Differences Between Catholic Theology and the Gospel-Updated

Something important to note is that what is stated in this article as being taught by Catholics is not found in the Bible. The books in the Catholic Bible, which did not meet the criteria for the canon that is accepted by all other Christian religions, are not considered sound by anyone other than Catholics.  The 66 books the rest of Christendom follows, which make up the Old and New Testament, have passed numerous tests showing they are the inspired word of God. What evangelicals teach, as explained in this article, is backed up by Scripture. This is a key difference between religions and Biblical Christianity. It is very risky to place our faith in a religion of man.  If we trust a group of men to speak for God and make decisions that will impact our eternal security, we are still responsible for our choice. Sincerity does not save us.

I'd encourage anyone reading this to consider what the book of Romans shows us about how to be reconciled to God. There is great peace and joy available in the life of someone rightly reconciled to God, but we simply cannot be right with God in a forgiven state if we fail to understand how sinful depraved we are. Our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked, and we all have the capacity to commit heinous sin. It is only by God's forgiveness and grace we can do right and grow to become like Christ. The process of sanctification is the result of being saved by the blood of Christ, once and for all. It is a life that continually puts to death sin and chooses to do what pleases God, empowered by the Holy Spirit. People not born again do not have the Holy Spirit and thus they are slaves to sin--they cannot make choices that please the Lord. 

5 Differences Between Catholic Theology and the Gospel

by Jesse Johnson [1]

October 30, 2013

With Reformation Day this week, it is a good time to remind ourselves of what exactly the differences are between the Roman Catholic Church and Protestants. Certainly on just about every single area of theology there are differences, but here are what I think are the five most glaring and significant issues that separate the Catholic Church from the gospel of grace:

1) Justification (added by J Dub--see Romans 5:1)

Evangelicals teach that sinners are justified on the basis of faith alone, and that ones’ faith is placed in the finished substitutionary work of Jesus on the cross, confirmed by his glorious resurrection, and that this is a gift based entirely on his grace. Finally, that justification is complete and total at the moment of our conversion, and that believers never grow more justified.

In contrast the Catholic church teaches that justification is a process that includes works (with those works “infusing” one’s faith), and that those works are the cause of the justification process. Beyond that, the Catholic Church teaches:

“If anyone says, that by faith alone the impious is justified; let him be anathema” (Council of Trent #9)

Or:

“If anyone says that the justice [or justification] received is not preserved and also not increased before God through good works but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not the cause of the increase, let him be anathema” (Council of Trent, 24).

2. The Pope as head of the church (added by J Dub, see 1 Tim 2:5, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:10)

For evangelicals, the church is made up of all of those who have been justified by God through faith. Local churches are led by elders, and each church is generally autonomous. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and there is no authority over any local church on earth apart from Scripture.  Elders and pastors are fallible in how they lead the church.

In the Roman Catholic teaching, the church is composed of laity and is led by those who have received the sacrament of Holy Orders (deacons, priests and bishops). The head of the church is the Pope, who when speaking authoritatively on matters relating to the church, is protected from the possibility of error [2] concerning doctrine and morals of the church. Also, for anyone to be saved, they must be under the Pope’s authority:

“We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff” (Unam Sanctam, 1302).

3. Mass vs. communion (added by J Dub, see 1 Cor 11--Jesus was standing there showing the symbolism of communion. Christ died to sin once and for all Rmn 6:10, we do not re-crucify Him or engage in cannibalism). 

For evangelicals, communion is commemorative, and acts as a remembrance of the substitutionary atoning work of Jesus. The bread is symbolic of the body, and wine symbolic of the blood. There is nothing mystical or meritorious about it, but it is a means of grace and of provoking growth in godliness.

The Catholic Church teaches transubstantiation, that the bread and wine are transformed literally into the body and blood of Jesus. Thus in the mass, the priest calls Jesus down from heaven, and in the breaking of the bread Jesus is re-sacrificed. The mass is meritorious, as one of the seven sacraments, and it is a “true and proper sacrifice.” Here again is the council of Trent:

If any one saith that in the Mass a true and proper sacrifice is not offered to God; or, that to be offered is nothing else but that Christ is given us to eat; let him be anathema.”

As a side note, many of the Protestants and puritans made martyrs by the RCC went to their deaths over this issue. They considered participation in the Mass to be idolatry, and refused, and often were put to death for their refusal.

4. Mary (added by J Dub, this lists verses that reference Mary, the mother of Jesus. Read them for yourself and see that the Catholic church has gone wildly outside of Scripture with what they teach.)

For evangelicals, Mary was Jesus’ mother, a sinner, and one who was saved from her sins by her faith in Jesus. We recognize a period of her life where she did not believe in Jesus (see, for example, Mark 3:30-33 [3]), but that  by the time of Jesus’ death she had placed her faith in him as her Messiah. She had other children after Jesus, and died a physical death. She is to be admired as a woman of faith.

In the Catholic Church, Mary is an object of devotion—and in much of the world, she is an object of outright worship. It is normative to pray to her (consider, for example, the Hail Mary), and it is taught that she was sinless. In fact, the Immaculate Conception is the Catholic doctrine that Mary was conceived without a sin nature, thus she was not a recipient of Jesus’ redemption, but instead was a participant in that redemption. She was a perpetual virgin, and did not die a physical death, but was rather assumed into heaven, where she reigns now as the Queen of heaven and is herself Ineffabilis Deus (“ineffable God,” or “inexplicably divine”)

5. Purgatory (added by J Dub: 2 Cor 5:8, John 13:9-11, Romans 6:10-11, 1 John 1:9, Romans 10:9-10)

Evangelicals believe that there is no such place as purgatory, but that hell is real and heaven is obtainable only as a gift from God, through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, and this is all of grace. For those who place their faith in Jesus, when they die they are immediately ushered into glory, where they will be in the presence of the Lord.

In Catholic theology, purgatory is where Catholics go when they die. Only those who are in a state of grace may go there, and once you have suffered for your non-mortal sins, you are made ready to see heaven. Thus purgatory is not eternal—but it is like hell in another way: purgatory involves both flames and suffering, and serves to make atonement for sins that you did not confess before you die. In many ways, Purgatory is the glue that holds the system together. Because it is a system where eternal judgment is based on works, and because sins are frequent and it is impossible to know and confess all of ones’ sins, purgatory is an essential piece of Catholic theology.

I give this list here simply because it always surprises me to find those that say “Catholics and Christians believe the same thing on the important issues, it is just in details where they differ.” Well, I suppose it matters what the “important issues are” but these five certainly touch on areas that are essential to the gospel.

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Source URL: http://www.worldviewweekend.com/news/article/5-differences-between-catholic-theology-and-gospel

Things to Avoid

James 4:1-10

4 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? ² You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. ⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? ⁶ But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” ⁷ Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

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Readers, please say a prayer when you see this for some most beloved family of mine that need prayer. Thank you.

Must Read Books!

*I have been thinking of posting about The Heart of Anger by Lou Priolo and instead have opted to re post this in it's entirety. Just a quick thought, if you or your children don't handle anger biblically, I heartily recommend the aforementioned book and the study guide that goes with it. If you parent in anger, spank in anger and find yourself going from zero to ten when your kids disobey, you need this study. Children disciplined in anger, even if it's consistent, will not display the sweet spirit of obedience most of us are seeking. I've led a study on this book and everyone found it beneficial. This was originally posted Oct 27, 2010. Irony!

Years ago when I had our first family blog, before the era of not needing to know HTML, I would post book reviews. It was a thrill because I had time and loved to read. Here I am nearly a decade beyond that point in time, and some of the titles I'd recommend haven't changed. I won't be listing an in depth review though, as time is much shorter these days!

On raising children-Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp (the title says it all--it's our hearts that God is concerned with and in this culture of focusing on externals, the heart is so often lost..the busy pace of life can leave their little hearts lonely and hurting while Mom and Dad pass them from daycare to the bus to strangers at school for 8 hrs a day, then to sports and dance etc etc. This book cuts to the chase on how to lovingly raise our children for the Lord.)

On being a Biblical wife-Created to Be His Helpmeet by Debi Pearl and The Power of A Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. While you may not agree with everything Pearl says, she really does a good job showing the attitude of a wife desiring to follow the Lord's outline according to His word. Hard situations are dealt with in the book-real life situations are investigated. Omartian's book is a favorite of mine because my life wouldn't be what it is without serious prayer that is answered by God Almighty. If you are struggling in your marriage, get this book and the study guide. I've seen ladies lives transformed by going through The Power of A Praying Wife. (my only disagreement with it is that she alludes to losing our salvation which is unscriptural, see Eph 1:13-14, Heb 13:5, John 10:27-30).

To understand the Bible better, get Warren Wiersbe's Bible Exposition Commentary. A great way to study scripture with your older children would be to read the Word of God and then read the commentary for further understanding, praying for the Holy Spirit to lead and direct since He is our teacher.

For those unequally yoked (Christian married to a non-Christian) I highly recommend Surviving A Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage by Lee Strobel. Talk about encouraging and sound advice on how to love your spouse as God directs! Here it is--wonderful book for believers in different spots also.

Do you ever think of home education or just how to spruce up your child's education that is outside of your house? My all time favorite book on education right now is The Core by Leigh Bortins. Leigh gives the history of education and how standards have plummeted, but also gives clear help and hope for those who do not want to see their children become a product of today's low standards in public schools.

Understanding Reiki

Reiki is something Christians should be wary of. Our goal is to bring glory to God, not muddy the waters of our testimony with questionable occult practices. Why do Christians insist on getting as close to the occult as possible? I think we take our freedom in Christ to a place it should never go. The ends do not always justify the means. Shouldn't we always take inventory of what we engage in?

http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/reiki.htm

Success and Birth Order, sort of

Just gleaned this but want to post it because some truth lies in this article. It is so easy to treat a youngest different from an oldest! As a youngest, the rebellious part seems rather accurate. Good motivation to not pay attention to psychology per se, but appreciate some valid human tendencies...moms of youngest boys, this is very good to pay attention to and crack down on more chores and timeliness...watching attitudes and first time obedience. I never begged or cajoled my children to do what was right--they were taught to do it because I said so and their job was to obey, period. Had to really watch this with my youngest as I started off slow with him! Also, speed drills with math are super helpful with this as well as keeping the bedroom tidy and 'owning' certain household responsibilities. What Every Child Should Learn Along the Way (small book) is a great tool for the latter, as well as other aspects of parenting.

http://shine.yahoo.com/parenting/want-youngest-child-achieve-treat-him-oldest-185400966.html#!l8xBv

Sleeping In

If there were an Olympic medal for resetting the alarm based on speed, accuracy and completely changing the time, I (hate to brag) but....you're looking at the winner. Just sayin'. It is rare I try to dazzle even me with the ability to awaken a minute before school starts and yet still appear dressed with hair pulled back, but my friends, today the need was felt to squeak out every last second. Sometimes it is far too fun to talk to the husband till the wee hours, after talking to a friend till the wee hours. God is good to bless us with times like these, even though we could dismiss anything thwarting our 'norm' as from the devil. I don't think it was, and the refreshment after yesterday's day was welcome on all counts.

Off to math...and then sausage and eggs, a little out of order ;).

Thorough Halloween Posts for Christians to Consider

Some thoughts about Halloween that are worth a Christian thinking about, at least for the time it takes to read these :).

Halloween is Optional

Redeeming October 31st 

Caramelized Carrot Ribeye Soup

*I never took a picture of this soup and I gave the rest away! Bummer! It looked great though (ha ha)! Picture kale amidst white barley in a reddish broth, yellow corn kernels poking around :).

I'll snap a photo of this soup tomorrow, but before I forget, wanted to get the details down as best I can recall. Making up a soup as I go is a favorite pastime and sometimes it lands a super tasty one worth trying again.

Heat large stock pot while frozen homemade chicken stock thaws a bit (gallon sized freezer bag). Add some oil to the hot-pot and sauté a large garlic clove (smashed and chopped) with 2 large carrots until the carrots are getting dark on one side and searing (caramelizing). Meanwhile, in a very hot cast iron skillet, put your seasoned rib eye (Lawry's rubbed in or whatever you like. I did a few seasonings) in to seer with a large chopped/smashed garlic clove. Add a medium diced onion and about 2 or 3 cups of chopped kale once the steak is about 1/2 cooked. Just tuck the onion around it and cover the whole skillet with the kale. It will get mixed in as you turn the meat--try to get everything nice and juicy and mixed.

Add a large can of tomato puree to the stock pot along with the chicken stock. Heat till nearly boiling. Throw in a good bit of parsley, some pepper, some basil and a little salt, not even 1 T....at most 1 T.

Meanwhile, cube (into dice sized pieces) 2 white potatoes leaving the skin on. Maybe I should say 'dice' but I always think of dicing as smaller than what I did for the soup. Add the potatoes to the stock pot, sprinkle in a decent amount of barley, maybe 1/4 cup.

The ribeye should be long finished cooking, so dice it up pretty small removing all the fat. Put the fat into cheesecloth, tie it tight, and put it in the stock pot. That's right, we need some flavor! Just let this stay with the soup for about 20 minutes. Before you cut up the meat, add the onions, kale and pan drippings to the soup.

OK, so now you have in a large stock pot:

1 medium onion that has been seasoned and softened with a ribeye in cast iron

2 white potatoes with skin on

2 very large garlic cloves, 1 browned in oil and 1 in steak drippings (or 4 or 5 small cloves)

2 carrots, seared until sticky and brown on one side at least (in oil with the one garlic clove)

2 cups or so of chopped kale which has already been cooked down with the steak

large can tomato puree

barley

pepper (white and black), basil, parsley, salt

fat in cheese cloth

Bring this to a boil and simmer for about 10 minutes, Remove the cheesecloth with the fat inside, you are finished with that. Now add a bag of frozen corn--I think mine was 16 oz. but it really looked nice and I love hitting a sweet corn niblet in soup!

Add in the diced steak and about 1 1/2 cups cooked rice. Simmer with a lid, stirring occasionally, for about 30 mins or so...maybe more, till it comes together and looks fantastic. The smell will change as it's finishing, from separate ingredients to a yummy awesomeness. We all really enjoyed this soup and I hope if you try it, you will, too!

As Iron Sharpens Iron

How is it that we get in to a position with someone of 'ironing sharpening iron' as Proverbs 27:17 says? If we seek out only friends who are not Christian or who are new Christians, will we have the opportunity to sharpen them? Sure, but will they sharpen us? Maybe, but most likely the sharpening will occur as recounting Biblical truths we already know rather than us being approached with new, challenging information. For this reason it is important to not only seek out relationships where we're comfortable, but also find some where we will be challenged to grow in Christ.

I'll be the first to admit I love comfortable, close friendships. We all want bosom buddies that see the world as we see it, and are living amidst this sinful culture the same as we are. It's a true breath of fresh air to find someone who interprets the Bible the way we do, but the question to ask ourselves is: are we growing  more like Christ as a result of the friendship, or are we at least able to influence the other person toward Christ? If neither of these is happening, maybe it's something to pray about.

We only have so much time for friendships, especially as home schooling moms, so let's choose wisely--prayerfully!

Proverbs 27:17

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another.

Teens and Sleepovers

I think as  a mother of growing girls we need to be vigilant to help them apply Scripture to the struggles they face. Moving from a child to an adult takes a lot of time, and with that time come real problems, pain, confusion and uncertainty--for the 'transitioner' (ie teen) and the parent. I'm reading a terrific book called Age of Opportunity (by Tedd Tripp's brother and I can't recall his name and am pressed for time so am not looking it up) that my beloved friend sent me a few months ago. This friend has a rare gift of mailing me books as a surprise, and I LOVE it!! The book is a MUST read for a parent of a teen--don't delay, you'll wish you'd tapped in to the wisdom sooner rather than later. My friend is a few years ahead of me on the parenting path and I really appreciate her insight.

Applying Phil 4:8 to one's thoughts, especially teen girls', is critical--the parts about thinking on what is TRUE and REAL are particularly poignant. I won't share my children's issues on this blog, but here are some examples of where we as moms need to direct our kid's thinking--future events like marriage, infatuations with boys, obsessing over college or future work or one's body. It is not healthy for a young lady to feel empty or dissatisfied with her life, thinking a boy or being a size smaller will solve her problems. It is Christ alone that fills us, or should fill us, and we adults need to be on the alert for these cues to help our kids think rightly (according to Scripture).

This brings me to the topic of sleepovers as kids age. I've never been a huge sleepover fan--no surprise to any regular reader here I'm sure. There are a very limited number of years we'll even allow them and as girls enter the teen years, it is time to start putting on the brakes. Why is this? Well, any woman who has stayed up late in the wee hours with a bunch of other women should really understand this. The conversation downward spirals, people are tired and the emotional equilibrium tends to be 'off'. It is easy to say what shouldn't be said, easy to feel more upset about certain things in life than we ought. Is it really going to be helpful for teens, who are dealing with tons of changing emotions, to have closed conversations with each other under these circumstances? I don't think so. Our child could put undue burdens on another, or another could introduce struggles our child hasn't actually dealt with. As my kids age, I'm more convinced than ever about this.

Another verse that I highly recommend for sharing with our aging kids is 2 Cor 10:5. It's one I learned many years ago and was used of God to help me cast off bad habits in my thinking. We can open the door to wrong thinking and before we know it, there is a stronghold--something we think on excessively and which takes up space that should go to prayer, serving the Lord, learning, or a productive hobby.

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking EVERY thought captive, to the obedience of Christ."

Mom, please teach your daughter's to take every thought captive so that it adheres to Phil 4:8. What is true is what is happening now. What is real is not what is wished for or imagined. What is right is what is pleasing to one's parents and the Lord (for children). Pure  things are pure in God's sight...honest, just....we know what these mean. Don't let opportunities pass to reach your kid's heart!

God's Provision

The Lord is faithful, a very present help in trouble. He provides the answers we need at just the right time. Do not fear when He has called you to a difficult ministry. Remember Jesus Christ and what He has done for you. Where would you be if someone did not tell you the truth, in love? We are all sinners, we all fall short of the glory of God, but praise be to God for His indescribable gift of mercy toward us. We can be forgiven and birthed in to God's family, with the assurance we will spend eternity in Heaven. It isn't baptism, or serving at church, or tithing or any other good work that saves us, it is acknowledging we are a sinner in need of Christ's forgiveness. We can come to God because of Jesus, and Jesus alone saves us from the penalty of our sin.

Halloween? Harvest Party? Reformation Day? October 31st in View....

I'm a fan of celebrating Reformation Day on Oct 31. To me alternatives that look similar to the real deal just add credibility to the 'real deal'. If I'm ever accused of anything, let it be that I stayed far from sin or the appearance of it, not that I figured out how to get as close to it as possible, nearly scorching my hem in the fire and escaping with only a faint smell of smoke. (if that is my overall testimony at the end of my life, to God alone be the glory). In general I do not like activities that can swing one way or the other, meaning they appeal to the world to 'get them in' yet they have a Christian twist on them. It is a philosophy of ministry I'm not comfortable with as it's highly subjective. I'm sure seeds can be planted amongst unbelievers, but what about children of believers and their understanding of the situation? If we've been in a church with a Harvest celebration or some other Halloween alternative, I only hear the churched kids talking about Halloween, from every family participating.

Through the years of parenting we've done various things on October 31st, a day I'd just as soon wipe off the calendar; but going door to door dressed up and asking for candy has never been among them. (We also leave anything mythical out of our Christmas celebrating and Easter celebrating, isn't Christ enough?)

We aren't PCA or Lutheran, but I think every Christian should be thankful for what Martin Luther did. He was used of God to shed light on the truth that we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, and that Scripture alone is our authority. (Sola Scriptura ("scripture alone"), Sola Gratia (“grace alone”), Sola Fide (“faith alone”) are the 3 main solas commonly associated with the Reformation). In an age when the current Pope is granting time off of purgatory for following him on Twitter, how can we not be freshly moved toward thankfulness for Martin Luther?

The question that has crystallized in my mind recently in regard to false religions is this: 

Why would anyone entrust a man or group of men to tell them what will give them eternal life in Heaven? 

Since we are each accountable to God, shouldn't we investigate what the Word says on this matter?

It is a REALLY big gamble to stick with something just because it's been 'in the family' for generations. What ever happened to personal accountability?  Anyone who holds Roman Catholicism up to the light of Scripture will see it is much like other false religions--some truth mixed with a lot of error, and that makes the whole cake bad (just like if you add a little poison to a cake batter...no amount of good ingredients undoes the bad).

Anyway, I digress.

This post below is not a blanket endorsement of CBN or it's affiliates, and I don't personally have reformation roots since my understanding is that Baptists are technically an offshoot of Anabaptists, not Protestants, but Luther still helped us all.

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HALLOWEEN

Reformation   Day - Redeeming October 31

By  Brad Winsted Guest Columnist

CBN.com – PCANews  - What will your church be doing this Reformation Day, October 31st? For  so many Halloween presents a dilemma, what do you do with a holiday with roots  in the occult? It would be something like walking home late at night, past a grave  yard, you notice that there is a celebration going with people dressed in death-glorifying  or satanic costumes, beckoning you to come in and join them.

You rush home  with a sense that something is VERY wrong. You are not surprised to learn that  Halloween is now the most celebrated holiday of the year in our government schools  (since Christmas and Easter are BIG no-no’s). You will see the signs of  the event on schoolhouse windows and you can expect large celebrations of this  occultic day.

Even a cursory look at the origins of Halloween will reveal satanic  rituals played out in trick and treating, jack-o-lanterns, witches, ghosts, the  dead and on and on. If you've ever taken time to research any of these Halloween  practices you'll see the satanic background from the Celtic tribes of Scotland  and Ireland.

So, should we retreat into the basements and attics of our homes,  turn out the lights and hope that our ghoulishly dressed neighborhood children  will pass us by? Our children would probably get the idea that the reasons for  retreating are not sufficient to deny them activities every child loves -- dressing  up and eating candy!

Well, how about a Reformation Day party at your church?  I know that many churches have a "Harvest Day Celebration" or other such event  where kids get dressed up as Bible characters and the fellowship hall is full  of games to keep the kids off the streets. But I'm suggesting going a step further.  Let's make it a day where we can learn more about our Reformation roots.

October  31 celebrates the day that the Reformation in Europe began with Martin Luther  posting his 95 theses on the Wittenburg church door, leading to a firestorm response  in Germany. Why not use this occasion for a celebration of our Reformed heritage.  And yes, this can be fun for the kids too!

Why not have a celebration at church  where all get dressed up as characters from the Reformation (I've dressed up as  John Calvin, Martin Luther, a peasant, and even John Tetzel (the salesman of those  infamous indulgences)? When I couldn't get a 16th century idea then I dressed  as a Bible character. You can transform the fellowship hall into Wittenburg, Germany  or Geneva. Here is an opportunity to go over the great "solas" of the Reformation:  by Scripture alone, by grace alone, by Christ alone, by faith alone, and to God  be the glory alone. Have people explain them. Show a video of one of the reformers.  Draw murals of Reformation events.

Here are some other things our church has  done over the years: Medieval line dancing (a lot like Scottish line dancing),  Medieval relay races (put the indulgences in the bottle), bobbing for apples,  German cover dish dinner, acting out your character (don't tell anyone who you  are, but act it out -- the ideas are limited only by time and background).

Children's  Ministry International  has developed a small booklet, Heroes of  the Reformation, that contains many of these ideas in it, along with lessons  on the lives of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and other reformers. Also,  you can order videos on the lives of the reformers from Gateway  Films .

Let's make October 31 a day of great remembrance (and educational  opportunity) of our Reformed heritage.

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Brad Winsted is Director of Children's Ministry International (1-888-345-4264).

The Damning Power of False Religion

My hope is that someone in the Catholic faith will watch this and consider what it says because I love Catholics and long to see them assured of Heaven and set free from a works-based religion. John MacArthur preaches from the Word; he is someone I consider sound and worth paying attention to.

Catholics erroneously think every Christian sect is a 'religion', full of doctrines and rules handed down by men. This is not so. Many Christians do their best to follow Scripture, the only source of inerrant, unchanging truth from God. Please don't put your eternal security in what any religion (ie man leading a belief system) teaches; go to the Word of God and see what it says.

It is possible to know 100% that you will spend eternity in Heaven with God. It is possible to know you are forgiven of your sin, past, present and future. These realities bring great peace. 

The Damning Power of False Religion

Ann Coulter: Democrats Think They Own the Government

DEMOCRATS TO AMERICA: WE OWN THE GOVERNMENT!

Ann Coulter                                 14 hours ago                        

                                        In the current fight over the government shutdown, Republicans are simply representing the views of the American people.

Americans didn't ask for Obamacare, they don't want it, but now their insurance premiums are going through the roof, their doctors aren't accepting it, and their employers are moving them into part-time work -- or firing them -- to avoid the law's mandates.

Contrary to Obama's promises, it turns out: You can't keep your doctor, you can't keep your insurance -- you can't even keep your job. In other words, it's a typical government program, but this one wrecks your health care.

Also, the president did raise taxes on the middle class in defiance of his well-worn campaign promise not to. Indeed, Obamacare is the largest tax hike in U.S. history.

Among the other changes effected by this law are:

-- Obamacare will allow insurers to charge 50 percent higher premiums for smokers, but prohibits insurers from increasing premiums for those with HIV/AIDS.

-- Nationally, Obamacare will increase men's individual insurance premiums by an average of 99 percent and women's by 62 percent. In North Carolina, for example, individual insurance premiums will triple for women and quadruple for men.

-- Health plans valued at $27,500 or more for a family of four will be taxed at a rate of 40 percent.

-- No doctors who went to an American medical school will be accepting Obamacare.

-- A 62-year-old man earning $46,000 a year is entitled to a $7,836 government tax credit to buy health insurance. But if he earns an extra $22 in income, he loses the entire $7,836 credit. He will have more take-home pay by earning $46,000 than if he earns $55,000. (If he's lucky, he already works for one of the companies forced by Obamacare to reduce employees' hours!)

-- Merely to be eligible for millions of dollars in grants from the federal government under Obamacare, education and training programs are required to meet racial, ethnic, gender, linguistic and sexual orientation quotas. That's going to make health care MUCH better!

-- Obamacare is turning America into a part-time nation. According to a recent report by economist John Lott, 97 percent of all jobs added to the economy so far this year have been part-time jobs. Ninety-seven percent!

-- Obamacare is such a disaster that the people who wrote it refuse to live under it themselves. That's right, Congress won a waiver from Obamacare.

Responding to the people's will, House Republicans first voted to fund all of government -- except Obamacare. Obama refused to negotiate and Senate Democrats refused to pass it.

Then the Republicans voted to fully fund the government, but merely delay the implementation of Obamacare for one year. Obama refused to negotiate and Senate Democrats refused to pass it.

Finally, the Republicans voted to fully fund the government, but added a requirement that everyone live under Obamacare. No more special waivers for Congress and their staff, and no waivers for big business without the same waivers for individuals.

Obama refused to negotiate and Senate Democrats refused to pass it. So as you can see, Republicans are the big holdup here.

A longtime Democratic operative, Karen Finney, explained the Democrats' intransigence on MSNBC to a delighted Joan Walsh (aka the most easily fooled person on TV) by comparing House Republicans to a teenager trying to borrow his mother's car. "No, I'm not negotiating!" Mother says. "It's MY CAR!"

This wasn't a stupid slip of the tongue that other Democrats quickly rejected. Finney had used the exact same metaphor to a panel of highly agreeable MSNBC guests the day before. (MSNBC books no other kind of guest.)

The left thinks the government is their car and the people's representatives are obstreperous teenagers trying to borrow the government. Which belongs to Democrats.

That's not how the Constitution views the House of Representatives. To the contrary, the House is considered most reflective of the people's will because its members are elected every two years.

As a matter of fact, the Republicans who mistakenly assume they have something to do with running the government represent most of the people who pay taxes to run it. So it's more like a teenager who is making the car payments, maintaining the car insurance and taking responsibility for registering the car being told: "It's not your car."

But the Democrats refuse to even negotiate. It's their government -- and if you Republicans think you're going out dressed like that, you've got another thing coming! Needless to say, they absolutely will not consider the Republicans' demand that Democrats merely live under Obamacare themselves.

Instead, Democrats say "the Koch brothers" are behind the effort to defund Obamacare.

They say Republicans are trying to "burn the whole house down" (Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz); "have lost their minds" (Sen. Harry Reid); are trying to negotiate "with a bomb strapped to their chest" (senior White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer); are "legislative arsonists" (Rep. Nancy Pelosi); and are engaging in "blatant extortion" (White House press secretary Jay Carney).

The MSNBC crowd calls Republicans "arsonists" every 15 minutes. They ought to check with fellow MSNBC host Al Sharpton. He knows his arsonists! In 1995, Sharpton whipped up a mob outside the Jewish-owned Freddy's Fashion Mart with an anti-Semitic speech. Sometime later, a member of the mob torched the store, killing seven Hispanic employees.

Every single Democrat in the country uses the exact same talking point: We "refuse to negotiate with a gun being held to our head."

Which means that the Democrats will engage in no negotiation at all -- not now, not ever. House Republicans have already passed three-dozen bills defunding, or otherwise modifying, Obamacare. Senate Democrats and liberal commentators had a good laugh at Republicans for passing them. Now they're paying attention!

If you are in the minority of Americans not already unalterably opposed to Obamacare, keep in mind that the only reason the government is shut down right now is that Democrats refuse to fund the government if they are required to live under Obamacare.

That's how good it is!

COPYRIGHT 2013 ANN COULTER

Nothing Like Motherhood

You know, there are things far more important than a huge wardrobe of clothes bought new. There are things vastly more meaningful than beautiful cars which are meant to impress. There are things infinitely more impressive than 'going along with the crowd' (be it playing the business game and doing what the bosses do or living like the world). There is something to be said for old-fashioned, Christian values. A woman committed to her family rather than her career. Yes, a stay-at-home mom who puts children and morals above anything else. A woman who dotes on her husband, showing her children God's order for the home, is a precious site in the eyes of the Lord.

All manner of excuses can be made, but at the end of the day we all have choices and those choices and priorities are reflected in how we live. I'm convinced Liberal Womanhood is ultimately empty and leaves a woman dissatisfied. I think most men who adhere to liberal feminist ideologies are also less satisfied than their male counterparts who embrace true femininity. I don't say this to be mean-spirited, friends, but the strong messages from the opposite side are at times scathing and we need to be bold about the truth. Liberalism has been a continual lie toward better living for women, from birth control to women no longer submitting to their husbands.

There is simply no way to be fully present in the home while being fully present out of the home. Some women can't stand to be at home so they are away from it, and in that circumstance they may feel happier, but there is surely a part of them that nags at their insides because something in them knows where they belong.

Moms, especially those who are home schooling--cherish these days where you can surprise your child with a closet full of clean laundry. Bask in the thrill of making home-made muffins for them to awake to. Relish the healthy and creative dinners you set before them at the end of a day wrought with school, basket decorating, shopping, church and training. Take pride in making your house a home, not only for your husband, but for your children. You won't be disappointed living according to the Bible. God has a plan and a design for the family, and it is not the mom working and the dad at home raising children. Men and women are created differently, and there is an order that is biblical when there are two parents in the family.

Cranberry Orange muffins:

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4-1/2 c. sugar  (I used Sucanat)

1 egg

1 1/4 c. sour cream

1 c.  frozen cranberries

1 T orange peel

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 T butter melted and cooled

add little milk to thin if needed

Scoop in to a greased muffin tin.

Mix together, bake 400 degrees for 20 min.

Democracy in Germany

From Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas:

Pg 149 With the tools of democracy, democracy was murdered and lawlessness made "legal." Raw power ruled, and its only real goal was to destroy all other powers besides itself.

Pg. 148 The Reichstag fire had served Hitler's cynical purposes and provided the cover to ensure that his grip on the country was irreversible and total. 

The quote from pg. 148 is exactly how the Democrat party in America operates. They thrive on scandal and chaos and during those times, they push their agenda through. The ignorant help them along and will themselves end up being burned when they are of no further use. We Christians will be the ones attacked, the true church, not the Willow Creek/Circle Maker churches that have left their first love. No, it will be anyone openly opposed to the regime here in America. Obama is just a front man for a much larger machine. I'm afraid the only way out of this mess in our country is through it, and the water temperature is heating up more and more. It isn't happening as fast and furious as when Hitler was elected in 1933, but is it happening here and certain attacks on our Constitution and on freedom/reason are occurring at warp speed.

Remember, the Democrats thrive on underdogs and they need enmity between various people groups to achieve their end. Reason and logic cannot prevail when a political party wants to whip people in to a frenzy so they can gain control.

All About Spelling Program

I've just finished All About Spelling Level 1 with one of my kids, using it as a tool to get in some rules we've apparently missed along the way. I'm really pleased with it and figured a little review was in order. I like how it goes over an open syllable and a closed syllable for when a vowel says it's long or short sound, USUALLY. The words are super simple in the lesson teaching this, but it is easy for Mom to pull out some 4 syllable words to demonstrate why this principle matters. I also like that there is a specific lesson on counting syllables. I was surprised at how one of my children really didn't have a firm grasp of this concept. The program is also very clear on when to use 'ck' vs. 'k' at the end of a word (or syllable)--what is the sound that is directly before the 'k' sound? Go from there.

Having used The Phonics Road to Spelling and Reading made AAS more enjoyable because I know Barbara Beers' cute jingles (like for how we often double L, S and F after a single vowel at the end of a base word of one syllable and the ck jingle).

In hindsight, I think using The Phonics Road was a great program that I probably should have used with all of my kids, but it is rather cumbersome and pulling out certain components just didn't work great for me when it was time to work with my 2nd child. It's a heavy 'mom needed' program, but I should have made the time. Oh well, now I'm working to fill in some gaps and AAS is great for this. It would also be a terrific first spelling program.

I've used Christian Liberty Press's spelling, Phonetic Zoo, the programs I've mentioned, and Spelling Power. I'm using Spelling Power now as a supplement for my student that is able to do words much harder than what is in AAS---great book for word lists to take a student far.

HTH,

Ann

Week 7/36

It is exciting to get to less than 30 weeks left in the school year! I woke up this AM thinking it was week 6, but alas, it's week 7! I figure if public schools, which don't offer a very good education, are doing 36 weeks, that is the minimum we ought to be doing. Of course, we use our time much more effectively and we take off at different times, so some curricula are completed prior to the 36 week mark. In general I think it is important that a home schooled student understands how to handle a full year of school, particularly as they enter middle and high school (if college is in their future). The discipline and stamina needed won't just magically appear!

Does Age Matter?

Something my husband and I have talked about is how what is OK for us isn't necessarily OK for our kids. Most parents reading would probably agree with that statement at first blush, but when we break it down, there is food for thought.

First case in point: movies. It is easy to watch something as an adult, trying to see it through the lens of a child and decide it is appropriate. Or, we remember something we watched at our kids' age and let them do so as well. I'm sure we're not alone in realizing that can backfire big time. We were raised very differently than we're raising our kids, and their sensibilities are different. I also think that in general, we can assume our kids can handle some things they really can't. Furthermore, the older I get, the more I think about distancing myself from actors whose worldview really clashes with a Christian worldview. It is hard for kids to not look up to performers they enjoy watching (think Star Wars...and some of them are flaming liberals). Is this OK? We each need to think on it.

Music is another area where this really matters. Anyone reading my blog knows I'm not a fan of contemporary Christian music as a steady appetite in church. One reason is because of the emotional nature of CCM. People can get accustomed to only thinking they are close to God based on how they FEEL in church, which is heavily driven by certain forms of music. It can cloud the reality of God's word and truth in our lives if we base our standing with God on emotions, and it's doubtful anyone can deny that music can manipulate emotions! The other reason I do not prefer CCM in worship is because it is often shallow. Unlike hymns, modern music is often not built on life-changing, theological truths, but instead on simple repetitive phrases. The third reason is that the approach often lowers God in our eyes rather than raise Him. He is diminished to a more human level. Finally, with contemporary Christian music, the focus is more on the singer (or singers depending on the church, as well as the writer of the song) than the Savior, and the beat can supersede the message and be carnal in nature. What concerns us here is that kids raised on this sort of music are in a very different place spiritually than their mature parent. It isn't the same for us to hear this sort of music from time to time. A steady diet of it, when spiritual appetites are just developing and being instilled, can lead to a weaker Christianity. My final thought on this issue is that with churches moving to more of an entertainment minded approach, essentially marketing Christianity to be cool and popular (ideas I strongly disagree with), the music plays in to this. I don't think you'll find a church with sacred hymns of old marketing Christianity.

I think as parents we need to remember that just as growing body has different nutritional needs in order to be strong, the same is true as educational and spiritual development is taking place. In general, I think we need to work a lot harder at having a very high view of God rather than keep Him where this culture has Him in our worship, and I think we as believers need to work more at being in the world but not of it.

Purpose of Salvation

I was listening to John MacArthur preach a sermon while walking, and he said something that goes along well with yesterday's post. The primary purpose of salvation is not to make our lives better, or to make us feel loved, or to help us. It is to make us more like Jesus Christ so we can glorify our Father in Heaven. We are to be conformed to the image of God's son, as Romans 8:9 says. Too often the church today uses Christianity as a 'fix' for people's lives. It IS true that coming to God in faith through Christ will radically improve a life in many ways, first and foremost by lifting the burden of one's sin.

If we don't truly believe we are sinners, but we hang out in a place full of moral people and opportunities for 'good works' where we're told how much God loves us continually, could there be any risk? I say yes. People can easily apply 'Christ' as a fix by merely starting to live a more moral life, which will naturally bring improvements. They can assuage any desire to serve others by doing just that, especially if they are in a really large church wrought with opportunities to serve. Feeding the poor, supplying school supplies for kids in the community, clothing drives, soup kitchens--whatever; the good works can calm guilt over being too selfish. So what then? You have an unsaved person mingling with some saved, some not, hearing how much God loves them and being encouraged to serve, teach, etc. Does anyone personally check up to see if they are really saved? I know often no one does. You can have an active thief in your Sunday School class who is allowed to serve in a nursery or people who drink alcohol 'recreationally' that are active in the music ministry. When the message is love, love, love and give, give, give, salvation is often overlooked and the numbers are just counted.

When leadership thinks Christianity is CAUGHT and not a matter of personal conviction as a result of hearing the truth of God's word, look out. You'll find tares being sown with the wheat at an alarming rate.

-----------------------------

John 3

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The New Birth

3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; ² this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these ^[a]signs that You do unless God is with him.” ³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born ^[b]again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

⁴ Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born ^[c]again.’ ⁸ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

⁹ Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? ¹¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. ¹² If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. ¹⁴ As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; ¹⁵ so that whoever ^[d]believes will in Him have eternal life.

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world, that He gave His ^[e]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the ^[f]only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

John’s Last Testimony

²² After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing. ²³ John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— ²⁴ for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

²⁵ Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purification. ²⁶ And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” ²⁷ John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves ^[g]are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the ^[h]Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ ²⁹ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made full. ³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.

³¹ “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. ³² What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. ³³ He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true. ³⁴ For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; ^[i]for He gives the Spirit without measure. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. ³⁶ He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not ^[j]obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

The "Incomplete Equation" Church

I was thinking the seeker-friendly or emergent church could also be called the incomplete equation church...or maybe the partial equation church.

Example: 3 x =

+ 9 =

It is a serious situation that many churches are mainly interested in being relevant to the culture and telling people how much God loves them, and if they will 'put Him on', their life will improve. Please think of this, folks. Is that the gospel message we see in Scripture?

The 'go along to get along' variety of Christian will give the kumbaya retort,"I think something good can come from any sort of church."

Really? Again, is this way of thinking Biblical? Did Peter go around saying that? Was Saul, before his conversion, persecuting those with the message of the gospel or those with some version of it? I say he persecuted those with the true gospel message.

Many will say they simply don't see any problem with focusing so heavily on community and relevancy. Others will admit to not really paying attention.

Many Christians today are afraid.

Christians in these feel-good, weak sermon (or sermonette), watered-down elementary level adult Sunday school class churches are afraid to face the facts. They don't want to look at what their church is really saying, which is that Christ is not enough. So, what do these people who know something is wrong do? They start teaching Sunday school instead of attending, then they volunteer more in the nursery, and they keep doing good works to make them almost rival a faithful Catholic trying to earn their way in to God's good grace (Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.) And quite simply, they are becoming anemic, and it is no laughing matter.


We can find ourselves wondering when we lost the courage to believe just what the Bible says. We remember a time when we knew their was real POWER in the Word of God, and we were not ashamed to tell people Jesus is THE way, THE truth, and THE life and no one comes to the Father but by Him (not his mother or any other sinful person--ALL the rest of humanity needs the forgiveness of the RISEN Savior in order to be reconciled to God). At some point we started to blur lines, we started to think if we just DO enough for others, that kindness will someone count as imparting the life SAVING message of the gospel in to their lives. Even though our church and our actions shirked at the truth that people must first understand they are sinners who offend God, we fooled ourselves in to thinking that LOVE CONQUERS ALL meant we could just serve, smile, and give, give, give and that would get people off the road to Hell and put their feet on the straight path to Heaven. Sadly, the COME AS YOU are message morphed in to STAY AS YOU ARE...and no one wanted to make anyone feel uncomfortable by being 'too holy'...everyone thought getting a tattoo like the world would make the world like us.

Friends, if we are liked and seen as the same, we have nothing to offer them. The world is hurting and we can't trick people in to salvation. Do we really think having a coffee bar and rock concert in church is needed nowadays? Are we so far gone as Biblicists that the Bible message by itself is uncool/outdated/irrelevant? Do we really think people are genuinely converted if we have to lead them in some canned prayer after we've talked to them for 10 minutes about Christ?

Where is the WORSHIP of Almighty God? Where is the power of the Holy Spirit? Where is the man or woman who is not afraid to look different from the world, espousing MODESTY in dress and speech; not afraid to hold to a view that marring one's body is not Christ-honoring, regardless of WHAT the message says; not afraid to say that there is music that is about Christ and music that is about us or more about glorifying the musician than God?? Why do we have churches sponsoring NAACP events? Why do we have church members more worked up about the forthcoming election than reaching a lost soul for Christ?

I hate to tell folks this, but even if Ken Cuccinelli wins the Governor race in VA, there are still going to be a LOT of dark forces trying to tear down this nation and evil is NOT curbed for eternity through elections. I love Ken, and I want him to win and I pray for him, but SOULS committed to God for eternity will vote for freedom and life. Democrats who think they are Christians don't understand what is means to follow Christ. Socialism is not biblical, hard work is though. Taking care of the poor is biblical, enabling illegitimate births through handouts isn't. Killing the unborn or CONDONING those who do, or turning a blind eye to those who do is UNBIBLICAL, it is something God abhors and that being part of the Democratic platform is why I can unabashedly say that a Democrat who thinks they are a disciple is misled. We can all call ourselves skinny, but it simply isn't true, is it?

Christian, find your voice! Do not sleep through watered-down sermons. Do not buy in to the lie that the Bible is not relevant in this culture we're living in. You know what is happening? The lost aren't being truly converted, the Christians are being converted! When a church has to advertise that their functions should not have alcohol brought to them....I'm sorry, the train is OFF THE TRACKS!  Church is for the saved, to be encouraged and built up so they can individually go out and serve the Lord according to the gifts He's bestowed on each one of us (His representatives). If church has become a massive haven for the lost, who feel comfortable staying in their sin week after week, don't you think that is a red flag? The message needs to be solid enough so that people who have not been converted are convicted.

I doubt anyone will read all 1724 words of this post, but friend, if you once loved Jesus Christ and now you are uncomfortable sharing the truth with others because you are stepped in day-to-day activities with pseudo-Christians or the 'seeking', I pray you will get in the Word and take God AT His exact word. If you are more jazzed about winning the elections or helping at the battered women's shelter than standing for the purity of Scripture in whatever way God has gifted you, take time to do a self-check.

God, please strengthen Your church. Have mercy on those who love you but who have led and are continuing to lead their flocks in to a miry, weak, relevancy pool. Embolden us all. Forgive us for being afraid because we want to fit in with those around us rather than fit in with You.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bonhoeffer said people have a number of means of dealing with evil: (from Metaxas' book, Bonhoeffer, pg 470, direct quote)

"Reasonable people," he said, think that "with a little reason they can pull back together a structure that has come apart at the joints." Then there are the ethical 'fanatics who "believe that they can face the power of evil with the purity of their will and their principles." Men of "conscience" become overwhelmed because  the "countless respectable and seductive disguises and masks in which evil approaches them make their conscience anxious and unsure until they finally content themselves with an assuaged conscience instead of a good conscience." They must "deceive their own conscience in order not to despair."Finally there are some who retreat to a "private virtuousness." He added,

Such people neither steal, nor murder, nor commit adultery, but do good according to their abilities. But...they must close their eyes and ears to the injustice around them. Only at the cost of self-deception can they keep their private blamelessness clean from the stains of responsible action in the world. In all that they do, what they fail to do will not let them rest. They will either be destroyed by this unrest, or they will become the most hypocritical of all Pharisees.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

With that I encourage us all to vote in November, for the most godly candidates running, and pray heartily for our leaders. All of them.

---------------------- 1 John 4--------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 John 4

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Testing the Spirits

4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. ⁴ You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

God Is Love

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is ^[a]born of God and knows God. ⁸ The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ By this the love of God was manifested ^[b]in us, that God has sent His ^[c]only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

A Pre-Rapture Lifestyle by Daymond Duck

A Pre-Rapture Lifestyle

By Daymond Duck

---

 

She is an outstanding Christian lady. She loves our Lord and has done a lot of mission work with her husband. She came to hear me update the church she attends on recent events relating to Bible Prophecy, especially the Middle East, and she brought a list of questions. I didn’t write them down, but one question went something like this: “It seems like the Rapture is so close, what should we do?” After stumbling through an answer, I decided to try to compile a list of Bible teachings.

 

• Beware of false prophets because they will lead you astray. (Matthew 7:15)
• Be sure you are wearing a wedding garment. (Know you are saved and clothed in the righteousness of Jesus.) (Matthew 22:11-12)
• Know Bible prophecy so you can watch the signs. (Mark 14:37).
• Study the Bible, pray and fellowship with true believers so you can strengthen your faith and grow stronger not weaker. (Luke 18:8)
• Don’t be overcome by the cares of this world and be caught unawares. (Luke 21:34)
• Watch and pray that you will be accounted worthy to escape all the things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of man. (Luke 21:36)
• Cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Don’t live like the lost. Be ready to battle Satan.) (Romans 13:12)
• Walk honestly not in rioting, drunkenness, chambering, wantonness, strife and envying. (Romans 13:13)
• Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts. (Accept the authority of Jesus.) (Romans 13:14)
• Edify one another. (Strengthen and be strengthened by other believers.) (1 Thessalonians 5:11)
• Pray without ceasing (stay in touch with God). (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Abstain from every appearance of evil. (Avoid anything that hints of sin.) (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
• Be a Christian example for others (what you say, do, etc…) (1 Timothy 4:12)
• Study the Bible and pay attention to sound preaching and doctrine (1 Timothy 4:13).
• Meet with other believers and exhort each other. (Believers should meet to support and encourage each other.) (Hebrews 10:25)
• Rejoice, though, if need be, ye be in manifold temptations. (Rejoice even if God thinks a little chastisement is necessary.) (1 Peter 1:6)
• Be sober (level-headed), watch and pray. (1 Peter 4:7)
• Above all things have fervent charity (love) among you. (I Peter 4:8).
• Use hospitality one to another without grudging. (Help other believers and don’t grumble about it.) (1 Peter 4:9)
• Glorify God through Jesus in all things (1 Peter 4:11).
• Guard against Satan’s temptations to sin (1 Peter 5:8).
• Serve the Lord and don’t draw back. (Persevere, don’t give up.) (Revelation 2:3)
• Be an overcomer. (Believer in Jesus.) (1 John. 5:4; Revelation. 2:7, 11)
• Hold on to the name of Jesus and do not deny the faith (Revelation 2:13).
• Be faithful to the end (Revelation 2:26).
• Strengthen the areas where you are weak. (Examine yourself and overcome your  weaknesses.) (Revelation 3:2)
• Live by the words of Jesus. (Every knee will bow.) (Revelation 3:10)
• Most of us are rightly concerned about the salvation of others, but we really need to make a special effort to bring our own ways into compliance with the will of God before we die or the Rapture takes place—whichever comes first.

FYI: God Has Spoken (And We Know It) by Daymond Duck is available (linked at raptureready.com to my publisher). Books and a Kindle version are available at amazon.com. A Nook version is available at bn.com. Check out what it says about Syria, Russia, Iran, Egypt, natural disasters, the Two-State Solution, etc. Please post a comment.

 

Prophecy Plus Ministries Daymond & Rachel Duck daymondduck@bellsouth.net rachelduck@bellsouth.net

Using God's Name

I was really blessed to learn our youth pastor, in teaching on the 3rd commandment, discussed that it is inappropriate to say, "Oh my g_sh!" So many Christians think this subtle change from fully taking God's name in vain is OK, but that expression makes many people think of the 'real deal' and it is akin to saying, "Shoot!" often. The saying came out of people taking God's name in vain and when one is saying it, it's very similar to just fully using His name wrongly. I know a lot of Christians disagree with this thinking, but how about this? As Christian home schoolers, shouldn't we be teaching our children to use language that is scholarly? Do we really want our kids saying stupid, idiot and jerk? How about crass terms to describe passing gas? I suppose to some I sound like a snob, but truly, our language in this society has really been lowered since the nation's founding. How we speak is a reflection of what is in our hearts, and if we're thinking on an erudite level, it stands to reason we ought to SOUND like it.