Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing?

Each day that we find out what exactly a person believes and it is contrary to Scripture is a very sad day indeed.  It becomes even harder when it is someone we have admired and felt stood for the truth.  It becomes even harder when you have researched that person and they never really believed what you thought they believed or stood for!  We see a trend in this past year of many known pastors and publications going downhill and buying into the contemplative mysticism.  This isn’t just minor people, pastors and publications that have bought into this dangerous doctrine but well-known people, pastors, and publications.  Today, we are discussing John Piper!  We have watched him slide slowly but surely into the abyss of being counted as teaching false doctrine.  May the Lord help each one of us to stand firm on the Word of God.  Count the cost because one day…maybe even soon YOU might be the one that has to take a stand.  Will you do it or will you be too afraid?

Piper – The Slope to Heresy?!

November 5, 2009 by The Desert Pastor

Galatians 1:6-9, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon 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. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

It is a tragedy when those who claim the name of Christ are being duped by the myriads of false teachers who have no desire for truth. An even greater tragedy occurs when false professors and/or their false teachings begin to be endorsed by well-respected ministers of the gospel. However, the greatest tragedy is when well-respected ministers of the gospel not only endorse false teaching and heresy but then allow it to be preached as truth in the midst of those sheep whom they have been supposedly called upon to protect. The man in question is none other than John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota.

Finish reading here.

Persecution and Suffering…For What?!? (Part 2)

The next things are, “…lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers…”  These things are prevalent in our society, and not just ours but also other societies.   Even in churches it seems money rules the day.  The health, wealth, prosperity gospel has set the church up to be greedy.  Pastors hate the truth and would rather be wealthy than to preach the Word of God.  This is a blight on the church as well as those in leadership positions.  It isn’t just the church that has this problem but if you look at our society, people elect those to leadership in hopes of monetery gain.  Look at how Clinton was able to become president.  He addressed the economic situation and there were loads of people that thought Clinton would be the one to set our economic situation right!

Please notice that boasters, proud and blasphemers all go together.  The person that boasts has pride in her heart and also the person that blasphemes the Lord also has pride in her heart.  The boaster thinks she has gotten to where she is on her own merits so therefore she can boast about what she has done, never realizing (or purposefully seeking to forget) that God is the one Who gave her the very life she has.  Since all things come from God, the very breath we take does not belong to us, it belongs to God.  Any ability we have comes from God as does the money, the material possessions, positions of authority, etc.  So where are we allowed any pride?  We’re not!

Disobedient to parents, unthankful and wicked are part and parcel because if we allow our children to be disobedient to us then the lack of thankfulness becomes evident as does the wicked behaviour.  This wicked behaviour grows worse as the child gets older.  Things we laugh about when the child is a toddler such as talking back, being very independent, speaking with the wrong tone of voice, ordering the adults around, as well as many other things show forth their depraved nature.  Our children start off as little heathen that have to be taught about the things of the Lord.  We have to share the gospel with them and disciple them in every area of life.  Our little girls need to be taught how to be godly young ladies while our little boys need to be taught how to be godly young men.  This means consistency in discipline, godly examples on the parents’ part, continued daily discipleship, training in the things of the Lord, overall showing our children love the way the Lord shows us love.   We see from Dr. Spocks teaching of how to raise children has brought forth adults that know nothing of discipline!  This is part of the reason why our society has such wicked people.  They were allowed to grow up being disobedient to their parents.  They lack the thankfulness that should be an integral part of our lives as adults.

Which of these things are in our hearts?  What needs to be changed in our lives?  May we all be willing to seek forgiveness for every area of sin within our hearts and lives.

To be continued…

Persecution and Suffering…For What?!? (Part 1)

In my last post, I shared about President Obama and the possibilities that lie ahead of us.  There is a very real possibility of persecution and suffering for Christians in the near future.

“For what?!?” you are probably wondering, while confusion races through your mind.  After all, isn’t the new president the answer to all of our problems?  Even the media is talking about him being the saviour of America.  His inauguration speech was upbeat and he’s going to be the one to bring about change to America!  The question is, will it be good change or will it be bad change?  I guess we will have to see what happens next.

1 Timothy 3:1-5 says, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!”

We are seeing these things happening even today.  Let’s take these things one by one and ask ourselves how WE stack up with the description of those people that are in the last days.  After that we will discuss what the Bible says about persecution and suffering.

It starts off saying, “…men will be lovers of themselves…”  This is quite explanatory in that people will become very selfish and love themselves more than anyone else.  According to the world’s standards, we have all come to the point where our humility is at the very peak.  No one loves themselves enough anymore and it’s time for us to learn how to love ourselves before we can love anyone else.  Even more interesting is that we are at such a point in our society that we must forgive ourselves before we can forgive anyone else.  In fact, in some circles we are in desperate need to forgive God before we can move on and begin to love everyone around us.  This is worldly philosophy and is of the devil himself.  Nowhere in Scripture does it say we must love ourselves, forgive ourselves, or even forgive God before we can move on with life and learn to love other people.  It is a fact that we automatically love ourselves.  This, of course, probably comes as a shock to some.

“How can you say such a thing that we automatically love ourselves?  What about those poor people who commit suicide?  Or those people who never bathe themselves?   What about people who bully others?  Or even those who are on drugs?  I could understand you talking about all those people who dress nicely, buy things for themselves, live a great life, etc., etc., etc. but I don’t understand why you are picking on these deprived people who despise themselves.  If they loved themselves they would take care of themselves but these people don’t take care of themselves and I KNOW they have poor self-esteem!”

I will restate again,  ALL people love themselves more than anyone else.  No one NEEDS self-esteem as it is already an automatic part of us, according to the Word of God!

Think about it…the person that commits suicide is VERY selfish in that he/she leaves someone behind who is devastated over the suicide, even if it’s only an acquaintance.  That is the ultimate in selfishness.  The person who refuses to bathe is selfish in that the odour permeates and affects those around him/her!   Bullying is one way of thinking more highly of oneself and looking down on the other person.  They are satsifying the flesh through bullying — that also is selfishness.  Taking drugs is another way of showing forth love of self.  The flesh is being satisfied through the drugs so no one else matters.

Yes, our nation has become a nation of self-lovers, but even more than that, if you look at the other countries of the world you will see the same issues!  In the end, due to our depraved nature, we can say that mankind are lovers of themselves.

To be continued…