This video clip is evidence to the truth of Proverbs 18:1-2; "A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment. A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart."
This "church" has been built on what, the wisdom and desires of men? One man said, "We just knew that the way we had done Christianity all our lives was no longer a viable option anymore." And another said, "The Church could um, take on any of the Church forms that currently existed, or we could um, create our own." Based on what? Based on whom? We know that whatever or whomever it is based cannot have any form of unity because one woman said this, "For example, there is no um, like, statement of belief at this church, or statement of faith. There's not like a set in stone theological writing that everyone in this Church has to adhere to, um, because everyone has different ideas, and all those ideas are important and valued. It's very co-operative in that way."
I understand one's frustration with the Church, but it is not the doctrines of truth that are the problem, it is the people, whether hearers or teachers who always fail. Men are prone to err, and it is the pride of our own knowledge that has contributed to this confusion. We camp on (no pun intended) ideas and it causes division, not unity. Can a mere man dogmatically defend a doctrine which according to scripture conflicts with another? For example, the ongoing disagreement between those of Calvinism and those of Armenianism. Could it be possible that both have Biblical truth? Is it possible that both have inappropriately used some Scripture in a wrong way to support their view? Consider this, we're dealing with limited intellects here, is the truth of the matter one's pride in his own intellect, as though we, ONLY mere men think we can articulate in precise words an infinite, holy God? Think about it, do we have within us that ability to completely understand all the Lord has revealed about Himself? Scripture tells us NO! Isaiah 45:19 is only one of many Scriptures where God tells us this of Himself, "I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right." So all things revealed are right, but our understandings are darkened. The the separation between these two ends is also made clear in the Bible, again if it is a source of absolute truth and able to accomplish what it says it will accomplish. Isaiah 55:6-9 says, "Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
If Gods thoughts are higher than our thoughts, who can stand apart and proclaim they have the corner on the truth market? The man who has surrendered his credibility before men and will preach the Scripture as it is stated! Men who think highly of their intellect and consider themselves spiritually accomplished will get stuck on one point, and because of their zeal (which may be genuine) will limit God to what they, in their limited intellectual capacity can understand. Take for example the "sons of God and the daughters of men" in Genesis 6:4, can we dogmatically defend any interpretation of that verse? No, and most likely no one would, given the absence of supporting Scripture. But take sovereign election, there are loads of Scriptures to support that doctrine. But if we also look at the responsibility of man (or our need to believe unto salvation), we have a "supposed" conflict. Is it possible that both election and responsibility of man are co-existent in the unlimited mind of God? The God of Scripture plainly declares things we do not understand!
David in realizing the unlimited knowledge of God wrote in Psalms 139:6, "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it." Therefore, David recognized the superiority of an infinite God, he sees that he cannot understand "how" but by faith accepts it. Isn't that what is meant by Habakkuk in 2:4? "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith." The proud, self confident elevate themselves, confident in anything their heart conceives of, even calling a baseless gathering a "Church"? Faith is not a one time, one event thing. When a person believes on Jesus Christ in a Scriptural way, that one act of faith does not cover it all, doesn't the Scripture say the just shall LIVE by his faith? I cannot say I have faith in Christ and go off and start something not based on Him! I cannot discredit the Scripture He says contains the subject of Himself who is unchanging and declare the Scriptures to be changing and stagnant, bendable to my "high thoughts" of Jesus and what He would be concerned with if He were on earth today! Because of their low regard for the supreme subject of Scripture their hearts are exposed. Why else would someone say, "I see the Bible changing, I don't see it as stagnant, and so for us as a community as Christians to say we need to believe this one thing, and hold it tightly, and make sure it is never questioned, that's a real waste of energy with all the things we could be doing in the world." I can agree that the Bible is not stagnant, it is of a supernatural character that is timeless, it is able to work upon the evil hearts of man to change them from within.
This flawed base for a "Church" brings forth thinking as one man said, "I have no agenda to go around and convince people of things that they don't want to be convinced of. That seems to be the least gracious, kind, and loving thing you could do, is go disturb someone who chooses not to be disturbed." A call to reason in Isaiah 1:18-20 says "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it." Where then are these words that the Lord is referring to? Is it in some ever-changing wisdom of men? As for the above quote, what did Jesus say we should be doing? In Matthew 4:17 Jesus is abundantly clear about what it is we should do, (if you were to believe the Bible), "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." If they use the "concerns" of Jesus as that one woman did in determining what He would be concerned with if He walked the earth today, would this be counted? To preach repentance is to what, leave people alone and not disturb people who don't want to be disturbed? The fact is, Jesus disturbed many people, so much so that He was crucified by them!
In Psalms 89:5-7, "And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him."
The Scripture above says, "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints." Can you recognize a fear of the Lord in anything said by the members of "Solomon's Porch"? When the authority of Scripture disregarded, the "words" of Jesus have no power, for the saint who prostrates himself before the Word, will know that all the words in Scripture are His and that my friend is where we find unity.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
A Word of Encouragement This Lord's Day
I had to come back and put in a word of encouragement today this the Lord's day.
Genesis 3:7-10 "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
I find great comfort in the book of Genesis, not only do I have no need to wonder from where we came or how the world was made, I also see the amazing nature of Almighty God and His amazing display of grace for lost sinners. Notice Adam and Eve's effort to cover their sin. They chose to hide their sin with the work of their hands by sewing fig leaves to try and cover themselves. They also TRIED to hide from God. The text offers no space of time from the sin of man to God seeking and calling out to them.
But notice what Adam did when God questioned him about what they had done: Genesis 3:12 "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." Adam did not admit his disobedience, but in effect blamed God because it was the "The woman thou gavest to be with me" 's fault! Does that not sound like us, always finding some excuse for our sin?
But thanks be to God that immediately He provided a remedy for them! In Genesis 3:21 we read "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."
God provided them with coverings of His doing, not their own. Teaching them how we are to rightly approach Him and of the importance of the shedding of an innocent victim's blood, because Hebrews 9:22 says "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
And then the promise of a Saviour (who's blood it is that will cleanse us) to come in Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Thank God He did not leave them to figure out for themselves what His righteous requirements are.
Genesis 3:7-10 "And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
I find great comfort in the book of Genesis, not only do I have no need to wonder from where we came or how the world was made, I also see the amazing nature of Almighty God and His amazing display of grace for lost sinners. Notice Adam and Eve's effort to cover their sin. They chose to hide their sin with the work of their hands by sewing fig leaves to try and cover themselves. They also TRIED to hide from God. The text offers no space of time from the sin of man to God seeking and calling out to them.
But notice what Adam did when God questioned him about what they had done: Genesis 3:12 "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat." Adam did not admit his disobedience, but in effect blamed God because it was the "The woman thou gavest to be with me" 's fault! Does that not sound like us, always finding some excuse for our sin?
But thanks be to God that immediately He provided a remedy for them! In Genesis 3:21 we read "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them."
God provided them with coverings of His doing, not their own. Teaching them how we are to rightly approach Him and of the importance of the shedding of an innocent victim's blood, because Hebrews 9:22 says "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission."
And then the promise of a Saviour (who's blood it is that will cleanse us) to come in Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Thank God He did not leave them to figure out for themselves what His righteous requirements are.
So Who Is Doing Right?
I have been considering this whole "Blog thing" quite a bit lately. I have been reading all different blogs and their comments for a few years now. It seems to me that there is more sin involved in what is going on than anything. Maybe one starts a blog with noble and true intentions but they seem to drift in the wrong direction.
I read the "discernment" blogs and I read the "Emergent" blogs. Seems to me there is more opinion than truth on any of them. The pride of life is a dangerous thing. I live in the real world and the blog-o-shere is not where it is at. Yet many escape to it. In the real world, we see the people with their little fishes on their cars, or the "faithful" church goer that when you deal with them their rudeness and treatment of others betrays their true heart. We are failing miserably in almost all things. Profession is useless unless there is action. I fear that many many people in "Christiandom" will be horrified when they stand before the Lord only to hear "Depart from Me, I never knew you!"
Is the narrow gate the way "all" the people who believe in God are going? Is the broad way the way the unbelievers only are going? I think not. I believe the Lord was pointing out that the two gates are the ways of professors and true believers. If my pride causes me to say one thing in the midst of believers and act in a way contrary to what I've said when in private or out in the world I am deceiving myself, and I may cause a brother to stumble. I can't have it both ways, pursue the riches and pleasures of the world, and keep up with the Jones'. I see Christians who are rude, caring not about people but making sure they are not taken advantage of in their shopping or dealing in the market place. Never engaging a person or greeting them in a joyful way. We are such a blessed people but are the things we have truly a blessing? Does not the Scriptures equate the rich man to a man that cannot enter the kingdom of God without much struggle? We are rich, even the poor among us are rich in the eyes of the world. We lack many things when an honest evaluation is done.
James 1:1-27 is a most sobering and humbling appraisal of who most of us truly are. "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
Our faith is a mess, so many methods, ways, books, and what not. All claiming to have the answers. You have those who claim we cannot know with certainty much of anything. How hopeless that sounds! Are we to think that the Creator of all things who has revealed Himself in Scripture, is unable to be understood by the very people He created for His own glory and purposes? I see the problem as being we have a low view of God and a high view of ourselves! We seem to think we can approach God in a manner that fits our inflated view of ourselves. But as always, to die to self and live for God is the hardest thing we face, the cost is too high. We want our sin and salvation too.
I want to keep it simple, take the Scripture at face value. Understand that if I question that Scripture I am in fact questioning God Himself. No I will not understand all things that the Scriptures declare. (as in election/freewill) The Scriptures declare both from my reading of it, how can I reconcile this in my mind? I can't, but I'll believe God because His ways are higher than my ways. I will not approach God on my terms but on His terms. I will not think that I can worship Him in any manner that I think He will accept, Cain thought he could and he did not repent when God gave him opportunity.
Genesis 4:3-7 "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."
God gave Cain the opportunity to do right, yet he chose to continue in his pride.
Hebrews 10:23-39 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
Hebrews 12:29 says; "For our God is a consuming fire." Do we believe this?
Liberty comes with great responsibility and self-control. Abuse of liberty will cause it to fail. Liberty is having all choices before us and only choosing those things which are good and right.
I read the "discernment" blogs and I read the "Emergent" blogs. Seems to me there is more opinion than truth on any of them. The pride of life is a dangerous thing. I live in the real world and the blog-o-shere is not where it is at. Yet many escape to it. In the real world, we see the people with their little fishes on their cars, or the "faithful" church goer that when you deal with them their rudeness and treatment of others betrays their true heart. We are failing miserably in almost all things. Profession is useless unless there is action. I fear that many many people in "Christiandom" will be horrified when they stand before the Lord only to hear "Depart from Me, I never knew you!"
Is the narrow gate the way "all" the people who believe in God are going? Is the broad way the way the unbelievers only are going? I think not. I believe the Lord was pointing out that the two gates are the ways of professors and true believers. If my pride causes me to say one thing in the midst of believers and act in a way contrary to what I've said when in private or out in the world I am deceiving myself, and I may cause a brother to stumble. I can't have it both ways, pursue the riches and pleasures of the world, and keep up with the Jones'. I see Christians who are rude, caring not about people but making sure they are not taken advantage of in their shopping or dealing in the market place. Never engaging a person or greeting them in a joyful way. We are such a blessed people but are the things we have truly a blessing? Does not the Scriptures equate the rich man to a man that cannot enter the kingdom of God without much struggle? We are rich, even the poor among us are rich in the eyes of the world. We lack many things when an honest evaluation is done.
James 1:1-27 is a most sobering and humbling appraisal of who most of us truly are. "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
Our faith is a mess, so many methods, ways, books, and what not. All claiming to have the answers. You have those who claim we cannot know with certainty much of anything. How hopeless that sounds! Are we to think that the Creator of all things who has revealed Himself in Scripture, is unable to be understood by the very people He created for His own glory and purposes? I see the problem as being we have a low view of God and a high view of ourselves! We seem to think we can approach God in a manner that fits our inflated view of ourselves. But as always, to die to self and live for God is the hardest thing we face, the cost is too high. We want our sin and salvation too.
I want to keep it simple, take the Scripture at face value. Understand that if I question that Scripture I am in fact questioning God Himself. No I will not understand all things that the Scriptures declare. (as in election/freewill) The Scriptures declare both from my reading of it, how can I reconcile this in my mind? I can't, but I'll believe God because His ways are higher than my ways. I will not approach God on my terms but on His terms. I will not think that I can worship Him in any manner that I think He will accept, Cain thought he could and he did not repent when God gave him opportunity.
Genesis 4:3-7 "And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering: But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."
God gave Cain the opportunity to do right, yet he chose to continue in his pride.
Hebrews 10:23-39 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."
Hebrews 12:29 says; "For our God is a consuming fire." Do we believe this?
Liberty comes with great responsibility and self-control. Abuse of liberty will cause it to fail. Liberty is having all choices before us and only choosing those things which are good and right.
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