More Odds and Ends

Lots of information on the ‘net about a so-called association of Bill Gothard with John MacArthur, but any who knows much about Gothard should know it’s a lie. A lengthy article shows where this “gossip” came from and the misrepresentations of what’s in a photo.

Examples of bad interpretations of Scripture by various Church Fathers

A great review of Debi Pearl’s new book, Created to Be His Help Meet. You can bet she twists scripture into pretzels.

While the major topic of this post is Nancy Pelosi’s violation of Catholic tenets, it really has good information about Christian doctrines which are violated by many who call themselves Christian.

“Heaven Tourism” is a dangerous fraud.

3 Reasons Why “The Chosen” Does More Harm Than Good. Beware that there is some Calvinist theology taught.

Beth Moore has gone full LEFT with calling “white” people racists. If this video doesn’t convince you that Beth Moore is a false teacher, you are in denial! By the way, she’s taught her daughter to be a horrible person.

Revoice—worshiping Satan and defending evil.

It’s difficult for me to believe Andy Stanley is really a Christian. He denies the Creation in Genesis.

Take the time to watch this video—52 minutes. You’ll learn why almost all the teachings you hear about angels is from false teacher who prove they are false Christians; what they teach is demonic.

Another MAJOR problem with Hillsong—Greed. Another example.  Scandals in the church abound.

Lies About Angels

False teachers and their false claims of angels visiting them. Beware of these pawns of satan.

The Good - For Education and/or Edification

I’m looking for my life to settle down eventually so I can start writing articles again vs just sharing links to other articles.  Now, I do think it is important that these links are shared so more people can be educated not only on the bad stuff happening in the church, but also on the good teachings available for edification.

I’m still doing lots of medical tests and within the next two weeks I will be finished with tests and then wait for surgery to fix a torn tendon in my rotator cuff. So it seems as if we are not home much, which can be easily seen in the weeds over-taking the gardens!

Well, with all that intro, here is another collection of links to interesting articles. I hope you will find the articles to be worth the read.

Is the Gospel No Longer Enough for Black Christians?  “Social Justice” has no place in the Christian Church.

Thought-provoking political article — How socialism violates all Ten Commandments. Although I disagree about violating the law of the Sabbath, because Christians don’t have a Sabbath, and Sunday isn’t the Sabbath anyway.

Are the commands of Acts 15:20 still applicable today?

The Battle Against Heterodoxy

Proper, correct church discipline!

Jesus is Lord.

What is a cult?  Signs to look for.

Is the Apocrypha Scripture? NO!  There are errors. There are other good reasons to reject it. Three early church “fathers” had things to say about it.

Psychiatry — told ya so!

“Sexual Orientation” is a psychological concept and not reality. Analogous to “alcoholism” instead of drunkenness.

Was Jesus tempted by homosexuality?  Of course not — but the LEFTISTS defending homosexuality wants you to think so.

The Fictions and Facts of the Enneagram.

Purgatory and 2 Maccabees 12:39-45.

Angels Unawares.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Some More Good, Edifying Reading

We are NOT “spiritual Israel.”  I really get tired of being told that we are.  Find it in the Bible, please.  Part 2.

An interesting apologetics site.

Objective moral standards prove the existence of God.

How many of each type animal did Noah bring onto the ark?

The murder of discernment.

 If you’re a Democrat, you’re probably not saved.  I agree 100%

The Trinity in the Old Testament — Part 4.

John MacArthur is an excellent teacher, if you easily “tip-toe through the TULIPs."

The high cost of cowardice. 

Exodus 21 and abortion.

God in your own image. Interesting overview of many false gods of cults.

What is a biblical marriage?

Angelic communications.

Was Jesus the Archangel Michael?

Both the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Seventh-day Adventists claim that the Archangel Michael was Jesus prior to Jesus’ birth. Of course we know that isn’t true, since Jesus is God incarnate and Michael was just a created angel.  However, Ron Rhodes, in his book, Angels Among Us: Separating Truth from Fiction, gives the following evidence against the JW/SDA claim (pgs 92-95):

Now, a controversial question that comes up from time to time relates to the claim that appearances of Michael in the Bible were actually appearances of Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune Godhead. Is this a possibility, or does Scripture forbid such interpretations? I believe there are at least five biblical arguments that make such an interpretation impossible. Let us briefly consider these arguments.

1. The archangel Michael does not have the authority himself to rebuke Satan. Jude 9… By contrast, Jesus rebuked the Devil on a number of different occasions (see, for example, Matthew 4:10 and 16:23). Since Michael could not rebuke the Devil in his own authority and Jesus could (and did) rebuke the Devil in His own authority, Michael and Jesus cannot be the same person. … 

2. In Daniel 10:13 Michael is called “one of the chief princes.” Whether or not there is more than one archangel, the fact that Michael is “one of” the chief princes indicates that he is one among a group of chief princes. …[and] proves that he is not utterly unique. By contrast, the Greek word used to describe Jesus in John 3:16 in monogenes—which means “unique,” “one of a kind.” Jesus is never called “chief prince” in the Bible. In fact, He is called the “King of kings and Lord of lords” in Revelation 19:16. This is a title that indicates absolute sovereignty and authority. A King of kings/lLord of lords is much higher in authority than a mere “chief prince” (who is one in a group of princes). …

3. Hebrews 1:5 tells us that no angel can ever be called God’s son.  Since Jesus is the Son of God, and since no angel can ever be called God’s son, then Jesus cannot possibly be the archangel Michael.

4. Hebrews 1:6 tells us that Christ is worshiped by the angels. This is the exact same word (Greek: proskuneo) used of worshiping Jehovah God in the Bible. Christ is worshiped with the same kind of worship rendered to the Father. … There is no getting around this fact. Jesus is not an angel; He is worshiped by the angels.

5. We are explicitly told in Hebrews 2:5 that the world is not (and never will be) in subjection to an angel. Certain angels…have various ranks and, under God, exercise imperial authority in different ways. But no angel is ever said to rule the world or God’s kingdom. … If no angel can rule the world…, then Christ cannot be the archangel Michael since Christ is said to be the ruler of God’s kingdom over and over again in Scripture. …

Good, Bad, and Ugly

The Good:

Just last week I had a discussion about this topic with Pulpit & Pen on Facebook.  I came to the very same conclusion as does Michelle!  No, a nativity scene is NOT idolatry.

A fellow blogger pointed me to this excellent resource for responding to skeptics. I skimmed a lot of areas and there are a few places where I disagree with the author (such as the Sabbath and whether it was ever for Christians), but overall I think it is beneficial.

Another excellent resource is “Answering Catholic Claims.” This blogger does excellent work exposing the false teachings of Roman Catholicism.

Alexander Hislop’s book, The Two Babylons, published in 1858, is a favorite text of KJV Onlyers and other legalists, who very often use Hislop’s material to “prove” that Easter and Christmas — and all the associated decorations, etc — are from pagan origin.  As well, the book is a rant against Roman Catholicism but misrepresents a lot about that organization.  I used to have my own copy but finally tossed it as being worthless.  A good, but short, examination of Hislop is by Ralph Woodrow.  I recommend you order his book, about which you can find information at the bottom of the page of this article.

Christmas time also brings out the myths of pagan origin from many sources.  Here’s one helpful source to counter some of the nonsensical claims.

Is Jesus Simply a Retelling of the Horus Mythology?

Who is Jesus, according to other religions?

Wayne Grudem has an excellent article about angels.  (even though, as a charismatic, he has many bad teachings)

The Bad:

James White has long been a good apologist (even if he is a 5-point Calvinist), but lately he’s been doing some weird things.  Something really surprising is his unqualified support for Michael Brown’s false teachings.

The Ugly:

Charismatic Tarot cards and “Christalignment”. This is about as occult and heretical it gets.

A “Top Twenty” list of “Christians” to follow on social media is predominantly a list of false teachers and heretics.

More warnings about Michael Brown, Todd White, et al.

Bethel Redding is really a very ugly institution pretending to be a Christian assembly. And if this isn’t enough information for proof, try this one.  Then the plot thickens.  And thickens again.

Some Things for Edification, Some to Just Think About

How NOT to Follow the Holy Spirit.

Interesting information about the angel Gabriel.

Steve Bricker has an excellent study of the Holy Spirit’s work in Acts, and some lessons about it.

Mary:  Who She Was (and Wasn’t)

Did Paul pray for the dead?  An excellent article examining one of the “proof” texts used by Roman Catholicism to defend the false doctrine of purgatory.

The necessary existence of God.

When Christians Act Like Mormons.  Think about your evangelistic ideology.

Have Christians lost the art of biblical discernment?

Godly speech in a culture of profanity.

The tragedy of Biblical illiteracy and the remedy needed.

A very interesting article about “cross-heresy addiction.”  I’ve known many people like this, who jump from one false teaching to another, and I have learned it isn’t unusual for those leaving one cult to fall in with another.

I can fully empathize with Michelle, and agree with her responses!  (Except that the command against women teaching men is in the context of the assembly, not on blogs, books, etc.  Woman can certainly teach men outside of the assembly.)

The Arian Snare  — prevalent in too many “churches” today.

Did Old Testament men treat wives as property?