Category: True Christianity

Are You Born Again?

8/21/2016

J.C. Ryle

Are You Born Again?
by J. C. Ryle
(1816-1900)
Are you born again? This is one of life's most important questions. Jesus Christ said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
It is not enough to reply, "I belong to the church; I suppose I'm a Christian." Thousands of nominal Christians show none of the signs of being born again which the Scriptures have given us—many listed in the First Epistle of John.
No Habitual Sinning
First of all, John wrote: "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (I John 3:9). "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not" (5:18).
A person who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. He no longer sins with his heart and will and whole inclination. There was probably a time when he did not think about whether his actions were sinful or not, and he did not always feel grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they were friends. But the true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it. Sin no longer pleases him, nor is it even a matter of indifference to him; it has become a horrible thing which he hates. However, he cannot eliminate its presence within him.
If he said that he had no sin, he would be lying (I John 1:8). But he can say that he hates sin and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appealing in both his words and his actions. He knows that "in many things we offend all" (James 3:2). But he can truly say, in the sight of God, that these things cause him grief and sorrow and that his whole nature does not consent to them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?
Believing in Christ
Second, John wrote: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (I John 5:1).
A man who is born again, or regenerated, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour who can pardon his soul, that He is the divine person appointed by God the Father for this very purpose, and beside Him there is no Saviour at all. In himself he sees nothing but unworthiness. But he has full confidence in Christ, and trusting in Him, he believes that his sins are all forgiven. He believes that, because he has accepted Christ's finished work and death on the cross, he is considered righteous in God's sight, and he may look forward to death and judgment without alarm.
He may have fears and doubts. He may sometimes tell you that he feels as if he had no faith at all. But ask him if he is willing to trust in anything instead of Christ, and see what he will say. Ask him if he will rest his hope of eternal life on his own goodness, his own works, his prayers, his minister, or his church, and listen to his reply. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?
Practicing Righteousness
Third, John wrote: "Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him" (I John 2:29).
The man who is born again, or regenerated, is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God's will, to do the things that please God and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example as well as his Saviour and to prove himself to be Christ's friend by doing whatever He commands. He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself that is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.
Though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether or not he is a Christian at all, he will be able to say with John Newton, "I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am." What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?
Loving Other Christians
Fourth, John wrote: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (I John 3:14).
A man who is born again has a special love for all true disciples of Christ. Like his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love, but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Saviour, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers. He is never so much at home as when he is in their company.
He feels they are all members of the same family. They are his fellow soldiers, fighting against the same enemy. They are his fellow travelers, journeying along the same road. He understands them, and they understand him. They may be very different from himself in many ways—in rank, in station and in wealth. But that does not matter. They are his Father's sons and daughters and he cannot help loving them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?
Overcoming the World
Fifth, John wrote: "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world" (I John 5:4).
A man who is born again does not use the world's opinion as his standard of right and wrong. He does not mind going against the world's ways, ideas and customs. What men think or say no longer concerns him. He overcomes the love of the world. He finds no pleasure in things which seem to bring happiness to most people. To him they seem foolish and unworthy of an immortal being.
He loves God's praise more than man's praise. He fears offending God more than offending man. It is unimportant to him whether he is blamed or praised; his first aim is to please God. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?
Keeping Oneself Pure
Sixth, John wrote: "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself' (I John 5:18).
A man who is born again is careful of his own soul. He tries not only to avoid sin but also to avoid everything which may lead to it. He is careful about the company he keeps. He knows that evil communications corrupt the heart and that evil is more catching than good, just as disease is more infectious than health. He is careful about the use of his time; his chief desire is to spend it profitable.
He desires to live like a soldier in an enemy country—to wear his armor continually and to be prepared for temptation. He is diligent to be watchful, humble, prayerful man. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?
The Test

These are the six great marks of a born again Christian.
There is a vast difference in the depth and distinctness of these marks in different people. In some they are faint and hardly noticeable. In others they are bold, plain and unmistakable, so anyone may read them. Some of these marks are more visible than others in each individual. Seldom are all equally evident in any one person.
But still, after every allowance, here we find boldly painted six marks of being born of God.
How should we react to these things? We can logically come to only one conclusion—only those who are born again have these six characteristics, and those who do not have these marks are not born again. This seems to be the conclusion to which the apostle intended us to come. Do you have these characteristics? Are you born again?

0 Comments

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats?

7/22/2016

0 Comments

Archibald Brown

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats?

Written by Archibald Brown (1844-1922)

An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them.

From speaking out as the Puritans did, the church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.

My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church. If it is a Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). That is clear enough. So it would have been if He had added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel." No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to him.

Then again, "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers .., for the work of the ministry" (Eph. 4:11-12). Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr roll.

Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all his apostles. What was the attitude of the church to the world? Ye are the salt" (Matt. 5:13), not the sugar candy---something the world will spit out not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance, "Let the dead bury their dead" (Matt. 8:22) He was in awful earnestness.

Had Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into his mission, he would have been more popular when they went back, because of the searching nature of His teaching. I do not hear him say, "Run after these people Peter and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow, something short and attractive with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it. Be quick Peter, we must get the people somehow." Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them.

In vain will the Epistles be searched to find any trace of this gospel of amusement! Their message is, "Come out, keep out, keep clean out!" Anything approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon.

After Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the church had a prayer meeting but they did not pray, "Lord grant unto thy servants that by a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these people how happy we are." If they ceased not from preaching Christ, they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution, they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). That is the only difference! Lord, clear the church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to apostolic methods.

Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired. It works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because the church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy laden who found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment has been God's link in the chain of the conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts. The need of the hour for today's ministry is believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.

Archibald Geikie Brown (18 July 1844 – 2 April 1922) was a Calvinistic Baptist minister; a student, friend, and associate of Charles Spurgeon; and from 1908 to 1911, pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, the church earlier pastored by Spurgeon.

0 Comments

Can A Christian Reject God And Still Be A Christian?

9/7/2015

1 Comment

Can A Christian Reject God and Still Be A Christian?
There are those who really believe they can!

Excellent sermon last Sunday, as pastor spoke on church growth. The basics of the sermon were that there are two types of church growth, numerical and spiritual, and one does not necessarily guarantee the other. In fact, if a church experiences numerical growth but not spiritual growth, then what results is a church full of “tares,” or false Christians. [see Matthew 13:24-30 for a fuller explanation of tares or weeds]. As pastor pointed out in today's sermon, one of the marks of a true Christian as opposed to a “tare” or false Christian, is that the true Christian stands steadfast in purity of doctrine and purity of behavior – something the false Christian cannot do, or at least can only mimic for a relatively short period of time.

Conversations I have had this past week, many with “professing Christians,” have caused this sermon to stand out more prominently than many of pastor's sermons do, and has caused me to ask myself some important questions – in fact, three important questions. They are:
1. Can a person reject God and still be a Christian?
2. Can a person disregard God and still be a Christian?
3. Can a person live a life of willful and habitual disobedience to God and still be a Christian?

Can A Person Reject God and Still Be A Christian?
The key word here is “reject.” What exactly is meant by “reject”?

The term reject is defined as, 1. a verb, “to dismiss as inadequate, inappropriate, or not to one's taste.” 2. a noun, “a person or thing dismissed as failing to meet standards or satisfy tastes.” So can a person dismiss God as inadequate or inappropriate or not to one's taste” and still be a Christian; or, perhaps identifying God as “failing to meet standards or satisfy tastes”? I believe that for some professing Christians, the answer is yes, and I would point to those conversations I have had this past week as examples of this.

In a conversation I had with a professing Christian, I was told by this person that they felt their ability to separate their faith life from their public life was an admirable attribute. They felt that not only did God not belong in the workplace and even more so through them, but that mankind and man's law were actually higher than and more authoritative than God and God's law. Is this person rejecting God? According to the above definition, yes. They have decided that God law did not meet the standard but that man's law did. They have decided that God does not satisfy the tastes of others in the workplace or public life, and apparently not even their own taste when in the workplace or in public. And yet, they still insist that they are a Christian.

Jesus, however, had something else to say about those who insisted they were truly God's children, while placing man above God when it came to which had more authority. He said in Mark 7:6-8, “And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

Jesus condemned those who did this, and it is highly doubtful that He would consider as His true followers, those who reject God. I think Charles Spurgeon explained it well when he said,

“To a man who lives unto God, nothing is secular, everything is sacred. He puts on his workday garment and it is a vestment to him. He sits down to his meal and it is a sacrament. He goes forth to his labor, and therein exercises the office of the priesthood. His breath is incense and his life a sacrifice.

He sleeps on the bosom of God, and lives and moves in the divine presence. To draw a hard and fast line and say, “This is sacred and this is secular,” is to my mind, diametrically opposed to the teaching of Christ and the spirit of the gospel.

The Lord hath cleansed your houses, he has cleansed your bed chambers, your tables…He has made the common pots and pans of your kitchens to be as the bowls before the altar— if you know what you are and live according to your high calling. You housemaids, you cooks, you nurses, you ploughmen, you housewives, you traders, you sailors, your labor is holy if you serve the Lord Christ in it, by living unto Him as you ought to love. The sacred has absorbed the secular.”

Can a person disregard God and still be a Christian?
In another conversation, with a different “professing Christian,” I was told that those who condemn homosexual relationships will have to answer to God for their hate and bigotry, while the loving couples who are involved in committed homosexual relationships are virtually guaranteed entrance into heaven.

I have to admit that I was somewhat shocked that these words would come out of the mouth of a person who professed to be a follower of Jesus Christ, especially in light of God's own words concerning His moral law. God repeatedly condemns homosexuality, whether male homosexuality or female homosexuality, as an abominable sin. Repeatedly.

“You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)

“If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination;” (Leviticus 20:13a)

“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” (Romans 1:26-28)

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
[with regard to who will not enter heaven] “the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine,” (1 Timothy 1:10)

And God is equally clear regarding the definition of marriage – it involves one man and one woman.

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Mark 10:6-9)
and
But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. (1 Corinthians 7:2)

Now, while I do understand that the United States Supreme Court has ruled that homosexuals have the right to get married, what the United States Supreme Court, and a great many people in the United States do not understand (and this includes some professing “Christians”), and have an even greater difficulty grasping, is that the United States Supreme Court does not have the power or the authority to over rule God. They are not higher than God, they are not greater than God, and it is the height of arrogance for anyone to believe that they are. They (the Supreme Court and others who look to them as the absolute ultimate law) should also not be surprised when God's people refuse to obey them, or any law or rule or rule maker or enforcer, when they are acting and ruling contrary to God. Acts 5:27-31 provides the true Christian with a pure and reasonable course of action when faced with a situation contrary to God,

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. (emphasis mine)

So, again, the question is asked, can a person disregard God and still be a Christian, especially when one disregards the very word of God? Again we turn to the definition of the word to discover its meaning. Disregard is defined as 1. a verb, pay no attention to, ignore, pay no attention/heed to, to disobey; and 2. a noun, disregard; the action or state of disregarding or ignoring something. Indifference, nonobservance, inattention, disobedience. Given the definition of the word disregard, and looking at 1 John 3:4, which says, “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” [Note: The Greek word used here to translate “lawlessness' (anomia) is also used to translate the words disobedience and sin], it is clear that one cannot live a life of disobedience to God and still be a Christian.

Can a person live a life of willful and habitual disobedience to God and still be a Christian?
The Bible is God's word to man. It does not merely “contain” the word of God, as some think, but it actually IS the word of God; and a Christian accepts the Bible for what it is, and lives according to what God teaches in the Bible.

A brief side note to those who like to cherry pick passages from the Bible to use as (what they think are) arguments against the Bible. To those I say, before you attempt to do this, read the Bible so you can understand the context of those passages, and take a class in Bibliology so you can understand the difference between civil law, ceremonial law, and moral law. After you do that, we'll talk. Now back to the subject at hand.

We know the Bible is the word of God, quite frankly, because it says so. There is, of course, much more to it, but the basic understanding is here. The Bible states multiple times, “Thus says the Lord,” and “God said,” and “God spoke.” Jesus said to His followers in Luke 24:44-45, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (emphasis mine); and He said in Mark 13:31, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” The words of Jesus are Scripture, they are God's words.

2 Timothy 3:15–17 says, “and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

All Scripture, each of the 39 books of the Old Testament and each of the 27 books of the New Testament, are God's word. Each word was “breathed out by God.” Each word is useful for equipping Christians for every good work. We need nothing more to live our lives for God. There are those who, for one reason or another, believe that Christians should, and should be required to leave their faith at home or in the church. They believe, for one reason or another, that when a conflict exists between the laws of man and law of God, that man must be obeyed and God must be ignored. They believe, for one reason or another, that God belongs only inside a church building, or inside a private residence, or inside the private thoughts of Christians; but must never be allowed into the public square. I say that

it is the height of arrogance for anyone to think they are higher than God, or that they have more authority than God, or that their laws or rules supersede those of God; and when those who believe these things profess with their mouths that they are Christians, then I say, “what does the word of God say about their viewpoints?”

Disobedience to God is sin. Continued, habitual disobedience to God is, well, I'll let God Himself say it. “Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that He [Jesus] appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him [Jesus] keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen Him or known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:4-10)

If you are going to life a life of continual habitual sin, then you are not a Christian. It doesn't matter what anyone here on earth tells you, because God is the highest authority. He is the Creator, and the creation does not dictate to the Creator. If you come to God, it must be on God's terms, otherwise you are deceived, and if you remain deceived and in your sin – enslaved to your sin, you will face God to give an account for your sin, and you will be judged. 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 gives a vivid description of the judgment that will befall those who continue to reject, ignore, disregard and disobey God. They will be “afflicted” when “the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31)

There is hope, however, for those who with a remorseful heart turn away from their sin and turn to God, through Jesus, to seek forgiveness for their sin, as He will be true to His word and will embrace you and forgive you your sins. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

All Scripture quoted is from the English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers unless otherwise noted.

1 Comment

Cultural Christianity vs. Convictional Christianity

5/25/2015

0 Comments

There was a very interesting article by Dr. Richard D. Land in the Christian Post recently, titled “Cultural Christianity vs. Convictional Christianity.” The article is a good article, and I would recommend taking a few minutes to read it. Essentially it addresses the issue of the decline of the Christian church in America today – which, in reality, it is not. I tend to think of it more as a “pruning” of our Christian Family Tree, a removal of those dead branches that are either bearing rotten fruit or no fruit at all. The article touches on this aspect as well when Dr. Land points out, “As cultural Christianity wanes the more faithful, traditional Christianity practiced by Evangelicals will stand out in ever more vivid contrast with mere civic or "country club" Christianity in America. The shameful gap between the "orthodoxy" (sound doctrine) and "orthopraxy" (sound practice) of too many Christians has been, and is, a disgrace to the Gospel.”

And he's right. There are those who applaud a good sermon, give hearty “amens” and sing hymns with a gusto many of cannot seem to muster. But when it comes to sharing the gospel, to reaching out and helping the poor, the orphans and the widows (Luke 14:12-14 among others) – and I do not mean dropping an offering in the collection plate, although that is certainly part of it, but actually going out personally, and doing what one can to help those in need while sharing the gospel with them. This is orthopraxy, this is “walking the walk” as some put it. There needs to be a a closing of the gap between orthodoxy and orthopraxy as God states in the Book of James, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:22-25)

As clear as this is in Scripture, I am amazed at how many people in the church steadfastly refuse to apply this passage in their lives. Are they simply apathetic? Do they not care one whit about those who are hell bent, just as every single Christian once was? Do they think that now, since they are bound for eternal glory in heaven that they can turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the rest of the perishing? I would sincerely hope not. As Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the great preacher of the 19th century once said, “Oh, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies; and if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay, and not madly to destroy themselves. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.[1]”

I cannot say that I do not see the Word in action amongst my Christian brothers and sisters, but I can say that there are many in the church who are content to simply plop themselves in a pew on Sunday mornings, hear a sermon and then leave the church and do nothing for the Lord all week long, until the following Sunday when they repeat their obligatory “Christian” duty for the week once again. I see this time and time again, and I believe that not only is the church poorer for it, but our nation is all the poorer as well.

I will also point out that I am not the only one noticing this. Because of the large number of those who hear but do not do (as James 1:22-25 above points out), the evangelism, the sharing of the gospel both in word and in deed – which is our only “job” as Christians – there are that many more who never hear the gospel, never see the gospel in action, even as they sit day after day right next to a professing Christian, and the result is they believe the church is dead or dying. Because the number of Christians who are willing to tell others about Jesus, who are willing to help those in need, who are willing to be active doers of the word, is small (when compared to the hearers only crowd), the doers are now considered to be “fundamentalist extremists,” bigots, narrow minded and so on; and because of this sin grows and becomes more pronounced in America. It is more readily accepted as the norm as opposed to what it truly is – an abomination of God. And again, our country is poorer as a result.

In his article, Dr. Land notes that even when Christian's are engaged in both the hearing of the word as well as the doing of the word, our nation benefits from this, and that even an avowed atheistic country such as communist China has recognized this. He quotes a recent statement from communist China's Academy of Social Sciences which said,

We were asked to look into what accounted for the preeminence of the West all over the world. At first we thought it was because you had more powerful guns then we had. Then we thought it was because you had the best political system. Next we focused on your economic system. But in the past 20 years we have realized the heart of your culture is your religion, Christianity. That is why the West has been so powerful. The Christian moral foundation of social and cultural life was what made possible the emergence of capitalism and then the successful transition to Democratic politics. We don't have any doubt about this.

However, because of the great amount of “hearers only,” and the relatively small number of doers in the church today, what I will call the “Unbelieving Worldly Contingent” (UWC) in our country are attacking the Christian church in America as never before, and doing their best to not only delegitimatize true Biblical Christianity in America, but to also outlaw as much of it as they can. Although the UWC will readily accept, and even endorse to some degree, those churches and groups who profess to be Christians while eagerly embracing, approving and even promoting sin (i.e. ordaining openly homosexual clergy, embracing homosexuality as normal, allowing pagan practices such as goddess worship and wiccan rituals in the sanctuary, etc). In other words, the UWC will accept any Christian professing group or church that adheres to the beliefs of the UWC. Biblical Christianity, however, is outright condemned by them.

This should be a wake-up call to the church, and especially those within the church who, as I said, refuse to be doers of the word. We do not have the option of sitting idly by, content to be hearers only, especially if we are going to call ourselves Christian!

The word Christian, comes from the Greek word, Christianos, which means follower of Christ. Listening is not following. Listening, combined with patterning ones life after Christ, that is what following means. And, no, before you say it (and I know you want to), this is not just my opinion. This is what God tells us in His word. For example:

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5)

“You shall therefore love the Lord your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always.” (Deuteronomy 11:1)

“And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'” (1 Samuel 15:22)

“ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations” (Romans 1:5)

“And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.” (2 John 1:6)

“Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

Clearly, the obedience of true believers to God and His Word is a central theme in Scripture from beginning to end, and lest you think that Jesus did not teach this very thing, think again. Jesus said,

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46)

“Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28)

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:9-10)

“You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)

It doesn't get much clearer than that. How can those who refuse to obey, whether consciously or unconsciously, continue to call themselves Christians? I am not talking about those who want to obey, but find it difficult due to physical or mental difficulties, but those who are completely able, but still will not. Why doesn't the church speak out against this practice of refusing to obey God? If we are physically and/or mentally able to share the gospel and live out the gospel as we minister to a lost and perishing world, then we are purposely and willfully disobeying God! Now whether you call this disobedience, or laziness, or rebellion, or lawlessness, the fact of the matter is that this is sin, plain and simple. Nothing more and nothing less. And Scripture is very clear about this:

“Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:4-10)

Personally, I believe that as the true Biblical Christian church is persecuted in this country, those who profess to be Christian while they are not, will slowly leave the church as they will eventually no longer be able to maintain their Christian looking facade. Of them, Scripture says, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” (1 John 2:19)

In other words, one can easily call themselves a Christian, but if they are continually endorsing sin, encouraging sin, engaging in sin (including refusing to obey the Lord) all as a pattern of their life, as a pattern of who they are, then they are not Christians, as the Scripture points out. Why doesn't the church speak out against this practice of non-Christians calling themselves Christians? Is the church afraid of being labeled judgmental? I should think the church would care less what the world thinks about it, and more about those to whom Jesus will say, “depart from me, I never knew you.”

For those who insist upon calling themselves Christian, while at the same time refusing to obey the Lord by refusing to share the gospel in both word and deed when they are perfectly capable physically and/or mentally, but still refuse to obey and often go so far as to justify and rationalize their disobedience in their own mind, I can only give you my prayer that you will take the Lord Jesus seriously when He says,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

1. From Spurgeon's sermon titled, The Wailing of Risca, which may be read at: http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0349.htm

I would also encourage you to read “Why is obedience better than sacrifice?” on the Got Questions? website, at http://www.gotquestions.org/obedience-better-than-sacrifice.html

0 Comments

Interview with a Christian - Part Two

4/8/2015

0 Comments

Interview with a Christian – Part 2

Here we pick up where we left off yesterday with our reporter friend stating that people to live in whatever manner they choose, and complaining about the Indiana pizzeria denying service to same-sex couples. Here is my answer:

Me: Actually, that isn't true. In fact there was not one single complaint, nor denial of service to anyone ever. However, because of their religious beliefs, because the owners are Christians, the WBND reporter who “broke” the story, actually made the entire thing up. It was a total fabrication. In spite of that, however, the militant homosexual faction of malcontents in this country went ballistic and began threatening to kill the owners and burn the store to the ground. All because of a lie perpetuated by a reporter. A reporter, I might add, who has yet to apologize for her actions. Actions that could have easily gotten someone killed. Actions that forced a family to go into hiding in fear of their lives.

Reporter: Be that as it may, I still don't understand why Christians think the law shouldn't apply to them. “It contradicts our faith” they say, but what they are really saying is, “we are intolerant and we should be allowed to be intolerant.”

Me: I'm not sure how you might think Christians would feel the RFRA shouldn't apply to them. Of course they want it to apply to them! Are you saying Christians do not want equality for themselves? I fond it interesting that there are homosexuals out there who are specifically targeting Christians and Christian owned businesses and manipulating the RFRA in order to use it to discriminate against Christians. Are there bakeries and florists and printers, etcetera who willingly and cheerfully support same-sex marriages and who willingly and cheerfully participate in such? Of course there are. And if these homosexual activists were truly and sincerely interested in having baked goods, floral arraignments and wedding invitations for their ceremony, then they would avoid businesses that choose to not participate in their ceremony. Unless they want the drama created by purposely seeking out Christians and Christian businesses, knowing they will choose to not participate, and then going through the whole litigation process. If they were to choose the former, then their wedding is foremost in their mind and that is what they are working toward. If they choose the latter, however, then it is intolerance, bigotry and hatred that is spurring them on. So yes, Christians are interested in keeping the RFRA alive for their own protection. Unfortunately, the militant homosexual faction in our society is able to manipulate the RFRA and the government is more than willing to allow it to be manipulated, and all for the singular purpose of persecuting Christians.

Reporter: “Militant homosexual faction of our society”? Really? That sounds rather intolerant on your part, don't you think? I thought your God was all about love. Love your neighbor and so on. How can you claim to be a Christian and yet be so intolerant about a group of people who express their love in a manner different than your own? I would submit that it is actually you who are intolerant and narrow minded.

I will say, I respect people of faith, and I salute the extraordinary works of compassion and social justice that many of them do, and I will admit that sometimes we in the news media tend to focus on the shortcomings of religious institutions rather than on their positive contributions. And I fully support the right of religious people to believe what they want and say what they wish, but, only in their pews, in their homes and in their hearts. Those are the only places where those views are appropriate. If you bring them outside and into the public arena, then I have a responsibility to put you back in your place, because if I don't, if you are allowed to single out one group of supposed sinners, then who is to say you will stop with that group? No, you must be stopped and put Christianity back where it belongs, out of the public arena.

Me: It sounds to me like you are the one being intolerant here, being oh so ready and willing to restrict the free exercise of my religious beliefs, beliefs, I might add, that you have shown yourself to be completely ignorant of. You are, and have been, accusing Christians of actions that are not conducive to Christianity. Actions that I have agreed are not Christian – actions that the Bible says are not Christian and cannot be engaged in by Christians. To use an example you have previously brought up – the Westboro Baptist Church, proves that just because someone presents themselves as a Christian doesn't mean they actually are. If you understood the Bible, then you would understand what I am saying here. The Bible very clearly points out what is and what isn't a sin, and in fact very clearly says that we are all sinners and there is nothing we can do to change that fact. It is who we are, it is what we all are, and the Bible tells us that because of our sin we are all destined to an eternity in hell, apart from God. However, because Jesus allowed Himself to be crucified on the cross, dying as an atoning sacrifice for our sins – for all of our sins, because of this we have the opportunity to turn to Him in prayer, seek forgiveness for our sins and repent of our sins. This will ensure us an eternal life in heaven with God and not an eternal life in hell apart from God.

Reporter: You know, you tell a good story, but the fact is, if you people are left unchecked you would eventually institute a theocracy here in America, a theocracy no different than the one in Iran. We are not all intolerant totalitarian Cro-Magnon's like you, and the cold hard fact is that we have all, in many ways, been a victim of the Scriptures and theology that have been used to keep us as slaves. It's been ingrained in us, and now you are using it against the LBGT community. And to you and those like you I say just shut the [expletive] up! I am sick and tired of all this “Jesus talk” and I find it disgraceful! You people do not seem to understand that it is not for the public arena! Keep your religious beliefs to yourself, no one wants to hear it!

Me: What I have been trying to explain to you is that our faith teaches us to be concerned for the spiritual welfare of others. We are to tell others about Jesus and the love He has for all of us, and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. We do not want to enslave anyone, in fact, the reverse it true. We want to see those who are still enslaved to sin be set free. Free to love and worship God, their creator. Something they are unable to do while chained and enslaved to sin.

Reporter: Sheesh! You are starting to sound like Franklin Graham! “Oh the evil! Oh the sin!” You know, somebody ought to lock that guy up and give him a bag of cocaine and just let him blow his brains out. I mean, it's common knowledge that he is a cokehead of the worst kind.”

Me: I'm not sure where you get your information, and I am not sure your information is even accurate or remotely true. But I will say that Jesus died for your sins just as He died for the sins of all mankind. He can cleanse you of your sin and He can break the shackles that bind you and enslave you to sin. He is just waiting to hear from you. For you to come to Him with a repentant heart seeking forgiveness.

Reporter: He just might have a long, long wait.

Me: I hope and pray not.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Note: As I mentioned at the beginning of this “interview,” it is imaginary. At least in the sense that I have not sat down and been interviewed by anyone in the media. That does not change the fact, however, that the words “spoken” by the reporter are actual words spoken by actual news and media personalities. They have been lifted from several online sources where the actual words of these personalities were recorded, and they have been edited only to keep the flow of the conversation going. The intent of their words remains intact here. This is not to say that every media personality is anti-Christian, because clearly, they are not. But there are some, and some of them, many of them in fact, are nationally known. There is a war going on in this country, a war against Christians and Christianity.

SOURCES:

Religious Freedom vs. Individual Equality http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/opinion/charles-blow-religious-freedom-vs-individual-equality.html (accessed April 6, 2015)

Why does the government consider this grandmother public enemy No. 1? http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/02/19/why-does-government-consider-this-grandmother-public-enemy-no-1/ (accessed April 6, 2015)

24-34-601. Discrimination in places of public accommodation – definition. http://www.lpdirect.net/casb/crs/24-34-601.html (accessed April 6, 2015)

TV Reporter’s Cheap ‘Gotcha’ Story Incites Hate Mob Against Indiana Pizza Shop http://theothermccain.com/2015/04/01/tv-reporters-cheap-gotcha-story-incites-hate-mob-against-indiana-pizza-shop/ (accessed April 6, 2015)

Liberal Media Attacking Conservative Christians To Promote And Protect Vulgar, Anti-Christian Bigots http://www.mrc.org/sites/default/files/uploads/pdf/Watchdog/2012/MRC-WatchdogJune2012lr.pdf (accessed April 6, 2015)

Bill Maher: Christians have neurological disorder http://www.wnd.com/2005/02/28970/ (accessed April 6, 2015)

America Tolerates Anti-Christian Double Standard http://www.rense.com/general87/drt.htm (accessed April 6, 2015)

Your God and My Dignity-Religious Liberty, Bigotry and Gays http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/11/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-religious-liberty-bigotry-and-gays.html?partner=MYWAY&ei=5065&_r=0 (accessed April 6, 2015)

Time and Newsweek blatantly attack Christian doctrine http://creation.com/time-and-newsweek-blatantly-attack-christian-doctrine#virgin (accessed April 6, 2015)

Anti-Christian Bias in our Society http://www.godlessgeeks.com/LINKS/AntiXtian.htm (accessed April 6, 2015)

Does the American News Media Have an Anti-Christian Bias? http://dailysignal.com/2013/12/26/media-anti-christian-bias/ (accessed April 6, 2015)

Media Matters' Anti-Christian Agenda Exposed http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2012/April/Media-Matters-Anti-Christian-Agenda-Exposed/ (accessed April 6, 2015)

Fox News Martyrs Tim Tebow With Claims of Anti-Christian Media Bias http://archives.politicususa.com/2011/12/03/tim-tebow-fox-news.html?utm_medium=twitter (accessed April 6, 2015)

The Top 50 Liberal Media Bias Examples
http://www.westernjournalism.com/top-50-examples-liberal-media-bias/ (accessed April 6, 2015)

0 Comments

What is a Christian?

4/6/2015

0 Comments

What is a Christian?

Recently, Presbyterian (USA) minister John Shuck proclaimed, “I'm a Presbyterian minister who doesn't believe in God. … Belief-less Christianity is thriving right now, even as other forms of the faith are falling away rapidly. Many liberal or progressive Christians have already let go or de-emphasized belief in heaven, that the Bible is literally true, that Jesus is supernatural, and that Christianity is the only way. Yet they still practice what they call Christianity.”

Can someone actually be a Christian and not believe in God, or Jesus, or heaven, or that the Bible is true? According to Mr. Shuck one needn't believe in anything to be a Christian. Mr. Shuck has also gone on record as saying he is offended when people tell him he is not a Christian. Defining the term as Mr. Shuck apparently does, one need only claim to be a Christian in order to be a Christian, with no other requirements being necessary. But is this true? Is Mr. Shuck and other “belief-less” Christians really and truly Christian? Many would say yes. In fact, there are many who say if one believes that Jesus existed then they are a Christian, and if someone dares to disagree with them, they are accused of bigotry, hatred and judgmentalism.

There are some who believe that since they grew up in a “Christian home,” or because they were born in America, they are Christians. Others believe if they “ask Jesus into [their] heart” they will be guaranteed salvation, while others believe they need only pray “the sinners” prayer to receive salvation. Interestingly, neither of these methods appear anywhere in the Bible. So just what is a Christian – a real, true Christian? Wayne Mack gives even more answers to that question in an article he wrote which appears on the Monergism website:

1. “Well, I certainly am a Christian; I’m doing the best I can. I try to live by the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule and the Sermon on the Mount.”

2. “Most assuredly, I’m a Christian. If I’m not, I don’t know who is. My mother and father are very religious. I have an uncle who is a minister.”

3. “Indeed I am. I have always gone to church and Sunday School. I have been baptized and confirmed. I joined the church when I was fourteen.”

4. “I know I’m a Christian because when the evangelist gave the invitation I went to the front and made a decision for Christ. My counselor showed me that if I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour, I would never be lost again. I didn’t want to be lost—hell is a terrible place—so I accepted Jesus, and I know now that no matter what happens, God will never reject me. I know it because I went to the altar and professed faith in Jesus Christ.”

5. I don't don’t know if I am, and I don’t see how anyone can really know for sure in this life. I guess I’ll just have to wait until I die to find out.”

6. “Sure, I’m a Christian. Isn’t everybody? Isn’t God the Father of all men? We may be going by different roads, but all of these roads lead to the same place. It doesn’t really matter what you believe, just so you are sincere—everyone who is sincere in his own religion is a Christian.”

As Mr. Mack points out elsewhere in his article, we all have the right to our opinion, but I have to wonder just where our relative opinions fit into the truth of Scripture. After all, if we believe the Bible to be true (which it is) then shouldn't we take it as authoritative? Should we not take for ourselves the answer God gives in the Bible? Yes. If we are going to call ourselves Christians, then we should hold to the descriptions and definitions presented in Scripture. So just how do we answer the assertions given by some if they do not align with the Bible? Mr. Mack answers the common assertions by comparing them to Scripture. He writes:

Common answer number one—Salvation is by good works. Scripture—“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9). From a positive point of view these verses state that salvation is by grace. The word “grace” means unmerited favor. Positively speaking, salvation is the free gift of God. From a negative point of view these verses teach that salvation is not of works lest any man should boast. Again the Scriptures state that it is “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5, 6). Similarly the Bible affirms that “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight” (Romans 3:20).

Common answer number two—Salvation is by heredity. Scripture—“But as many as received him (Jesus Christ), to them God gave the authority to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12, 13). This latter verse affirms that physical heritage, blood lineage, family connections or any other such factors, do not have anything to do with whether or not a person is a Christian. Another passage of Scripture which teaches the same truth is Philippians 3:4, 5.

Common answer number three—Salvation is by religious activity. Scripture—“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out demons? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me” (Matthew 7:22, 23). Other Scriptures which demonstrate that a Christian is not simply one who is active in religious matters are Mark 7:1-7; John 3:1-8; Luke 18: 9-14; Philippians 3:6, 7; Galatians 1:14, 15; Psalm 51:16, 17.

Common answer number four—Salvation is by profession of faith or by mere mechanical actions such as walking an aisle in an evangelistic crusade or praying a certain prayer. Scripture—“Now when he (Jesus) was in Jerusalem at the Passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man; for he knew what was in man” (John 2:23-25). These people made a profession of faith but our Lord would not trust himself unto them because he knew that their profession of faith was not real. Other Scripture passages which teach that merely professing faith or going through certain mechanical actions does not ensure that a person is a Christian are Acts 8: 12-24; John 3:36; James 2:14-26; II Corinthians 5:17.

Common answer number five—You just can’t know whether or not you are saved. Scripture—“For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Timothy 1: 12). “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5: 13). Other Scriptures which teach that a person can know that he is truly a Christian are John 5:24; Romans 8:1; II Peter 1:4-11.

Common answer number six—Every human being is a Christian and will most certainly go to heaven. Scripture—“He that believeth on him (Jesus Christ) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3: 18). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36). “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do” (John 8:44). Other Scriptures which teach that not everyone will go to heaven are John 8:3:44 Revelation 20:11-15; Ephesians 2:2, 3; Colossians 3:6.

Mr. Mack's article is not only timely given the number of wrong and sometimes downright heretical definitions of what it is a Christian, but is also extremely important for new Christians today in order for them to completely understand what it means to be and to call oneself a Christian. Before I close this article, I want to at least share four main aspects of being a Christian as listed in Mr. Mack's article. They are:

First of all the Bible declares that a Christian is a person who has been radically changed by the power of God.

Secondly the Bible declares that a Christian is a person who has become and is becoming increasingly aware of his own unworthiness in the sight of God.

Thirdly, the Christian is a person who believes that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh and the only Saviour and substitute of sinners.

Fourthly, the Bible teaches that the Christian is a person who has repented of his sins and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.

And Mr. Mack closes his article by writing:

What [does] the Bible [have] to say in answer to the question, “What is a Christian?” Turn from your own opinions and the opinions of others to the infallible Word of God “which is able to make you wise unto salvation which is by faith in Jesus Christ” (II Timothy 3:15). Ask God to impress upon you your own unworthiness and to reveal to you his Son Jesus Christ, who came into the world to save all sinners who would come to him. Call upon his name to save you now, for his promise is that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Ask him to forgive your sins, thank him for dying in the place of lost sinners, confess Jesus Christ before men as the Lord and Sovereign of your life and be assured that if you have sincerely done this or will do this, you may stand up before God and men and confess, “by the all availing and powerful blood of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit who has now worked in my life, I am a Christian.”

I strongly encourage everyone to read Wayne Mack's article in it's entirety. I cannot over emphasize just how important and relevant it is. You can read it by clicking here: http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/whatis.html

About Wayne Mack:
Wayne Mack is the pastor of Faith Reformed Baptist Church, 110 State Road, Media, Pennsylvania, 19063. He is also the author of The Role of Women in the Church, The Biblical Concept of Church Discipline, To God Be the Glory, and The Sabbath, all of which are published by Mack Publishing Company, Robin Lake Dr., Cherry Hill, N.J. 08003.

0 Comments

Are You Born Again?

Feeding Sheep or Amusing Goats?

Can A Christian Reject God And Still Be A Christian?

Cultural Christianity vs. Convictional Christianity

Interview with a Christian - Part Two

What is a Christian?

Archives

Categories