, or vestments or something. I think they are reading that verse backwards. I think that they may be reading it as "worship the Lord in the holiness of beauty". Beauty is not holiness to the Lord. Holiness, however, is beauty to the Lord. Holiness can be as homely as a dirty man in rags who loves God with all his heart, mind and strength and who loves his neighbor as himself, and who watches the words that comes out of his mouth, who helps the orphans and widows, who keeps himself unspotted from the world, who confesses his sins and repents, placing his trust in God and His Son. On the other hand, there are MANY people who have beautiful churches and wear beautiful vestments who molest children, or are very proud of themselves, who wear huge mitres upon their heads. Jesus slept on the streets and probably wore the same humble clothes for most of his adult life.
Love you,
Paul
Remember the other night when you said that you don't know if you believe that the Genesis account and other stories are just spiritual illustrations teaching us a cosmic lesson, instead it is less confusing and right to believe that these stories are literal? Well, you are right. When does one stop taking things as figurative and start taking it literally? You could take it all the way from Genesis to Revelation figuratively if you wanted to, but then where is truth in that? One could read Aesop's Fables and get a good lesson from it. I think it is right to think that when the Bible is figurative it is blatantly figurative, and when it is literal, it is blatantly literal.
Also, if you'll think about it, there is NO harm in playing it safe and believing less, or the bare minimum, but there is harm in believing heresies or stories as truth. So, take, for instance, a Baptist, who believes that the early church was simple, independent, having only a bishop (pastor or shepherd) and deacons like the New Testament says, and believes in "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved". Then they meet together, sing hymns, pray together and hear the word preached, and lead holy lives. They stick only to what the Bible says. There is no harm in this. How could there be?
On the other hand, some church traditions treat their church traditions as if they have been there since the beginning. Sometimes these people begin to worship the idea of the church instead of the Lord. Then, as is evident in Catholicism and Orthodoxy, traditions such as the assumption of Mary, purgatory, intercession of saints, indulgences, immaculate conception and other doctrines become something that you MUST believe to avoid being a heretic. What does that do with the early church people who didn't believe in these doctrines? Make them heretics?
About Apostolic Succession and Apostolic Churches, I realize the purpose behind it, to ensure that godly men were put in place after the death of the previous bishop, but it took on a different form, becoming almost like a magical transmission of truth and power. That's not the case. Apostolic Succession never secured the church from error, and has never perfectly preserved the truth, has it? Any man who has a great knowledge of the Bible and leads an upright life can effectively teach the Scriptures to others and be their pastor. Truth is preserved in men who love God and desire truth, not in the laying on of hands.
Also, I have seen a lot of liturgical churches that have the scripture verse, "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" above a picture of an altar, or vestments or something. I think they are reading that verse backwards. I think that they may be reading it as "worship the Lord in the holiness of beauty". Beauty is not holiness to the Lord. Holiness, however, is beauty to the Lord. Holiness can be as homely as a dirty man in rags who loves God with all his heart, mind and strength and who loves his neighbor as himself, and who watches the words that comes out of his mouth, who helps the orphans and widows, who keeps himself unspotted from the world, who confesses his sins and repents, placing his trust in God and His Son. On the other hand, there are MANY people who have beautiful churches and wear beautiful vestments who molest children, or are very proud of themselves, who wear huge mitres upon their heads. Jesus slept on the streets and probably wore the same humble clothes for most of his adult life.
Love you,
Paul
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Important Message from Ben Stein
This is a great message from Ben Stein. The basic message is this: If you don't want God in your life, then be prepared for Him to back out of your life. Don't ask Him for favors or help if you don't want Him around. Don't complain if He lets us destroy ourselves. Pass it on.
Sincerely,
Paul+
I find myself in full agreement with Ben Stein, as I often do:
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Sincerely,
Paul+
I find myself in full agreement with Ben Stein, as I often do:
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Church Militant
I personally believe, based on the clear command of Scripture and the witness of the Church throughout history, that the ministry of the Church Militant is to preach the gospel to all creation, making disciples of all nations. This includes witnessing to others with zeal. I’m really glad the apostles didn’t sit in the upper room and wait for converts to accidentally stumble up the stairs and join their church. Just as we don’t sit in a boat and wait for the fish to jump in, we shouldn’t expect people to magically become Christians. It is my/our task to get out and make disciples. I believe this means convicting sinners using the Law of God (Ten Commandments), but in a gentle manner, showing all people how they have sinned against God, failing to keep ANY of His commandments. The Law is the schoolmaster to bring people to Christ. Once a person realizes how broken and sinful they are, they can receive the cure for their disease, which is Jesus Christ, the saviour of sinners.
If a doctor were to tell you that you need to get a shot in the arm and then start receiving chemotherapy, you would be offended at him for offering a cure to something you don’t have. But if the doctor tells you that, after examination, you have cancer, then you will gladly take the cure, or therapy, and will be relieved.
Once converts are made, it is the job of the Church Militant to teach them to “observe all things, whatsoever I (Christ) commanded you (doctrine of the Apostles).” The Church Militant should also provide for the widow and fatherless, help the poor, love the brethren and try, as much as it is possible, to live at peace with all men, and to not create schism.
Each member has his or her own gift of ministry, which should be used according the portion it has been given them.
Rev. Paul Thompson
If a doctor were to tell you that you need to get a shot in the arm and then start receiving chemotherapy, you would be offended at him for offering a cure to something you don’t have. But if the doctor tells you that, after examination, you have cancer, then you will gladly take the cure, or therapy, and will be relieved.
Once converts are made, it is the job of the Church Militant to teach them to “observe all things, whatsoever I (Christ) commanded you (doctrine of the Apostles).” The Church Militant should also provide for the widow and fatherless, help the poor, love the brethren and try, as much as it is possible, to live at peace with all men, and to not create schism.
Each member has his or her own gift of ministry, which should be used according the portion it has been given them.
Rev. Paul Thompson
Prayer
Christian prayer is communication with God the Father, and is best exemplified in the prayer our Lord Jesus Christ gave us, the Lord’s Prayer. We should glorify God in our hearts and minds first, we should seek out His kingdom, and pray that His will be done in our life, just as it would be done in heaven. Then we should offer our petitions to God, and also ask forgiveness of our sins, since we do sin daily against His Divine Majesty. We should seek His protection in our daily life against sin in our own lives and from the attacks of the evil one. We should also remember that to God alone belongs all glory and honor.
I practice Morning and Evening Prayer as it is in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (USA), but that is not all that I do. I have three children; two boys and one daughter. I pray with them every day, utilizing the Lord’s Prayer, and the Apostle’s Creed, always leaving room for our own personal petitions and concerns. My oldest son, James, (7 years), keeps a prayer journal, and he is quite a boy of prayer, that I know, with God’s help, will grow to be a man of prayer. I am also teaching my children that written prayers are for our learning, and teach us how to pray, and for what we should pray. They do know that they can, and should, speak to God from their hearts.
Overall, prayer is a constant relationship with God that should be carried out all day. I converse with God while at my day job, on the drive home, and many times being consciously unaware that I am praying to Him. A good book I read a couple years ago called The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence, was a good example of living a life of prayer/relationship with God. God can be glorified in the kitchen in one’s heart just as much as He can in the liturgy of the Church.
I practice Morning and Evening Prayer as it is in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (USA), but that is not all that I do. I have three children; two boys and one daughter. I pray with them every day, utilizing the Lord’s Prayer, and the Apostle’s Creed, always leaving room for our own personal petitions and concerns. My oldest son, James, (7 years), keeps a prayer journal, and he is quite a boy of prayer, that I know, with God’s help, will grow to be a man of prayer. I am also teaching my children that written prayers are for our learning, and teach us how to pray, and for what we should pray. They do know that they can, and should, speak to God from their hearts.
Overall, prayer is a constant relationship with God that should be carried out all day. I converse with God while at my day job, on the drive home, and many times being consciously unaware that I am praying to Him. A good book I read a couple years ago called The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence, was a good example of living a life of prayer/relationship with God. God can be glorified in the kitchen in one’s heart just as much as He can in the liturgy of the Church.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
DEPRAVITY
Yes, humans are totally depraved. There is no goodness in them. I went through a short period where I believed that the remaining goodness in a person could coax them back to the God who created them; that the light that brought them into this world would somehow draw them back to that original light through works of righteousness. I was wrong.
I have a friend who has a large tattoo on his back. It is a scale, and weighed in the balances are the words "good" and "bad". The "good" side of the scale weighed more than the bad, showing that his "goodness" outweighed his "badness". When I asked him if he thought he was basically good, he said "yes, I am mostly a good person. I've never done anything too horrible". This same man says the most crude and horrible things I've heard come out of a man's mouth. He also breaks every commandment of God Almighty, and boasts about doing so. Yet, he seems to believe that his goodness outweighs his evil.
I stand with what the Bible says. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). I can say completely truthfully and with my whole heart that nearly every unsaved person I work with is wicked and does no good. Romans 3:10-13 says "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:"
I can vouch for the truthfulness of every statement in this section of Scripture.
- None righteous. Not one person I know follows God's Law, or has a heart to love God.
- None that understandeth. Not one person I know understands spiritual things, nor do they desire to.
- None that seeketh after God. Unless they are hiding something, I don't know one of them who actively pursues God. None seek the true God. They are too busy seeking entertainment.
- Open sepulchre. A sepulchre is a tomb or grave. The words of their mouth are deadly, and hearing it everyday is poison to my soul, and the souls of those around them, sending them to death.
- Deceit and poison. This is what flows from their mouth when they speak. I rarely hear an encouraging word from any one of them. Their words are poisonous and they are deceitful, trying to cause others to stumble and fall and sin so they may not feel anyone is better than them.
This may sound rude, but this is just the way it is. If people think that judgement day will prove them just and good men because they were "basically good", they have another thing coming. They will be judged for their works, and their works will be filthy rags, and their horrible sinfulness will condemn them.
There is ONE CURE. The Lord Jesus Christ has made atonement for those who repent from their sins and turn to him for forgiveness. Trust in Him fully for redemption and justification and begin a new life. Don't wait to come to God until you are perfect; that day will never come. He wants you just as you are, as sinful and dreadful as you are. He will completely justify you and make you a new person.
I have a friend who has a large tattoo on his back. It is a scale, and weighed in the balances are the words "good" and "bad". The "good" side of the scale weighed more than the bad, showing that his "goodness" outweighed his "badness". When I asked him if he thought he was basically good, he said "yes, I am mostly a good person. I've never done anything too horrible". This same man says the most crude and horrible things I've heard come out of a man's mouth. He also breaks every commandment of God Almighty, and boasts about doing so. Yet, he seems to believe that his goodness outweighs his evil.
I stand with what the Bible says. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9). I can say completely truthfully and with my whole heart that nearly every unsaved person I work with is wicked and does no good. Romans 3:10-13 says "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:"
I can vouch for the truthfulness of every statement in this section of Scripture.
- None righteous. Not one person I know follows God's Law, or has a heart to love God.
- None that understandeth. Not one person I know understands spiritual things, nor do they desire to.
- None that seeketh after God. Unless they are hiding something, I don't know one of them who actively pursues God. None seek the true God. They are too busy seeking entertainment.
- Open sepulchre. A sepulchre is a tomb or grave. The words of their mouth are deadly, and hearing it everyday is poison to my soul, and the souls of those around them, sending them to death.
- Deceit and poison. This is what flows from their mouth when they speak. I rarely hear an encouraging word from any one of them. Their words are poisonous and they are deceitful, trying to cause others to stumble and fall and sin so they may not feel anyone is better than them.
This may sound rude, but this is just the way it is. If people think that judgement day will prove them just and good men because they were "basically good", they have another thing coming. They will be judged for their works, and their works will be filthy rags, and their horrible sinfulness will condemn them.
There is ONE CURE. The Lord Jesus Christ has made atonement for those who repent from their sins and turn to him for forgiveness. Trust in Him fully for redemption and justification and begin a new life. Don't wait to come to God until you are perfect; that day will never come. He wants you just as you are, as sinful and dreadful as you are. He will completely justify you and make you a new person.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Was (is) Jesus God?
The New Testament writers clearly believed that Jesus was God. For instance, look at this verse from Titus 2:13 "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."
-Here Jesus is referred to as the great God and Saviour.
Acts 20:28 says, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
-This verse says that God purchased His church with His own blood. It was the blood of Jesus that was shed when He was crucified.
-Here Jesus is referred to as the great God and Saviour.
Acts 20:28 says, "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."
-This verse says that God purchased His church with His own blood. It was the blood of Jesus that was shed when He was crucified.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Apostate Christianity
Dear Christians, be very wary of the claims of some self proclaimed Christian denominations today. There is ONE way to judge whether or not a church is a Church of Christ or a synagogue of satan. Please read the quote below from the late Archbishop Cranmer.
"If there were any word of God beside the Scripture, we could never be certain of God's Word; and if we be uncertain of God's Word, the devil might bring in among us a new word, a new doctrine, a new faith, a new church, a new god, yea himself to be a god. If the Church and the Christian faith did not stay itself upon the Word of God certain, as upon a sure and strong foundation, no man could know whether he had a right faith, and whether he were in the true Church of Christ, or a synagogue of Satan."
Seek for wisdom, which is only found in the Scriptures:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov 1:7
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6
When you seek for the truth you will find it. Pray to God to lead you in the right and righteous path.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
"If there were any word of God beside the Scripture, we could never be certain of God's Word; and if we be uncertain of God's Word, the devil might bring in among us a new word, a new doctrine, a new faith, a new church, a new god, yea himself to be a god. If the Church and the Christian faith did not stay itself upon the Word of God certain, as upon a sure and strong foundation, no man could know whether he had a right faith, and whether he were in the true Church of Christ, or a synagogue of Satan."
Seek for wisdom, which is only found in the Scriptures:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov 1:7
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6
When you seek for the truth you will find it. Pray to God to lead you in the right and righteous path.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Baptism
So many times I have heard preachers say that Paul was basically downplaying the role of baptism in the Church, or showing its insignificance, in 1 Corinthians 1:17 when he says "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel," putting preaching at a much higher level than the sacrament of baptism. However, a closer look at the context that the verse is placed in paints another picture.
In verses 12-17, Paul is correcting the church at Corinth for their mistaken belief that whoever baptized them, or introduced them to the faith, required their devotion and full allegiance, creating factions of Christians within the church. This is why, in vs. 13, Paul says "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" Paul goes on to say "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name." (vs. 14 & 15).
Paul's words, "I thank God that I baptized none of you", and "were you baptized in the name of Paul?", place a great deal of importance on baptism. The people of Corinth were all baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. They all belong to Jesus Christ through their baptism in His name.
Paul's relief in not baptizing many of the members of the church of Corinth is caused by his desire to not be a major part of the factions that were being created in the church, not because he placed little or no importance on baptism. Paul writes in many other places about being baptized into Christ, dying in baptism and rising in Christ. Paul simply was not called to baptize them, but to preach to them. This means that there were others who were called to baptize them. Simply because Paul wasn't called to baptize but to preach doesn't mean that baptism isn't important, it just means that wasn't his job! Of course he would do it if he had to, as he mentions that he did baptize a few of them. The very fact that Paul points out that divisions were caused over the people who baptized them shows what a great deal of importance the early church placed on baptism.
In verses 12-17, Paul is correcting the church at Corinth for their mistaken belief that whoever baptized them, or introduced them to the faith, required their devotion and full allegiance, creating factions of Christians within the church. This is why, in vs. 13, Paul says "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?" Paul goes on to say "I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name." (vs. 14 & 15).
Paul's words, "I thank God that I baptized none of you", and "were you baptized in the name of Paul?", place a great deal of importance on baptism. The people of Corinth were all baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. They all belong to Jesus Christ through their baptism in His name.
Paul's relief in not baptizing many of the members of the church of Corinth is caused by his desire to not be a major part of the factions that were being created in the church, not because he placed little or no importance on baptism. Paul writes in many other places about being baptized into Christ, dying in baptism and rising in Christ. Paul simply was not called to baptize them, but to preach to them. This means that there were others who were called to baptize them. Simply because Paul wasn't called to baptize but to preach doesn't mean that baptism isn't important, it just means that wasn't his job! Of course he would do it if he had to, as he mentions that he did baptize a few of them. The very fact that Paul points out that divisions were caused over the people who baptized them shows what a great deal of importance the early church placed on baptism.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tradition and Reason
I have to admit, I don't like change. I am a sucker for tradition. Tradition is usually a sign of stability, or maybe very slow change. This dislike for change and desire for tradition may be caused by a world that views truth as relative and a church that conforms to the fashions and fads of the day. Actually, I'm sure those reasons have something to do with it.
However, if tradition leads to a dead spiritual life I am against it. I've been in many traditional churches that are still Spirit filled and full of life. I've been in others where the members go to church because they really like the liturgy, or the sound of the organ, or they rant about their choir or they are really in love with the smells and bells, and they seem to lack spiritual life and vitality, and they have little or no concern for those in the world.
Tradition, theology, doctrine and liturgy are all very important; important to me personally. But I can't stand deadness! I don't mean that I need to see people doing back flips in church, waving their hands or speaking in tongues. What I mean is I can tell when I meet a Christian who really loves the Lord and who's life has been transformed by Him, and I can tell the other type; the type that goes to church for social reasons, and that's about it. They may sing ancient and beautiful songs that have beautiful words and melody's, but do they mean or feel what they sing? Of course, there may be people in the congregation that do love God and want to serve Him truly. I've met some.
What is more depressing is that there are hardly ever young people in either group. The church seems to be dying in America. At least the traditional church. To me, this is very sad. It's my opinion that it is NOT the right thing to do to coax them back to church using entertainment. That has nothing to do with conversion. They have to be made disciples, true converts, true seekers of God, and only conviction and the Holy Spirit can do this. I suppose we live in an age where people, especially young people, are completely and totally lost to entertainment. How can a quiet and reverential old traditional church compete? It can't. One has to love God to do anything truly. One must let go of over-entertainment as well. People are so consumed with entertainment that it is saddening. They must be doing something constantly, such as playing video games, chatting, texting, surfing the web, listening to IPod's, downloading music, looking at porn, watching a movie, whatever. Satan wins through these tools.
This post is turning into something I didn't intend it to. What I wanted to say is that tradition is good at making boundaries and passing on the ancient faith. It is not good when tradition becomes the god. There is One God. He is jealous for us and for our time.
Paul
"If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know." St. Paul
However, if tradition leads to a dead spiritual life I am against it. I've been in many traditional churches that are still Spirit filled and full of life. I've been in others where the members go to church because they really like the liturgy, or the sound of the organ, or they rant about their choir or they are really in love with the smells and bells, and they seem to lack spiritual life and vitality, and they have little or no concern for those in the world.
Tradition, theology, doctrine and liturgy are all very important; important to me personally. But I can't stand deadness! I don't mean that I need to see people doing back flips in church, waving their hands or speaking in tongues. What I mean is I can tell when I meet a Christian who really loves the Lord and who's life has been transformed by Him, and I can tell the other type; the type that goes to church for social reasons, and that's about it. They may sing ancient and beautiful songs that have beautiful words and melody's, but do they mean or feel what they sing? Of course, there may be people in the congregation that do love God and want to serve Him truly. I've met some.
What is more depressing is that there are hardly ever young people in either group. The church seems to be dying in America. At least the traditional church. To me, this is very sad. It's my opinion that it is NOT the right thing to do to coax them back to church using entertainment. That has nothing to do with conversion. They have to be made disciples, true converts, true seekers of God, and only conviction and the Holy Spirit can do this. I suppose we live in an age where people, especially young people, are completely and totally lost to entertainment. How can a quiet and reverential old traditional church compete? It can't. One has to love God to do anything truly. One must let go of over-entertainment as well. People are so consumed with entertainment that it is saddening. They must be doing something constantly, such as playing video games, chatting, texting, surfing the web, listening to IPod's, downloading music, looking at porn, watching a movie, whatever. Satan wins through these tools.
This post is turning into something I didn't intend it to. What I wanted to say is that tradition is good at making boundaries and passing on the ancient faith. It is not good when tradition becomes the god. There is One God. He is jealous for us and for our time.
Paul
"If anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know." St. Paul
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