I just spent almost 3 hours listening to an SBC Pastor Dr. Flowers, make a terrible showing against Dr. James White. The debate topic was supposed to be two different exegesis of the text of Romans 9. Dr. White started out by giving his exegesis of Romans 9. Then Dr. Flowers came out with a polemic sermon against several doctrines of Calvinism, without exegeting Romans 9. It was ridiculous. Yet there are no doubt, people thinking that Dr. Flowers did well. He kept using analogies, and homespun parables instead of actually interacting with the text. He would also go out of Romans 9 to impose other ideas on the text. He was practicing eisegeses not exegesis. I was very annoyed. I wanted to see someone honestly offer and logically consistent and Biblically consistent alternative exegesis, but instead it was an ambush, a gothca. I expected better from someone with Dr. in front of their name. Here is the debate if you’d like to watch or listen to it.
Category: Theology
Effectually, who is, “the world” in John 3:16?
I know many who are opposed to the Doctrines of Grace like to quote John 3:16 at us as a, “gotcha” proof text verse. It usually goes something like this, ” Let’s read John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.) See there, it says, “God so loved the world.” I have one question for our friends, “What do you do with, “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” It is pretty obvious that the ones that are being saved are the ones who believe in Him. If not, just look at the next few verses.
Here is a paraphrase of something Jon Owen penned, Jesus either paid for all the sins of all men, or some of the sins of all men, or all of the sins of some men, . If He paid for all of the sins of all men, and only the unbeliever fails to make that justification effectual through the sin of unbelief, then Jesus did not pay for all the sins of all men. If Jesus paid for some of the sins of all men, then men would still have sins that they would have to pay for. We know this is not true as well. The only position that harmonizes with the entirety of scripture is that Jesus paid all of the sins of some men. He paid for the sins of the elect.
We can see in the following verses that the, “all who are being saved” are one in the same with the, “ones who the Father had given Him” and are also the, “ones who behold the Son and believe in Him.”
John 6:35-40 NASB Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. [36] “But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. [37] “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. [38] “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. [39] “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. [40] “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
Romans 8:28-30 NASB And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. [29] For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; [30] and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
If just the ones who believe are being saved, that means the ones who aren’t believing are not being saved. So He didn’t save the entire world. He didn’t make salvation available for every person, and then leave it up to them to get saved. They in their unbelief couldn’t and wouldn’t even try to get themselves saved. Salvation is conditional and Christ meets the conditions of it for us. We know that saving grace, faith, and repentance are different than there counterparts that lead to death. Human grace, faith, and repentance are of no avail. So the only, “whoevers” that will believe in a way that leads to eternal life are the elect of God. So the ones who He died for are the elect. They are the, “whoever” that the verse refers to.
Two Types of Repentance.
There are two types of repentance. One that leads to death and one that leads to life. Which one do you have?
There is one repentance that leads to death. That is the ritualistic, self-righteous act of atoning for your own sin. There is another that leads to life. That is the one of truly realizing that it is God who you have sinned against. Having true shame and sorrow over the sin that you have committed against God. A sorrow that leads you to hate the sins that you do. A sorrow that makes you zealous for God’s will and obedience to Him. One comes from a self-centered heart that is dead in sin. The other comes from a heart that is after God’s own will.
2 Corinthians 7:9-11 NASB [9] I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. [10] For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. [11] For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
Acts 13:22-24 NASB “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’ [23] “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, [24] after John had proclaimed before His coming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
Job 28 and the Source of Wisdom.
What’s precious to man? Silver, gold, ores, and jewels? We know where they come from. We mine them from the Earth, but where does wisdom, the most precious thing come from? Can we mine it from the Earth? Has God hidden it there? Can we buy it and become wise with a purchase? Where does wisdom come from? Let’s read what Job’s answer was in Job 28.
Job 28:1-28 NASB
[1] “Surely there is a mine for silver And a place where they refine gold.
[2] “Iron is taken from the dust, And copper is smelted from rock.
[3] “Man puts an end to darkness, And to the farthest limit he searches out The rock in gloom and deep shadow.
[4] “He sinks a shaft far from habitation, Forgotten by the foot; They hang and swing to and fro far from men.
[5] “The earth, from it comes food, And underneath it is turned up as fire.
[6] “Its rocks are the source of sapphires, And its dust contains gold.
[7] “The path no bird of prey knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye caught sight of it.
[8] “The proud beasts have not trodden it, Nor has the fierce lion passed over it.
[9] “He puts his hand on the flint; He overturns the mountains at the base.
[10] “He hews out channels through the rocks, And his eye sees anything precious.
[11] “He dams up the streams from flowing, And what is hidden he brings out to the light.
[12] “But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?
[13] “Man does not know its value, Nor is it found in the land of the living.
[14] “The deep says, ‘It is not in me’; And the sea says, ‘It is not with me.’
[15] “Pure gold cannot be given in exchange for it, Nor can silver be weighed as its price.
[16] “It cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, In precious onyx, or sapphire.
[17] “Gold or glass cannot equal it, Nor can it be exchanged for articles of fine gold.
[18] “Coral and crystal are not to be mentioned; And the acquisition of wisdom is above that of pearls.
[19] “The topaz of Ethiopia cannot equal it, Nor can it be valued in pure gold.
[20] “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is the place of understanding?
[21] “Thus it is hidden from the eyes of all living And concealed from the birds of the sky.
[22] “Abaddon and Death say, ‘With our ears we have heard a report of it.’
[23] “God understands its way, And He knows its place.
[24] “For He looks to the ends of the earth And sees everything under the heavens.
[25] “When He imparted weight to the wind And meted out the waters by measure,
[26] When He set a limit for the rain And a course for the thunderbolt,
[27] Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out.
[28] “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'”
Gill’s commentary on Chapter 28
INTRODUCTION TO JOB 28
The design of this chapter is either to show the folly of such who are very diligent in their search and pursuit after earthly things, and neglect an inquiry after that which is infinitely more valuable, true wisdom; or rather to observe, that though things the most secret, and which are hidden in the bowels of the earth, may be investigated and discovered by the sagacity and diligence of men, yet wisdom cannot, especially the wisdom of God in his providences, which are past finding out; and particularly in what concerns the prosperity of the wicked, and the afflictions of the righteous; the reason of which men should be content to be ignorant of for the present, and be studious to possess that wisdom which is attainable, and be thankful for it, if they have it; which lies in the fear of the Lord, and a departure from evil, with which this chapter concludes. It begins with setting forth the sagacity of men in searching and finding out useful metals, and other things the earth produces; the difficulty, fatigue, and labour, that attend such a search, and the dangers they are exposed unto in it, Job_28:1; then it declares the unsearchableness of wisdom, its superior excellency to things the most valuable, and that it is not to be found by sea or land, or among any of the creatures, Job_28:12; and that God only knows its way and place, who has sought it out, prepared and declared it, Job_28:23; and that which he has thought fit to make known of it, and is most for his glory and the good of men, is, that it is to fear God, and depart from evil, Job_28:28.
Prayer and Communication With God.
There seems to be some confusion among Christians as to how God speaks to us. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard Christians claim that God has spoken to them during prayer. Some of them, like “Deleted so as not to upset the applecart”, and “Deleted so as not to upset the applecart”, actually proclaim that, not only did God speak to them, but He told them to write what He said down, and tell everyone what He said. This puts their personal revelation in the same field as the divine revelation of the men used to write God’s word. So do we look to modern day Christians like these, as writing new books of the Bible? If not, why don’t we? After all, they claim to have been divinely inspired by saying that God spoke to them and told them to write it down and proclaim it to people. Does this bother you? Are you upset because you see me challenging a very popular lady who you like? What is it about what I am saying that is bothering you? I challenge you to ask yourself these questions and then compare your thoughts and feelings to God’s authoritative word. I exhort you, bring your thoughts and feelings into submissive subjection to God’s word.
Can you name for me people in the Bible who were spoken to by God directly who weren’t Adam and Eve, Patriarchs, Prophets Major/Minor, Jesus (God 2nd Personage of the Trinity,God incarnate) or the Apostles/Disciples of the foundational Church commissioned by Christ personally in that time? I just want you to think of what the normative and regulative principles are here. Seriously, take a moment and think about it. I’ll wait right here… … … … OK you’re back, great! So, what did you come up with? (leave comments)
The regulative principle would say that here and now we hear from God by reading His word, and His Holy Spirit indwelling us illumines it to our understanding, and we in our new life obey it. We trust His providence and we don’t presume to say, “Thus sayeth the Lord” and then proceed to claim a bunch of things in God’s name. That would be wrong.
The normative principle would imply that because we don’t see a prohibition to teaching that we can, “hear God” in our prayers, means that we can teach people to listen for God speaking to them in their prayers. What this looks like varies from group to group. Most would say that they get a thought in their mind and believe that it is from God. Then, they test it against scripture and see if it really is from God. I’ve seen some charismatic groups that take this to the extreme. They look for any scripture to twist and make fit. Then there are the false prophets of Mormonism, Islam, and Jehovah’s Witnesses that all claim personal extra-biblical revelation from God.
I would rather err on the side of faithfulness than selfishness or man-centeredness. I believe that I have had some of the sweetest times of communion with God while studying His word. I also believe that about times when I’ve prayed to God. There is a difference though. When I think that God has told me something, it is something I read in His word. When He hears from me is when I pray to Him. I know that He knows me and all of my thoughts before they happen. I know He knows me in perfect truth. I know He doesn’t need me to pray to Him for Him to know anything about me. I also know that He has told us to pray. He has told us how to pray. As we pray in obedience and in the Spirit, we align with God’s will and it sanctifies us. We also know that it is efficacious. We know that it accomplishes what God has ordained it to accomplish. We know then it is glorifying to God.
The danger with just considering the regulative principle is that we can become cold and ritualistic in prayer. We might end up just repeating very simple prayers because we believe that God knows it all anyway. This can become ritualized, but so can the other ditch we fall in. I’ve heard some wild charismatic prayers that are composed of Christianese modules strung together that frankly don’t mean much to anyone. This is one of the rituals in err on the other side. Another risk is to read too much into your prayer. I know you will all get bent out of shape for the mention of your favorite false teachers earlier but, the truth is that they have claimed extra-biblical revelation and have not recanted. They are plainly stating that they have personally heard God say to them, “X” and He told them to write it down and tell everyone else. He apparently has also told one of them, that He has given them the proper understanding of His word and everyone (the orthodox) else is wrong. Let’s be better at discerning the truth, by reading the truth, and knowing the truth. That way when these false teachers come along, I won’t have to delete their names so all the Christians on broth won’t get bent and make personal attacks on me for allegedly bashing their favorite flavor of false teachings this month.
1 Corinthians is about food sacrificed to idols, but I think it can also speak to eccumenism.
1 Corinthians 8:1-13 NASB (1) Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies. (2) If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to know; (3) but if anyone loves God, he is known by Him. (4) Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. (5) For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, (6) yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. (7) However not all men have this knowledge; but some, being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. (8) But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat. (9) But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. (10) For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols? (11) For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died. (12) And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. (13) Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.
We as Christians have the liberty to go to a group of lost people, like say the Roman Catholics, Jehovah’s Witnesses, LDS/Mormons, SDA Seventh Day Adventists, or Muslims, to sit and share the gospel with them. We just have to be careful to differentiate between their faiths and ours. We have to do it without offending them more than is necessary and it has to be clear to everyone else who is watching including believers and unbelievers. If we don’t make certain to point out our differences it looks to the spectators as if we are acquiescing or giving assent to the aberrant beliefs of the lost. We don’t want people coming away thinking that there is no difference. We don’t want other believers to come away thinking that we agree with the false teachings of these other groups. We also don’t want weaker brothers to start adopting false doctrines because of that misconception. I get it, this does not seem to be speaking to eccumenism, but I think the underlying principle of abusing liberty at the detriment to the weak can apply to eccumenism as well.
The L.D.S. Articles of faith shown in error contrasted with the truth of the Bible.
Today we are going to look at the Latter Day Saint’s Articles of Faith, written by their prophet Joseph Smith, to see how it conflicts with orthodox Christianity. It is important to note how they use the same words we do, but define them very differently.
The Articles of Faithof The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Chapter 1
1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith.
The first one seems alright until you ask them to define their terms, then we see the vast chasm that separates them from the true faith.
1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
Their father was once a man named Elohim (which is amusing because Elohim is the Hebrew word for god) This man followed the doctrines of the LDS faith so well that he became an exalted man, then the god who rules this solar system. According to the LDS faith, he has a flesh and bone body and is a caucasian. When they say he is eternal they only mean that he was part of the eternal energy and intellect. They only believe that matter and intellect are eternal. They believe that Elohim was the son of his parents as they were children of their parents and so on approaching infinity. In that sense, they call him eternal. They believe that Jesus is actually his son through sexual copulation and that the holy spirit is simple the spirit of the father.
2 We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
They deny man’s inherited sin nature in Adam, conflicting with what the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15 as Adam being our federal head. Denial of total depravity also helps them justify other abhorrent beliefs.
3 We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
They deny limited atonement and affirm that man’s salvation is by his obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel. It must be noted that they do not mean the moral law of the Bible, and they do not mean the gospel of Christ when they refer to, “ordinances of the gospel.” They are talking about their own set of laws and ordinances that their prophets have made up and recorded for them to follow. Thus their salvation is one of works not grace for grace is unmerited favor and by definition can not be of our own being. This belief is also in direct conflict with the Bible for we know, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
4 We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Again this sounds good until you find out what they believe about Jesus, the gospel, faith, repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands. I’ve already explained that their jesus is a created being who is not God. Their gospel is a list of works and doctrines that must be obeyed so it is no good news at all. Read their book, “Doctrines and Covenants” if you want to understand what they call the gospel. The Christian gospel, εὐαγγέλιον-euangelion, or good message is one of salvation by grace, not adherence to a moral code written by a false prophet. Their repentance is not the repentance that leads to life, because theirs is the one that leaves them dead. They have a works righteous repentance where they admit wrongdoing and attempt in their own dead flesh to not do it again. As we know the repentance that leads to life is actually the repentance of their type of repentance. For someone to truly be LDS they must be baptised into the cult. It is a necessity. In Christianity baptismal regeneration is a heresy. They believe in apostolic succession. This is also a false teaching. We know there are no more Apostles in the same sense as the ones who were with the incarnate Christ and sent by Him to build the Church upon Him as the rock. We also know that the Holy Spirit indwells all regenerate believers.
5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
This also sounds good until you understand what they mean. Their god can call nobody, because he doesn’t exist. Their god is a fictional character imagined by Joseph Smith. The only people who can be leaders in their cult are those who have been approved by the men who have already been firmly entrenched into their cult.
6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
Smith uses the phrase, “so forth” without being specific about other offices they affirm. It is almost as if he was just too lazy and didn’t want to look into it. Again he is using words that are in the Bible and redefining them. One who is sent with a message is an apostle according to the Bible in a sense all Christians are apostles. We are not Apostles in the sense of, “The Apostles.” A person who declares the reality of what God says as actual truth is a Prophet. Prophets who declared portions of God’s word that had not occurred yet are not predicting the future like a fortune teller. If God says something is going to happen it has already happened we just haven’t gotten that far down the timeline yet. Modern Prophets are just reading the Bible out loud. We have the complete word of God given to us in the Bible, there is no more to come. Jesus perfectly fulfilled the role of Prophet, as He is the Word made flesh.
7 We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
Of course they affirm all sorts of extra-biblical revelation. It is the only way they can justify believing the lies of Joseph Smith and all of the other false prophets of their faith.
8 We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
Here is the kicker. It seems fine, and you might even agree that the Bible does need to be translated correctly, but that is not how they use this. Whenever you bring up a conflict between what the false doctrines of the LDS are and show them the Bible they default to this article. “Oh the Bible has been corrupted here and it wasn’t properly translated.” They, like so many cults and satan in Genesis call people to doubt the word of God. Satan tempted Eve by telling her God’s word is not true and that she could become like God. It is interesting that the LDS say the same thing satan said. Genesis 3:1-7 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.’” The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.”
9 We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
The LDS are continuationists in the extreme sense. They don’t just believe in continued miracle healings like our charismatic brother, but exceed that of acceptable doctrine by preaching extra-biblical revelations and more revealed truths that supercede and abrogate the word of God that we have.
10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
That’s right, you read it correctly, Joseph Smith wrote there were only 10 tribes. What happened to the other 2? They believe that there were 10 lost Hebrew tribes that fled to America in antiquity. They also believe that ‘Merica! is going to be where the New Jerusalem will be… Come on? Really? I know, I know, it baffles the mind, but this is what they believe. When you are a false prophet you can say just about anything even stuff that is flat out fiction.
11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
This is a pretty relativistic statement in practice. It sounds innocuous enough to be non-threatening, but if they truly believe this why do they send out missionaries?
12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
Interesting that there is no clause to disobey the government when it is compelling the people to disobey God. The Bible is pretty clear that we stop obeying the government when it tells us to disobey God. Like their 11th article it is a product of the time. During this period in American history mormons were seen as a dangerous cult. They were forced out of cities and towns as they followed their outlaw leaders who were horse thieves, and crooks. They were not well liked or respected due to their insane beliefs and practices.
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith attempts to tie it all up here and put a pretty spin on things, but let’s see what they really pursued, polygamy, false prophecies that never came true, false prophets whose prophecies they built their faith on, immoral ceremonial practices, oh oh and, “So forth” (I’m kidding, I won’t do to you what Joseph Smith did to you) works righteousness in a graceless man-centered system, they have believed the lie instead of the truth, a false jesus who is a creation and can not save from sin, and a god who is not eternal.
Richard Baxter, “The Reformed Pastor” Chapter 2, Section 2, #13, “With earnest desires and expectations of success.”
13. If you would prosper in your work, be sure to keep up earnest desires and expectations of success. If your hearts be not set on the end of your labors, and you long not to see the conversion and edification of your hearers, and do not study and preach in hope, you are not likely to see much success. As it is a sign of a false, self–seeking heart, that can be content to be still doing, and yet see no fruit of his labor; so I have observed that God seldom blesses any man’s work so much as his, whose heart is set upon the success of it. Let it be the property of a Judas to have more regard to the bag than to his work, and not to care much for what they pretend to care; and to think, if they have their salaries, and the love and commendations of their people, they have enough to satisfy them: but, let all who preach for Christ and men’s salvation, be unsatisfied until they have the thing they preach for. He never had the right ends of a preacher, who is indifferent whether he obtain them, and is not grieved when he misses them, and rejoiced when he can see the desired issue. When a man does only study what to say, and how, with commendation, to spend the hour, and looks no more after it, unless it be to know what people think of his abilities, and thus holds on from year to year, I must needs think that this man does preach for himself, and not for Christ, even when he preaches Christ, how excellency whatever he may seem to do it. No wise or charitable physician is content to be always giving physic, and to see no amendment among his patients, but to have them all die upon his hands. Nor will any wise and honest schoolmaster be content to be still teaching, though his scholars profit not by his instructions, but both of them would rather be weary of the employment.
I know that a faithful minister may have comfort when he wants success; and “though Israel be not gathered, our reward is with the Lord (Isa. 49:5);” and our acceptance is not according to the fruit, but according to our labor: but then, he who longs not for the success of his labors can have none of this comfort, because he was not a faithful laborer. What I say is only for them that are set upon the end, and grieved if they miss it. Nor is this the full comfort that we must desire, but only such a part as may quiet us, though we miss the rest. What if God will accept a physician, though the patient die? He must, notwithstanding that, work in compassion, and long for a better issue, and be sorry if he miss it. For it is not merely our own reward that we labor for, but other men’s salvation. I confess, for my part, I marvel at some ancient reverend men, that have lived twenty, thirty, or forty years with an unprofitable people, among whom they have scarcely been able to discern any fruits of their labors, how they can, with so much patience, continue among them. Were it my case, though I dare not leave the vineyard, nor quit my calling, yet I should suspect that it was God’s will I should go somewhere else, and another come in my place that might be fitter for them; and I should not be easily satisfied to spend my days in such a manner.
The Puritan, Richard Baxter Was Blunt, and Correct. Chapter 1, Section 2, Subsection 8, from the Book, “The Reformed Pastor.”
The success of your labours materially depends on your taking heed to yourselves. pg 80
(3) Do you think it is a likely thing, that he will fight against Satan with all his might, who is himself a servant to Satan? Will he do any great harm to the kingdom of the devil, who is himself a member and a subject of that kingdom? Will he be true to Christ who is in covenant with his enemy? Now, this is the case of all unsanctified men, of whatever rank or profession they be. They are the servants of Satan, and the subjects of his kingdom; it is he that rules in their hearts; and are they like to be true to Christ that are ruled by the devil? What prince will choose the friends and servants of his enemy to lead his armies in war against him?
This is it that has made so many preachers of the gospel to be enemies to the work of the gospel which they preach. No wonder if such deride the holy obedience of the faithful; and if while they take on them to preach a holy life, they cast reproaches, on them that practice it! O how many such traitors have been in the Church of Christ in all ages, who have done more against him, under his colors, than they could have done in the open field! They speak well of Christ and of godliness in the general, and yet slyly do what they can to bring them into disgrace, and make men believe that those who set themselves to seek God with all their hearts are a company of enthusiasts or hypocrites. And when they cannot for shame speak that way in the pulpit, they will do it in private among their acquaintance. Alas! how many such wolves have been set over the sheep! If there was a traitor among the twelve in Christ’s family, no wonder if there be many now. It cannot be expected that a slave of Satan, “whose god is his belly, and who minds earthly things,” should be any better than “an enemy to the cross of Christ (Php_3:18).” What though he live civilly, and preach plausibly, and maintain outwardly a profession of religion? He may be as fast in the devil’s snares, by worldliness, pride, a secret distaste of diligent godliness, or by an unsound heart that is not rooted in the faith, nor unreservedly devoted to Christ, as others are by drunkenness, uncleanness, and similar disgraceful sins. Publicans and harlots do sooner enter heaven than Pharisees, because they are sooner convinced of their sin and misery (Mat_21:31).
And, though many of these men may seem excellent preachers, and may cry down sin as loudly as others, yet it is all but an affected fervency, and too commonly but a mere useless bawling; for he who cherishes sin in his own heart does never fall upon it in good earnest in others. I know, indeed, that a wicked man may be more willing of the reformation of others than of his own, and hence may show a kind of earnestness in dissuading them from their evil ways; because he can preach against sin at an easier rate than he can forsake it, and another man’s reformation may consist with his own enjoyment of his lusts. And, therefore, many a wicked minister or parent may be earnest with their people or children to amend, because they lose not their own sinful profits or pleasures by another’s reformation, nor does it call them to that self–denial which their own does. But yet for all this, there is none of that zeal, resolution, and diligence, which are found in all that are true to Christ. They set not against sin as the enemy of Christ, and as that which endangers their people’s souls. A traitorous commander, that shoots nothing against the enemy but powder, may cause his guns to make as great a sound or report as those that are loaded with bullets; but he does no hurt to the enemy. So one of these men may speak as loudly, and mouth it with an affected fervency, but he seldom does any great execution against sin and Satan.
No man can fight well, but where he hates, or is very angry; much less against them whom he loves, and loves above all. Every unrenewed man is so far from hating sin to purpose, that it is his dearest treasure. Hence you may see, that an unsanctified man, who loves the enemy, is very unfit to be a leader in Christ’s army; and to draw others to renounce the world and the flesh, seeing he cleaves to them himself as his chief good.
A Review of Randy Alcorn’s, “If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil” This Should be Required Reading for all Apologetics Classes.
Randy Alcorn’s treatment of the doctrine of theodicy is the, “go to” book on the topic. It is suitable for the neophyte and mature Christian both. If you have ever asked yourself the question, “If God is Good why does He allow bad things to happen to good people?” Or if anyone has ever asked you that question, this book will aid you greatly in giving an answer. I was briefly exposed to this area of Christian theology shortly before providentially finding out about this book. I was blessed by it and I believe you will be to.
Randy writes this book with a Pastor’s heart. He understands that people reading this book are going to be from a wide and varied background with all kinds of questions and hurts. If you have lost a child, been struck with a terminal illness, seen horrific violence, or ever wondered how an omnipotent, benevolent being could allow these things, you can read the explanation that has been carefully crafted and laid out so as to heal and not hurt. I’ve never read such a thorough and gentile explanation that was also so blatantly honest. I’ve read very dry white papers that are accurate, but lack the heart of a Pastor. These works often enrage critics or those who doubt. I’ve also read other books that fail to answer the hard questions about God in light of suffering. The, “cotton candy theology” of men who only want to sell you a book or preach some false life enhancement Christianity only leaves us vulnerable when tribulations occur.
Randy includes real situations, with real people who have been through terrible things. He methodically and caringly explains theodicy so that it will be a comfort and easy to understand as well as explain. If you are an apologist, get this book and study it. They next time you run up against a flaming atheist making the accusation of, “I’d never believe in a god that would allow a baby to be murdered!” You’ll be able to give an answer. If you have a loved one who is going through difficult times, perhaps they have read books from those smiling self-help, guru, false preachers and have not been helped, but instead left doubting, GIVE THEM THIS BOOK! I can’t say enough good things about this book and how useful it is. I give it 5 starts, two thumbs up, and an emphatic Amen.
You can pick up a copy from Christianbook.com or Amazon.com.
ISBN-13: 9781601425799
Snyder's Soapbox 