Appealing to Authorities

image_pdfimage_print

Perhaps there is no greater dispute among those who name themselves (or who are called) Baptists than the issue of Calvinism. I have seen and heard many arguments over this issue that range from intelligent treatises to nothing more than eloquent name-calling and name-dropping. The really sad part of this is that some believe that appealing to authorities other than the Scripture nets them some sort of superior argument. I have to wonder, who do they think they need to please: God or man? Appealing to authorities other than the Scripture to prove one’s argument may look good and persuade men, but it doesn’t mean spit in the eyes of God. No, there is one, and only one text that has the respect of the LORD God: His own Holy Word. In this He is very express:

I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:1-2)

Hence, I have to wonder just who those who are arguing about this doctrine think they are pleasing? Moreover, I wonder if they argue about this based upon the call of God in their lives, or is it simply a desire of the flesh to be seen and heard, and in some way justify what they believe? In any case, this constant citation of what men have said proves nothing. Men, no matter how good they think they are, are not God, and they do not say or write what equates to the word of God. We have a complete Bible, and it is fully authoritative and needs no help from man.

However, it is not usually the case in the writings I see on the issue of Calvinism (also known as “Sovereign Grace”). Rather, what I see is a preponderance of quotes from other men who have held the same doctrinal position. Moreover, in some cases there is a total absence of Scripture. Thus, I have to ask: Just what does this prove? Aren’t we told in the Scripture that we are to “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” (I Thessalonians 5:21)? And, isn’t the standard of proof Scripture?

Thus, if we cannot prove the doctrine by rightly dividing the Scripture, what good are the words of other like-minded men? No matter how much they may agree, it still doesn’t prove the doctrine. Everyone on earth could suddenly agree that God has no authority over us; would that agreement make it true? Certainly not. If everyone on earth, and all the angels along with them decided that God didn’t exist, would that make it true? No, for the Scripture is express:

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (II Timothy 2:11-13)

END OF STORY

It doesn’t matter what you or I believe and who agrees with us. What matters is “What does the LORD God say in His word?” if we do not agree with what God states, then we are wrong. End of story.

Now, pertaining to the false doctrine of Calvinism, perhaps those holding the doctrine could explain the wording and construction of the following passage, particularly the use of personal pronouns? Oh, and don’t shortcut and divert and say that I do not understand the sovereignty of God. I certainly do, and you can find the evidence in the article “God’s Box.”

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

You know, for Calvinism to be true, the pronoun “his” would have to be changed and the wording of the passage changed significantly, would it not?

God’s Box

image_pdfimage_print

One of the subjects that invariably comes up when the judgement of God upon individuals or nations is discussed, is why the LORD God sees fit to leave certain individuals on this earth long after it is obvious that they are condemned and cut off from any hope of salvation.

Now, to be certain, there are those who are indeed cut off from any hope of salvation. Romans, chapter one makes this plain, as does the example of Pharaoh in the book of Exodus. It is quite plain that Pharaoh was not going to repent and neither was the LORD going to allow him to repent. This was also the case with Esau when he despised the birthright of having the Messiah come through his lineage. The operative rule for this is Jeremiah 17:9-10 which states:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:9-10)

Thus, according to what was in Pharaoh’s and Esau’s hearts, they received the due reward for their attitude toward the LORD God and the things of God — the LORD cut them off. Yet, the LORD also left them on this earth. Although, Pharaoh did not make it as long as Esau did, he still lived a considerable length of time. Yet, the question remains: Why did the LORD let them continue to live?

There are two answers to this question. The answers to both questions require an understanding of how the LORD uses the evil nature of man for judging man, and the sovereignty of God and how far that extends.

In the first instance, we do well to understand that the LORD God does not have to raise His hand (so to speak) against someone who is utterly rebellious against the law of God. The reason for this is that there are plenty of wicked men who love nothing more than to destroy someone else for a variety of reasons. All the LORD has to do is give His permission for wicked men to act against another, and it is done. There are specific instances of this in Scripture. Of the many that exist, I will only use two to illustrate. The first is the judgement of Ahab, the wicked king of Israel.

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil? And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so. Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee. (I Kings 22:18-23)

In the above incident, all the LORD had to do was allow the lying spirit (a devil) to give the wicked prophets of Israel the words to say to convince Ahab that he would be victorious at Ramothgilead. The false prophets were all too happy to say what Ahab wanted to hear, and Ahab was all too willing to believe it. In fact, both Ahab and the false prophets got angry at Micaiah for telling them what they did not want to hear. Unfortunately for Ahab, Micaiah was quite correct, and Ahab died in battle the next day. Thus, all the LORD did, was allow the devil the leeway to do what devils love to do, and allow the false prophets and Ahab to say and do what they loved to do, which is tell lies to each other.

In the second illustration, the LORD brings judgement upon Edom (the descendants of Esau) for their lack of compassion upon Israel in the day of judgement of Israel. It is notable how the Lord does it.

The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? (Obadiah 1-3)

All the Lord had to do to have Edom judged, was allow the heathen nations around Edom (Teman) to despise Teman and determine that they needed to destroy Teman because of the arrogance of Edom and the way Edom viewed everyone around them. By the rest of the passage, it is plain that Teman thought it was unconquerable, and had an attitude to match. It became unbearable to the nations around them, and the LORD allowed it to be the impetus for the destruction of Edom.

So then, that (in a nutshell) covers one of the reasons why the LORD God allows wicked men who are cut off from any hope of salvation to continue on this earth. The second reason will probably be a bit more disconcerting to some.

One of the most misunderstood aspects of the LORD God is His sovereignty and how that works. Most people think that sovereignty means that the one who is sovereign must immediately call into account anyone who works against them. While that may be true for men, and particularly those who are unsure of their control of events, that is assuredly not the case with the LORD God. The LORD God has no such concerns about His ability to control events, or foresee the future. As pertaining to this, the LORD has made it plain in His word that He certainly knows the events to come.

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17)

And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. (Deuteronomy 31:16-19)

And indeed, though the children of Israel had not yet departed, they certainly did, and moreover, they did everything the LORD told Moses they would do, and the LORD did every thing He said He would do in response. Thus, the question of events to come is not an issue with the LORD God. He sees all time all at once, and differentiates every point in time from every other point in time.

Moreover, there is no place where one may go to escape the LORD God and His judgement. In the Psalms, David was express in understanding this:

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. (Psalm 139:7-12)

Yet, this is not all, in Isaiah, chapter 40, the LORD endeavors to teach us that this physical world and all that is in it, are less than nothing to Him.

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. (Isaiah 40:12-17)

Now, if all this physical world is counted as nothing, and less than nothing in the sight of God, what will all the physical universe add up to — seeing He created it all with “let there be. . .?”

Thus, even when those who refuse to acknowledge God and refuse to obey Him pass off this earth into eternity, they have not escaped the LORD there either as Christ made that expressly plain in John, chapter 5:

For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:26-29)

So it is when the Lord Jesus Christ orders those in the graves to come forth for judgement, they will obey. Even Hell will give up the those who are there as Revelation, chapter 20 clearly states.

Why does the LORD God leave those who are wicked here on this earth long after all hope of their salvation has passed?

Just where will the wicked run to? Where can they go to escape the judgement to come? The LORD God is not worried – they are not going anywhere. This is God’s box — and no one gets out of it.

Himself

image_pdfimage_print

Occasionally, when I add a hymn to the Hymns page I note it here, particularly if it is a hymn that really ought to be considered as to the message it contains. The hymn, “Himself” is a hymn worthy of just such notice.

This hymn is a contrast, and what a contrast it makes! It contrasts the difference between the “hope so, maybe so, I had an emotional experience” salvation, to the real salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Perhaps this is why it was dropped? After all, how many people out there who profess Christ as Savior also tell of a “I had an emotional experience” salvation? How many, when pressed about their assurance of salvation, cannot be absolutely certain that Christ saved them utterly? How many only think, saying “I think I’m going to heaven. I hope I make it.” that they are truly going to be with the Lord when they die? How many experience no change at all at “salvation” and are just like they were before they were “saved?”

You know, if your salvation was one of those “I had an emotional experience” events, and your assurance consists of “I hope I’m going to heaven,” then I invite you to truly learn of the Lord Jesus Christ, and come to know Him personally. You will never meet a more gracious, more lovely person. He is, as the Song of Solomon says:

His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. (Song of Solomon 5:16)

And, after you come to know Him, place all, not some, but all without reservation, your trust in Him as the full payment for your sins; knowing that His shed blood on the cross paid for your sins once for all. Trust totally that He was raised from the dead the third day, as the Scripture says. Trust totally that God the Father sent Him and His offering to God is a fully sufficient, acceptable sacrifice for sins, once for all. Trust completely that all the Old Testament testifies of Christ to come, as the Lord Jesus Christ explained in rebuking His disciples on the road to Emmaus:

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:25-27)

If you do know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I pray that you are blessed by the hymn “Himself” and the rest of the hymns on the Hymns page. May you be strengthened in the Lord, and walk steadfastly in Christ.

Looks Like We’re There Already

image_pdfimage_print

FriendshipBC_1 (85K)

The above message is a prime example of how not to fight the spiritual war we are all involved in.

Why?

Because the doctrinal implications of the message run quite contrary to the Scripture, and sends an, at best ambiguous and at worst flat wrong, message.

Now, I know that the people that put up this message mean well. I am relatively certain that they do not intend harm to the message of salvation, or to its Author. However, if we consider what the Scripture has to say, versus what the sign says, we will find a distinct dichotomy. Why do I see it this way?

Consider the following:

The message of the sign is thus:

If we are to avoid spiritual foreclosure, we need to bank with Jesus.

This is reworded, but the meaning does remain the same. Since that is the message of the sign, its plain implication is that we are by default, spiritually solvent. What that would have to mean doctrinally is that we are already justified before God, and that if we do not “bank” with Jesus, we will experience “foreclosure.”

Assuming that the word ”bank” as it is used here, means that one is trusting Christ for their salvation, and that the word “foreclosure,” as it is used here, must mean to lose one’s salvation, or to be cast into Hell, then we must conclude that the implied meaning is that, at some point, we might fail to trust Christ and thus be found wanting before God.

However, that is not what the Scripture declares to be the case. Perhaps the most famous passage of Scripture is John 3:16, which declares the wonderful and lovely message of salvation that is available to everyone.

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. (John 3:16)

However, everyone seems to stop there as well, and absolutely go no further in the passage. The problem is, is that the imperative of believing the gospel is lost if one stops at the 16th verse. If we continue on, we find that verse 17 is very much like verse 16. But, verse 18 contains a very strong warning to those who refuse to believe:

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:17-18)

Verse 18 tells us two very important things:

  • Those who have believed in Christ for their salvation are not condemned.
  • Those who have not believed, are already condemned.

You see; we do not have to do anything to be sent to hell. If we just live out our lives and ignore God, or play the religious game and never actually come to Christ for our salvation, we are already condemned and our destiny is set — we will go to Hell. In short we are, in the vernacular of the sign, in foreclosure already. Spiritually, our foreclosure happened a long time ago and we never noticed. If is possible to put it this way (and I’m not certain it is) what we need to do is get out of spiritual “foreclosure.”

But, this does raise another question as to the viability of the message of the sign. What is meant by the term “bank with Jesus?” Whatever they meant by the use of the phrase, is not all that clear to me. In fact, it really could be taken at least two ways for sure, and more if we think about it.

If we take it the most obvious meaning of the term, it means that one is to allow Christ to carry something in trust. Taken with the rest of the message, and the fact that a church put up the message, it definitely means something spiritual, but really is unclear as to what that spiritual thing is. We can assume that it is one’s soul, but we really cannot be certain.

The second meaning is more akin to buying fire insurance. If we want to avoid foreclosure, let’s “bank with Jesus” and that won’t happen.

However, neither one of the above meanings even comes close to explaining what salvation is, and why it is imperative that one come to Christ for salvation. Nothing is spoken of, or even implies, that faith has to be operative, and that one must repent. However, the Scripture declares that both are required before one can be saved.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:2-5)

Thus, two vital elements for coming to Christ for salvation are not even hinting at in the sign. Instead, we are told that we should “bank with Jesus” if we are to avoid “spiritual foreclosure.” Moreover, we are not told what in the world the phrases “bank with Jesus” and “spiritual foreclosure” actually mean. Rather, we are left to draw our own conclusions.

When it comes to fighting this spiritual war, unfortunately the individuals at the church which posted this sign have little to no understanding about the critical need for getting the message correct. Without an accurate message about what the gospel is, and what one must do to be accepted in the sight of the LORD God, they will, without ever realizing it, condemn individuals to an eternity of unimaginable suffering in Hell.

Whatever Happened to Simply Believing the Bible?

image_pdfimage_print

I read the news, not generally from the newspapers, though that occasionally does happen, but on the internet. Most every link in my Bookmarks is to some news source, technical or religious site. The problem with reading the news is that the bias of the reporters must be accounted for, and the truth of the matter has to be carefully discerned. I wish it were the case with the following.

On Thursday, August 23, MSNBC ran a story of a megachurch in Tampa, Florida that is having some trouble. Specifically, the church’s pastors are divorcing. Now, I know this is not something new to modern day America. But it does highlight a very real problem — one of claiming to follow God, all the while being totally disobedient to His word. It does not take the proverbial “rocket scientist” to see the very clear differences between what the pastors of this church were doing, and what the Bible plainly states.

In looking at the problem, let’s begin at the obvious: the fact that the church’s pastors are divorcing. In Scripture there are specific instructions given for pastors, including the requirements to be a pastor. . . more

Engaging in the Light and Trivial

image_pdfimage_print

FriendshipBC_1 (85K)

I think the most troubling thing about the above picture is the fact that “Baptist Church” is part of the name. Why? Because there was a time when Baptists were the standard for following the Scripture. Now, I am not blind, and neither are you, so it is easily noted the letters “SBC” in the lower left corner of the top part of the sign. Plainly, this is a Southern Baptist Church.

I am not a Southern Baptist, although I grew up attending a Southern Baptist church off and on until I left home to enter the Air Force. After that, I never really attended any church at all, until I came to Mission Boulevard Baptist Church, an Independent Baptist church.

Just to be certain, this is really not about any of that, other than to set a stage for examining the marquee of the sign in light of the Scripture. I learned at Mission Boulevard that the Scripture was, and is the rule for life, period. This is especially true for one who has been born again in Christ. I also learned that it is of utmost seriousness how we present Christ and His Gospel to the world around us.

In the Scripture, in addressing the believer’s walk with the Lord and the war against the flesh, the following is given that addresses witness and testimony:

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8-10)

And again in Romans:

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

Thus, the real crux of the issue is what we prove about the will of God. All that the born again believer says and does, proves something in the minds of men about the will of God and what God will (and thus will not) accept. Since this is the case, we ought to consider what the marquee above states about what is acceptable to God. After all, is not the church composed of born again believers? Certainly by the Scripture it is, or it is supposed to be. Moreover, everyone who drives by knows that this a church, and a Baptist church at that. And, that it is full of people who profess to believe and follow Christ.

So then, what does this really state about what is acceptable to God? Isn’t this marquee just a bit commercial? After all, it reads very much like a cell phone advertisement. I have to wonder: Do you think the Lord Jesus Christ approves of being placed on the same level as a common cell phone advertisement? That the fact that one can come to Christ at any time, is like having a cell phone contract? Is the ability to pray to God reduced to that level of understanding in this church? Moreover, what if we asked about other Southern Baptist churches? What would we find?

I think that the saddest part of this sign is what is not stated. You know, about the discernment of the individuals involved in dreaming up this oh-so original cliche. Apparently those involved have no understanding of what constitutes the trivial and meaningless. Moreover, they must believe that the LORD God approves of such trivialities.

Somehow I don’t think the Lord does approve, and I think the following statement from Scripture is express about this particular association:

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (I John 2:15-16)

How Trite Can We Be?

image_pdfimage_print
OsageAOG_sign1 (104K)

In this spiritual war we are all involved in, there is a need to insure that the message preached is perceived as being serious. One of the greatest detriments to that is the sad fact that many churches and “Christians” out there do not perceive this to be the case at all. All they are focused on is how they appeal to the larger population so as to gain members, without regard to how they get those members. Thus, there is a solid reason for the title. Look at the picture above and be honest with yourself about the seriousness of what they are stating. The question must be asked:

How trite can we be?

It is obvious that the whole attitude of the sign trivializes a very real issue.

If we were to do a comparison, it would not be difficult to compare the issue of salvation to a defect or malfunction on an automobile. Almost everyone understands that brake failure on an automobile is a serious issue. If you had a friend that had a car with brakes which were in imminent danger of failing, you would be utterly serious and earnest in telling them to get the brakes on their automobile fixed, unless you just did not care about them. You certainly wouldn’t make light of it or joke about it. Rather, you would tell them what is at stake, and would contend with them about getting it fixed.

In comparison, how serious is the issue of the destiny of each of us after we die? Certainly, it is far more serious than the condition of the brakes on an automobile. After all, you may experience brake failure and survive quite well. It is not so with the issue of salvation and eternity. Once we depart off this earth, we will find ourselves in eternity with no recourse as to where we are. Moreover, we will be there a very long time, even forever. I say that, as it does not quite impinge upon people that eternity is forever — that it is truly unending and does not cease to be.

Hence, where one will spend eternity is a very critical issue. It is express from Scripture that there are only two places man will go: heaven or hell. There are no other options. The Lord made that very plain when he spoke of a judgment to come:

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: . . . (Matthew 25:31-34)

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: . . . (Matthew 25:41)

It is inescapable that there are two, and only two very distinct divisions the Lord makes here. Clearly there is only a left hand and right hand, and everyone is placed into one of the two groups. Everyone on the right enters into heaven, and everyone on the left is cast into hell. Since there is such a clear division, it is reasonable to ask: What is the dividing line? The answer is very succinct:

The Gospel

Since this is the case, just how serious is the message of the Gospel? How serious is the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ had to die for our sins, seeing that it was the only way that the judgment of God could be satisfied? And yet, how serious is the message put forth by Osage Assembly of God church on their sign?

Simply put: It isn’t.

In fact, the message is nothing but trivial and trite, and cannot be seriously taken any other way.  Isn’t a church supposed to be about preaching, not only the gospel, but the seriousness of the gospel? Isn’t a church supposed to bring the message that the price for our sin is extremely high? In fact, the Scripture is express that the wages of sin is death. For any of us to have salvation made available to us, it was essential for the Word to come in the flesh and die in our place. Outside of the salvation that is in Christ, there is no escape from the spiritual death and subsequent suffering in the lake of fire for all eternity.

Unfortunately, what is displayed by the above sign is at best total ignorance of the seriousness of the Gospel, and at worst a mockery of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross on our behalf. Sadly, no one will tell this church and its leadership that they are mocking Christ and giving the Atheists justification for their mockery of Christianity. Is it any wonder that people reject the Gospel message in this society? After all, all the above sign tells me is that I need (at best) fire insurance. However, I am assured that those who are responsible for this sign will hear about this again – from the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Moreover, I am absolutely certain that He is not now pleased, and will express His displeasure when they stand before Him.

I leave you with a question that must be considered:

If you are unwilling or unable to deliver the message in a serious manner, do you honestly expect anyone to respond to that message in any serious manner?

Emotional Appeal and Preaching the Gospel

image_pdfimage_print

One of the things I have noted over the last several years is the increasing trend among fundamental Baptists toward an emotion-laden presentation of the Gospel. This comes in the form of plays or dramas, puppet shows for children, and movies about Christ. All of these are emotional appeals that seem to move otherwise unmovable individuals to salvation in Christ. However, this method and its fruit need to be seriously examined in light of the only standard that exists for judging any and all our actions and methods of presenting the Gospel:

The Scriptures.

While there are many who argue that Scripture does not restrict us from presenting the Gospel in whatsoever manner that we deem effective, their claims must be checked against the Scripture to determine the actual validity of their statements. Now, on its face the claim may appear to be true: but if we take a deeper look at what the Scriptures actually state, and the principles contained in those Scriptures, a different picture does emerge: one that is not so approving of the use of emotion in presenting the Gospel.

The most emotional appeal we have in Scripture concerning the Gospel comes from the rich man in Hell. It is plain that this man does not like being where he is, and does not want any of his family to come there. The essential portion of the account, as applicable to this article, follows:

Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.(Luke 16: 27-31)

It is the last statement made by Abraham in response to the (former) rich man’s plea to send Lazarus back from the dead that is telling. Abraham would not even entertain the idea of sending Lazarus back from the dead to testify of the Gospel. Instead, Abraham states: “If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” This response is recorded for all who read to understand that, as powerful a witness it is for one to rise from the dead, it does not impact the heart the way the Scriptures do. In fact, every indication is that the emotional impact of such an event may not do anything but further harden the heart against the Gospel. At a very minimum, if someone has such an experience, they may become “inoculated” against the Gospel as they substitute the emotional experience for actually believing Christ in faith and repentance.

However, since there are those who protest this conclusion, and those who cannot understand why Abraham would set forth such a restriction on the presenting of the Gospel (after all, it certainly appears that Abraham is stating that the Scriptures and the plain preaching of the Scriptures are the only approved means of presenting the Gospel), it is necessary to apply the rest of the Scriptures that address this issue.

If we begin in the Old Testament, we find that the LORD made it very plain whose word the Scripture is, and to what purpose it exists. Specifically, in Isaiah, chapter 55, the LORD is clear and express about His salvation and the role His word performs in the salvation of a soul:

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.(Isaiah 55:6-11)

This statement is reinforced in the New Testament in Hebrews, chapter 4, verse 12 where it speaks of the word of God as well:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Moreover, in I Corinthians, chapter 1, the following statement is given by the apostle Paul under inspiration of the Holy Ghost:

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.(I Corinthians 1:17-21)

Notice what is stated above: that “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching . . .” and that to those who will perish, the preaching of the cross, and preaching as a method and means of convincing people, is foolishness. This implies much about the current generation of ‘Christians’ who think that plain, old-fashioned preaching is not capable of moving people to accept Christ as their Saviour. It is quite clear that the vast majority of ‘Christendom’ does not believe that the plainly spoken and preached word of God is sufficient for much of anything at all. Rather, they believe that it takes plays, music, movies and rank entertainment to cause people to come to Christ.

Clearly, by the aforementioned Scriptures, those things are the means and methods of the world, and have nothing of God in them. Instead, they are the product of man’s reasoning and man’s methods, which are foolishness to God. These methods address the emotions, and move the emotions of man, but do nothing to the heart. It takes the Scripture, the word of God to penetrate the heart and lay bare the wickedness that lies within. The proof of this is manifest when you approach someone who has seen the plays and movies about Christ, and you begin to preach the Gospel to them — and they get very angry and tell you they do not want to hear it. Or, after they have seen a play or drama about where they will end up without the salvation that is in Christ, they say they want to know more, but when visited a couple of days later, they express little to no interest in the Gospel or the things of God.

In the final analysis, what is really going on here borders on rank heresy. Why? Because those individuals involved in and promoting such means and methods have set aside the plain word of God in favor of their own way. Granted, there are those who claim that these methods are simply a different form of presenting the word of God. However, that is manifestly untrue, since plays, music and movies present actions and emotion more than words. Moreover, instead of being mentally engaging, the tendency is to shut off thinking altogether and let the emotions have free reign when watching, or listening, to plays, music and movies. Even though a person may do this when someone is preaching, it is generally not the case, as they must engage the mind to listen to the words, since the words are where the attention is focused.

Secondly, and much more distressing, the reality is that presenting plays, drama, music, movies, etc., relieves the individuals participating in such endeavors of the personal burden of presenting the Gospel to those around them. Instead, the burden is shifted to the ‘group.’ This is a very convenient way of avoiding a bitter reality for many professed ‘Christians’: that they have no real message of Christ to bring, because they do not know Him personally.

Vain Thoughts – Psalm 119:113

image_pdfimage_print

SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. (Psalm 119:113)

What is a vain thought? Well, in the context of the verse, vain is described in the dictionary as empty, useless, devoid of meaning, or scripturally put, not profitable. In short, thoughts that do not produce anything of value, are vain.

Now, this is contrasted with the law of God by the use of the word “but”, which is a conjunction that draws a sharp distinction between the two parts. In so doing, the word of God makes vain thoughts and the law of God mutually exclusive. Now, this ought not be a surprise in that the LORD God draws many sharp distinctions in His word, and thus makes many things mutually exclusive. Among these are good and evil, grace and works (for salvation), holy and unholy, clean and unclean, etc.

However, in this one thing, the LORD is addressing how we think. The Psalmist makes it very clear that loving (or enjoying) vain thoughts and loving the law of God cannot co-exist in someone, in that they cannot serve two masters. Either the Psalmist will hate vain thoughts and love the law of God, or he will do the opposite. He cannot be double-minded. Now, this was made clear earlier in the psalm when he testified the following:

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. (Psalm 119:104)

It is the “therefore” that demonstrates to us that we cannot have a co-existence in our minds of thinking of things that are false, and a love for the law of God. This is to say that we cannot think in ways, and about subjects that are empty of real meaning, unproductive, and contrary to the law of God, which is to say we cannot think about things that are manifestly not true. Hence, we cannot fill our minds, and think about things that don’t exist anywhere else except in the imagination, and are thus not real.

Now, I know in this modern age that there are those who believe that if you think it, it is indeed real, simply because you think it. However, that is utter nonsense in that we can think in our minds all day long that we can fly without any mechanical assistance whatsoever, but the simple laws that govern this physical universe will quickly prove that wrong. Thus, this simple illustration ought to prove that simply thinking it doesn’t make it real or true. All it is, and all it will ever be, is fantasy and a fiction that we have invented (if you will) in our minds to divert us from having to deal with the realities of this life.

By the same token, reading about someone else’s fiction and fantasy, is no different than coming up your own. In fact, in the eyes of God, to approve of iniquity, is just as bad as actually engaging in it. Why? Because all sin and iniquity begins in the heart and mind, long before it is acted upon, and to approve of sin and iniquity is, by implication, a strong statement that sin and iniquity are indeed right and proper and righteousness is not.

So, it should be understood that reading and partaking of that which is vain is no different that coming up with the those vain things yourself. After all, by implication, you approve of it when you partake of it. And, as the verse was very plain above, that is to set oneself against the law of God. Plainly, the 113th verse stated that the Psalmist hated vain thoughts, but loved the law of God. Notice that the word was not “and”, rather it was the express contrast of “but”.

We cannot serve two masters, for we will love one and hate the other, we will not love both equally, particularly when they are diametrically opposed. This the Lord Jesus Christ made plain when He stated:

No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)

And again:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24)

Which confirms the principle of what is written in James about those who do attempt to, at once and the same time, live for Christ and love and enjoy the things of this world: ((Now this verse sits in the context of trusting the LORD to grant one’s request for wisdom, which, when one asks with uncertainty, one is double-minded concerning the LORD’s promise of understanding and wisdom for all who ask in all singleness of heart. The principle here is the same. One cannot ask doubting, being unsure of whether the LORD keeps His promises or not, all the while professing to “believe” the LORD.))

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:8)

To attempt to reconcile the dichotomy within ourselves and be comfortable with both vain thoughts and the law of God is to put ourselves in the worst condition of all in the sight of God: we are true hypocrites that are comfortable being double-minded. We should all understand where that leads: and it won’t be heaven.

This is why “Christian fiction” is such an oxymoron.

Translate »