Enabled by God

Glenn Beck, the popular Fox News conservative conspiratist, is now aspiring to be a traveling revivalist. In his own words, Beck is seeking to spark another “Great Awakening”, similar to the pre-Constitution movement led by the English/colonial evangelist, George Whitefield, whose mass open air gospel meetings helped mold a culture and spark the American Revolution. Beck seems to be fond of drawing a comparison between his populist message and the Tea Party political tirades, with Whitefield’s biblical gospel and the greatest spiritual awakening this continent has ever seen. The “American Revival” events boast this in their advertisements:

“This event is unlike any other Glenn has ever undertaken—it’s a full day of Glenn Beck—he’s the explosive opener, the grand finale, and an integral part of every moment in-between.”

That rumbling in the distance is the sound of Whitefield’s portly 300 pound frame turning over in the grave.

Glenn Beck is a Mormon. George Whitefield was a Reformed revivalist who clinged to and preached the Protestant theology and biblical gospel Mormons now reject. In fact, the occult-practicing treasure-hunting founder of Mormonism, Joseph Smith, claimed all expressions of non-apostolic Christianity up to his point (1820) were direct abominations of God. That means the Great Awakening of the 1700s should be an abomination of God to the modern Mormon. At it’s most basic beginnings, Mormonism largely was birthed in order to directly contradict and renounce men like George Whitefield and the gospel they were preaching. To deny this, Beck is either ignorant of his own religion or knowingly masking it’s message for subversive reasons.

If this were just another political tour there would not be much to write home about from a Christian perspective. I share some of Beck’s concerns about the political direction of this country and it’s socialist leanings. But these meetings have a decidedly spiritual flavor to them, and Glenn’s keynote speech at the end of each one is nothing short of an universalistic altar call. It’s a call to unbiblical ecumenicalism, that we all unite under one general banner of God and forget any distinctives we may have so we can accomplish common political purposes. “We’re all Christians anyway,” Beck says.

To muddy the waters still, Beck delivered the commencement speech at Liberty University (Baptist) on May 16th amidst cheers and standing ovations. Much of it was about how he “endorses their faith.” There is no news as of yet whether Jerry Falwell’s 300 pound frame turned over in the grave as a result. Richter readings in Lynchburg have been stable.
Strangely, the LDS prophets and bicycle missionaries seem to be singing the same tune as Beck as of late. Maybe it’s the Mormon’s own brand of seeker-sensitive methodology.

Count me out.

The cockeyed beliefs that have sprung from the over-active imaginations of Joseph Smith and LDS’s subsequent prophets, are nothing less than doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). Here are a few notable deviations of Mormonism from historical biblical Christianity:

In Mormonism, Jesus is a creation, the product of relations between god and his goddess wife who used to be people from another world (McConkie, Bruce, Mormon Doctrine, p. 192, 321, 516, 589). (Direct contradiction of Colossians 1:15-17)

Jesus is the literal spirit brother of the devil and of you and I (McConkie, p. 192, 589). (Direct contradiction of John 8:44)

God has a body of flesh and bones (Doctrine & Covenants 130:22) as does his wife and together they produce spirit offspring in heaven who inhabit human bodies on earth. (Direct contradiction of John 4:24)

The common Mormon creed goes, “As man is, God once was, as God is, man may become.” The cult of Mormonism is propagated by offering the same deceitful promise that Satan offered Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:4-5).

Much more could be written about the perverse teachings of the Mormon church but a blog format couldn’t begin to scratch the surface of it.

Certainly, adherents to The Church of LDS and other cults should be befriended, loved, and reached by Christians with the true gospel. But they should never be united with under the guise of Christian brotherhood or revival. Galatians 1:8 clearly displays how such false gospels should be treated. Even if it’s coming from a winsome, entertaining TV personality with attractive political views, we must be vigilant to contend for the faith once and for all entrusted to us by the saints (Jude 1:3).

For the love of the gospel, let George Whitefield’s body rest in peace.

Bryan

These days I often find myself spending more and more time contemplating exactly which political view fits the best with Christianity. I ponder whether the socialist path which our country is toiling towards is something that Christ would reward or condemn. Or if he would even care. I hear people discuss social justice and after ceasing to laugh, I try to understand how their title for what they have just defined could ever include the word “Justice.”

So how about it people. Does our government exist to correct perceived social injustices, or to guarantee that my God given rights are protected?

I love the previously beaten topic about whether Jesus would support the Health Care Bill or not. Sure, I believe we have a responsibility to take care of those in need, but we own that responsibility ourselves. We don’t need a government to treat us like a bunch of teenagers and spank us into shape. My previous thought stirs a painful realization that I am increasingly becoming aware of. In Matt 25:23 where the master says to his servant “Well done, good and faithful servant”, I have come to believe that it will be scarce if ever that similar words are uttered from the mouth of God towards any saint.

My point about the previous would be that between fuel, insurance and the loan payment each month, I ashamed to say how much my truck cost me each month. I could easily have purchased a far less expensive vehicle and used the money each month to help those in need.  I watch filth and feed my sin on a High Definition television that cost more than what some people earn at their jobs for two weeks of work. My dress shoes are way too expensive and a ham sandwich would have likely provided me with just as much nutritional gain as the $25.00 chunk of meat that I recently purchased for dinner at a grocery store. The rescue mission says that they can feed people a nice Thanksgiving dinner for about $2.00 a person. Most video games are about $65.00 these days.  Wow, over thirty hungry people could be feed with that money.  Sometimes I like to compare things I am about to buy to Ramen Noodles.  It helps me get a grasp on things sometimes. 

Do not misunderstand me; I am not advocating that we live like Quakers, but I am suggesting that it is far past time that we remove ourselves from our “expensive crap” surrounded thrones that we have put ourselves on. Recently my pastor spoke about how easy it is to push Christ to the back of the bus in our lives. This got me thinking about all the different things in life that I do this with. Daily, I beat myself up about my lack of fellowship with God. Nightly I decide to vegetate on the couch instead of reading his word. I always justify this because of my hard day in my cushy chair at work.

Another instance would be when 1000 supposed blood bought Christians make a move that any football player would be proud of in order to avoid a homeless person who is begging outside their church. That would never happen right, only twice that I know of in the last year at my church. Wow, we can’t wait to get to our favorite spot on the church pew. Man it feels good to settle into that pew on Sunday morning doesn’t it? It’s almost like pure ecstasy once you have made it there and survived past the offering plate. Thanks a lot Pastor for moving that anguish to the end of church. Now I can sulk in my disobedience all service long. 

Anyway, I digress.

So, back to Politics. What makes any person think that stealing from one person to give to another is right? Wait, I know, it’s that amendment to God’s law that says that sometimes stealing isn’t stealing if for the right reason. On another thought, I bet it’s hard to be a Christian and a liberal at the same time.  I would almost say that the two can’t coexist in the same life. It’s kind of like terrorism, not all Muslims are terrorist, but most all terrorists are Muslim. Well folks, not all Conservatives are Christian, but most Christians are Conservative.

I don’t want anything for nothing, and as long as I am able, I intend on earning my own way. However, don’t confuse the fact that there is everything in the world Christian about helping those in need but there is nothing Christian about stealing for any reason. Our current government is not some glorious Robin Hood saving the masses from the crusty old white guys.

All of these government program handouts are nothing more than “Bread and Games” given to blind the masses as to what is happening.

So let’s just keep burying Jesus beneath all our crap and keep on working our lives away to pay for it all. Let’s keep our church and state separated and our hands tied behind our back and Socialism will keep on screaming ahead. This land that was sought for the advancement of Christ will Surely become the largest persecutor of Christ that history has ever seen. Rome is going to burn if we keep playing with socialist matches. We came to America to escape what we are becoming, where do we go next?

From the blog home of the indispensable Russell Moore (the man churns out thought provoking material like it’s child’s play), we have these penetrating “Question(s) of the Week” served up to us. Moore’s provocative queries are covering the health care media blitz, heightened populist fervor, and the proper Christian response to political craze and corruption:

Is it a problem that some of us who are tranquil as still water about biblical doctrine and ecclesial mission are red-faced about Nancy Pelosi and the talking heads on MSNBC? Is it a problem that some who haven’t shared the gospel with their neighbors in months or years are motivated to vent to strangers on the street about how scary national health care will be?

1. As Christians, is that a problem? Or should we spend a heap of our time and resources railing about political grievances instead of Gospel initiatives?

Russell goes on:

If we were half as outraged by our own sin and self-deception as we are by the follies of our political opponents, what would be the result? If we rejoiced as much that our names are written in heaven as we do about such trivialities as basketball brackets, what would be the result?

2. How much outrage do we express about our own fallenness and propensity towards all manner of wickedness and filth? Or do we hold a politician’s lies as a deeper wound to God’s honor than our own sins?

I’ve been guilty of venting to strangers and cracking more than one distasteful joke regarding Pelosi’s socialistic policies and surgical procedures.

Feel free to comment on any of the questions above.

Ouch, I think I need to go repent now….

Bryan

In the wake of the monumental Healthcare bill fallout, I thought it might be a good time to discuss biblical civil duty, disobedience or disdain. I won’t belabor you with inane “Chicken Little” rantings about the end of America as a nation. Politicians are mostly mere grandstanding opportunists. Democrats got a terrible economy softly lobbed to them in ’08, and it appears the Republicans will receive likewise this upcoming election with a populist rising and an incumbent Democratic President with fledgling ratings.

There are some reasons the biblically minded should hold this bill with contempt. The burning issue on the forefront is taxpayer funded abortion. A last minute compromise in the abortion language pushed the pro-life Dems over the threshold for the deciding vote. Simply making a woman write one extra check before she uses federal funds to snuff her baby out is not a provision that should be compromised on by those who are truly “pro-life.” In my opinion, this is nothing short of a fully funded provision for murder. This particular justice issue is where my personal disdain can reach ridiculous heights.

While the public discourse has largely been drifting off into the land of hyperbole for both sides, a great point has emerged about the heated political climate of Jesus’ day. Jesus, and the Israelite nation he was born into, lived under tyrannical, oppressive, and many times downright murderous Roman subjection. But yet Jesus is almost inconspicuously mum about politics in the NT. Other than the “rendering to Caesar” comment (Mark 12:17), it’s not an overstatement to deem Christ a-political in his public ministry. At the end of his earthly life he stood before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor over his people, and was virtually silent. No opining over lost personal rights or the social crimes of Rome against the Jews. And Jesus knew the psychotic reigns of Nero and Diocletian were right around the corner for his nation and followers. Yet he was silent as a lamb led to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7).

To muddy the waters more for us we have Romans 13:1-3 telling us to not merely tolerate wayward political authority, but to recognize God’s sovereign hand in placing that authority over us. Put that verse in context. Paul was not just saying to thank God for a closet Socialist with left of loony associations. Paul was telling 1st century Roman Christians to thank God for the Emperors who would be staking and setting fire to them while throwing their families to the lions. Subject yourself dear Christian to the demonically deranged dictators above you. For God has placed them there for your good (Daniel 2:21).

Pray for our President, Congress and Supreme Court, yes. Weep over their godless judgments, please. Repent and intercede on their behalf, surely. Raise your family and friends on the God breathed principles of Scripture, always. But subject yourself to those pagan authorities, no matter how they manifest themselves.

I’m not pretending I have a perfect biblical paradigm to make that command coherent to you. We know what Jesus did though. He was silent before what many would consider his political enemies. And he silently laid down His life in love and submission to the Father for his actual enemies (Romans 5:10).

But what are we to do in this volatile political age if we claim to follow him? The same? Different?

Bryan

Focus on the family has graciously provided funding in the amount of $2,000,000.00 for a 30 second Superbowl advertisement in which Mrs. Tebow will be declared to the world to be a Champion of Life. Statistically, in the amount of time that it will take for you and I to watch the advertisement, worldwide nearly 40 babies will have their death warrant signed by their mother. While nobody has seen the commercial or read the script, It is believed that Mrs. Tebow will tell her story about choosing life for her son Tim Tebow. As the story goes, Mrs. Tebow was pregnant with Tim and traveling when she became very ill, she then sought medical attention and in the end was advised to abort her child. Even though Mrs. Tebow knew that there was a high probability of Tim being born with major abnormalities due to her illness, Mrs. Tebow refused to terminate the pregnancy and instead gave birth to a healthy Tim Tebow. The rest of the story is full of amazing accomplishments and college football records. I often wonder how many Tim Tebow’s die each year because they don’t have mothers who truly value life.

While Mrs. Tebow certainly made a wonderful decision, there are many women in this world who do not. Each day approximately 115,000 babies lose their lives to the sin of abortion. Quite honestly this angers me beyond words. When I look at my daughter and think of having never been given the opportunity to hold her or not getting to witness her first breath, I nearly weep with sorrow for those never born. At first while writing this post, I wrote many angry words and and offered much ugly sentiment. However, God opened my eyes to the reality of the sin and burdened my heart for the women left to suffer their choices.

To all the mothers who have committed this egregious sin. I yearn for you to experience the peace that is offered to all sinners through Jesus Christ. While I have committed many horrific sins, I can never experience the pain some have from taking the life of their own child. I could one day be found justly guilty of murder, but never could I experience the pain some live with from taking the life of their own. No, I will never know this suffering, but my heavenly Father is one who has. Much in the same way that the many sinless victims of abortion were undeserving and clean, so was His son Jesus Christ. God sent his Son and made him obedient to death on the cross to cover this sin like so many others. God gave so much for such a dirty world and yet he was glad that it was done. Many have no grief for their child slain, but when God hung his Son on the cross he knew well the value of His sacrifice.

In the end Mrs. Tebow like so many others made a wonderful choice, she chose to allow the life that God had created to enter the world. Thank you to all the mothers who even in their toughest hour remain Champions of Life. To those who are guilty of this solemn sin, do not despair. There is still and will always remain the cross of Christ. The place where forgiveness can be found for all your sins no matter the weight. I beg you to consider the price that was paid so that you may be made forgiven. While as a Christian I weep for the children slain, I hold strong in the belief that these children leaped straight into the arms of Christ. In effect, a glorious end to a horrific beginning. May you who are hurting find rest in my Glorious Savior. May you take comfort in the words of Christ.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30ESV

Kyle.

As I celebrate the glories of government holidays (apologies to my private sector friends) today I wanted to share a few facts about the civil rights legend being remembered across America by all walks of life.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. was a registered Republican. You won’t hear that from the mainstream news media today.

2. King was a Baptist minister. In fact, the world has yet to see any significant worldwide civil rights or humanitarian efforts spring from the hardened ground of atheistic thought.

3. King received his Doctor of Philosophy from Boston University. He wasn’t just a flowery orator with no intellectual weight behind him (cough * Reverend Sharpton * cough * Jessie Jackson). I also  say this because of the unfortunate prevalence of degree mills and pseudo intellectuals in modern cultural Christendom.

4. King rejected Communism because of its “materialistic interpretation of history” that denied religion, its “ethical relativism,” and its “political totalitarianism.” Would he reject the American politician’s newfound fervor for Socialism also?

5. King is recognized as a martyr by both the Episcopal and Lutheran churches in America.

6. Republican president Ronald Reagan signed a bill creating a federal holiday to honor King. It was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986.

There is still much to be done in the realm of civil rights. Especially in the church, where Sunday morning has become the most segregated time in American life.

And most especially with sanctity of life issues, which has clear racial undertones. Black women are almost three times as likely to have an abortion than white women. This is no mere coincidence. Many pro-abortion organizations like Planned Parenthood were founded on the principles of Eugenics proponent Margaret Sanger, who considered black babies to be “socially undesirable.”

In the United States alone, there are roughly 1.4 million total abortions per year, or almost 4,000 abortions per day. It it estimated that 93 percent of these abortions happen simply because the child is unwanted. By the time it took you to read this post a handful of infant lives have already been wiped out on US soil, sacrificed on the demonic altar of expedience.

Pray with me that God will raise up voices like MLK in the black community who will speak out against the civil rights and justice issue of abortion that still plagues our country.

And God forbid, that we may have already snuffed out thousands of Martin Luther King Jr.’s while still in the womb, with a convenient saline injection or surgeon’s suction.  God sent his prophets to America, and we made the womb their grave before they could even speak a word.

I pray God would grant us repentance and restoration, before he justly pours His righteous wrath on this nation for spilling the innocent blood of 50 million unborn lives.  I pray the blood of Jesus Christ speaks better things on our behalf. Hebrews 12:24

I pray MLK Day will transcend a man, and give us a fixed hope in Christ alone (Hebrews 6:19)  and His eternal redemptive purposes to make all things right in the  end; even the heinous sin of abortion.

Bryan