Jesus promised that the gates of Hell would not prevail against the Church (BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS, NOT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH*). Do the 'gates of Hell' represent the front line of Satan's war on the Church? Does it mean that although Satan attacks the Church and backs it into a corner, he won't win. NO!!! It means that as the Church attacks the gates of Hell--we will prevail!
But, I have to ask, for the last 50 or so years, who has been battering the gates of whom? Who has retreated and retreated until, soon, they will be hunkered down behind their gates, trembling at the onslaught?
Tolerance and political correctness are just new terms for 'surrender'! Was Jesus politically correct? Was he tolerant of evil?
A few years ago it was all the rage to ask 'what would Jesus do'. When He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and vendors in the temple, that was a clue! It was also a foreshadowing of the system we are facing today (Babylon the Great), a corrupt alliance of businesses, bankers & politicians, upon whom God's wrath and judgment will be poured out during the Tribulation. I am not advocating violence. I AM advocating boldness!
Jesus left us with the task of sharing the gospel with everyone, and fighting evil. We were to continue doing the work that Jesus had begun and demonstrate the good that God intended for mankind when He placed us here on Earth.
We were to be the salt that protected the world from becoming a place of depravity! But the 'salt has lost its saltiness'! We were to be the light, to keep the world safe because 'whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open', yet we have 'covered our lamp with a bowl'! The whole world has slid into corruption and gangrenous decay, and we have retreated to a dimly lit corner!!
We have done pretty well at sowing the gospel, but, over time, we have neglected the fight against evil within our own borders. We have become complacent and choked by the cares of this world.
God established America so that we would have a place from which to manifest His power and goodness to the nations!! AMERICA wasn't to be God's witness to the world--America was to be the place from which the CHURCH could operate most safely and freely, and be His witness to the world!
For each of us, it's time to decide which side of the fence we are on! Are we to continue letting evil prevail around us and in our own lives, and lay aside His name? Or will we clean up our own act (by the power of God within us), live righteously, and wage war on the kingdom of darkness?
God will not bless a lukewarm Christianity--we do dishonor to His name! For those who want to call themselves 'Christians', it is time to root sin out of our own lives, and expose and fight against evil wherever we encounter it! Be assured that He is with us--and that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against us!
*The idea that Peter was the first Pope, and that Jesus thus established the Catholic church, is based upon a fundamental misunderstanding of His meaning in Matthew 16:18. If the verse is read in context, it is seen that the 'rock' upon which Christ will build His church is Peter's declaration that He (Jesus) is 'the Christ, the Son of the living God'.
It's Time To 'Shake The Dust Off'
You Only Die Once--Make It Count!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Deathbed Conversions
I think deathbed conversions are a crock. I doubt the sincerity of someone who waits until their dying breath to call out to God for a pardon because suddenly they can see what lies ahead. I think it's an insult to God and an abuse of His grace.
My attitude reminds me of someone else's: a guy who had a brother that insisted on having his inheritance early, and then ran off and blew it partying and whoring around. He was understandably irritated when, after hitting rock bottom, his brother decided it was time to come home. After all, he'd stayed home and had to pick up the slack.
But, as I look at the father of these guys, I see a man who is running down the driveway to meet his son. He welcomes him back and showers him with gifts. It's not that he loves one of his sons more than the other--it's that this one was lost, but has come home.
So, if that's the way God feels (and I know it is, because Jesus told the story), then I'm just going to let it go. If God isn't offended, then why should I be?
However, If you're that one who's lost, and you are planning to wait until you are on your deathbed to make that commitment, consider this: sin will harden your heart. Every time you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart and you pull away, your heart gets a little harder. By the time you are on your deathbed (if you even get that chance), you may not be able to muster the repentance you need in order to be forgiven.
Beyond that, the stakes are even higher now! God is sending a powerful delusion to those that refuse 'to love the truth and so be saved'. He sends them this powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie of the Antichrist and be condemned (those who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness).
The time for taking God's grace for granted is nearly over. Who knows. . . this may be YOUR last chance!
The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against Us
It's Time To 'Shake The Dust Off'
My attitude reminds me of someone else's: a guy who had a brother that insisted on having his inheritance early, and then ran off and blew it partying and whoring around. He was understandably irritated when, after hitting rock bottom, his brother decided it was time to come home. After all, he'd stayed home and had to pick up the slack.
But, as I look at the father of these guys, I see a man who is running down the driveway to meet his son. He welcomes him back and showers him with gifts. It's not that he loves one of his sons more than the other--it's that this one was lost, but has come home.
So, if that's the way God feels (and I know it is, because Jesus told the story), then I'm just going to let it go. If God isn't offended, then why should I be?
However, If you're that one who's lost, and you are planning to wait until you are on your deathbed to make that commitment, consider this: sin will harden your heart. Every time you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart and you pull away, your heart gets a little harder. By the time you are on your deathbed (if you even get that chance), you may not be able to muster the repentance you need in order to be forgiven.
Beyond that, the stakes are even higher now! God is sending a powerful delusion to those that refuse 'to love the truth and so be saved'. He sends them this powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie of the Antichrist and be condemned (those who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness).
The time for taking God's grace for granted is nearly over. Who knows. . . this may be YOUR last chance!
The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against Us
It's Time To 'Shake The Dust Off'
It's Not About Race At All. It's About FREEDOM!
Some are ‘playing the race card’ to inflame emotions and confuse the issues. They need to polarize and divide people because they don’t want conversations to occur between us. Because, if we really listen to each other, we might find we have more in common than we realized–and together we might realize we are both ‘being played’!
Racism & Lincoln
Are Blacks Being Baited To Start A Race War?
Racism & Lincoln
Are Blacks Being Baited To Start A Race War?
Monday, October 12, 2009
Just Another 'Blue Light Special'?
Well folks, we are living a very watered down, anemic version of Christianity. Is this the truth that so many have died for? Where is the persecution? Trust me, it's not something I want, but consider--we are living in a culture that is rapidly approaching, if not already exceeding, the sinfulness of Sodom and Gomorrah. How is it that this culture is tolerating us in their midst? Have we gone so deep 'undercover' that we have 'gone over to the other side'?
If we are living by the same paradigm as the world around us, we aren't really understanding the gospel! Why have we succumbed to political correctness and tolerance?
We have watered down the gospel, little by little, so as not to offend anyone. But with so many dilutions, it now deserves another name, 'cause sincere life-changing Christianity it ain't. If 'Sunday Christians' feel at home in our church, week after week after week--that should be a pretty good indication! Perhaps I'll just differentiate by calling the one 'shallow Christianity' and the other 'deep Christianity'.
We aren't doing the world around us any favors. True seekers are craving something authentic, life changing & enveloping that will give their life meaning and answer the deep longing in their soul. The choice of a spiritual path to follow is the most serious choice a person will make in their life. No one expects it to be simple. People understand that, once chosen, their spiritual beliefs will be important enough to die for. Presenting the Christian life as a laid-back, casual thing is not fooling true spiritual seekers. It just isn't deep enough to quench the thirst in their soul!
I believe it demonstrates a lack of faith on our part. Like the man who reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant when the oxen stumbled (in the book of 2 Samuel in the Bible). Yes, it was likely to have fallen . . . or would it have? The presence of God was contained within it! It seems unfair that the man was struck dead--but the message was clear: God doesn't need us to look out for Him! When we make the gospel 'less offensive', aren't we doing the same thing? The gospel Jesus presented will do the work of God in people's lives, but a watered down version we create? It's probably not going to be able to do much of anything.
It's also a particularly treacherous form of dishonesty. How many people 'sign up' to be a Christian, expecting it to be a 'walk in the park'? What's going to happen when the Antichrist takes the stage and it becomes apparent that a Pre-Tribulation Rapture didn't happen? Who's going to console them through their disappointment, bitterness and sense of utter betrayal? It won't be Christians, because every other thing Christians have taught will be thrown aside as well.
What's going to happen when the really hard times come? Persecution and betrayal will come to most Christians, and death to some. ( No, I'm not exaggerating to make a point. Jesus was very specific that this would happen during the 'latter days'.) Are these 'shallow Christians' going to be able to persevere?
The Bible says that if one has escaped the corruption of the world by knowing Jesus, and then goes back to it, he is worse off at the end than he was at the beginning! We don't get 'Brownie points' for the number of people on our 'convert list'! What a waste!. What a sad and sorry waste.
I know that the people promoting our modern version of the gospel are good, sincere people with the best intentions. This is the gospel that has been handed down to us, that we were told is true. But, it is so diluted now that it is scarcely recognizable. We are 'selling' Christianity too cheaply. This bland version of Christianity does not attract the truly thirsty. Like a lukewarm drink of water, it has no appeal. In fact, it's a little nauseating as well.
We need to go back to the source to make sure our understanding of the gospel is correct, and then shore up the foundation of our own faith. If we don't, not only will we be swept away, but most of those we have led to Christ will be too!
Deathbed Conversions
The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against Us
If we are living by the same paradigm as the world around us, we aren't really understanding the gospel! Why have we succumbed to political correctness and tolerance?
We have watered down the gospel, little by little, so as not to offend anyone. But with so many dilutions, it now deserves another name, 'cause sincere life-changing Christianity it ain't. If 'Sunday Christians' feel at home in our church, week after week after week--that should be a pretty good indication! Perhaps I'll just differentiate by calling the one 'shallow Christianity' and the other 'deep Christianity'.
We aren't doing the world around us any favors. True seekers are craving something authentic, life changing & enveloping that will give their life meaning and answer the deep longing in their soul. The choice of a spiritual path to follow is the most serious choice a person will make in their life. No one expects it to be simple. People understand that, once chosen, their spiritual beliefs will be important enough to die for. Presenting the Christian life as a laid-back, casual thing is not fooling true spiritual seekers. It just isn't deep enough to quench the thirst in their soul!
I believe it demonstrates a lack of faith on our part. Like the man who reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant when the oxen stumbled (in the book of 2 Samuel in the Bible). Yes, it was likely to have fallen . . . or would it have? The presence of God was contained within it! It seems unfair that the man was struck dead--but the message was clear: God doesn't need us to look out for Him! When we make the gospel 'less offensive', aren't we doing the same thing? The gospel Jesus presented will do the work of God in people's lives, but a watered down version we create? It's probably not going to be able to do much of anything.
It's also a particularly treacherous form of dishonesty. How many people 'sign up' to be a Christian, expecting it to be a 'walk in the park'? What's going to happen when the Antichrist takes the stage and it becomes apparent that a Pre-Tribulation Rapture didn't happen? Who's going to console them through their disappointment, bitterness and sense of utter betrayal? It won't be Christians, because every other thing Christians have taught will be thrown aside as well.
What's going to happen when the really hard times come? Persecution and betrayal will come to most Christians, and death to some. ( No, I'm not exaggerating to make a point. Jesus was very specific that this would happen during the 'latter days'.) Are these 'shallow Christians' going to be able to persevere?
The Bible says that if one has escaped the corruption of the world by knowing Jesus, and then goes back to it, he is worse off at the end than he was at the beginning! We don't get 'Brownie points' for the number of people on our 'convert list'! What a waste!. What a sad and sorry waste.
I know that the people promoting our modern version of the gospel are good, sincere people with the best intentions. This is the gospel that has been handed down to us, that we were told is true. But, it is so diluted now that it is scarcely recognizable. We are 'selling' Christianity too cheaply. This bland version of Christianity does not attract the truly thirsty. Like a lukewarm drink of water, it has no appeal. In fact, it's a little nauseating as well.
We need to go back to the source to make sure our understanding of the gospel is correct, and then shore up the foundation of our own faith. If we don't, not only will we be swept away, but most of those we have led to Christ will be too!
Deathbed Conversions
The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against Us
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