Tuesday, September 11, 2012

35 Reasons Not To Sin

by Jim Elliff
  1. Because a little sin leads to more sin.
  2. Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
  3. Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
  4. Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
  5.  Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
  6. Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
  7. Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
  8. Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
  9. Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
  10. Because my sin saddens the godly.
  11. Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
  12. Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.
  13. Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
  14. Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.
  15. Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.

Monday, September 10, 2012

60 Christian Character Builders

  1. Attentive = Paying attention to and respecting the person by giving genuine courtesy and consideration to God’s Word or a person’s words.
    see Hebrews 2:1
  2. Available = Willing to adjust my schedule to fit the desires of God and others.
    see Mark 1:17-18
  3. Committed = Giving the Lord control of my life.
    see Psalms 37:5
  4. Compassionate = Expressing a deep feeling of love and concern for other’s needs and difficulties.
    see 1 Peter 3:8
  5. Confident = What I say or do will benefit me and, more importantly, others.
    see Philippians 4:13
  6. Consistent = Living my daily life according to God’s principles.
    see 1 Corinthians 15:58
  7. Content = Accepting whatever God provides for my life.
    see Philippians 4:11
  8. Cooperative = Working together in unity and harmony.
    see Ephesians 4:3
  9. Courageous = Realizing that God has given me the strength to face any trial or danger.
    see Deuteronomy 31:6
  10. Creative = Using the talents I have been given to serve the Lord.
    see 1 Timothy 4:14
  11. Decisive = Make decisions based on God’s perfect will.
    see Romans 12:2
  12. Dependable = Being reliable and trustworthy.
    see Colossians 1:10
  13. Determination = Doing all I can to accomplish my part in God’s plan.
    see Hebrews 12:12-13
  14. Devotion = Setting my desire and hope upon God.
    see Colossians 3:2
  15. Diligent = Working hard to do my best for the Lord.
    see Colossians 3:23
  16. Discreet = Forming sound opinions and giving serious attention and thought to what one is doing.
    see Psalm 112:5
  17. Efficient = Making the most of every situation.
    see Ephesians 5:16
  18. Fairness = Seeing a situation from the viewpoint of each person involved.
    see Matthew 7:12
  19. Faithful = Being loyal and true to the one I serve.
    see Matthew 25:21
  20. Fearless = Facing danger boldly with God’s strength.
    see 2 Timothy 1:7
  21. Forgiving = Overlooking a wrong that was done unto me.
    see Colossians 3:13
  22. Friendly = Desiring to know and help others.
    see Proverbs 18:24
  23. Generous = Giving to others because God has given to me.
    see Deuteronomy 16:17
  24. Gentleness = Being patient and kind with others.
    see 2 Timothy 2:24
  25. Godliness = Changing our lives to line up with God’s character.
    see 3 John 1:11
  26. Honest = Being truthful and doing what is right.
    see 2 Corinthians 8:21
  27. Humble = Understanding my weaknesses and striving not to lift up myself above others.
    see 1 Peter 5:5
  28. Joyful = Being filled with happiness in Christ.
    see Ephesians 5:19
  29. Just = Doing all things right, according to God’s laws.
    see Genesis 6:9
  30. Kindness = Showing a loving attitude towards others.
    see Ephesians 4:32
  31. Loyal = Showing my commitment to a person or cause at all times.
    see John 15:13
  32. Meekness = Yielding everything to God.
    see Psalm 22:26
  33. Merciful = Showing more kindness than justice requires.
    see Luke 6:36
  34. Obedience = Willing to do what God requires of me.
    see Deuteronomy 13:4
  35. Optimistic = Thinking of the best in all situations.
    see Romans 8:25
  36. Patience = Going through a difficult situation with calm endurance and not complaining or losing self-control.
    see Psalm 33:20
  37. Peaceful = Yielding myself to the Lord for His control, for He is our peace.
    see Philippians 4:7
  38. Perseverance = Being able to cope with stress to accomplish God’s work.
    see Galatians 6:9
  39. Persuasive = Helping others to understand God’s point of view.
    see 2 Timothy 2:25
  40. Prompt = Being on time and quick to act when a request is made.
    see Ecclesiastes 3:1
  41. Prudent = Seeing what is likely to happen and giving careful thought in acting and planning.
    see Proverbs 14:15
  42. Purposeful = Knowing God’s will for my life.
    see 2 Timothy 1:9
  43. Resourceful = Ready to take on projects that others would overlook or discard.
    see 1 Thessalonians 4:11
  44. Respectful = Honoring the authority God has placed in my life.
    see 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
  45. Responsible = Knowing and doing what is expected of me.
    see Romans 14:12
  46. Secure = Feeling safe because of God’s protection.
    see Proverbs 29:25
  47. Self-Controlled = Ruling my own life with obedience to the Holy Spirit.
    see 1 Thessalonians 5:22
  48. Sincere = Desiring to do what is right with pure motives.
    see Joshua 24:14
  49. Submissive = Yielding myself to God’s guidance through others.
    see Ephesians 5:22
  50. Supportive = Giving strength and courage to those with troubles.
    see Galatians 6:2
  51. Tactful = Saying and doing the right thing, especially in a difficult situation.
    see Colossians 4:6
  52. Temperate = Not being extreme in any way or thing especially with regard to feelings or appetites.
    see Titus 2:12
  53. Thankful = Expressing to God and others the ways they have shown me favour and kindness.
    see 1 Thessalonians 5:18
  54. Thorough = Doing all that should be done to complete the job.
    see Ecclesiastes 9:10
  55. Thoughtful = Remembering to think of others and their feelings.
    see Philippians 2:4
  56. Thrifty = Using money wisely according to God’s principles.
    see Proverbs 14:24
  57. Tolerant = Being patient with the weakness of others.
    see 1 Thessalonians 5:14
  58. Truthful = Speaking what is true and accurate
    see Ephesians 4:25
  59. Understanding = The ability to know the meaning and reasoning behind a certain situation.
    see Psalms 119:34
  60. Wisdom = The ability to make good judgments.
    see 1 Kings 3:9

Friday, September 07, 2012

Watch How You Live!

If you can pray the following prayer over the things you watch, then by all means watch them.
"Dear Lord, we invite You to come join us in this time of viewing. As Your children, we commit this time to You as worthy of our attention. May our family be uplifted by this hour before the screen. And, Lord, we pray that families everywhere would have the opportunity to do likewise. We thank You for providing this program for us, and we ask You to bless the men and women who produced this show and those who made it available. May they have Your blessings to do more of the same. In Jesus' name, we thank You, Amen."
This can also be applied to what you listen to and what you read. You are what you read; you are what you watch, and you are what you listen to. Garbage in, garbage out. It is not "just a book"; it is not "just a movie"; and it is not "just a song". It is an influence on who and what you are and what you believe.

God knows everything you think, hears everything you say, and sees everything you do because He is always with you. With that fact in mind, freedom in Christ is doing those things which the Holy Spirit leads you to do; not what you feel like doing. If the Holy Spirit is leading you to...
  • ...drink alcohol (if you believe this is okay)—How much?
    Remember what Ephesians 5:18 says?
  • ...listen to music—What’s the message?
    Would the Holy Spirit want to embed this message in your heart? (Galatians 5:13)
  • ...watch movies—Which ones?
    Would the Holy Spirit want to embed these images in your heart? (Galatians 5:13)
  • ...visit places of entertainment—Are you taking God with you?
    If you wouldn't take Jesus there if he was with you in the flesh, you have no purpose in being there yourself.
"For as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7

You act the way you act because you believe the way you believe. You behave the way you behave because you think the way you think. How you believe determines what you do. Correct belief and correct thinking will result in correct action.

Galatians 2:11-14 teaches us to (1) watch our lifestyle and not to act hypocritically, and to (2) act in a manner that is worthy of the truth of the gospel. "As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Col. 2:6). In other words, walk as if you have truly received Him. "Bear fruits in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8).
  • "...walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called," Ephesians 4:1
  • "...conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ;" Philippians. 1:27
  • "...walk in a manner worthy of the Lord..." Colossians 1:10
  • "...walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." 1 Thessalonians 2:12

Thursday, September 06, 2012

Love is the Law of the Christian Life

Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15; cf. John 14:21, 23-24; 1 John 2:5; 3:23; 5:3; 2 John 1:6). Which commandments would those be? Jesus had said that the greatest commandment was, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30; cf. Matt. 22:37; Luke 10:27), and that the second greatest commandment was, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matt. 22:39; cf. Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27). Beside these, there is no greater commandment given. These two commandments sum up the entire Ten Commandments. However, Jesus gave his disciples a new commandment: Love.

Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34-35; cf. John 15:12, 17; 1 John 3:11, 14, 23; 4:7, 11-12, 21). Jesus described this love thus: "For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me...Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me" (Matt. 25:35-36, 40). John the baptizer also showed us what love in action looks like: "The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise" (Luke 3:11). Just as Jesus laid His life down for us, "we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16) because "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). We are to "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor" (Rom. 12:20; cf. Phil. 2:3-4) and "keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Pet. 4:8). "If someone says 'I love God,' and hates his bother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen" (1 John 4:20; cf. 1 John 2:9, 11).

Most Christians find it easy to love some of the saints, but it is not so easy to love all of the saints. It is said of the churches at Ephesus and Colossae that they had a "love for all the saints" (Eph. 1:15; Col. 1:4). Do we love those saints who disagree with us, whose doctrinal positions differ infinitesimally from our own? Do we love those saints whose dispositions and temperaments are the opposite of ours? Do we love those saints whose culture clashes with ours? We need to learn to love like this, to learn to love like Christ Jesus, because "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). "Let love of the brethren continue" (Heb. 13:1).

Jesus also said to "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you" (Luke 6:27) "and pray for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" (Matt. 5:26) "For even sinners love those who love them" (Luke 6:32). "Love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great" (Luke 6:35). What does loving our enemies look like? Jesus said, "do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you" (Matt. 5:39-42). Paul puts it succinctly: "Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. 'But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Rom. 12:17-21), but "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness" (1 Tim. 6:11).

We are to "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor, love therefore is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 13:8-10; cf. Gal. 5:14). "If...you are fulfilling the royal law...you are doing well" (James 2:8). What does loving my neighbor look like? Jesus illustrated this parable when asked, "who is my neighbor?": "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went off leaving him half dead. And by chance a certain priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, and came to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return, I will repay you" (Luke 3:30-35). The one who showed mercy was the one who proved to be a neighbour to the man who was attacked by the robbers.

"We love, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). "God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in Him" (1 John 4:16). "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8). The Christian is supposed to imitate Christ Jesus. "What was this life of Jesus, which is to be repeated in every Christian life? Its great central characteristic was love—love full of compassion; love serving even to the lowliest degree and at greatest cost; love which was patient, forgiving, thoughtful, gentle; love unto the uttermost, which went to a cross to save sinners!" —J. R. Miller

The Christian is to "put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity" (Col. 3:14) and to "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good" (Rom. 12:9). Warren Wiersbe said that "Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy." Truth and love must go hand-in-hand. You cannot have one without the other. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal. 5:22-23). "The greatest of these is love" (1 Cor. 13:13). All the rest flow forth from love. All that the Christian does should be done in love (1 Cor. 16:14). Love edifies; it builds up (1 Cor. 8:1). "Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails" (1 Cor. 13:4-8a). If we do not have love, then we are nothing and it profits us nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3). Christians are to "prove [themselves] doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves" (James 1:22). So "prove the sincerity of your love" (2 Cor. 8:8), "show the proof of your love" (2 Cor. 8:24).
The distinguishing badge by which Christ would have his people known, is not by a sound creed, or by a conduct in the general correct, as excellent as these are — but by LOVE. Love is the image of his Father, love is the characteristic feature of his nature, therefore he said, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples — if you love one another."
Nothing is so frequently pressed upon our attention, nothing is so urgently required of us — as love. Just before Jesus left his disciples, having displayed his own humble love in a most marvelous way, he said to them, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples — if you love one another." John 13:34-35. He does not merely counsel, or recommend — but he commands. He exercises his authority, and displays his love at once. Let us observe,
His Command. "Love one another." He requires love to all saints, without any distinction. All who believe in him — all who acknowledge him — all who make his word their rule — every one whom he loves — we are to love. We must love the saints, though in some secondary things they differ from us. They may differ in some points of doctrine, they may differ in their views of ordinances, and they may differ as to Church government. But the dissenter is to love the churchman, and the churchman is to love the dissenter. The Calvinist is to love the Arminian, and the Arminian is to love the Calvinist. Love one another. Love every child of God, whether a babe, a young man, or a father. Whether a prince or a pauper, a peer or a peasant. Whether a youth or a man of grey hairs.
Jesus requires love — not merely pity, or sympathy, or respect — but love — that is, delight in them, and union to them. He calls this a new commandment, because it is a most excellent one — and also because it is novel. The old commandment was. "You shall love your neighbor — as yourself." The new commandment is, "Love one another — as I have loved you." Mark,
The Pattern: We are to love one another — just as Jesus has loved us.
He loved us freely — without looking for advantage, or expecting profit. So we are to love each other, not for advantage derived, nor gifts conferred — but freely for Christ's sake.
He loved us tenderly, with more than a mother's love. So are we to love each other tenderly as children of the same family, as members of the same body.
He loved us with a love of preference, preferring the ties of grace to the ties of nature. So should we love the Lord's people with a purer, holier love, than our natural relations.
His was a constant love. Having loved his own who were in the world — he loved them unto the end. So should we, displaying forbearance, patience, and compassion, as far as God's honor will allow.
He manifested his love by words and by deeds. So we should use the loving word, and perform the loving deed. From the cup of cold water, given in the name of Christ, up to our laying down our lives for the brethren. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
This love, Jesus displayed to us, and now he says, "Love one another, as I have loved you." Precious Savior, how wonderful your love! May the same mind, the same love be in us — which was also in Christ Jesus.
"I command you to love each other, as I have loved you. For this purpose I died for you. For this purpose I have provided grace for you. For this purpose I exercise my authority, and command you to love one another. For this purpose I have placed you in your present circumstances to prove you. Will you love my brethren, my sisters? Will you love them — as I have loved you? Do you wish to do it? Will you strive to do it? Are you sorry that you have not done it?"
Beloved, are we not guilty? Have we not forgotten and neglected this new commandment? What is the cause of our divisions but this? What would cure our heart-burnings — what would heal our breaches — what would give power to our testimony — what would bring about a glorious revival in the church — what would render the most beneficial impression on the world? This, this, a practical attention to Jesus, when he says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples — if you love one another."
"A New Commandment", James Smith, 1860
I am often criticized for the lack of love contained in my writings and/or words, but let me ask you a question: Which is the greater concern, a lack of love in one's words or a lack of love in one's actions? Actions speak louder than words, remember. "Let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth" (1 John 3:18). While I am being condemned because of the lack of love in my words, many of these Christians condemning me are blind to their own lack of love in their actions: "I was hungry, and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in; naked, and you did not clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit me...Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me" (Matt. 25:42-43, 45). "And so, by sinning against the brethren...you sin against Christ" (1 Cor. 8:12). The reason for this is "because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold" (Matt. 24:12). Given a choice between the love in their words or the love in my actions, I will choose my actions every time. I am trying to better the love in my words, because we are to "[speak] the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15), but love in my actions will speak volumes compared to any amount of love in my words. I would rather one act done in love than ten thousand words spoken in love. Showing a person that you love them does far more than merely telling them that you love them and not showing it.

So, to you, Christian, who judge me because of the lack of love in my words, do you judge yourself for the lack of love in your actions? Or are you nothing but a hypocrite? Pull the log out of your own eye before you attempt to help me pull the speck out of my eye. At least I know where my flaw is at. "Better is a diamond with a flaw, than a pebble without." —Confucius

Wednesday, September 05, 2012

The World's Christianity

"If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24).
"Let me warn everyone who wants to be saved not to be content with the world's standard of Christianity. Surely no man with his eyes open can fail to see that the Christianity of the New Testament is something far higher and deeper than the Christianity of most professing Christians. That formal, easy-going, do-little thing, which most people call 'religion,' is evidently not the religion of the Lord Jesus. The things which He praises are not praised by the world. The things which He blames are not things in which the world sees any harm. Oh, if you would follow Christ, do not be content with the world's Christianity! Tremble, tremble and repent!"
(J. C. Ryle, Holiness, Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots, 1879.)
Two years ago, I read through the entire New Testament in a day and made notes on various verses and passages. After having made my notes, it was very evident to me that what the Bible says about the Christian and what most churches and most "Christians" say about the Christian are two completely different things. Christianity today makes all sorts of excuses for people's sins and will have none of repentance and forsaking of one's sins. When you speak on these things and on holiness, they immediately charge you with legalism. The majority of churches out there have turned the grace of our Lord Jesus into a license to sin as we want to. They have been preaching a false gospel for so long that they have had to water down and reject much of what the Bible actually has to say on these matters.
"We do believe the truths of God's Word but we need to make them bear more upon our experience and practice. Our religion is too much in the head and too little in the heart. Truth rather floats in the understanding than sinks down into the soul. Our memory lets it slip and nothing but frequent meditation on these things, will cause us to profit by them. The truths of God's Word are calculated and intended to benefit the Lord's people, but unless we exercise our minds upon them we shall not be benefited by them.
One truth, brought home to the soul by the Holy Spirit, and digested by meditation does us more good than volumes which just pass through the mind! We ought, therefore, to pray more over what we read and look to the Holy Spirit, beseeching Him to unfold and apply the truth to us!"
(James Smith, Christ Exalted, Saints Comforted, and Sinners Directed, 1855.)
When I was first in Peru, I experienced a Christianity unlike I had ever experienced in North America. The Christianity I experienced down there was akin to what we read in the New Testament in the book of Acts: "And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need" (2:44-45). The Peruvian believers have very little to begin with and yet they are willing to reach out and help you (whoever the "you" may be) with what little that they have. Here in North America where we have an abundance, Christians typically will not lift a finger to help you (unless you are part of their clique). Even the church itself, from all the tithes it receives, will rarely lift a finger to give you aid. If you are without a job and struggling to pay your bills and put food on your table, the entire church can be informed about your predicament and yet no one will lift a finger to see you through your struggles. Oh, one person might slip you a $20, but that is as far as that goes. You have to stretch what little you have just to make sure you can survive, even if that means having a single meal per day because you cannot afford anything more.

"Christians" in North America have this attitude of "I worked hard for my money, why should I give it away to help someone else?" That is not a Christ-like attitude. That is not even a biblical Christian's attitude, according to all that we read in the book of Acts, the Gospels, and the Epistles. What makes North American Christianity even more pathetic looking is how the cults are doing the very things these Christians should be doing. Mormonism, for example, is winning over tons of people, despite its erroneous and heretical teachings, due to the fact that they treat people as if they actually care about them and will go out of their way to help them out. They will come over and do yard work for you without expecting any pay. The Christian who sees the Mormon doing these things and is not doing them himself/herself should be ashamed of himself/herself and convicted over his/her weak religious practices.
"I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world, is because the world has so much influence over the church."
—Charles Spurgeon

"The Christian is supposed to be different from the people of this present world. If there is no difference to be seen between a Christian and a non-Christian, then how will sinners see the change in our lives if we are exactly like them? If they do not see the difference that Christ has made in our lives, then how can we lead them to saving faith in Christ when our life contradicts our message to the lost?"
—Jerry Sheppard
"I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me" (Matt. 25:42-43). This verse is what many today (Christian and non-Christian) experience inside most North American churches. Why? Because their love has grown cold. This verse is what most Christians in North America are guilty of. These professing Christians are nothing more than selfish, self-centered, greedy, egotistical, hard-hearted, loveless frauds who claim the name of Jesus and yet do none of His works. Jesus said we will know you by your fruits. Well, your fruits are speaking loud and clear. Clean up your act, church—Christian, or may God tear down your house and leave it desolate the same way He did to the temple for the mockery you make of His name. "And so, by sinning against the brethren...you sin against Christ" (1 Cor. 8:12).
Adapted from Matthew 23:13-33
(and fitting for most North American Christians today):

"Woe to you, Christians, you hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from men; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, Christians, you hypocrites, because you devour widows' houses, even while for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, Christians, you hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land preaching your false brand of Christianity ("Pray this prayer and you're in the club; you can even be a carnal Christian if you want. You don't need to repent or forsake your sins.") in order to make one convert; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Woe to you, Christians, you hypocrites! For you tithe your ten percent, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the other. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Woe to you, Christians, you hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Christian, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Woe to you, Christians, you hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you too outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Woe to you, Christians, you hypocrites! You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell?"
"I want to see a Christianity in action; not a Christianity in distraction." —Jerry Sheppard

Tuesday, September 04, 2012

Contending With Loveless Churches, Part 2

by Jerry Sheppard

"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13: 35, ESV).

In part one, we dealt with the spiritual condition of a "Loveless Church". The blog entry primarily dealt with the complacent believer's relationship with God, whereas, this present blog entry will deal with the complacent believer's impact upon his/her fellow saints and especially the negative effect he/she has upon non-Christians.

The Complacent Believer's Impact Upon Fellow Saints and Unbelievers

The Scriptures says that "in the last days the love of many will grow cold" (Matt. 24:12). Sadly, this is happening in many local congregations today. Many of God's dear ones, along with many unbelievers, get the cold shoulder when they attend a local Church. Their Church Bulletin gives a hearty welcome, but the experience of many has been anything but welcoming. When the world looks at you as a Christian, do they see the love of Christ in you? In other words, as today's text puts it: are you known as a Christian by your love demonstrated to others?

Monday, September 03, 2012

Contending With Loveless Churches, Part 1

by Jerry Sheppard

"A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13: 34, ESV).

The Complacent Believer's Relationship With God

The spiritual condition of today`s church is not good. Even in the personal lives of individual Christians, they are better known for their worldliness than their godliness. Many have personal struggles that reveal a lack of faith in a God who has redeemed them. Why are we Christians not better examples for Christ? Noted British author Selwyn Hughes wrote this interesting but challenging observation about many Christians today:
"Many Christians are not good samples of the faith we profess. We claim that the focus of our lives has been shifted from ourselves to God, yet we are chronically selfish still. We talk of the first grace being humility, but we are so proud. We speak about a peace that passes all understanding, and yet we are restless within. We claim to be children of the King, yet we walk around feeling inferior. We say that perfect love casts out all fear, yet we are as fearful as the next person. We pray daily and ask God to forgive our trespasses "as we forgive those who trespass against us", but still harbour resentments and are no strangers to bitterness.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Genuine Christianity

An Explanation of Christians: Letter to Diognetus
Unknown Atheist

For Christians are not distinguished from the rest of mankind by country, or by speech, or by dress. For they do not dwell in cities of their own, or use a different language, or practice a peculiar life. This knowledge of theirs has not been proclaimed by the thought and effort of restless men; they are not champions of a human doctrine, as some men are. But while they dwell in Greek or barbarian cities according as each man’s lot has been cast, and follow the customs of the land in clothing and food, and other matters of daily life, yet the condition of citizenship which they exhibit is wonderful, and admittedly strange. They live in countries of their own, but simply as sojourners. They share the life of citizens, they endure the lot of foreigners. Every foreign land is to them a fatherland, and every fatherland a foreign land. They marry like the rest of the world. They breed children, but they do not discard their children as some do. They offer a common table but not a common bed. They exist in the flesh, but they live not after the flesh. They spend their existence upon earth, but their citizenship is in heaven. They obey the established laws, and in their own lives they surpass the laws. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown, and they are condemned. They are put to death, and they gain new life. They are poor, and make many rich. They lack everything, and their dishonor becomes their glory. They are reviled, and are justified. They are abused, and they bless. They are insulted, and repay insult with honor. They do good, and are punished as evil-doers; and in their punishment they rejoice as gaining new life therein. The Jews war against them as aliens, and the Greeks persecute them; and they that hate them can state no ground for their enmity.
In a word, what the soul is in the body Christians are in the world. The soul is spread through all the members of the body, and Christians through all the cities of the world. The soul dwells in the body, but it is not of the body. Christians dwell in the world, but they are not of the world.

C.T. Studd’s Commitment To Christ Challenged
Unknown Atheist

If I firmly believed, as millions say they do, that the knowledge and practice of religion in this life influences destiny in another, then religion would mean to me everything.
I would cast away earthly enjoyments as dross, earthly cares as follies, and earthly thoughts and feelings as vanity. Religion would be my first waking thought and my last image before sleep sank me into unconsciousness. I should labor in its cause alone.
I would take thought for the morrow of eternity alone. I would esteem one soul gained for heaven worth a life of suffering.
Earthly consequences would never stay my hand, or seal my lips. Earth, its joys and its griefs, would occupy no moment of my thoughts. I would strive to look upon eternity alone, and on the immortal souls around me, soon to be everlastingly happy or everlastingly miserable.
I would go forth to the world and preach it in season and out of season, and my text would be: “WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Cessationism

The Bible says "so that you are not lacking in any gift..." (1 Cor. 1:7). Can someone today have the gift of prophecy? I believe they can. However, that gift will not contain any new revelation nor will it contradict Scripture. If someone claims to have new revelation, or their prophetic word contradicts what Scripture says, I believe we can write them off immediately. However, if someone comes up to me and says, "In three months you and another guy will start a business together in South America," and it happens exactly as that person said, was that not prophetic? Does it make them a prophet? Probably not. Does it mean they had a prophetic word from the Lord? I would think so. You see, if someone claims to speak for the Lord, what that person says will come to pass. If it was not from the Lord, it will not come to pass. We need to be wise and discerning.

If someone claims to have had a dream, a vision, or a prophetic word, it will not contain new revelation nor will it contradict Scripture. The measure of its genuineness is in the validity of its occurrence. If someone has a dream that another guy and I will start our own company in South America, and that person tells me of the dream, and it happens precisely... what do you do with it? Obviously we do not want to let experience dictate or trump the Bible. However, we cannot simply say, "That was not of God. That was from the devil." You see, the fact that Christian sects and many cults counterfeit these gifts (such as speaking in tongues) is proof positive that the genuine gifts exist. If they did not, there would be no need to counterfeit them. It would be pointless to do so. Try counterfeiting money that is no longer in circulation and see how far you get.

Charismatics and Cessationists have went dangerously too far in either direction. Because they have witnessed the great corruption of such gifts by Charismatics, Cessationists have went to the extreme other end of the pendulum. The common passage used by Cessationists to claim cessationism—1 Cor. 13:8-13—does not say anything of the sort. People should try reading and interpreting that passage based on what it does say rather than forcing it to say something it does not say. The fact is, the truth of this issue is somewhere in the middle.

The reason why Cessationist churches have seen little to none of the power of God in their lives is because they have boxed God in and said, "Nope. He cannot do that. If that happens, it was from the devil." How puny is your God? Perhaps that should be a little g. Cessationists have made God powerless and denied Him the privilege of working miracles in their lives with which they can glorify Him in. If someone spoke a prophetic word over me and it occurred exactly as they said, I would have much to praise Him about (not that I do not already).

The gifts were given by the Spirit to the church. The Bible clearly declares "so that you are not lacking in any gift..." (1 Cor. 1:7). The church will not be lacking in any of the spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has given to it. They are for the edification (building up) of the church. Rather than dismiss these gifts in ignorance, perhaps we should better understand what they are and what they refer to. See this post: Signs and Wonders vs. Charismata. There have been many non-Charismatics who have had experiences that they cannot deny. While we should never elevate our experiences above Scripture, what do we do with such experiences?

If you believe that many of the spiritual gifts have ceased, I truly pity you. How pitiful and powerless is your puny god? I was raised as a Cessationist, and I am by no means a Charismatic, but I have come to realize that the truth on this matter is somewhere in the middle. I am not going to box God up due to my fear of the unknown, nor will I blindly accept everyone's experience as legitimate. Both are grave errors. There are four ways with which you can discern with wisdom whether a person's gift is genuine or false:
  1. It will contain no new revelation.
  2. It will not contradict God's revealed Word contained in Scripture.
  3. If it is from the Lord, it will come to pass.
  4. If it is not from the Lord, it will not come to pass.
Just because someone claims to have had an experience does not make that experience legitimate. Just because someone perverts the gifts does not mean the genuine gifts do not exist. Let us leave the distribution of the gifts up to God, and let us simply act with wisdom and discernment, so we do not fall into either the ditch of Charismaticism or the ditch of Cessationism.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Is the Qu'ran Scientifically Accurate?

Muslims claim that the Qu'ran is scientifically accurate. We are going to put this claim to the test and see if it is true. By the time you are finished reading this blog entry, you will see how poorly Muslims understand science. The quotations from the Qu'ran will be in green, to represent the poison and corruption that they are. 
"Be not like those who are divided amongst themselves and fall into disputations after receiving Clear Signs: for them is a dreadful Chastisement.—On the Day when some faces will be (lit up with) white, and some faces will be (in the gloom of) black: to those whose faces will be black, (will be said): 'Did ye reject Faith after accepting it? Taste then the Chastisement for rejecting Faith.' But those whose faces will be (lit with) white,—they will be in (the light of) Allah's mercy: therein to dwell (for ever)." surah 3:105-107
This is racism (if there were such a thing)! This is as bad as Mormonism, which states that those spirits who fought valiantly in heaven are born as children with white skin, but those spirits who did not fight as valiantly are born as children with black skin. 
"One (such) way he followed, Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: near it he found a People: We said: 'O Zulqarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness." surah 18:85-86
This is highly inaccurate! The sun does not set in a mud puddle. In fact, the sun does not set at all. It is an optical illusion. It only appears to set. It is the Earth itself that moves.
"Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of Creation), before We clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? And we have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to pass through: that they may find their way. And We have made the heavens as a canopy well guarded: yet do they turn away from the Signs which these things (point to)! It is He Who created the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course." surah 21:30-33
Muslims today claim this speaks of the "big bang" theory and that it proved "science" before it was known. There is just one problem: the "big bang" theory is a myth. It did not happen. It is a theory, and a very poor one. Furthermore, read Genesis 1. God divided the heavens and the earth—not a supposed "big bang". Verse 31 claims that mountains prevent earth quakes. Someone should tell this to those who live in mountainous regions and experience earthquakes on a regular basis. Or maybe someone should tell the mountains, because they apparently do not know that they are supposed to do this.
"Then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest, firmly fixed; Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot We made a (foetus) lump; then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then We developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the Best to create!" surah 23:13-14
Science has proven that it is the flesh that forms first, then the bones. Here, the development of the being is sheer nonsense. The sperm turns into a clot of blood, then turns into bones, then begins growing flesh upon the bones.
"At length, when they came to a valley of ants, one of the ants said: 'O ye ants, get into your habitations, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you (under foot) without knowing it.' So he smiled, amused at her speech; and he said: 'O my Lord! so order me that I may be grateful for Thy favours, which Thou has bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I may work the righteousness that will please Thee: and admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous Servants." surah 27:18-19
Ants cannot talk, nor could you hear or understand them if they could. These verses are poorly plagiarized from the Bible, where it says, "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise" (Prov. 6:6). Solomon considered the ways of the ant and compared them to that of a lazy person; he did not speak with the ant or listen to them speak. Talk about pure absurdity.
"Then He turned to the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: 'Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly.' They said: 'We do come (together), in willing obedience.'" surah 41:11
Muslims today claim that this verse speaks of the gaseous origin of the universe, essentially giving support to the "big bang" theory. Again, there is just one problem: the "big bang" theory is a myth. It did not happen. It is a theory, and a very poor one.
 "Then when the stars become dim" surah 77:8
 It is claimed that this verse speaks about the death of stars. However, this verse says no such thing. Appearing "dim" and dying are two completely different things.
"He is created from a drop emitted—Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs." surah 86:6-7
I do not know about you, but the last time I checked, semen came from my testicles—not from my kidneys. Although maybe this explains a few things. Perhaps Muslims are physiologically different from the rest of mankind. This might explain why they have no "balls" and have to blow up innocent people, taking their own lives in the process, like the cowards they are.

As you can see, the Qu'ran is not scientifically accurate. In fact, it is scientifically laughable. The Qu'ran is so filled with complete and utter nonsense that it even denies historically proven facts. Surah 4:157 says, "That they said (in boast), 'We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah';—but they killed him not, nor crucified him. Only a likeness of that was shown to them. And those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain knowledge. But only conjecture to follow, for of a surety they killed him not." There are many more verses and passages in the Qu'ran we could have looked at to reveal the absurdity of it, but these that we have already looked at should suffice. The Qu'ran fails repeatedly where the Bible consistently prevails. There is no contest between the reliability of the Qu'ran versus that of the Bible. The Bible is the only reliable authority, worthy to be trusted and relied upon.