Is Your Conduct Inevitable?

Our conduct should always be to us something which is inevitable in view of what we believe.  That is the way I like to think of it.  If my Christian Living is not quite inevitable to me, if I am always fighting against it and struggling and trying to get out of it, and wondering why it is so hard and narrow, if I find myself rather envying the people who are still back in the world, there is something radically wrong with my Christian life.  Christian conduct and behavior should be inevitable — there is no argument about it.  And when we are in that position, we have really got the truth of the matter clearly.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Darkness and Light: An Exposition of Ephesians 4:17-5:17,” pg.20

Heresies Abuse Scripture

Now this heresy of yours does not receive certain Scriptures; and whichever of them it does receive, it perverts by means of additions and diminutions, for the accomplishment of it own purpose; and such as it does receive, it receives not in their entirety; but even when it does receive any up to a certain point as entire, it nevertheless perverts even these by the contrivance of diverse interpretations. Truth is just as much opposed by an adulteration of its meaning as it is by a corruption of its text. Their vain presumptions must needs refuse to acknowledge the (writings) whereby they are refuted. They rely on those which they have falsely put together, and which they have selected, because of their ambiguity. Though most skilled in the Scriptures, you will make no progress, when everything which you maintain is denied on the other side, and whatever you deny is (by them) maintained. As for yourself, indeed, you will lose nothing but your breath, and gain nothing but vexation from their blasphemy.

Tertullian, “On Prescription Against Heretics,” Chapters XVIl

Do Not Allow Heretics to Use Scripture, and Do Not Continue Discussion With Them

They put forward the Scriptures, and by this insolence of theirs they at once influence some. In the encounter itself, however, they weary the strong, they catch the weak, and dismiss waverers with a doubt. Accordingly, we oppose to them this step above, all others, of not admitting them to any discussion of the Scriptures.

If in these lie their resources, before they can use them, it ought to be clearly seen to whom belongs the possession of the Scriptures, that none may be admitted to the use thereof who has no title at all to the privilege.

I might be thought to have laid down this position to remedy distrust in my case, or from a desire of entering on the contest in some other way, were there not reasons on my side, especially this, that our faith owes deference to the apostle, who forbids us to enter on “questions,” or to lend our ears to new-fangled statements, or to consort with a heretic “after the first and second admonition,” not, (be it observed,) after discussion. Discussion he has inhibited in this way, by designating admonition as the purpose of dealing with a heretic, and the first one too, because he is not a Christian; in order that he might not, after the manner of a Christian, seem to require correction again and again, and “before two or three witnesses,” seeing that he ought to be corrected, for the very reason that he is not to be disputed with; and in the next place, because a controversy over the Scriptures can, clearly, produce no other effect than help to upset either the stomach or the brain.

Tertullian, “On Prescription Against Heretics,” Chapters XV, XVI

Some Good Stuff to Read

Here is another collection of articles which I’ve read recently which I felt would be good to pass along.  May you find them informative and edifying.

Did Judas receive the bread and the cup?

Understanding Biblical Modesty.

A good history of the charismatic movement by Gary Gilley.  This is followed by “Doctrinal Distinctives of the Charismatic Movement,” part 1 and part 2.

Gilley also has an excellent 4-part series on “The Afterlife.”  Part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.  I think you’ll find them very interesting.

Was the Holy Spirit present on earth before Pentecost?

Why extra-biblical writings attributed to James aren’t reliable.

That should be enough reading for today!

Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies

This week I had a young lady ask me what I thought about Becky Tirabassi’s teachings; having never heard of her before, I started the “Google” thing.  This is my summation:

Her church is one of those “market-driven” types which has lots of programs.  Classes I read about are sort of “me” focussed, with some on “spiritual disciplines” which usually means mysticism, such as the emergent church movement.  In fact, the church just might be emergent, since they do not state their doctrine.  And I’d really like to know what a “pastor of assimilation” does (staff member)!

Becky violates Scripture by being a pastor—co-pastor with her husband.  That is a bad setup from the get-go.  From reading about her on the Internet, a lot of her teachings seem to appeal to emotions, especially with a lot of pop-psychology.  And her close association with Joyce Meyer — who is a rank heretic — is very concerning.  She talks a lot about having “as much of the Holy Spirit as you want,” but we can’t have any more H.S. than He who lives in us.  That is a favorite claim of charismatics - you just need “more” of the Holy Spirit.

Becky might have some good teachings (as does Beth Moore), but I wouldn’t trust her at all.

Speaking of Beth Moore, she is  Adorable and Dangerous.   She has more false claims of revelation from God, and she narcigetes herself [link gone by 7/18/18] into Acts 16:14.  How bad can she get?!?!

The sometimes questionable issues with Kay Arthur.

HT to Erin at Do Not Be Surprised… for the next two items:

False teachers are now getting another venue to spread their lies — on Netflix.

Mark Driscoll, who has been proven to be unqualified to be a pastor, is now starting a new church in Phoenix.  I guess he needs more people to abuse.

Defusing Demonic Dirty Bombs

It’s that time of the year for seeker-sensitive false churches to bring out the sex and sensuality for their “sermons.”

Does the Bible really say we’re not to judge? Marsha West has an excellent article addressing this subject.  Of course anyone who has read my blog for any length of time knows my answer to the question.  As I noted on Marsha’s article, “If I had dollar for every time someone asked me if I confronted the accused false teacher IAW Matt. 18:15-17, I could take a cruise to Scotland!”

Doug Evans has an excellent article exposing Rick Joyner as a false prophet, let alone a false teacher!

Alec Satin has a great article about the Catholic practice of praying the rosary.

“The Passion Translation” is as bad as “The Message.”  Neither one are Bibles — just pretend Bibles pushing agendas.  Just like the cult versions.

Another example proving that the NAR people are bloviating false prophets.

Now that I’ve broached the subject of the NAR, here is a great collection of articles about the New Apostolic Reformation and all its false teachings.  These people are dangerous to the REAL Christian faith.

And, finally for today, Gary Gilley has good examinations of the “Toronto Blessing” and its offspring, the Brownsville Revival.  These circuses were nothing less than demonic.

The Gospel In A Nutshell

Now, with regard to this rule of faith—that we may from this point acknowledge what it is which we defend—it is, you must know, that which prescribes the belief that there is one only God, and that He is none other than the Creator of the world, who produced all things out of nothing through His own Word, first of all sent forth; that this Word is called His Son, and, under the name of God, was seen “in diverse manners” by the patriarchs, heard at all times in the prophets, at last brought down by the Spirit and Power of the Father into the Virgin Mary, was made flesh in her womb, and, being born of her, went forth as Jesus Christ; thenceforth He preached the new law and the new promise of the kingdom of heaven, worked miracles; having been crucified, He rose again the third day; (then) having ascended into the heavens, He sat at the right hand of the Father; sent instead of Himself the Power of the Holy Ghost to lead such as believe; will come with glory to take the saints to the enjoyment of everlasting life and of the heavenly promises, and to condemn the wicked to everlasting fire, after the resurrection of both these classes shall have happened, together with the restoration of their flesh. This rule, as it will be proved, was taught by Christ, and raises amongst ourselves no other questions than those which heresies introduce, and which make men heretics.

Tertullian, “On Prescription Against Heretics,” Chapter XIIl

You Can’t Get Instruction From That Which Destroys

No man gets instruction from that which tends to destruction. No man receives illumination from a quarter where all is darkness. Let our “seeking,” therefore be in that which is our own, and from those who are our own, and concerning that which is our own,—that, and only that, which can become an object of inquiry without impairing the rule of faith.

Tertullian, “On Prescription Against Heretics,” Chapter XII

Who Are the Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing?

The Lord teaches us that many “ravening wolves shall come in sheep’s clothing.” Now, what are these sheep’s clothing’s, but the external surface of the Christian profession? Who are the ravening wolves but those deceitful senses and spirits which are lurking within to waste the flock of Christ? Who are the false prophets but deceptive predictors of the future? Who are the false apostles but the preachers of a spurious gospel?  Who also are the Antichrists, both now and evermore, but the men who rebel against Christ? Heresies, at the present time, will no less rend the church by their perversion of doctrine, than will Antichrist persecute her at that day by the cruelty of his attacks, except that persecution make seven martyrs, (but) heresy only apostates. And therefore “heresies must needs be in order that they which are approved might be made manifest, both those who remained stedfast under persecution, and those who did not wander out of their way into heresy.”

Tertullian, “On Prescription Against Heretics,” Chapter IV

True Faith

Opinions or the Word?

The reason for so much of the conflict throughout the church at the present time is that people are fighting over their opinions.  It is not a matter of opinion, yours or mine.  It is what God says that matters.  The basis for our thinking should be the principles from His Word.  They must determine our actions.  To understand this, we must also appreciate that Genesis is foundational to the entire Christian philosophy.  One major difficulty in our churches is that many people do not trust Genesis.  Consequently, they do not know what else in the Bible to trust.  They treat the Bible as an interesting book containing some vague sort of religious truth.  This view is destroying the church and our society. and it is time religious leaders wake up to the fact.  Not to take Genesis 1 through 11 literally is to do violence to the rest of Scripture.

Ken Ham, “The Lie,” pg. 53