Category: God

Apologetics · Church · God · gospel · heresy · Repentance · sanctification · saved · sharing the gospel · Sovereign choice · Theology · Uncategorized

The Differences Between Sins, and Mistakes.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment


Recently, I had a conversation with a person on social media about sins, and mistakes. Their first assertion was that, sins are the willful transgression of the known will of God. The second assertion was that people are not culpable to God for mistakes that they make. Lastly, they failed to define what mistakes are, even when asked several times. I quickly identified this as a Nazarene Church member, because I had been a member for approximately 19 years give or take. I decided since they came to my page to discuss this issue that it was a proper opening to engage them. I typically don’t go to other people’s pages and comment on things I don’t agree with. I see it as bad etiquette, but if they come to me, so be it. Listed below is the section 5.3 Sin, Original and Personal from the Nazarene Church’s Preamble and Articles of Faith;

“5.3. We believe that actual or personal sin is a voluntary violation of a known law of God by a morally responsible person. It is therefore not to be confused with involuntary and inescapable shortcomings, infirmities, faults, mistakes, failures, or other deviations from a standard of perfect conduct that are the residual effects of the Fall. However, such innocent effects do not include attitudes or responses contrary to the spirit of Christ, which may properly be called sins of the spirit. We believe that personal sin is primarily and essentially a violation of the law of love; and that in relation to Christ sin may be defined as unbelief.

(Original sin: Genesis 3; 6:5; Job 15:14; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Mark 7:21-23; Romans 1:18-25; 5:12-14; 7:1-8:9; 1 Corinthians 3:1-4; Galatians 5:16-25; 1 John 1:7-8

Personal sin: Matthew 22:36-40 {with 1 John 3:4}; John 8:34-36; 16:8-9; Romans 3:23; 6:15-23; 8:18-24; 14:23; 1 John 1:9-2:4; 3:7-10)”

As you can see from their article, it is what has led some of them to their minimization of sin, thus diminishing the importance of the gospel, as well as creating a legalistic approach to righteousness. This last consequence is also a product of their doctrine of Entire Sanctification. Their doctrine of Entire Sanctification is also a product of their minimization of sin. This is what Article 10 says about Entire Sanctification;

“X. Christian Holiness and Entire Sanctification


10. We believe that sanctification is the work of God which transforms believers into the likeness of Christ. It is wrought by God’s grace through the Holy Spirit in initial sanctification, or regeneration (simultaneous with justification), entire sanctification, and the continued perfecting work of the Holy Spirit culminating in glorification. In glorification we are fully conformed to the image of the Son.

We believe that entire sanctification is that act of God, subsequent to regeneration, by which believers are made free from original sin, or depravity, and brought into a state of entire devotement to God, and the holy obedience of love made perfect.

It is wrought by the baptism with or infilling of the Holy Spirit, and comprehends in one experience the cleansing of the heart from sin and the abiding, indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, empowering the believer for life and service. Entire sanctification is provided by the blood of Jesus, is wrought instantaneously by grace through faith, preceded by entire consecration; and to this work and state of grace the Holy Spirit bears witness.

This experience is also known by various terms representing its different phases, such as “Christian perfection,” “perfect love,” “heart purity,” “the baptism with or infilling of the Holy Spirit,” “the fullness of the blessing,” and “Christian holiness.””

Not that long ago the Nazarene Church made some changes to their Articles of Faith. What I linked to is their current one. They have clarified it to some degree, but you can’t lay all the blame on the average Church goer for their personal affirmation of false doctrines. After reading the Articles of Faith, I can see what they are trying to express, but it can confuse the layman. I think this is mostly due to their Ordo Salutis, and Semi-Pelagianism that is all part of the traditions of a portion of the people in the denomination. From what I understand they are slowly trying to move away from the errors of Semi-Pelagianism that were made in the past.

If you are old enough you’d remember a different looking CotN. The girls mostly wore dresses, and dancing was not allowed. They looked and acted like Pentecostal versions of the Mennonites almost. Some believed that a person could be entirely sinless in their life. That is what their personal understanding of their doctrine of Entire Sanctification looked like. If you read it now, you can see it is a bit more nuanced, but you can also see how it could lead someone to believe the other way. When you look at Wesley’s writings on the topic, if you have a good theological foundation, you can see where he is heading. The problem lies in the fact that so many people are very simple in their education and ability to reason, that they take his work to mean what it appears to mean at a superficial reading. I’m not saying I agree with his conclusions. I actually think he was poorly repaving a road that had been well paved, and traveled long before him, by men more learned and brilliant.

I see Wesley as more of an evangelist and less of a theologian.  I understand him to be attempting to make room for people who don’t know, or believe, everything rightly all the time to still be saved. All of us are wrong all the time about something whether we know it or not. That doesn’t ruin our justification. I used to think the Trinity was best expressed as the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as all three parts of God. I had no idea that was the heresy of partialism. Once I was taught by more mature Christians from scripture that they are three persons, one God I was able to repent of my heresy. Was I not saved back then? I think I was, but I was a material heretic. I was not a formal heretic. If I’d persisted to death in a heresy, and rejected all correction, then I would have proven to be a false convert and formal heretic.

The person I was having the discussion with was of the old fashion persuasion. They didn’t read Wesley. They just took a superficial approach to their denomination’s doctrines and ran with it. So for them, sin was simply willfully transgressing a known law of God and it excludes mistakes, infirmities, failures, faults, emotions, (feelings) and thoughts. They also argued that a Christian will stop sinning completely, even though I showed them 1 John 1:8 and explained that John was addressing Christians. I was also told that if I sinned and then died immediately after, without repenting, that I would go to Hell. This is another one of their misguided beliefs. They believe that a genuine Christian can apostatize by willfully sinning. What I was dealing with was a Semi-Pelagian. It is interesting because they make a categorical error by contrasting sins with mistakes. I don’t know if it ever occurred to them that a sin is always sinful, but a mistake can be sin or not sin. I mentioned this and got no answer. The same can be said for the other things listed that they say are not sin. We know that having a lustful thought pop into your head and dwelling on it, is a sin. We must take every thought captive so it doesn’t come to fruition in deed. We also know that to God we are guilty of that sin. It sure is a good thing that Christ justified me, and paid for all of my sin. I am exceedingly sinful, and exceedingly thankful for His righteousness that He imputed to me. I think this eludes the Semi-Pelagian. They are in a works righteousness faith where they must maintain their position of being righteous by works. This particular flavor of Semi-Pelagian makes this task less daunting by watering down sin and man’s responsibility. In so doing they rob God of the glory, as it were. So much the worse for them, as many of them are not truly saved, but still lost. Of course, I would not say that all of them are lost. Some may be material heretics, just waiting to be corrected and brought to repentance. Could you be the one to speak into their lives with the truth?

God · Theology · Uncategorized

God is Sovereign, and uses Men and Nations.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

romans-1136_4872_1600x1200

Some folks have the notion that the Bible, and Christianity, is all about them, and getting saved by Jesus because He loves them soooooo much.  Don’t get me wrong, Jesus does love those He has been given by the Father, but you know what He loves more than sinners saved?  If you said anything other than the will of the Father, you might try again.  That’s right, He loves the will of the Father.  So much so, that He loved sinners, while they were yet sinners, so much that He died for them.  So if Jesus loves the will of the Father, why do we seem to love our own wills so much?  Why do we seem to put this inordinate value on our own volition and liberty?  Why, when Christ our Savior, submitted His will to that of the Father, by dying on the cross, do we refuse to bear our cross?

I believe the answer is this man centered hermeneutic when reading the Bible.  It seems to be intrinsic to a large part of American Christianity.  So when we read a passage like this one, where God is using the Assyrians to punish the Israelites as judgment against them, we see it as mere history.  We completely glaze over the obvious fact that God has used them like a weapon.  Even the Assyrian king didn’t give God the glory.  He wasn’t humble at all.  In his impudence, he thought that he was the one who did all of those things to Israel.  Just read the passage, and I’ll be there when you are done…

“Isaiah 10:12-15 NASB So it will be that when the Lord has completed all His work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, He will say, “I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness.” (13) For he has said, “By the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this, For I have understanding; And I removed the boundaries of the peoples And plundered their treasures, And like a mighty man I brought down their inhabitants, (14) And my hand reached to the riches of the peoples like a nest, And as one gathers abandoned eggs, I gathered all the earth; And there was not one that flapped its wing or opened its beak or chirped.” (15) Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood.”

Finished?  If you’ll notice how arrogant and proud the king was, it is obvious that he suffered the same self-delusion that many Christians suffer from today.  We think we are just the center of the Christian world.  Oh sure, we give lip service to Jesus, just like some musician on an awards shows thanks Him, along with their entourage and momma.  I encourage you to look at what God says about this arrogant man.  Look at verse 15.  In verses 12, and 13, God says He is going to punish the king after He is done using him.  We then read why God has determined to do these things,

“Isaiah 10:16-22 NASB Therefore the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors; And under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame. (17) And the light of Israel will become a fire and his Holy One a flame, And it will burn and devour his thorns and his briars in a single day. (18) And He will destroy the glory of his forest and of his fruitful garden, both soul and body, And it will be as when a sick man wastes away. (19) And the rest of the trees of his forest will be so small in number That a child could write them down. (20) Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. (21) A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. (22) For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness.”

God is the author, His glory is the point, His Holy One is who it is all about.  God chose Israel to demonstrate this through, just like He chose us in Him before creation to demonstrate this through.  Be honored to be used by God in your lowly state as a vessel of honor.  Don’t think that there is something about you that warrants this utilization, not your works, not your choice, not your fallen faith, not your fallen repentance, no there is nothing about you that would make you appealing to God.

“1 Corinthians 1:22-31 NASB (22) For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; (23) but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, (24) but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; (27) but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, (28) and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, (29) so that no man may boast before God. (30) But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, (31) so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.””

It is all about Jesus.  God grants the new birth, the saving faith, the saving repentance from dead works, to Christ, God is the author of our salvation, for His glory, amen.

evolution · God · Uncategorized

The god called evolution.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

screen-shot-2014-02-04-at-5-23-42-pm

John Q. Public: Hey Dr. Quasi Science, I’ve got some questions for you.

Dr. Quasi: Well, ask away.

John: If evolution is true, why are there still monkeys?

Dr. Quasi:  Well, due to evolution the monkeys evolved along a different path than homospapiens.

John:  Then why are the monkeys the same now as they appear in the fossil record?

Dr. Quasi:  Evolution takes her time, and we just haven’t seen any changes since the time that evolution put monkeys and man on different paths.

John:  If evolution is true, why are there two different sexes in many creatures and in some they are asexual or hermaphrodites?

Dr. Quasi:  Oh silly man, that is simply because evolution did what was best for the survival of the species.

John:  If that is true, did the desire to have sex evolve first, or the ability?

Dr. Quasi:  Oh you poor ignorant man, they both evolved at the same time.

John:  Hmm… that sounds very improbable especially considering all of the species that reproduce by having sex.  They would have all had to evolve the ability, and the desire, and the sexes, along with all of the complex physiological and neurological modifications that went along with sex.

John:  If we could observe evolution happening, that would help your cause, but we can’t.

Dr. Quasi:  Well, just because you can’t see it, or observe it directly doesn’t mean it isn’t at work.  You poor backwards soul.

John:  Well doc, I think you have a god called Evolution, who requires nothing of you other than to just be a brute and reproduce at any cost.  Your god has no morals, and doesn’t care about what you do.  Your god neither loves you or hates you.  Matter of fact, the god you’ve described doesn’t care about you at all.  You choose to substitute a god that you’ve made up that you like better.  You like your imaginary god because you hate the true and living God.

Dr. Quasi:  There is no God.  You are ignoring scientific fact!  Evolution is true.  You just won’t acknowledge all of the proof.  You’d rather remain ignorant.

John:  Wow, that sounds familiar…

“Romans 1:18-32 (NASB) 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22  Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers,  haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

 

Cartoon is from Answers in Genesis, and the video is from Living Waters.

cultural · God · prophecy · Uncategorized

What does God’s Judgment Look Like America? Ask Jerusalem.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

The judgment of God against Jerusalem and Judah for their idolatry and abandonment of God.  Sound familiar?

Isaiah 3:4-6, 8,9,11,12, 16-26.

4And I will make mere lads their princes,
And capricious children will rule over them,

5And the people will be oppressed,
Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor;
The youth will storm against the elder
And the inferior against the honorable.

6When a man lays hold of his brother in his father’s house, saying,
“You have a cloak, you shall be our ruler,
And these ruins will be under your charge,”

4-6 looks like millennials influence on culture and the advancement of socialism.  I’m not saying it is, or was back then.  In our day it seems like a correlation.

8For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen,
Because their speech and their actions are against the LORD,
To rebel against His glorious presence.

9The expression of their faces bears witness against them,
And they display their sin like Sodom;
They do not even conceal it.
Woe to them!
For they have brought evil on themselves.

8-9 People are proud of their wickedness now.  They flaunt their sexual immorality as if it is a badge of liberty.

11Woe to the wicked! It will go badly with him,
For what he deserves will be done to him.

12O My people! Their oppressors are children,
And women rule over them.
O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray
And confuse the direction of your paths.

We complain about our leaders, but they are what we deserve as a nation of godless pagans.  Sure there are some faithful people in the country, “But God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another.” Psalm 75:7  “21“It is He who changes the times and the epochs;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding.” Daniel 2:21

 

16Moreover, the LORD said, “Because the daughters of Zion are proud
And walk with heads held high and seductive eyes,
And go along with mincing steps
And tinkle the bangles on their feet,

17Therefore the Lord will afflict the scalp of the daughters of Zion with scabs,
And the LORD will make their foreheads bare.”

18In that day the Lord will take away the beauty of their anklets, headbands, crescent ornaments, 19dangling earrings, bracelets, veils, 20headdresses, ankle chains, sashes, perfume boxes, amulets, 21finger rings, nose rings, 22festal robes, outer tunics, cloaks, money purses, 23hand mirrors, undergarments, turbans and veils.

24Now it will come about that instead of sweet perfume there will be putrefaction;
Instead of a belt, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, a plucked-out scalp;
Instead of fine clothes, a donning of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty.

25Your men will fall by the sword
And your mighty ones in battle.

26And her gates will lament and mourn,
And deserted she will sit on the ground.

When all of these things happen to us, will we repent?

 

God · prayer · Theology · Uncategorized

The Parable About the Persistent Widow is Not What You Think.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

fletch2_scene06

Turns out the parable about the persistent widow in Luke 18 is not about annoying God into giving you what you want.  I know, that isn’t what you’ve been told.  I have heard it myself, “Folks let me tell ya whata.  If you are in need it is because you aren’t being persistent in petitioning Goda!  If you’ns would just get on your knees, and just ask Goda to give you the money for a new pickup, and do it every daya He would answers your prayers just like He’d done for that poor wida woman.  Can I geta amena!”

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge *said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
[Luke 18:1-8 NASB]

So you see that this parable is more about how God will answer the faithful prayers of those who are suffering injustice because He is just.  God is not an unjust judge.  He is the perfectly righteous and just judge.  As such, He does not act in anyways unfair.  “will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?”  Then to drive the point home Jesus says, “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.”  So you see, this isn’t a method to twist God’s arm to get Him to give you what you want.  After all we are told to not repeat prayers like the pagans in Matthew 6:7 “”And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.
[Matthew 6:7 NASB]”

This brings up another question though.  What is meant by meaningles repetition?  Well I can tell you for sure it isn’t when you are in the throws of suffering and you are crying out to God for relief, and praying over and over for His help.  That kind of praying is what you should be doing.  We are talking about long winded, scripted or non-scripted prayers that are not from the heart, but rather to make you appear spiritual, or for any other purpose than the proper use of prayer.

I am not telling you to only pray once to God when you are deeply troubled.  If that is what you are getting out of this you are missing the point.  The point is don’t follow the prosperity preachers in some twisting of scripture as a formula for extorting God.  Got it Skippy?  Good.

evangelism · God · Repentance · saved · Uncategorized

Hell.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

lake-fire
Hell, being in the presence of the one true God, perfectly holy, pouring out His righteous and just wrath upon you, that of which you built up for yourself during your life. Where there is complete darkness. No hope of illuminating light. In the presence of God without hope of being in communion with Him. A bottomless pit, feeling that horror of a step missed before an eternal fall, perpetual descent in darkness. All that can be heard is the wailing and gnashing of teeth. All your fellow denizens suffering their own rewards for inequity for all eternity. A fire that burns your being that never consumes you, but persists in torturous torment. The next moment is worse than all before it. How long have you been here in this place? Has it been a moment? Has it been a year, or one thousand? Why didn’t you heed their warnings? Why did you believe some of them when they told you Hell was just a fairy tale, designed to make you behave? Your flesh is infested with crawling, wriggling worms feasting with no relent, no reprieve. If only the fire and the worms would consume you and bring your suffering to an end! No, this will not end. It will go on for eternity.

In an untormented mind, you reasoned with no reason that this could not be true! If God is real isn’t He supposed to be loving? So I’ve been told! He wouldn’t dare do this to me! Fool! God is also infinitely just and righteous. Your sins are against Him! How must an infinitely evil crime, against an infinite God be punished? Infinitely! From this hopeless estate there is no escape. There is no corner, nor hole to hide from the holy wrath of almighty God. No chance to recant of a false testimony against Him whose creation testified to you about Him continuously while you were alive. No repentance now from your willful rebellion against Him. O for relief from this unbearable attention! Heed this warning and let it settle in your mind! You know you deserve Hell. You know God is true. Repent before this becomes your fate! Put your faith in God in the flesh, Jesus the god-man, who worked atonement on the cross for you who would repent and believe in Him. He can cleanse you and clothe you in His righteousness. You can be eternally forgiven instead of condemned. For while you live in sin you are already under certain condemnation. Turn from your ways and turn from wrath. Turn towards Christ Jesus and His ways. Turn towards His glory and abide in Him.

cultural · gender dysphoria · God · transgender · transsexual · Uncategorized

The Hypocritical Statement of Target.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

target

How can anyone look at their statement, and not see the extreme hypocrisy behind it?  This seems like a no-brainer to me.  Here is a quote from their site, “…Inclusivity is a core belief at Target. It’s something we celebrate. We stand for equality and equity, and strive to make our guests and team members feel accepted, respected and welcomed in our stores and workplaces every day…”  Let’s look a bit more closely at this.  First, they insist that “Inclusivity is a core belief at Target.”  Now remember, inclusivity is their justification for allowing men in the ladies’ room and women in the men’s room.  To most reasonable people inclusivity would imply that Target allows everyone from every walk of life to shop at their stores without prejudicial treatment.  They provide public restrooms for their patrons to relieve themselves.  So to be true to their policy, they should either do away with restrooms, offer only a universal public restroom, or offer separate restrooms for every type of pseudo-gender that any insane person identifies as.  Those are pretty much your options if you insist on identifying as, “inclusive.”

The first solution is not practical.  As part of good customer service people expect to have access to a public restroom.  The second option would be fine, but they would have to have several separate, self-contained unisex bathrooms, that only could be occupied by one person at a time, each.  This is not as burdensome and impractical as the last option.  In that case, every time someone imagined a new gender, Target would have to install and label a new restroom just for their newly sinfully imagined gender.  The sin addled mind is incapable of making righteous use of reason.

Of course, there is the fourth option.  They could just do what they are doing right now.  They are taking the discriminatory, bigoted, hateful, intolerant, exclusive, and hypocritical approach. They force the 99.8% of the public, who identify as either male or female to fall in line with the new morality.  Which by the way, is neither new nor moral.

Here is another quote from their site, “…We believe that everyone—every team member, every guest, and every community—deserves to be protected from discrimination, and treated equally. Consistent with this belief,Target supports the federal Equality Act, which provides protections to LGBT individuals, and opposes action that enables discrimination…”  They say that they believe in absolutes.  You can see this when they say, “everyone, every team member, every guest, and every community.”  but this isn’t what they really mean.  Sure they say it and it sounds good, but it isn’t the truth.  They are lying to us.  It is impossible to do what they are saying.  When you have communities with world views that make mutually exclusive statements, you can’t equally affirm them all.  Ultimately you will affirm some of them over the others, and that is what Target has done.  they are affirming the anti-Christian, secular, satanic, sinful, destructive, death culture worldview, over its antithesis.  In so doing, they have prejudicially discriminated against all who oppose the worldview they affirm and have acted to exclude them from consideration in regards to their beliefs.  They have upheld the beliefs of the perverse over the moral and called it good while denigrating anyone who criticizes them as evil.

The left has created this insane notion that reality doesn’t matter and there is no absolute truth.  It is obvious that there are only two genders.  The problem is that we should have never engaged them in the conversation or used their terminology.  It should still be considered a crime for a man to go into the ladies’ room.  It should be a crime to do a sex change surgery.  It should definitely be against the Hippocratic oath.

Since we allowed the discussion, we somehow gave some sense of legitimacy to their argument.  As soon as this issue came forward we should have laughed in their faces, refused to discuss it, kept things the way they were, and walked away.

I get it.  Sinful people are hurting.  They need real help.  Not this insanity.  You don’t give a suicidal person a knife.  We have to do what is good for crazy people because they aren’t competent enough to know what is good for them or to want it.  They need to be regenerated by God and saved from their sins.  They need counseling and help not mutilation by surgeon.  Most of all they need Jesus.

cultural · Earth Day · environment · God · green · Uncategorized

Earth Day? Christian say what!?

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

burning earth
This really bothers me.  I know many Christians who seem to be obsessed with the environment and the ethics of how we treat animals.  I wonder if they are worshipping an idol?  Sometimes, in some cases, it sure seems that way.  I remember reading in the Bible…  That is God’s word, in case, some of you don’t recognize that is what we believe about it.  I know that has come into  question with some of our more liberal and green brothers and sisters.  Anyways, I remember God saying in His word, that He would destroy the earth with fire.  (1 Peter 3:3-18, Revelation 21:1-4)  So settle down and relax.  We aren’t going to ruin the joint.

Matter of fact, God put it under a curse just like us after the fall.  He wants us to conquer the Earth.  He wants us to subdue it.  It is intended for us to utilize its resources for the glory of God, by reducing human suffering, and increasing human flourishing.  Think about it.  Places where the Earth has been subdued, have roads, clean water, agriculture that produces animals for meat, and plants for food, electricity to light our nights, to power our machines, to warm us in winter, and cool us in summer, education which brings forth medicines and advances in the medical arts, culture, and so on.  If that isn’t good for human flourishing I dare you to take your unwashed hippy dippy slappy happy hind end out into the wilderness with no provisions from modern life, and survive for five years with no outside help.  Then let me know how well you flourished and helped others to flourish while reducing human suffering.  It ain’t gonna happen skippy.  Nope, the places around the Earth where human suffering is the greatest are the places that have not been subdued in any way.  If there were no electric heat or lights in McMurdo at the south pole there would be no human life there.

I’m not telling people to be careless with what we are entrusted.  I’m just telling them to stop worshipping the creation instead of the Creator.  Of course, we don’t foolishly strip mine, or cut an entire forest down without replanting trees.  Of course, we don’t pollute the air so badly that it poisons the water, soil, and plants for generations.  If people are suffering because we are afraid of ruining the breeding habitat of an owl, we move the owls and use the land.  If we can’t move the owls, I guess they have to die to make a better place for people.  Owls, after all, are not created in God’s image.  When it comes down to plants and animals versus humans, we always need to go with what will cause human flourishing and reduce human suffering.  These glorify God.  

1 Peter 3:3-18

3Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

     8But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

     10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

     11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

     14Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Revelation 21:1-4

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

cultural · gender dysphoria · God · Repentance · transgender · transsexual · Uncategorized

God only made two genders for mankind.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment
God only made two genders for mankind. Male and female is all there is. You don’t go to the hardware store looking through the nuts and bolts to buy a nolt! If you found one it would be good for nothing. If you don’t believe me, maybe you’ll believe God when Jesus quoted His words from Genesis while He was being questioned by the Pharisees in the book of Matthew, “And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”
[Matthew 19:4-6 NASB]
So if God eternal, and incarnate has explained what He meant, when He revealed what is written in Genesis to us, and it isn’t good enough for you, then it isn’t the rest of us that have the problem. It is you! You are sick! You are not well in the head! You are in deep confusion and sin! You are evil through and through! You need to repent of your sin and ask God to forgive you and heal you from this deep perversion. If you repent and believe upon the finished work of Christ, there is hope for you! You can be saved! For those of you monsters, confusing your very own little children into believing they are not the gender God blessed them with, there is a special place in Hell reserved for the likes of you! Your punishment for harming those little image bearers of God will be exactly as severe as God justly imposes. This should scare you! You are an abuser of children and a blasphemer! Repent! Repent!! REPENT!!! Your death may come upon you at any moment. The next moment you will be in front of the one true and holy God. He will judge you and without the atoning work of Christ to make you just in His sight, you will be sent to Hell for eternal torment and suffering. One moment will be worse than the last. You will feel as if you are being eaten from the inside by worms that never finish their meal. You will feel the immense pain of being burnt up, but never being finished with the burning. You will be in darkness with no solid ground beneath your feat. You know the feeling you get when you miss a step in the dark and begin to fall? That is the anxiety and fear you will feel for ever and ever. You will only hear the suffering others in hell. The gnashing of teeth and wailing will be ringing in your ears. The smoke of their torment will rise up forever. Your only experience will be suffering. You won’t know how long you’ve been there. Has it been a minute, a day, a thousand days, a year, a million years? Eternity is an ageless age. An existence without time, and you will be suffering for all eternity. There will be no fellowship with God. God will be there pouring out His wrath on you. You will justly deserve it. Repent now while there is time! Turn from the judgment to come. Stop approving of sin. Stop calling evil good and good evil. Acknowledge God truth! Believe in the Savior for the forgiveness of your sins!!!
Church · cultural · God · love · marriage · Repentance · Theology · Uncategorized · under God

Men, Submit to God. Women, submit to God. He says, submit to your Husbands.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

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So, you are a modern woman, and you have heard, perhaps even said, “I can do what I want!  You don’t own me!  I don’t need a man!”  Well, if you are Christian woman, you should eschew such ignorant, godless, rhetoric.  It is prideful and selfish.  Very unbecoming of a Christian man or woman.  I am so sick of how the world has been portraying husbands and wives.  Let’s not allow the culture to define us.  Let’s be defined by God’s word.

Imagine a man who claims to be Christian, and won’t submit to God’s word.  Instead of doing what God has commanded, he does what he wants.  Is that a man who is at war with his sinful flesh, or is that a man who is giving into his flesh?

Imagine a man who claims that nobody has ownership of him.  We know that is wrong.   God tells us in His word that our bodies do not belong to us.  A husband’s body belongs to his wife.  A wife’s body belongs also to her husband, but God owns them both.  They are His creatures.  The ones who die in rebellion, will burn forever in Hell.  He will pour out His righteous wrath on them for eternity.

Imagine now, an arrogant, prideful, man exclaiming that he doesn’t need a woman.  That man is calling God a liar.  Why, the very first book in God’s word explains why He made Eve.  It was because it was not good for man to be alone.  God made for him a helpmate.  Everyone knows that men need women.  If we are to be fruitful and multiply it is obvious.  So, to subdue the Earth, we must have wives and they must have husbands.

Modern notions of gender are so diabolically satanic.  They defile, degrade, and mock what God has made for our good and His glory.  The enemy loves it every time a feminist howls in rebellion, every time a man becomes a selfish boy.  We need to embrace our roles as God has defined and ordained them to be.  We should reject what culture says.  The cultural hermeneutic says, “The verses in the Bible that tell a woman to submit to her husband, the verses that say a woman should not teach or have authority over a man, the verses that tell men to support their families, to be the spiritual leaders of their homes and Churches, the word of God that tells us how to live as godly men and women should not be applied as God intended because modern culture’s consensus is superior.”  Well, last time I checked, we don’t ask culture to explain God to us, we read His words and hear straight from God Himself in the reading of it.  I don’t have to consult the latest social pundits.  God has spoken, and He has done so with the ultimate authority that entails.

Want to know why your marriage doesn’t work?  Want to know why you are miserable in your Church?  Want to know why your children run your home?  Simple, you have forsaken God’s will as expressed in His word.  Rebels and scoundrels, each and every one of us!  Repent and believe the word of God and live to please the Savior who has bled and suffered for you on the cross of His crucifixion.  Christ submitted to the will of the Father to cleanse for Himself a bride.  That bride is the Church.  It submits to Christ.  Submit yourselves to His headship as Lord and master of your lives.  This means even unto death.  We must love our wives as Christ loved the Church.  Christ died for us while we were yet sinners.  We did not deserve His love or sacrifice.  We were, by nature His enemies, and He died to save us.  Men, love your wives when they don’t deserve it.  Women love your husbands when they don’t deserve it.  Men, submit to Christ.  Women, submit to your husbands, not because he says to, but because the one, true, living God, almighty says to!

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
[Ephesians 5:22-33 KJV]

Husband, head, protector, provider.  Not what T.V. says, not what the movies show.