March 5, 2008 by Administrator.

It is really a shame that so many “Christian” churches have completely forgotten, or purposely forgotten, to inform the lost about their eternal punishment to come. It seems that they are intentionally ignoring this doctrine because it seems harsh and can be a turn off to unbelievers. Of course this should be preached lovingly, not with hatred. Instead of trying to compassionately tell people the truth, many groups are altogether throwing out any mention of it. Unbelievers are warned not to sin, but they are never told what will happen to them after death. The wages of sin is death… eternal death. There will only be weeping, pain, sorrow, anguish, and torment for those who die in their sins separated from Christ. John MacArthur very bluntly describes with Scripture what is to come for the lost after death:

“The punishment of the wicked is never ending as the bliss of the righteous. The wicked are not given a second chance, nor are they annihilated. The punishment of the wicked dead is described throughout Scripture as ‘eternal fire’ (Mt 25:41); ‘unquenchable fire’ (Mt 3:12); ‘disgrace and everlasting contempt’ (Da 12:2); a place where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched’ (Mk 9:44-49); a place of ‘torments’ and ‘flame’ (Lk 16:23-24); ‘eternal destruction’ (2Th 1:9); a place of torment with ‘fire and brimstone’ where ‘the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever’ (Rev 14:10-11); and a ‘lake of fire, and brimstone’ (Rev20:10). Here Jesus indicates that the punishment itself is everlasting—not merely the smoke and flames. The wicked are forever subject to the fury and the wrath of God. They consciously suffer shame and contempt and the assaults of an accusing conscience—along with the fiery wrath of an offended deity—for all of eternity. Even hell will acknowledge the perfect justice of God (Ps 76:10); those who are there will know that their punishment is just and that they alone are to blame (cf. Dt 32:3-5).”

How do you think your church congregation would respond if they were to hear “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards this Sunday morning? Let’s not assume that God is infinitely patient. He is love, but He is also justice. Though this doctrine is becoming more and more unpopular, it is still real as ever. Let’s never be accused of only preaching half truths. We are born depraved, incapable of doing good. Only Christ can save us from our sins and the jaws of Sheol.

Posted in Church, Today's World, Doctrine | 7 Comments »

September 11, 2007 by Administrator.

I still see Christians being plagued by the condmenation, “judge not”. Even though I posted on this several months ago, I feel the need to refresh this topic.

We are all quite familiar with the verse “Judge not, lest ye be judged” in Matthew 7. Sadly, this verse has become a modern secular tool against Christianity. Claiming Christians and non-Christians alike use this verse to quiet the voices of any who try to condemn sin. This verse has been completely distorted for the individual moral convictions of whoever uses it. People will deliberately overlook countless Scriptures where God makes declarations of His hate for certain sins. Instead, “Christians” and the unsaved use this verse to dismantle other Christians for condemning sins that they don’t feel should be judged. Of course, we are to show love. But Christ has not called us to be so loving to the world that we disregard anything they do. God loved the children of Israel, but He would not sit back and tolerate their sinful, rebellious acts. Am I expected by the Lord to be tolerant? Proverbs 8:13 says that the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. How do these conforming individuals explain verses like these? I understand that I should not judge others of their faults if I am too struggling hard with it myself. Yet, the fact of the matter is that we are not called, as followers of Christ, to make others feel comfortable in their sin. The Word of God is full of convicting messages. The Holy Spirit used those same convicting pages to draw me to Himself. If you don’t want people to feel convicted or guilty for their actions, then you are showing that you don’t want others to condemn you for your own actions. When people use this verse in defense of sin, they are really saying, “Tolerate, lest ye be not tolerated.” 

Posted in Church, Biblical Thoughts, Today's World, Christian Applications | 1 Comment »

September 7, 2007 by Administrator.

Let me present you with an interesting thought: “What is the biblical purpose of church choirs?” The word “choir” is not mentioned in the New Testament and very few times in the Old Testament. What is the current purpose for choirs in church? Countless times I have heard from people, “… you should hear the choir sing!” Over and over again I hear praise for the beauty of the choir and their songs. If they sing exceptionally well, they’ll get an “Amen!” Why? The attenders say “amen” because they are impressed by the choir or stirred emotionally.

Back to the first question: “What is the biblical purpose of church choirs?” I have thrown this question around in some church circles. Of course the answer is, “to praise God”. That may be true. Typically choirs will consist of members who believe that they to have pleasant voices. This collection of trained voices is intended to give God praise with their skilled voices before the congregation. Choir members seem to have better singing voices than those in the congregation. Therefore they lift up their pleasant voices to God by singing a long, powerful song in their shiny robes. However, does this not redirect the praise from God to the choir? Selecting particular voices to sing unique songs before an audience does not necessarily give all the glory to God. A large portion of glory is going to the accomplished choir. One could even say that solos point more to man than to God.  Christians should agree that all glory and honor needs to belong to our Lord Jesus. Would it not be beneficial to start observing all things that take away from the glory of our Lord and point to man? Would it not be just as honoring-if not more so-to have congregational singing to God? This would hinder man-centered praise or potential man-centered praise. We would all agree that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is not giving praise to God. Is it because they are lost or because the emphasis is on them? This topic may be petty to some, but I have seen many choirs that make a show of their performance and the church is thrilled. I wonder, “Where is God’s glory in this?” Tell me your thoughts on the biblical purpose of choirs. As a former choir member, I look back and see more man-glorification than God-glorification.

Posted in Church, Biblical Thoughts | 9 Comments »

September 3, 2007 by Administrator.

Sadly, there is a widespread inflation across American churches. Many churches keep unrealistic, dishonest numbers about their church membership/enrollment. I scratch my head every time I hear of a church having 1,000 members, but only 400 show up every Sunday morning. At the Sunday night service they’ll have 175 on average. Oh, and let’s not even talk about the Wednesday evening service. Why keep “members” on the list when they haven’t showed up in over two years? Quite frankly, it’s dishonest to have inflated memberships numbers of people who are no longer in the church or have gone somewhere else but haven’t informed the church. I remember listening to an elderly woman at a local church who helped in recording the Sunday School attendance. Their church’s goal was to surpass an enrollment of 500 for Sunday School. Currently their attendance was in the 300’s, but their enrollment was in 400’s. She suggested to the other volunteers that the enrolled people who haven’t attended in years be removed. That way the church would have more true numbers. However, the other members grew angry and accused her of trying to hinder the church from reaching its goal. But her point was that the church should have a true, accurate enrollment. She was also accused of shutting the “un-attenders” out from the gospel if they removed their names. I remember this woman being very troubled about her church’s goal at that time. What was their priority? Was it to reach the lost or to reach 500? Was it to reach the goal honestly or just to reach 500 on inflated records? I myself have heard of church leaders saying that by removing “un-attenders” from membership would be like shutting the door of salvation in their face. This was quite absurd. Strangely, no attempt was being made to bring back these un-attenders, but heaven-forbid you remove them from the church membership. They might be condemned to hell if God tells them at the throne that their membership had expired at Abilene Church of God. Is it dishonest to keep inflated numbers on the church records? Is it dishonest to tell your investors that your business makes more revenue than it really does? Is it dishonest to tell your boss that you completed more tasks than you really have? Is it dishonest to keep inflated records in the church? On second thought, I wouldn’t say it’s dishonest, I would say that it’s a lie.

Posted in Church, Today's World | No Comments »

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 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 »