WWUTT Wednesday - Pass the Bacon Please

We all knew that Joel Osteen was challenged when it came to the Bible, but every now and then a tidbit comes to light that displays how ignorant he is of God's word. 

We must talk a moment about pork; ham, bacon, pepperoni. These are some things that the scripture tells us we should not eat... and of course this has to do with anything that comes from the pig, a hog, a swine... Back in the bible days the pig was considered unclean, it was never considered a source of food. - Joel Osteen

Joel goes on to tell us his personal reasoning for avoiding pork, talks about the pig's diet and it's digestive system, then goes on to tell how he prefers fresh fish, fresh salmon, and chicken. All of which proves that Joel know less about biblical dietary requirement than he knows about how chickens are raised.

But Joel isn't alone on the pulpit disparaging bacon. Jim Staley quite often disparaged bacon, but then he was deep into the Hebrew Roots movement. (I say "was" because because the Passion for Truth pastor is now doing 7 years for investment fraud). Rick Warren too say to abstain from pork in his diet book The Daniel Plan. But is this right? Should men in a position of spiritual authority be telling Christians what to eat and what not to eat based on scripture? 

Tony Tuesday - The Power of Praise

Things are a bit hectic here in the mile high city,  for me at least. If you notice I didn't even get a Random Bits entry out last week, my bride and I were a bit busy with the kids and didn't get a chance to update the blog. Which is why I'm posting a blog entry from Doctor Tony Evans today;

6 and said: “Lord, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.... 12 Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. (2 Chronicles 20:6,12)

In this passage we read that the nation of Judah had just received horrible news. A vast army was gathering to destroy them, and King Jehoshaphat had no idea how they could survive such a vicious attack. However, he did know there was only one Person he could turn to, and that was God.

God quickly answered his prayer. He told him the battle was not Judah’s but His. Then the Lord set up the battle plan. Instead of warriors leading the way, God instructed the king to place the choir up front and march into battle singing praises to His name. I would have loved to have seen the king’s face when he heard that plan. No arrows or tar-and-pitch rockets were to fly through the air—only praises to God.

Regardless of what he felt inside, the king’s actions demonstrated that he trusted God as he obeyed the Lord. Before Judah reached the battlefield, God had thrown the enemy in to such confusion that they turned on one another. The army of Judah never lifted a bow because God defeated its enemies.

If you’re facing difficulty of any kind or size, begin to sing songs of praise to the Lord, and you will see your enemies defeated. Not only that, but your heart will be lifted, and you will sense a peace inside like nothing you have known. God wants to restore the peace you have lost. If you will let Him, He will give you a fresh touch of His peace, love, and grace when you praise Him.

- Dr. Tony Evans

Eccumenical Monday - IHOP and Their Adoration of the Papist Church

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what
partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or
what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14)

Sola Scriptura (by Scripture alone) is the foundational doctrinal principle of the Protestant Reformation. It is held by we Reformers, who know that Scripture is self-authenticating, clear to the rational reader, is its own interpreter, and sufficient of itself to be the final authority of Christian doctrine. However some denominations prefer Prima Scriptura which states that scripture is pretty good, but needs man's help through revelation and Tradition. Denominations that encourage this kind of thing are Anglican, Wesleyan Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Quakers, Pentecostals, Charismatics and Roman Catholics

The International House of Prayer (IHOP) claims to be all about Prima Scriptura, but may be Secundum Scriptura (Scripture is Secondary), but probably Alia Scriptura (Another Scripture). Regardless of what they are, what they are not is evangelical Christian. At the very best what they are is a Christian flavored cult. With much more focus on mysticism and contemplative spirituality than on worshipping the Lord in prayer and interceding for others through prayer, and the expectation that healings, visions, dreams, prophecies, tongues, words of knowledge, signs, wonders, etc become commonplace, IHOP sets itself apart from biblical Christianity. Which is probably why IHOP simply adores the Roman Catholic Church. Consider this quote from the Franciscan University of Steubenville: 

“The International House of Prayer (IHOP) was founded in 1999 by Mike Bickle, who says that many IHOP teachings draw upon the works of St. John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, as well as contemporary Catholics including Father Henri Nouwen and Father Thomas Dubay, SM. The IHOP 24 hour prayer room, he says, was inspired by the spiritual practices of  Catholic European monks, such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux. 

‘I’ve always had a passion for Catholic-Christian unity, and enthusiastically welcome this years Catholic track,’ says Bickle. ‘We may have different religious traditions, but we focus on fellowship, and unity and Jesus being glorified in prayer, worship, and teaching.’”

Spurgeon Thursday - The Church That The World Likes Best

WWUTT Wednesday: Praying in Tongues

Believe it or not, there's actually people out there who believe that if you're not praying in tongues, you're not saved. According to the father of the word-faith movement, Kenneth Hagin, "peaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the infilling of the Holy Spirit." So if you're not speaking in tongues, you're not filled with the Holy Spirit.

He goes on to say that continuing to pray and to worship God in tongues helps us to be ever-con­scious of His indwelling Presence. And if you are conscious of the indwelling Presence of the Holy Ghost every day, that is bound to affect the way you think and live... When you pray in tongues, your spirit is in direct contact with God, who is a Spirit. When you speak in tongues, you are talking to Him by divine, supernatural means.

Is this true? Is this biblical? The answer is "of course not". These quotes came from the NAR's own Kenneth Hagin who has said a lot of silly things, the least of which is his false teachings on praying in tongues