Addressing the Misleading Movements in America
Due to the length of this blog, you can download the entire pdf here.
Addressing the Misleading Movements in America
Introduction
Today there are over 51 nations where the practice of Christianity and the Bible are illegal. Three years ago it was estimated there were over 300 million Christians undergoing severe persecution. Physical, mental, social and economic persecution is very much a reality, especially in the 10/40 window, where Christians are being raped, beaten, tortured, and imprisoned. Most of them have never even seen a Bible.[1] Less than .3 – 3% of all church giving in the United States goes to the most unreached, most persecuted and most stricken Christians in the world.[2]
Yet in America, we deny the command to remember those brothers and sisters who are being persecuted.[3] We have more books, Bibles, professing churches, small groups, discipleship programs, schools and methods than any other nation and most of them combined. And all for what? So that we can have the most superficial and ineffective Christians, in a Christless society, with rampant immorality, perverted justice, the most money hungry, greedy, pleasure seeking and self-serving population in the world.[4] This is only the surface. Having said this, persecution is a promise to a true believer[5] who “desires to live godly in Christ Jesus.” Here in lies the problem, everyone wants their Best Life Now, prosperity, a Purpose Driven Life, a simple life of Nooma, a false gospel in a Shack and now the Monvee way, but no one really wants the Lord Jesus Christ of the Scriptures. “Everyone wants to go to Heaven they just don’t want God to be there when they get there.”[6] Everyone thinks that they are serving and worshiping Jesus, it’s just not the Jesus of the Bible but rather some “sissified jesus”[7] made up in their mind that was deposited by some false prophets who do not know Christ for themselves.[8]
Before we move on I must address you all by saying, that I am a man with many failures and faults, but I come to you in love. I am still being sanctified by my Lord and I do not claim sinless perfection. I understand the gap in expressing emotions and emphasis in emails, blogs and etc. Please forgive me if you feel offended as this is not my goal. I am not bashing anyone, but I am calling us as individuals to examine everything, especially our own claim of Christianity, in relation to the Scriptures. By no means am I calling anyone names.
We need to be shocked into the awareness and examination of ourselves as we so easily accept every new thing, new idea and new way in our professing Christian faith. I realize the initial shock and strong words that I have chosen, but I talk to so many people who are being deceived into false conversion and think themselves ok with God. This mental mindset is rampant in our land and not only in the small churches, but maybe even more so in the mega-church movement. So, strong words are a must in order to wake a sleeping ‘christian’ culture.
Why am I so passionate about all of this anyway? Because people are dying, hell is real, souls are going to hell and most importantly the spotless Lamb of God is not being given the honor and glory that is due His name. I do not claim to know all the problems and all the solutions, nor do I pretend to, but I will boast where appropriate. I am a new creation in Christ Jesus; for I indeed do know Him.[9] I am a true believer and follower of my Lord and Savior. I will repent if I am outside the will of God, out of order with the Scriptures and put under the conviction of the Holy Spirit of God. And I know that mere intellectual knowledge about God and His Son is vanity and powerless to save. Mere intellect saves no one – this is the battle to which I am addressing. Essentially I am combating secular humanism that has reared its ugly head in a new age, feel-good, seeker-friendly[10] sort of way. The reality is nothing more than the serpent himself manifesting what he has sown in the hearts of false-prophets years gone by. A whole new age of false-prophets are among us now.
“Every word of God proves true.”[11] Do you believe this? Do you believe that God does not change?[12] Do you believe that God is one?[13] Well the true Bride of Christ is one. That means every true believer of the Lord Jesus Christ is in agreement on this one thing, Christ is Lord, He is Savior, He has risen and He has confirmed our salvation via the Holy Spirit.[14] That means if I differ with someone on what Gospel is being preached, not that there is another true Gospel accept of the Lord Jesus Christ, either I must repent or the other party must repent, or quite possibly both of us are completely wrong. The true Church, the ekklesia,[15] are one in the same Spirit, the Holy Spirit.
If God has not changed, as the Scriptures testify, then He still has true prophets and true sheep who listen to His voice, not necessarily audibly, and will warn people of the travesties, false teachings and the judgment to come. The problem is that we fail to find out who the One True God is and who His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, really is. Instead of truly being ‘relational,’ or in other words to intimately know Christ,[16] we swallow down the words of anyone with a title, a name, a following, speaks well, or is elevated on a stage. Instead we ought to go to the Scriptures for ourselves seeking to understand what the Holy Spirit is saying and find out if the person speaking is Biblically sound and is preaching the full truth of the Scriptures.
Before we begin, I believe there are several questions that beg to be identified and asked. Failure to ask these questions and teach biblically sound answers to these questions ought to cause a red flag to go up in our minds in regards to the ‘church’ buildings we attend, the ministries we are involved with and the preachers we sit under. These are only a few. More will be asked throughout this writing and some of these will be addressed.
What does it mean, biblically, to have a ‘relationship’ with Jesus?
Where is the preaching/teaching of, “be holy as I am holy?”
Where is the teaching on holiness, sanctification and repentance as an overall style of life?
What are the biblical grounds of assurance of salvation?
Why are persecuted true followers of Christ not brought to light?
Why is there only .3-3% of all donations/tithing/giving in American churches going to the most un-reached, most poverty stricken and most persecuted people in the world?
Why are the attributes of God not being preached?
Why are the Scriptures watered down, twisted and/or taken out of context, and in such a way, that removes the offense of the Gospel?
Why is the true biblical doctrine of hell not preached?
Why is the biblical definition and teaching of what the true Church means not being taught?
Why is the Holy Spirit not preached?
Why is the wrath, justice, righteousness, holiness, sovereignty and fear of the Lord not being taught?
Why are people not being challenged in regards to their salvation?
Why is true church discipline not being practiced?
Why are only certain Scriptures being preached, but the overall majority of Scriptures are never being taught from the pulpit?
Why are the Scriptures not sufficient?
Denial of the true Gospel
“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”[17]
Watering down the Word of God should not be a standard by which we teach, preach and evangelize; unfortunately this is the cold hard reality of American ‘christianity.’ As we begin to look at only a few of the ways in which the Gospel is being reduced, I must make something very clear – God is mighty to save and can save souls no matter where they are at and what they are doing, but we must be careful not to create a method by which we think salvation occurs. There is a way by which God has ordained to save people, it’s through biblical preaching of the Gospel[18] and calling all people to repent and believe.[19] All must deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow Christ.[20] There is no other way.
So what does watering down the Gospel really mean? What does it mean for false teachings to enter our churches? Well let me give you a couple of examples. If I brought you over a pan of brownies and I told you all the ingredients that I used in the making, would you eat? Let me be more specific. How about if I told you that I used 1% rat poison, would you eat?[21] That is what is happening now in the churches of America. The American ‘christian’ culture uses just enough truth to cover the injected lies, philosophies, psychologies and man-centeredness that permeates our church landscape. Let me give you another example. The next two pages are from Christian – A Dangerous Title to Claim.[22]
“Now imagine that you and I are the best of friends and we go to the same church. We have a great friendship, we serve and do good works together and we are dedicated to showing up on Sunday to church. We are both professing Christians.
“Now let’s say that your wife is stranded along side the road and I see her needing help. I stop and find out that she has a flat tire and I attempt to fix the tire but I do not have the proper tools. The only thing I can think of to do at this point is to drive her home where you are waiting for her to arrive. Once we arrive, I tell you the details of where I saw your wife and what’s wrong with her car. She gets home safe and you are thankful. I go on my way. I showed my love, my concern, my passion to help and my good works.
“But what if my visible love, passion, helpfulness and good works were not the full truth? What if I did not tell you one small detail? After all, because of my love for you and for your friendship, I did not want to tell you one small piece of this story. What if the detail I left out was so significant to the truth of this situation it would radically change the outcome? After all, we are friends and friends never want to offend each other – right? Would you want to know all the details?
“What I did not tell you was that on my way to drop off your wife we stopped by a hotel and I took full sexual advantage of her. Now how do you feel about my generosity? My love? My good works? My passion? Would this change how you feel about me? Do the things you do not know hurt you? Absolutely!
“You see I have demonstrated exactly what most professing Christians and professing ‘churches’ believe to be ministry. I have done good works; I have shown mercy; I have demonstrated love; and I have professed to you the truth of your wife’s situation. And I have told you just enough truth to still be friends with you.
“Herein is my point. Today we are somewhat told that Jesus was born of a virgin. We are told that Jesus lived a sinless life – if you can believe that the Scriptures are more than just stories. We are half-heartedly told that Jesus was crucified upon a cross, died and was raised on the third day. We are told that Jesus ascended into Heaven – that is if you believe that He is really alive. We are told He has removed everyone’s sins as far as the east is from the west.[23]
“But all of this is only half the truth. This is not the full Gospel. Most professing churches and professing christians in America only know half the truth because they are only being told half-truths. Because they are only told half-truths most people see everyone as ok, therefore they neglect studying the weightier aspects of the Gospel. After all, why study if you know it all? American churches, and pastors at large, are making the Gospel of Jesus Christ less offensive so to appease the carnality of their ‘flock’ who can live their best life now under a blanket of self-preservation and pride filled indulgence. But it is far worse than this.
“Many people preach in the way of sheol.[24] This can only be because they are of sheol. Unregenerate hearts have no ability to preach with a longing for their hearers to be saved. It is impossible to earnestly hope for something for someone else when you yourself have no idea what it is you are hoping for.
“You see the part that is not being told to the majority of professing Western believers is this – if you are not born again you will not see the kingdom of Heaven[25] nor will you enter the kingdom of Heaven.[26] As a matter of fact Jesus says, “Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”[27] Don’t isolate John 3:16, abuse John 3:36a, misread Romans 10:9-10 and hide behind Ephesians 2:8. When the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Lord, was nailed to the tree He became a curse[28] and bore our sin.[29] Almighty God willfully crushed His only Son[30] with a holy hatred and almighty wrath towards sin. Jesus carried our sin and was crushed to death by His own Father. We are all born into iniquity through sin.[31] The bible says that He has removed the sins of those who fear Him, as far as the east is from the west.[32] “Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”[33] This belief is from the heart.[34] This is a belief that affects the very essence and motive of every willful act of the one who professes such belief. The very worst thing that is not being told today, at least in my eyes is this: every word of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is true and sufficient without your mental ascent. All this is what we are not being told.
“Your heart and my heart is completely depraved and desperately wicked[35] before a holy God. Our innermost being is at enmity with God. There is no one who does good[36] and all have sinned.[37] As a matter of fact our good works, even our best ones, are nothing but a menstrual rag before God.[38] We can do nothing worthy to earn our salvation.
“Do you know these things in the depth of your soul? If so, do you tremble before His word?[39] Do you seek to know Him more? Do you desire to spend more time with Him? Do you seek to love the things that He loves and hate the things that He hates? Once again, these things we are not asked, nor are we told. We are certainly not encouraged to tarry with these things in mind.
“Jesus never promises that the Christian life is going to be everything that you want it to be. Actually He promises just the opposite. He promises persecution.[40] Paul said everyone desiring “to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”[41] Jesus says we are to proclaim His resurrection, repentance of our sins and forgiveness in His name to all people.[42] Remember John 3:36b, Jesus says, “…whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” Now do not get legalistic. Jesus never said that you will be perfect and sinless, but rather you are to seek first the kingdom,[43] repent,[44] believe,[45] deny yourself and follow Him.[46] Jesus also said that many who profess my name will be cast into hell.[47] Where is the promise that your best life is here and in the flesh?
“We are called to examine ourselves[48] and see if the truth is in us. Remember His commandments are not burdensome to a true believer,[49] rather they are a joy. A true born again follower of the Lord Jesus Christ continually desires to know Him, to worship Him, to love Him, to love the things He loves, to hate the things He hates, desires to spend more time with Him in prayer and in His Word. True born again believers have become a new creation[50] in Christ Jesus, not just through definition, but their very character is radically changed. The old has gone and the new has come. Is this a reality in your life today? If not, seek Him hard and seek Him earnestly. He knows your thoughts,[51] intentions and the desires of your heart.[52] You can’t fool Him.”
“Unless Christ gives the interpretation, there will be no knowledge, or wisdom or truth among men.”[53]
Moving onward
The previous quote says it all when it comes to true spiritual growth – period. As I mentioned earlier, keep in mind that I am never talking about sinless perfection in the Christian life, but there is to be a style of life that is marked by conviction, confession and repentance of sin. A growing hatred for the things God hates and a growing passion for the things God loves. In this writing, I have done my best to keep this as short as possible, but certain things must be said. Much more could be said and will be said in the future by people who are more godly than myself and more knowledgeable in the Scriptures than myself – you can mark my words on that. To learn more about some of the present heresies that are sweeping the American landscape at large, check out:
In regards to: Your Best Life Now – Joel Osteen
Check out: Christless Christianity – The Alternative Gospel of the American Church – by Dr. Michael Horton
In regards to: the new age movement, emergent church, Rob Bell, Rick Warren and more
Check out: Trojan Church – The New Age Corruption of the Evangelical Faith – by Dr. Gregory Reid
In regards to: The Shack and Rob Bell
Check out: Voddie Baucham’s Message: Brokenness – 2009 True Church Conference, Muscle Shoals, AL
Want the truth of Protestant historical practices?
Beyond Radical – The history of where we Protestants got our present-day church practices – by Gene Edwards
To learn more about Biblical Salvation
Justification and Regeneration – by Charles Leiter
An Alarm to the Unconverted – by Joseph Alleine
To examine your claim of Christianity
Christian – A Dangerous Title to Claim – by Jeremy Strang
*All proceeds and royalties goes to persecuted Christians and indigenous missionaries around the world.
Assumption
Assumption may be one of the greatest sins in the so-called American church today. Many people presume upon the fact that because they are doing some good works, attend some church, prayed some prayer or have been affirmed by a religious authority, that they are right with God. In reality this could not be further from the truth. Many ministries, pastors and leaders have come up with new methods, classes, books and sermons assuming that their congregation is right with God, once again, when in reality the great majority of people are nothing more than goats trying to wear sheep’s clothing. Our motives can be the most sincere, but if we do not get to the core reality of salvation, eternal life and the daily walk of being a true regenerate follower of Christ, we sin in assuming and presuming, whereby we lead many down a wrong path of feel good theology that is really bitter and ends in wormwood.
Whole new creation
“God wants you to become a new creation, but new does not mean completely different.”[54]
Really? I would not want to stand before God and answer to why I introduced this false teaching. That is why I will never tell you this. God Himself in the supernatural workings of salvation does create a whole new man and He does so from the inside out. Don’t believe me?, let’s see how God does His work of salvation in a true regenerated believer.
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
“Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your abominations. It is not for your sake that I will act, declares the LORD GOD; let that be known to you.”[55]
Here we can clearly see the salvation of God in regeneration. When He makes a true Christ follower, they are a new creature and they are not the same as they were before. If you are hit buy a 20 ton semi you will be killed; how much more are you made alive when the God of all creation puts His Spirit within and removes the heart of stone?[56]
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come.”[57]
“This change of conversion extends to the whole man. A carnal person may have some shreds of good morality, but he is never good throughout the whole cloth. Conversion is not a repairing of the old building; but it takes all down, and erects a new structure. It is not the sewing on a patch of holiness; but with the true convert, holiness is woven into all his new fabric, for the foundation to the top-stone. He is a new man, a new creature; all things are become new. Conversion is a deep work, a heart work. It makes a new man in a new world. It extends to the whole man, to the mind, to the members, to the motions of the whole life.”[58]
Holiness
“You don’t just become holier, you become youier.”[59]
This statement is absolutely preposterous and unfounded biblically. Now I understand the context, but no matter the context this statement is untrue. If you just become more of you, then we have to say that the sin that is inherent in us is not defeated, continues to grow[60] and that Christ died for no purpose. However, if you are truly regenerate, you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God the Father.[61]
“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”[62]
“It is written, ‘You shall be holy, as I am holy.’”[63]
“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”[64]
“…because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”[65]
What is the good?
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first born among many brothers.”[66]
The ultimate question in regards to the previous passage that we must ask is this: What is the ‘good’ that Paul is talking about in Romans 8:28?
“God is guiding you toward that best version of you all the time.”[67]
Let me assure you, it is not a better or even best version of you, because you are born in iniquity and sin.[68] Sin is the stain which saturates the very essence of our being. It is this stain that the blood of Jesus Christ, through His sufferings upon the cross, which is the wrath that He has endured from the Father, which has paid the penalty for our sins and washed away this stain for those who have tasted His goodness and grown in His holiness.
The ‘good’ that Paul is talking about is the conformity to the image of Christ Jesus. This is the ultimate good in the life of every true believer. It is not a fulfillment of your desires, your aspirations, or your best life now, but the very image of Christ himself. The ‘good’ is the workings of God in all circumstances, situations and trials; thus it is to be in a process of sanctification. The best version of you will always fall far short of attaining eternal life. Knowledge, mental ascent, reading books, being a good moral person, going to church or doing good works is powerless to save and is rot to God, unless of course you are truly regenerate. God can work through these things, but it is not a method to attaining salvation, growing in holiness, or achieving spiritual growth. Your best version of you is to be put to death and then by the power of God, be raised up by Christ, with Christ, and in Christ. You cannot know what your best version of you is unless Christ has begun the true workings of grace in you whereby you acknowledge that you are deserving of hell and are only enmity to God. Unfortunately, and very much condemningly, most churches in America refuse to fully preach/teach biblical Christ honoring grace.
Grace
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”[69]
This is a wonderful and yet under-preached passage on grace. Did you notice why the grace of God has appeared?
1. Bringing salvation for all people
2. Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions
3. Live self-controlled, upright and godly lives – right now
Most so called christianity in America only half preaches just the first part of this verse. Let’s now add what Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:12. “Indeed all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”[70] How many will be persecuted? Who will be persecuted? “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus.”
You see, grace that is the true and pure grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, causes a regenerate soul to desire to live a godly life whereby persecution becomes a privileged by-product. Grace without persecution, is not grace. A form of grace that is without dying to self, dying to the flesh and dying to worldly passions is not grace. Any such grace that cheapens the Gospel, denies repentance, softens the edge of the Word of God, and/or remains focused only on the first part of Titus 2:11, is not true Christian grace. It is not grace and it is not love. To be given grace, the Father must see humility within the heart.[71]
For we are to “declare these things” and “exhort and rebuke with all authority.”[72] It is to do as Jesus commanded us, “Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations.”[73] We are to remind ourselves and others to “be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.”[74]
Did you notice that the previous passage comes after the opening verse. The context then points out that true saving grace is such that leads us to:
1. To be submissive to rulers and authorities
2. To be obedient
3. To be ready for every good work
4. To speak evil of NO ONE
5. To avoid QUARRELING
6. To be gentle
7. To show perfect courtesy towards ALL people
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” [75]
Having said this, we find that we barely begin to scratch the surface of true saving grace.
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed (anathema – gk.). For am I now seeking the approval of man, or God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”[76]
Journey/paths
We must properly, and most of all biblically, clarify what the journey of life really means. We must also clearly, and as an overall style of ministry, remind professing believers that sanctification is a lifestyle. If ministries, preachers, teachers, pastors, etc. will not bring these things into their messages, and may I submit to you often, one must beg to ask if such preaching/teaching is at all biblical. What do I mean?
Are we really being told, directly and without cushioning the blow, that there are only two paths in life, one leading to eternal death and one leading to eternal life? Any third paths are very much opposed by God and spewed out of His mouth.[77] Are we being told that sanctification is necessary and is very much a reality of a true born again believer? Are we directly told that sanctification is simply a process, as a style of life, whereby we continue to look more like Christ in an ongoing work of God in, through and upon our lives in such a way that we grow in holiness, repentance and the putting to death of our fleshly desires? Are we told that if we are not being sanctified, we are not His child?
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”[78]
Propitiation
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”[79]
Propitiation is quite possibly the greatest word in the Bible. It is the most important, deep and unfathomable word that is not being taught, but it is the heart of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. How is it that we can so mistreat the Lord Jesus Christ through our watering down His very purpose by refusing to teach and tarry over this most blessed gift? How is it that we so easily and intentionally reject our advocate?[80]
Propitiation is the imputed righteousness unto a sinner through Jesus Christ bearing the almighty wrath of God because of our inherent sin condition. Propitiation declares one innocent to the Father, through receiving the grace of Christ in His finished redemptive work upon the cross. Propitiation is a law term carrying with it the essence of the innocent Christ taking our guilt, shame, penalty, and recourse as we deserve to be slain eternally, sent to hell and bear the full weight of Almighty God’s justice, anger and wrath. Propitiation is the full satisfaction of God’s holy justice, righteousness, and punishment against all sin. This is why Christ has come. It is the core of the Gospel. Propitiation is the very love of God that is displayed in the person of Christ Jesus our Lord – praise be to God forever!
We are sinners deserving death, but Christ’s propitiation has satisfied the payment for enmity against God. Here’s the thing, grace is offered to all but not all will receive it. As a matter of fact very few who think that they have it really do. Stay with me because you will see what I am talking about very soon.
Not only is propitiation and a true Gospel not being preached in its totality, but we are not encouraged to examine ourselves in regards to our verbal claim to faith. 1 John offers a wonderful series of tests so that we can examine the authentic reality of whether our salvation is true. It gives the truly regenerate believer a biblical assurance of salvation, but it also carries with it a sharp contrasting blow to the unregenerate carnal church member. I have pulled out a few of these tests in the last chapter of, Christian ~ A Dangerous Title to Claim.
Humanism & Changing terminology
Humanism
Humanism is simply the striving and working towards the chief end of the happiness of mankind. Humanism is centered on man, for man and so that man can be satisfied, happy, self-sufficient and the center of all things. At the core of the most popular so called ‘christian’ books and methods in America, humanism is very much the prevalent theme. Anytime we change biblical Christian terminology, refuse to preach the full truth of the Scriptures, dumb down the Gospel,[81] and/or try to remove the offense of the Cross, we are practicing humanism. For the best biblical message that I have heard on how the professing church has sold out to humanism, listen to Paris Reidhead’s – Ten Shekels and a Shirt. This message is radically different from the message coming out of the great majority of professing churches in America today.
“Hence we learn [that] that rule of interpreting Scripture so much insisted upon by many of late, namely, first to be determine by our own reason what is agreeable to the moral perfections of God and then to interpret the Scriptures by them, is an unjust and fallacious one. Thus to do is certainly to do the thing that has already been shown to be absurd, namely, to make the dictates of our own reason the highest rule in judging of the things of God and to make it a rule to revelation itself. Reason is to determine that there is a God, and that he is an infinitely perfect holy being, and that the Scripture is his word. But when we have determined this, modesty and humility and reverence to God require that we allow that God is better able to declare to us what is agreeable to that perfection than we are to declare to him or ourselves. Reason tells us that God is just, but God is better able to tell what acts are agreeable to that justice than we are.”[82]
Changing terminology
What does changing the terminology have to do with the Church of Jesus Christ? A switching from biblical theology to a relevant new age type of terminology should not be taken lightly. Why do we think that we need such terminology? Is not the Word of God enough? Why do we need additional terminology when we are not teaching biblical theology? We are doing just the same as the serpent in the garden – we are twisting Scripture and adding terminology that we do not need. We deny teaching biblical theology and terminology and replaced it with so called relevant terminology – but why? Answer: because we do not believe that the Scriptures are not only infallible but they are all sufficient. If we truly believed that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then we would stand upon it as all sufficient. Our actions in adding new words, new methods and new ways only provide evidence that we do not believe God’s Word is enough. How can you know what true spiritual growth is if the bible is not enough?
Spiritual growth apart from the Holy Spirit of God is not spiritual growth. If you are not being led by the Holy Spirit, then any spiritual growth that you think you are making is not of God, but is of any one or more of the fallen angels. To grow spiritually we need the truth of the Scriptures and not the inventions of man-kind. Adding relevant, emergent, new age terminology takes away from the true meaning and teaching of true biblical Christianity and opens the door to every type of philosophy, psychology and easy believism that can be dreamed up by man’s wicked heart.[83] If we take away from or we refuse to preach any part of the Scriptures, we sin, loose our reward[84] and take away from Christ Himself.[85] We must return to the infallible Scriptures as sufficient, otherwise we are in grave danger as we show ourselves to be quite possibly unregenerate. We must stop feeding people extra biblical garbage and treating them as if they are fools.
Worship of God
If someone has to be told how they are best suited to worship God, then one must ask the question, how do you know that your sins have been removed? How is it that you have a relationship with Jesus Christ yet not know how to praise Him for what He has done? Unless we are truly a regenerate follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, we cannot worship God because we are in enmity with God[86] and we are still destined for hell. Worship is to be an overall style of life as we are sanctified by God through conviction, confession and repentance of our sins, thereby leading us further into true grace, joy, love, peace, etc. and we in return give all credit, glory, honor and praise unto the Father for sending His Son and giving us His Holy Spirit. We long to look into His propitiation, His amazing love and actually get to know Him by spending more and more time in His presence. And as we fall, we once again repent, be lifted back up by the Father who never leaves us broken and we are filled with even more joy and give Him even more praise. Worship is not just something that is a genre of music, a time of the week, a place that we go, or what we are doing, but it is to be the very essence of who we are. True biblical worship of the Father always leads to holiness, assurance of true salvation, humility, a contrite heart and a growing in true Christ honoring spiritual growth.
Not told & Need to know
“Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – indeed you fail to meet the test!”[87]
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”[88]
These two sections of Scripture are some of the most obscured and denied words amongst the false teachings of American christianity today. They are rarely used and when they are, they are removed of their power. These verses speaks directly to the individual who take the name of Jesus upon their lives. No matter what you think of this writing, of my character or my audacity to challenge the so-called popular christian movements of today, I leave you with the words of Paul and the very words of Christ Himself. What you do in the examination of your professing Christian faith and your possible fulfillment of Jesus Christ in Matthew, is up to you. I will not stand liable before God for your guilt if these passages are not heeded and taken very seriously.
Why do I say such a hard thing? Simple, there are very few pastors out there who will tell you the truth and challenge you in regards to the authenticity of your faith. But it is necessary to work out our salvation,[89] not in our efforts, but in examination and supplementation[90] of our faith. So what are these verses saying to us? Let’s take a brief look.
First of all, in Paul’s passage he says we are to examine our very claim to see whether Christ is indeed in us. This examination is to be against the Scriptures themselves and a searching diligently through the Scriptures to prove or disprove whether we really know Christ as we claim. Has Christ in reality saved us and made us a new creation, or are we simply professing and attempting to live out our profession on our own efforts? Is salvation a reality and style of our life that has caused us to radically change our habits through the conviction of the Holy Spirit against our sin? Do we really have eternal life and intimately know God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son?[91]
Examination of our claim to salvation is of utmost importance because we are in grave danger, especially those of us in the affluent United States, of fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus Christ in Matthew 7:21-23.
In this passage, whenever you see the words, ‘Lord, Lord,’ you can place yourself in this spot. Why? Because these are people who profess to be believers/followers/Christians. They come to Jesus on that great day and give many reasons why they ought to be let into heaven and many attempts to justify their claim of knowing Jesus by their works. They cast out demons and did many might works in His name. Done any of these lately? In case you have not, you can say, “Well Jesus, we went to church in your name. We worked in ministries in your name. We sang on stage, helped the homeless once a year, went on mission trips, gave money, were in a youth group, were pastors, and were leaders all in your name. We were verbally claiming your name. We did all kinds of things while professing to be Christians and all of these things were in your name O’ Lord.” And His response will be, “Away from Me, I never knew you, you worker of lawlessness (sin).”
Professing believer how do you know that you are saved? By your heart? How can you trust a heart that is wicked?[92] The sincerity of a prayer? Biblically, do you know what the evidences and assurances of salvation are?
If you are not being told the things that you have read, you must begin to ask some serious questions to the leaders of your churches. Most importantly, you must come to a sobering understanding and answer the questions presented within. Take not my word for the truth. Examine the Scriptures for yourself. Find out if what I am saying is true. Professing believer do your homework.
Last thoughts to ponder
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human traditions, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”[93]
“Since Christ also suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.”[94]
“Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”[95]
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – not that there is another one, but there are some who are trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”[96]
“The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”[97]
“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”[98]
“All of Christ is accepted by the sincere convert. He loves not only the wages but the work of Christ, not only the benefits but the burden of Christ. He is willing not only to tread out the corn, but to draw under the yoke. He takes up the commands of Christ, yes, the cross of Christ.
“The unsound convert takes Christ by halves. He is all for the salvation of Christ, but he is not for sanctification. He is for the privileges, but does not appropriate the person of Christ. He divides the offices and benefits of Christ. This is an error in the foundation. Whoever loves life, let him beware here. It is an undoing mistake, of which you have been often warned, and yet none is more common. Jesus is a sweet Name, but men do not love the Lord Jesus in sincerity. They will not have Him as God offers, “to be a Prince and a Saviour” (Acts v. 31). They divide what God has joined, the King and the Priest. They will not accept the salvation of Christ as He intends it; they divide it here. Every man’s vote is for salvation from suffering, but they do not desire to be saved from sinning. They would have their lives saved, but still would have their lusts. Indeed, many divide here again; they would be content to have some of their sins destroyed, but they cannot leave the lap of Delilah, or divorce the beloved Herodias. They cannot be cruel to the right eye or right hand. O be infinitely careful here; your soul depends upon it. The sound convert takes a whole Christ, and takes Him for all intents and purposes, without exceptions, without limitations, without reserve. He is willing to have Christ upon any terms; he is willing to have the dominion of Christ as well as deliverance by Christ.”[99]
Addressing the Misleading Movements in America
Written by: Jeremy B. Strang
Author of:
Christian ~ A Dangerous Title to Claim
&
Urgency to Rise ~ a call to the American ‘church’
[1] Go to Voice of the Martyrs at: www.persecution.com for more info on the persecuted Church around the world.
[2] From Gospel for Asia – www.gfa.org; these Christians are willing to die for the sake of the Gospel, the very namesake of their Lord and Savior
[3] Hebrews 13:3 – All Scriptures in this writing is from the English Standard Version (ESV)
[4] ***To see an example of our society, read 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and also see Romans 1:16-32 – see if this is not our culture and see who turns people over to these perverse and sinful ways of living.
[5] 2 Timothy 3:12 – Jesus Himself says, “’A servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20; “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.” Luke 21:17
[6] Paul Washer – HeartCry Missionary Society, Muscle Shoals, AL
[7] Owed to Voddie Baucham – Brokenness message – 2009 True Church Conference, Muscle Shoals, AL
[8] Overall thought owed to Paul Washer
[9] Jeremiah 9:23-24
[10] This is not a biblical title or name.
[11] Proverbs 30:5
[12] Malachi 3:6; James 1:17; Psalm 102:27
[13] Deuteronomy 6:4; James 2:19
[14] Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13-14
[15] Greek
[16] John 17:3
[17] Titus 1:9
[18] Romans 1:16
[19] Luke 5:32, 24:47; Mark 1:15; Acts 19:4
[20] Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
[21] Thought owed to Dan Frost
[22] Pages 30-35
[23] Psalm 103:12
[24] Hebrew word of uncertain etymology, synonym of “bor” (pit), “abaddon” and “sha□at” (pit or destruction), and perhaps also of “tehom” (abyss). It connotes the place where those that had died were believed to be congregated.
www.JewishEncyclopedia.com
[25] John 3:3
[26] John 3:5
[27] John 3:36b
[28] Galatians 3:13
[29] 1 Peter 2:24
[30] Isaiah 53:10
[31] Psalm 51:5
[32] Psalm 103:11, 13, and 17 – don’t neglect ANY of the Scriptures
[33] John 3:18
[34] Romans 10:10a
[35] Jeremiah 17:9
[36] Romans 3:12
[37] Romans 3:23
[38] Isaiah 64:6a
[39] Thought owed to Brother Paul Washer
[40] John 15:17-19
[41] 2 Timothy 3:12
[42] Luke 24:27
[43] Matthew 6:33
[44] Matthew 4:17; Mark 6:12
[45] Mark 1:15
[46] Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23
[47] Matthew 7:21-23
[48] 2 Corinthians 13:5
[49] 1 John 5:3
[50] 2 Corinthians 5:17
[51] Psalm 94:11
[52] Hebrews 4:12
[53] Paul Washer – Taking the Message to the World – Feb. 21st 2009 – True Church Conference, Muscle Shoals, AL
[54] John Ortberg – sample session video – 4:06min. www.themeiwanttobe.com
[55] Ezekiel 36:25:27, 31-32 – for context 36:22-32
[56] Thought owed to Paul Washer
[57] 2 Corinthians 5:17
[58] Joseph Alleine – An Alarm to the Unconverted – pgs 12-13; Sovereign Grace Publishers, Inc., Copyright 2002 by Jay P. Green, Sr.
[59] John Ortberg – sample session video – 3:59min. www.themeiwanttobe.com
[60] see Galatians 2:20-21
[61] Colossians 3:1-4; also see Romans 6:1-7
[62] Hebrews 12:14
[63] 1 Peter 1:16
[64] 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8
[65] 2 Thessalonians 2:13; sanctification is the process of becoming holy through the workings of the Holy Spirit and not by our own efforts. Although, this is not an excuse to do nothing, rather we are to supplement our faith – see 2 Peter 1:3-11
[66] Romans 8:28-29
[67] John Ortberg – sample session video – 1:52min. www.themeiwanttobe.com
[68] Psalm 51:5, 14:1-3, 53:1-3; also see Genesis 6:5, 8:21; Romans 3:10-18, 23
[69] Titus 2:11-12
[70] To see more about the promise, fact and blessing of persecution, go to: www.urgencytorise.com/persecution
[71] Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5
[72] Titus 2:15
[73] Luke 24:47 – notice what is to be preached first?
[74] Titus 3:1-2
[75] Romans 6:1-2
[76] Galatians 1:8-10; also see 1 Timothy 6:3-5
[77] Revelation 3:16
[78] John 3:36 – for context see John 3:17-36
[79] 1 John 4:10
[80] 1 John 2:1
[81] This is not to say that we should not talk to people in relation to what they understand theologically, but we ought to lovingly disciple people in the truth and teach them the full Gospel, the totality of the Scriptures and properly explain the terminology and definition.
[82] Jonathan Edwards – The Salvation of Souls – pg. 127
[83] Jeremiah 17:9
[84] Revelation 22:18-19; Proverbs 30:6; Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32
[85] John 1:1-3
[86] Romans 8:5-13; James 4:4
[87] 2 Corinthians 13:5
[88] Matthew 7:21-23
[89] Philippians 2:12
[90] 2 Peter 1:3-5
[91] John 17:3
[92] Jeremiah 17:9
[93] Colossians 2:8
[94] 1 Peter 4:1-2
[95] 2 John 8-11
[96] Galatians 1:6-9
[97] 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
[98] Hebrews 5:11-14
[99] Joseph Alleine – An Alarm to the Unconverted -pgs 24-25
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