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

Sunday, January 8, 2017

I Know Whom I Have Believed

I know not why God's wondrous grace 
to me he hath made known, 
nor why, unworthy, Christ in love 
redeemed me for his own. 

I know not how this saving faith 
to me he did impart, 
nor how believing in his word 
wrought peace within my heart. 

I know not how the Spirit moves, 
convincing us of sin, 
revealing Jesus through the word, 
creating faith in him. 

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.


I know not when my Lord may come, 
at night or noonday fair, 
nor if I walk the vale with him, 
or meet him in the air. 

Refrain: 
But I know whom I have believed, 
and am persuaded that he is able 
to keep that which I've committed 
unto him against that day. 

by Daniel W. Whittle, 1883

Friday, January 6, 2017

Be Willing to Say "No"


Christianity cannot and does not exist without boundaries. Being a Christian in any biblical sense requires that we not only say yes to many things, but that we also are willing to say no to a number of beliefs and behaviors.

Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, Why We’re Not Emergent, pg.118.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

Are You Propagating Christianity Without Defending It?


When men talk thus about propagating Christianity without defending it, the thing that we are propagating is pretty sure not to be Christianity at all.  They are propagating an anti-intellectualistic, non-doctrinal Modernism; and the reason why it requires no defense is simply that it is so completely in accord with the current of the age.

J. Gresham Machen, cited in Why We’re Not Emergent, by Kevin DeYoung and Ted Kluck, pg.107

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Random Things for Edification


More About the Supposed “Pagan” Origin of Christmas:
Did the date for Christmas come from the date of Sol Invictus?
Did the story about Jesus come from the story of the Egyptian god Horus? Or Mithras? Or another god?


Who wrote the book of Hebrews?








I’m a complementarian, and I agree with Tim Challies  here.

I hope you find these articles as interesting and useful as I did.

Monday, January 2, 2017

Books I Read In 2016

I’m doing this because I’ve read other bloggers doing so.  Sort of gives you an idea what drives us, what our interests are, etc, to give you a bit more insight as to what kind of people we are and what rattles around in our brains.  I’ve deleted the lists for the past two years after they had been posted for several months, just to clean out obsolete articles.

This year was a slow year for reading books, especially when there were too many days away from home. And with so many journals and newsletters to read, as well as articles printed from the Internet, I didn’t get many books read! 

A few books were repeat reads for me for various reasons.  Those will be noted in blue.  For the most part, the titles should tell you what the subject was.  You’ll notice that my two favorite subjects are history and theology.

One other thing: Since we have been married I have read books to my wife while she is doing hand sewing; it’s a good way to spend time together.  I used to read to the family also, but the kids are on their own now.  But I do note the ones read to her.

A Pocket Guide to Compromise, by Answers in Genesis.  How to avoid compromising Scripture with so-called “science.”

Scottish Miscellany, by Jonathan Green.  Lots of trivia about the Scots and Scotland throughout history.

Illustrated Slovak History, by Anton spies & Dusan Caplovic.

Heartland: An Exhibition From the Collection of the Heritage Center of Clark County, by Burton K. Kummerow.  My hometown, Springfield, Ohio, is the county seat for Clark County, and it is where the heritage center (huge museum) is located.  We bought this book on our last trip to Springfield in 2004 and I finally got around to reading it.

Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 3, Tertullian I, II, II

Truth Overruled: The Future of Marriage and Religious Freedom, by Ryan T. Anderson

One Bible Only? by Roy E. Beacham & Kevin T. Bauder, editors.  A polemic against the KJV Only ideology.

Navy Seals: Their Untold Story, by Dick Couch and William Doyle.  Received for Christmas 2015.

The Four Feathers, by A.E.W. Mason.  NOVEL!!! I bought this several years ago so as to know the real story as compared to two movie versions we have.  It’s been so long that I read it that I couldn’t remember, so I read it again this year right after watching both movies.

Turning Toward Joy, by David Jeremiah  (Philippians study).  This was passed to me so I read it to see if it was any good.  Of some value, but nothing new to me or worth keeping, so I got rid of it.

Israel:  A Secret Documentary, by Lance Lambert.  Given to me by a friend.

A Basic History of the United States, Vol. 1: The Colonial Experience 1607-1774, by Clarence B. Carson

How the West Was Lost, Coping With Life in a Strange, New Civilization, by Patrick Michael Murphy

Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, by David Talbot. Given by a friend.

Dining With the Devil: The Megachurch Movement Flirts with Modernity, by Os Guinness

God’s Crime Scene, by J. Warner Wallace.  Picked up at a conference.

The Spirit of Naval Aviation, by the National Naval Aviation Museum.  This one has been waiting since 2012 when I bought it at the Naval Aviation Museum!

Searching For Jesus, by Robert J. Hutchinson.  Really good confirming evidence from archaeology.

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Vietnam War, by Timothy P. Maga, Ph.D.  Just one of many books I’ve read on the topic.

A Basic History of the United States, Vol. 2: The Beginning of the Republic 1775-1825, by Clarence B. Carson

Of Blood and Hope: From Soviet occupation and Nazi slavery to the summits of American intellectual, political and business life, a moving saga of struggle, survival and triumph, by Samuel Pisar.  Another book given to me by a friend.

Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, by D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones.  I read it anew before passing it on to another blogger.

The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexadre Dumas.  NOVEL!  This was one I read to my wife.

Women in the Church, edited by Andreas J. Kostenberter & Thomas R. Schreiner

A Basic History of the United States, Vol. 3: The Sections and the Civil War 1826-1877, by Clarence B. Carson

The Last Camel Charge, by Forest Bryant Johnson.  History of camels in the U.S. Army.

America’s Homefront Air War: Civil Air Patrol Against German Submarines in World War II, by Roger Theil.  New book which raised my curiosity because I spent 10 years as a member of the CAP.

Eusebius: The Church History, translated by Paul L. Maier  Ten years since I last read it and I wanted a refresher.

Operation Mincemeat, by Ben Macintyre.  About a secret ruse against German in WWII; a movie was made about the operation: “The Man Who Never Was.”  It’s one of our favorite movies, which is essentially pretty factual but when it was made too much was still classified (and Hollywood added some romance).  My wife got curious so I read it to her.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown.   I’ve been wanting to read this one for decades and finally bought it with a Barnes & Nobel gift card.

Adam-God Doctrine Examined, by Melaine N. Layton.  This is about a pernicious Mormon doctrine which they now deny.

Walking in Power, Love, and Discipline: 1&2 Timothy/Titus, by Kay Arthur, David Lawson, Bob Vereen.  Given to me with a stack of books from a woman who died.

On Fire for Christ: Stories of Anabaptist Martyrs, by Dave and Neta Jackson

Six Days in June: Israel’s Fight For Survival, by Robert J. Donovan, et al.  About the 1967 6-day war, given to me by a friend.

This Great Nation: The Things That Made it Great - And How We Lost Them,  by Mal Couch, Ph.D., Th.D.  A friend loaned this to me — thought I should read it.

Orthodoxy, by G.K. Chesterton.


There you have it.  Perhaps some of these titles will pique your interest enough to buy them!

(By way of a background, when I was in high school I began keeping a list of the books I read, but that disappeared while I was in the Army.  I started again in 1975 after I left the Army, and off and on since, but always forgetting about the lists; family life and five moves left the idea behind until 2004 when I started again and have kept the list going since!)

Sunday, January 1, 2017

It Is Time to Grow Up and Quit Behaving as Children

Ever since I wrote the article about Steve Cioccolanti’s false teachings (essentially Word of Faith/charismatic) I have gotten more rude comments and emails than for any other post — except for those about Beth Moore.  Both these teachers have followers who are rude, nasty, hateful and just plain un-Christ-like as they defend their favorite false teachers like cult members defend their cult leaders.  It is really sad!  And a large percentage do so anonymously.

With the article on Steve Cioccolanti I finally closed comments because they were redundant and just kept addressing what had already been responded to, and there were also too many “nasty-grams.”  Well, closing comments didn’t faze these cultists (which is the only way to describe them) as they continued posting comments knowing they would be seen anyway as I moderated them.  So I collected them.  

This article now is to show exactly what I’ve been receiving since closing comments, so that the world can see the behavior of those who follow false teachers: ad hominem attacks, false witness about what I wrote, etc, with no addressing any of the points I made in the article!  Perhaps this will convince them to stop bothering me!  (Oh, and in the article I linked to a video of Steve’s which I watched and commented on, and linked to his site, which I read fully and cited, yet this wasn’t enough “research” for some of the commenters.) 

Comments will be shown just as they are written - misspellings, bad grammar, “….” which aren’t ellipses, and all (remember, these are just since closed comments).

“James” wrote:
This review is pathetic.  Clearly you just read the titles of his books and videos and make your false assumptions without actually doing true research.  Just the fact that you took time out of your day to discredit a man of God shows how much you’ve missed the mark. This is somebody’s pastor.  You are causing division amongs the church, which is a abomination. I rebuke you pharisee.

“Anonymous”:
God communicates with His people via the Word (Jesus Christ) and His written Word the Bible, and His Sprit the Holy Spirit.  If you don’t believe in that then sir I am praying for you.  When Jesus died the curtain was torn thereby allowing us to go directly to Jesus.  Really study God’s Word.  When you get saved you become a disciple of Jesus.  He fills you with His Spirit the Holy Spirit.   You sir are denying the power of the Holy Spirit and that is a dangerous thing to do.  I have been healed by prayer.  I have witnessed the laying on of hands and being healed by the Lord’s Spirit.  Yea of little faith.  Please pray for your own discernment and for God to open up your heart.  He says we are not to pass judgment for this very reason.  For with what measure you judge someone else God will be judging you.  I pray you are filled with love for your brother and look at the log within your own eye before trying to take the splinter out of his.

“Anonymous”:
I believe one limits God when they say only the apostles could have God heal through them.  Also to call someone out as a false prophet is a dangerous thing to do.  I truly believe that this pastor Steve is filled with the Holy Spirit.

“Anonymous”:
God spoke to Moses audibly.  Are you denying that He couldn’t do so to Corri?  Are you denying the power of God?  That is sad.

“hey a”:  (posted the same comment twice)
I find Steve’s teachings fascinating.  So right, to the point.  There’s nothing wrong with him.  You, Glenn, are the one who has problems.  Why can’t you support other fellow preachers?  You can’t even become like him and imitate what he does.  You are an unloving Christian, and a woman hater.

“Anonymous”:
I certainly believe in true Biblical, “rightly dividing the Word of Truth”, but you self appointed heresy hunters [a favorite label by the WOF charismania leaders against those who expose them] are just sickening.  You are the only ones with truth (in your own minds) and all others who disagree with you are heritics.  So sad.  You are confronted by Scripture that you just pas off as not correctly, hermeneutically interpreted, and thus make yourself just as guilty of doing what you criticize your “heretics” for doing.  For instance, if you believe that God cannot speak to us today, that we cannot hear His still small voice of leadership, knowledge, correction, encouragement - denying our Lord’s own Words that His “sheep hear (His) voice” ….. then you have a sad “experience” of God.  Oh wait, you don’t believe in any experience.  Sorry.  I for one gladly accept what Jesus taught despite your denial of the Word of God.  I also believe you hype people’s statements in order to make them something you can deny or mock.  No one that I have read, certainly I’m not making this claim, has said that to “hear His voice” (God TOLD HIM - right!” You once mocked) is to be equal with divine revelation of Scripture.  You’re saying God cannot lead, speak, or encourage or be that still small voice in our hearts because that would  be us claiming to be Prophets receiving divine, Scripture level revelation.  How sad.
What you promote, dear sir, is a Gnostic level of Christianity.  A religious relationship based only on Scripture Knowledge only.  God is impersonal and you cannot KNOW Him, only know His Word.  Jesus condemned folks for not only disobeying His Word, but also because He never knew us.  He is the one who said we are in Him and He in us.  It is an intimate personal relationship. And it is also NOT a muted one.
That’s just one point that drives me mad.  You deny Devine healing when the Word is replete with it’s promises of such grace from God.  PS 103:3, Isa.53/Matt8/1Peter4; James 5; Mark 16).  But for each Scripture I just listed, you have a way of explaining them away from meaning what they say they mean.  God delivered me from this type of MacArthurism legalism, reformed Holy Spirit/Literal Word denying kind of religious system, AND I THANK HIM FOR IT!

“Tuan Le”:
Steve is a wise man.  He is a man of faith.  His teachings of the end times is his own opinion and never he said it is accurate but his knowledge of the Bible is highly advance, therefore, makes me a better Christian.  Please don’t hate my Christian brothers.

“Unknown”:
I believe you need to read you Bible more.  There was a wOman over a church on the new testament.  There was even woman prophets in the old testament.  Also, you spelled Kenneth Hagin wrong.  It’s time that all of the Christian began to come together and support each other instead critusing and fighting with one another.  If you feel or believe something is wrong then we are to pray for them.  Then of they don’t change we are to go to them and confront them about their sin.  Then of they still don’t repent the you bring them before the pastor or their head.  That is God’s way of doing things.  I know in this case we are talking about a Pastor so we pray to his head which would be Christ.

“Anonymous”:
Please back up your opinion of what you say is the truth in the Bible with actual scriptures.

“Anonymous”:
Why are you people wasting time with someone like Glenn Chatfield with an UNSOUND mind.  Don’t talk to him, don’t respond to him.  You’ll become like Glenn if you keep reading about what he said, or respond to him.  Just leave Glenn Chatfield alone.  Some of you who have responded appears to be of a sound mind and clever, so mingle with someone like-minded, NOT with Glenn Chatfield.  Wisdom dictates -- JUST LEAVE SOMEONE LIKE GLENN CHATFIELD WITH AN UNSOUND MIND ALONE!

In the not-so-distant future, no one will be reading what he says.  But if you keep responding to him, you’ll only be adding fuel to his unstable/unsound mind, and no one will benefit from this process. Thank you.

“Anonymous”:
Mr. Watchman you are very judgemental, only God is to judge us.  I do not feel God’s presence in what you say.

“Anonymous”:
Wow, Mr. Chatfield, you really do sound hateful. 
I will no longer read or want to read anything from you.

“Unknown”:
God gave me a vision when I was saved (born again) and continues to convict me (one might call this urging or prompting of the Holy Spirit speaking).  This article is totally off base.  I’m praying for the salvation of anyone who believes they are a Christian but never hears from God, including the author.

“Anonymous”:
Dear Glenn
We are praying for your soul.  God bless you.
Silvie

“Sharon”:
You are truly deceived.  You are a Pharisee living under the Law.  Jesus Christ initiated the Gospel of Grace.  The third person of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit.  You do not recognize Him.  You do not know His fruit.  You are not a part of the Body of Christ.


I think you get the drift.  If you disagree with charismania, well you are just denying the work of the Holy Spirit, you’re a Pharisee causing division, you aren’t allowed to judge people’s teachings, God will be judging your soul, you don’t know your Bible, you are attacking a man of God, you’re denying the power of God, you are unloving, a woman hater (huh?!??!), and not even part of the body of Christ, but just a heresy hunter---with an unsound mind!

What is really ironic is that these comments read almost the same as the ones I get from Mormons when I expose the false teaching of their leaders!

Cioccolanti followers, you aren’t going be given a forum for your comments on this post either.  I don’t allow cult members to promote their false teachers, so save your comments!

Friday, December 30, 2016

Social Gospel Christmas Song


A friend of mine who is still attending the assembly we left two years ago (because he thinks he is still able to affect things) keeps me informed as to bizarre happenings there.  This week he told me what was sung for their Christmas worship service.  The song is nothing but the social gospel heresy.  Take a look at this one, if you can read it all without getting ill.  It is titled, Give this Christmas Away, by Matthew West.


What if I told you
You have the power
To give someone hope
Beyond their wildest dreams
What if I told you
It’s right there in your hands
In your hands

It’s hard to imagine
How something so small
Can make all the difference
Tear down the tallest wall
What if December
Looked different this year
What if we all just

Give this Christmas away
If there’s love in your heart
Don’t let it stay there
Give this Christmas away
And your life will be changed
By the gifts you receive
When you give this Christmas away

It’s feeding the hungry
Serving the poor
It’s telling the orphan
You’re not forgotten anymore
It’s doing what love does
Even when no one’s watching you

Give this Christmas away
If there’s love in your heart
Don’t let it stay there
Give this Christmas away
And your life will be changed
By the gifts you receive
When you give this Christmas away

For God so loved the world
That He gave His only Son
So we could be
His hands, His feet, His love
His love

What if I told you
You have the power
To give someone hope
Far beyond their wildest dreams
What if December
Looked different this year
Yah what if we all just

Give this Christmas away
If there’s love in your heart
Don’t let it stay there
Give this Christmas away
And your life will be changed
By the gifts you receive
When you give this Christmas away

Give this Christmas away
You have the power
Just give it away
Give it away
Give it away
This Christmas
Give it away
Give Christmas away
Give it away


Did I miss a gospel message in there?  Really, does this song even mention the birth of Christ, let alone the reason he came?  Oh, but it makes people feel good to sing it.  I have one word to describe this song — disgusting.

I am so glad to have left that assembly when they started their downhill slide.

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Random Things Needing Discernment

Where oh where do false teachers get these ideas?!?!  Certainly not from Scripture!  (Can you see the problems?)

Excellent position paper on the New Apostolic Reformation.  This should help you see the unbiblical nature of these people’s teachings.  However, the Southern Baptist Convention has decided to go farther into apostasy by endorsing the NAR.

Pay attention to whose music you are singing/using for worship.  When they have aberrant or heretical ideologies they believe and profess, you assist their teachings in being propagated.

False “spiritual warfare” teaching includes the absurdity of “Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare” with its “spiritual mapping.”  Anyone who is teaching this needs to be avoided at all costs.  This teaching completely denigrates the work of Christ and burdens people with worries and fears.  There is absolutely nothing biblical about it.  So if you hear anyone teaching about “Strongholds” which must be “pulled down,” etc, run from them!

The Pope has declared that evolution and the Big Bang are real: “When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so," Francis said. "The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator but, rather, requires it. "Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.”
This comes a guy who also declares that wine and wafers turn into blood and flesh, and that Mary remained forever a virgin, was sinless and assumed into heaven without dying.  The man is a rank heretic.

If the assembly you attend does anything like this, use your discerning feet to run from that place as fast as you can.

Russell Moore is getting more and more dangerous to have as any sort of leader or teacher.  Pulpit & Pen also demonstrates the long history of Moore’s apostasy.  An even longer list of issues with Moore is found in this article.

Warning about a new book claiming to get you to heaven!

Discernment says that the virgin conception of Christ is very, very important, contrary to the claims of Andy Stanley otherwise.

THIS is why you avoid Andy Stanley’s church — this took place at his church on Christmas Eve.

Full coverage of the Clayton Jennings scandal.  This is important to have available in case he is coming to your area — he needs to be warned against because he apparently has absolutely no remorse and he is a sexual predator!  But it gets even worse — Jennings is now attacking and threatening the elders.  This is what happens when churches wait too long for discipline, and when they too soon call for restoration.  The assembly which has offered him a position is seriously wrong in doing so.