A Letter to the Global Church from the Protestant Church of Smyrna

A sobering article from Dan Wooding of Assist News Service. What have any of us suffered in the name of Christ lately?

Evangelism 101

Here is a repost of Todd Friel's response to Rob Bell's "Bullhorn Guy" video. Pay careful attention to them and notice the sharp contrast in effectiveness between the "seeker" method of "evangelism" and evangelism as Jesus did it.

Video 1
Video 2

Also, a wonderful video by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron which exposes contemporary evangelism for what it is...an emasculated false gospel.

A Quick Primer on the KJV Only Debate

Like many people in the United States, I am blessed to own many bibles. This includes the AV, a later KJV, a NKJV, the NIV, the NASB, the NLB, and even *cough* the "message", which I never use.

So, it is obvious that I'm not of the "KJV Only" persuasion.

Anyway, today I was listening to a Christian Radio program and the topic of bible versions was being discussed. The announcer was obviously arguing from a "KJV Only" point of view, which I can deal with. However, what I thought missed the mark was that this person seemed to want to lump the NIV in with the TNIV, "The Message" and other things. He painted with a rather broad brush and that is something I have a real problem with. There was a reference to the NIV "leaving verses out" without any reference to the fact that the NIV and KJV come from different manuscript families...and that there is some debate as to whether the verses in question even belong. The implication is that the translators were guilty of omission (intentional?) and that they are guilty of taking away from God's Word vis a vis the warning in the Book of Revelation, which includes a curse. The reality is the issue isn't as settled as the argument would appear to make it.

Do you go with the largest family of manuscripts or the ones that are closest in time to the originals (which we do not have).

Regarding this issue, Pulpit Magazine has provided a few (actually four) articles which are worthy of consideration. They can be found here, here, here and here.

Bon Apetite!

So You Want An Abundant Life?

Ken Silva at Apprising Ministries has a great article here.

A Look At a Suburb of Hades

"Ann-in-Grace" has sent this link to Hackberry House blog. Thank you, Ann, for sending this.

The Lateness of the Hour

Watch this and consider how you would respond in a similar situation. With hate crimes legislation and other current anti-Christian trends in the U.S., I'm convinced that what we see in this video is a real possibility within the next ten years or even less.

Certainly, this shows how the Adversary is allowed to separate the wheat from the tares.

In light of a statement that someone made once that "If it doesn't preach to the persecuted church, it doesn't preach" I'd ask my seeker-sensitive and "Purpose Driven" brethren how their non-Biblical methodologies would fit in this scenario. Or is it possible that these groups aren't in danger of this due to their de-emphasis of God's Word and friendship with the world? But that is whole topic in itself.

For the rest of us, my prayer is that God will grant us grace for such a time as this, should it come.

Ok, Let's Make the Gospel Relevant

Thomas Vincent, a Puritan, is a great model.

Does God Really Have a Wonderful Plan For Your Life?

Take a look:

Richard Baxter's Practical Works

I love the works of the Puritans. One of the first books I read by a Puritan, without even knowing it was by a puritan was "Today's Gospel -- Authentic or Synthetic" by Walter Chantry, back in 1983 while I was at Grace Church. I remember opening it while I was still in bed and not getting up until I finished reading it.

And that was back when I just thought I was a Christian.

In today's world, the church has so psychologized the Gospel and the Christian Life that it is a faith that is foreign to the Scriptures. Everything, and I mean everything is oriented around man and his "felt needs". The truth has become so diluted as to be comparable to giving an aspirin to a man dying of severe arsenic poisoning.

But man needs the real antidote.

So I recommend the following read which can be viewed from "Christian Classics Etherial Library" Here is a book by Richard Baxter ("The Christian Directory") which knows nothing but the scriptures. No pop psychology, just Biblical thinking.

You may need to log in to read it or download it, but registration is free.

The Nature of Faith in the Gospel of John

What is saving faith? What does it look like? "Faces Like Flint" has an entry worthy of reading.

Quit Inviting People to Church

Ray Baumann has written an excellent article on urgency in evangelism. How many times have you heard a pastor talk about "becoming someone's friend", perhaps even over years, before sharing the gospel with them? Yet, Ray's article includes the following and takes the words right out of my mouth:

"My approach of building relationships as a form of evangelism was resting on the fact that tomorrow is guaranteed. I cannot guarantee tomorrow. Tomorrow could be the end of my life, their life, or the world. Only God knows what tomorrow holds. Thinking that tomorrow is guaranteed is like playing God. That is not my place.

Having a sense of urgency with the good news has left the church because of its lackadaisical approach, believing that tomorrow is guaranteed. Church goers have been convinced that evangelism means inviting people to church. I would say quit inviting people to church and share the good news with passion, one on one. Churches are trying every shortcut possible when it comes to evangelism and are attempting to mass produce converts. Churches offer event after event and plead with the congregation to bring their neighbors for the chance that they may hear the gospel."

Read the rest of the article here.

Does Your Church Teach Only Parts of TheTruth?

There is not one word I can add to this...

A Tale of Two Faiths

It is the best of times, it is the worst of times. It is a time for Christ-centered faith and a time of man-centered faith.

Here are two links, which tell stories that are miles apart. One which views God as a means and the other which seeks to serve and honor the Lord Jesus Christ regardless of the consequences.

Mark Cahill on Rick Warren, Joel Osteen & Emergent Church Author Don Miller

Watch this and be warned. Period.

The Myth of the Modern Gospel

If you haven't seen this clip, I highly recommend it to you. And pass the link on to your pastor. If you really want true converts in your local church, you must give them the gospel, not the contemporary, synthetic counterfeit.

Does The Church Really Know What Revival Is?

Here's a great video that stands in stark contrast to the goofball antics of contemporary "evangelicalism".