Deitiphobia

Simply put, homosexuals are Deitiphobes. Not only them, but also those who accept and support them. Deitiphobia is the fear of God. Not the fear they should have, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever" (Psalm 111:10), "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10), but the fear of knowing precisely Who He is, what He wants from us, and submitting and conforming to His will.

Realistically, however, every non-believer is Deitiphobic. You try to talk to them about God and they will have none of it. Yet, they will try and treat "science" as if it is a god. Science this, science that. Even though it is a fact that science cannot explain everything. There are hundreds of things science cannot explain and never will be able to. Science is not the end-all be-all. Science is only science if it adheres to the scientific method. The moment it goes beyond that, it ceases to be science. Period!

I had one guy at work tell me he will not believe anything regarding natural medicine until he has seen the scientific data in support for it based on the scientific method. (I am not talking about those Old Wives' Tales "Home Remedies," but about actual Natural Medicine.) I was tempted to point out the hypocrisy in his statement by asking him if he has ever seen the scientific data in support of all "modern medicine" based on the scientific method. The answer is clearly "No," but he has a bias. He is exercising blind faith in "modern medicine" because it professes "science" behind it. There is a place for doctors and medicine, just as there is a place for natural medicine. One needs to be wise and do their research to know when which is which. It is not good to rely solely on natural medicine and it is not good to rely solely on "modern medicine." "Modern medicine" is not all it is cracked up to be. People would do well to open their eyes and pay attention to the sordid past that "science" and medicine have. There is a reason it is called "practicing medicine," because what they think they know today will be proven wrong tomorrow. Even today, "modern medicine" does as much harm as it does good. But we are off topic.

Homosexuals and those who support them like to try and call Christians and anyone who disagrees with their choice a "homophobe." Likewise, many people will try and call anyone who exposes the truth regarding Islam an "Islamophobe." I think it is high time we cast the die back at their own teeth by correctly identifying them as Deitiphobes. Of the three terms, the only one that holds any truth behind it is Deitiphobia. The other two are merely manipulative terms concocted as a means to try and silence the truth from those opposed to them.

It is rather ironic how the people behind both fallacious terms, "homophobe" and "Islamophobe," have the exact same character, mentality, and agenda against Christians: "Convert! Or lose everything!" In the Middle East, that is the ultimatum from Islam toward Christians. In North America, that is the ultimatum from the LGBT toward Christians. And who is falsely accused of being guilty of "hate" crimes? People need to wake up and open their eyes and take a closer look at the behaviour and actions of the homosexual community if they want to see what real hate crimes look like. Unfortunately, a great number of people in society have been emotionally manipulated and brainwashed into ignoring their common sense and logic in order to support the fallacious and illogical arguments of the LGBT community. Demonstrates how much of their brain they actually put to use...

Rules For Bible Study

The first rule when reading/studying/interpreting the Bible is:

     Context, context, context!

The second rule when reading/studying/interpreting the Bible is:

     Compare Scripture with Scripture! (Examine the whole counsel of the Word of God.)

The third rule when reading/studying/interpreting the Bible is:

     Wrestle with and submit to what the text actually says, and conform your beliefs accordingly.

When a preacher/teacher preaches/teaches the Bible expositorily verse-by-verse, they need to remember these three rules. As they go verse-by-verse, the tendency is to isolate the current verse or passage from its immediate (surrounding verses), sectional (surrounding chapters), and/or canonical (other passages) contexts. This can lead to false interpretations and doctrinal errors that can have grave consequences. Preaching/teaching the Bible expositorily is the best method, but the above three rules must remain in tact the entire time.

So, when you are preaching through Matthew and you arrive at 5:31-32 or 19:3-9, or you are preaching through Mark and you arrive at 10:2-12, Rule #2 ensures that you consider the whole counsel of God's Word on the matter, which includes Luke 16:18; Romans 7:2-3; 1 Corinthians 7:10-16, 39; Hebrews 13:4; Malachi 2:13-16; Deuteronomy 22:13-21; 24:1-4; and the narrative of Jesus' birth regarding the state of His parents. Remember, there is no room for experiential interpretation. All your work must be exegetical. Do not force the text to say something it does not, just because that is what you desire it to say even though you have just been confronted with the fact it says something completely different.

Rule #3 acknowledges that if you are doing proper Bible study, you are going to encounter things that go against how you have been raised and/or what you have been taught, whether by your parents, your pastor at your church, or professors at Bible schools. At this point, you seriously need to wrestle with what the text has just revealed and then you need to submit to it and conform your beliefs in accordance to what the text actually says. To do anything less is rebellion. Remember, children of the King delight in the truth. Better to swallow your pride and correct your beliefs than to proudly and stubbornly continue preaching/teaching false doctrines and lies.

Adhere to those three rules and you should never go wrong.

Salvation After the Rapture?

"For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way." 2 Thessalonians 2:7

If you are not familiar with it, the Christian Zionist, or Dispensationalist, uses this verse to teach that after the "Rapture" the Holy Spirit will be removed from the Earth and that He will no longer indwell or influence men. Among the hundreds (if not thousands) of nonsensical and illogical beliefs bound up in this bankrupt system of theology, this one has got to be the most astounding.

The Dispensational system of theology teaches that even after the "Rapture" people will be getting saved. There are a couple monumental problems with this.

First, if all the Christians were removed from Earth at the "Rapture," who could possibly tell the remaining people about Jesus? Who could disciple them properly? Who could tell them about sin, repentance and faith? That is right... No one! "How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10:14). All the Christians have been removed. Who is going to preach to the lost? If someone could miraculously believe, they would then be a Christian, which, logically, would "rapture" them out of the world since, according to Dispensational theology, Christians are not supposed to experience the wrath of God poured out on the world. If you are a believer, you are a Christian and you belong to the Church. Simple as that.

Second, if the Holy Spirit is removed from the Earth and no longer indwells or influences men, how could the remaining people possibly get saved? You cannot exercise something that has not been given to you. Read your Bible! Faith is a gift from God. If God does not grant you faith, you cannot and will not believe. Every change that must accompany salvation is brought about by the Holy Spirit. If He does not first make you born again from above, giving you a new heart with new desires and granting you faith so that you may believe, then you remain dead in your sins. You can only exercise faith once the Holy Spirit has changed you in order that you will exercise faith. "A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit" (Matt. 7:18). An unregenerate person with a heart of stone (bad tree) cannot choose to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. They cannot regenerate themselves nor give themselves a heart of flesh. Likewise, a regenerate person with a heart of flesh (good tree) cannot choose to reject Jesus as Lord and Saviour. They cannot unregenerate themselves nor give themselves a heart of stone. If the Spirit has regenerated you and given you salvation through faith, you will exercise the faith you have been granted because you can do nothing less. If the Holy Spirit has not regenerated you and given you salvation through faith, you cannot exercise a faith you do not possess.

Jesus has been reduced merely to an object by the Dispensational system of theology. All you need to do is exercise something you do not possess (faith) and you can save yourself. Their system of theology teaches that your salvation is in your hands; that you can choose to accept or reject Christ Jesus. Jesus is the object and you and/or your faith are the source.

The Bible teaches us that Jesus is both the object and the source of our salvation. If you do not believe, it is because you do not belong to Him. What do John 3:18 and 3:36 say? What does John 10:26 say (see also John 8:47; 18:37; 1 John 4:6)?

The Book of God

by Unknown Author

"All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness—that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17

This book contains:

    the mind of God,

    the state of man,

    the way of salvation,

    the doom of lost sinners, and

    the happiness of believers.

Its doctrine is holy,

its precepts are binding,

its histories are true, and

its decisions are immutable.

It contains . . .

    light to direct you,

    food to support you, and

    comfort to cheer you.

This book is . . .

    the traveler's map,

    the pilgrim's staff,

    the pilot's compass,

    the soldier's sword, and

    the Christian's charter.

Here Heaven is open—and the gates of Hell are disclosed. Christ is the grand subject,

our good is its design, and

the glory of God is its end.

This book should . . .

    fill the memory,

    rule the heart,

    and guide the feet.

It is . . .

    a mine of wealth,

    health to the soul,

    and a river of pleasure.

It . . .

    involves the highest responsibility,

    will reward the greatest labor, and

    condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

Read it to be wise,

believe it to be safe,

and practice it to be holy.

Read it . . .

    slowly,

    frequently,

    and prayerfully.

This Book—the Book of Books, the Book of God, the Bible—is the revelation of God to man!

Your Worthy Walk

"No, I can't dance, I can't talk
Only thing about me is the way I walk"

—Genesis, "I Can't Dance"

Whether or not we can dance, talk, or sing, or anything else we can or cannot do, the only thing about the Christian is the way he/she walks. Our walk speaks volumes. The world, whether Christian or non-Christian, is watching. If our walk does not match our talk, they will know it and they will call us out on it. No amount of excuses will let you off the hook. Even the non-Christians know how Christians are supposed to behave. Christians cannot be and should not be hypocrites.

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). If you truly belong to Christ, you will be marked with an undeniable difference in your way of life. We are in this world, not of it.

Walk worthy of...

• "...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

Ephesians 4:1 has nothing to do with vocation. Compare it with 1 Thessalonians 2:12. You were called to be sons and daughters of the Most High. Ergo, walk in a manner that is worthy of that calling, a manner that proves you were truly called and set apart. If you are not sons and daughters, then you are illegitimate children and have no part with Christ. Many professors of Christ try to make excuses for the sin they live in, the way they walk or talk, but if they were of Christ, rather than try to make excuses for being caught in their sin and called out on it, they would hate those aspects of themselves and continually pray for the Lord to remove it from them. Prayer and the Word are our weapons against besetting sins that hold us back and trip us up. If we are not doing battle, then we need to re-examine our claim of faith.

The Experiential Interpretation of Romans 7

"The Apostle Paul says, 'There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,' and he says that on the heels of the remarkable testimony of his battle with sin in Romans chapter 7, where he says he has this inner turmoil not doing what he wants to do and doing what he hates and when he would do good evil would be present with him."

—Dr. Rick Horne, "Take Ten Looks" from Timothy Brindle's album The Restoration

Dr. Rick Horne, along with a great number of Christians out there, is sadly mistaken. In fact, he is outright wrong, and, unlike most of our post-modern society, I am not afraid to say it. Romans 7 is not a testimony of Paul's battle with sin. People seriously need to learn what it means to conduct exegesis. There is no room for, and no excuse for, experiential interpretation. Our experiences do not interpret the text. In fact, our day and age, with its individualism and rampant acceptance of sin, offers absolutely nothing into the interpretation of Scripture in the least. Scripture, like many parts of the world still today, functioned on the base of familial units. If you want to understand Scripture correctly, you need to understand familial units. Many places in the world today still operate thus, where the children reside with the parents until they get married, and later in the parents' life are looked after by their children, even contributing to the family while living at home. The familial unit often extended beyond just immediate family and would include extended family. Everyone looked out for everyone else, something our Western society and culture lost following the Renaissance. But that is neither the here nor there of this article.

Paul did not ask if Christians would continue to sin or even struggle with sin. So what was the question he asked? For that answer, we need to examine the preceding verse to the section frequently ripped out of context—verse 13. Verses 14-25 are cited in isolation of the immediate context 99% of the time. The rhetorical question Paul asked in verse 13 was, "Did that which is good [the Law] become a cause of death for me?" He provides a strong denial to his question and then proceeds to give an answer. Paul did not finish answering his question with the remainder of verse 13 only to shift gears into a completely unrelated issue for the rest of the chapter.

In order to understand precisely what Paul is getting at with Romans 7:13-25, we still need to keep it in context with Romans 7:7-12. The entire chapter is dealing with the Law and man's relation therewith. In Romans 7:7-12, Paul, using the historical-present 'I', says, "I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, 'You shall not covet.'" Because of the Law, he noticed all sorts of covetousness within. The good he wanted to do (Do not covet), he did not do, but what he did not want to do (covet), he did. In both Romans 7:15 and 7:19, there are two Greek words used, and they are used in the reverse of each other to paint an undeniable picture that those who falsely misinterpret Romans 7 refuse to address. These words are prasso (πρασσω), meaning "to perform repeatedly or habitually," and poieo (ποιεω), meaning "to purpose." So, continuing to speak using the historical-present 'I', these two verses read thus:

15: For that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I do not repeatedly or habitually practice [prasso] what I would like to do, but I purpose to do [poieo] the very thing I hate.
19: For the good that I want, I do not purpose to do [poieo], but I repeatedly or habtiually practice [prasso] the very evil that I do not want.

Putting the two verses together, he is saying, "I do not repeatedly or habitually practice what I would like to do, but I repeatedly or habitually practice the very evil that I do not want" and "For the good that I want, I do not purpose to do, but I purpose to do the very thing I hate." Does that sound like a Christian?!? Not in the least! Interestingly enough, 1 John 3:4-10 also uses both of these Greek words, and this passage clearly tells us that a person who purposes to sin and repeatedly or habitually practices sin is not of God. He/she is of the devil!

For you preachers and teachers out there who continue to lie about Romans 7 and deal with it from an experiential interpretive standpoint, rather than an exegetical interpretive standpoint, if you are not going to give the Word of God the due treatment and respect it deserves, then might I suggest you step down from your position. The church needs leaders appointed by God who hold His Word in the highest regard and do their work diligently. There can be no haphazard work. In preaching the Bible verse by verse, we need to do so exegetically and we need to be comparing Scripture with Scripture so as to give the most accurate interpretation of the text—as a whole.

Romans 8 is the normal Christian life. "As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him" (Col. 2:6).

Love Thy Selfie

by Jerry Sheppard

"For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy." (2 Timothy 3:2, ESV)

It is no secret that "self love" is on the rise today. So much so that the present generation is three times more "self-centered" than the previous generations. It is one thing to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31, ESV), but it is quite another thing when you have an unhealthy view of yourself. For another Scripture says, "I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he [or she] ought to think" (Rom. 12:3, NASB). It is hard to focus on others if our focus is too much on ourselves. The Apostle Paul instructs, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." (Phil. 2:3-4, NASB).

At present, there is much in music, the social media, magazines, movies, and so on, in our society that promotes the "self" life. Modern technology is boasted to help make our lives easier, but instead it has fed our egos and inflated our self-esteem in such a way that we think too highly of ourselves. Many people from various age groups have become narcissistic, self-entitled, and privileged. Such people get easily offended if you don't feed into their over-inflated perception of themselves. Such social websites as Facebook is chock-full of profiles of young people who have numerous "selfie" photos. It's like they are obsessed with themselves and addicted to the attention they get from the number of "Likes" and complimenting comments they get.

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Church-going Atheists

by Frank Hall

"The fool says in his heart: There is no God!" Psalm 14:1

To deny the existence of God is to be an atheist--and all atheists are silly fools. However, those who profess to be atheists, and live according to their profession, are more honorable fools than the millions of painted hypocrites who profess faith in Christ and yet live like infidels! At least professing atheists are consistent fools! Atheists say that there is no God, and being true to their profession, they live as if there were no God. But there are untold multitudes of church goers who, in their pretentious religiosity, denounce atheism as an abomination--and yet they live just like atheists! These church-going atheists are pathetic because they lack the honesty and courage to speak what they say with their lives and in their hearts every single day--that there is no God!

Men and women who say that they believe in God, and yet live like Hell, are atheists at heart--and that makes them the most foolish of all fools!

"I'm a drunk, but I believe in God.

 I'm a profane worldling, but I believe in God.

 I'm a vile, filthy fornicator, but I believe in God.

 I live like Hell, but I'm going to Heaven.

 I don't worship God, but I believe in God.

 I don't read the Bible or practice its teachings, but I love the God who wrote it."

Such stupid gibberish betrays the atheism that is bound up in the hearts of religious hypocrites around the world! If you want to know what someone believes, look past what they say, and just consider how they live. All who say that there is a God in the heavens, and yet refuse to honor God's Son, are nothing more than atheists masquerading as Christians.

I wonder, what does your life say? Does it prove your profession to be true--or blast it to pieces?

Three Attitudes A Christian Should Avoid

by Jerry Shepperd

The problem I see with the church and with many fellow Christians in general today is indifference to their own faith. I'm sure there are a number of reasons for that. Personally, I think there are three primary reasons why a lot of Christians will not make a stand for Christ and the principles we hold to, because such believers are too much like the world.

1. The Compromising Christian: Their reasoning is, we need to be like the world in order to win unbelievers out of the world. Such misguided believers misinterpret Paul's words: “I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some" (1 Cor. 9:22, NASB). The question this raises is, what difference does Christ make, then, in a sinner's life? If we are to behave like those in the world, then how can we show those in the world the difference Christ has made in our lives? The fact is, Paul became "all things," whether a Jew, Gentile, Roman, slave, or free, in order to win them to Christ. By no means does this imply he practiced the various corruptions and sins in order to be like a pagan, Roman, or any other person who he was trying to win to Christ. He could behave according to the custom and behavior expected of a Roman citizen, or as a Jewish citizen for that matter, without adopting their questionable, sinful practices. However, the saint is called to be like Christ. Paul puts it this way, and instructs us to: "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts" (Rom. 13:14, NASB).

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The Disciple's Prayer

"Pray, then, in this manner: 'Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.'" Matthew 6:9-13

This prayer is frequently and erroneously referred to as "The Lord's Prayer." However, not once did Jesus pray this. In fact, He had no need to; He was perfect, without sin. The Lord's Prayer is found in John 17. The prayer found here is The Disciple's Prayer. Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray—not what to pray. Notice that He did not tell them this was the prayer they were to habitually pray, but rather they were to pray "in this manner." We need to examine the structure Jesus provides for us, because this is how our prayers out to be patterned after. The structure of The Disciple's Prayer is:

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.

We should begin our prayers by acknowledging that God is our Father in heaven and that we honour Him. This is an important step in humbling ourselves before Him and telling Him that He is our God and that we trust His Word and wisdom.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.

We should let Him know that we understand that He is in control and in charge of all things, that His kingdom will continue, and that it is His will and not our own that we are to listen to and obey. His authority governs both Heaven and Earth.

At this point, we should acknowledge all that He has done for us, all the bountiful blessings He has provided for our good, all the trials He has blessed us with in order to learn what we need to learn, and every good thing in our lives.

Give us this day our daily bread.

We should then petition Him for our needs and the righteous desires of our hearts—not our whims or worldly desires. The righteous desires of our hearts will conform to His will. "Our daily bread" is not merely food, but all the daily necessities for our growth and salvation.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

We should lay before Him our sins and transgressions, asking forgiveness and for the strength to forgive those who have sinned against us. If we remember that we have something against a brother, or a brother has something against us, we need to rectify it. This is our opportunity for repentance, for our weaknesses, for our thoughtlessness, for our disobedience, for our sins of commission or omission.

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

We should pray for His guidance in our walk and the power to overcome sin. We need to have self-mastery, or self-control, so as to conquer the adversary. Remember, Romans 6:11 tells us to "consider yourselves to be dead to sin." In other words, reckon it to be true.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

We should close by once again acknowledging that this is His kingdom and that He has all the power. The glory of what we do belongs to Him for all that He provides for us. We should close in the holy name of Christ Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer.