2012: the first months.

I’ve clearly done very little blogging in recent months. My four blogs on this account have been neglected for some time, partly due to access difficulties. But I’ve also been very quiet on my new wordpress blog. Most entries there have been short.


This year hasn’t had the best start. So far there’s been my father in law’s death, followed by my newly widowed mum-in-law being evacuated from approaching flood waters. In addition to those major events there were quite a few smaller scale difficulties that I would have liked to avoid.

But despite the clear negative aspects to all of these events, we not only survived them, we found ourselves encouraged and uplifted.

I know my wife would have been an emotional wreck if she had lost one of her parents several years ago, so something has clearly changed. She was able not only to cope with her own grief; she supported her mum through the funeral arrangements, the funeral itself and through her first two weeks without her husband.

She later wrote to several friends to tell her of her father’s death and detailed the reason for her strength. I hope to post part of that letter before too long sharing in her words the change that made the difference.

Clarification and free David Pawson mp3 sermons.

For some time now I've been unable to access the main page of my blog and can't add replies in the comment box.
In response to Kevin Jackson's comment related my last article I want to make it clear I was not referring to David Pawson. Not only did I keep the link to Pawson's ministry in the side bar, I've added another (thanks Kevin) through which ALL of Pawson's sermons are now available for free download.

Sad time.

How should we feel when a ministry that has played an important role in our life takes a wrong turn?

I am going through that kind of experience now, seeing a ministry that has had significant influence in my life and the lives of many others I know rapidly going downhill. I see there are several inter-related reasons, including:

1) a casual approach to prophecy and prophetic gifts,

2) a lack of discernment (or lack of care) regarding the sources of ideas being shared.

3) a refusal to be accountable,

4) a refusal to admit error when clear evidence is given.

On one hand the ministry has built a following and a reputation through its exposure of dangerous trends seducing the church – on the other hand it recommends resources (such as articles, which individually may be good in themselves) from people involved with those dangerous trends, without warning about the fact that other resources from the same source should be viewed with caution.

Sadly the ministry in question has been going backwards for some time and without humble repentance will head in one of two directions. Either the Lord in His mercy will shut it down completely, or it will push forward regardless and the Lord will take His hand away all together, allowing it to sink further into error.

I have now removed links to that ministry from this blog sidebar.

Choose Your Own Acronym...

2 interesting recordings


Discussion between Calvinist Tim Challies and Bruxy Cavey about the 5 points of Calvinism (TULIP) (45 mins)

http://www.themeetinghouse.ca/roundtable/2011-06-21-roundtable.mp3



Discussion between Bruxy Cavey and Tim Day about TULIP and an proposed “arminian” alternative. (1 hr 3 mins)

http://www.themeetinghouse.ca/roundtable/2011-07-20-roundtable.mp3


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Visit my new blog:  http://onesimusfiles.wordpress.com/

Some entries will be duplicated for a while until I get used to using the different wordpress format.
I'm still unable to access the main pages of blogs associated with blogger (blogspot) - so I'm unable to reply to comments, and I'm also unable to visit other "blogspot" blogs.

However I can still moderate comments so anything inappropriate can still be deleted.

Why I Believe the Bible

I've posted a recording on my new blog.
I listened to it this morning and thought it was worth sharing

http://onesimusfiles.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/why-i-choose-to-believe-the-bible/

Syncretism and sin.

Last week I was talking to my brother in law who is one of these laid-back people who thinks all religions are okay and ultimately lead to the creator and all problems are caused by those who insist that one particular "religion" is the truth.


He also has the answer to world peace - that if everyone put down their weapons and hatred as he has done, all war and conflict would end.

Unfortunately for his point of view, there are too many people of different “faiths” who (rightly) recognise that all religions can't be equally valid when there are so many blatant contradictions between them, and some of those people are all too willing to (wrongly) promote their cause with bullets and bombs.

As I once heard - all religions could be wrong - but it’s impossible for all religions to be right.

My brother in law’s attitude demonstrates the very nature of sin.

He may not be a murderer, a thief, a liar, a cheat etc. - but he HAS chosen his own way above God's ways.

Even if man could live a perfectly MORAL life - that life would still be sin-ridden if God was not given His rightful place within it.

New Blog

Because of continuing problems with access to this blog I am trying out something new on wordpress:

http://onesimusfiles.wordpress.com/

I'm not sure how it will go. I'm still trying to work it all out.

Computer problems

I've been having trouble accessing my blogs over the last few days. I can get to the dashboard area but I can't view the main blog pages.

I know very little about computer things so don't know how to resolve the situation. At the moment I'm playing around with a new wordpress blog - trying to find out how it all works and trying to get the kind of "look" I'm happy with.

I'd hate to leave blogger completely. I've found it easy to use and it has suited my blogging needs so far, but I'll have to wait and see how things work out.

Repent, While There is Still Time by Rick Frueh

excerpt:

… the outward signs and manifestations of a religion that says it is Christian but reveals everything to the contrary, are all around us. In fact, if you cannot see the open disfigurement of the faith once delivered to the saints you are deceived as well. And these are not minor disagreements that are more fringe than core. These modern displays tear at the very fabric of what Jesus came to do and what the church is ordained to do and be. Again I say that the situation is so horrifying and treacherous, that in good conscience most of the evangelical religious expressions can no longer be called Christian.

Full article here
http://judahslion.blogspot.com/2012/01/repent-while-there-is-still-time-i-can.html#links



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Discernment Ministry?

Today there are many websites claiming to be involved with “discernment ministry”. Their main objective seems to be the exposure of error. Some of these sites offer a valuable resource, informing readers of dangerous teachings and practices that are gaining acceptance in the church.

However some can’t seem to understand the difference between penetrating darkness with light and the mere highlighting of darkness. Those sites seem to be mostly interested in posting criticism and accusation with no balance of encouragement or genuine concern. How often do they pray for those they “expose”? Are they concerned for them or do they merely take delight in writing about dark things?

I recently visited one site and left an encouraging comment for the site owner giving the following advice:

“While it is good to warn about the things that are wrong, be aware that discernment is perhaps more about highlighting what is RIGHT.
It is LIGHT that penetrates the darkness. It is not enough to merely say how dark it is.”

That comment was answered with an accusation that I had “severe NAR* influences in [my] camp”. What was that accusation was based on? The fact that I link to the websites of Andrew Strom and Voice of the Martyrs in the sidebar of this blog (both guilty of false teaching in the view of the “discerning” website owner). However there was no evidence that they had bothered to read further on my blog to see what I personally believed.

When referring to a “discernment ministry”, may I suggest that we assess where their priorities lie? Do they show concern for those in error? What is the standard by which they determine who is in error? Do they go beyond the exposé and ultimately point people to the truth? What is the site's theological bias and how does that affect their understanding of error?


*NAR, New Apostolic Reformation, associated with C Peter Wagner - a group whose teachings, philosophies and practices I categorically reject.

Seeking and Finding.

1 Chronicles 28:9
"..the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."

Proverbs 8:17
"I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me."

Matt 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Acts 17:26-28

"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him,"

The "Diabolical" Gospel I believe...

This will be the last post I make to this blog for 2011. I’ll be away over the Christmas/New Year break. Unfortunately it ends on a sad note. Yesterday a comment was left on my blog that I found quite disturbing – making me wonder what some people actually think the gospel is about.

The anonymous commenter quoted something I’d said earlier:

Many make the error of thinking that all sin, past present and future is already dealt with, that it no longer matters.
Through the new birth we are given new, clean start in life, however we are not given immunity from the effects and penalty of future sin.
We are given a new clean start, and then by His Spirit we are given the means by which we are able to continue living a clean life as long as we walk according to His Spirit
And praise God He did not stop there - He made provision for additional cleansing (through confession) if we fall back into sin.

The commenter considers this to be a “diabolical appraisal of what ... constitutes salvation ”.

So:

Is it diabolical to consider that sin still matters to God?

Is it diabolical to see that God gives us a new and clean start to life through the new birth?

Is it diabolical to recognise that we are not immune to sin and its effects and that if we continue in sin there is a penalty to pay?

Is it diabolical to see that God has given His Holy Spirit to equip us to live a clean life as long as we walk in the Spirit?

Is it diabolical to see that God continues to forgive and cleanse us from sin and its effects when we confess our sin?

Again I really wonder what “gospel” some people are following.

Thank God for HIS truth and thank God for the gift of His Son and the salvation available only through Him.

What will you make of Christmas?

This is what we can MAKE Christmas be about despite all of the negative things associated with its pagan origins.

False Christ

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.

At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear ...

Matthew 24

SOS: Security Of Salvation

A topic that often leads to arguments is the idea of OSAS (once saved always saved). It’s an idea that many passionately defend while others are equally passionate to refute.

Unfortunately many are introduced to Jesus through a “gospel” of easy believism and when we add OSAS to that mix a foundation of false security can be created.

While many adherents to the OSAS are NOT victims of easy believism, I think it is wise to recognise that easy believism more often than not promotes OSAS as part of its salvation package.

Could it be time become clearer on this issue to help break the false security that comes with a diluted gospel?
I propose a new outlook: IHAS or "In Him Assuredly Saved". While not quite as catchy as OSAS, I think it better portrays the reality.

We should be clear that we don't obtain guaranteed eternal salvation by saying a "sinner's prayer", or by inviting Jesus into our heart - and then going back to old ways and never giving Jesus another thought.

The security of salvation is found in Him and only in Him.
As we remain in Him our salvation is assured.

Can Good Fruit Come From Bad Seed?

Just a little (very quick) research I did as part of a discussion on a Christian forum. Chiropractic seems to have become one of those widely accepted therapeutic practices that even Christians have no problem with.
But should we so easily accept its legitimacy and submit ourselves to it? I first had concerns about this in the mid-80s when I become interested in the widening influence of new age thought within the church.

In general reading about alternative therapies compatible with the “new age movement” I came across information about the origins of chiropractic.
I no longer have that 25 year old reference material, but in response to the forum discussion I took a look at Wikipedia and found the following information.

Daniel David Palmer or D.D. Palmer (March 7, 1845 – October 20, 1913) was the founder of chiropractic. Palmer was born in Pickering, near Toronto, Canada. While working as a magnetic healer in Davenport, Iowa, United States he encountered a janitor, Harvey Lillard, whose hearing was impaired. It was reported Palmer successfully restored the man's hearing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_David_Palmer

Palmer founded a school based on his work that would become the Palmer School of Chiropractic in 1897. He regarded chiropractic as partly religious in nature. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_David_Palmer

D.D. Palmer was a man with subjective and personal religious beliefs. As an active spiritist, he said he "received chiropractic from the other world" from a deceased medical physician named Dr. Jim Atkinson. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_David_Palmer#Palmer.27s_fundamental_idea

D.D. Palmer founded chiropractic in the 1890s, and his son B.J. Palmer helped to expand it in the early 20th century. It has two main groups: "straights", now the minority, emphasize vitalism, innate intelligence and spinal adjustments, and consider vertebral subluxations to be the cause of all disease; "mixers", the majority, are more open to mainstream views and conventional medical techniques, such as exercise, massage, and ice therapy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiropractic

Vitalism has a long history in medical philosophies: most traditional healing practices posited that disease results from some imbalance in the vital energies that distinguish living from non-living matter. In the Western tradition founded by Hippocrates, these vital forces were associated with the four temperaments and humours; Eastern traditions posited similar forces such as qi and prana. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitalism

Many involved with present day chiropractic try to distance themselves from the origins of their practice. But can anything good emerge from such a false foundation?  Can good fruit be produced by bad seed?

The divine "Mr Potato Head"?

I often wonder whether people are really interested in the truth about God. It seems we would rather create our own God with a form and nature that WE find suitable.

It makes me think about Mr Potato Head, a plastic toy with interchangeable parts that can be used to create a “person” with facial characteristics of our own choosing.

Instead of selecting from a choice of different facial features, we can choose from a selection of scripture verses to build our own preferred image of God. But just like the toys, we don’t need to stick with the basic package of original parts. We are also offered supplementary features through countless extra-biblical texts and teachings. There are accessories we can add to “improve” our chosen Divine image – until all authenticity has been either replaced or obscured.

Maybe we would benefit significantly from time spent reassessing our motives and desires. Do we genuinely want GOD’s Truth; do we want GOD as HE really is? – Or do we want to follow a "plastic" God we have created for ourselves?

It’s (Past) Time for a Charismatic Reformation, by Lee Grady.

There are some good points made in this article:

http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/32228-its-past-time-for-a-charismatic-reformation

Regarding recent events I’d like to highlight part of Grady's 14th point:

“Hold the prophets accountable. Those who refuse to take responsibility for inaccurate statements should not be given platforms.”

So many times people accept no accountability when words of "prophecy" fail. They do their best to sweep the failure under the carpet and hope it goes away without being noticed so they can move onto the next "prophetic" claim.


If it doesn't go away, all kinds of excuses will be made - or clarifications given - to explain why the word actually did come true (even if evidence shows otherwise) or why the outcome of the word was averted through intercession - and we could probably add a variety of other ways the prophet tries to cover their tracks.

How many prophecies of significant events have been made that have been proven to be false when the event did not happen? Have those "prophets" shown contrition and demonstrated repentance?

Or have they tried some way of justifying themselves and their predictions?



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Thoughts on How God's Judgement is Working Today.

Does God judge nations and cities through sending disaster as was recently [falsely] predicted for Christchurch?

In scripture he tended to leave nations alone UNLESS they mistreated Israel*. I see the same thing indicated in end time prophecy. It is mistreatment of His people (church and Israel) that brings about His end time outpouring of wrath.

Romans 1 and 2 give a graphic view of how God judges sin in the present day. He gives people over to their sin so they "stor[e] up wrath ...for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgement will be revealed."

That is a very sobering passage of scripture as well as enlightening regarding the nature of God's judgement today (more subtle than blasting cities).

Those He loves He chastens - how tragic for those He ceases chastening and hands over to the "sinful desires of their heart". THAT is the most terrible judgement we could receive prior to that day of His wrath.

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* Israel has a unique position, being the only nation with whom God made a covenant with promises of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience.
Blessing and cursing of other nations was stated as being conditional upon their treatment of the nation God promised from among Abraham's descendants. (Gen 12)

Prophetic or Pathetic Ministry?

An article by Fred London:

So many of our prophetic words, dreams and visions are delivered with impunity, sort of "hit and run" tactics, with no sense of responsibility to the word or the people to which it is directed.. This lack of personal accountability to these “words” gives rise to ministerial malpractice. This ever- growing phenomenon must be called to account and be addressed for the sake of discernment and accurately knowing the Mind of Christ. With the myriads of prophetic words, dreams and visions posted on various websites, it is high time to examine these so-called “prophetic words” which are quickly compiling a track record of being scripturally unsound, or a “one size fits all” form of soothsaying, rarely coming to pass. “For God is not a God of confusion,” offering scores of contradictory “words,” heavy on power and blessing, and lacking in “Christ and Him crucified.”

Employing the Old Testament criteria for judging true prophets and their words would result in greatly reducing all of this free-wheeling prophetic hype we are currently being inundated with. In truth, it would almost be comical if it weren't so tragic. Not everyone who calls themselves a prophet, is a prophet. Based upon Scripture, it is therefore incumbent upon us to hold these messengers accountable and examine their words carefully, now more than ever. A line by line exhortation of Jeremiah 23 might work wonders in helping to eradicate the artificial and misappropriated prophetic words so commonplace in our day. It has become arguably a scourge of epidemic proportions, of the “prophetic word” made cheap. These things ought not to be.

Can the explanation for this ongoing “Mars Hill” prophetic circus, which continues to grow in popularity, be attributable to a true lack of the fear of God, an over active sense of self-importance or need to garner attention, and a lack of discernment by many who receive these words? Is it worth the risk of being found naked before God and men? You be the judge! Sooner or later, someone in the crowd will speak up and declare what should have been obvious to the multitude. “The king isn’t wearing any clothes!” Going along with the crowd in order to gain tacit approval or knuckling under to peer pressure simply will not fly. There is no escaping personal responsibility as it always comes down to, “Who do YOU say that I am?”

Here is an analogy. Terrorists are cowards at heart; bomb throwers, who use hit and run tactics, who avoid facing their targets directly, do not discriminate between combatants and innocents, and don't consider themselves accountable for their actions. This is what much of the so-called “prophetic ministry” has become, in word and practice. But, it is even more than that. It is a character issue. It is an integrity issue. It is a heart issue. It is time to come to grips with this matter. It is time to clean house. It is time to repent. It is time to treat this ministry as holy before the Lord.

Are we jealous enough to desire to see the reality and purity of the Lord’s testimony? It would serve us well to be restored to a healthy fear lest we “speak that which the Lord has not spoken.” What would be the result? It is quite likely that today’s glut of “prophetic words” would be significantly reduced and its scarcity would once again cause it be restored to its rightful preciousness. What should it be worth to us? No less than everything!

Fred London