Random Bits

"I walk through this sinful world as a 

pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon

I was able to get away last weekend with Granddaughter #1 to view the turning leaves. Colorado is an interesting place and if you love autumn like I do, it's the perfect place to be. Down here at home (at 5000') the leaves haven't turned, but as you travel up the mountains the leaves are turning and are in their full glory at 9,000'. Up at 11,000' it was snowing - not enough to make a snowball (to Granddaughter #1's disappointment) but enough to be a harbinger of things to come.

To someone raised in the north east autumn here is a bit disappointing - there's no reds. Maple trees don't seem to enjoy the mountains, they only appear in very well manicured neighborhoods near the zoo. The intense golds of the Aspen trees are truly spectacular, but I miss the reds. Soon autumn will move down the mountains to us on the flat lands but until that time I have a couple more weekends to do what Grandfathers do best; teach their young charges about the mountains, woods, and interesting collectible critters (like crayfish) that God gave us as reminders of His Majesty, that He could make something so incredible as man, and something so simple like a drowse garter snake (and how much fun it is to show that garter snake to mom and grandma)

New Apostolic Reformation founder and self appointed Prophet/Apostle C. Peter Wagner is in the hospital. Can the faith healer heal himself? It looks like the prophet didn't see this coming

Speaking of the New Apostolic Reformation - I've mentioned in the past that the NAR is a hotbed of False Teachers and False Prophets, but also False Doctors too. Here's another new False Doctor: David Barton

It just keeps getting worse and worse...

Having an Atheist minister is like Alcoholics Anonymous hosting a pub crawl

Lesbian Lutheran Bishop Antje Jackelén  the leader of the Lutheran Church in Sweden is colluding with Islamists to cover up radical Islamic barbarity

Spurgeon Thursday - Heaven

Thy head may be crowned with thorny troubles now, but it shall wear a starry crown ere long; thy hand may be filled with cares—it shall sweep the strings of the harp of heaven soon. 

In heaven they marry not, but are as the angels of God; yet there is this one marvellous exception to the rule, for in heaven Christ and His Church shall celebrate their joyous nuptials. This affinity as it is more lasting, so it is more near than earthly wedlock. Let the love of husband be never so pure and fervent, it is but a faint picture of the flame which burns in the heart of Jesus. 

The damnation of sinners shall not mar the happiness of saints.

In the beatific vision it is Christ whom they see; and further, it is his face which they behold. They shall not see the skirts of his robe as Moses saw the back parts of Jehovah; they shall not be satisfied to touch the hem of his garment, or to sit far down at his feet where they can only see his sandals, but they “shall see his face;” by which I understand two things: first, that they shall literally and physically, with their risen bodies, actually look into the face of Jesus; and secondly, that spiritually their mental faculties shall be enlarged, so that they shall be enabled to look into the very heart, and soul, and character of Christ, so as to understand him, his work, his love, his all in all, as they never understood him before. 

WWUTT Wednesday - Don't Slap the Heretic

Nicholas of Myra smacks Arius

During the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea, Bishop Nicholas of Myra got a little upset with a fellow named Arius. Arius was a Christian presbyter from Alexandria Egypt and was teaching at the Nicaean council that Jesus the Son was not equal to God the Father. Arius claimed that Jesus was created by the Father, is distinct from the Father, and is therefore subordinate to the Father, This belief is called Arianism and it undermines the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity. 

Angered with Arius' heretical teaching, Nicholas got up, walked across the room and slapped Arius in the face. Shocked that someone would commit violence in his presence, Constantine had Nicholas locked up in prison and allowed the Bishops to choose the appropriate punishment. The Bishops banished Nicholas to the North Pole, forced him to change his name to Santa and required him to raise reindeer and distribute toys for all eternity. And that's why on St. Nicholas day we're allowed to slap heretics.

Ok, I made bit about the North Pole and reindeer up. And please don't slap anybody, even on a Monday. To a Christian the ending of the actual Nicholas myth is just as weird. And to be honest the whole story is contrived, there's no evidence that Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea or that Arius did either. The best evidence says that  Arianism was discussed and determined to be a Heresy

What is a heresy? As Amy Spreeman at Berean Research so perfectly says "Heresy is a false teaching about the essential doctrines of our faith" and to understand what a heresy is, we must first understand what those doctrines are first. The good folks at WWUTT have discovered that to remember what those doctrines are, you simply need to remember that DOCTRINE is an acronym for our doctrines. Please watch the video and don't slap any heretics. If they upset you I suppose it's ok to put coal in their stocking

Emergent Monday - Steven Furtick Superstar

I really do not like polluting a worship service with narcissism, manufactured miracles, and secular noise, the primary purpose of a worship service is to praise and worship God, not the pitiful accomplishments of man.

For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. (Isaiah 64:6)

If Pastor Paratus stood before our congregation of Bereans during a worship service and started reciting the play-by-play of the on-going Denver Broncos game for no other reason than many of us in the congregation like the Denver Broncos, I'm sure that the board would have a meeting to discuss this. The service is to worship and glorify God, not the Denver Broncos. 

How could that possibly be any different than Steven Furtick's Elevation "Church" playing heavy metal secular music during a worship service simply because he likes it? Songs like the drug culture anthem Purple Haze by Jimmy Hendrix, music by the "theologians" Arrowsmith, the God glorifying hymn I Love Rock and Roll, and the center of all things worshipful New York New York must be found worshipful to the goats of Elevation church. Of course if you do not find this edifying it's probably because of your diminished intellectual capacity, or in the words of Steven Furtick:

“A lot of people don't like rock and roll in church because they're STUPID.” -Pastor Steven Furtick

Then again, what kind of explanation do you expect from someone who has publicly stated that they believe that Joel Osteen is "a great man of god"? It's not about what the congregation wants, it's not about what the church board wants, it's not even about what Steven Furtick Superstar wants, it's about what GOD wants.

Random Bits

"I walk through this sinful world as a 

pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon

It's been quite a busy week here in the shadow of My Mountain. Along with lots of visits with my ever expanding circle of doctors, I was on-call this week and I even got paged during the annual church picnic. The only thing I've had a chance to write (besides trouble tickets) is a response over at Alec Satin's While It's Yet Day. (You get extra points if you use "42" as the answer to an improperly worded question too)

That's not to say I didn't receive a lot of inspiration this week., Studying Hebrews with Pastor Paratus brings a lot of inspiration to mind, but so far most of the articles rattling around in my head will all be titled "What To Say To The JW At Your Door". Hebrews has the answer to all their accusations. But yesterday a friend asked my wife "Why doesn't your husband like Steven Furtick?" It's not that I don't like Steven Furtick, I've never met him. If we ever meet I may come to like him, but after Hey Haters! I'm not sure it would be a whole lot. Our friend is one of those souls that love flashing lights, loud secular music, and programs written by emergent, ecumenical authors whose works don't hold up to biblical standards. She's enthusiastic but we may have to talk about discernment. I'll write her a an answer to her question, but my next article will be on Mr. Furtick because I need to get away from the NAR for a while.

Mr. Pope displays even more biblical ignorance. If God wants to use war for His purposes, He will use it for His purposes... like He did throughout the Old Testament, and He did it without Mr. Pope's permission

Recently Andy Stanley has said that the bible should not be the foundation of Christianity. My response is a bit uncharitable, so instead I'll post Michael J, Kruger's response. It's not as humorous but MUCH more charitable

The Andy Stanley Cornucopia of False Teaching, Fast Talking, & Post Modern Ambiguity

Random Bits

"I walk through this sinful world as a 

pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon

If you are reading this and haven't noticed the War On Christianity, it's most likely because that rather than being a follower of Christ you're a follower of the likes of a Joel Osteen or (at the risk of sounding redundant) simply not a Christian. There is a War on Christianity going on world wide, including right here in America, and the only people that are denying it are the ones fighting against us. True, the war on Christianity in the US isn't an open shooting war like in the middle east, nor are our daughters and children being endlessly raped by a stone-age pagan culture brought in and encouraged by our own government like in Europe. But yes, our borders are being overrun by those same hordes that are ravaging Europe, brought in by our government not for their comfort, but (IMHO) to threaten ours.

The War On Christianity here is primarily economic, which makes sense, because the US is a primarily economic country. The War on Christians appears to be a mirror of the society where the war is being fought. Asia and the middle east is a violent area so the War on Christians there is based on violence, Europe has devolved into a Crowley-esque "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" society, so the War on Christians there is a "If it feels good do it" type of rape-fest that only the French government seems to notice. And here in the economic center of the world the War is primarily economic, brought on and fueled by the same government that swore a sacred oath to protect our right to freedom of religion.

You may argue that the largest economy in the world wouldn't dare try to eliminate us because Christianity contributes $378 billion a year to the US economy which is more than Google, Facebook, and Apple combined. It's a valid point but your argument is invalid, because Satan wants you gone and no price is too high for him to get rid of us. The Catholic health systems alone account for 1 in 6 hospital beds in the country, to us that's impressive, but to a liberal that means an abortion cannot be performed in over 16% of all hospital beds, and to feminists, abortion is their most holy sacrament.

Gaystapo update - A new law in Massachusetts will force churches to allow men to use women's rest rooms

More Furtick Clickbait: The Steven Furtick Cornucopia of False Teaching, Egomania, & Hair Gel

WWUTT - The End Of The World

All good things must come to an end, just as all bad things must come to an end too. Unless you're a self professed apostle slash profit prophet of the New Apostolic Reformation, then all things must come to a Great Outpouring and possibly even a revival. Maybe even a Carolina Panthers victory. 

But if you're like me and actually read the end of the Bible, you know that yes, this world is going to end, but it's going to be replaced by a better one. My co-worker and I were discussing bible prophesy and he really likes studying it and is a bit saddened that his new church doesn't study prophesy very much. I like reading prophesy too but I think that bible prophesy is studied too much in some instances. We both agree that bible prophesy is a strange bird in that when it does come to pass that it comes true in a way that confounds and amazes the student of prophesy. Remember Hal Lindsey's Late Great Planet Earth where he told us the world was going to end before 2000 because he believed that prophesy said that it would happen within one generation of the reforming of Israel?

Prophesy gets fulfilled in ways that we cannot imagine. I'm sure that in a few years we're going to look back at what has happened, review prophesy, and in one voice say "Dude! I totally missed that!"

The Coming Persecution - by Joe Schimmel

The Coming Persecution
By: Joe Schimmel

The coming persecution has already begun to one degree or another. Street preachers in South Carolina have been handcuffed and hauled off to jail due to "noise pollution." Christians in the Middle East are put to death in the name of Allah. Even a friend of mine, Wally Tope, was beaten into a coma by looters as he shared the gospel in Los Angeles during the riots. True, persecution has been the lot of the church since it's inception and books like "Foxe's Book of Martyrs" have testified of this fact down through the corridors of time.

The scriptures testify that persecution would increase in the last days due to the increasing lawlessness of mankind (2 Timothy 3:1-13). This coming persecution will be so intense that a worldwide mandate will go out in the name of the Antichrist to the effect that all who do not conform to the coming New World Order "must die."

"And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand, or on their forehead, and he provides that no one should be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of man. And his number is six hundred and sixty six" (Revelation 13:16-18).

Christians will have to face this intense persecution in what the Bible refers to as the "Great Tribulation." The word of God reveals to us that a "great multitude" of believers from "every nation" and "all tribes, peoples, and tongues" of the Earth will "come out of the great tribulation" (Revelation 7:9-14). 

Random Bits

"I walk through this sinful world as a 

pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon

This week I did a blog entry that explained clearly and biblically that God does not allow women to be in the pulpit, that the responsibility to be the recognized, authoritative, buck-stops-here continuous, ongoing, habitual teachers, leaders, and shepherds falls squarely on the shoulder of men, just as the responsibility to lead falls to the men in marriage. I outlined exactly where the bible says this in black and white, and I showed where the justification used by churches that allow pastorettes in their pulpits falls short of God's word. So any denomination or congregation that puts a woman in the pulpit in a continuous, ongoing, habitual manner is in open rebellion to God. Sin is in progress.

Even though the Bible explicitly said that elder-ship and teaching is the role of the man, more and more denominations are allowing women to perform that job against God's will. So it should come as no surprise that there are denominations that allow atheists to poison the flock. These are the thieves that Jesus spoke of in John 10:10  No, the bible does not explicitly say that atheists should not have a leadership role in the church, anyone with a drop of the good sense God gave them could figure that out by themselves! Seriously! What else could 2 Corinthians 6:14 mean? We're not talking about a huge leap of brain power here. Once when loading nuclear weapons on a B-52 the security guard told my team that there was no way he could actually harm someone for trying to access an inanimate object (like a multi-megaton thermonuclear warhead). A quick call to Central Security Control insured within 3 minutes he was no longer in a position where he would have to face that kind of decision. Forever. 

Shouldn't the same care with the flock that is vested in them be taken by denominations who are supposed to encourage, edify, and educate said flock? The Presbyterian Church USA has no problem with atheists polluting the pulpit, (Along with other folks that the bible tends to forbid) but shock of shocks the uber-liberal United Church of Canada finally had enough of Gretta Vosper's atheistic intrusion and destruction of a congregation after only 16 years of Godlessness in their church. I can only praise and thank God that the Strategic Air Command didn't have the UCC providing security for their "flock" And speaking of polluted flocks:

The ELCA has released a resource guide to aid clergy with the performance of liturgy in the “marriage” of sodomites.

And speaking of faux-marriage, is this an example of narcissism gone wild, or is it exchanging "the truth of God for a lie."

Spurgeon Thursday - Angels

Recently I've been in an on line conversation with a Jehovah's Witness cultist who insists that Jesus is the archangel Michael. This cultist has no biblical evidence for this other than a passing reference to an angel named Michael. Anyone with an even passing familiarity with the first chapter of Hebrews would know that this assertion is mere hogwash, but the lad was so sincere in this delusion that I could only pity him. 

But it got me to wondering - WWSS - What Would Spurgeon Say? Of course the Prince of Preachers knew nothing of the door knocking cult as they didn't actually become the JW's until after Spurgeon graduated to his Eternal Reward, and I doubt that he knew that the founder of the JW's, Charles Taze Russel,  was a huge fan of his because Spurgeon "peppered his sermons hot".

So on a different note I wondered what would Spurgeon say about Angels?

It is wrong to worship angels; but it is appropriate to love them. Although it would be a great sin, and a crime against the Sovereign Court of Heaven to pay the slightest adoration to the mightiest angel, yet it would be unkind and inappropriate, if we did not give holy angels a place in our heart's warmest love. In fact, he that studies the character of angels, and notes their many deeds of compassion with men, and kindness towards them, cannot resist the impulse of his nature--the impulse of love towards them.

The angels must often be astonished at us and think we are the strangest creatures that well can be, yet they love us, and therefore they take a great interest in that Gospel that promotes our highest good. 

WWUTT Wednesday - Slaves to a Lie

A very long time ago slavery was a universal practice throughout the world with the possible exception of ancient India. All ancient societies participated slavery. In China during several dynasties a captured man would be castrated and forced into slave labor, his property would be seized and his family would be sold into slavery also. 

During biblical times prisoners of war were pressed into slavery, foreign slaves became perpetual slaves of the slave owners. There was also debt slavery which sometimes was the only way people could feed themselves, and there was conjugal slavery where a girl would be sold under the understanding that she would marry the purchaser or his son, and failing that she would be redeemed. 

The bible, being written during this era in human servitude, naturally addresses this in numerous areas. Detractors and people who hate a God they don't believe exists ignore the world wide practice and focus on those mentions in the bible as a misbegotten statement of blanket endorsement of slavery. While venting their spleens at Christians, these people seem to believe is that slavery ended with the Emancipation Proclamation, they are blissful in their ignorance that right now there are tens of millions of people trapped in various forms of slavery throughout the world today. Researchers estimate that 21 million are enslaved worldwide, generating $150 billion each year in illicit profits for traffickers. About 78% toil in forced labor slavery, about 22% are trapped in forced prostitution sex slavery, and the remaining 26% are children.

So while slavery is very real, and very horrible, our detractors fume about the one book in antiquity that actually addressed slavery for the sin that it was

The Pastrix and Their Supporters - are they Godly?

Pastrix Nadia Bolz-Weber of the
ELCA here in Denver

A Pastrix is a woman acting as a pastor. If you go to New Wineskins Dictionary and look up Pastrix you'll see the word defined as this:

まずは、何を持って行くかを決めなければいけませんが 家具や家電など、現在使っているものは自宅に置

Now I can't fault a Pastrix for her enthusiasm, but I can fault them for their web skills. (In case you're wondering the links go to a Chinese website that instructs young men on how to move out of their parents' basements)

I've had readers (and at least one male pastor) tell me that there's nothing wrong with women preaching, and I've invited them to explain their reasoning and I ended up with this. 

So after prayerful consideration I have come forward to state my case for women in the church. This is not an article about men vs women, nor is it an article about God vs women, it's an article about biblical interpretation and submitting one self to God's will. There is a great many positions for women in the church, Elder is not one of them, and a Pastor is an Elder.

One of the bible verses that those who defend women in the Pastorage rally around is Galatians 3:28 which states "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." See? they cry - "There's no difference between men and women!" This is a perfect example of willfully taking a verse out of context. Here it is in context:

23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:23-29)

This passage has nothing to do with the roles of men and women, it have everything to do with salvation through Jesus Christ. This is a soteriological statement: it speaks to the doctrine of salvation. The teaching is that all believers, without regard to social distinctions, have equal access to God through Christ, and, consequently, are to be unified in the Body of Christ. It is a misuse of Scripture to produce ecclesiastical patterns from soteriological passages!

Random Bits

"I walk through this sinful world as a 

pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon

Clickbait: Steven Furtick. Every time I write about this man my readership stats go through the roof. There's no middle of the road with him, people either love him or realize him for what he is. We even had to add a word to the English language just to describe his style of manhandling the word of God: Narcigesis. He's been quite busy lately helping the fallen such as Perry Noble and Mark Driscoll worm their way back into the goats wallets, and assisting down on their luck pastors who need a few coins to get through the weekend. Now we learn that Mr. Furtick has been named by "Saint" Winfrey Herself to her “SuperSoul 100” which she claims is “a collection of 100 awakened leaders who are using their voices and talent to elevate humanity.” This list reads like a Who's Who of Tour Guides To Hell. (I seriously feel another Furtick blog entry coming on)

Can't get enough of Steve Furtick? Need more tares in your shredded wheat? Want more wolves in your sheep-fold? Then get ready for HERESY-PALOOZA. A 10 day celebration of heresy and extrabiblical fan fiction staring the A-List of B-Grade preachers, false prophets, and highly enriched life coaches who should all have their own shows on the OWN network.

Another reason to avoid Bible Gateway - "Jesus Always," a devotional by Sarah Young, author of Jesus Calling. (A good reason to switch to BLB)

A good analysis of Sara Young's writing and the occult methods she employs can be found here

They may be minor leaguers in the Big Game of Heresy but these women are looking to out earn even the Osteen himself! These are NAR GRRLS GONE WILD!

Spurgeon Thursday - The Science Of The Bible

My friend, the philosopher, says it may be very well for me to urge people to read the Bible; but he thinks there are a great many sciences far more interesting and useful than theology.

Extremely obliged to you for your opinion, sir. What science do you mean? The science of dissecting beetles and arranging butterflies?

"No," you say, "certainly not."

The science, then, of arranging stones, and telling us of the strata of the earth?

"No, not exactly that."

Which science, then?

"Oh, all sciences," say you, "are better than the science of the Bible."

Ah! sir, that is your opinion; and it is because you are far from God, that you say so. But the science of Jesus Christ is the most excellent of sciences. Let no one turn away from the Bible because it is not a book of learning and wisdom. It is.

Would ye know astronomy? It is here: it tells you of the Sun of Righteousness and the Star of Bethlehem.

Would you know of botany? It is here: it tells you of the plant of renown-the Lily of the Valley, and the rose of Sharon.

Would you know geology and mineralogy? You shall learn it here: for you may read of the Rock of Ages, and the White Stone with the name engraven thereon, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Would ye study history? Here is the most ancient of all the records of the history of the human race.

Whate'er your science is, come and bend o'er this book; your science is here. Come and drink out of this fair fount of knowledge and wisdom, and ye shall find yourselves made wise unto salvation. Wise and foolish, babes and men, gray-headed sires, youths and maidens-I speak to you, I plead with you, I beg of you respect your Bibles, and search them out, for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Christ.

Delivered on Sabbath Evening, March 18, 1855, by the
REV. C.H. SPURGEON