Tethered to the Gospel?

Tethered = a cord that anchors something movable to a reference point.

What is it you live and die for? What is it that makes you who you are? What separates you from the youthful naive young person you once were (other than age)? What is the heart of who you are? What is the one thing that tethers you to solid ground when the waves get HUGE?

For many they would first say, their family (what happens if they move away, or get seriously ill, or even pass away). Others may say their occupations or college degrees (sometime in the future you will retire or become incapable to continue). Some may even say their group of friends or location. But, to those of us who claim to be a Christian there must be something more profound, something so life-changing it separates us from a reformed Mormon, Buddhist or Atheist. It is the one thing that marks us as different to the world. It is the one thing that, when putting together a self time line there is that moment in time when your life changed...You were going in one direction and then did a 180 in a completely different direction. Your heart's affections changed from that of self-serving to self-sacrificing, from one of selfish ambitions to that of holiness and spiritual growth.

The one thing I am talking about is The Gospel. The good news of Jesus' sacrificial atonement upon the cross for your sins (your rebellion to a Holy God..your willful disobedience to a God that had written His law upon your heart). There became a moment in time that you did not first see Jesus dying for you but because of you. Many people now days have tried to lessen the blow of our sin in order to not offend anyone. But the problem with that is if you lower the sin you lower the sin payment. Those with much sin, have a big savior. Those with little sins or just sinful "accidents", "mistakes", or "boo-boo's" have a tiny savior and do not esteem the cross. So there is a great harm done to both the sinner and the integrity of the gospel.

So my question is...What tethers you? What is your rock? Where do you find true fellowship? What do you see as man's greatest need? Is it that of the gospel or is it that of worldly comforts? It is a sad state of the church when they set aside the main message and replace it with that of social issues like missions without the gospel, feeding the hungry without the gospel, and clothing the poor without the gospel. If what tethers you in this life is feeling good about yourself by just helping others without telling them they are sick with sin and need to be cleansed then what did you do? You made them more comfortable to go to hell. They have full bellies to go to hell with, they are warm and clothed for their trip to hell, and they have drinking water to taste before they go to hell.

What am I saying? Those things are bad? Not if they are things done to back up the message we are already sharing, preaching and proclaiming. But when those things are done to substitute the gospel, we must admit that we love ourselves more than those we serve. Because rather than risk me being labeled weird or them being offended, we would rather have them walk off with a fresh drink of water and nobody feels awkward....but, there is a problem, they are dying, they are slipping into eternity day by day.

I am sure the day the Doctor had to sit me down in a small side room by myself to tell me that my little beautiful baby was diagnosed with a heart defect that would cause many open heart surgeries felt awkward for him. But love and duty compelled him to tell me. I would have never allowed him to operate on her and work on her heart if there really wasn't problem? Why would I accept a possible cure if I did not know she was sick? He loved me enough to tell me the problem and by God's grace and mercy there have been 2 open heart surgeries that were very effective. Who will take the cure (The Cross) unless the Dr (Christians) explains to people that they are sick first? How is it considered loving to ignore the problem in order to not offend anyone?

So how does this happen?

Well there are two things that come to mind...

A. Either they don't really believe in hell (although Christ taught twice as much on hell then on heaven) or they just simply disregard that doctrine all together.

B. They are unconverted and in a mind-set of self-righteousness. They think that people are all generally good and therefore not going to face any judgment, that God won't send these overall good people to hell. The problem with this thinking is that their bar for goodness is themselves..."As long as those people are "as good as me", they really don't have anything to worry about."
But, let's now try that same mind-set in prison (and I have)...

"Mr. Money Extortioner, are you a bad guy? Even though you stole over $20,000 dollars from a nursing home?" Answer, "Well, I think I am a pretty good guy, I am not like the women abuser next door!"

"Mr. Woman Abuser, are you a good person?" Even though you beat your wife of 15 years up so bad that she had to go to the hospital and is now on life support?" Answer, "Well, I think I am a good guy overall. At least I am not like the child abuser next door!"

And, then on and on it goes...The murder is not like the mass murder, etc, etc, etc. We all think we are good when the standard is our self. But, what if that standard is higher and when it's broken it is against a perfect Holy God? Should He lower His bar simply because we cannot meet it? Should He turn a blind eye to justice?

Is lying or looking with lust really that bad? Well, it is if the judge says it is. And, we cannot be let go simply because we hope God will grade on a curve. There is one way of escape and that is repentance from sin (turning from sin) and trusting in Christ fully to save you. The moment you do that you will get a new heart with new desires and God will make you born again.

The book of Galatians starts out with a powerful negative statement unlike any other that Paul had written. No open compliment to that church or "Your faith is well known" kind of thing but vs 6, "I marvel that you are turning away so soon away from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."

There are times when being nice or being in unity are just simply wrong. There are times when your good works are not pleasing to God and that is when those works are replacing the message of the gospel. The death, burial and resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ and remission of sins by repentance and faith.

Be tethered to the gospel of Christ not the gospel of the world which unites around everything but Christ. Let unity be with love to God and to His gospel and work together to take that message further and deeper into unreached people then ever before.

Galatians 6:14, "But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."

A New's Years resolution....

The Manhattan Declaration

Striking the news, blogesphers, social networks and radio programs is this new delemma over a recent constructed document called, "The Manhattan Declaration." The document itself is a declaration of unity over the outcry of aggressive assaults upon the sanctity of life, homosexuality and a few other moral issues happening in the United States at this time. The signers of this document claim to be unified in agreement that these issues are non negotiable and are bonding together to affix there names to this document as an outcry to these injustices. The problem is that the signers range from Roman Catholics to Conservative Evangelicals.

Why is that a problem you ask? The issues is mainly that the terminology within the document. Terms like, "We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ" or "We (Christians), act together", "We are Christians who have joined together." It is simply declaring a unity within the worldwide church of Jesus Christ (with only ecclesial differences) to come together and unite for the cause of these moral dilemmas that are in fact plaguing this country. But the problem is the fact that there is not a brotherhood with in Christians and Catholics when referring to the gospel and the fundamental belief of Justification by Faith alone in Christ alone. This is not a small chasim. Imputed and infused righteousness as a theological difference find no common ground. Now without getting into that fully (as I have spoken about that in more detail on former post) I would simply like to express my shock to see some very conservative evangelical leaders affix there name to this document. People like Dr Alber Mohler and Dr. J. Ligon Duncan who I respect and love as brothers very much. Less shocking (yet notable) were people like Ravi Zacharias, Joni Eareckson Tada, Randy Alcorn. And of course there were those we all would have been surprised if there names were not on the list, Jim Daily, James Dobson and Chuck Coloson just to name a few.

I just dont think we can set theology aside, come together with a degree of theological similarities and show the world that we are in fact any different. I cant help but wonder if Dr Albert Mohler and others like him would have signed this if Depoch Chopra was one of the main framers? Is the level of uniformity only based on the name of Christ and not the work achieved on the cross? Can we ever simply work along side people with theological difference to bring about some kind of moral agenda? Well I say Yes we can. I can join a local neighborhood watch with the people in my community if there are a string of break in's to help protect each other. I would have no problem signing my name to that kind of declaration. The problem comes when it is done in a overtone of spiritual uniformity. I would never sign a document in my community to fight crime in the spirit of Christian brotherhood. I just simply know all the people in my community do not adhere the the fundamentals of the faith. So any time in the spirit of ecumenicism, when we subvert the gospel to achieve some moral high ground we are actually doing more harm for the gospel then good!

I also know that in an era of quick post, one minute drama and all us blog writers thinking we have the next big story or in my case that I have anything worth reading. Lets be quick to pray. I know Dr Mohler is a great man of God and has not subverted the gospel. I think in signing this document he had done just that but lets not be quick to shoot at our faithful brothers who work so hard and labor over the gospel. Although this is a shocker. Lets use this as a reminder to pray for the issues outlined in this document as well as the unconverted Roman Catholics and Evangelicals. Lets use discernment and pray for wisdom when it comes to emotionally charged issues such as these and continue to proclaim the biblical gospel of complete forgiveness of sins by repenting and trusting Christ alone as your savior. This is the method God will use to combat moral issues, by changing the hearts and minds of those who adhere to those differences. Not by a stock pile of signatures to a document but souls won to Christ.

For more information see the following links....

The Manhattan Declaration.

Albert Mohlers gives a defense.

Dr Mohler on Detroits radio program The Paul Edwards Program explaining.

Ravi Zacharias explains.

John Macathur Explains why not.

John Macarthur on Chris Fabry on why not.

Phil Johnson on The Paul Edwards Program explaining why not.

Alistair Begg on why not.

James White on why not.

Dr Steven Lawson.

Why I can sleep after reading Jeremiah 29:17-18

"thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad. 18 And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth—to be a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them"

I know it is a strange title and a fairly obscure text in a well known Old Testament book. But I want to draw out a few important factors when it comes to reading the Old Testament. Whenever we look into the Old Testament we have to be careful in how we interpret the verses we are reading. Some of the verses are simply not to us. That is why I quoted the above text. No Christian is reading that and under great sorrow because God has just declared His war on them and their family. Just a basic reading of that text in the context will give us an understanding that it is not to Joe Smith from Wisconsin for example. And I am sure that we will not be finding this written on the bible case or wall photo in somebody's house.

Now that is not to say that there are not basic principles to pull out of the above text. Every single text in Gods word has something to teach us. Yes every single one. The question we should be asking our self first is this, was this text written to me? The basic principle is called the grammatical, historical method of interpretation (Hermeneutics).I just want to give you enough information that it will wet your appetite for your bible reading.

You see I picked this verse because it is just a few verses away from one of the most used verses in the local Christian book store and more then likely in your home and it says this,

Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

You see the problem in reading this verse is the very same reason I didn't freak out after reading Jer. 29:17-18. Even though we find these verses in complete contrast to one another. It still does not apply to us. Why? Because this was too those people at that time. Think about it, God's chosen nation is in captivity and under heavy persecution. About to be carried away. And our wonderful God calls to them in there moments of most need and says that he will be there with them. They dont understand what is happening but God does and this will work out for there good. It is a wonderful verse for them. Now can we pull out a principle? Yes we can, God is kind, God disciplines, yet in love. God will not leave us. Some wonderful principles can be found but the verse is simply not for us in this day. We can find other verses that talk about God's grace, His kindness, His unfailing presence. But just not here. If we are going to quote this verse as a verse for us then how is it we can skip over the more negative text. Some may say, well its because they were God's children and we are God's children so therefore it is all the same. Well I can think of more then a few verses of God writing to His people in the Old Testament we would be good in hoping that time has passed.

So why write this blog? Other then show some biblical knowledge and offend people who have that as there life verse? Why, well simple...

To the believer,

1)We are commanded by God to rightly divide God's word (2 Timothy 2:15)
2)Not get our self in despair over a verse misused and not working.
3)Draw a improper conclusion about God because of a misinterpreted verse.
4)Trust in God by using his promises that you can lean on and count on.

To the unbeliever,

1)Help you understand your position apart from God and your inability to quote any promise in the bible for your purpose.
2)Understanding your inability to reject Gods word simply because of some obscure text taken out of context.

For example we hear the straw man arguments that we cannot eat pork or shellfish. We cannot cut our beards, etc etc etc. There is simply biblical illiteracy here. Besides the fact the Old Testament has now been replaced with the New Testament. We must read it rightly to ensure we are applying text to our life that should be applied. We should be studying those Old Testament verses as they would have been understood to the reader. So that a lost world can be given a reason for there misrepresentation of Gods word. Last but not least we should be counting God's promises as precious to us as we dive into His word for His glory.

Here is a good resource on the subject...

Legalist or Literalist? Pharisee or Proper Theology?

Luke 18:9-14


These terms are often misunderstood and misused in today's culture. Often even in the context of the church the terms are thrown at almost any ministry that is strong in its biblical headship, leadership and conviction. I think this is mainly due to the over feminization of today's church. We are finding that more and more men are folding under pressure to not warn people of judgment day, Gods wrath, sin or any other attribute of God or action of God that is to masculine. We then crank out over emotional, love-only preachers who stay away from any form of conventional terms "as to not offend anyone." When a text of scripture is accurately interpreted and applied with no wiggle room. Legalist or pharisee are terms usually not far behind. What I want to do is take a look at how those terms apply and see if they fit the modern day use of them.

Legalist is a term intended to be used in reference to a person who has used the law of God and twisted to bind people to a moral set of standards to appease God. All world religions are legalist. They say you must follow a set of standards laid out either in ancient writings or tradition in order to contribute to your salvation and or increase the likelihood of your reincarnated soul coming back as a human. In the realm of Christianity it is used when someone has misrepresented the mosaic law and declared a work based system back into true salvation. We see this rear up in the New Testament in the following verse.

Acts 15:1
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the bretheren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

We also see this in places such as Galatians 2:11-21 when Paul confronts Peter for his misrepresentation of the truth by preferring one crowd over the other. Other example's would be claiming that someone has to go to church to be saved. Or that someone must be reading there bible to be saved. Anytime the word legalist is used in reference to Christianity it is a direct assault on the work of salvation. So when using the term legalist toward someone there is really one area to look at to see if they are in fact being a legalist. There gospel message. Has it now included a work based righteousness or "infused" righteous opposed to "imputed". If one has not claimed any change in there gospel presentation and are still holding to Sola fide ("by faith alone"), Sola gratia ("by grace alone") Solo Christo ("through Christ alone") then by definition they are not a legalist.

On the other hand we have the first term in the five sola's of the reformation. Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone"). Which simply means that scripture is the main authority for faith and practice. This is where we get into the meat of Gods truth. This is where men die, get excommunicated, imprisoned, persecuted or (so far the worse today)called a legalist. When one stands on the literal interpretation of Gods word they will face much opposition. Today's cultural is getting even less tolerant of men and women who say that anyone is wrong when they base there convictions on verses that directly address the situation in which they oppose. For instance the catholic church threatened Martin Luther with excommunication (and death) if he did not recant. Martin Luther's reply was,



So when using those terms one must determine what the person opposing them is basing there opposition on. If it is scripture then one may be in error to God's holy word and must search the scripture to see if these things are true. But it seems that many men seem to perch themselves upon pride and arrogance and see no need to search scripture. They disagree simply because they dont "feel" its effective which goes back to the over feminization of today's modern/western church. Theology and doctrine are viewed as boring and expositional preaching (verse by verse) is to "inside the box". Or even worse the gospel message itself is "always the same" the law of God, the holiness of God and the cross of Christ received by repentance and faith. Many today feel they need to liven it up or change it as to not sound the same. Pride nipps at the heals of those who think they can do better then God. Consequently they remove essential elements of the message and lead men to a wrong understanding of God and biblical salvation and therefor disqualify themselves (and there converts) from the faith (Galatians 1:6 would apply but I am doubtful if they ever knew the true gospel).

May God help us to remain humble in our love toward one another. But may God also give us strong convictions to stand for Gods truth. It was Martin Luther who said unity when possible but truth at all cost. May we raise the truth of Gods word and the purity of the church to its proper place and commit to studying Gods word and applying it to our life. May we as men in the church train our children to do as Paul warned Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16 to

"take heed to yourself and to the doctrine."


And keep the fifth sola in view...

Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")

Theological Rap Music.

Those words which so easily can be typed were once difficult to imagine for myself. There was a time that form of music dominated my life as a young unsaved man. The words and the messages behind the lyrics had me convinced that women were second class citizens, fathers and mothers were needless, money was the ruler of the world and much more. I would not say I was a gangster or a thug or anything like that but I had a sinful attraction to foul language and perverse lyrics. After my conversion nearly 4 years ago God removed many things from my life that had been offending him like improper shows on tv, my offensive choice of words, the desire to be wealthy, and of specific importance my love for rap music. Gods mercy was made evident when he replaced an unlearned man who did not like to study or read and gave me a desire for His word and showed me the importance of theology and biblical discernment.

Colossians 1:16 - “All things were created through Christ and for Christ”.
Even Hip Hop???

Part way through my conversion some close friends at the time were listening to some Christian rap music that was a bit more then your family friendly radio station hip hop songs that, like secular hip hop/rap, just repeat an idea of phrase with out diving into the truth of scripture. The Bible may be a part of the songs but not the main focus of the music. So I had my doubts in place and after hearing what the radio played I was sure that form was sunk. But then a friend of mine played a CD for me that was a breath of fresh air in with theological accuracy. Although I was not ready to rekindle my love for the music form I had been surprised. Since that time God has given me a love for the art of putting theology to rap beats. I have been more and more amazed at the theological implications of the music and just amazed that God can rescue a genre of music and use it for His glory. Dont believe me? Dont take my word for it.....















Shai Linne's song on Charles Spurgeon

Spurgeon - Shai Linne


Albert Mohler Show (Russell Moore) talks about the subject here.

Although my favorites tend to be old time hymns I still appreciate the way young men have in fact honored God with there music and seem to dive into scripture to get there material. Which brings me back to Colossians 1:16 - “All things were created through Christ and for Christ”. Even hip hop when done to His glory.