August 29, 2007 by Administrator.

I would love to have a buck for every time I have heard the phrase, “proof’s in the pudding.” Unfortunately, this phrase is used out of place in churches across the nation. Members have the mentality that if it works, do it. They think the end result justifies the means. When Christians use this phrase they are really saying, “If you have to change your worship style to get more people to come, do it. If you have to have a pizza party with football and floats for the youth to come, do it. If you have to show movie clips in the sermon to get the congregation more interested, do it. If you have to remove your denomination affiliation (such as Methodist, Baptist, Church of God, etc.) to get more people in the door, do it. If you have to have a gym, track, game field, and café to get people to stay in the church, do it. If all or some of these things increase your membership, then that proves it; proof’s in the puddin’!” 

This phrase covers so many flawed ideas about the church. Church folk will approve nearly any church program if it gets more people to come inside. Sadly, they mistake this for God. They believe that God produces every numerical result in the church. They forget that Satan can produce results too (Exodus 7:11; 7:22; 8:7;). The churches that are caught up with being the big one on the block have lost focus on the Bible. There is no drive for holiness or godliness, just “bigness”. Yes, they may have discipleship programs and evangelism programs, but there is a starvation for truth and absolutes. Scripture is that, but it’s on the backburner. They’ll get a large crowd by having a 15 minute devotion after the Slam-Dunk competition. Is this spiritual growth? Is this holiness? While the church is making the pudding (church) taste right to the customers, they are putting a teaspoon of Jesus in it with a quart of cultural entertainments. I fear that many church members and leaders envision their church as the next Saddleback Church. They want it so bad; they can almost taste the goodness of the pudding. What is the church next-door doing? If it’s getting more visitors than your own youth leader shaving his head for 500 kids, then do it, because it must work. I think there is poison in this pudding and not proof of God’s hand. 

Posted in Church, Today's World | 1 Comment »

August 25, 2007 by Administrator.

I was talking with my father yesterday. My transmission more or less gave out in my current vehicle and I really had no option but to find another automobile relatively fast. He was telling me that the majority of Christians believe in trusting God in the “big” things, but not so much the smaller things such as a car purchase.  People feel like they need to pray about which person to marry, whether they should be a missionary in Mexico, which church they should join, but seldom ask God which car to buy. I was in full agreement with my father; but little did I know I was about to be stretched to see if I really I trusted in Him for a vehicle purchase. I found what seemed to be everything I had been searching for at a steal. However, I would need a larger loan than I had planned, it was over 120 miles away, and I was very uneasy about the whole matter. Dealing with large sums of money is stressful, but I was very troubled. I had doubts and worries about this purchase. I feared that I got there and it wasn’t in good condition, I had wasted gas money to get there and back home. I also feared that I couldn’t get what I wanted then I would feel pressured to pay more because of the distance. After several hours of thinking, I decided not to go and look at it. Then… I had peace. There was peace in my conscience about not going. The realization hit home with me that I didn’t have to have a vehicle fast. I didn’t need to spend that much money. Though this search still continues, I received a lesson from God on trusting Him even in the “small” things. That vehicle could be the most perfect automobile, but it wasn’t right for me and my God.

Posted in Encouragement, Christian Applications | 2 Comments »

August 22, 2007 by Administrator.

There is a interesting post at Dead Theologians. The post, Tattoos-Part 1, looks into tattooing in light of Scripture and its roots. The comments on this post have created a very lively discussion that has boiled down to the Law, living under grace, the New Testament, and Christ. I recommend you visit the action.

Posted in Biblical Thoughts | No Comments »

August 16, 2007 by Administrator.

Saying that man chose Christ is very grievous. Just from a logical standpoint, does it not make more sense to give Christ all the glory for our salvation and say that we did absolutely nothing? Christ should receive more honor and praise. Isn’t that what we want? Give Christ all the honor (which we should be striving to do daily) and say that we did nothing of our own. Instead, man passionately lusts to have some credit in his salvation so that he can use the pronoun “I”.  Our flesh wants to be able to say that, “I chose Christ. I found Jesus.” How awful. I am thrilled every time I am reminded that I did nothing of my own to receive His salvation. It’s so amazing when that realization hits time and time again. If every Christian wants to give Him all the credit and glory, why do so many hold back some credit for their salvation? Why does man so desperately want some credit for choosing Christ by his own will? It’s a glorious thought as one thinks about being totally helpless in the hands of an all-powerful God. My lifeless, cold, clammy soul was pulled out of the sinful grave by the warm, almighty hands of the living God. He opened my eyes to sin. He washed me in His blood. He clothed me in His righteousness. He gave me life eternal. Now, I’m alive! All praise is to be given to Jesus Christ who pulled every dead man out his trespasses and gave him new life. There has never been a dead man that chose life… and there never will be. But Christ, He convicted, He gave the faith to believe, He brought the sinner to repentance, and He saved him from his sins. Never should man receive an ounce of credit for something that he was totally incapable of orchestrating. Man is the incapable composer. So put down the baton and let the audience give the standing ovation to Christ the Lord.

Posted in Biblical Thoughts, Christian Applications | No Comments »

August 9, 2007 by Administrator.

A few weeks ago I read in a book the common evangelical term “soul-winner”. I put the book down and thought, “soul-winner… that is really unbiblical”. We are not the winner of souls nor are we slot machines that jackpot converts. The majority of “evangelists” I have met keep up with the number of converts they have “won” to Christ. Many pastors keep up with the number of baptisms during the time of their ministry. How ungodly! Our lives are to be devoted to the service of Christ, not the upkeep of our supposed spiritual efficiency. Every man and woman that has ever been saved was saved by the hand of God; not by soul-winning Reverend Joe. Do you think the apostles tallied up the number of repenting sinners during their preaching? God wrote about the growth of the church, but I’m sure His apostles weren’t keeping up with it for their own reputation. I think Paul would have been ashamed if he was introduced before his audience as the winner of over 5,000 souls. Glory in God, not man.

Posted in Church, Biblical Thoughts, Doctrine | 9 Comments »

August 3, 2007 by Administrator.

Praying for the unsaved. – “We can invite the Holy Spirit to work in a person’s life so as to make them more receptive and responsive to the Gospel.” ~ Elmer Towns
 
“There are two kinds of means requisite to promote a revival: the one to influence God, the other to influence men.” ~ Charles G. Finney
 
I was horrified when I read these two quotes in the same article by Elmer Towns. The implications of these quotes are stating that we serve a God who needs man’s support, influence, invitation, wooing, and free will in order for Him to act.  God doesn’t need man to say, “Ok God, we are ready for You here. Charge on!” Our sovereign Lord is not dependent on man. People seem to forget that man is a created, inferior being. On top of that, we are depraved. We are a little lower than the angels. And not even the angels try to influence God to action. If I serve a God that I must encourage and invite to work in someone’s life, then I serve a weak God. I pray that He will, but my prayers do not open the door for God to move in. My prayers are stating, “Lord, I can’t soften their hearts to Your Word, but You can. Please, convict them.” Instead, Towns and Finney are saying, “Lord, I’ve planted the seed and tilled the ground for You. Now hop to it.” Don’t mentally make God subjective to your will. Realize Who is in control and Who is sovereign. It’s Christ the Lord, not us. Beg for His action. A lost man has a spiritual door with a knob on only one side. God is on the side with the knob. 

Posted in Biblical Thoughts, Doctrine | 3 Comments »

August 1, 2007 by Administrator.

On Dead Theologians there is an excellent quote by Charles Haddon Spurgeon. The post is very insightful, honest, and blunt about free will and grace. The faint of heart Arminians must brace themselves.

Posted in Biblical Thoughts, Doctrine | No Comments »