I sent this email out to everyone in my contact list. Everyone with an US.ARMY.MIL email address was rejected. I suspect that is because of the reference to 'queer' in the subject line.
Therefore, I am posting it here as well.
This commentary is for adults only and is SHOCKING. The Nation's oldest military academy is hosting a 'queer' prom and condom Olympics for its cadets and students. No I am not making this up. Listen below.
God Doesn't Need an Infant to Die
I was listening to a Christian radio station trying to raise money for St. Jude Hospital (a worthy cause) and a dear mother, who evidently lost her child prematurely to a disease like cancer or something terminal, said, “I guess God needed my baby more than me.” While this statement may provide some modicum of comfort, it is completely theologically upside down.
God doesn’t need anything. Acts 17:25 makes it perfectly clear that God is the giver of all things and doesn’t need anything.
The very idea of a need implies a deficit or a lack of something. But this is impossible with God—for God is complete in all ways. He is never less or more of anything or anyone. He is the “I am that I am.” He is immutable—He cannot and does not change.
In Malachi 3:6 God states, “I am the Lord; I change not.”
He doesn’t need love; he doesn’t need fellowship; he doesn’t need another soul in heaven. Even when the premature death of a child is the will of God the taking of this life is not based on need.
He ordains all things for His divine will and pleasure. God declares the end from the beginning, but all this is never predicated upon a need.
In Isaiah 46:10, the prophet understands that God “declares the end from the beginning; and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
God doesn’t need anything. He is not lacking in anything and this is so important for several reason but one would be this. Consider how small of a god God would be if he needed an infant to die early to be more complete.
God doesn’t need anything. Acts 17:25 makes it perfectly clear that God is the giver of all things and doesn’t need anything.
The very idea of a need implies a deficit or a lack of something. But this is impossible with God—for God is complete in all ways. He is never less or more of anything or anyone. He is the “I am that I am.” He is immutable—He cannot and does not change.
In Malachi 3:6 God states, “I am the Lord; I change not.”
He doesn’t need love; he doesn’t need fellowship; he doesn’t need another soul in heaven. Even when the premature death of a child is the will of God the taking of this life is not based on need.
He ordains all things for His divine will and pleasure. God declares the end from the beginning, but all this is never predicated upon a need.
In Isaiah 46:10, the prophet understands that God “declares the end from the beginning; and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
God doesn’t need anything. He is not lacking in anything and this is so important for several reason but one would be this. Consider how small of a god God would be if he needed an infant to die early to be more complete.
The Potential Heresy of Sincere Works in the Standard Sinner's Prayer
Pastor Bill Sturm and I had a lively discussion this morning about the Sinner's Prayer. Join the discussion by listening to this audio recording and sending us an email at pastor@bereanbaptistchurch.org.
We will reply to your email and will discuss the issue further as needed based on response.
We will reply to your email and will discuss the issue further as needed based on response.
Age of Accountability
Is there a moment when humans become morally accountable before God for their individual and personal willful rebellion?
In what way does God hold all accountable for Adam's sin or does he?
Is there a God established age when humans become accountable? The short paragraph below this player attempts to succinctly describe Berean's pastors stand on this issue. In this audio recording Pastor Bill Sturm (http://billthereasoner.blogspot.com/) and I discuss these questions and many more.
Age of Accountability:
We deny that the Bible explicitly teaches a specific age of accountability for all. We do believe that Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2-3); that he was spiritually separated from God and experienced "death" in this regard (Gen 2:17); that the record of human history is that “in Adam all die” (Gen 5; 1 Cor 15:22); and that all men sinned in Adam (Rom 5:12-13).
Scripture shows Adam, the natural head of all sinful human beings, as the picture of Christ Who is the head of all who have believed on Christ for salvation (Rom 5:1; Rom 5:14-19). Consequently, just as those who wish to have Christ’s life must choose to “repent and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15), so also those who are doomed to Adam’s spiritual death (Gen 2:17) must first choose to disobey and thus become "morally accountable" (Deut 1:39; Isa 7:15-16; Jonah 4:11; Rom 2:15-16; Eph 2:1-3).
Moreover, when a person of any age becomes able to discern good from evil and subsequently rebels against God (as all in Adam do; Rom 5:12), they are, at that moment, morally accountable (Rom 6:23), spiritually dead (Gen 2:17; Rom 7:9; James 1:14-15), and "without excuse" (Rom 1:18-20). It is at this time that they become truly in need of faith in a Savior (1 Tim 4:10; Titus 2:11).
Both the sentence of Adam's sin and the righteousness of Christ's obedience are imputed (applied to the account of) to the morally accountable agents at the points of their initial "discernment of good and evil" and belief in Christ's redemptive work (the Gospel) respectively (John 3:18, 36).
In what way does God hold all accountable for Adam's sin or does he?
Is there a God established age when humans become accountable? The short paragraph below this player attempts to succinctly describe Berean's pastors stand on this issue. In this audio recording Pastor Bill Sturm (http://billthereasoner.blogspot.com/) and I discuss these questions and many more.
Age of Accountability:
We deny that the Bible explicitly teaches a specific age of accountability for all. We do believe that Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden (Gen 2-3); that he was spiritually separated from God and experienced "death" in this regard (Gen 2:17); that the record of human history is that “in Adam all die” (Gen 5; 1 Cor 15:22); and that all men sinned in Adam (Rom 5:12-13).
Scripture shows Adam, the natural head of all sinful human beings, as the picture of Christ Who is the head of all who have believed on Christ for salvation (Rom 5:1; Rom 5:14-19). Consequently, just as those who wish to have Christ’s life must choose to “repent and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15), so also those who are doomed to Adam’s spiritual death (Gen 2:17) must first choose to disobey and thus become "morally accountable" (Deut 1:39; Isa 7:15-16; Jonah 4:11; Rom 2:15-16; Eph 2:1-3).
Moreover, when a person of any age becomes able to discern good from evil and subsequently rebels against God (as all in Adam do; Rom 5:12), they are, at that moment, morally accountable (Rom 6:23), spiritually dead (Gen 2:17; Rom 7:9; James 1:14-15), and "without excuse" (Rom 1:18-20). It is at this time that they become truly in need of faith in a Savior (1 Tim 4:10; Titus 2:11).
Both the sentence of Adam's sin and the righteousness of Christ's obedience are imputed (applied to the account of) to the morally accountable agents at the points of their initial "discernment of good and evil" and belief in Christ's redemptive work (the Gospel) respectively (John 3:18, 36).
God's Glory and Pharaoh
Most people are troubled by the idea of God hardening Pharaoh’s heart toward a particular course of action, but normally console themselves with the idea that God only hardened Pharaoh’s heart after Pharaoh hardened his own heart first. But that isn’t the biblical record. In the narrative (Ex 4), God tells Moses that He will (future tense is implied) harden Pharaoh’s heart. This is before any of the plagues have been administered. This is before the first confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh had occurred. God was telling Moses what He would do and the reason He was going to do all this was to bring honor upon Himself.
Now that just makes us uncomfortable. Somehow we want to think ill of God if He does something for His own glory—but why? Whose glory should the sovereign of the Universe seek if not His Own?
Answer that and everything begins to make sense…
Now that just makes us uncomfortable. Somehow we want to think ill of God if He does something for His own glory—but why? Whose glory should the sovereign of the Universe seek if not His Own?
Answer that and everything begins to make sense…
Rick Warren Denies Chrislam Accusation
Rick Warren flatly denies that he believes Muslims and Christians worship the same God in this interview.
Ed Stetzer's Blog
So all this is very confusing.
The King's Way Document is the source of the confusion. Does anyone have a copy of it? Can you email it to me?
Why it took Rick and Saddleback 5 full days to respond to a story that ran on Sunday is quite confusing. Moreover, why Warren is referring to Muslims as friends?
The word 'friend' has such varying definitions and understanding.
These are Warren's word.
WARREN: Building a bridge has nothing to do with compromising your beliefs. It's all about your behavior and your attitude toward them. It's about genuinely loving people. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Before people ask "Is Jesus credible?" they want to know if you are credible. Before people trust Jesus they must trust you. You cannot enemies to Christ, only your friends. It's part of what Paul calls "the ministry of reconciliation." It is Christlike to treat people with dignity and listen to them with respect...
My Words:
I agree that it is Christlike to treat people with dignity and listen to them with respect...
I disagree with the statement "before people trust Jesus they must trust you."
Did the 3000 who were converted in Acts 2 all trust Peter first? Of course, not. They were convicted of their need for a Savior from God the Holy Spirit. Read John 3.
Did the Rich Young Ruler simply NOT trust Jesus as a person and as one who was credible--no he didn't want to give up his wealth to follow Jesus.
Salvation is not manipulated by becoming friends with someone.
Those are my thoughts--what are yours?
Read the article and make a comment!
Ed Stetzer's Blog
So all this is very confusing.
The King's Way Document is the source of the confusion. Does anyone have a copy of it? Can you email it to me?
Why it took Rick and Saddleback 5 full days to respond to a story that ran on Sunday is quite confusing. Moreover, why Warren is referring to Muslims as friends?
The word 'friend' has such varying definitions and understanding.
These are Warren's word.
WARREN: Building a bridge has nothing to do with compromising your beliefs. It's all about your behavior and your attitude toward them. It's about genuinely loving people. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Before people ask "Is Jesus credible?" they want to know if you are credible. Before people trust Jesus they must trust you. You cannot enemies to Christ, only your friends. It's part of what Paul calls "the ministry of reconciliation." It is Christlike to treat people with dignity and listen to them with respect...
My Words:
I agree that it is Christlike to treat people with dignity and listen to them with respect...
I disagree with the statement "before people trust Jesus they must trust you."
Did the 3000 who were converted in Acts 2 all trust Peter first? Of course, not. They were convicted of their need for a Savior from God the Holy Spirit. Read John 3.
Did the Rich Young Ruler simply NOT trust Jesus as a person and as one who was credible--no he didn't want to give up his wealth to follow Jesus.
Salvation is not manipulated by becoming friends with someone.
Those are my thoughts--what are yours?
Read the article and make a comment!
Life Seems So Unfair in So Many Ways
In one week a husband lost his mother and a wife lost her father. Wow. Life can be so harsh at times. The effects of the fall of man are overwhelming.
Not a single day has gone by since I heard that Brandon was gone that I have not thought of that precious boy and his glorious smile.
Baby Martin, infant son of Steven Lee, founder of Sermonaudio.com is struggling to hold onto life after only 20 plus days of living.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_news.asp?sourceid=leefamily
And just when the family thought they were out of the woods a set back send everyone into a tailspin.
The need for grace is seems greater everyday I live.
One family who so desires to adopt can't seem to make it work in spite of all their effort and another couple who has no problem creating children aborts a fetus because it is not the right gender.
The gospel is so necessary.
This week a young man, who professes Christ, seemed clueless as to the application of the gospel into every aspect of our lives. And I realized I have to help those who I shepherd see the gospel.
I agree with Paul that if in this life only we have hope we are of all men most miserable (1 Cor 15).
I find it amazing that the same chapter that describes the gospel is the same chapter that indicates without the gospel (and the hope it brings) we would be miserable.
I am ready for Christ to come.
Come Lord Jesus. Come Quickly.
Not a single day has gone by since I heard that Brandon was gone that I have not thought of that precious boy and his glorious smile.
Baby Martin, infant son of Steven Lee, founder of Sermonaudio.com is struggling to hold onto life after only 20 plus days of living.
http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_news.asp?sourceid=leefamily
And just when the family thought they were out of the woods a set back send everyone into a tailspin.
The need for grace is seems greater everyday I live.
One family who so desires to adopt can't seem to make it work in spite of all their effort and another couple who has no problem creating children aborts a fetus because it is not the right gender.
The gospel is so necessary.
This week a young man, who professes Christ, seemed clueless as to the application of the gospel into every aspect of our lives. And I realized I have to help those who I shepherd see the gospel.
I agree with Paul that if in this life only we have hope we are of all men most miserable (1 Cor 15).
I find it amazing that the same chapter that describes the gospel is the same chapter that indicates without the gospel (and the hope it brings) we would be miserable.
I am ready for Christ to come.
Come Lord Jesus. Come Quickly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)