Spurgeon
"Even if I were utterly selfish and had no care for anything but my own happiness, I would choose, if God allowed, to be a soul-winner, for never did I know perfect, overflowing, unutterable happiness of the purest and most ennobling order till I first heard of one who had sought and found a Savior through my means." –Charles Spurgeon
Why Record?
So just to help explain why we do it I would like to give our five main reasons. But first I want to address the fact that I understand a bit of apprehension toward something like this. Honestly what took us over a year of prayer was how it came across. The last thing we want is for those of you who watch to think we do this for entertainment and self exaltation. Trust me we don't. When we get on a soap box to preach, we feel no less foolish if there is a camera on us. When a church has its sermon's recorded and posted online it has a similar purpose. We see the gospel proclamation in the streets to have similar goals as well. So here is a brief explanation on why we record. Our hope is to put your concerns to rest so that we can all focus on the content of the video. Although we had no objections from those we are witnessing to, we know those stigmas are out there among our brothers and sisters. We hope to serve you and give you rest on this issue. If you still feel a bit unsure about this issue then please email, call, set up a time to have a cup of coffee or whatever. So here are our five reasons on why we record.....
1) For he unsaved- Today the internet has been badly abused by the broadcasting of ungodly content. We want to use this tool for the proclamation of the gospel. As we have said before, we have had hundreds of people who have viewed our videos after they have been posted online. This is more people hearing the gospel then just those who where there during the original witness encounter. We are not pragmatist in anyway nor are we result oriented in any of our ministry. We are just seeking to be biblical in the content and praising God when He chooses to use it for any purpose He pleases. So first we see it as a way to reach more lost people. Some of which are our family and friends who will not step into a church but may watch a video with someone they know in it proclaiming the biblical gospel. And we rest in the seed of God's word being planted.
2) To edify the Church- We desire to see the church motivated and mobilized and to raise up more people to take to the public streets of there community with the gospel of Jesus Christ. With so many excuses we are seeing the swift destruction of America as we know it. A large part of that is the lack of public proclamation and one to one witnessing. We have went to the largest events in the state of Michigan with only a handful of guys only to find that (out of hundreds - if not thousand of churches in the state) that we are the only ones there. Churches are not going out. Sadly to say that those that do (and those that that get media attention) are not usually preaching the biblical gospel. It is either some crazy group preaching how "God hates......(you fill in the blank)" with no love at all or someone with genuine love but with a gospel lacking in clarity and accuracy. But even those who are out there doing it that way have only been spotted a couple times out of hundreds. Think about it, when was the last time someone stopped to ask you if you were saved? They are not out there. It would seem the church for the most part is comfortable with a lack of persecution so the stewardship of freedom to preach in the streets is entirely neglected by today's modern church. But there is a slow movement under the radar of American culture arising. We praise God for that and hope these videos can be instrumental in getting the beloved to witness to strangers and loved ones alike.
3)To Protect us- The public proclamation of God's word is coming under increasingly aggressive attacks. With a post modern culture, absolute truths are not welcomed. Objects can be thrown, altercations can erupt or the police can be called because someone was offended by what the Bible says. All these examples are very important to have on record if the situation calls for review. To protect the ministry and supporters of the ministry from false accusations.
4) Personal Class room- Common way to critique ones efforts. To offer advice to a brother or make available for class room settings.
5) God to be glorified- This is the final wrap up and the most important. We simply want God to be glorified in all we do. All we are doing is seeking to be obedient to God's command to go and preach the gospel to all creatures.
We hope this helps explain more on why we do what we do. And with that we wanted to include a video for your viewing. Here is a video of a witness encounter we did not to long ago (If you are viewing this on facebook you will have to go to my blog to get this video)
Tune in this weekend for my next blog on the biblical case for open air preaching and one to one witnessing. Watch this video for a preview of things to come. It is a recent project in the works to be complete by summer of this year.
A Greater Desire to Protect My Wife
What prompted this blog was a video I recently have seen going around on the internet. This video took my breath away but not in the way you would expect. It shook me to the core. I have posted the video below. This will not be a video on marriage. This will not be a video on how to love your wife more. This will not be a video on the gospel and how it relates to the relationship of husband and wife. In fact this will not be a video on marriage at all. First please watch the video and my comments will follow...
Benny Hinn???? Preaching that way???? I know, twilight zone!!! But here is why it scared me. It scared me because he is right. It scared me because it was biblical (for the most part). Preachers are proclaiming a false gospel. Men in the church are punting away the truth of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. Many mega churches are trying to not offend the crowd. Many leaders are trying to look like the world so as to make Jesus look "cool" (He is King and Lord).
But what scared me more then anything is that Benny Hinn is a false teacher and has been doing the very thing he is accusing others of. Benny Hinn is a heretic. Benny Hinn speaks lies in the name of my precious Lord. And Benny Hinn, like many other false teachers is transforming his demonic teaching into a more biblical one to come after unaware Christians and widows. When I saw this video I looked at my wife (almost in tears) and said, "what if I died a year or so ago when we were first coming to this understanding of solid teaching and comparing all things with scripture?" "You would hear this man say the very things I was saying to you at that time and you could be subjected to follow him----to Hell!"
God's word points this very thing out...
Matthew 7:15 ESV
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Key point is that they are in "sheep's clothing" so you will not have one sheep and one wolf but two sheep standing in front of you. But one will be a wolf "inwardly". Sometimes, like in the case of Benny Hinn, I think his sheep outfit was ruined in the wash and it is pretty obvious.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV
"And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light"
Husbands, this is where I want to move more into the personal accountability to the home. Your wife can be lead astray. This is not to say that your wife is less intelligent then you (God knows that is not the case at my home). But you are commanded to build her up in the knowledge of the Lord. To help place her on solid ground for the sake of her soul. Because you love her so you will wash her in the Word (Ephesians 5:25-27). As Spiritual head you cannot leave this to others to do. You will give an account. We find this in Acts 20:28-31...
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears."
In context this is in relation to the elders of the church of God. So we will stay exegetical here and keep that meaning intact. But what I do want to point out is that when the founder, Teacher/Pastor left the church (The Apostle Paul) it opened up false teachers to come in. It was not a "possible" result in his departure but a sure thing, "Savage wolves will come in".
So Husbands, are you relying on others to tend to your flock? Yes your local church will have a role to play in that if you are gone, but so will your teaching to your family. So finding the right church and explaining why you picked that church will aid your family in case of your departure. The hope is you picked your local church due to it's biblical accuracy. So yes, the local church plays a huge role in guarding against false teachers but to rely exclusively on that is very dangerous. Here is a verse that helps us see why...
2 Timothy 3:1-7
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth."
I want to point out some key words in the above text...
"Having a form of godliness"- Form refers to outward shape or appearance. Their outward external form of religion looks like Christianity but in reality is demonic. Impossible to detect without biblical discernment making it all the more dangerous.
"Worm their way into homes"- Those that are exposed to this teaching seem to be getting it more on the personal level. The door knocks, the TV turns on. Either way it is when they are not under the protection of more mature believers.
"Weak-Willed Women" - Literal meaning is gullible women. Which means they have little knowledge of the truth and are weighed down with emotional and spiritual guilt.
Husbands, this means false teachers are coming for your wife and children. You have an obligation to protect them! If someone broke into your house you have an equal obligation to protect them. If a demonic teacher wants to take them to hell then you have an obligation to protect them. You and I have been given such a wonderful role to love and protect our wives as well as our children. How are you doing? I am not saying that you as a husband are more mature, more able minded or less prone to follow false teaching. But you do have an obligation to teach your family. Right and wrong when it comes to life in general and right and wrong when it comes to God's word.
Anytime I see or hear of a woman who follows some prosperity gospel or false teaching, my heart breaks. But it also burns with frustration because I know that (when she is married) a husband was not submitting to God's word and teaching his family any biblical discernment. Maybe there was just to much ministry to do? Maybe work got in the way? Maybe life just happened? But men, he (the devil) prowls and when your gone he will come for the kill. Are you getting your family ready to stand? Are you expecting someone else to do it for you? Do you think that it's not that dangerous?
Your wrong. That is part of the lie. Please begin today. Just open up a book of the Bible and read a little bit each day to your beautiful precious family. Stop assuming your always going to be there. What change a day can bring. Be earnest, pray God will help you feel more convicted of this need. And God will give you the wisdom. But please do something!!!
Benny Hinn???? Preaching that way???? I know, twilight zone!!! But here is why it scared me. It scared me because he is right. It scared me because it was biblical (for the most part). Preachers are proclaiming a false gospel. Men in the church are punting away the truth of the exclusivity of Jesus Christ. Many mega churches are trying to not offend the crowd. Many leaders are trying to look like the world so as to make Jesus look "cool" (He is King and Lord).
But what scared me more then anything is that Benny Hinn is a false teacher and has been doing the very thing he is accusing others of. Benny Hinn is a heretic. Benny Hinn speaks lies in the name of my precious Lord. And Benny Hinn, like many other false teachers is transforming his demonic teaching into a more biblical one to come after unaware Christians and widows. When I saw this video I looked at my wife (almost in tears) and said, "what if I died a year or so ago when we were first coming to this understanding of solid teaching and comparing all things with scripture?" "You would hear this man say the very things I was saying to you at that time and you could be subjected to follow him----to Hell!"
God's word points this very thing out...
Matthew 7:15 ESV
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Key point is that they are in "sheep's clothing" so you will not have one sheep and one wolf but two sheep standing in front of you. But one will be a wolf "inwardly". Sometimes, like in the case of Benny Hinn, I think his sheep outfit was ruined in the wash and it is pretty obvious.
1 Peter 5:8 ESV
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
2 Corinthians 11:14 ESV
"And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light"
Husbands, this is where I want to move more into the personal accountability to the home. Your wife can be lead astray. This is not to say that your wife is less intelligent then you (God knows that is not the case at my home). But you are commanded to build her up in the knowledge of the Lord. To help place her on solid ground for the sake of her soul. Because you love her so you will wash her in the Word (Ephesians 5:25-27). As Spiritual head you cannot leave this to others to do. You will give an account. We find this in Acts 20:28-31...
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears."
In context this is in relation to the elders of the church of God. So we will stay exegetical here and keep that meaning intact. But what I do want to point out is that when the founder, Teacher/Pastor left the church (The Apostle Paul) it opened up false teachers to come in. It was not a "possible" result in his departure but a sure thing, "Savage wolves will come in".
So Husbands, are you relying on others to tend to your flock? Yes your local church will have a role to play in that if you are gone, but so will your teaching to your family. So finding the right church and explaining why you picked that church will aid your family in case of your departure. The hope is you picked your local church due to it's biblical accuracy. So yes, the local church plays a huge role in guarding against false teachers but to rely exclusively on that is very dangerous. Here is a verse that helps us see why...
2 Timothy 3:1-7
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth."
I want to point out some key words in the above text...
"Having a form of godliness"- Form refers to outward shape or appearance. Their outward external form of religion looks like Christianity but in reality is demonic. Impossible to detect without biblical discernment making it all the more dangerous.
"Worm their way into homes"- Those that are exposed to this teaching seem to be getting it more on the personal level. The door knocks, the TV turns on. Either way it is when they are not under the protection of more mature believers.
"Weak-Willed Women" - Literal meaning is gullible women. Which means they have little knowledge of the truth and are weighed down with emotional and spiritual guilt.
Husbands, this means false teachers are coming for your wife and children. You have an obligation to protect them! If someone broke into your house you have an equal obligation to protect them. If a demonic teacher wants to take them to hell then you have an obligation to protect them. You and I have been given such a wonderful role to love and protect our wives as well as our children. How are you doing? I am not saying that you as a husband are more mature, more able minded or less prone to follow false teaching. But you do have an obligation to teach your family. Right and wrong when it comes to life in general and right and wrong when it comes to God's word.
Anytime I see or hear of a woman who follows some prosperity gospel or false teaching, my heart breaks. But it also burns with frustration because I know that (when she is married) a husband was not submitting to God's word and teaching his family any biblical discernment. Maybe there was just to much ministry to do? Maybe work got in the way? Maybe life just happened? But men, he (the devil) prowls and when your gone he will come for the kill. Are you getting your family ready to stand? Are you expecting someone else to do it for you? Do you think that it's not that dangerous?
Your wrong. That is part of the lie. Please begin today. Just open up a book of the Bible and read a little bit each day to your beautiful precious family. Stop assuming your always going to be there. What change a day can bring. Be earnest, pray God will help you feel more convicted of this need. And God will give you the wisdom. But please do something!!!
Theological Rap Music?? (Part 2)
I just wanted to take a minute and introduce some of you to Christian Rap Music. I know, I know, cant be. Right? Well there is something going on in America among a younger generation and its not the issue of contextualization but that of theological accuracy. Specifically in reference to music and preaching. Time Magazine even did an article this past year saying that Calvinism is one of the top ten things changing the face of the nation. Which isn't to get into a debate about the proper understanding of that theology but just to bring attention to the fact that tens of thousand of young 20 and 30 somethings are looking for something more then the seeker sensitive, soft ball, random topic preaching that has taken the nation by storm in the 90's and still on the move. Willow Creek (one of the leading proponents of that movement) even did an announcement last year that the stronger, more mature Christians were leaving there church because of the lack of substance. Unfortunately they had a wrong method on how to fix that, but that is another story.
On the heals of the new movement toward stronger, more accurate preaching we find a strong desire for lyrical accuracy. So I want to touch on the depth of substance and theological accuracy in relation to this new surge in Christian Hip Hop Music. I have blogged about this subject before. An area I feel I could have served better is providing the lyrics of the song rather then just the video's. Now for sake of time I have picked three songs that I think would bless you. So First you will read a rap song about Charles H. Spurgeon (My favorite). Next a Song about being a Godly girl, woman, mom and wife (My wife and daughters favorite) and last but not least is a Q & A on Biblical Terms. So take a minute and just read the following songs....
Spurgeon
written by s. linne
Verse 1
Let me make this plain kids- God is the greatest
He never changes- His ways are blameless
For His own glory and at different stages
He raises up servants to make His name famous
I’ll highlight one particular servant for
The purpose of encouraging your worship to the Lord
Furthermore, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was born
On the outskirts of London- 1834
His dad and his grandpa were both in the ministry
His mother was praying for his soul since his infancy
Naturally intelligent, rapidly developing
But lacking Jesus’ fellowship, that would be irrelevant
The God of his mother unknown
Though Christ was up in his home, the faith just wasn’t his own
The Lord answered prayer when at the age of 10
Young Charles became convinced of the wages of sin
For the next five years, the Spirit brought conviction
Terrors and affliction, aware of his condition
One Sunday morning though- the stormiest snow
Kept Charles from going in the church he’d normally go
Randomly stepped into a church
Heard the words “Look to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth”
And though only heaven knows the name of the preacher
That’s the day that Spurgeon became a believer
Verse 2
The Lord is so merciful, always so purposeful
Those whom He draws find His call irreversible
Immediately after Spurgeon’s conversion
Obediently, he was earnest to serve Him
The Lord poured His Spirit on Spurgeon abundantly
Anyone could see that he spoke with profundity
Extraordinary giftedness seen
Proclaiming God’s mysteries at the age of fifteen
In a place called Waterbeach graced with the sort of speech
That even made the old folks say, “This boy can preach!”
In fact he was so crafted after the Master
A Baptist church snatched him and asked him to pastor
At the time, He was seventeen years old
On fire for the King who redeemed his soul
People flocked from everywhere- it was quite a scene
Called to a church in London at the age of nineteen
He was more than ready- to his Lord he was dedicated
Even though he was never formally educated
If you would have scratched him, he would bleed Bible
A rich prayer life was his means of survival
Amount that he read was truly mind-blowing
Steeped in the writings of dudes like John Owen
And by God’s grace He fed the sheep new manna
In London met his wife, her name was Susannah
Verse 3
Behold the grace of God- stand to the side
The Spirit exalting the Lamb who has died
It can’t be denied- this man we describe
Was simply a tool in the hand of his God
To observe this servant’s extremely instructive
One word about Spurgeon is he was productive
Preached Jesus- no speakers- loudly he’d shout it
Each week packed houses of crowds in the thousands
His sermons were published- sixty-two volumes
He worked almost like he just knew he would die soon
Made mad disciples, passed on his knowledge
Established a school to train pastors in college
Sold out to the Lord Jehovah, his portion
Also he built two homes for the orphans
A monthly magazine, plus he wasn’t too busy
to write books- about a hundred and fifty
God’s grace in Spurgeon was manifest
But remember, the best man is a man at best
Yes, he struggled with depression- consistently sick, kid
Both he and Susannah physically afflicted
He experienced as a servant of Jesus
The power of God made perfect in weakness
Later on comes complications
His stands for orthodoxy got him shunned by his denomination
But through all the hardship and all the controversy
He never stopped relying on the sovereign God of mercy
And when he had finished pressing towards the goal
He entered into heaven at the age of fifty-seven
His life is a case of God’s grace effectively
At work in sinners to leave a great legacy
The proof is many years later in your speakers
We’re praising Jesus for raising up the "prince of preachers"
The next song is, Work It Out (Biblical Womanhood.
Work It Out
written by s. linne
Chorus
You running hard for the King?
I know that’s right!
Is Jesus your everything?
I know that’s right!
Did He really make all things new?
No doubt!
By His grace, whatcha gonna do?
Work it out!
Verse 1
She’s not your typical girl
Sixteen years old and she’s dead to the world
Faith by her lifestyle demonstrated
because the gospel penetrated and now she’s regenerated
Her Master is greater than fashions and flavors
She patterns her behavior after the Savior
Back in the days you would have seen her standing in the mirror
Yeah, her skin was clear, but her vanity was clearer
Now she’s in the Scriptures and wants to be like
Hannah and Sarah rather than Christina Aguilera
Wordly girls imitate Missy Elliot
But she wants to be like Elisabeth Eliot
Not flexing her body, see she dresses with modesty
She’s not perfect- she confesses sin honestly
Christ crucified! That’s her permanent shout
And by the grace of the Lord, she’s working it out
Chorus
You running hard for the King?
I know that’s right!
Is Jesus your everything?
I know that’s right!
Did He really make all things new?
No doubt!
By His grace, whatcha gonna do?
Work it out!
Verse 2
She’s not your normal wife
She’s twenty-four and Christ is the Lord of her life
Her walk is evidence that she trusts in God
And it feels so good to be justified
And no, she doesn’t have a Master’s in Divinity
But what she does have is a passion for the Trinity
When she recalls her previous prodigal seasons
And how at times she could be the loudest of heathens
She praises God for making this former feminist
submit to her husband for theological reasons
Worldly wives watch Oprah to learn to be a lady
But she’s reading the writings of Carolyn Mahaney
And she would never disrespect her husband in public
And if she does it, she repents- I love it!
Christ crucified! That’s her permanent shout
And by the grace of the Lord, she’s working it out
Chorus
You running hard for the King?
I know that’s right!
Is Jesus your everything?
I know that’s right!
Did He really make all things new?
No doubt!
By His grace, whatcha gonna do?
Work it out!
Verse 3
She’s not your usual mother
{ahem} years old and she’s true to the lover
of her soul, she beholds the cross where He copped it
Once was agnostic, now she’s adopted
Her passion grows greater as she beholds him
Job title: homemaker/ theologian
Early in her walk, she would fight against His will then
The Lord used her marriage and the Bible to reveal sin
Now she fights to kill sin and her greatest joy is
serving her husband as she’s discipling her children
While worldly mothers stress shopping for the new style
She’s pouring into younger women Titus 2 style
Teaching others how to rightly see brothers and be mothers
And most of all better Jesus lovers
Christ crucified! That’s her permanent shout
And by the grace of the Lord, she’s working it out
Chorus
You running hard for the King?
I know that’s right!
Is Jesus your everything?
I know that’s right!
Did He really make all things new?
No doubt!
By His grace, whatcha gonna do?
Work it out! (4x)
Last song is one of my top favorite songs of all time. It is called
Atonement Q and A
Verse 1
Who is God? God is the universe’s Creator
And Sustainer plus the only Savior, there is no one greater
He triune, holy, omnipotent, omniscient, absolute
Loving, sovereign and righteous are a few of His attributes
How do we know this? Well, we know this from the Bible
Where God has revealed Himself- anything else is just an idol
What’s the Bible about? Man’s complete ruin in sin
And what God has done in Christ to bring us to Him again
What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God’s law
Plus our condition, which means from birth we all got flaws
What’s the result? The result is by nature we’re God’s enemies
And must pay the penalty unless God provides the remedy
What the remedy? The remedy is the cross of Christ
Where He suffered all the strikes for the lawless type
I’ve been rescued by the Lamb, I’m convinced that He’s risen
And blessed is the man whose sins are forgiven!
Chorus
Just fall back, and with the eyes of faith
Behold the beauty of surprising grace
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied
Just fall back- there’s an atonement now
The cross of Christ is holy ground
Because the Lamb has died, third day He had to rise
He’s magnified- God’s wrath is satisfied
Verse 2
Regeneration- the Holy Spirit’s true work in His love
To the elect, who receive new birth from above
Expiation- expiation means God’s removed my filthiness
The old testament type was the goat into the wilderness
Redemption- we’ve been freed from slavery to sin
And His very own blood is the price He paid, my friend
Propitiation- Propitiation means since the Lamb has died
His work is finished- God’s wrath is satisfied
Adoption- adoption means God is now my Father
I got the hottest Poppa and by the Spirit holler Abba
Reconciliation means there’s no more enmity
God is now a friend to me, we’re no longer enemies
Justification- God declares us righteous
Sanctification- we’re being made into His likeness
Glorification- that’s what happens at the finish
When God conforms believers perfectly to Christ’s image!
Chorus
Verse 3
God’s grace is magnificent, He slayed His innocent
Son- through faith and repentance we get the benefits
What is faith? Faith is a gift from God- when we receive this
We trust and treasure the person and finished work of Jesus
Repentance? Repentance is turning from your sin
And trusting Christ as the Spirit cleanses you within
What is grace? Oh, grace is unmerited favor
Our inheritance major ‘cause we cherish the Savior
Right, and if I may quote again, we were doomed with Satan
But believers get Jesus’ righteousness through imputation
Imputation? God takes Jesus’ righteousness amount
Through faith He credits it into the Christian’s account
Anything else? Well, I guess this overview must suffice
But none of this is possible apart from union with Christ
And finally, once you know the ways of the Lord than the
only thing that you can say is Soli Deo Gloria!
Chorus
Thought you might enjoy!
For further reading and listening we have a interview with Mark Dever, Sovereign Grace Blog Post, Worship 09' (Bob Kauflin) or visit Shai's Blog. My prayer for that genre of music is that God would redeem it and it appears He is and can make all things bring glory to His wonderful name. Even if your preference is not toward the genre may you see the work being done and pray that more would come to faith and repentance not by compromising the message but by conveying it to other people groups in this nation and others.
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."
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