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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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“FABLE: New Translations are needed to bring the archaic Old English language up to date.
People have trouble understanding the language of the King James Bible.FACT: The King James language is NOT hard to understand. Most of the so-called “archaic” words are explained by the context of the passage or by comparing the passage with other passages in the Bible where the same word is used. Heady and high-minded people resent the King James language because it is plain and simple, and it isn’t in tune with their high-minded vocabulary. In fact, the Grade Level Indicator of the Flesch-Kincaid research company says the King James language is EASIER to understand than the new versions. We certainly agree that the language of the King James Bible is a unique language, but why shouldn’t it be? It’s the WORD OF GOD!” James L. Melton, James L. Melton, Fables and Facts about the King James BibleView insights50 post reach
Bill Taylor 8/24/22 Well put. God wrote the Bible to teach us how to be saved (Jn. 3:16-18) so that we can produce the Fruit of the Spirit in this life (Gal. 5:22, Eph. 5:9), win the lost (Mt. 28:19-20, Mk. 16:15-16), and live forever in Heaven with Him in the next life. Satan confused Eve by asking “hath God said (Gen. 3:1)” and tries to corrupt our minds from the “simplicity that is in Christ (2 Cor. 11:3).” We must use the Bible which properly explains the mind of God.John 3:18 tells us that we are condemned if we do not believe on Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. We must believe that Jesus was born and lived as a perfect, sinless man who was God in the flesh. 2 Corinthians 5:21 teaches that Jesus suffered the punishment for all sins every person ever committed or would commit. Hebrews 9:22 teaches that sin cannot be paid for or be forgiven without shedding blood. We must believe that Jesus, who was God in the flesh, died on the cross to shed His perfect blood to wash away our sins.God required a perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sins. The Law of Moses required sacrificing unblemished, healthy, valuable animals as an atonement for their sins and as a preview of the coming Savior. Malachi 1:8 tells of God’s anger at being offered inferior animals. 1 Peter 1:19-21 explains that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He lived a sinless life which fulfilled Moses’ law (Mt. 5:18, Luke 21:32). An imperfect Jesus could not pay the penalty for our sins.Christians need a Bible that declares that Jesus was both man and God in the flesh and became the perfect sacrifice to pay the price for all our sins as the KJV does. Other versions come from different Greek manuscripts, but we needn’t study Greek to see if a version teaches a perfect Jesus who was God in the flesh, whose blood was shed to wash away our sins, and whose resurrection shows His power over death (1 Cor. 15).The RSV, ESV, and NASB read “their purification… ( Lk. 2:22)” because the corrupt Greek from which they were translated uses the third person plural male pronoun which refers to Jesus and Joseph, and not to Mary. This makes no sense: Moses’ Law says that a mother needed purification after giving birth, not the baby or the father. What’s worse, a Jesus who needed purification could not be a perfect sacrifice and His imperfect blood could not save anyone. These versions teach “another Jesus (2 Cor. 11:4)” who cannot save.The NIV dodges the gender issue, “When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses…” That is not translation; it’s a dodge to avoid an error in the manuscript.We also see the substitution of hos (he) for theos (God) in Paul’s letter to Timothy:And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God (theos) was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. I Timothy 3:16The NIV, ESV, NASB, and the RSV refer to “he (hos)” being manifest or revealed in the flesh instead of God. A man being seen in a human body is not a mystery – anyone born of woman is manifest or revealed or seen in the flesh. The mystery is God appearing in a human body that suffered hunger, weariness, and pain.Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. I John 4:1-3Newer versions “confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” so they are not of God. Weakening the doctrine of God-ordained salvation through a perfect sacrifice of God how appeared in the flesh and walked among the people in a human body is condemned in Revelation 22:19. This is not of God; it is “that spirit of antichrist.” Such beliefs were common in John’s day.These versions teach an imperfect Jesus who was not God in the flesh and cannot save! That’s heresy.Those who say that only a few passages are changed and there is evidence for Jesus’ perfection in other places must consider Satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11). Newer versions must make enough changes to get a copyright so the gospel becomes weaker and weaker with each one. Satan can’t destroy the Word of God but he has a long-term plan to grow so many weeds and so much confusion around it that few will find it.God’s Rules for JudgingWe are told how to judge those who speak about God or about his Works:Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20Modern versions are based on the Codex Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts promoted by Westcott and Hort in the late 1800s. The fruits of using these manuscripts must be compared with what God gives us:For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. I Corinthians 14:33Debating what God said has brought confusion and lack of peace. This tells us all we need to know:He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. Luke 11:23There are only two sides. God is not the author of confusion so we know where confusion comes from.Newer versions are copyrighted. You can’t quote them without permission! Having to ask a man for permission to quote the Word of God is just plain wrong (Acts 8:20)!Memorization EndedChristians stopped memorizing the Word of God as they became confused about what God really said. Memorization will be vital when persecution comes. Early Christians identified each other by quoting part of a verse and having the other person complete it. Going back and forth a few times identified believers.Persecution is coming to America. The Colorado Civil Rights Division has ruled that a Christian baker can’t refuse to write a pro-homosexual “marriage” message but a baker that supports same-sex “marriage” can turn down a pro-Biblical marriage message because the Bible is hateful and bigoted.Päivi Räsänen, a member of parliament, and Bishop Juhana Pohjola of the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Mission faced hate speech charges after Räsänen wrote and Pohjola published a pamphlet about “biblical marriage.” The court ruled that although their statements could offend, the purpose was to explain religious teaching, which was protected. The fact that the case was brought at all shows the danger.The fish symbol is so common on bumper stickers that we can’t use it as a secret password. We’ll have to go back to quoting scripture. People seeking to persecute us will have to memorize enough of the Bible to fool us, and studying it may lead them to salvation! The KJV is the best-known and time-tested version. That’s one of many reasons we use the KJV.
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“For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:6,7) These women are easily led astray because they spend their lives watching soap operas, TV shows like The Bachelor, read trashy romance novels, and learn from false female preachers. They have no wisdom nor discernment.
You see, they think they’re learning since they love these many false female teachers who claim to be Christians but teach fables. There are many, many of them: Sheila Gregoire, Beth Moore, Lisa Bevere, Priscilla Shrier, and Ann Voskamp to name a few. Any woman who gets behind a pulpit during a Sunday morning church service and preaches is a false teacher, women. Any women who teaches what 20,000 women surveyed think rather than teach what the Bible teaches is a false teacher. Our culture has produced women who call themselves Christians but are seekers of pleasure rather than seekers of God.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables” (2 Timothy 4:3,4).
There’s a man named Anthony Johnson who is not a Christian. He has lived much of his life as a playboy. He has a huge following on YouTube and holds yearly conferences in Florida. He loves what I teach. He interviewed me on his YouTube channel for two hours. He asks me every year to speak at his conference. Now, why does he love what I teach as an unbeliever but many women who call themselves Christians hate what I teach? It’s because Anthony can clearly see how corruptive feminism has been upon women. He sees the beauty of the Lord’s ways, yet many silly women laden with sins cannot see the destruction that feminism is causing in their own lives, in the culture, and even in the churches.
The biggest reason why there are so many women who are being deceived by these female teachers is because they aren’t studying the Word of God. They study all of the latest fashions, Hollywood gossip, and learn from false teachers rather than learn from the living Word of God. This is why they are always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. When I speak out against their favorite false teacher, they become angry and give me all of the Bible verses that they think prove that God’s clear commands to women are false. This is what these false teachers are teaching them. They are being led astray and down the wrong paths.
Stop learning from them, women! “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” (2 Timothy 2:15-17).
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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by Bruce Lackey (1930-1988)
The thing I want to talk to you about tonight is Christian clothing. What do we mean when we say "Christian clothing"? Is that some particular article? No, we can't hang a particular suit or a particular dress up here tonight and say this is Christian. Rather, there are five questions that you need to ask yourself to answer the question, "What kind of clothing should I wear?" There are five questions, and I am going to support these by God's Word.
I hope you will get these down, because you are going to face this all your life. Fashions are going to change and new things are going to be brought out all the time. There is no use in me making up a list of what is good and what is not, because that would change next year. So these five principles from God's Word will help you to decide every single item, whether it be right or wrong to wear, male or female, adult or child.
IS IT WORN BY THE OPPOSITE SEX?
The first question is this: Is it worn by the opposite sex? Turn back to Deuteronomy 22:5 for our beginning. Here is our first principle. When I am trying to decide whether or not I should wear a certain thing, my first question is "Is that item worn by the opposite sex?" In other words, I as a man should not wear anything that a woman would wear. And a woman should not wear anything that a man would wear.
"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God."
I am well aware of the fact that people resent using this verse because it is in the Old Testament. And many times people say we can't use that verse unless we are going to use the whole chapter. For instance, we wouldn't want to use verse nine. A lot of people violate that verse by planting two or three different kinds of seeds in the same plot of ground. Similarly, we've all violated verse eleven about wearing garments with different kinds of cloth. Nearly everything we have on is made out of a weave of different things. So how can we take verse five and not take verse nine or verse eleven?
Here is the principle for rightly dividing the Word of Truth: any principle found in the Old Testament which is repeated in the New Testament is for us today.
Let me prove that to you. Keep your place at Deuteronomy and go over to 1 Corinthians 10. In 1 Corinthians 10 we have a book written by a grace preacher. Nobody can deny that the Apostle Paul was a grace preacher. He preached that we're not under the law but under grace, and he wrote about that time and time again. Without a doubt he is a New Testament preacher. But I want you to notice that in this entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 10 he constantly uses the Old Testament Scripture to prove something. Look at verses one and two: "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea." That was taken from Exodus 13 and 14, in which passage we read about the cloud, and about the Red Sea parting, and how they walked across on dry land, which was similar to being baptized. They were covered with the water, even though not a drop of it touched them. Paul is referring to the Old Testament. Look at verse three: "And did all eat the same spiritual meat." That refers to Exodus 16, when God gave the manna from Heaven. That was called spiritual food. Verse four: "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." That refers to Exodus 17, when Moses took his rod and struck the rock, and God gave gushing water out of that flinty rock.
Notice that he is referring to several Old Testament incidents. Verse five: "But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness." That is referring to Numbers 13 and 14. They refused to go into the land of Israel and inherit it, and they said, "We can't take it," and so God overthrew them in the wilderness. Many of them died.
Now look at verse six. "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted." You see. It's not wrong to use the Old Testament to teach New Testament Christians to do something right. Paul did it.
Let's keep on going. Verse seven: "Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." Here he refers to Exodus 22:6. The Apostle says, "Don't you be like that." Verse eight: "Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand." That is talking about Numbers 25. Verse nine: "Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents." That is talking about Exodus 17. You remember about the brazen serpent being raised in the middle of the camp, and so on.
Look at verse ten: "Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer." That is found in Exodus 15, 16 and 17, among many other places; they murmured several times.
Now look at verse eleven: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." Two times in this chapter, in verse six and in verse eleven, he tells us without a doubt that those Old Testament writings were for us today. It is a foolish and fictitious objection when someone says that we can't use the Old Testament for us today. Here he very clearly outlines verse after verse, experience after experience in the Old Testament, to prove something that Christians ought to do right now. And that's not the end. In the rest of the chapter he does it again and again.
We can go by the Old Testament. What is our rule? Any Old Testament principle repeated in the New Testament is for us today. Now you won't ever find a New Testament verse that says observe the sabbath day. That is the reason we don't do it. You won't find any New Testament verse that says we are to kill an animal and have a blood sacrifice. That's the reason we don't do it. But anything commanded in the Old Testament and repeated in the New Testament is for us today.
Having examined 1 Corinthians 10 to establish that principle, we now come to chapter 11 where he refers to the appearance of man and woman. Specifically he talks about hair, but very clearly in 1 Corinthians 11 the Apostle says that the man and the woman ought to have their appearance different. Notice verses four and five: "Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven."
You see what he is saying? There is to be a difference between man and woman when they pray or prophesy. There is to be a difference. That is the same principle we saw back in Deuteronomy 22:5—"The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment..." It is the same idea.
Paul goes on to talk about the length of the hair. Notice verses fourteen and fifteen: "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering." Once again he underscores the principle that the appearance of men and women is to be different. Consequently, we have the same principle in Deuteronomy 22:5 repeated right here in the New Testament.
Let me share something with you that is very interesting. I have in my library a book called The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. It is one of the most beneficial books I have ever owned. It is simply a book of parallel references, just like the center reference column you have in your Bible, but it is greatly expanded. This book was printed over one hundred years ago, back when they weren't having many of the problems we are having today with women wearing men's clothes, and vise versa. So you couldn't say they were prejudiced about this subject when they put the cross references in that volume. The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge at Deuteronomy 22:5 has a parallel reference of 1 Corinthians 11:3-14. That's interesting, isn't it? You know what that proves? It proves that men that study the Bible, not just in our day but years ago, have seen that 1 Corinthians 11 contains the same principle that is stated in Deuteronomy 22:5.
I don't hesitate to use Deuteronomy 22:5 to prove that women ought not to wear men's clothes, and men ought not to wear women's clothes, any more than I would hesitate to use Psalm 23 at a funeral. You see, the truths are repeated in the New Testament.
I was also interested in what I found in the Keil and Delitzsch commentary regarding this matter. That commentary was first printed more than a hundred years ago. Charles Spurgeon refers to Keil and Delitzsch. Yet Keil and Delitzsch say that Deuteronomy 22:5 was written to maintain the sanctity of the distinction of the sexes which was established by the creation of man and woman. In other words, anybody who reads the Bible can see that all the way through in every age and every testament God has said that He wants men and women to look different. Consequently we ought not to wear clothing that applies to the opposite sex.
Of course, the main issue that we are facing here is the matter of pants on women. It matters not what you call them, whether blue jeans or slacks or pant suits. It is a main problem today. People like to argue about this. They say you can't condemn pants on a woman unless you are going to say that women can't wear belts, because men wear belts. Likewise you would have to say that women can't wear
What do we say about this? Consider some simple things to keep in mind. First, we are talking about the obvious. We're not talking about some hidden thing, like a belt, that doesn't have anything to do with the sex of the person, that doesn't have anything to do with the body.
Second, what do you look like when you wear these clothes? What do you look like from a distance? You've had the same experience that I've had of being out in public and seeing somebody at a distance and not being really sure if that person is a male or a female. You can't tell by the clothes, because girls wear pants just like boys do. They wear T-shirts just like boys do. The boys often have their hair just as long as the girls [or the girls' just as short as the boys'], so you look at someone from a distance and you often cannot tell if the person is a male or a female. The only way you can tell is to look at those portions of the body that distinguish between male and female, and by the way, that is the Devil's reason behind all of it. That is what he wants you to look at. He doesn't want you to look at somebody's head; he wants you to look other places. That is one of the things that makes this so wrong, and we need to see that. We should not wear clothing which at a distance would make anybody wonder whether we are male or female.
The best place to start on this is when the child is born. If you start when the child is born, you won't ever have to make any changes. If you don't start then, you'll always be wondering when you should make this change. Just start right in the beginning. Cut the baby boy's hair like a boy's hair should be cut, and don't put feminine clothes on him. Put pants on him. And if it is a girl, don't put pants on her; put a dress on her.
You see, all these questions that people argue about can be settled just by plain old common sense. The principle is to let the appearance be different enough that folks won't have any doubt. That's the way to answer it all. You don't have to get everybody's O.K. on this piece of clothing, or that one, just draw the line and determine to wear something that no one will ever have a doubt about. It's going to look like man's clothing. It's going to look like women's clothing.
What about women working out in the field? What about women working in factories? What about women who have to climb ladders? Don't they need something modest? Yes, they do need something modest. I used to see women out in the field picking cotton and so on. I used to see them wear overalls, but I also saw some of them put dresses on over their overalls. That was a common thing when I was a boy. Now I know that some of them didn't wear dresses over their overalls. Some of them did other things that were wrong, too. You know, too, there are some other things to wear, such as culottes, which are just as modest and still look feminine. That's what you ought to wear. If you can't buy any, get a sewing machine and learn how to sew. It's worth the expense and trouble to make that adjustment if you are going to have convictions.
Do not wear clothing that the opposite sex wears. And if you are in doubt about it, just don't and you will be safe. Just make sure that what you wear identifies you as a male or as a female, and not in a way that a person would have to look at the tempting zones of the body to tell whether you are a male or female. That is what the Devil wants you to do, and surely you don't want to cooperate with the Devil on this matter.
WHAT DOES IT MAKE OTHERS THINK OF ME?
Here is the second question you need to ask yourself about Christian clothing: What does it make others think of me? Lest you say it doesn't matter what other people think, let me read a verse or two of Scripture, and then let me read you some illustrations from modern literature which say that it does matter. In Proverbs 7:10 the Scripture has a warning to a young man against immorality: "And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart." God is warning about a woman dressed like a harlot. Now the question we ask is how is a harlot dressed? Have you ever seen a program on television in which they show a woman posing as a prostitute? If you have watched any of the police shows you see that. She may be a prostitute; she may be posing as one; she may be an undercover agent; she may be the hero; she may be the victim; she may be the bad guy, whatever. You have seen that and you know how they are dressed. You know exactly that she is a prostitute before they ever tell you. Of course, they don't use that term; they use the word "hooker." Perhaps you have seen a television news broadcast which shows these women on the streets as they're out searching for business. All you have to do is look at the way they are dressed. The bad thing about that is some Christian people dress the same way. Now, you don't want anybody to think that about you. You might wonder if people really think that about you. Yes, they do.
Here's an article from McCall's magazine. McCall's is not a Christian magazine. The editors are not trying to defend the Christian faith or propagate the Bible. Here's an article in McCall's magazine entitled "What Your Intimate Behavior Says About You." I'm going to read this. It may be offensive to some, but the words are not nearly as offensive as the way some people dress. We need to be honest and frank about this thing. It's not going to be vulgar, but plain. The writer says,
"The female legs have also been the subject of considerable male interest as sexual signaling devices. The mere exposure of leg flesh has been sufficient to transmit sexual signals. Needless to say, the higher the exposure goes the more stimulating it becomes for the simple reason that it then approaches the primary genital zone."
That's what it's all about folks, and we had better wake up and realize it. He goes on to say, talking about the primary genital zone of the body,
"The first way to accentuate is to employ articles of clothing which underline the nature of the organ hidden beneath them. For the female this means wearing trousers."
Now the fellow that wrote this is not a preacher. As a matter of fact, in this article he is telling you how to send sexual signals by the way you dress. He continues:
"The way to emphasize the nature of the organs of the body is by wearing these clothing: trousers, shorts, or bathing costumes, that by their tightness reveal..."
This is what people think when they see you dressed this way. In the Family Weekly magazine they had a true or false question and answer section.
"Question: What you communicate wordlessly has more effect on people than what you say? Answer: This is true. ... Question: People use clothes as a means of communicating with others? Answer: True. Psychological studies at Britain's University of Newcastle have demonstrated that people use clothes to tell others what they want them to believe about them."
In other words the wearer is not trying to tell others what he is really like, but is trying to communicate his ideal self-image, the kind of person he wishes he was. That's what these experts say. What you wear says something about you.
I know very well that not everybody who wears the items of clothing mentioned in the McCall's article has an immoral motive. Here's what I'm trying to get you to see: Whether you like it or not, this is what other people think. As a Christian, somebody interested in holiness, in winning people to Christ and getting people's minds off of sin, we need to go entirely the other way.
Whether you realize it or not, men look at certain portions of the body; and it doesn't matter whether you think that is good, bad, or otherwise, they are going to do it. And if you wear clothing that attracts attention to that, you are just helping them in their sin. That's why a dress, unless it's too tight, is better than pants; because a dress does not draw the attention to that part of the body that people look at and lust after.
I have a lot of other articles, but I have time for only one more. An article appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Richmond, Virginia, and the writer of the article was Anthony Surbony, a personnel manager for a large corporation. He had interviewed more than 14,000 men for jobs in the past years that he had been there. He said that the length of a person's hair tells a lot about him. Here's a man after 14,000 interviews. He said the left-wingers generally have long hair.
"They reject self-discipline, authority, regulation, proven logic and reasoning. They are more easily swayed by popular opinions and propaganda. They tend to accept and do anything if somebody simply suggests it's a style. Many employers find that they tend to be more dreamers than doers, where the reverse is the trend on men with short hair. Why is it so? Mainly it is due to a self-centered personality."
I have been saying that for a long time.
There are certain things that I like about women that I don't like on men. I like for women to look nice, and it doesn't bother me at all to see a woman in front of a mirror primping and fixing her hair. But it just about makes me want to throw up to see a man do that, and I've seen men do that very thing, just like a woman.
I quote further from the article mentioned above. He said long hair indicates a self-centered personality.
"The liberal left-winger seems to be more selfish and only aspire to goals that will benefit them individually, regardless of what it costs to others. They actually believe that long hair is beautiful on a man and they feel naked without it. They try to make up for lack of ability by attracting attention, or becoming a sex symbol. Longhaired liberals also reject the basic hunter/warrior responsibilities of man. They seem to think that society should provide for them and that someone else should guarantee protection. Or else they don't really believe that there are any enemies. In fact, some tend to bow before enemies, hoping to gain friendship."
Men have lost the basic responsibility that God inbred into a human being to fight for what is his and to provide for what is his. Men reject that, and the first thing you know, they think the government owes them a living. They don't feel responsible to go out make a living any more. It all goes together. We must remember that this man is an expert in analyzing people.
When I am considering what kind of clothes to wear, I need to ask myself this question: What does it make other people think about me?
PREDOMINATELY, WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE DRESS THAT WAY?
Here is the third question we need to ask: Predominately, what kind of people dress that way?
Do you think that a policeman who is going to be an undercover agent would dress like I am dressed? Do you think his hair would be as short as mine is? No, sir. Every policeman that I have ever seen or heard about in the last twenty years that became an undercover agent around the bars and gambling dens let his hair grow long, and wore sloppy, slouchy clothes, because that is the kind of people they are trying to catch. I don't want to look like that kind of person. It's not because I think I'm better than they are. It's because when Jesus saved me, He jerked me up out of that. That's what I used to be. I don't want to be that anymore. I don't want folks to think I've gone back to that.
See, here is the third question. Predominately, what kind of people wear the kind of clothes you are thinking of wearing? If it's the wrong kind, you surely don't want to identify yourself with it.
MUST I USE THE ARGUMENTS OF THE WORLD TO JUSTIFY IT?
Here is the fourth question: Must I use the arguments of the world to justify it?
"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" I Cor. 1:20
"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." I Cor. 2:5
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." Col. 1:9
If you read these verses you find out there is a difference between the wisdom of the world and spiritual wisdom. A Christian is in trouble when he has to resort to the wisdom of the world to justify what he is doing. We ought to be able to use the wisdom of God. If I am going to defend my position I ought to be able to go to the Bible and use spiritual wisdom to do it. God help us if we have to use worldly wisdom to justify our clothing or actions.
WILL IT CAUSE OTHERS TO STUMBLE?
Here is the fifth question: Will it cause others to stumble?
"It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." Rom. 14:21
King David walked on his roof top. He was lazy; he was disobedient; he was out of God's will. But also he saw a woman washing herself. She was either out in a yard where everybody could see her, or else she was in the house without the curtains drawn. And she was equally guilty in that lusting experience. I know David was out of God's will and should have been out fighting the battles, because the Bible starts off that chapter by saying that it was the time that kings went out to war that David stayed at home. I know that was wrong, and she likewise was wrong in taking a bath where a man could see her.
What you do or what you wear, will it cause somebody to stumble? Now you might say the other fellow has to look out for himself. That is not what the Bible says. The Bible says, "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak." We are responsible.
CONCLUSION
We have considered five good tests regarding clothing. Is it worn by the opposite sex? What does it make other people think of me? What kind of people dress that way? Must I use the argument of the world to defend it? Will it cause anybody else to stumble?
In closing, let me encourage you to have some Christian convictions, and let me make some strong suggestions to you about these.
Number one, make sure your convictions are biblically based. When you believe something is wrong, you had better have a good Bible reason for believing it. You ought to know where the Bible talks about that, and if you don't think you can remember it, write it down so you can show people. Have biblically based convictions, not just opinions.
Number two, when you have a conviction, be firm. Don't waver no matter what crowd you are with, no matter what environment you find yourself in. If it is wrong to wear a bathing suit walking down the street, it is wrong to wear one in the swimming pool. The water doesn't have anything to do with it. That is why you have to be careful about where you go swimming. Do you expose your body to the lustful thoughts of others? They are going to think it whether you like it or not. Be firm in your convictions.
Number three, be kind when you have convictions. Don't be a smart aleck. When the time comes to express yourself, or to say no, or to give a reason, be kind about it. Learn your reasons, and know them, and don't be nervous, and don't be angry, and don't be snappy. Be kind about it.
Number four, don't act superior. Don't act like you are better than somebody else. That's the first charge they are going to make against you, I guarantee you. Anytime you ever have a conviction about anything, whether it be about music, or drinking liquor, others are going to say that you think you are better than they are. People have been saying that for centuries. That is not anything new. So don't act superior. Just let them know you aren't going to do that thing.
Number five, if you have to talk to somebody about these things deal with the heart first. All of this is a matter of the heart. You might get somebody straightened out on the matter of the clothes they ought to wear and they still be just as lost as they were before you met them. Before I talk to anybody about clothes or anything else, the first thing I want to know is what about the heart? Have you been saved? Acts 15:9. Has your heart been purified by faith? Romans 10:9. Have you believed in your heart that God raised Christ from the dead? The first thing I want to know is about the heart and salvation. All that I said here tonight applies to those who are saved. If you haven't been saved, it's not going to help your soul one way or the other to change your clothes. It's not going to help at all. If Jesus does not live in your heart, that is your first need. You first have to come to Christ.
If you are saved it is still a matter of the heart. If I were talking to a Christian about this, the first thing I would want to talk to him about would be the heart. Is your heart right with God? If your heart's not right with God, you are not going to be able to understand any of this. You're going to resent every argument, and resent anybody even bringing up this discussion.
The Bible talks about the heart. Hebrews 10:22—"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." God is talking to Christian people there. And in verses 24 and 25, "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." It's a matter of the heart.
Originally transcribed from audiocassette. First published July 30, 2002 (Republished August, 2004), by David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061.
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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by Bill Brinkworth
In This Issue:
Volume: 871 August 8, 2022
Theme: Liberalism
The Damage They Have Done
Bill Brinkworth
A liberal philosophy has existed throughout history, but rarely has it done as much damage to society as it has done in the last fifty years. Many boast and are not ashamed of having such a philosophy, but its destruction to individuals and the populace is far-reaching.
Webster’s dictionary (1828) defines “liberal” in many ways. The definitions applied to a liberal philosophy include “not literal or strict, licentious, lacking decorum, unseemly beliefs, favoring changes, progressive, tolerant of other views.” Liberal thinking is usually a value system that deviates from what is traditionally considered normal and moral. From a Christian’s perspective, it includes beliefs that reject and want to change moral truths preserved by God in His Word, the Bible.
Any variance from how God wants man to believe and live will only lead to an individual or society becoming more immoral and living a lifestyle further from God’s demands. The outcome of accepting immorality has never been good for cultures of the past. Societies deviating from following God’s guidelines have suffered, whereas those abiding by His commandments have flourished.
Over the years, we have not discouraged these philosophies contrary to God’s Word. In too many cases, liberal thinking has even been encouraged. Liberal philosophers, politicians, preachers, professors, and teachers, whose beliefs kept them from being employed in the past, are now sometimes given preferential treatment in getting a job. Although their thinking is often accepted, the price it has cost society is immeasurable.
Here are some of the negative changes liberalism has caused in our society:
- Where the morality of the majority of society was in line with scriptural teachings, the Bible has been banned in many institutions, societies, and even in conversation. In doing so, the standard that says lying, stealing, taking of lives, adultery, homosexuality, worshipping other gods, and other moral limitations, has been removed. Without God’s standards, it is acceptable to tell “little” white lies, take things that do not belong to you if you are needy, kill unborn babies because they are unwanted, commit homosexuality, and worship anything you want, because you feel better when you do so. Without God’s measuring tool, the Bible, anything goes.
- Leaders who once could not get a job or be elected if their character or beliefs strayed from biblical teachings are now elected to positions that make decisions that alter society’s morals. Elected leaders in the United States have passed laws that allow over 4,000 murders of unborn babies every day. They have also removed mentions of anything about God or His Word in public situations (including the Ten Commandments that were posted in many public buildings), encouraged public acceptance of homosexuality, making it a crime if anything is said contrary to their beliefs (“hate crimes”), and countless other anti-scriptural laws.
- Liberal religious schools have produced preachers and leaders brainwashed to question and doubt God’s Word. When they preach, they instill those doubts to their congregation, and now few under their preaching know what the Bible says, believe it, and certainly do not follow His Word. Because of the liberal infiltration of pulpits, “thus saith the Lord” is no longer instilled in minds. The “fear of God” has been removed from many churches!
- Tolerance of anything, including others’ beliefs, has allowed unscriptural, damaging lifestyles to breed. Humanity’s depravity is now laughed at and accepted most times, as there are no longer any standards that say anything is wrong.
- Teachers and professors with little biblical character and standards are allowed to guide and direct young minds during most of their students’ day. How do you think a student’s thinking will be after 12 years of liberal propaganda?
As an old ad said, “We have come a long way, baby.” Unfortunately, the way we have gone is morally downhill, and it is not good — in God’s eyes!
Just because the liberals are confused, have few biblical standards, and in many cases, are rebellious against God does not mean that we have to follow and conform to their way of life that we are forced to live! We, as Christians, know where the Truth is.
Our responsibility is to be examples many will want to follow. Christians are to be a light in this dark, sinful world. We need to lead Biblically, not follow unscriptural pathways. If one by one, we each live our lives according to what God has preserved in His written Word, once again, it will be unpopular to think and live contrary to what God’s Word says to do.
“Usually, the liberal tries to camouflage his true identity.”
— Dr. Harold Sightler
The Old Is Better
H. Cameron
What is the new theology?
Some substitute for Calvary?
Exalting sinful self, guilty man.
Ignoring Heaven’s peerless plan?
It cannot give my conscience peace,
Nor find my spirit’s sweet release.
What is the old theology?
‘Tis Jesus died instead of me.
Jehovah’s law he magnified.
God’s justice is fully satisfied;
I died in Him, yet live I again
With Him forevermore to reign.
“God’s perfect will and way need not be modernized.”
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Heb. 13:8
Christianity above Philosophy
Author Unknown
Every system of philosophy is little in comparison to Christianity. Philosophy may expand our ideas of creation, but it neither inspires a love for the moral character of the Creator nor a well-grounded hope of eternal life.
Philosophy, at most, can only place us at the top of Mount Pisgah, but there, like Moses, we will die. It gives us no possession of the good, Promised Land.
It is the province of Christianity to add, “All is yours.” When you ascend to the heights of human discovery, some things are beyond reach. Scriptural revelation is the only medium by which standing, as it were, on “Nature’s Alps,” we discover things which the “… eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
“Man’s philosophy is a bully that talks very loud when the danger is at a distance, but when facing life’s real difficulties, it runs away and cannot be found.” — Author Unknown
Whose Christ?
Herbert Lockyer,
An Instrument of Ten Strings
Christians who love to be in places of worldly, sinful amusement give the world a false conception of Christianity. Their being in those places indicates by their presence that Jesus Christ can save, but He cannot satisfy and that there has to be some addition of the world to make the Christian happy.
I met a girl in Liverpool who listened one evening as I spoke about complete separation from the world’s ungodliness. She went home and was very unhappy.
She returned in desperation to tell me that if the theater, movies, and worldly amusements went out of her life, she would have nothing to live for.
I said, “God help you.”
“But,” she said, “I belong to the ___ church.”
“Well,” I said, “what has that to do with it?”
“We are told to have our quiet time in the morning,” she answered,
“and then we can take Jesus into all these places.”
“Well,” I said, “you may take your Jesus into those places, but you
cannot take the One of the Bible into there.”
“But, those who go to the limit to enjoy all the things that the devil provides in this world find that the way in the end is hard. For the moment sin appears to be the thing that you need, and there is a thrill in it, the ‘thrill’ soon harms the sinner, and it becomes a burden and a heartache.” — Dr. Harold Sightler
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
The biggest problem in the church today is it is intentionally all too often non-confrontational
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Abomination!
Bill Brinkworth
According to Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language, an “abomination” is an “extreme hatred, a detestation”. As harsh as that label is, there are many things that the Word of God defines as an abomination to God. It may surprise the “God is love” crowd when they discover there are things that God hates with disgust.
Although the word “abomination” occurs most in the Old Testament, God does not change
(Malachi 3:6). What He hated over two thousand years ago, He still hates today.
Here are some of what the Bible describes is an abomination to God:
Not worshipping God the way He commands. Many in the Old Testament did not abide by God’s Laws, and it was an abomination to Him. Not worshipping Him the way He wants us to worship Him today is also an abomination.
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Prov. 28:9 Also: Lev. 7:18, Lev. 11:13, Deut. 17:1, Deut. 23:18, Isa. 1:13.
Idolatry and false worship.
“Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.” Deut. 27:15 Also: Deut. 7:25, Deut. 12:31, Prov. 15:8, Prov. 21:27, Jer. 32:35, Eze. 18:12.
Those that are habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition (“froward”). "Froward" also means: not willing to yield or comply with what is required, ungovernable.
“They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.” Prov. 11:20 Also: Prov. 3:32.
Deceitfulness, even in business.
“A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.” Prov. 11:1 This is referring to weighing a product with dishonest measurements.
“Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.” Prov. 20:10 Also: Prov. 20:23.
Lies.
“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Prov. 12:22
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." Prov. 6:16-19
Not honoring the differences in the sexes God created.
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Deu. 22:5 Also: I Cor. 6:9.
Sexual Sin, including adultery, incest, homosexuality, and fornication (sexual relations between unmarried people).
“And one hath committed abomination with his neighbour's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter in law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter.” Eze. 22:11 Also: Deut. 22:22.
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” Lev. 20:13 Also: Lev. 18:22.
Remarrying a divorced spouse.
“Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before the LORD: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” Deu. 24:4 Also: Jer. 3:1.
Boasting pride.
“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” Prov. 16:5
All wickedness.
Those that live an unrestrained lifestyle of wanton sin are an abomination unto God.
“The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.” Prov. 15:9 Also: Prov. 15:26.
Toleration of wickedness.
“He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.” Prov. 17:15
“And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15
Reading this incomplete list certainly should put a “Gulp!” in most of our minds, as some of our everyday or excepted behaviors are an abomination to the Creator. His never changing Word puts a spotlight on current day practices. No one can please God with sinful actions. We need to change! With God’s help and a repentant heart a saved person can keep a distance from behavior God hates.
It does not matter if current law allows or approves of certain practices and actions. People’s acceptance or approval also does not matter in the light of what God feels about our sin. If God says it is something He hates, we should be doing all we can to apologize and turn from doing abominable acts. How can anyone expect God’s hand of guidance, help, and grace when he is committing things God will not tolerate!
“If God is against sinful behavior, so should we!”
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“Be Patient To All”
” … be patient toward all men.” I Thessalonians 5:14b
Life is filled with people who are different than you. I
know, I know, shocking truth, isn’t it! Yet, sometimes we fail
to appreciate the difference that make each of us unique. In
Christ, we are all covered under the blood, but we are not
“cookie-cutter” Christians. We have differing viewpoints,
different outlooks, and even dissimilar in our philosophy of
ministry. Listen to this:
To live above with those we love,
Oh, that will be Glory!
But to live below with those we know,
Now , that’s another story !
Churches today are filled with Christian people who don’t
all think exactly alike. Because of this, it behooves us to be
obedient to Christ when it says in our verse; ” … be patient
toward all men.” Some people have certain viewpoints
because they are young in the faith, and have not yet matured
in their walk with Christ. Some have ideas that are
preferences and not doctrinal issues. Some appear to be
Christians but may actually be wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Still, others may be honest, humble believers who have never
been taught what you have been and need to be exposed to
more truth or another view, all the while, maintaining a
viewpoint that parallels Scripture in every possible way.
Christian, we need to develop a deep love for the brethren,
even the ones who are not exactly like you and me! Since
Christ died for all mankind, we must do our duty to love as He
loved and be patient toward ALL men. – S.T.
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread” JULY 27th, 2022. By author BRO. STEVE TAYLOR, Madison Baptist Church, Madison,
With permission from Tim Green, editor Baptist Bread.
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“Come Out From Among Them”
by Paul Heaton, Pastor, Bible Baptist Church, Lupton, MI.
“Come Out From Among Them”
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye sepa-
rate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will
receive you. ” II Corinthians 6:17
Have you ever noticed how some verses seem to bother
people more than others? Nobody I know of gets uneasy or
defensive with Romans 3:23, but will be very defensive if you
read our text verse, and suggest that they need to be careful of
their friends and acquaintances. Solomon, told his son not to
make friends with an angry man. Why? ” … Lest thou learn his
ways, ” (Pro. 22:25a). Imagine that! I wonder how many
saints lost their testimony because they hung around with the
wrong-spirited person?
I want you to think about something the Lord said to His
people in Jeremiah 10:2a, “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not
the way of the heathen, … ” Just as Solomon warned his son of
the possibility of learning an improper spirit from an angry
man, so the Lord is warning His people NOT to learn the way
of the heathen. Perhaps that includes their language, their
dress, their music, their manners, their acceptance of the
worldly philosophies. It might well include their definition of
marriage, gender, worship and on it goes.
We’re not supposed to be like them; we’re supposed to be
like Christ. I’m afraid we’ve taken the easy route, and that is to
“learn to adapt to their ways.” God help us, saints! I
Corinthians 1:2b says, ” … to them that are sanctified in Christ
Jesus, called to be saints ,… ” Think about it! -P.H.
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread” July 25th, 2022 devotional by author Paul Heaton, Pastor, Bible Baptist Church, Lupton, MI. with permission from Tim Green, editor Baptist Bread.
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“Separation From The Brethren”
by DR. DENNIS CORLE
“Separation From The Brethren”
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” II Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15
We know what the Bible says about separation from sin, and from the world and from the ungodly crowd. But there is also a time to separate from the brethren. You need God’s wisdom and leadership to know what to do and when to do it.
One thing we find out in verses 14 and 15 is that God makes it clear that even when the time comes for me to separate from some brother, I am to separate but never to attack him. I’m still to admonish him as a brother. I’m not to count him as an enemy. You may fight your enemies. You don’t fight the brethren. God says, “Even though he’s wrong, don’t respond to him in the same way that you would to an enemy.” He’s your brother, even though he’s going a wrong direction.
Even though an erring brother is a born-again Christian and going to Heaven when he dies, because of his direction, because of the way that he’s operating, it makes it impossible for me to fellowship with him. I must separate. However, I am not to become his enemy. I am to admonish him. – D.C
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread” April 3rd, 2022 devotional by author DR. DENNIS CORLE, Evangelist, Claysburg, PA. With permission from Tim Green, editor Baptist Bread.
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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Sign-up to receive the free DAILY VIEW e-mailed devotion at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/a26cc9M. It includes a KJV chapter, a short devotion teaching something in the day’s reading, and more spiritual food for the hungry soul!
Separate Yourself by Bill Brinkworth
An important biblical teaching is believers should be separated from sin and the ungodly activities of the world as much as possible.
It is taught throughout the Old Testament. God’s people, particularly Israel, were to keep their distance from the heathen, so they would not be exposed or tempted by the ungodly’s involvement in sin.
In the New Testament, early believers were also warned to remain as far as possible from the unfruitful, ungodly works of unrighteousness. God wanted His people nowhere near the grasp of harmful, contagious sin.
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Eph. 5:11
The Bible tells us much about living a separated, godly life:
- From the beginning, God did some separating. God separated the unrighteous world from Noah and His family when He sent the flood. The ungodly perished.
- In Old Testament times, God repeatedly warned His people to separate from the ungodly so they would not end up doing the sins the enemies of God were committing.
- “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.” Isaiah 52:11
- “Flee out of the midst of Babylon [a sinful nation], and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.” Jer. 51:6 God was going to judge the sinful nation. He did not want His people to be included in the punishment that would be inflicted on the ungodly.
- God says not to do the sinful or “close to appearing sinful” activities they do.
- “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” II Cor. 6:17
- Our example, Christ, lived a separated life. We claim to be “Christ-like,” which is what “Christian” means, so we also should live a separated life.
- “For such an high priest [Jesus] became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;” Heb. 7:26
A different way of living does not save anyone. “Not cursing, chewing, or hangin’ around with those that do” is a good practice, but it will not make one saved.
However, when one acknowledges one’s sin, realizes the price that will ultimately be paid for it, accepts Christ’s payment for one’s iniquity, and accepts Him as Saviour, that person is saved from the penalty of sin. That person will be changed on the inside, and changes on the outside should soon follow.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Cor. 5:17
This “new creature” should want to live the way the Lord wants him to live. The child’s Sunday school song reminds us, “The things I used to do, I don’t do them anymore.”
The “new” saved person will produce godly fruits (actions that are pleasing to the Lord), not because he has to do them to keep his salvation, but because his new “heart” will want to do them for the Lord. A saved person should desire to please his Saviour.
“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” Eph. 5:8-12
The new-hearted Christian should realize that much of the way he used to live was not pleasing to the Lord. To please the Lord, he should want to separate himself from sin and its temptation.
For centuries, separation from sin and even the “… appearance of evil …” (I Thes. 5:22) were preached from most pulpits and practiced by most. Christians lived differently. They spoke, dressed, believed, acted, and thought differently. They were ashamed, as were their families, when they were involved in sin or even imitated the lifestyles of the unsaved.
This thinking and lifestyle are foreign to many of today’s Christians and are often ridiculed by them. One would be hard-pressed in most churches and Christian households to be able to tell any difference between “Christians” and the unsaved.
Some church leaders and believers spend more time excusing, justifying, and explaining their worldly thinking and lifestyles than remembering one of God’s most important commandments to His believers — to live holy.
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” Lev. 20:7 Also: I Peter 1:16.
God has not changed since He had the words penned in Lev. 20:7. No matter how those around us are living and believing, a Christian is always to live as godly as he can.
We are on God’s winning side, and we are to live like it. We are not to live like the ungodly.
When a Christian lives the way God commands, the ungodly will separate from him. Godly living convicts the ungodly, and rather than change their way of living, they often will alienate themselves from the source of their “feeling guilty.” Many Christians that do not live a separated life never make any difference to those around them, as their lifestyle is not a godly example.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.” Luke 6:22
The majority of Christians fail in the area of separation. Most often, they will not separate themselves from the things of this world and separate themselves unto God. They want the comfort of knowing they will go to Heaven, but their sincerity is lacking.
Most will not separate from the places they should not be. They also act, think, dress, and look like the ungodly. Their desire is to fit in like everyone else.
If the fad returns to have short skirts, many Christians will quickly be in the store to make sure they look like everyone else. When the fashion of long hair returns for men, they are the first to drive past the barbershop and find something to tie their hair back. Too often, Christians are more interested in fitting in with the world than they are fitting in with God and letting Him make them as holy as He can.
It would be more helpful for Christians if they had the attitude, “I’m a Christian. If the Bible shows me to do something, I will do it without question. If the world thinks I am peculiar, then that is their problem. As for me and my house, I will separate from the world and its many questionable behaviors. I will look, act, talk, and behave like the Bible says a Christian should.”
We should not strive to fit in and appear like everyone else. Remember when your mother said to you, “If your friends jumped off a bridge, would you do it?” We did not like her admonishment, but too many are doing that spiritually; we are doing what everyone around us is doing. Too many are following the world rather than leading the world by a Christ-like example.
The question or place of confusion for many is, “Well, what is it I should be separated from? What are the ungodly works of wickedness I am to keep away from?”
Reading the Bible will reveal the main source of what should be avoided — sin. There are more sins than those found in the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20). One man counted over 600 sins. One will not know what he should keep away from if he does not read the Bible and learn what they are.
“Well, many of the sins are for Old Testament times,” is often the retort. The Old Testament, particularly the Law, is the schoolmaster (Gal. 3:24) that teaches us what God likes and dislikes. Since God never changes, what was a sin to Him in those days, unless there is a retraction or permission given in the New Testament, is still iniquity today.
People feel more comfortable with a list of sins. However, because of man’s devices, dealings, and different times, sins change. A list of sins from Old Testament times would not always apply today.
Scales no longer have weights, so the sin of “false balances” would not be valid for most today. However, the principle behind that sin, cheating, and deceiving still can be applied today.
There were no guns in 1200 BC, but fatally killing someone with one today is still a sin. Murder has always been a sin, be it with a gun or a stone. Alcoholic beer is not mentioned in the Bible; however, drunkenness is to be avoided according to God’s Word.
Abortion also is not mentioned in the Bible, but the principle of not killing another and taking one’s life is forbidden by God. Many insist the dress codes and standards of the Old Testament are only for by-gone days, but the principle that honors the differences in the sexes as God created them has not changed.
Many justify sin and lack of separation with the excuse, “Today is different.” Sin is sin and always has been. The principles of what is iniquity needs to be learned from God’s Word and then applied.
Man’s lifestyles and possessions are constantly changing. A list of what not to do will never be accurate for more than several years.
It is the spirit of doing the right things that must be established, and then an attitude of discernment will hold true and guide one, no matter what changes in the world. It is the “spirit” of God’s law that needs to be the ruler to measure what is right and wrong, not just being on God’s list of sins (“the letter” of the law).
“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” II Cor. 3:6
When one lives a life far from the edge of being “wrong” or sinful, they will seldom have to worry about “falling into sin.” I learned this from my first pastor after I was saved.
Pastor Fedena drew an imaginary line on the platform and walked along it. He said that many Christians do not want to live a separated life, yet they still want to have an appearance of being a Christian.
They are so close to sin that it takes very little to unbalance them spiritually. He illustrated this by stumbling off the line he was walking on and tripping down the platform’s steps.
“But,” he went on to illustrate, “Those that have learned the wisdom to stay away from anything that would tempt them or even give an appearance of their doing wrong, get far away from that ‘tolerable’ line.” He moved far away from the imaginary line separating right and wrong. As he continued, he pointed out, “As I get farther away from the questionable ‘gray’ area, you will see that I am getting closer to God.” That is what living far from the edge of right and wrong does; it protects us from being tempted and falling into sin.
He went back to the line of “what-one-can-get-away-with-and-still-not-be-involved-in-sin.” As the preacher tried to balance on the line again, he warned, “Those that live close to the edge of where they were before they were saved, and know what sin is, cannot lose their salvation when getting too close to their old lifestyle, but they can get involved in it. They may lose their testimony that may take a long time, if ever, to get back. Their witness as a godly example will be ruined.
“When referring to Christian hypocrites, those that got too close to the edge and fell into sin are usually referred to. It is much safer to get far from the tempting edge and closer to God. If it is questionable, give God the benefit of the doubt and stay away from its involvement.”
That is what separation is all about: separating oneself from anything that will make one fall and hurt the cause of Christ. That is why God wants us to separate from many things of this world and, of course, from sin.
God loves us and does not want His children hurt by sin or weakened by its temptation. Separate yourself from the world and unto God.
“If you’re a Christian, why would you want to act like, live like, look like, or even talk like the devil’s losing side?”
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Share Biblical Truths with Others...by Bill Brinkworth
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” II Cor. 11:3-4
The Apostle Paul was concerned about the early church in Corinth. He knew the devil would attempt to attack, weaken, and destroy the ministry there as he has done even to the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden. Paul knew that the subtle enemy of God would attempt to get the fledgling church to disobey and question God just as he did to Adam and Eve in the garden. The evangelist knew Satan’s tactics and how he often attacked and weakened God’s people.
Satan’s attack on God’s people today is not much different from the one on the early church. One of his tactics is not to totally halt talk about the things of God, but to confuse people into believing different things about what is spoken about in the Bible. The enemy of God is the originator of religiously correct confusion, which is similar to the secular politically correct confusion, which is being forced on many today.
One of the enemy’s techniques of confusion is the “religious” acceptance of another Jesus. This Jesus is spoken of much in modern churches. He was born in a manger. He died on the cross, but close examination of their religious teachings show that He is not same as spoken of in the Word of God.
Although they may claim that Jesus is the only “begotten son” of God, they also teach that Satan is Jesus’ brother, which is not scriptural. Some flatly deny, although they say Jesus was a good man, that he was God’s son (which false teaching is prevalent in the modern “bibles”), or He was just a prophet or “God’s messenger.” Others deny his virgin birth, which is the way He was born sinless in the body of a man, and this unvirgin birth would make him a sinner.
Many believe another Jesus, and not the one that came to this earth to save people from the wages of their sin. Many know of a “Jesus,” but it is not the Holy Son of God spoken of in God’s Word.
Another confusing ploy of the enemy is to make men believe and follow another spirit, rather than the Holy Spirit. This false spirit is alive and being followed today when people decide to do what they think is right and good. Rather than obey the Holy Spirit’s leading which is always in accordance with the Word of God, they follow the false, often unholy spirit of man. Some of these unholy spirits lead people and do not convict them of their dishonesty, drunkenness, deceitfulness, immodesty, lewdness, unholy lifestyle, or other sins. Their religion and philosophies justify the sin they are committing. It is another spirit they are following, as the Spirit of God would not permit any iniquity.
Another gospel is also believed and obeyed (Galatians 1:7-8). It is not the good news that Jesus died on the cross for sinners, and that His death is the only payment God will accept for any person’s sin. Today many teach obeying church rules, and doctrines will get one to heaven. It is also preached from some pulpits that good works, religious rites, or deeds will get one there, even though the Bible clearly teaches otherwise. Often a religion’s own writings have higher importance than the preserved Word of God.
Some even teach the false gospel that there are many different ways to heaven, while the true Gospel says there is only one way to Heaven and that is through Jesus (John 14:6). Others unbiblically teach that praying to dead Christians of the past can get prayers answered and sins forgiven. Man-made religion has added to or removed from the real Gospel that Jesus brought to mankind.
The true Gospel is the one that God has made sure we would have after all these years. The pure Word of God has been kept for us within the pages of the King James Bible. That Bible should be the only source of knowing the will and way of God, for English speaking people.
There is a real, unseen spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:12) occurring everywhere. The enemy’s goal is to send as many souls as possible to Hell or to weaken believers beyond usefulness to the cause of Christ. The battle can be lost by any that believe and follow the wrong Jesus, the wrong spirit, or the wrong Gospel. Be wary! Read you Bible for yourselves. Learn, obey, and follow only the genuine.
“Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:7-8
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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The biggest problem in the church today is it is
intentionally all too often non-confrontational.
This is why we are so Biblically ignorant as a culture. Too many churches that claim to still be faithful to the Word present/contextualize/apply it intentionally in a non-confrontational way. Therefore, many of the unsaved have not actually seen what we believe lived out, for we don't live much differently than them.
Non-confrontationalism is the biggest heresy in the church today, because it inhabits most of the churches that still preach the traditional doctrines of sin, repentance, the trinity, etc.
By self-imposing non-confrontationalism, we have emasculated the faith, rendered it defenseless against the Spirit of the Age, and thus done the same to the faithful.
That doesn't mean confrontation has to always be aggressive. Confrontation is not a method but a motive.
The Christ child we adore in the manger is confronting a sinful world, just as the fully ascended Christ on a white horse with a sword in his mouth and a robe dipped in blood.
But we have taught confrontation is inherently bad. We have made "love" an idol in our image. As in "love" is" what will be the most non-threatening and least offensive way I can present the Gospel to not risk anything on my end.
This is why we wait on political saviors instead of publicly taking a stand ourselves. Because we can be "the silent majority" and go and vote privately for our candidate without backlash.
The Bible is a book of confrontation. God is a God of confrontation. Christ becomes our Lord and Savior via confrontation.
Rest assured, Hell has never practiced the doctrine of non-confrontationalism, and never will. And it will continue surrounding us in this culture until we learn to embrace confrontation again. Steve Deace
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING/TEACHING RESOURCES
WILL BE ADDED AS WE MOVE FORWARD
A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
Read Study Learn Teach Mentor Train for Christ
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7/7/2022
6 min read
The word "world" is not synonymous with the word "earth". More and more though I am hearing people make them so. The earth refers to the planet we reside upon and the basic soil from which it is made. And God called the dry land Earth, Genesis 1:10. Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head, II Samuel 15:32. World refers to the system of governance and culture by which man organizes himself.
Just as God made the earth, he made our world. He designed nations, families and laws. He was in the world, the world was made by him and the world knew him not, John 1:10. The world, or should we say, the system of man's culture, government, and interaction one with another is fallen. It is no longer what God made it to be. He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, Jeremiah 10:12.
Anyone who cares to look at our earth can see the power of God throughout all creation. To study the world is to see the corruption of man upon the face of the earth. No one watching an evening news broadcast is tempted to ascribe God's wisdom to the world depicted. Yet anyone reading of what God can do with our culture, government, and interactions one with another is struck by the wisdom.
Sometimes the Word of God shows us the world upon the earth as God would see it. That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth, Job 37:12. In such a verse, to look upon the world is to look upon the outspreading of man upon this earth. We are commanded not to love the world, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, I John 2:15. When we love the world we besmirch ourselves and become just like it. God could not help but love the world, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John 3:16. When God loved the world, he also became like it, For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, II Corinthians 5:21. He became sin that we might be made righteous.
The world is an ever shifting untrustworthy conglomeration of the machinations of men. Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions, Ecclesiastes 7:29. There will come a day when God stops the shifting and changing. The world will become unmoving, it will have a form that pleases God once Jesus Christ returns and remakes the world in his chosen form. Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously, Psalm 96:10. Notice, that is a future verse.
We have another verse just 3 psalms later that tells us that the "world moveth not". One psalm tells us that the world will one day not move and the other speaks of it as an accomplished fact. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved, Psalms 93:1. What do we do with two verses which supposedly are talking about the same thing, are only three chapters apart, yet can't agree on the timing? We trust in the exact English, that's what we do.
Let's review Paul Scott's entry to this blog where he discusses the difference between the words "established" such as is used in Psalms 96, and the word "stablished" which is used in Psalms 93.
"The word establish is well understood. The synonyms include founded and beginning at. We often see that a business, a community, or church was established, founded, or began at such and such a time, and in certain circumstances. Briefly, it means built upon. Founded and foundation.
Stablish, in its briefest definition, means built up. See the synonyms used in 1 Peter 5:10: perfect, strengthen, settle. James 5:8, 2 Thes. 3:3, and Romans 16:25 use stablish as strengthen. It’s not the founding of anything, but rather the building or strengthening of the already existing person or principle. Edified and strengthened."
Psalms 96 tells us that the world "shall be established." That is prophetic. When it is established, the social order, the government, and our interactions one with another will not be constantly moving and subject to change as they are today. There are many passages of the Bible which foretell of that blessed day. Psalms 93 tells us that the world "is stablished". How can something that has not been founded be built up? Psalms 93 is also obviously prophetic. Many prophecies in the Word of God speak in the present tense even though they are to be fulfilled many years later. The world must be "established" before it can "stablished". What is the use in having a perfect English bible if we don't follow its rules?
Why is that important? It is important because there is an ever increasing segment of the King James crowd that believes that the "earth" doesn't presently move. They often cite Psalms 93:1. Such a belief if stated clearly in the Bible would arrest me and force me to believe it. However, the Bible says no such thing. In fact, it says the opposite. Years before science ever figured it out, the Bible spoke of an earth riding a circuit. I have never wanted to believe something that required me to squelch or ignore part of my intellect. Fortunately, the King James Bible has strengthened my intellect and made me see the natural world more clearly.
For example, that the earth is spheroid in shape is never openly stated, but there are statements in the Bible which would make no sense if the earth was not spheroid in shape. Take the concept of a bottomless pit. The Bible tells us that there is one on the earth, Revelation 20:1, as well as other similar verses. Such a geographical feature could not exist unless gravity was in the center of the earth and the earth was constantly rotating so that a person in a pit in the center of the earth could never get to the bottom. This is just an example of the Bible being a couple of millennia ahead of science.
In the ignorance that pervades modern education it is often taught that the medieval church persecuted Galileo because of what the Bible said. Nonsense, the church persecuted Galileo because Thomas of Aquinas had just been sainted and he had misspent his life trying to harmonize the writings of Aristotle with the Bible. He therefore associated Catholicism with a flat earth at the center of the universe. It was science and religion that stood against Galileo, not the Bible.
As for the earth, it makes a circuit. It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in, Isaiah 40:22. There are many people who try to confound the "circle of the earth" with its shape. There is a difference between a spheroidal and a circular shaped object. The earth is not circular. A circle could not contain a bottomless pit. Even if it was circular God would not sit upon it as Isaiah 40:22 says.
Where does God sit? He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision, Psalms 2:4. Out in the heavens is a circle that God sits on. It is called the circle of the earth. The earth has a circle in the heavens because it has a circuit in the heavens. My Bible tells me that there is a circle of the earth in the heavens and that God sits on it. As usual, the bible had the news long before science did. The Bible said it hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, science figured it out about 500 years ago.
There is simply no verse in the Bible that says that the "earth" does not move. In fact there are many that say that it does move. The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, Jeremiah 49:21. The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage, Isaiah 24:20. All the foundations of the earth are out of course, Psalms 82:5. Someone might say that the movement described by these verses is not the planetary movement described in a heliocentric solar system. I would agree. Neither is the movement in Psalms 93:1. That has not stopped them from building an ersatz theology off of Psalms 93:1 that contradicts both the scriptures as written in English and common sense observation. The earth and the world are not the same thing.
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7/6/2022
2 min read
And after those days we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem, Acts 21:15.
Within the King James Bible believing community resides a small but vocal minority who insist that the world is flat and that the sun rotates around the earth. When pressed on this, they merely state, "that's what the bible says, we believe our bible". I see that position as working discredit to our bible. I'll take a little time to explain why. Indeed from man's perspective, the sun does rotate around the earth. From man's perspective Paul and Luke went up to Jerusalem. From God's perspective they went down to Jerusalem. Acts 21:15 is written from man's perspective, not God's.
The bible does not place the position of God's throne directly above the center of the land masses on earth. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King, Psalm 48:2. In Lucifer's rebellion he vowed to; sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north, Isaiah 14:13. Moses in the law recognized that when he wrote; And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar, Leviticus 1:11. God's throne is above the northern heavens.
For Paul's party to travel from Caesarea to Jerusalem was to travel south. That is down from God's perspective. The elevation may have been higher in Jerusalem than at Caesarea, but the 75 miles further south and away from God's throne more than compensated for the increased elevation. They traveled down, away from God's throne. When Luke wrote that they went up to Jerusalem, he said so from his perspective's not God's.
When the bible says that the sun rose, it says so from man's perspective. From God's perspective the earth turns on its axis on a 24 hour basis and rotates around the sun every 365 1/4 days. I do not correct a King James Bible to state that. I take each of its statements in their respective contexts and honor God by believing them.
7/5/2022
2 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
My grandson plays games with his grandfather; and, that rascal, if he is losing, feels free to change the rules; so, the new version promotes a score that’s favorable to him! Similarly, when one political party is losing (speaking of children!), they attempt to change the rules— rewrite the Constitution to a version that is favorable to their cause. Outrageous as it is, they cite these reasons:
1. That document is out of date, it’s archaic. Below is an article from the Atlantic, stating the case for a new version to the old Constitution:
“America, we've got some bad news: Our Constitution isn't going to make it. It's had 224 years of commendable, often glorious service, but there's a time for everything, and the government shutdown and permanent-crisis governance signal that it's time to think about moving on.”
2. That document was written by men (all men, no women); therefore, it is not a credible authority.
3. Some of the language is …out of date, we should have a document that’s easy to read.
We the citizens, who have enjoyed the wisdom, liberty, and protection afforded by the old Constitution, find these arguments against its credibility ridiculous, unfounded, and foolish (and perhaps unpatriotic). Rascals! Imagine the anarchy, and chaotic mess at best, if we were to have multiple governing documents and authorities, and each person choosing the one that best suits him! (Judges 21:25).
It’s easy to hear a parallel argument about multiple bible versions, with each person choosing the one that suits him, on that particular day. I hear, “The old Bible, it served its use, but times are a changin.” And, they say, “That old document was written by men! – all men, only men! – we need a more inclusive authorship which incorporates a diversity…”
While their argument may seem sound to some, and it may initially appeal to those who seek to be open minded and fair (which isn’t a bad motive), they don’t consider the fruit of usurping a sole, time tested authority. As with multiple constitutions, and changing the rules mid-game, the 300+ English bible versions lead only to confusion, frustration, and spiritual anarchy. They never lead to equity (since we can’t agree on what’s right and fair) and it drifts and dulls away from the original intent. Nay, despite the tide of progressive activism, it’s far better, whether Constitutional or Biblical veracity, to do a little work, and gain understanding, and stay with the tried and true. Understanding is better than easy.
When the world speaks a new dominant language, and English no longer is the undoing of Babel, perhaps God will at that time, inspire a new version in the new dominant world language (perhaps). But for now, English reigns, and therefore the greatest English text, the tried and true, remains relevant and authoritative. Stay the course.
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING/TEACHING RESOURCES
WILL BE ADDED AS WE MOVE FORWARD
A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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by Bill Taylor
This site contains papers about how marriage should work. Marriage is simple, but not easy. It's simple to walk across a room - just put one foot in front of the other. It's just as simple to walk from Maine to California - KEEP putting one foot in front of the other - but less easy. Marriage is a lifetime journey, not a short stroll.
What Drives Men to Marry?
Many women say they want to marry, but the way they behave makes it doubtful that any man will want to marry them. The New York Times published “Sex on Campus – She Can Play That Game, Too,” which argues that women are as eager to participate in casual “hookups” as men are.
At 11 on a weeknight earlier this year, her work finished, a slim, pretty junior at the University of Pennsylvania did what she often does when she has a little free time. She texted her regular hookup — the guy she is sleeping with but not dating. What was he up to? He texted back: Come over. So she did. They watched a little TV, had sex and went to sleep.
The Times called the woman “A” because she didn’t want her name used. A doesn’t particularly like this man, but he’s a handy sexual partner. She isn’t looking for a deeper relationship because she doesn’t have time: Continued Click Here...Marriage Under Threat: What Drives Men to Marry?
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A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
Read Study Learn Teach Mentor Train for Christ
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Winning the Lost
God Depends on Us
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This book has three major segments: Discipline in Old Baptist Churches,
The Disappearance of Discipline, and
New Testament Church Discipline.
It documents the strictness of church discipline in Baptist churches prior to the 20th century and describes the downfall in discipline since then, both in convention or denominational Baptist churches, such as Southern Baptist, and in Independent Baptist churches.
The study on New Testament discipline is extensive and practical. It deals with the goals of church discipline, the right attitude of discipline, the patience and wisdom for discipline, the authority for discipline, the authority for discipline, discipline of interpersonal problems, discipline of disorderly conduct, discipline of public and grave offenses, exclusion and restoration, discipline of faith teachers, discipline of church leaders, inactive membership, and discipline and the Lord’s Supper.
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Cultural Factors in the
Weakening of Churches
Following are some of
the factors that have weakened the character of Bible-believing churches over the past
70 years and helped create a mixed multitude of philosophies.
CLICKABLE LINKS THAT ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK ARE ADDED FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY OF EACH OF THE SUBJECTS BELOW:
Accessed from www.AWarningMinistry.com
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ADDITIONAL LEARNING/TEACHING RESOURCES
WILL BE ADDED AS WE MOVE FORWARD
A WARNING - WOLF WATCH MINISTRY
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Winning the Lost
God Depends on Us
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16:15-16 KJB.
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THIS SITE CONTAINS PAPERS ABOUT HOW MARRIAGE SHOULD WORK. MARRIAGE IS SIMPLE, BUT NOT EASY. IT'S SIMPLE TO WALK ACROSS A ROOM - JUST PUT ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER. IT'S JUST AS SIMPLE TO WALK FROM MAINE TO CALIFORNIA - KEEP PUTTING ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER - BUT LESS EASY. MARRIAGE IS A LIFETIME JOURNEY, NOT A SHORT STROLL.
This is a list of messages in the blog. Clicking on a title takes you to a description which has a link to the article or you can use control-f to search within this list. Feel free to use any of this material in any way that supports His cause!
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EXTRA ARTICLE FOR YOUR EDIFICATION!
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Facebook YESTERDAY I SHARED THE POST TO THE LEFT TO ALL MY GROUP'S AND RECEIVED MANY GOOD RESPONSES IN THE
There are all kinds of books out there about how women don't understand men. (There are several that I can recommend for women who want to know. Just ask me!)
LOL! Now we men have a book to help us
understand women, guys!
And here is some research that may help
men and women, alike!
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CLICKABLE LINKS THAT ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK ARE ADDED
FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY OF EACH OF THE SUBJECTS BELOW:
Accessed from www.AWarningMinistry.com
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“Men & Dogs”
“But beware of men: … ‘ Matthew 10:17a
“Beware of dogs,… ” Philippians 3:2a
When Jesus spoke to His little band of brothers in Matthew 10, He was about to send them out as sheep among wolves! (vs. 16). He knew what they were about to face and what every godly, sincere child of God would face down through the ages. Friend, many of our spiritual forefathers and (mothers) faced the flaming pyres for their faith and testimonies. To beware is to be aware of the obstacles and hindrances to getting the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world. Men and dogs are what one should be concerned with in Christian ministry. Men bite and devour, dogs growl and nip at one’s heels. There are a lot of “ankle-biters” that constantly cause problems for God’s workers and people. If one is aware of them, they can be avoided or at least stepped on if need be … accidently! Now, I could spend a lot of time today talking about these people who think they need a dog with them on airplanes! I sat by Mickey, I even learned his name due to the fact that he was always in trouble with his “master.” He ate, he drank, he yipped, he breathed his doggy breath on me for over an hour on a flight in recent days. This lady no more needed that dog than I need a case of the shingles! (P.S. I saw getting on a plane last Thanksgiving-a comfort parrot!) After that paragraph I could say to myself, “Beware of getting side-tracked and God bless you!” Oh, and beware of dogs and men on the road of life. – T.G
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from excerpts from the “Baptist Bread” May 24th, 2022 devotional by author Dr. Tim Green, Revival In Our Time, Day Heights, OH. With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread.
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Weakening of Churches. THERE IS A BIG LACK OF
‘WARNING MINISTRIES IN CHURCHES'.
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“The Ministry Of God vs. The Ministry Of Man”
“God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. ”
Psalm 55:19
The word ministry is an interesting thing to consider. To minister is to work or to help one in need. The word ministry in the New Testament is used in connection with those doing the work of God. Ephesians 4:11-14 speaks of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These were given the responsibility to minister by the Spirit of God’s power and with the Word of God.
All too often in today’s world this work is done in the name of unity, prosperity, comfort, compromise and convenience. I call this the ministry of maintenance! This is the effort to keep that which is profitable and good without offending anyone. Therefore, the preaching is not to bring about repentance but maintenance. It is preaching to just keep things going as they are for the benefit of all. There is little preaching against sin, truth that is hard, worldliness or that which is offensive.
The ministry we have been given is one of reconciliation (see II Cor. 5:18). It is reconciling men to God. It is not reconciling man to man. The way of reconciliation is repentance. The “work of the ministry” that is of God is repentance; not mere maintenance.
A ministry that does not demand change is one that just wants to keep the status quo. NO CHANGES, NO FEAR OF GOD! -M.D
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread”, May 18th, 2022 by author MURRAY DOUGLAS, Pastor, Ludlow Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg, IN . With permission from Tim Green, editor of Baptist Bread
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'Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge: Or What?"
Roger E. Fulk, Sr. 4/29/2018 Hosea 4:6-16 KJB from morning message notes filling in for Pastor.
God's Charges against Israel
1Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.
2By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
3Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away.
4Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest.
5Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee in the night, and I will destroy thy mother.
6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
7As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
8They eat up the sin of my people, and they set their heart on their iniquity.
9And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish them for their ways, and reward them their doings.
10For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
11Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.
12My people ask counsel at their stocks, and their staff declareth unto them: for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err, and they have gone a whoring from under their God.
13They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof is good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery.
14I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall.
15Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
16For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.
17Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
18Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers with shame do love, Give ye.
19The wind hath bound her up in her wings, and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices.
RECOMMENDED READING
Keep From Backsliding – Again! by Bill Brinkworth
What Is It That I Said That Was Wrong? by Bill Brinkworth
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"Destruction To Delight"
"The wicked worketh a deceitful work: ... so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death. They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD:" Proverbs 11:18-20
We see two very different contrasts and begin observing the downward slope of the wicked. These folk work a deceitful work, not realizing how many times their dishonesty has worked evil, because they have lied not only to others, but to themselves as well. Then, they pursue evil to their own destruction, which ultimately causes them to have a froward or a disobedient, unyielding heart to God. They have become an abomination to the Lord, because they have no desire to stop going down the slippery slope of sin; which causes their hearts to be turned farther from God.
However, in these same verses, the contrast is clear with those who want to do right and actually do right. As in, " ... to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tendeth to life: ... but such as are upright in their way are his delight." It takes us sowing that which is right to reap the reward of that which is right. The righteous will or rather should pursue that which is right to life eternal. Ultimately, as it says in verse 20, that doing right will delight the Lord. We should strive to be a delightsome individual to the Lord, pleasing Him in all that we do, say or think. - T.H
Prepared by Roger Fulk, from the “Baptist Bread” May 7th, 2022 devotional by author T.H. TIM HALLET JR., Pastor, Birch Street Baptist Church, Eau Claire, WI. With permission from Tim Green, editor Baptist Bread.
Feel Free To Contact Me
www.RogerFulk.com Roger@RogerFulk.com
Church Discipline in the 21st Century
This book has three major segments: Discipline in Old Baptist Churches, The Disappearance of Discipline, and New Testament Church Discipline. It documents the strictness of church discipline in Baptist churches prior to the 20th century and describes the downfall in discipline since then, both in convention or denominational Baptist churches, such as Southern Baptist, and in Independent Baptist churches.
The study on New Testament discipline is extensive and practical. It deals with the goals of church discipline, the right attitude of discipline, the patience and wisdom for discipline, the authority for discipline, the authority for discipline, discipline of interpersonal problems, discipline of disorderly conduct, discipline of public and grave offenses, exclusion and restoration, discipline of faith teachers, discipline of church leaders, inactive membership, and discipline and the Lord’s Supper.
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Cultural Factors in the
Weakening of Churches
Following are some of the factors that have weakened the character of Bible-believing churches over the past 70 years and helped create a mixed multitude of philosophies.
CLICKABLE LINKS THAT ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK ARE ADDED
FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY OF EACH OF THE SUBJECTS BELOW:
Accessed from www.AWarningMinistry.com
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Feel Free To Contact Me
www.RogerFulk.com Roger@RogerFulk.com
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Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. (There are so many problems associated with alcohol consumption that it is best to leave it alone. Even in days when the culture had wine as a common beverage, the Proverb says it can deceive. We see the deception of alcohol today.
Many say that drinking is all right since it is culturally acceptable. The big argument is they did it in the Bible. and many religious groups not only endorse it but use it in their” communion” services.
I don’t pretend to know the alcohol content back then because I wasn’t there. I have read articles though saying it was not as much and the potential for alcoholism was less. But today there are a lot of bad things associated with alcohol. While many would use it to celebrate and at sporting events, others know the terror of a loved one killed by a drunk driver or the crime and problems associated with it for youth and those who become alcoholics.
Then there is testimony to others like children, youth, and those who are trying to recover from alcoholism. I know it’s a big industry and seems to be all over, but I think we have to see how we influence others by partaking in it.
I am glad my family and the families we have come from have never had to deal with the problems of alcohol personally because we have discovered that it's OK not to drink. Later in Proverbs 23:29-25, it talks of how it deceives. It will strike you and make you do foolish things if you get drunk. It will take you to places you should not go and will make you do things you should not do and when you wake up from the stupor you will not even know you did them.
So please consider your witness as a Christian to those around you and understand its association today is with more bad things than good. You don’t have to drink alcohol to be cool or refreshed.
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The Discipling Church: The Church That
Will Stand until Christ Comes
by David W. Cloud, 550 pgs
Cultural Factors in the Weakening of Churches
Following are some of the factors that have weakened the character of Bible-believing churches over the past 70 years and helped create a mixed multitude of philosophies.
CLICKABLE LINKS THAT ARE NOT FOUND IN THE BOOK ARE ADDED
FOR YOUR FURTHER STUDY OF EACH OF THE SUBJECTS BELOW:
Accessed from www.AWarningMinistry.com
Church Discipline in the 21st Century
This book has three major segments: Discipline in Old Baptist Churches, The Disappearance of Discipline, and New Testament Church Discipline. It documents the strictness of church discipline in Baptist churches prior to the 20th century and describes the downfall in discipline since then, both in convention or denominational Baptist churches, such as Southern Baptist, and in Independent Baptist churches.
The study on New Testament discipline is extensive and practical. It deals with the goals of church discipline, the right attitude of discipline, the patience and wisdom for discipline, the authority for discipline, the authority for discipline, discipline of interpersonal problems, discipline of disorderly conduct, discipline of public and grave offenses, exclusion and restoration, discipline of faith teachers, discipline of church leaders, inactive membership, and discipline and the Lord’s Supper.
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ABOUT MARRIAGE AND
PUTTING BACK THE PIECES!
Proverbs 27:8 "As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place."
Q. EVER WONDER WHY MANY MARRIAGES ARE FAILING TODAY?
A. WE ARE TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THAT WE ARE WRONG!
PRIDE DESTROYS US ALONG WITH OUR MARRIAGES!
LET ME START OUT BY SAYING THAT MARRIAGES ARE NEVER EASY! THEY TAKE MUTUAL EFFORT TO MAINTAIN.
(But help is always available from God who created marriage!)
THE DEVIL WANTS TO DESTROY EVERY GOOD THING THAT GOD HAS EVER PUT TOGETHER!
SATAN STARTED MARRIAGE'S DESTRUCTION IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN, BY CAUSING ADAM AND EVE TO DOUBT GOD'S WORD!
The top verse is the reason for discontent and abandonment of marriage vows BEFORE GOD, along with promises made up to each other at the altar.
DON'T ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR GREENER PASTURES!
THE DEVIL IS ONLY TOO PLEASED TO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVES TO GOD'S PROVISIONS!
God is grieved by broken vows!
Matthew 24:12 "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold."
1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"
This is happening because of the evil times in which we live, which excuse wrong for right and right for wrong!
Isaiah 5:20 "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
It is also happening because some believe worldly allurements and temptations will make themselves "happy" again. But this false hope never works. Happiness is temporary. Joy, which God provides, is permanent!
SELFISHLY FOLLOWING AFTER SECOND BEST IS NEVER GOD'S FIRST INTEREST FOR YOU!
Marriages "wax cold" because the partners have forgotten their, "FIRST LOVE" which SHOULD be Jesus!
1 John 4:19 "We love him, because he first loved us."
Revelation 2:4 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
This is the reprimand Jesus gave to the first church He mentioned at Ephesis. It also applies for those who leave their marriage!
IN THIS WORLD, DUE TO OUR PRESENT STATE OF INCREASED DECEPTION, AND WICKEDNESS, MARRIAGES HAVE LITTLE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL WITHOUT JESUS AS YOUR PRIMARY HEAD AND GUIDE!
Turning around marriage has to first start with God Almighty for repair!
After all, God initiated marriages!
Matthew 19:6
"Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."
If true love had found you in the first place, a love that was created by God, then restoration is possible. Even if your marriage hadn't started out TRUE, God can still put the pieces back into place!
But this takes a goodly amount of sincere prayer and willingness with both parties to let God help!
For starters,
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;""
Colossians 3:19 "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them."
HUSBANDS ARE ALWAYS TO BE THE INITIATORS!
Sincere apologies work best for foundational building blocks and for restructural purposes!
Ephesians 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
A wife who has a husband who truly cares for her and is sincere in his desire to be a Christlike example should be a dream husband to any woman!
She should be overly willing to follow this command:
Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord."
The marriage union is NOT a slave/master partnering, as the devil has worked overtime to promote! It's a help-meet relationship, each partner sticking their oars into the water together, working our their issues looking to Jesus as their master first!!
When Jesus Christ is at the head of any marriage relationship, BY BOTH PARTIES, this following is true:
Ephesians 5:20-22 "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
FEAR OF GOD IS MISSING IN MANY RELATIONSHIPS TODAY!
But what happens when only one partner is willing to try to start again? Repair is still possible!
1) Make fervent prayer to God!
(James 5:16.)
2) Show a Christlike love toward your partner. (A "pretend" love can't win them over again! It didn't the first time!)
3) Go out of your way to be kind! (Jesus wants to help you here!)
Follow the advice from the, "love chapter" of the Bible! (Love may be substituted for charity in many instances here.)
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"
In other words, as Jesus love given to us is pure, so also is the love we give that starts from Jesus to others... pure!
My friends, it's all about a matter of prayer, and obedience to our Lord, Saviour, and Master, Jesus Christ! Maybe the missing component to marriage restoration is putting down our pride!
Will you give God back the throne of your life and fulfill His desire to let Him repair your marriage?
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Based on the book of Proverbs, The Red Herring deals with
one of the greatest issues among Christians today.
Pastors, fathers, and families struggle every day
to spiritually survive as they fight to walk with God
while they are continually being hunted by
what Proverbs calls “The Strange Woman"
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SUBSCRIBE
In today's interview, Dr. John Asquith addresses the effects that pornography has on the viewers brains. "Your Brain on Porn" by Gary Wilson is a secular book about the severe problems pornography causes in our society. Dr. Asquith comments on this book and recommends some answers from a Biblical perspective.
Dr. John Asquith and I circle back and discuss the crucial topic of what pornography does to the users brain, the destruction it brings, and the way to escape its grasp.
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CLICK WEBSITES RIGHT BELOW:
Type or copy/paste into your browser for
a ton of SEARCHBLE INFORMATION!
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CLICK WEBSITES RIGHT BELOW:
Click orType or copy/paste into your browser
for a ton of SEARCHBLE INFORMATION!
When you sign up for our mailing list, you will be able to ... "Stay tuned" for news and updates delivered straight to your inbox. Here you will find many different subjects with information and resources for your learning/teaching needs! WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU TODAY!
"Three Big Needs …
To learn everything else …."
2 Years Ago Roger Fulk May 2, 2019,
(1) Need to read and study and believe
and apply the King James Bible.
(2) Need to study true Baptist Church History.
(3) Need to learn the proper methods of Biblical Interpretation.
If we learn the truth, the lies will stick out like a sore thumb!
IF WE STUDY AND LEARN THE TRUTH … THEN THE LIES WILL STICK OUT LIKE A ‘SORE THUMB” … IF YOU ARE A BORN-AGAIN BELIEVER IN CHRIST INDWELLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HAVE DISCERNMENT! … I Corinthians 2:14
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This subject is popping up again in different places … so I feel it my duty to post this post again … I have been looking for a good book written by a Christian on the subject of the problems in the modern church today, especially in the area of the effect of feminism! Well here it is ....See Contents and Sample Pages
The Discipling Church: The Church That
Will Stand until Christ Comes
by David W. Cloud, 550 pgs
Cultural Factors in the Weakening of Churches
Following are some of the factors that have weakened the character of Bible-believing churches over the past 70 years and helped create a mixed multitude philosophy.
Theological Liberalism
The Public School System
Materialism and Working Mothers
The Rock & Roll Pop Culture
Pop Psychology
The Feminist Movement
Self-Esteemism
New Evangelicalism
Television
The Internet
What is the real problem? How can it be fixed? Whose responsibility is it?
It needs to start in the Churches, with Professing Christians, Pastors and Leaders. We are a big part of the problem and here is why! And here is a solution to follow!
RESULTS FORFEMINISM”
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by Bill Brinkworth
The actual church is the believers of Christ wherever they may be. If a believer is at home, that is where the church is. When the born-again child of God goes to the supermarket, that is where the church is.
“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” I Corinthians 3:9
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” I Peter 2:5“
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” II Corinthians 6:16
However, a physical church is an important place where believers meet to hear the Word of God’s teachings, a place to worship Him, and where they can be encouraged to serve and live for the Lord. The building is a recognized place where most know they should be able to hear what the Bible teaches. Many attend, and because of the preaching and teaching, decide to be born again into God’s family.
There are many dangers to the health and life-changing ministry that pastors and church attendees should be wary. Because of the local church’s importance, it faces many threats that could harm its role to the cause of Christ. Some demolishers that can weaken or destroy a God-honoring and obeying ministry include:
- Using “bibles” that have changed or water-down what the preserved Word of God teaches. There are over 350 different versions in the English language alone, each teaching something different after verses have been altered or deleted.
- “Bibles” labeled as “new versions” should signal to a Christian that God is not now just giving us His Word. It has been around since Old and New Testament times. God has preserved it for earlier believers, and it is safely kept for today’s Christians.
- For English-speaking people, every word God had prophets, leaders, and men of God pen still has every “jot and tittle” (Matthew 5:18) preserved in the King James version. Changing His words has weakened and destroyed many ministries.
To learn more why the KJV should be used for those speaking English, please view:
(Use the right arrow key to go through the presentation)
- A lack of unbiblical doctrines taught and preached. A ministry will weaken and not grow if opinions are taught rather than “thus saith the Word of God.” God preserved His Word because it will change lives and even societies. His will and way will never change and it is recorded in His Word.
- A lack of desire and attempts to reach others with the Gospel. One essential goal of a Bible-obeying ministry should be to reach the lost so they can be saved. If they are not sought and taught, there will be little growth in a ministry. Too many churches are spiritually dead, as they are no longer a “saving station” nor a hospital for the spiritually wounded.
- Unqualified or uncalled leadership in a church. The Bible clearly defines the qualifications of church pastors and deacons (I Timothy 3:2-13). Those in charge that should not be instructing or preaching will also weaken and destroy a ministry.
- “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Act 20:28
- Undealt with sin within the church. The Bible warns of sin throughout its pages. When sin is not preached against or is tolerated, the hand of God will be off that ministry!
- Those sowing discord among the brethren. Gossip against the preacher, teachers, and anyone within the ministry can also weaken and hurt a church.
- “These six things doth the LORD hate… 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19
- Home Bible study groups. Attending a local church every time its doors are open and one’s personal Bible study should be the primary sources of spiritual feeding. The intention of having extra Bible studies sounds edifiying, but they often can result in being hotbeds for “sowing discord” against the brethren and teaching false doctrines. Even a diet of television and radio preaching can sometimes sow disagreement against what one’s church is preaching from God’s Word. Division can occur in a church because of those influences.
- Covid and other infectious diseases. If you cannot attend because of health issues, do your best to stay in contact with your local church leaders and members. Although we do not want to spread disease to other church members, separation from other believers and being part of a local ministry can weaken and slowly kill a local church. Lack of attendance also discourages the preacher and teachers and disheartens other church members.
A local Bible-believing, Scripture-obeying ministry is an essential need for children of God and surrounding communities. Lives have been improved, souls saved, and sin stopped by a church’s outreach and influence.
A church’s usefulness can easily be destroyed by allowing it to be weakened by many of the mentioned dangers. Do your best to keep its doors wide open so God’s will and way can be preached and practiced. If its doors are closed and its message weakened, how will the nearby people know God’s truths? Who will tell them if the local ministry is too weak to help?
“When the Devil saw that persecution would not stop the church, he changed to a different tactic. He joined the church. He began to hurt the church from the inside. He still does that today. He attacks the validity of the Word of God, and he tries to discredit the Gospel. If that doesn’t work, he tries to discredit the man who preaches the Gospel, as he tried to discredit Paul.” — J. Vernon McGee
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A Discipling Church Is a Reproving Church
May 22, 2019
Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
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Outline
Christ’s Reproof
Paul’s Reproof
The Ministry of Reproof in Scripture
The Blessing of Godly Reproof
Effectual Reproof
Public and Private Reproof
The Ministry of the Body
A ministry of exhortation, reproof, rebuke, warning, and correction toward sin and error are necessary for making true disciples of Jesus Christ.
The ministry of loving reproof and correction is necessary for the type of atmosphere that produces disciples.
The Bible clearly emphasizes the necessity of this ministry.
“Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears” (Ac. 20:31).
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:11).
“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).
“Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly...” (1 Th. 5:14).
“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear” (1 Ti. 5:20).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Ti. 4:2).
“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Tit. 1:13).
“These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Tit. 2:15).
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Re. 3:19).
But a biblical ministry of reproof is a neglected and grossly misunderstood ministry today.
A ministry of reproof is even thought to be strange and hurtful. A preacher told me recently, “You have a strange ministry,” referring to my reproof of erring pastors. Actually a ministry of reproof is strange only to those who have turned from Scripture.
To love righteousness is to hate sin, and to love truth is to hate error.
“Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Ps. 119:128).
“Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Ro. 12:9).
Christ said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Re. 3:19).
John, the “apostle of love,” defined love as obedience. He said, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous” (1 John 5:3).
Proverbs teaches us that the parent who does not chasten his child does not love him (Pr. 13:24). The same is true for a church leader. Those who do not reprove and correct the sheep do not love them. It would be like a shepherd who sees the sheep going astray but does nothing about it.
Further, a ministry of godly reproof is a ministry of spiritual growth and protection.
“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).
“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Pr. 6:23).
Far from being harmful, a godly ministry of reproof and correction has the potential for great blessing.
The Necessity of Reproof
Reproof, warning, and correction are necessary because God’s people are still sinners in this present world. The “old man” is still present (Eph. 4:22). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jo. 1:8). We are easily beset by sin (Heb. 12:1).
Therefore, every man is to be warned and taught (Col. 1:28), and note that warning is put first. In practice, teaching comes before warning, but here warning comes first. This is by way of emphasis. Every saint in Christ needs warning!
Without a ministry of reproof, warning, and correction, the saints do not grow spiritually as they should. They backslide. They become lukewarm. They become settled upon the lees (Zep. 1:12). They tend to go out of the way.
An environment of godly reproof, and warning is the atmosphere in which the Spirit of God convicts and challenges and keeps God’s people growing in holiness and separation from the fallen world system.
The Ministry of Reproof in Scripture
Reproof and correction is one of the purposes for which God gave the Bible (2 Ti. 3:16). To avoid reproof and correction is to cut a lot of truth out of Scripture. Some years back a man published The Positive Bible. He had the audacity to “remove the negative things from the Bible.” The result was a very small “Bible”!
The terms “reprove,” “rebuke,” “warn,” “admonish,” “chasten,” “convince,” “blame,” and “correct” are used more than 30 times in Acts and the Epistles.
These words have similar but different meanings.
“Admonish” means to put in mind; to caution; to charge; to reprove gently; to notify of a fault; to counsel against wrong practices; to advise; to instruct. The Greek word translated “admonish” in Romans 15:14 is “neotheteo,” which is elsewhere translated “warn” (Ac. 20:31; Col. 1:28). The word “admonish” is used for Jeremiah’s warning to the Jewish remnant about not going to Egypt (Jer. 42:19), Paul’s warning to the ship’s captain (Ac. 27:9), the admonition toward an erring brother (2 Th. 3:15), and God’s admonition to Moses to build the Tabernacle exactly according to the divine pattern (Heb. 8:5).
“Reprove” means to charge with a fault, to convict, to blame. An example is John reproving Herod for marrying his brother’s wife (Lu. 3:19) and Paul reproving Peter for his hypocrisy (Ga. 2:11). To reprove also means to persuade, to give evidence, to convince. The word “reproof” in 2 Timothy 3:16 is the Greek word “elegchos,” which is elsewhere translated “evidence” (Heb. 11:1). To reprove is to convince someone of his sin or error (1 Co. 14:24; Tit. 1:9). To reprove means to shine the light of God’s Word on the deeds of darkness (Eph. 5:11-13). The Spirit of God has come to reprove the world of sin (John 16:8).
“Rebuke” means to reproach, correct, chide, scold, reprimand. Nehemiah rebuked the elders (Ne. 5:7). The judges of Israel were to rebuke sin (Amos 5:10). Christ will rebuke the nations when He returns (Is. 2:4). Jesus rebuked Peter (Mr. 8:33). The Christian is to rebuke his brother when he trespasses against him (Lu. 17:3). Sinning elders are to be rebuked (1 Ti. 5:20). The Word of God is to be preached with rebuke (2 Ti. 4:2; Tit. 2:15). Some are to be rebuked sharply (Tit. 1:13). Christ rebukes those He loves (Re. 3:19). One’s attitude toward rebuke reveals his spiritual condition (Pr. 9:7-8; 13:1).
Admonish, warn, reprove, and rebuke are similar in meaning. All of these terms refer to correction. Rebuke is the strongest. Reprove and admonish are usually a little milder, a little less forceful. Admonition and reproof ignored or rejected leads to rebuke.
Christ as Reprover
Christlikeness is compassion and gentleness and patience, but it is also firmness, even toughness, in regard to God’s holy laws. The Lord said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
Consider how forceful Christ can be in reproof to His own people (not to speak of His millennial rod of iron and the issue of eternal judgment for the unbeliever):
“But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, GET THEE BEHIND ME, SATAN: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men” (Mark 8:33).
“Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and UPBRAIDED THEM with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him” (Mark 16:14).
“But he turned, and REBUKED THEM, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of” (Luke 9:55).
“Then he said unto them, O FOOLS and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:25).
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I WILL COME UNTO THEE QUICKLY, AND WILL REMOVE THY CANDLESTICK out of his place, except thou repent” (Revelation 2:5).
“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, WHICH I ALSO HATE” (Revelation 2:6).
“So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and WILL FIGHT AGAINST THEM WITH THE SWORD OF MY MOUTH” (Revelation 2:15-16).
“Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I WILL KILL HER CHILDREN WITH DEATH; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:22-23).
“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I WILL COME ON THEE AS A THIEF, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (Revelation 3:3).
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH” (Revelation 3:15-16).
Five times in the Gospels, Christ expressed disappointment and reproof by saying that the disciples were of little faith (Mt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; Lu. 12:28).
Christ “looked round about on them with anger” (Mark 3:5); called Israel a “generation of vipers” (Ma. 12:34) and a “faithless and perverse generation” (Mt. 17:17); called the Jewish leaders “hypocrites ... blind guides ... fools and blind ... serpents” (Mt. 23:13-33); sharply upbraided the cities in which He did mighty works (Mt. 11:20-24). He called Herod a fox (Lu. 13:32). He twice made a whip and drove the moneychangers and sellers out of the temple (Joh. 2:15-17; Mr. 11:15-17). He commanded that holy things not be given to dogs and pigs (Mt. 7:6).
Christ is the example that church leaders are to follow. To see compromise, sin, and error in the church and not deal with it effectively is not the Christ-like way.
The apostle Paul exemplifies the right “balance” in ministry. He said, “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Php. 3:17). See also 1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1. On the one hand he was as gentle as a nurse with the believers (1 Th. 2:7). On the other hand, he was firm and unyielding about discipline (1 Co. 5; 2 Th. 3:6-14). He was a strong reprover (e.g., 1 Co. 6:5; 15:33-36; Ga. 3:1), and he taught the preachers under his watchcare to be the same (2 Ti. 4:2; Tit. 1:13; 2:15).
We see the ministry of reproof in Paul’s attitude toward the sin and error in the church at Corinth. He was kind and patient, but he did not overlook sin, error, and carnality. He dealt with it head on. He exhorted, reproved, and rebuked. He did whatever was necessary to effect repentance and change.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you” (1 Co. 1:10-11).
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Co r.3:1-3).
“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise” (1 Co. 3:17-18).
“But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” (1 Co. 4:19-21).
“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Co. 5:1-6).
“I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?” (1 Co. 6:5-7).
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Co. 6:18-19).
“Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” (1 Co. 10:21-22).
“For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not” (1 Co. 11:21-22).
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men” (1 Co. 14:20).
“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?” (1 Co. 14:23).
“Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die” (1 Co. 15:33-36).
Paul’s ministry of reproof to the carnal church at Corinth worked repentance and change (2 Co. 7:8-11). A sound ministry of reproof and discipline has the same power today.
We see a ministry of reproof in James’ epistle.
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (Jas. 4:4-10).
James did not countenance worldliness and carnality. He dealt with it in the most direct manner. He called the worldly saints adulterers and adulteresses. He called them the enemies of God. He called them sinners and double minded. He called them proud.
There is no beating around the bush here. There is no speaking in vague generalities. James’ audience knew exactly what he meant and whom he was talking about.
This is the example for every church leader. Yet today it is common for preachers to accept worldliness as the status quo and to allow it to spread throughout the congregation. Instead of reproving the worldly members after the fashion of James, church leaders put worldly people into positions of ministry and allow them to influence the entire church body. Within a generation the spiritual character of the church is destroyed because of church leaders who won’t exercise the biblical ministry of reproof.
We see a ministry of reproof described in Paul’s instruction to Titus.
“One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith” (Tit. 1:12-13).
Titus was ministering on the island of Crete. He was establishing churches and training and ordaining elders.
But the national character of the Cretians was affecting the churches. Paul taught Titus what to do, and he was to exercise a sharp ministry of reproof.
Discipline must fit the character of the individual or church. It’s like chastening a child. Each child is different and must be dealt with differently. If a child obeys, he is not spanked, but the stubborn, self-willed child must be dealt with more forcefully.
This is true in the church. If there is a Cretian character, the chastening must be firmer and sharper. The Cretians tended to be liars (deceitful, dissembling), evil beasts (backbiters, gossips, hurtful), slow bellies (lazy, idle, living for their physical appetites). Because of their exceedingly poor character and slowness to obey God, the churches on Crete needed to be dealt with more sharply than churches in other places.
Sharp rebuke is contrary to the teaching of humanistic psychology, but God knows human nature and His Word instructs us how to deal wisely with stubborn insubordination.
“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”
This is a description of a strong reproving ministry of God’s Word exercised in the New Testament church.
Paul is giving a commandment, not a suggestion (2 Th. 3:6). This type of ministry is required of God in every congregation.
The passage deals with church members who are disorderly and do not work, but rather are busybodies (2 Th. 3:11). But it would apply to any type of disorderly conduct that is unlawful for God’s people to engage in.
The church is not to overlook this type of thing. It must be dealt with plainly and as severely as necessary to bring it to a stop.
Disorderly conduct is to be dealt with in a variety of ways. First, there must be teaching. The saints must be patiently instructed about the importance of good labor (2 Th. 3:7-9). Compare Pr. 6:6-11; 13:4; 14:23; Acts 20:34-35; Eph. 4:28; 1 Th. 4:11-12. Next, there is to be exhortation (2 Th. 3:12). The church is to be exhorted to do what God commands. Then there is to be reproof and rebuke of those who disobey (2 Th. 3:11). Finally, there is to be discipline if the reproof is not taken to heart and there is no repentance (2 Th. 3: 6, 14). We, see, too that brotherly love is to permeate a ministry of reproof and correction (2 Th. 3:15), which is one of the things that sharply distinguishes godly reproof with a cultic, Diotrephes type of reproof.
Paul is describing the ministry of reproof and correction that must characterize every New Testament church. The church is not to overlook disorderly conduct. It is to deal with it with every spiritual tool that God has provided.
The Blessing of Godly Reproof
“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear” (Pr. 25:12).
Wise reproof that is received well is a great blessing. I have personally witnessed this many times over the years.
Following are a few examples:
In one of my classes in Bible School, a student frequently harassed the teacher from his (the student’s) Ruckmanite thinking. Finally one day as we were leaving class I reproved him about disturbing the class and showing dishonor to the teacher. I reminded him that he had not been given authority to teach that class, and the rest of the students were not there to hear his opinions. He was a large, gruff man, and I approached him in some fear, but he was humble and apologetic.
On another occasion I confronted a young relative about dating a worldly man who was contributing to her backsliding. We were sitting in our living room, and initially she ran out of the room crying. But she repented and today is married to a godly man.
I reproved one of our church men who consistently absented himself from our men’s discipleship meetings. We had exhorted him previously about faithfulness, but he had not changed. Now I said, “It appears to me that you are either unsaved, lazy, or you don’t like me and therefore don’t want to attend my classes.” I also said that if I had missed something, please let me know. After saying nothing for some time, he replied, “I am lazy.” I then exhorted him about his need to be zealous in his service for Christ and a good example to the church and to his own family. He has been faithful ever since.
I once reproved a young mother in our church about letting her daughter disobey her instructions and commands. I said, “If you are disciplining her properly, the evidence will be obedience. If she doesn’t obey, she isn’t disciplined. It’s that simple.” The mother took this to heart, and today her child obeys her and obeys other adults.
My wife and I discipline our grandkids when they stay with us, if necessary, which has been extremely rare. We never let them get away with disobedience or disrespect, and they know that we mean business. One of our grandsons was acting a bit rebellious one day, and my wife reminded him that she had her spanking stick handy. She was referring to a short rod, but it so happened that a seven-foot stick was standing in a corner of the room for some project she was doing, and the grandson thought she was talking about that. He was just a little guy and he was standing near that corner of the room, and after looking that huge stick over from the floor to the ceiling he was immediately in a better mood!
Of course, it doesn’t always turn out this way. When the ear is not obedient, the reproof won’t be fruitful in that individual’s life and might even result in trouble for the reprover, but God is glorified either way, because the reprover has obeyed God and honored His Word (Pr. 15:23).
This is true for every aspect of discipline. It doesn’t always result in blessing in an individual’s life, but it always results in glory to a holy God and the purification of the church (1 Co. 5:7-8).
The same is true for preaching the gospel (2 Co. 2:14-16). The preaching of the gospel is a sweet savour unto God, whether the person believes or does not believe. In the case of the unbeliever, God is glorified because His Word is preached and the offer of salvation is made and His goodness is evident even in the offer.
The preacher of the gospel and the reprover of sin and error obeys God’s Word, and leaves the result to Him.
Effectual Reproof
There are many things that are necessary for effectual reproof. To engage disobedience and error is no simple matter, and it must be done by those who are properly qualified and prepared.
1. The reprover must be filled with goodness.
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Ro. 15:14).
He must have a respectable Christian testimony. He must not be a hypocrite. If the people to whom I minister see me doing things that are wrong, they will lose respect for me and my reproof will lose effectiveness. I’ve not always done right in this, but I know that a good testimony is necessary for a fruitful ministry of preaching God’s Word. And I am thankful that in spite of my failings, the Lord has given me a good testimony in the eyes of those who know me.
I once challenged a church member about her dress and asked her if she would read my book Dressing for the Lord. She replied, “I will read the book because of my respect for you.” A national preacher once said, “Brother Cloud can reprove us because we know he loves us and we know how long and faithfully he has ministered among us.”
If there are glaring sins and failings in an individual’s life, he is incapable of reproving those things. For example, if a pastor’s children do not know and serve the Lord, no one will pay much attention to him when he tries to teach them about how to raise children. And if he is divorced, they probably won’t listen very well to his warnings about divorce.
Being filled with goodness includes mercy and care. The one being reproved must know that the reprover cares for him.
This is why we can effectually reprove the young people in our church. They respect our Christian lives and they know that we care for them. Even when I have had to “rebuke them sharply” at times because of their sin and stubbornness, they have received it, or at least most of them have. Otherwise, the reproof could frustrate them and drive them away.
2. The reprover must be filled with knowledge.
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another” (Ro. 15:14).
The reprover must know God’s Word and know how to properly use God’s Word; the better you know God’s Word, the more fruitful you can be in helping others. Many saints remain ignorant year after year; therefore, they are ineffectual and unfruitful.
The necessity of being filled with goodness and knowledge reminds us that the young believer or even the young preacher should be extra careful about reproving. He doesn’t have the maturity to be as highly respected as an older saint; therefore, his reproof will not be received as well as that of an older saint.
I think of a little church in Tennessee where I taught Sunday School. One of the members was a rough old “hillbilly” with several children that he was not training properly. I decided to teach about child training, though I wasn’t even married yet. After the first class, he said, “You don’t know what you are talking about,” and if I remember correctly he stopped attending the classes. He was right that I didn’t know what I was talking about experientially. I was only about two years old in the Lord. I was still “wet behind the ears!” At the same time, he should have been more respectful toward God’s Word. He lost most of his children to the world. In fact, some of his children went to prison.
3. The reprover must be wise.
“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear” (Pr. 25:12).
Consider some characteristics of wise reproof:
There is a right time and situation to reprove.
“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears” (Pr. 26:17).
Reproof should be given when it is your business to reprove.
Since the pastor is responsible for his flock, it is his business to reprove them when necessary. He can’t say it is not his business. How can a shepherd say that the sheep are not his business? And how can the sheep say the shepherd has no business meddling in their lives?
The Lord has given the God-called preacher the authority to reprove in season and out of season (2 Ti. 4:2), but this doesn’t mean it is wise to get involved in every situation that comes to his attention.
Some situations will work themselves out without the input of a pastor, and he must have the wisdom to know these things.
When at all possible, the reproof should be made face to face rather than by email or text.
Reproof shouldn’t be given when the individual is severely distracted, such as during a tragedy.
Reproof shouldn’t be given early in the morning or some other very inconvenient time. One time a friend started reproving me about something he felt I was doing wrong, but he did it first thing in the morning before I even had my cup of coffee. Not wise! To reprove someone when he or she is preparing for something and is therefore distracted and under pressure is usually not wise. For example, if you want to try to correct something the preacher has said, don’t do it just before he is scheduled to preach. Be wise.
And the reprover must decide whether the reproof should be private or public. Paul reproved Peter publicly (Ga. 2:11-14), but there is also a time for private reproof. In general, public error should be dealt with publicly, and private error should be dealt with privately. Paul reproved Peter publicly because Peter’s hypocrisy was public and he was influencing others (Ga. 2:13). I am often criticized for reproving preachers publicly about their ministries, but I only do this when the ministry in question is public and that preacher is influencing people outside of his own congregations.
There is a right person to reprove.
The Bible teaches us to consider the character of the individual that is to be reproved.
In a nutshell, we should reprove when we are dealing with a receptive heart.
“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee” (Pr. 9:7-8).
There are levels of reproof. I will give a certain type of reproof to the insubordinate and another type of reproof to the subordinate. When I am pretty confident that a person isn’t going to respond positively, I will still sometimes give a reproof because God tells me to (Eph. 5:11; 2 Ti. 4:2). But I won’t dwell on it or pursue it.
“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.”
Verse 4 means not to answer a fool in like manner to his folly. Don’t respond to anger with anger, to mocking with mocking, to berating with berating, etc. But verse 5 says we should answer a fool according to his folly in the sense of what his folly deserves and requires. To give no answer can make him wise in his conceit, because he takes no answer to mean there is no answer to his folly. I sometimes follow this method in regard to email communications from obstinate people. Sometimes I ignore them totally; sometimes I reply briefly. But I aim not to get carried away with their foolishness by getting into name calling and mudslinging and character attacks. I’m not always successful, but this is my aim, because I know that to answer a fool in like manner to his folly is unwise and accomplishes nothing and takes me down to the level of the fool.
“But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”
Here we see how to deal with the heretic, who is a person that has made a choice to cleave to error. He is “subverted.” There is something wrong with him. God’s Word instructs us to admonish such a person once or twice, and then reject him. The heart of the heretic is not receptive to the truth, and it is therefore a waste of time to pursue him.
For example, one night I accompanied some relatives to distribute gospel tracts and to witness to people in a park in my home town where a lot of people congregate on weekends. Some of my relatives played musical instruments and sang to attract a crowd, and the rest of us witnessed to them. A Church of Christ man accosted me with one objective, and that was to debate about baptism. I showed him from Scripture how that it is the gospel that saves (Ro. 1:16) and that baptism is not the gospel (1 Co. 15:3-4), but he didn’t hear a word I was saying. He focused on his false interpretation of Acts 2:38. In a short while, I said, “You are wasting my time. I am here to preach the gospel to needy sinners, and you are of the devil, because you are hindering me from doing that. If you believe baptism is the gospel, go to the other side of the park and preach your gospel. Goodbye.” I turned away from him and ignored any further attempts to harangue me with his heresy. I was careful not to say, “The Lord bless you,” because we are not to bless false teachers (2 John 10-11).
A ministry of reproof deals wisely with people according to their character.
There is also a right way to reprove.
The reprover must have “the spirit of meekness” (Ga. 6:1). He must put himself in the place of the person he is reproving and exercise the “royal law” to do unto others as he would have them do unto him (Jas. 2:8). He must reprove with the attitude that he, too, is a sinner who is susceptive to backsliding.
The reprover must seek God’s help and wisdom to know how to deal with every situation, because each situation is different. Consider Christ’s dealing with Peter in Matthew 16:21-23 versus His dealing with Peter in John 21:15-18. We see the difference between sharp rebuke and gentle but persistent exhortation. After Christ’s denial, the Lord knew that Peter was already deeply reproved by his own conscience and that he had wept bitterly (Mt. 26:75), so the Lord focused on questioning Peter about love. Christ got to the heart of the matter, which was Peter’s self-love and lack of love for Christ. This is why Peter, rather than John, was sifted by the devil. Christ’s persistence in asking Peter three times if he loved him pressed the issue into Peter’s conscience. It was extremely effectual and fruitful. Peter spent the rest of his life loving Christ and feeding the sheep. His epistles are extremely powerful and searching. He had indeed been converted (Lu. 22:32).
The reprover should know the difference between attitude and action. Both my attitude and my action must be right. Sometimes we are so careful to keep a right attitude that we don’t do the right action, or we do the right action with the wrong attitude. For example, consider a young woman who wants to serve in some ministry in the church, but her hair is too short. On one hand, hair length is a relatively small thing, but that doesn’t mean that it is of no consequence. Paul addressed it and taught that hair length is an issue of authority. The woman’s long hair is her God-given glory and is a sign of her submission to the man’s authority, whereas the man’s short hair is the sign of his submission to God (1 Co. 11:3-5). Paul said that even angels are affected by this issue (1 Co. 11:10). The right attitude in this context is to deal with the young woman kindly and patiently and to keep this issue in the right perspective in my own heart. I must remember that hair length is not necessarily a spiritual thermometer. A woman with short hair might love the Lord much more passionately than a woman with long hair, and a man with longer hair might love the Lord more passionately than a man with short hair, and love for the Lord is the most important issue. But keeping my attitude right does not mean that there is no action to take. In the previous case, the young woman needs to be instructed and guided in this matter so that she will come to understand the issue and not want to be an offense and stumbling block by her appearance. And the action includes enforcing the church’s standards for workers, even in external appearances and even in matters that are considered by many of “small” consequence.
We must exercise special wisdom in reproving an elder, referring to an elder in age as well as to a leader. An elder is not to be rebuked, but to be entreated as a father (1 Ti. 5:1). Paul is talking particularly about the fact that younger people are not to rebuke elders but rather must deal with them in an entreating manner. (In contrast, an elder, referring to a pastor, is to be rebuked if he sins, 1 Ti. 5:19-20.)
The wise repetition of reproof is a major part of the process of discipleship.
Human nature demands repetition in instruction and reproof. We don’t learn all at once, but a little at a time. We forget and have to be reminded of what we have already learned. Thus biblical reproof must permeate the church’s ministry and must incorporate repetition.
We see the principle of teaching by repetition throughout the Bible. But effectual repetition does not mean saying exactly the same thing repeatedly. It is dealing with the same subject in different ways, coming at it from different directions, presenting it in different contexts, emphasizing different aspects.
For example, consider Bible study. The leaders produce good Bible students by repetition. It isn’t enough to preach this once a year or mention it in a sermon once in awhile. It isn’t even enough to offer a course on Bible study. Bible study and every other major aspect of discipleship must be constant themes that are woven throughout the church’s ministry. The leaders must explain the reasons why the people need to study the Bible. They must exhort the people to study the Bible. They must teach the people how to study the Bible. They must rebuke those who do not study the Bible. They must do all of these things all of the time.
The same is true for teaching prayer, holiness, faithfulness, separation, modesty, etc.
Public and Private Reproof
Both public and private reproof are necessary for an effectual ministry of reproof. Here we are talking about reproof in the congregation.
A preaching ministry that includes clear and practical reproof and rebuke is a very essential part of a disciplined church. It is a necessary part of the atmosphere that produces true disciples.
Not everyone will respond properly to such preaching, but those who have a heart for God will grow in this atmosphere.
Public reproof is necessary for spiritual protection.
Public reproof is a major part of keeping the church disciplined, a major part of producing disciples.
Yet preaching with reproof and rebuke is becoming a neglected ministry. In many churches, the preaching is getting softer, and the result is a weakening of the spiritual climate of the church and the inevitable breaking down of the walls of separation from the world.
Once I interviewed a father about his grown children who were serving the Lord and asked him if he had any suggestions for other parents. The first thing he said was that after he was saved, the Lord had led him to a good Bible preaching church, and he determined as a young father that he was going to obey what the pastor preached. He tried to do whatever the preacher preached from God’s Word, and this resulted in good fruit in his family. Of course, we don’t blindly follow a preacher, but when the preacher is preaching God’s Word, it is right and wise to obey (Heb. 13:17). This church is a church where the preaching is given with plenty of reproof, rebuke, and exhortation, as well as sound doctrine, and those who submit to such a ministry are sanctified thereby.
An example of something that requires the ministry of reproof is the believers’ responsibilities before God such as being faithful to services and being faithful to prayer meetings. It is God who requires faithfulness, and the preacher must uphold God’s requirements (e.g., Acts 2:42; 1 Co. 4:2; Heb. 10:25).
Consider the prayer meetings. The members of the first church “continued in prayers” (Acts 2:42). But today it is typical that only a small percentage of church members attend prayer meetings, and this should be a matter of teaching, exhortation, rebuke, and even discipline, but many pastors are content with small participation in the sense that they do little or nothing to change the status quo.
I think of a large church in Florida that announced a women’s prayer meeting before the service, but my wife was the only one in attendance!
I think of two fairly large churches, but the special prayer meetings before the services are ill attended.
In fact, as I travel in my Bible conference ministry, I am almost always shocked by the pitiful number of men who attend such meetings compared to the number who attend the service itself. Typically, the prayer meeting is only about 15 minutes, so it is not a major sacrifice for the men to attend. Some are unable to attend, of course, but many simply don’t make the effort.
If a man can’t get off work and is therefore unable to attend, though he wants to, that is one thing, and we are patient with that type of thing. But in many cases, it is a matter of rank disobedience and lack of spiritual zeal.
I always rebuke men for this sin. I think of a church in North Carolina where I preached a Bible conference. There were just a few men in the prayer meeting, but there were probably 30 men in the services.
I don’t believe that a preacher has a right to ignore this type of blatant disobedience to Scripture.
I think of a church where I preached a Bible conference that ran from Wednesday to Sunday. The attendance on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings was about 50, if I remember correctly. I was therefore shocked on Sunday morning to see something like a couple hundred people in attendance. I began my message that morning by reproving those who had neglected the services. I said, “Where were you the last three nights? Didn’t you know that the church was having a Bible conference?” I was preaching a series on Revelation 2-3, and these people had demonstrated a powerful example of Laodicean lukewarmness! I thought that would be the last time I was invited to preach there, but in fact I have been invited back two or three times.
I think of another church where I preached a Bible conference. This church had not had a Bible conference in something like 25-30 years. The services were well attended and the response seemed to be good, but I noticed after a couple of nights that there weren’t many teens and young single people in attendance, and when I inquired about the matter I was told that the young people were at a softball league tournament. I couldn’t believe it. The first Bible conference in decades and the adults let the young people skip out for a softball game! The next evening, I rebuked the church for this great compromise. The day before this reproof, the pastor had been excited about the meeting and had even asked me if I could come back every year for a conference. But after the reproof about putting sports before Christ, I was never invited back.
But we refuse to accept this type of thing, and we have learned how to deal with it in our own church work. Ninety-five percent of our people are faithful.
We don’t want to rebuke our people. We get no joy out of that. The last thing we want to do is hurt them. We no more want to hurt our church members than to hurt our own children and grandchildren, but reproof and correction are matters of obedience to God and blessing for those who need it.
Our desire is that our people be true disciples of Christ, and we are willing to do whatever is necessary from our side to see that happen.
If God requires a steward to be faithful and if He has given us the example of faithfulness in the members of the first church, who am I as a church leader to require less?
The public process of perfecting disciples requires teaching, exhortation, reproof, rebuke, and discipline, in that order.
As with child training, chastening must precede rebuke and scourging or spanking (Heb. 12:5-6). The word “chasten” is from the Greek “paideuo,” which is elsewhere translated “learn” (1 Ti. 1:20), “instruct” (2 Ti. 2:25), and “teach” (Tit. 2:12). This is the foundation of proper discipline. The parent patiently teaches the child the difference between right and wrong and makes him to understand what is required of him.
Likewise, discipleship begins with teaching. You don’t reprove and rebuke and correct and discipline until first you have carefully instructed the church member as to what he is supposed to do. The same is true for child discipline. To reprove before proper teaching will produce confusion rather than good fruit.
So, in regard to producing faithful church members, we begin by patiently and persistently teaching our people about faithfulness and why they should be faithful and the blessings of faithfulness. This instruction includes the ministry of our One Year Discipleship Course which has a lot of teaching on this subject.
Together with teaching and instruction is exhortation. We exhort our people to be faithful. We weave this teaching and exhortation into the preaching and teaching ministry.
Only after teaching and exhortation is there reproof and rebuke. Those who do not obey and persist in unfaithfulness must be reproved.
Ultimately, there is discipline. If an individual persists in disobedience in the face of teaching, exhortation, reproof and rebuke, we do not allow him to be a member of our church.
Of course, there are many other elements necessary for producing faithfulness to Christ, including much prayer, compassion and patience.
Take another issue, that of loving God’s Word. According to Scripture, the believer is to have an intimate relationship with God’s Word from the time he is a babe in Christ (1 Pe. 2:2). He is to delight in it and meditate therein day and night (Ps. 1:2). He is to study it diligently and rightly divide it (1 Ti. 2:15). He is to become skillful in the use of it (Heb. 5:12-14).
God requires this of His people; therefore, the church leaders must require it.
Again, the process of requiring a right relationship with God’s Word begins with teaching.
We teach our church members about every aspect of Bible study. We teach them how to have a daily Bible study time. We teach them how to use Bible study tools and how to interpret the Bible for themselves. Our teaching on this subject is extensive and includes two courses, a basic one entitled The Effectual Bible Student and a deeper one entitled How to Study the Bible.
Then we exhort them to read the Bible and study the Bible and love the Bible. We weave this theme into the messages.
Finally, we reprove and rebuke those who refuse to obey God in this matter.
Other examples of things that commonly need to be reproved are husbands not being the spiritual leaders of their homes, husbands not loving their wives, husbands neglecting their children, wives not honoring and obeying their husbands, wives not being keepers at home, parents not disciplining their children, young people not honoring and obeying their parents, employees not being good workers, lying and dishonesty, laziness, not paying one’s debts, putting one’s work and business before God, putting education above seeking God’s will, and neglecting the duty of being an ambassador for Christ.
There must also be PRIVATE REPROOF.
“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).
Note that this is a ministry to “every man.” Public reproof is not enough. There must also be individual, private reproof.
This is very necessary, and it can be very effectual.
I often talk briefly to individuals when they are late or miss services or other things in order to exhort them. I inquire as to their situation (such as where they were during the service) and then exhort them according to their situation and need.
We sometimes meet privately with members after church services to exhort them.
We also visit homes to encourage and exhort the people. Last year we used one evening every week to visit the homes of the church members. The church leaders visited each home together, and after we talked with the family and inquired as to their situation and needs, each of the preachers delivered a word of exhortation.
As with dealing with children, you don’t rebuke church members until it is necessary, and you don’t rebuke them more than necessary.
Usually the public teaching and exhortation and reproof and the private exhortation is enough.
But if the individual persists in disobedience, the leaders must get increasingly firm.
The Ministry of the Body
Another essential part of the ministry of reproof that produces a church of disciples is the ministry of the body itself.
The following are some of the Bible’s teaching about the “one another” ministry of the New Testament church. Note that admonishing is one of the ministries that the members are to exercise toward one another.
“And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to ADMONISH ONE ANOTHER” (Ro. 15:14).
“BEAR YE ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Ga. 6:2).
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).
“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to LOVE ONE ANOTHER” (1 Th. 4:9).
“Wherefore COMFORT ONE ANOTHER with these words” (1 Th. 4:18).
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and EDIFY ONE ANOTHER, even as also ye do” (1 Th. 5:11).
“But EXHORT ONE ANOTHER daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:13).
“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” (Heb. 10:25).
Our goal is to build the congregation up in Christ so the members are able to minister effectively to one another. This does not replace the ministry of the leaders and preachers and teachers; it works together with that ministry and is under the direction of that ministry.
Note that the Bible doesn’t say that the members are to rebuke one another. They are to teach, encourage, comfort, exhort, and admonish. The rebuking should be done by the preachers and leaders.
Exhort means to encourage; to challenge; to cheer. The word translated “exhort” is from the Greek “parakaleo,” which means “to call near.” This Greek word is also translated intreat” (Lu. 15:25), “desire” (Ac. 8:31), “beseech” (Ac. 13:42), “comfort” (Ac. 16:40), “call for” (Ac. 28:20), and “pray” (Ac. 16:9).
Admonish means to put in mind; to caution; to reprove gently; to warn or notify of a fault; to counsel against wrong practices; to advise; to instruct. The Greek word translated “admonish” in Romans 15:14 (“neotheteo”) is elsewhere translated “warn” (Acts 20:31). It is used for Jeremiah’s warning to the Jewish remnant about not going to Egypt (Jer. 42:19), Paul’s warning to the ship’s captain (Acts 27:9), the admonition of God’s Word about sin (1 Co. 10:11), admonishing an erring brother (2 Th. 3:15), God’s admonition of Moses (Heb. 8:5).
I often hear of the operation of this ministry in our church. I hear of one brother or sister encouraging another, teaching another, exhorting another, comforting and helping another, and it is a great blessing to the church family.
Our more spiritual young people exercise this ministry toward the weaker ones.
We give instruction about this ministry, and we encourage it.
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by permission 03/12/22
Calvinism: John Calvin (1509-64) French Theologian and Ex- Catholic.
Famous for his writings in his Book: Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536).
Taught that God Desired to Save some of his Creation and Damn the Rest with No Chance to Respond to the Gospel Call before their Conception.
That Jesus Christ Finished Work on the Cross was only a Limited Atonement. Not a Full Atonement for all Humanity.
That God Dosen't Desire All Men to be Saved. Even if the Pre- Dammed Person Desires to Come to Christ by Faith Blasphemer!"
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Type or copy/paste into your browser for
a ton of SEARCHBLE INFORMATION!
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THESE (3) WEBSITES ARE CURRENTLY
BLOCKED BY FB AND MESSENGER
Type or copy/paste into your browser for
a ton of SEARCHBLE INFORMATION!
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"BIG PICTURE" UPDATED 02/23/22
LOOK AND SEE WHAT'S NEW !!
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"Come and feast, food to fill your Soul!" Randall Wandell
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THE OTHER GROUPS TO BE COMBINED.
MORE DETAILED INFORMATION BELOW!
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EXTRA ... EXTRA ... READ ALL ABOUT IT! JUST ADDED!
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VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION! |
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This is about the BIG PICTURE moving forward!
If you are receiving this, it means that you may be a member of one or more of these groups displayed here!
As we “continue” using these groups they will become very slowly merged into two (2) EXISTING groups and will be displayed on these two (2) EXISTING groups on MeWe and FaceBook as "Baptist Church History" and "A Warning Ministry”
and (2) EXISTING WEBSITES
www.AWarningMinistry.com and www.BaptistChurchHistory.com
In addition, you are also being offered to subscribe to the email delivery system 'Constant Contact', which is only 30 days old as of 03/12/21 and will continue being built right now, for regular updates of all the subjects and groups listed below! The entire system will be under construction for some time, so come back and visit often for continual updates! Enjoy the ride and check back often.
We will still be using the same group rules, standards, and guidelines in all the groups, which have been used, merged, and updated for over two years to date.
At this time there are more than fourteen thousand members (some in more than one group) in these five groups! Plus, I personally have almost 5,000 members in my personal groups that are overlapping and see posts from the other groups on a regular basis!
THESE GROUPS HAVE BECOME OVERLAPPING AND ARE NOT
MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE BY NATURE OF THEIR CONTENT!
The history of each group may be accessed using the links provided.
CHECK OUT ALL THE RESOURCES BELOW AND ENJOY THE
'MASSIVE' AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
AVAILABLE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!
HERE IS HOW TO STOP BEING CONFUSED!
START TODAY AND NEVER LOOK BACK!
What causes all the confusion?
THREE THINGS!
(1) Modern Bible Versions
(2) Lack of Baptist Church History TRUTH
(3) and lack of proper Biblical Interpretation methods!
IN A NUTSHELL ... THE ROOT CAUSE IS … a SPIRITUAL, a HEART AND an IGNORANCE PROBLEM … that … causes all the other things mentioned … which are the symptoms!
“MAJOR CAUSES OF PROBLEMS IN THE CHURCH".
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“Most Christians do not read the Bible. Many Christians who read the Bible ignore what the Bible says. Some Christians who ignore the Bible don't see that as a problem.” "Baptist Bread" July 17th, 2017 devotional by author Dr. Guy Goodell, Pastor, Bible Baptist Church, Hudson Falls, NY. with permission from Tim Green The Baptist Bread
- “Ignorance of Baptist heritage, which is so infectious in our pulpits and pews today, is dangerous and must be overcome with a renewed teaching of our Baptist heritage and heroes of past generations.” Appendix B Ten Affirmations Concerning Our Baptist Heritage, " Page 262, “The Collegiate Baptist History Workbook", by James R. Beller
- Lack of training in proper Biblical Interpretation methods, including Prophecy.
What causes all the confusion? Modern Bible Versions and Lack of Baptist History TRUTH and lack of proper Bible Interpretation! This is the root cause of all the other things that were mentioned.
SOLUTION:
We teach the entire counsel of God, based on the Authorized King James Bible, Proper methods of Biblical Interpretation, including prophecy and True Baptist Church History and Distinctives.
The Ten C’s ….. there may be more ….. Now here are Ten!
Greatest Commandments Matthew 22:36-40
Great Commission Matthew 28:16-20
Earnestly Contend for the faith Jude 3-4, 20-25
All the Counsel of God Acts 20:26-27
One Christ Ephesians 4:4-6
Another Christ 2 Corinthians 11:4
With Compassion, Christians are to have compassion
(1 Pe. 3:8; 1 Jn. 3:17; Jude 22). [See Charity, Labor, Love, Mercy.]
Pray without ceasing I Thessalonians 5:17
Creation Genesis 1:1-2, John 1:1-5 The seven c’s of creation!
His Commandments in Old & New Testaments Revelation 22:14C
How to stop all this confusion out there?
- Get saved so you “can” understand!
- Start reading the KJB and pray every day!
- Learn the proper methods of Biblical interpretation!
- Learn “true” Baptist Church History!
- Learn and practice the entire counsel of God!
- Attend a good Bible Believing Independent Church regularly!
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"Three Major Problems In The Church" by Guy Goodell -...
"Three Major Problems In The Church" by Guy Goodell "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. " Matthew 22:29 KJV The church claiming preference as the "Body of Christ" is in trouble. I speak ...
Read more
awarningministry.com
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The purpose of this Blog is to teach about Jude 3
IT HAS BEEN SAID THERE IS A BIG LACK OF ‘WARNING MINISTRIES’ IN CHURCHES. THIS IS A TEACHING RESOURCE TO HELP PEOPLE AND CHURCHES UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT JUDE 3.
Read more
awarningministry.com
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About The Author Roger Fulk |
Welcome to our Blog Posts and Keep coming back often and enjoy learning about many different subjects like this for your edification!
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All subjects are not of interest to everyone, however we have found there is much confusion out there. We are here to help!
We aim to help people learn about many different subjects for your teaching and learning purposes! Keep coming back often and enjoy learning about many different subjects like this for your edification!
Thank you,
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