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Nazarene Scholars Continue To Undermine Belief In God’s Word With Evolution’s Lie

Bob Snyder4 Comments

Former Nazarene's avatarFormer Nazarene

“Theistic evolution is a concept being taught in many “evangelical” seminaries and colleges today. It is an idea that comes straight from the pit of hell. To believe that human evolution is true is to say that the Bible contains lies and myths, and that Adam and Eve were allegorical figures. If you teach and promote theistic evolution, you are calling God a liar. There is no middle ground here.”

This is my first article in almost two months, but I’m afraid things are just as bad as it was since my last post; the status quo in most of the evangelical denominations has not changed; and the Nazarene church is still in bad shape, notwithstanding any rosy reports from the General Superintendents or other leadership. Compromise seems to be the underlying principal for these religious leaders for quite some time now. Independent thought and true leadership is a thing…

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Thoughts on Facebook Criticism of Tony Miano being physically attacked

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SLIMJIM's avatarThe Domain for Truth

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In my book Tony Miano is one of the better Open Air Preachers out there.  In some ways, he is refreshing to hear especially with his desire to be Biblical and his love for the local church.  Apparently a few days ago while he was in Canada he was physically assaulted during one of his open air preaching campaign as the picture indicate (Source of photo).

His facebook page has many comments with some supporting Miano while some were critical of Tony Miano’s method of evangelism.  While I think there is room for one to ask how one might engage differently in Tony’s situation, it is hard not to notice a much larger theological problem among some criticizing Miano.  I spent a significant amount of time yesterday responding to some of these comments.

Some objections seem to forget who is the victim and who is the one who inflicted harm; my response…

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This Book isn’t really about, “How to Pick Up a Stripper and Other Acts of Kindness” is it?
Book Reviews

This Book isn’t really about, “How to Pick Up a Stripper and Other Acts of Kindness” is it?

Bob Snyder1 Comment

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To answer the question, no this book isn’t really about picking up strippers.  It is about a Pastor (Todd Stevens) and his Church’s efforts to perform outreach ministry to all the people in his area no matter who they are with no strings attached.  He focuses on what we might commonly refer to as friendship evangelism or, “loving them into the kingdom.”  This focus is seemingly exclusive in regards to other forms of evangelism.

The title of the book is misleading, but you have to ask, “If you are a Christian, why are you buying a book about picking up strippers and then are disappointed when you find out it isn’t really?”  It is a title that requires a second glance when browsing Christian titles.  The book is definitely not about picking up strippers.  It is however about outreach ministry and service to even the people you might look down on.

While reading this book I noticed that the author chose to quote heavily out of the, “Voice” version of the Bible.  This is a big red flag to anyone who is a serious student of the word.  It put my guard up immediately and caused me to be even more critical than I usually am.

Throughout the book Stevens is referencing things he and his Church have done and are doing.  I know this is to encourage people to do something, but it comes across as, “Blowing his own horn.”  “Look what I/we are doing!”  I am giving Stevens the benefit of the doubt.  Perhaps it is just because he is enthusiastic about what he is doing?

One of my concerns is that it took him about to the halfway mark before he had a clear gospel statement.  I am giving him the benefit of the doubt here as well.  Perhaps he assumes that the readers already know the gospel since they are buying a book about outreach.  On the other hand, it is a book about outreach.

I’m sensitive to the seeming discouragement of other types of evangelism because I do some of the other types of evangelism.  It is like Stevens precludes the appropriateness of other types of evangelism as unkind and harmful.  He discourages it.  Instead he teaches to do many and varied services and kind acts.  He claims that it is not very likely that a person will be able to have a relationship with someone they just encountered and shared the gospel with.  He hints that our motives are not loving or effective.  The last time I checked the gospel is the power unto salvation and salvation comes by hearing.  Salvation doesn’t come by having people give you stuff or by them being really super nice to you.  It is God who does the saving.  An angry man shouting the gospel from a soapbox does not save or condemn a person.  They are already under the condemnation of sin.  God’s gospel preached to the lost is what does the saving.  This is probably my strongest criticism of the book.  I can feel deeply for the person I’ve just met on the streets, or at work.  They can tell that I care and they continue to listen.  Even if they don’t respond in the affirmative I still keep in contact with them.  When they do respond in the affirmative we develop a disciple/mentor relationship.  I appreciate the outworking of love towards people, but his version seems to be a pragmatic formula for Church growth based on doing nice things to people.

Stevens never really makes it clear if his wife was providing meals in the strip club during the operating hours.  He talks about how his wife would bring catered meals and gifts in to the club.  I would hope that his wife and the other volunteer ladies would not be in the club during business hours.  Even women can have temptations to be avoided.  Again, let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they were there before and/or after business hours.

Stevens tells a story about the Roman Catholic nun, Mother Teresa.  In the story he makes it sound like she is a Christian or at least, worshipping the same God evangelicals worship.  This is a very troubling issue.  Mother Teresa was a self-admitted Universalist.  Universalism is a heresy.  These, in addition to other heresies of the Roman Catholic Church preclude them from being included as Christian.  Stevens including the story in the way that he did demonstrates an imprecise ecumenism.

There are superior books on outreach and evangelism.  This book might be helpful to the freshly born again to help them move the focus off of themselves and on to being Christ-like in their love, but it also might confuse them as well.  We don’t want people to become works based in their soteriology.  Keeping justification and sanctification clearly delineated will benefit the new believers.  Throughout the book I just got the feeling that if you don’t do it his way then you are mean and not showing the love of Jesus.  I doubt this is what Stevens intended.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers <http://booklookbloggers.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What does the Bible mean when it calls Jesus the Son of God?
Theology

What does the Bible mean when it calls Jesus the Son of God?

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

trinity-1

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, what does it all mean?  I had trouble with this when I was younger, but over the years good teachers and wiser men informed by God’s word have been able to help me.  I would like to help those of you who might be having some difficulties with the titles.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are titles of roles that each one of the personages of the trinity are.  Jesus isn’t literally the offspring produced by sexual copulation like the Mormons believe.  He isn’t a created being made from the essence of God or brought forth from it like the Arians believe. (Assemblies of Yahweh, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Mormons)  Jesus is co-eternal along with the other two personages of the trinity.  The title of, “Son” explains the eternal purpose of His role.  Jesus before His incarnation as the hypostatic union existed.  We know that everything was made by Him.  Before God made anything, He had a plan to save us from sin.  He had a plan to demonstrate His longsuffering and loving kindness.  We are part of that plan.  He, as the Son would provide our propitiation.  He as the Father would require it.  The Spirit would enable us to see and hear.  The Father is the ultimate authority.  His will is the will of the trinity.  The Son obeys the Fathers will and seeks to bring glory to the Father.  The Spirit is subordinate to the Son and the Father.  He glorifies the Son and enables us. This is not to say that He is literally a child of the Father.  He was not brought forth out of the essence of God as a lower god.  Jesus fulfills the role of the Son.  He is eternally the Son. 

Review of the Holman NKJV Large Print Compact Reference Bible
Bible Reviews

Review of the Holman NKJV Large Print Compact Reference Bible

Bob Snyder9 Comments

 

I received a copy of the Holman NKJV Large Print Compact Reference Bible in black bonded leather promptly after requesting it.

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The bonded leather is quite stiff.

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That is to be expected on a small Bible like this.  The Bible did not come in a box, but rather a card-paper sleeve.  The spine is gilded as well are the page edges.

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The cover is about six inches long, and four inches wide.

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It looks to be an inch thick.

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The older version of this that I have in the KJV was smyth-sewn, had decorative head and foot bands.  These are conspicuously missing in this newer iteration.

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Being made in China could account for the lower production quality.

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That isn’t to say that this isn’t a good value.  It appears that the binding is glued.  The Bible doesn’t as yet lay flat.  It might once it is broken in.  The inside is lined with black card-paper.

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This also makes the cover a bit more stiff.  This Bible has 8 point font for the text which makes it very easy on the eyes for such a compact and small Bible.

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It is very easy to hold and read.  For those of you who think the 8 pt font is too small, what are you doing getting a compact Bible anyways?  As with most compact Bibles the font is always going to border on the ridiculously small.  Again, at 8 pt. this is a great little Bible.  The paper is thick enough to endure use and not so transparent as to ghost horribly.

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The text is printed clearly and sharply.  The print quality is pretty good for an inexpensive, “take anywhere Bible.”  This little Bible has a concise concordance and eight maps in the back.

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This Bible does have a lifetime warranty.  Contrary to some descriptions this Bible does not include a reading plan.  I would recommend this Bible for anyone looking for an easy to transport and read Bible.

 

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/104300587445797986685/albums/6031977939005781313

Church · Theology · Uncategorized

Joel Osteen, “WHERE’S THE GOSPEL?”

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Some of us are old enough to remember the funny Wendy’s commercial with the, “where’s the beef?” lady.

 

Just like how most fast food chains can leave you unsatisfied and wondering just, “Where is, the beef?”  The prosperity gospel and life enhancement version of Christianity leaves people unsatisfied and lacking the appropriate knowledge.  They are spiritually malnutritioned and existing as the walking dead.  They drone on through life never getting it.  One can only wonder how long people will continue to pay this man to hear his silky smooth distracting messages delivered through his 10,000 watt smile.

Many folks get angry when you mention any wrong doing of Joel and his ilk.  I have been surprised at how many Christian brothers and sisters have gotten down right perturbed at me for besmirching their golden cow.  Joel is not any better than any of us.  He certainly is not educated and rooted in the word, like many genuine theologians and Pastors.  Joel is firmly in the, “Word of Faith” movement.  He teaches that your words have power and if you have faith when you speak you can declare prosperity for yourself and God will provide it.  How messed up is that?  “Say, I think I’ll twist the arm of the sovereign Creator of everything into giving me a better house and car with my, “less than a mustard seed of faith.”  It is men like him who give good unsung Pastors a bad name.

Think about all of the times you have listened to him on television or the books of his you have read.  Can you recall anything that he has done that looks anything like, “You were once a vile sinner.  You were under the condemnation of sin.  You were going to be cast into Hell for eternity, but you repented of your sins and believed in the atoning work of Christ Jesus on the cross.  He paid the price of your sin debt.  He satisfied the justice of God through His propitiation.  Now go and be holy for God is holy.”

Joel isn’t a Pastor, he is a self-help guru with a Christianesque guile.  He is the burger with fillers and washed in ammonia.  He is not the real deal.  Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying he is not saved.  I don’t know that.  I am saying he isn’t qualified to be a Preacher of God’s word.  He is not a Preacher of the gospel.  He has this humungous platform to do something really great for the kingdom of God, but instead he backs away from boldly proclaiming the gospel and preaching the word.  Why is that?  What sort of Preacher does that?  I haven’t even really addressed his teachings here.  That wasn’t my goal for today.  I simply wanted to draw attention to the lack of good, God centered, gospel proclaiming, life giving, preaching of God’s word.  Now I declare, go read your Bible Joel and repent.  Use that television platform, and mega-church for the right use.

If you love Joel ask him to preach the gospel every Sunday.  Ask him for clear and correct teaching instead of the prosperity life enhancement fluff.  Who knows, maybe he’ll listen.

 

Apologetics · Church · marriage · Theology

United Methodist Church Violates Clear Biblical Truth!

Bob Snyder1 Comment

Frank Schaefer, right, speaks with Rev. Nancy Taylor, left, before a ceremony where Schaefer received an Open Door Award for his public advocacy, June 14, 2014.

Today the United Methodist Church “refrocked” the previously defrocked Pastor Frank Schaefer of Lebanon, Pa.  In 2007 he performed a marriage ceremony between his own son and his son’s homosexual partner in sin.  This action caused the United Methodist Church to revoke his ordination.  They didn’t do this for the right reasons though.  They did it because he violated a rule of the United Methodist Church instead of the fact that he violated and did violence to the word of God.

It was the work of a nine person appeals panel that reversed the decision.  Part of his ordination was vowing to uphold the United Methodists Book of Discipline.  When he performed the ceremony, he violated that vow, and that is why he was defrocked.  I would think the Bible trumps any denominational dogma, but who am I?  This kind of blatant disregard for Biblical truth and authority is shocking to those of us in the faith, but to the goats in the churches and the secular world they are pleased to hear Pastors say what Schaefer said, “Today’s decision by the committee is a hopeful sign for our LGBTQ community. They recognized that I was wrongfully punished for standing with those who are discriminated against.”  You see, to them this validates their position.  The more support they can garner from professing Christians just serves to prop up their platform built on sin and secularism.

We have the simple and easily comprehendible words of God in the Bible.  Therein He tells us that homosexuality is a sin, it is an abomination.  Don’t get me wrong, lying lips are also an abomination and warrant a person being sent to Hell for eternal torment.  We are no better than a homosexual person.  The problem is that people are lying to themselves and others when they say that homosexuality isn’t a sin.  How can a person truly repent of something when they believe it is good?  We know that to be saved and born again a person must repent and put their faith in Jesus.  Why would a person do this if they believe there is nothing wrong with them?  In this world of, “Barney Theology” where I love you and you love me everyone expects us to be a happy family, but this can never be done at the expense of Biblical truth.

Photo by Josh Reynolds/AP

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Sudan Christian Meriam Ibrahim ‘detained’ again: Call to Prayer and Action

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

SLIMJIM's avatarThe Domain for Truth

Meriam Ibrahim Prayer

The world has been hearing a lot of the Sudanese wife and mother Meriam Ibrahim who married an American Sudanese man and became a Christian.  The development in the news have been a roller coaster.

Because she became a Christian, the Sudanese government arrested her and found her guilty for her faith in Christ.  She was sentenced to be executed but since she was pregnant it was scheduled for a time after she gave birth.  Then there was the fake news that she was released followed by silence.  It turned out to be inaccurate.  It was then on the news that she was freed.  According to the BBC yesterday when Meriam and her family tried to escape to another country at the capital’s airport, her whole family was detained.

Let us pray for her and her family and also for the Persecuted Church in Sudan.

I think we should go…

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Apologetics · Church · Theology

The evils of unorthodox ecumenism.

Bob Snyder1 Comment

ec·u·me·nism  (ky-m-nzm, -ky-)

1. A movement promoting unity among Christian churches or denominations.

2. A movement promoting worldwide unity among religions through greater cooperation and improved understanding.

 

There is a proper ecumenism within the orthodox denominations and then there is the ecumenical movement which is not good.  It is one of unifying the body of Christ with false churches.  For instance Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists might get together to have a worship service including singing, praying, and communion.  They could do this because they worship the same God and agree who God is by affirming all of the same Primary Articles of Faith.  What it can’t be is orthodox denominations doing this with false churches that are apostate, or heretical and outside of orthodoxy.  For instance if we had Methodists, Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Mormons getting together to have a worship service including singing, praying, and communion.  This can not be due to the fact that the Roman Catholic Church and the LDS worship a different God than that of the Bible.  The RCC worships a god that does not save you by grace alone.  You must belong to the RCC, practice it’s sacraments, be baptized into it, and further they believe that Mary did not die but was ascended to heaven and is your co-redemtrix who brings your prayers to the feat of Christ and without her your prayers can not be heard and you can not be saved.  They also believe in an infusement of righteousness that you must maintain.  You get an initial washing and then must keep yourself saved.  This is not the same gospel nor the same God of the Bible.  The LDS believe in a god that is not the one and only god and that is not eternal.  Their god can not save you either.

 

Ecumenism is an important.  We must know what a true Church is and how we should interact with them and how we should interact with false churches.

 

Here is a good sermon from A.W. Tozer.  Even though he preached this years and years ago it is still relevant and informative.

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/visit.php?lid=298

 

 

 

www.GotQuestions.org
Question: “Is ecumenism biblical? Should a Christian be involved in the ecumenical movement?” Answer: Walter A. Elwell, in The Concise Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, defines ecumenism as “The organized attempt to bring about the cooperation and unity among Christians.” On an international level, the World Council of Churches represents ecumenism when it states its purpose this way (as taken from its website: http://www.wcc-coe.org): “The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches which confess the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Savior according to the scriptures, and therefore seek to fulfill together their common calling to the glory of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is a community of churches on the way to visible unity in one faith and one eucharistic fellowship, expressed in worship and in common life in Christ. It seeks to advance towards this unity, as Jesus prayed for his followers, ‘so that the world may believe’ (John 17:21).” On a national level, a document called Evangelicals and Catholics Together: The Christian Mission in the Third Millennium, published in 1994 and endorsed by some rather prominent representatives of Evangelical Christianity and Roman Catholicism, is another example of ecumenism. The important question is this: Are ecumenical ventures right and biblical? Should we be involved with other “Christians” in joint ventures, either locally, nationally or internationally? The answer to this question is not black and white. As is almost always the case, one must weigh out the answer in each situation specifically. However, there are a couple of biblical guidelines which will help us make God-honoring decisions regarding ecumenism. First of all, Are those we are joining with truly Christians in the biblical sense of the word? Many people and organizations in America and the world “name the Name of Jesus Christ” and even state He is Lord and Savior and yet clearly reject what the Bible says about Him. Obvious examples of this are Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses. They will say they are followers of Jesus Christ and are Christian and yet deny with vehemence what the Bible declares concerning Christ’s nature and work. A not-so-obvious example comes in the form of liberal Christianity. Liberal Christianity is found in almost every denomination in the United States and, although it may seem very Christian, usually liberal Christians reject several essential biblical truths such as the inspiration and authority of the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16), Jesus as the only Savior of the entire world (John 14:6, 1 Timothy 2:5), and salvation as God’s free gift to those who believe apart from good works (Romans 3:24, 28; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9). As seen with the publication of Evangelicals and Catholics Together, there is a major emphasis in our day on ecumenical unity among Evangelicals and Roman Catholics. Those who promote such unity state that both are Christian and both are viable, God-honoring systems of faith. But clearly the substantial differences between the two groups render ECT a ridiculous document. Biblical Christianity and Roman Catholicism are two different religions that practice and believe different things about how one is saved, the authority of the Bible, the priesthood of believers, the nature of man, the work of Christ on the cross, etc. The list of irreconcilable differences between what the Bible says and what the Roman Catholic Church says makes any joint mission between the two absolutely impossible. Those who deny this are not being true to what they say they believe, no matter which side they are on. Any Catholic who is serious about his faith will deny what a serious evangelical Christian believes and vice-versa. The difficulty with ecumenism is that often the above listed groups are passionately like-minded with biblical Christians regarding a given issue. Biblical Christians are usually marked by a strong pro-life belief, a strong traditional view of the family, a strong emphasis on compassion for the homeless and sick, and a strong desire to see justice in the world. The above groups are often marked by the same desires. Thus, the temptation to “pool resources” in pursuit of a common cause is sometimes great. This leads to the next guideline. Second, what is the ultimate goal of this ecumenical venture? The Scriptures give clear guidance as to how Bible-believing Christians are to live their lives. Colossians 3:17 states our purpose this way, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” Regarding our interactions with the lost, unbelieving world, Jesus states this in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Some familiar verses are Matthew 28:18-20, also known as the Great Commission, “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’” In summary, all that we do is to bring glory and honor to God. Regarding the lost of this world, Christians bring glory to God when God uses the believer to further His kingdom through evangelism and discipleship. This is to be the motivation of the Bible-believing Christian’s interaction with the world. Regarding ecumenical ventures, we need to ask ourselves whether or not these goals are being pursued. Often, in our day, the political and/or social desires of the participants are the driving motivators behind an ecumenical venture. A prime example of this is the current drive to pass a constitutional amendment declaring that the only marriage that will be recognized in the United States is the traditional, man/woman union. If our churches ecumenically join together in pursuit of this goal (passing out fliers, hosting a rally, etc), how are we striving for the above stated biblical purposes? Are we not simply striving for political and social achievement? How will the practicing, unbelieving homosexual view our Savior and Lord if all he sees in us is political activism and no compassion and no outreach? The ultimate goal of our actions should be the salvation of lost sinners, which we once were (Ephesians 2:1-3). The Bible tells us that the angels of heaven rejoice over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:10). There is no passage that declares that the angels rejoice when a law is passed. This applies to homosexuality, abortion, drug-abuse, etc. God is glorified when we demonstrate Christlikeness to the lost. As we contemplate ecumenical ventures within our society, we need to make sure the venture is one in which God’s kingdom is expanded through pursuing the lost with the gospel, be they practicing immorality, abortion-rights activists, homeless, drug-abusers, criminals, etc. In conclusion, should we be involved in ecumenical cooperation with other Christians and churches? If the above conditions are met in a God-honoring way, we may freely and joyfully join with other believers in pursuit of God’s kingdom. The ultimate goal is God’s glory and the evangelism and discipleship of the lost. The ecumenical venture must be structured in this way. Thus, those we join with must believe the biblical definition of the gospel and they must also be about seeking the same goal of God’s glory and the salvation of the lost.

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