 |
"I walk through this sinful world as a
pilgrim in a foreign country" - CH Spurgeon
|
Breaking News! Mr. Pope just doesn't get it. Not a clue in the world about what Christianity is all about. I am so blogging about this next week.
Is it possible to make the Word of God too convenient? I've never heard that complaint before.
In Germany, the home of the reformation, the word of God is now considered to be "un-Christian". (I'm not making this up!)
Christians in Mexico are now coming under persecution from the Mexican government and are being starved to death. Their crime; they're Protestant. They're being faced with a "Convert to catholicism or die" situation. Sound familiar? Now you know why the Roman Catholic Church thinks Islam is cool.
Christians in St. Louis MO are now coming under persecution. Six churches in St. Louis burned in the past 2 weeks.
Hookers for Jesus? Yes, and an important, necessary ministry. Here's the founder's story.
Religion of Peace Update #1 - An Iranian migrant to Germany, who embraced Christ, was beaten unconscious by an Afghan migrant in a German refugee with a telescoping baton. The article never mentions why an "economic refugee" carried a police style baton into a refugee camp in Germany.
Religion of Peace Update #2 - Muslims destroy Christian churches in Indonesia because they were built without permits... and the Islamic government refuses to issue permits for any Christian churches
Religion of Peace Update #3 - a gang of 8 men have been burgling churches and schools for the past 4 years to finance Islamist fighters in Syria. They stole 19,000 euros ($22,500) worth of goods breaking into churches stealing collection boxes, crosses, chalices, and other objects dedicated to church services. There's no word on if they ever pawned their Korans to raise money, which I doubt they considered.
Heart breaking
Atheists who say there's no link between atheism and Satan had better shut this guy up.
Liberals who say there's no link between abortion and Satan had better shut this guy up.
I don't know Bill Gothard and I probably don't want to know Bill Gothard or his Institute in Basic Life Principles, but it looks like his legacy is going to be one of litigation, shame, and unGodly conduct.
Religions of the world gather to plan their attack on Christianity.
I cannot believe that my beloved USAF is coming under attack by someone like Mikey Weinstein, especially when it comes to Operation Christmas Child. If you notice, Mr. Weinstein isn't suicidal, his sense of self preservation has kept him from attacking the USMC's Toys For Tots program
Ten mistakes we make with the Gospel (#6 drives me crazy too!)
Many important news items here.
ReplyDeleteThis one: Religions of the world gather to plan their attack on Christianity. Shocking. Reminded me of this:
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. -1 Thes 5.3
United Church of Christ and United Church of Canada sign a mutual recognition?? Go figure. Birds of a feather.....
ReplyDeleteI don't know Bill Gothard personally, but I have studied him and his teachings since 1999, and have known many of his follows as well as ex-followers, and I consider him to be one of the most dangerous teachers whose teachings have harmed thousands.
Glenn,
DeleteDo you know of any current connection between Ray Comfort and Bill Gothard? I was watching an old sermon/teaching video on Youtube by Ray Comfort which seemed to be from the 1980's. In it, Ray Comfort made a passing favorable comment about Bill Gothard. It surprised me. Any thoughts?
Alec
Alec,
ReplyDeleteWell, no, I've never heard of that. Of course I've only been examining Gothard since 1999.
Comfort bothers me a bit with what I consider too much legalism. He uses the 10 Commandments as a base for a lot of his teachings, but the 10Cs were never for anyone but Israel. By using them, I have heard him in the past making not going to church on Sunday as a sin along with violating all the other commandments. He needs to get rid of referencing the 10Cs and stick to the moral law as written on every person's heart (essentially all the 10Cs but the Sabbath rule).
I've seen other street preachers using the same tactic when engaging an unbeliever, I pray that they're using the 10Cs because the vast majority of unbelievers has heard, or is aware of many of the commandments even if they are unaware of the fact that Jesus reiterated all but one. That makes the 10Cs a common starting point when engaging unbelievers, and a common starting point is a great tactic. However, equating your church attendance or lack thereof with immoral activity is just wrong.
DeleteDoug and Glenn,
DeleteThis is an important and somewhat confusing area for me. Since Ray Comfort's "Audacity" came out I've been listening to some of his other sermons and teaching materials online. Like you say Doug, using the 10Cs is a great starting point. And there is a problem (I think) with the general evangelical idea that a profession of faith without repentance equals saving faith.
However, how much repentance is enough? How does anyone know if they've done it well enough, or completely enough? This kind of thinking can trip people up badly. I know.
Doug I never thought about the fact that Jesus reiterated all the 10 commandments but Sabbath observance. We also have Colossians 2.16 about that one, though someone could (incorrectly) argue that that is only talking about which day to observe it on.
You've both given me things to think about. Thank you.
As for the Sabbath, Christians -- nor anyone other than Jews -- were never under the Sabbath command. I wrote an article about the issue, explaining even about the 10Cs not being for anyone but Israel.
ReplyDeletehttp://watchmansbagpipes.blogspot.com/2010/05/are-christians-required-to-keep-sabbath.html