November 15, 2006
Ok, one thing that is seriously bothering me is how ministers today refer to unbelievers as “seekers.” Don’t they know that the no one seeks God? Others resort to calling them things like “skeptics” or “curious” but none of these are found in the Bible either.
When I read my Bible along with the Puritans I find that back then they had no problem referring to the unsaved as “heathens,” “infidels,” “goats,” “pagans,” “Gentiles” and “reprobates.” Sadly, in this day of tolerance, the voice of the sheep must be sheared as not to offend politically correct sensibilities. What’s worse is that our shepherds accommodate to this nefarious zeitgeist and insist on using feel-good terms to designate “unchurched heretic and sally.”
I refuse to acquiesce to the spirit of age and its persecution of those who are denied the right to call unbelievers as they are. Once this is given up we sign the warrant for the wolves to come in and kill the sheep… because Christians are the most persecuted people on the planet.
November 13, 2006
From time to time I hear about churches that invite guest speakers to fill the pulpit of an absent pastor. I don’t think I need to elaborate on how I feel about this. Now I know what you’re thinking, “What’s wrong with that, Ninja? Where’s your biblical support.”
Um, the Bible. Hellooooo?
This was exactly the problem the Galatians had. The thought, “Hey, lets have those Judiazers come in and tell us what’s up. Paul aint here and we need someone cool to teach us. I hear those guys are on the up and up.” And you know what Paul had to say about that? ANATHEMA!
Guest speakers don’t know the church and the church doesn’t know the speaker. And that’s a hotbead for false teaching if you ask me. I mean where’s the pastoral authority? Hellooooo?
November 10, 2006
Ok, one thing that is seriously bothering me is how ministers today refer to unbelievers as “seekers.” Don’t they know that the no one sees God? Others resort to calling them things like “skeptics” or “curious” but none of these are found in the Bible either.
When I read my Bible along with the Puritans I find that back then they had no problem referring to the unsaved as “heathens,” “infidels,” “goats,” “pagans,” “Gentiles” and “reprobates.” Sadly, in this day of tolerance, the voice of the sheep must be sheared as not to offend politically correct sensibilities. What’s worse is that our shepherds accommodate to this nefarious zeitgeist and insist on using feel-good terms to designate “unchurched heretic and sally.”
I refuse to acquiesce to the spirit of age and its persecution of those who are denied the right to call unbelievers as they are. Once this is given up we sign the warrant for the wolves to come in and kill the sheep… because Christians are the most persecuted people on the planet.
November 7, 2006
Did you know that John Piper had a rapper in his church a few weeks ago? You can watch it here. Abomination. That’s all I have to say. Actually I will say more.
What’s wrong with it you ask? Your question reveals just how far the church has backslidden. It should be obvious to any true Christian that the “music”–the beat–doesn’t belong in Christ’s church. It certainly is not something I would would expect John Piper to approve or allow. But wouldn’t the mention of a rapper at his church be enough?
The genre speaks for itself, it doesn’t need to be demonstrated. I mean are we supposed to think that it is somehow glorifying to God to sound like Eminem in worship? Didn’t think so. Rap music is vulgarians entertaining barbarians. No melody, no harmony, just a hypnotic, repetitive, erotic, and endless beat (though it could be cleaned up by replacing the techno beat with more of an Appalachian sound).
Those who follow the example of John Piper will end up like him.
October 31, 2006
Today I join those who celebrate Reformation day–the day that Martin Luther nailed the 95 theses to the Wittenberg church door–the day the true church arose from the false. The seed of Protestantism was planted and the godly tree sprang to life as it was nourished by the waters of the Word, unlike the Painted Lady of Rome and her whorish relationship with “Tradition.”
The Reformation is all-embracing. It penetrates into the heart and renews the individual. It goes down to the depths of the heart and by its omnipotent yet quiet energy, conceives and regenerates the soul. It is the creator of all that is true, and good, and beautiful; the founder of freedom and liberty and justice for all; it is the mother of the pure church. The globe itself beckons for its benediction, and the whole domain of celestial bodies deems a sphere not too vast to fill with its spirit and rule.
October 28, 2006
Sorry, folks. My usual “Heresy Fridays” section got bumped back a day. I wanted to talk about an issue that God has really laid on my heart to convict you all with. I was watching the news last night, and watched the celebrations by the St. Louis team after the game.
It made me sick.
Confetti, fireworks, hugs and celebrations. And for what? Was this the Pentecost? Um, no. This was celebration of a game, played with a ball and sticks. Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think there is anything wrong with gathering to play sports. It is the worship of teams, divided based on region, battling for some idol (a pennant, in the case of baseball).
What I disapprove of is the way professional sports teams demand loyalty from the people of their city. I live in Minnesota, and televised ads for the team inform me that I am living in “Twins Territory”. I just want to yell at the TV “HERESY! This territory was created by God, and Satan rules the earth until the return of our Lord.”
The end purpose of professional sports is to divide our loyalites between God and millionaire athletes who could care less for God. At whose alter do these men worship? The almighty RBI… The big free throw… The Power Play. These men submit themselves to the false God of statistical glory, and wear their allegiances in the form of a jersey, while the masses idolize them.
Here’s an idea. The next time your company offers you tickets to the Twins game, simply refuse, and point them to the scriptures. I think you’ll change a few hearts that way.
October 26, 2006
Why do worship leaders work so hard to perfect the use of rock music in church? To make room for this, Christian rock apologists have constructed a new system of faith to offer a religious cover to those who imbibe the kool-aid of satanic music chords. This system requires adherence to one or more of the following faith commitments:
- God created all music–therefore rock music was inspired by him.
- Although rock music may have been corrupted, it can be redeemed by God.
- Music itself is neutral and amoral, only the lyrics matter. Therefore, there is no such thing as “evil” or “good” music.
- The end justifies the means–if it brings someone to Christ, God can use it.
Christian rock lyrics may in and of themselves be honoring to God, but can anyone honestly argue that we have created a “new” song, or that rock music compositions are inspired by God rather than by men? The evidence, which I have cited an abundance, suggests otherwise, and leads me to believe that Christian rock is simply copying a music style that was created by man (unlike real Christian music it didn’t fall from heaven). In their lust for sex, drugs, and freedom–freedom from any kind of authority–they have rejected the authority of the Bible.
October 23, 2006
Are you aware of how pragmatism has infiltrated the church? Do you understand how it undermines sound doctrine? Do you know how it replaces Jesus’ methods—preaching about hell—as the primary means of ministry, and replaces them with things that are totally devoid of substance? Like loving people?
Today’s seeker-sensitive church starts with the audience’s “felt needs” and ends with topical messages that try to answer people’s questions. Bring in the non-believers and let them run the show. The inmates run the asylum. It’s starving the sheep and amusing the goats if you ask me.
That’s why I am against ushers being used as greeters. The whole idea of an usher is unbiblical as it is, but I am willing to make an allowance for collection purposes. But the idea of a greeter makes the church become like a lodge out to recruit members. Christ will build his church. He is the only one who is able to add to it. To utilize man-centered methods to bring people in and make them feel welcome denies the sovereignty of God in salvation. That is worldly.
October 21, 2006
One of my theological heroes in A.W. Pink. His puritan theology was not able to agree with any of the churches in his area. After years of teaching and preaching Reformed doctrine, Pink found that he could not find a church where he could worship in good conscience. No minister was competent enough to lead him, so he stayed home, published his magazine, and wrote books you can still buy at true churches today (those that don’t sell them are probably false).
This is exactly what I want to be like: faithful to doctrine first; loving to people second. I’ve been involved with a few churches over the years, but none of them have lived up to my expectations. All of them sell out to worldly fads and marketing techniques making separation from the world impossible. When I raised questions about things like ushers and greeters and the use of instruments in worship I was called “divisive.” But I was only trying separate the wheat from the chaff. I’ve been through a number of what are called “church-splits” but I like to think of them as “church plants.” The sheep must separated from the goats.
October 20, 2006
I haven’t had one of my “Heresy Fridays” in a while, so I thought I’d start this up again. Everyone feel free to chime in with anything you’ve noticed that is out of line with scripture.
My focus today is politics. As the Bible makes clear, things like political activism and voting are heretical actions foisted upon us by our government. Every other year, in the second week of November, people stand in line, sometimes for ours, to cast their vote in an act of slavish idolatry.
Frankly, I’m sick of it. God has already determined the outcome of this election. The bible says that we must cooperate with government at all costs (Romans 13), or face the sword of vengeance.
Some think that it is important for Christians to get involved on issues like the Iraq war. If someone can point to me where in scripture Paul brings up the Iraq war, I’d like to see it. There is no scriptural reference to political involvement.
And yet people find it important to have opinions about every single issue. This is a clear act of worshipping government, and woe to those who put other God’s first.
I’ve even seen some “Christians” putting up signs in their yards on behalf of a particular candidate. How about I just put a wooden statue of Baal up in my lawn. In God’s eyes, there is no difference. Heresy is heresy, and it is time that Christians stood up to this plague.
