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Monday, December 29, 2014

Are You One of The 15?


Well-known individuals who post and do things publicly should not expect to avoid scrutiny, questions or correction.   The Bible tells us that he who hates correction is stupid and better are the wounds of a friend than the kisses of an enemy. 

While I was not involved in the effort to get "Christian" stores to stop selling heresy, it has often bothered me that they are leading so many astray by the false teaching that they promulgate.
Christians need to stand up and address these issues just as the reformers stood up against heresy in their day.  The distinctions get blurry once people start to compromise.  Do those of us as Christians worship God or popular authors and teachers?  What did Jesus do when He saw the corruption of moneychangers in the temple?  Was He not angry?  There is such a thing as righteous anger, and those who lead people astray will not be ignored by God.
 I plan to not buy from "Christian" bookstores that intentionally sell heresy and profit from it anymore.  Lifeway & CBD (Christianbook.com) both sell these kinds of materials. I'd rather buy from a non-Christian company who doesn't pretend.  I'm hoping that people will come up with a list of offending bookstores.

"but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea."
Matthew 18:6

I was recently disappointed to see a post by John Piper in which he compared Catholics to Christians in such a way as to blur distinctions.  While I tend to want to believe the best about people and would not question his being a Christian, he has allowed himself to be influenced by and befriended by people who are in error.  I realize that it is possible that Piper did not intend to give credence to Catholicism, but his recent tweet was upsetting and of great concern.  People already are forgetting the reasons for the Reformation and that Catholics are not brothers of Christians without saying this:
Since my first response was more indirect, I sent a direct tweet to John Piper yesterday.

Who are #the15?  Anybody who stands up for Biblical clarity and truth.  Anybody who dares to point out error, inconsistency, or even sin in a "Christian" business or pastor.
Yes, reproof and correction should be done in a spirit of gentleness, humility and love. 
The goal is not just to blast people out of the water but to restore those who are true believers.
We are to be angry and sin not.  Sometimes anger for the sake of the Gospel and truth is necessary such as Paul confronting Peter and Jesus confronting leaders.  Our zeal should be for God's glory...not to call names and be quarrelsome.  Hypocrisy and true heresy should not be ignored if we love God and His people.

You can find more about #the15 on Twitter by the hashtag or follow  there.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Jubilant Christmas Music

Happy Christmas!
Jubilant Sykes has performed at Grace Community Church many times in the past where I first heard him, so it was fun to discover this video of him when he was younger singing with the Boston Pops.
Please read my Christmas greeting below the video.



May you have a wonderful Christmas where many people still choose to celebrate Christ Jesus' birth in Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago.
May we remember that Jesus (born of a virgin who called Him God & her Savior) was fully God, that He humbled Himself to become a man (while still fully God) to live a perfect life on earth - demonstrating who He was by attesting miracles & the witness of God Himself.  He willingly died as the ultimate sacrifice Lamb to take the wrath of God the Father for sinners who were His enemies.  He took the place of all those who would believe & trust in Him & He rose again for their justification & to conquer death & it's sting, so that all who receive Him will live eternally with Him in Heaven - His chosen ones, His bride, His redeemed church, His adopted children.  Meanwhile He sent His Spirit to seal His redeemed on earth, to cause growth, to pray for us better than we can ourselves...
At the right hand of God there will be pleasures forever (Psalm 16:11).

Personal note:  I am now able to do some typing with both hands, although I still have much recovery to go after my surgery at the end of this past October.  I have tingling, pain, tightness & numbness, but I'm thankful to get this far!  We are still waiting for my family member to find out about the brain surgery.  Prayers appreciated by Christians around the world.
 

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Through The Eyes of Spurgeon & Free Evangelism Resource

Through The Eyes Of Spurgeon:
Today I watched a new biography of Charles Spurgeon that is much different than the one I shared through my blog in the past.
Did you know Spurgeon was baptized more than once in his life, or that he suffered depression and a time of doubting?  He also was involved in a number of controversies.  You can learn about what he thought was worth breaking fellowship over.
The biography is nearly 2 hours long, but if you check the time at the bottom you can break it up like I did.
Through The Eyes of Spurgeon



Free Duplication:  Did you know that you can duplicate Hell's Best Kept Secret by Ray Comfort to give away to people?  See Living Waters' free duplication page Here.