Odds and Ends to End the Year

This will be my last post of this type for quite a spell. My days are getting quit full of needful things. Be sure to follow some of the links I share to get more information about good stuff and not-so-good stuff!

The sequence to sexual immorality.

Conquest of the contemplatives.

Was Paul Against Loving, Consensual Homosexual Relationships?

Some Thoughts on Contemporary Worship [Improviso #12]  15:20 video. From an LCMS perspective but overall good thoughts about “contemporary” worship.

This isn’t a church—It’s a cult!

Just when you think the ELCA churches can’t get any worse…

Hank Hanegraaff and the Christian Research Journal are no longer reliable.  Of course I’ve reported in the past that Hank had a low view of Genesis and supported the Local Church and then he attacked Christian supporters of Israel as being “racist and supporting ethnic cleansing.” Of course when he joined the Eastern Orthodox Church an article in the CRJ condemning the E.O. as unbiblical was removed from their site. Then there was an excellent article exposing more problems with Hank.  So with his latest E.O. teachings, he needs to be placed on the shelf with solidly-false teachers and his Journal tossed in the trash.

The Gospel Coalition really needs to change its name to The Anti-Gospel Coalition.

I…just…don’t…know…what…to…say.

Bethel: how much do the “pastors” make? A bit crooked.

Did Rod Parsley really say that?!?!

Church By the Glades has sold out to psychobabble.  Not only that, but they continue to prove that there is nothing Christian about that place.

Of course other “churches” also put on entertainment spectacles in their supposed celebration of the birth of Christ.

Jesse Dupantis is a champion liar, false teacher, and blasphemer.

Kat Kerr, a self-proclaimed prophetess who claims to regularly visit Heaven, has said that God showed her what happened before Jesus came to earth. According to Kerr, Jesus and the rest of the Trinity sat around debating how to save sinners, and Jesus ultimately decided to come to earth and die on the cross, although he was hesitant to do so. How do nutty, heretical liars like this woman get a following?!?!

Agglomeration Anew

In polygamy, should a man divorce his wives after becoming a Christian? I agree with the author — the answer is “no.”

8 WRONG reasons for staying in a church that teaches false doctrine.

Clint Eastwood Reads Praise Song Lyrics. Very funny — and makes a great point about what has invaded the church.

False Assumptions—the Consequences of False Teaching. A bit long, but good.

Spiritual Dumpster-Diving:

Disgusting, absolutely disgusting. They are trying their best to justify homosexuality.

Christianity Today Astray teaches heresy again.

Raphael Warnock has again proven he is a rank heretic.

Beth Moore continues her spiral to apostasy — and Karen Swallow Prior helps her on her way. It was Donald Trump who “broke” her.  Just take a look at this examination by another woman!

A Hillsong Easter. As bad as it gets.  And scandal in Dallas.

How about a sample of what nonsense is taught by the Mormons? If you ever get interested in learning more about the cult called “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints,” I have a blog devoted to exposing them.

Bishops and priests supporting the LGBT movement — why are the not excommunicate?  And why is this bishop, who supports same-sex fake marriage, still a member of the RCC?

Matt Chandler seems to have totally forgotten what the Christian faith is really about.

Christian schooling is joining the LEFTIST culture.

The Catholic Church should DEMAND that the school no longer claim to be Catholic.

Another false teacher, Dan Minor, abuses the Bible to promote the “social justice” movement.

The REAL Church needs to stand strong against the culture. This culture will continue to get more and more wicked and destructive in attacking the truth.

The Milk of Mindless Repetition!

Another song new to me was used this past Sunday during our worship.  It is titled “Have Your Way,” by Don Moen.  Take a look:

Have your way

Have your way

Holy Spirit, fill our hearts

And have your way

As we wait (we wait on you)

And as we pray (we pray to you)

Speak your word into our hearts

And have your way

Have your way

Have your way

Holy Spirit, fill our hearts

And have your way

As we wait (we wait on you, Lord)

And as we pray (we pray to you)

Speak your word into our hearts

And have your way

Have your way

Have your way

Holy Spirit, fill our hearts

And have your way

As we wait (we wait on you)

And as we pray (we pray to you)

Speak your word into our hearts

And have your way

Speak your word into our hearts

And have your way

Speak your word into our hearts

And have your way

Speak your word into our hearts

And have your way

Well, there was also the obligatory band bridge.  This song is obviously used to manufacture emotions. 

This was a day which we celebrated the Lord’s table, when we should have had meat.  Oh, there were a couple old hymns, but this one should have been replaced with something that was in line with what we were celebrating.  By the third time through I was shaking my head in frustration.  Oh, and we also sang, “Give Us Clean Hands,” which we sang FOUR times through!!

I’m tired of emotion-manufacturing pap being brought into the assembly.  The teaching where we attend is excellent and their leadership overall is very good, but I don’t think our shepherds understand that our songs are also teaching us, and if you continue a diet of pap and emotions, you will never mature in the faith.

As an aside, we have begun attending another assembly every other week.  It also has a good teaching elder, and seems to have good leadership.  Their songs are back-to-basic ones, both old hymns and new ones which are meaty and don’t prey on emotions.  The reason we won’t stay at this one is because they are Presbyterian (PCA), which means we would have to tolerate TULIPs (they haven't come up yet with us).

It seems that the only place we will hear meaty music and not emotion-driving pap is either in KJV Only churches or PCA churches. Leastways that’s what I found investigating around here!

More Hillsong Theo-eroticism

One of the more popular songs invading churches during worship is Hillsong’s Oceans.  The trouble with this song, as with so many, it that there are some good (well, okay) lyrics which become subtly undermined by what is becoming known as “theo-eroticism” (i.e., “Jesus/God is my boyfriend/lover” theology).  That is what we have with this song. 

Unlike the way I normally do citations in blue, I’m going to leave this one without colors except for the theo-eroticism (red) and the obligatory mindless repetition (blue).

Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

Hillsong United, Songwriters: Joel Houston / Matt Crocker / Salomon Lighthelm

You call me out upon the waters

The great unknown where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery

In oceans deep

My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise, 

My soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand

Will be my guide

Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name

And keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise, 

My soul will rest in Your embrace

For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your name

Keep my eyes above the waves

My soul will rest in Your embrace

I am Yours and You are mine

Neither Jesus nor God are YOURS.  That is the big problem with this song. I understand poetic ideas of being in God’s embrace, but when they add in “I am Yours and You are mine” it now sounds like you are talking to a lover.

I realize this is a minor issue, but remember, “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” People who listen to this song and find succor in it really need to realize that they should never place emotions about truth.

We should NEVER use Hillsong material either for congregational worship or even private listening because Hillsong is the home of false teaching. If you need an explanation as to why it is necessary to avoid ALL of Hillsong material, I suggest you read my article here.

Here We Go Again!

Sunday, as the Pastor ended his teaching, he said we would now sing a great hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God. I noticed on the bulletin for the day that it was the closing hymn, but I wondered why there was no hymn number as usual; after all, it is in our hymnal. I soon found out!

The band started a musical introduction that had nothing to do with the hymn, which had me really confused until the overhead noted that Matt Boswell was listed as one of the authors.  Oh brother! Another person without much imagination stole a song and added a bridge/chorus with a whole different tune, which was added after verses three and four, with that last time repeated. And don’t forget the obligatory instrumental bridges between verses.

Since you know the real song, let me show you the bridge/chorus, and you can listen to it here.

A mighty fortress, a rock unfailing

The King of Glory forever amen

For endless ages enthroned in praises

The King of Glory forever amen

For this tiny addition Matt is probably earning thousands of dollars with his theft.  The whole point is to get excitement going — manufactured enthusiasm — with increase in octave and band action.

This piece was meant for recording and selling — what I call a “radio song.” It should not have been brought into the assembly.  No one, who hadn’t heard the recording previously, would have any idea of the tune and lyrics of the fraudulent addition to the stolen song. 

Were the added lyrics okay? Yes. Was the added tune fairly easy to learn? Yes. However, I’m really tired of the Church pandering to these lazy artists who steal to enrich themselves, and pandering to the younger generations who can’t handle a hymn sung with dignity.

SIGH!

Why is it that the bands (whether small or large) which perform during the gathering of the saints in the assembly on Sundays (or any day) are called “worship bands,” or “praise bands” (or instead of “bands” they are called “teams,” but with the same prefix)?  They aren’t any of those prefixes —they are just bands or music teams.  “Worship” and “praise” covers more (and should cover all) of the activities in “church.”

Well, that’s just an aside.  This post is about more pap being sung in the assembly.  Here are two we used this week (at least we also sang two old hymns!).

Our God Saves

By Brenton Brown and Paul Baloche.

In the name of the Father, in the name of the Son

In the name of the Spirit, Lord, we come

We're gathered together to lift up Your Name

To call on our Savior to fall on Your grace

In the name of the Father, in the name of the Son

In the name of the Spirit, Lord, we come

We're gathered together to lift up Your Name

To call on our Savior to fall on Your grace

To call on our Savior, to fall on Your grace

Hear the joyful sound of our offering

As Your saints bow down, as Your people sing

We will rise with You, lifted on Your wings

And the world will see that

Our God saves, our God saves

There is hope in Your name

Our God saves, our God saves

There is hope in Your name

[repeat all the above after the obligatory bridge for the band performance]

Mourning turns to songs of praise

Our God saves, our God saves

Our God saves, our God saves.

Why must we always go around and around repeating the text of the lyrics?  I realize the artists singing these songs on their CDs are doing this, but that doesn’t mean the congregation should be performing these songs as if we are on stage!

Think about this part of the song;

Hear the joyful sound of our offering

As Your saints bow down, as Your people sing

We will rise with You, lifted on Your wings

So our offering gives a joyful sound as we bow down and sing, and this makes us rise with God?!?  Really. And “lifted” on His “wings”?!?  What is this supposed to mean? I wonder about these song writer—do they think about what they are writing or are they just trying some way of making rhymes? Or to make the emotions get all sappy?

Let’s look at the next one:

Give Us Clean Hands

By Charlie Hall

We bow our Hearts

We bend our knees

Oh Spirit come make us humble

We turn our eyes from evil things

Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands

Give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

Give us clean hands

Give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

And God let us be

A generation that seeks

That seeks your face

Oh God of Jacob

And God let us be

A generation that seeks

That seeks your face

Oh God of Jacob

We bow our Hearts

We bend our knees

Oh Spirit come make us humble

We turn our eyes from evil things

Oh Lord we cast out our idols

So give us clean hands

Give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

Give us clean hands

Give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

And God let us be

A generation that seeks

That seeks your face

Oh God of Jacob

And God let us be

A generation that seeks

That seeks your face

Oh God of Jacob

So give us clean hands

Give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

Give us clean hands

Give us pure hearts

Let us not lift our souls to another

And God let us be

A generation that seeks

That seeks your face

Oh God of Jacob

And God let us be

A generation that seeks

That seeks your face

Oh God of Jacob

Oh God of Jacob

We bow our hearts to you

And we had a wee bit more repetition than shown here! Does it make the song better to have so much repetition?  Does it make a stronger point of what is asked of God?  Or does this sort of fit into “vain repetition” in our prayer?  I think it does!

Again, this is nothing better than pap.  Why can’t the song leaders quit trying to be like every seeker-sensitive/market-driven assembly and give their congregations meat!! Please, you men who are in church leadership and you who lead the music, don’t treat your congregations like spiritual babies!