We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

Good news — Clayton Jennings has lost his ministry endorsement from his home church.

Tim Tebow and Clayton Jennings—I think I’m going to be ill!  Totally putrid video.  Both announcers have poor discernment.

The word eros is not in the Bible” — Something women need to remember.

Perry Noble: the man who never, ever should have been in a pastoral position — or any other leadership position for that matter!

The beginning of the demise of Calvary Chapel.  And more slipping down the slope.

Part two of the investigation into the Salvation Army.

Another false teacher, “pastor” Colby Martin, tries to demonstrate that God really is okay with homosexuality.  Why is it that these false believers seek support for homosexual behavior but not for adultery or prostitution or bestiality, etc?  Why is it that their favorite, untouchable sexual perversion is homosexuality?!?  I’d say this was the “things taught by demons” — Satan really found the niche, didn’t he?

The Covenants: The Continental Divide of Biblical Interpretation.  Excellent article with information needed for dealing with Seventh-day Adventists and others locked into legalistic adherence to the Old Testament covenants.  (Lengthy, but worth it — I get the magazine in the mail so I could read it while sitting on my sofa!)

What exactly is “Lectio  Divina?”

Hillsong’s marketing techniques are shared for all.  Somewhere along the line they forgot what the assembled Church is for.

No, Jesus was NOT married to Mary Magdalene.

Some good information about the business cult of Scientology (it is not a religion, contrary to their claims so as to be a tax shelter).

Some real concerns with Jan Markell.

Adventures in Missions’ World RaceParents’ Guide” seems to be a harbinger of cultism.

Are you being led by a “Judas Goat”?

If you want to teach the real gospel to a Catholic, then the Pope says you are guilty of “a grave sin.”  Well, I’d rather reach a Catholic with the truth so they can be eternally saved than to worry about “sinning” against the Pope!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glenn,

Thank you for posting The Covenants - there are a lot of good Scriptures in that article. While I'm not very familiar with SDAs (except I am familiar with their belief in Saturday worship), as you said, this article is definitely applicable not just to SDAs, but to anyone who doesn't understand the covenants properly, and thus is bound in various legalisms.

Admittedly, the first thing that came to my mind as I read this article was reformed theology. One of the huge errors of reformed theology is incorrect understanding of the covenants. Like SDAs, they will say Christians are supposedly free from the so-called "civil" and "ceremonial" aspects of Mosaic law but are still bound to the "moral" aspect. But the truth is, the Law given to OT Israel never was and cannot be segmented into "civil", "ceremonial", and "moral" portions. As the article explained, The Law of Moses was ONE Law, an all inclusive package that was begun at Sinai and done away with at Calvary. Furthermore, it was given to the nation of Israel, not to the Church (another distinction - Israel vs the Church - something reformed believers also often fail to grasp).

As the article demonstrated, the point of the OT Law was to lead people to Christ. After that, it has finished its job. Galatians 3:24-25 is among the many Scriptures mentioned in that article that addresses this blessed truth (referencing a quote from Riggle). I also appreciate that the article addressed that the OT Law was considered a "ministry of death". That would make it totally incompatible with LIFE in Christ.

If one says "believers are free from the entire Mosaic law", many reformed will call you antinomian. Apparently - as I learned from the article - the SDAs will level that same accusation. But as the article said, that is a false argument. Telling Christians they are under the New Covenant and giving them a proper understanding of what that entails - i.e., believers are under the Law of Christ (Law of Love), not the Law of Moses, is anything but antinomian. Since we are in Christ, under grace, shall we then go on in sin, Romans 6:1-2? NO!

I hope this comment is coherent. I'm tired from a very long day yesterday, and my brain hasn't caught up yet today!

-Carolyn

Doug Evans said...

Great finds... to a point, I'm getting saddened, but not surprised, that it's getting painfully hard to find some good news to report.

Glenn E. Chatfield said...

Carolyn,

Well, there WAS a "moral law," so to speak, but it wasn't in the 10Cs, which I've taught only applied to Israel. In my article about the Sabbath, which I think you've seen, I pointed out how except for the keeping of the Sabbath, all the other 9Cs were either implicit or explicit long before Moses and applied to everyone.


Doug,

I hope to post a "good stuff" article tomorrow. I'm writing it up, but I have to leave soon for band practice!

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

Oh yes, I understand that - God's moral law has always existed, and has always been binding on man... bringing us condemnation for our failure to obey. Romans 2, v14, even the Gentiles do by nature the things of moral law, even though they did not have the advantage of the stone tablets, showing that the moral code of God is and has always been written on each and every human heart (conscience).

Nonetheless, the way the reformed address the issue is theologically incorrect, which was the point I was trying to make. Like I said, I'm still tired from yesterday, and that translates to potential incoherence today.

-Carolyn

Perri Nelson said...

Hillsong certainly knows how to twist scripture. What a sad abuse of Habakuk 2:2. Just like a few sales "gurus" and motivational speakers I've heard.

The context doesn't support their misuse of it.