James White debunks Newsweek's anti-Christian Christmas article!

There is also a part two available at this link - Alpha and Omega Ministries

More good stuff from Wretched Radio!

 

 

Here is the link for Wretchedradio

When Churchians die!

The Pharisees thought themselves very religious and one might think that if anyone was to enter into God's kingdom, it was these who worked so diligently to make themselves acceptable to God and were quick to point out where others fell short!

Yet, Jesus said of the Pharisees in Matt. 23

V 4 ...they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

V 5 ...all their works they do to be seen by men...

V 6 They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues....

V 13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.

V 15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.

V 16 “Woe to you, blind guides...

V 23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

V 25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

V 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

V 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

The Pharisees, who seemed so religious, were not believers in or lovers of God, but rather loved themselves and the religious traditions they had created out of a misrepresentation of God's word!

What is a Churchian and how do they relate to the Pharisees? A Churchian is someone who is dedicated to their church, but not to Jesus and His word!

How will you recognize them? They will be much like the Pharisees! They aren't concerned with learning and doing God's will according to His word, if they were they would be quick to turn to the word for guidance and have a true desire to share Jesus with others through word and deed.

The Churchian will be more concerned with protecting their traditions than loving and serving others in Jesus' name. The Churchian will be more concerned with what someone wears to church than their soul. The Churchain may want new people in the church, so they can feel the church is successful, but they don't want them taking any role that might threaten their power or the status quo.

When asked to compare thier actions and attitude to the scriptures, the Churchain may simply say they know they are right or say they have earned the right to have things their way, because they have been around a long time and/or given much to the church. However, the Churchian will definitely not want to have their attitudes or actions held up to the scrutiny of God's word.

The death of a Churchian is a very sad thing! They may be seen by many as a hero's of the faith, because of their many years of service, and yet still be lost and going to hell!

A pastor who has to do the funeral of a Churchian is in an awkward spot to say the least. If many in the church did not get to see a person's behind the scenes attempts to control the church to promote their own agenda, or see their blatant rejection of biblical teachings when confronted about their actions, they might feel they must be saved based on their outward acts of service in the church. If a Pastor is called upon to do their funeral, and he knows better, he may have to walk a fine line indeed!

You don't want to declare someone lost, when it is possible they were saved, but at the same time you don't want to jump on the bandwagon of heralding the praises of a Churchain, who like the Pharisees, may seem very religious and yet may not enter God's kingdom at all!

I am not sure any Churchians still remain in the church I attend, but some who have left are getting older and may soon face the Lord. I pray they come to know and love Jesus and His word before they die, if they are in fact lost, and I pray for the pastors who will have to do their funerals if they do not!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."

Great link for early evidence of Jesus' life, from outside the scriptures!

This link has a good collection of early historical information about Jesus, and it is from those who were hostile to the faith, so they had no reason to make anything up - Cold Case Christianity

Hands up, don't shoot!

Justice is important and I can't get into anyone else's head and fully understand their perspective on things like the shooting of the young man in Ferguson. However, as our notion of justice comes from God, we all must consider how we will respond to Him when confronted with our sin.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Jesus came to save sinners, He condescended and entered our world to satisfy God's justice on a cross, so all who believe upon Him could be saved and avoid facing God's justice for themselves! But if we deny our sin, blame others, accuse God of being unjust, etc, we won't embrace the one hope God has graciously offered us. His word continues -

¹⁸ “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

We must surrender to God and His justice, we must figuratively raise our hands and plead for mercy, not declare our innocence or accuse God of unfairness, but agree with His assessment of us - that we are guilty of sin against Him, and in doing so we can receive the forgiveness He offers us through faith in Jesus Christ! 

If we come to understand our guilt before God and His perfect justice and grace toward us in Jesus, maybe we can make far greater progress in seeking and accepting justice here.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.