The following article appeared in the Centre Daily Times on December 1, 2007:
September 3, 2007 Labor Day and Mortification
Today I am in a writing mood, mostly because of the recent sermons I’ve presented at Grace Fellowship. It was provoked, I believe, by the Spirit of God and Moses. Not that I’ve spoken to Moses lately. Or ever, actually. But he, being dead, still speaks to us by means of the Scriptures, namely the book of Hebrews.
24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (Hebrews 11:24-26, NKJV).
Moses’ rejection of everything the adopted son of the King of the world might want, has caused me to think a great deal about that archaic topic of Christian Mortification. I received a copy of the excellent publication, The Free Grace Broadcaster, during the time I was preparing my sermons regarding Moses and his departure from “the world” in order to identify himself with the people of Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, his own forefathers. It was a tremendous blessing and a God-send, just in time for my preparation to preach on this very topic.
The FGB also came simultaneously with the latest news regarding former pastor Ted Haggard. You can read all about it by doing a Google search. Suffice it to say, Pastor Haggard now wants his Christian friends to support him financially over the next two years while he and his wife attend the University of Phoenix to get their degrees in counseling and psychology. 'Nuff said.
These corresponding providences caused this idea of mortification to stand out in my mind in high relief. In essence, we are commanded as followers of Christ to mortify, or put to death, the sinful deeds of the body. It is our duty to address the remaining lusts within us which must be controlled. The terminology which Scripture uses is one of death, rather than therapy, counseling, or psychology. The primary text for mortification is Romans 8:13.
13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. (Romans 8:13, NKJV).
D. L. Moody once said he was the most difficult man he had ever met. Why would he say that? Because of this perpetual problem of putting self to death. I have often said that of the three enemies of the Christian (the world, the flesh, and the Devil), the worst one of the lot is the flesh because everywhere I go, the flesh follows. Every day when I wake up, that flesh is still there! It never takes a vacation, and it never goes away. There is no escape from it except in death. In the meantime, we are commanded by Scripture to kill sin within us, to mortify the DEEDS of the flesh.
What deeds are those? Anything that is not motivated by, or that would not meet the approval of the Holy Spirit of God within us. Anything that would grieve the Holy Spirit and violate the law of God. That is a lot of stuff. The New Testament contains long lists of things that fall into this category. See Romans 1:29-31; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 4:19, 25, 28, 29, 31; 1 Peter 4:3; as well as Exodus 20.
Consequently, it appears to me that mortification is almost an unknown practice within Evangelicalism. On the contrary, we have a number of Evangelical leaders within our ranks living lives that are less than exemplary, to say the least. It will be very difficult indeed to mortify the deeds of the flesh if, like Pastor Joel Osteen and others, you find the use of the word “sin“ to be a problem because it has such negative connotations. Sin in the life of the believer is his number one priority. It is the cause of his spiritual death and condemnation prior to regeneration, and it continues after regeneration to wreak havoc.
. . . the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:17, NKJV).
This perpetual conflict within between flesh and Spirit doesn’t seem to be much of a problem for many, if not most Evangelicals. If that is the case, then we only have two options as I see it:
1. The Scriptures are overstating this supposed indwelling conflict, or
2. You can be an Evangelical without being a Christian.
The second option is the reality. Peter knew something about this problem, and wrote about it in these words: “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul . . . . “ (1 Peter 2:11, NKJV).
War? What war? It’s almost like the common perception of 9/11, or lack of such: ”You mean the World Trade Center had something to do with the war in Iraq?”
I am convinced this war of fleshly lusts against our own souls has already been lost in many cases because the vast majority of so-called Evangelicals have capitulated en masse, OR the vast majority of Evangelicals are not Christians. I’m afraid the second is more likely. The real believer WILL engage the enemy to some degree, regularly, if not daily. It was Jesus' command to those who would follow Him that they must take up their cross DAILY and follow Him. It was a command to die to self daily. We are to live a lifestyle of self-denial, as Moses chose to do, in order to be considered genuine followers of Christ.
But typically, these “fleshly lusts” are not seen as much of a problem amongst us. Now, mind you, abortion is a problem! Porn? That is a problem! Homosexuality? Oh yeah, now that is sin! Addiction to entertainment? Hating my brother because he said something that hurt my feelings? Overeating at every meal? Committing adultery in the heart (Sorry, President Carter.)? Seldom or never reading the Bible? Never praying? Neglecting the fellowship of other believers on a regular basis because Sunday is my only day off to relax and do what I want to do? What’s the problem with that?
I am very sad to say the doctrine, and PRACTICE of mortification badly needs to be rediscovered by the Church today. And I’m not just speaking of all those churches out there somewhere on the horizon far, far away. I’m speaking of my own church family, of my own household, and of my own life. If you are reading this, I encourage you to download a copy of the Fall 2007 issue of The Free Grace Broadcaster for your pastor, for others in your church, and for yourself. May the Lord wake up His people to this crying need to mortify the deeds of the flesh so that we might be truly holy people for God. That is the spiritual warfare we must fight.
There Are Evil People in the World. Really.
June 2, 2007
The tab you’ve clicked on is labelled “News,” (in case you didn’t notice). Since I do not live in a large metropolitan area, or even a medium-sized metropolitan area for that matter, local “News” of note is rather scarce. Thus the heading of this page has been edited to now read “News and Comments.” That opens up the entire world and removes the obligation to talk solely about local stuff. I’ve been liberated, for better or for worse.
One of the most prominent news items in recent days has been the Virginia Tech massacre which took the lives of thirty-two students plus the perpetrator. I will not prolong my comments about this because many others have exhausted every possible avenue of thought. We’ve heard about the psychological condition of Seung-Hui Cho and ruminated about how so many people “missed” so many obvious indicators that something was seriously wrong in the mind of this young man. There has been a predictable renewed interest in more gun control legislation, and we’ve even read of condolences sent to us from the president of Iran. A more hypocritical act would be hard to find.
What is the correct Christian response to this incident? How should the follower of Christ think in regard to the mass murder of thirty-two college students? I believe there are two proper responses: compassion for the bereaved, and acknowledgment of the prevalence of evil in the world.
Compassion is the no-brainer. “Do not even the Gentiles” do such things? Flags were flown at half-staff to express national sorrow over such a grievous event. There was an immediate outpouring of sympathy from those associated with the Columbine shooting in Colorado. Certainly it is appropriate that we weep with those who weep.
On the other hand, we must steer clear from explaining away the evil actions of Seung-Hui Cho. Yes, he was troubled. Yes, he had some mental/psychological issues. And yes, he committed an incredibly evil and wicked crime. He was evil in the same sense (but obviously not nearly to the same degree) as Hitler, Pol Pot, and the hijackers of 9/11. He was evil because murder is evil, and that is the crime of which he is guilty. But he is certainly not alone.
Nearly simultaneously, on April 18th, three Christians in Turkey were bound hand and foot and their throats were slit by five young Muslim men. It was stated by the murderers that this action was necessary in order to protect Islam from the influence of Christianity. The crime of which these three victims were guilty was the free distribution of Bibles. Since then, 12 men have been arrested by Turkish authorities and charged with murder. This presents several problems.
Turkey is attempting to join ranks with the European Union. It is the only country in the world that has a Muslim majority and a democratic government. That democracy will be challenged by this incident. If the majority of Muslims in Turkey are sympathetic towards the religious convictions of these zealous young men who feel a moral obligation to purge their country of all “false” religions, then what will be the consequences if justice is served and these murderers are sentenced to death or life in prison? Will the government make examples of them and punish them as they deserve, in spite of probable serious repercussions? (Do you remember what happened as a result of the publishing of political cartoons that were less than complimentary of Mohammed in Denmark?)
On the other hand, if the Turkish government, for whatever reason, does not deal with this jihad-like event against the small Christian community with justice and retribution that is appropriate for the crime, how many more ”infidels” will be at risk? How many Christians will die? How many more young, zealous, potential murderers will become actual murderers?
An even more chilling thought is to consider how such an event might be handled here in our country. Does our current government have the wherewithal to swiftly, publicly, and justly deal with Muslim-perpetrated crimes in our midst? Since we’ve been assured repeatedly that Islamic terrorists are few and far between, and that the vast majority of Muslims in this country are peaceful and loving, what will happen when the first peace-loving American Muslim leaves the reservation and slits the throat of a Christian (or two or three) purchasing a Bible in a Christian bookstore, all in the name of Allah? Or worse yet, just blow up the store?
While I am greatly saddened by the events that took place at Virginia Tech, hopefully it was an isolated incident by a lone, mentally unstable gunman. As far as we know, Seung-Hui Cho was not part of a global conspiracy to overthrow the American government. Thankfully, it appears he acted alone.
Such is not the case in the Muslim world. When a dozen Muslims plan and successfully execute the murder of three Christians in Turkey, presumably in defense of the Islamic faith, large numbers of Muslims around the world concur. If the twelve charged with murder are executed, many within the Muslim community (which includes Turkey) will consider them to be heroes and martyrs worthy of emulation. It is likely they will also react in a way that causes the political cartoon riots to pale in comparison. It is this kind of mindset that fuels wars and preempts any meaningful negotiation or dialog between Muslims and those that differ, whether they be foreigners or fellow countrymen. Turkey, as a democracy with a large Muslim majority, is between a rock and a very hard place.
It seems obvious that our current federal government (and the general public) has such a minuscule grasp of the Middle Eastern Muslim mindset that they are willing to withdraw our troops from Iraq, regardless of the condition of the fledgling democratic government which we helped install, in order to “End the War.” This is an example of mass naivete’. The departure of American troops will not promote peace and tranquility in Iraq or in America. The only possible effect it could have is the emboldening of our enemies and the weakening of public opinion against those who have proven themselves to be the most committed enemies this nation has ever seen. It is understood by many who have taken the time to investigate that the intention of the radical Muslim population in the US is domination of our government by assimilation over time, even if it takes 100 years.
Before someone accuses me of being too political, with chants of separation of church and state, I must explain that I have an obligation to speak of these things because our government is prohibited from speaking about this conflict accurately. Why? Because this is not a primarily a political problem, but a religious problem. The present situation is a conflict of the secular with the religious. While our country is committed to the separation of church and state (of which I am personally in favor), fundamentalist Islam is committed to BEING the state and ruling the world.
How does a secular government which is committed to religious pluralism deal with the aberrant theological position of some of its own citizens that drive some of their brethren in other countries to blow themselves up in order to gain Paradise? How can the President of the United States actually tell us, “The religion of Islam is evil”? He cannot. As Americans, we are committed to freedom of religion in this country, including the Islamic religion. It is that very freedom which we are attempting to plant in a nation whose religious convictions absolutely preclude such freedom.
The only people who can speak freely about bad religion in this country are those who recognize it as such and who don’t work for the government. The people we should expect to speak most loudly and clearly against Islam would be Christians, and more specifically, Christian ministers. While there is a muted outcry from the public for “moderate” Muslims to condemn the terrorism of “radical” Muslims, there seems to be little or no concern amongst evangelical Christians for an explanation of Islam itself from an evangelical perspective: what it teaches, why so many hate us, and how we should respond. While ignorance of Islamic doctrine on the part of the government condemns us, apathy on the part of the Christian community effectively lulls us to sleep while Islamic terrorists plan for our annihilation.
These are not the rantings of an Islamophobe. These are observations of what is actually happening around us. As far as the Christian community is concerned, we must find the courage to speak the truth not only about Christ and His Gospel, but about those religions that are false. It should be obvious that as a Christian minister, I believe the Bible to be true and Christ to be the only Savior of the world. Consequently (in similar fashion as is vehemently taught by Islam), I believe my religion to be the only true religion and all others are not merely inferior, but false. However, I respect your right to believe what you will. No one is in any danger from me or 99.999 % of all other Christians in the world, of having one of us sneak up behind you in the grocery store and shove a knife in your back because you disagree with me theologically and refuse to bow the knee in submission to Jesus Christ.
But the day is coming when every knee will bow to Him.1 Every Christian, every Muslim, every Hindu, every atheist, every animist, every human being that ever lived, all will give an account to Jesus Christ. All the dead will be raised, and all the living will be brought with those who have been resurrected to the day of judgment where Christ Himself presides over the eternal destiny of the nations.2 Until then, we must warn people of the folly of trusting in anything other than or in addition to the sacrificial work of Christ upon the cross for eternal life.3
Our nation is in peril. Thankfully, God has granted us safety and deliverance on numerous occasions. Even today, a Muslim plot to blow up JFK airport was uncovered. The proverbial handwriting is on the wall, but our government can’t read it because they refuse to do so. On the other hand, American Christians to a large degree ignore it because they are perpetually distracted by the insatiable desire to “grow the church,” and by the fatal diseases of Personal Fulfillment and Religious Tolerance.
The danger is potent. Our enemies are real. But the Gospel is powerful. We must prepare ourselves for the days and years (and decades) ahead by convincing Christians first, the general public secondly, and certainly any Muslims we may know, that the religion of Islam is particularly bad, and the Lord Jesus Christ is infinitely magnificent.4
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1 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV).
2 "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5:22-29, NKJV).
"And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." (Acts 10:42-43, NKJV).
3 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12, NKJV).
4 http://www.gracefellowshippgm.org/home/SermonNotes/CurrentSeriesStudiesintheBookofHebrews/100806TheMagnificenceofJesusChrist/tabid/115/Default.aspx
The following article appeared in the Centre Daily Times on January 13, 2007:
January 5, 2007
The word "plethora" is defined by Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language (1913) as the state of being overfull; excess; superabundance. That is the word that best describes the amount of bad news that afflicts us every day from the news media. Not only is the news in general overflowing with badness and sadness, but even within “religious circles” we have such things as Dr. Peter Jones’ report about his recent trip to the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion (AAR) and the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) in Washington D.C. Dr. Jones says:
"In her plenary address, Diana Eck, president of AAR and professor at Harvard, introduced herself as a Montanan, a Methodist and a Massachusetts-recently-married-gay to enthusiastic applause. Her great contribution is the promotion of religious pluralism in America. . . ."
And . . .
"In The Contemporary Pagan Studies Consultation, academic witches and warlocks conferred on the spiritual power of "fire circle drumming," in which fire represents "hardly contained desire." The audience heard about "Paganistan," the thriving Wiccan community in Minnesota, and a lecture entitled "The Pagan Explosion," documented that paganism has grown 38 fold in the USA in the last eleven years and 250-fold in Australia in the last five years."1
In other news,
December 1, 2006 LOS ANGELES - The nation's largest Roman Catholic archdiocese said Friday it will pay $60 million to settle 45 sex abuse lawsuits, the largest payout yet by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and among the biggest resulting from the molestation crisis that's plagued the church. The cases were among more than 500 abuse claims pending against the Los Angeles Archdiocese. "It's a day of healing and reconciliation as we move forward with these 45 cases," Cardinal Roger Mahony told The Associated Press. "This is very special for these victims in their moment of healing."2
Sadly, Evangelicalism has also dished up quite a lot of dirt in recent days. Pastor Ted Haggard was fired from his position at New Life Church in Colorado Springs in October, and he resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals as the result of an illicit sexual relationship with a homosexual escort.
"The former senior pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs is believed to be in Tucson, Ariz., to undergo spiritual and emotional counseling. Ted Haggard was removed as head of the 14,000-member evangelical church in Colorado after he admitted buying drugs from a male escort in Denver. The male escort said the two also had sex. Haggard has said publicly that he got a massage from the escort and was guilty of sexual immorality. "3
Thankfully, Pastor Haggard admitted his sin and guilt and asked for forgiveness from his congregation. He will not return to leadership at New Life, which is an appropriate action to take in light of the severity of his offense.4
As bad as all the bad news is, it cannot compare to the apostasy that is taking place within evangelical ranks. Elsewhere in our web site, we have already addressed Pastor Haggard's contribution to the demise of the biblical Gospel when he spoke to Barbara Walters and said on national television that Jesus Christ was "the only guaranteed way" to Heaven. Those who do not believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, such as Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, and even atheists, will just have to work out their own salvation. Click here to listen to a brief clip of his interview.
Pastor Haggard is not alone in his denial of the exclusivity of Christ as the sole means of salvation. Evangelicalism has another major offender in Joel Osteen, pastor of the largest church in America, Lakewood Church in Houston. In yet another nationally televised interview, this time with Larry King, Pastor Osteen said this:
KING: "What if you're Jewish or Muslim, you don't accept Christ at all?"
OSTEEN: "You know, I'm very careful about saying who would and wouldn't go to heaven. I don't know ..."
KING: "If you believe you have to believe in Christ, they're wrong, aren't they?"
OSTEEN: "Well, I don't know if I believe they're wrong. I believe here's what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God will judge a person's heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don't know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don't know. I've seen their sincerity. So I don't know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus."
When Larry King opened the phone lines, this exchange took place:
CALLER: "Hello, Larry. You're the best, and thank you, Joe -- Joel -- for your positive messages and your book. I'm wondering, though, why you side-stepped Larry's earlier question about how we get to heaven? The Bible clearly tells us that Jesus is the way, the truth and the light and the only way to the father is through him. That's not really a message of condemnation but of truth."
A slight misquote ("light" instead of "life"), but essentially on the mark. So the caller pins Pastor Osteen down and asks for an explanation about the exclusivity of salvation in Christ alone.
OSTEEN: "Yes, I would agree with her. I believe that. . ."
KING: "So then a Jew is not going to heaven?"
OSTEEN: "No. Here's my thing, Larry, is I can't judge somebody's heart. You know? Only God can look at somebody's heart, and so -- I don't know. To me, it's not my business to say, you know, this one is or this one isn't. I just say, here's what the Bible teaches and I'm going to put my faith in Christ. And I just I think it's wrong when you go around saying, you're saying you're not going, you're not going, you're not going, because it's not exactly my way. I'm just..."
KING: "But you believe your way."
OSTEEN: "I believe my way. I believe my way with all my heart."
KING: "But for someone who doesn't share it is wrong, isn't he?"
OSTEEN: "Well, yes. Well, I don't know if I look at it like that. I would present my way, but I'm just going to let God be the judge of that. I don't know. I don't know."
KING: "So you make no judgment on anyone?"
OSTEEN: "No. But I..."
KING: "What about atheists?"
OSTEEN: "You know what, I'm going to let someone -- I'm going to let God be the judge of who goes to heaven and hell. I just -- again, I present the truth, and I say it every week. You know, I believe it's a relationship with Jesus. But you know what? I'm not going to go around telling everybody else if they don't want to believe that that's going to be their choice. God's got to look at your own heart. God's got to look at your heart, and only God knows that."5
Clearly, Joel Osteen just flat doesn't know (emphasis mine, both here and above). How does someone who admittedly knows so little, become the pastor of the largest church in America, publish a New York Times best seller, and get an interview on CNN's Larry King: Live? Why does he not know if Jesus Christ is THE way, truth, and life? But much more importantly, why is he allowed to continue as the pastor of the biggest evangelical mega-church, in the middle of the Bible Belt, while clearly and repeatedly denying fundamental Christian orthodoxy on national television? Is there no one among the THIRTY THOUSAND! members of Lakewood church who can step up to the proverbial plate and state the obvious: "The Emperor has absolutely no theological clothes!" [April 22, 2008 Update: For a much more detailed discussion regarding Pastor Osteen's theological shortcomings, click HERE for Dr. Michael Horton's take on all this. Very helpful. KD]
Joel Osteen should be fired. Ted Haggard should have been fired in December of 2005. These men, and many others like them, do not deserve the title "Evangelical", much less to become the President of the National Association of Evangelicals! Unless, of course, the word "evangelical" does not mean what we've been taught it means over the course of the last 500 years. In the case of Pastor Haggard, heresy was not sufficient cause to ask him to step down from the pulpit. A homosexual tryst was sufficient, but not heresy. Evidently, rank heresy is not sufficient for termination from Lakewood Church either.
"Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luke 6:26, NKJV)
How bad will things get? Of course, we expect the fallen world around us to be utterly filled with depravity. We expect those who believe the Gospel is foolishness, to live and act immorally and in rebellion against God and the Bible. But Evangelicalism has been the last bastion for the truth of the Gospel for many years. Now, it seems to be in a theological and doctrinal free-fall as those who have historically been characterized as Bible-believing, fundamentalist Christians find it more and more difficult to preach a clear message of salvation from the condemnation unbelief:
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18, NKJV)
For the life of me, I cannot understand why "big-name" pastors find this verse so hard to state. To deny this verse is to deny Christ, the Gospel, the cross, the blood of Christ, the final judgment, and the need for evangelism. We have come to the point where we have an Evangelicalism without the need for evangelism. If atheists are safe from condemnation, then why bother with anyone?
In writing all of this, I have absolutely no personal malice towards Pastor Haggard or Pastor Osteen. In the case of Ted Haggard, I have felt pity for him and his family because of the suffering they have experienced due to his public disgrace.
But at the same time, I am convinced that the Ted Haggards and the Joel Osteens of American Christianity couldn't care less what an obscure pastor in central Pennsylvania thinks about their ministry philosophies. These men appear to be theologically untouchable. It is my prayer that other men of influence and authority within the evangelical ranks will rise up and call such men as these to task for their abandonment of biblical Christianity. They are false teachers. Millions of people around the world are listening to them and reading their books. Their worship services are televised in many foreign countries. Pastors everywhere are trying to emulate them. Churches are determined to pursue mega-status, even at the expense of the gospel itself.
If the news is this bad now, what will it be like when only the smallest remnant remains that will loudly and clearly say: "I believe the Bible alone is the word of God, that Jesus Christ is the sole means of salvation, and anyone who does not place their trust exclusively in Him as Savior and Lord will perish under the just condemnation of an insulted, angry God"? That means Jews, Muslims, atheists, and American "evangelicals."
Father, forgive us. Have mercy upon us. Send us revival.
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1 From an email newsletter received 12/01/06; NewsCWiPP #32 - Letter from the Front (http://www.cwipp.org/)
2 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061202/ap on re us/california church abuse
3 http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/10440181/detail.html
4 You may read his letter of confession and resignation here.
5 CNN Transcript of King and Osteen
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January 5th, 2007 Emergency Evangelical Update
God to Pat Robertson: “Can You Hear Me Now?”
Apparently not. Yet again, we have a notable, if not infamous “Evangelical” proclaiming new prophecies from God about the future. And once again, many of the rest of us are embarrassed.
On January 3rd of 2007, FOXNews.com reported on Pat Robertson’s latest presumed revelations concerning the coming year. The most profound statement was in regard to a future “mass killing” as a result of a terrorist attack. "I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be nuclear," he said during his news-and-talk television show "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcasting Network. "The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that."
Then there were statements regarding a “feigned” friendship between the US and Israel which will eventually result in “national suicide” for that nation. FOX News then went on to point out the errant prophecies of past years from Robertson such as President Bush’s easy victory over John Kerry in 2004, and repetitive political victories in 2005 such as his Social Security reform which, as you may recall, was a non-event.
I think I hear a message from God also: “Pat Robertson is not a prophet.” By the biblical definition of the term Robertson has disqualified himself as the President’s Secretary of Prophecy because several of his “prophecies” have failed to come true.
22 "when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. (Deuteronomy 18:22, NKJV).
We’re not. Amazingly, Robertson himself said, "I have a relatively good track record. Sometimes I miss."
Israel has had more than her fair share of false prophets. The real prophet Jeremiah spoke against them continually and spoke of very serious consequences for listening to them. Things such as the destruction of Judah and exile in Babylon for 70 years. 1 But it is obvious that Israel does not have a monopoly on the market.
All of this raises the issue of continuing, extra-biblical revelation from God. I am not talking about the guidance God gives to individuals by means of the Holy Spirit which every believer experiences from time to time. We are often “led” by God to one course of action or another in ways that are difficult to quantify. But this is not what Pat Robertson and multitudes of other “Evangelicals” intend when they say things like, “God told me (fill in the blank).” In the case of Rev. Robertson, how do we know if what God told him is true, accurate, or binding upon us, if Pat sometimes misses? Why are we supposed to take him seriously when he speaks ex cathedra if he only has “a relatively good track record” by his own admission?
Thankfully, most don’t. But what is accomplished by this kind of misguided “prophetic” ministry is yet another occasion for the world at large to ridicule (which is not to be confused with persecution) those small-minded, flat-earth, fundamentalist Christians. Sometimes we deserve to be ridiculed. This is just such an occasion. Again.
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1. See Jeremiah 23:15-40 for just one example of God’s response to false prophets among the Israelites.
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The following article appeared in the Centre Daily Times on September 2, 2006:
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August 7, 2006
Several weeks ago, the residents of Pine Grove Mills, the home of Grace Fellowship, were reminded of the brevity and uncertainty of this life. Pine Grove is precariously located at the foot of Tussey Mountain. Pennsylvania route 26 comes down the mountain into Pine Grove and stops at the bottom of the mountain. But a truck coming into town on PA 26 did not stop. A young driver, reported to be 19 years old, was driving down the mountain in a truck similar to a U-Haul truck, when his brakes apparently failed. No one ever heard him blow his horn, and apparently he was not experienced or mature enough to realize he needed to stop the truck by whatever means possible before entering the village below.
At the bottom of the mountain, in the center of our village is Kline's Garage. Mark is a third generation auto mechanic. He was in his garage working on a customer's van that was up in the air on his garage lift. The customer was also there, apparently supervising Mark's work, or at least observing what he was doing. Neither man had any idea a large truck was headed directly at them at high speed, with no brakes. Mark stopped what he was doing and excused himself to go across the shop to the bathroom. It was while he was out of the shop area that the truck crashed through the front of the building, hit the auto lift, and pushed the van onto the owner. The man was instantly killed and the building was completely destroyed.
It seems a bizarre way to die. But this is not the first time a truck has come down Tussey Mountain into Pine Grove Mills with no brakes. It has happened on at least two other occasions over the last fifty or sixty years. However, this fact alone was not enough to prevent someone from having a place of business directly in the path of any vehicle that might lose its brakes and thus become another catastrophe.
So it isn't quite fair to say no one saw this coming. It is obvious as one drives down the mountain into Pine Grove that Kline's Garage is perfectly located in the crosshairs of any runaway vehicle. The approach to the garage is a straight shot for the final quarter mile of the descent. It was just a matter of time before someone's brakes would fail and the bull's eye would be Mark Kline's place of business. It would be very hard, if not impossible to miss.
Every one of us stands directly in the path of death every day. With very few exceptions (two that I know of) the human race has a 100% mortality rate. Figuratively speaking, the truck is coming down the hill for every one of us. We just don't know exactly how close the truck is or how soon it will arrive. But we all have a date with it. Sooner or later, it will arrive, probably uninvited, and the people surrounding us will wonder how such a thing could have happened. But it happens all the time and still we are shocked by death.
I do not know the name of the man who died. I understand he was in his sixties. I do not know the name of the driver of the truck. I do know Mark. And I know some of the residents in this little village. I wonder how many of them would have been ready to die that afternoon as they stood in Mark's garage and talked to him during their oil change? I also wonder how many people here have given anything more than a passing thought to the odd circumstances that resulted in this man's death. Just how safe are we? How many of us are closer to death than we realize? How much time did that man have to prepare for his own demise? Was he a Christian? Was he ready to die? Who would have thought that he would never leave Mark's garage alive that day? Who prepares to meet their Maker during an oil change?
I do not know when I will die. But, unless the Lord Jesus returns first, I will die. It may be tonight, or 50 years from now. It won't be 100 years from now since there is no one walking around 150 years old! However, for the person who is known by Christ, for those who know Him as Savior and Lord, the time of one's death is relatively irrelevant.
I have a pastor friend in upstate New York whose wife was killed while the entire family was clearing a piece of property to build on. A tree fell on Holly and killed her instantly, in front of her two children and her husband. The trauma of that event was almost more than the family could bear. But what about Holly? Was she prepared for such an incident? Did she have time to "fess up" and "get right with God" as she saw the tree coming at her? Of course not. Was she ready to enter into eternity? Absolutely.
Why do I say that? Because Holly belonged to Christ. Because of the Scriptures that tell us Jesus' words of assurance to His people:
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (John 10:27-29, NKJV).
Jesus gives all those who trust in Him ETERNAL life. So obviously, they shall never perish, and no one shall rob Christ of them. He keeps them eternally in His hand, and the Father also keeps them eternally in His hand. In other words, for someone to be able to lose their redeemed status, even temporarily, they would need to overpower Jesus Christ and God the Father. After all, how can you lose eternal life?
There is great comfort in these words. And there are many other passages that teach the same truth, For instance, Romans 8.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, (not even a runaway truck!) shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31b, 35-39, NKJV).
Those who hear the word of Christ, who believe in His life and death and resurrection for them, and who follow Him, are granted never-ending, unceasing, perpetual, endless, eternal life. How else can I say it? It is redundant to say that those who are given eternal life will never die, will never be lost, will never be taken from Christ, will never be separated from His love for them, will never be condemned by the Father, will never taste spiritual death for all eternity. Those who have trusted in Christ have no need to fear a random, renegade, out of control truck or any other created thing separating them from their Savior. What joy to know my future is secure, come what may. No need for 11th hour confessions or last second repentance or final rites. Christ has purchased me with His own blood, I belong to Him, and according to 1Peter 1:5, I am "…kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Pray for our little town, that the events of recent days would cause some to ponder their own destinies, their own standing before God, the tenuous nature of life, and come to Christ for a life that never ends.
Grace and peace,
Keith Doster, Pastor
The following article appeared in the Centre Daily Times on April 22, 2006:
"Yosandy Luna, who is totally deaf and cannot speak, holds a hymnal as her program host Sharon Doster translates a song through sign language during an Easter service Sunday for the congregation of Grace Fellowship at St. Alban's Anglican Church. Luna, a native of Mexico, had no way to communicate with others before coming to the United States more than a year ago to attend an American Sign Language program at Mt. Aloysius College. Pastor Keith Doster, who is Luna's host in the two-year program, said it was the first time in her life that 'she was able to communicate her feelings.'" Courtesy of photographer Craig Houtz and the Centre Daily Times. Monday, April 17, 2006.
April 20, 2006
I recently attended a meeting of missionaries and other interested parties at an event named "A Summit for the Nations" conducted by To Every Tribe Ministries in Harlingen, Texas. It was not a large gathering, but it had the potential to make a huge impact upon the lives of many. The purpose of the meeting was to introduce To Every Tribe Ministries to potential missionary candidates and see if there was compatibility between those seeking to go to some of the most unreached people in the world, and those who would like to make it possible for them to go. It is understood by all those who apply to serve under To Every Tribe that this is not a work to be taken lightly, but it may even require death. Such is the nature of the work.
As Evangelicals, we often think of "unreached people groups" as those tribal people living in virtually inaccessible places, or those multitudes of people within the "10-40 Window" that are more reachable, but whose already well-established religions are very hostile to the Gospel, namely Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and other Far Eastern religions.
One nearly completely overlooked "people group," especially in regard to Reformed efforts to reach them, is the Deaf and hard of hearing among us here in the US and elsewhere, but particularly elsewhere. On my trip to Texas, I was introduced to two young ladies, Michelle and Holly, who are working with Deaf children in the city of Matamoros, Mexico. The name of their ministry is Con Mis Manos (With My Hands). According to their experience, most Deaf children in Mexico are shunned, neglected, practically abandoned, and considered worthless. The term they used was "disposable."
One Deaf Mexican girl, who in the kind providence of God was not abandoned, was Yosandy Luna. By a "fluke," when another student was unable to participate, Yosandy's parents were given the opportunity to send their 25 year old daughter to the US as part of a government program to provide a small number of Central American students a two-year college education. They placed Yosandy on a plane to Miami, then to Pittsburgh, and finally to Mt. Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania. She did not understand what was happening to her since she had no means of clearly communicating with anyone, including her parents. She knew no sign language at all.
Within two months of her arrival at college, Yosandy learned enough American Sign Language to be able to communicate well with her fellow Deaf students and her classroom instructors. It was then that Sharon and I were introduced to Yosandy and we eventually became one of her host families. During the following months, Yosandy attended church with us whenever she visited us on the weekends. In our Sunday evening Deaf Bible studies she began to understand the Gospel.
Eventually, one of our Deaf friends asked Yosandy if she was a Christian. She replied that she was. He then asked her when that had happened. Her answer was, "It happened right here," meaning here in our living room, sitting on our couch watching and "listening" to our discussions. As she explained all of this, I was sitting right beside her. It suddenly dawned on me that this young Deaf woman had been sent by a sovereign God from southern Mexico to central Pennsylvania, not only to learn how to communicate for the first time in her life, but to learn about the Savior. God's hand was so obviously in all of this that it was unmistakable, and almost unbelievable.
Yosandy's situation in Mexico could be multiplied hundreds of thousands of times. There is almost no hope of Deaf children in that country "hearing" the Gospel ever. They are not even taught sign language. Most are put aside, left alone in the back rooms of their homes, and are never given an opportunity to learn to communicate or to become anything more than a maid or a janitor in their own homes. And, according to Michelle and Holly, the vast majority of those homes have no father.
This is a very reachable unreached group of people on our doorstep. It requires the learning of a foreign language, Mexican Sign Language. It requires devotion to an inherently difficult task. But it also has the dual effect of giving these children both the Gospel and a productive life that can set them free from the slavery that comes with being incapable of communicating with other people. It was Helen Keller who said that blindness separates people from things, but deafness separates people from people. It is almost unimaginable to us who are able to hear, even if we hear poorly, that there are people who have no means of expressing their thoughts to another human being in an understandable fashion. But what makes it even more tragic is that it is totally unnecessary. It only requires that the hearing learn the language of the Deaf, and that they teach the Deaf their own language.
If you are considering missionary service to people who have never heard the Gospel, these Deaf Mexican children have never heard anything. Many of them have never even understood the concept of communication. They have certainly never had an opportunity to understand who Jesus Christ is or what He did because they literally cannot understand. Many in Mexico have seen a crucifix, but they have no concept of the meaning of Christ's death. Yosandy is an example of how God overcame every obstacle in her life--and there were many--in order to call her to Himself. She is a trophy of sovereign grace. That Sharon and I had a part in introducing her to Christ by means of our hands, through the medium of sign language, is a privilege and an experience I will never forget.
I would encourage you to consider how you might be a part of reaching these "disposable" children with the life-giving news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace,
Keith Doster, Pastor
P.S. Here are a few more links of interest regarding Deaf Ministries:
Deaf Reformed Ministries - http://www.deafreformed.org/
Isaiah 55 Deaf Ministries - http://www.isaiah55.org/