Sound Familiar?

Any of you, dear readers, who have done any kind of apologetics should get a laugh out of this video. Enjoy!

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Party Time

On April 12, 2009 Christians all around the world will be celebrating Easter. Together, as Christ's beloved bride, we will look to His victory procured for our sake. We are purchased at a great price. That cost bought us Christ's righteousness, we are robed in His righteousness, it is what God sees when He looks at us. We have great reasons to rejoice on April 12. Do so with joy!

Further reading on the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Early Creeds

How many times, dear Reader, have you run into Latter Day Saints, or Jehovah's Witnesses, who tell you they are Christians? Do you have the wherewithal to challenge their statements of belonging to Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity? Does your church recite any of the creeds?

Defining a Christian as someone who follows Christ, is not how a Christian has been historically defined. There are many cults, unbelievers, even Buddhists who will tell you they follow Christ. What they mean, of course, is they like their own personal view of Jesus. It does not necessarily mean they have ever darkened the door of a church; nor opened a bible to read it honestly.

The creeds are a source for understanding how to define "Christian". The creeds address such things as the Who is Jesus; the Trinity; the two natures of Christ. All of these things cults do not affirm.

As an American living in a post-Christian culture, it is important that Christians learn about our creeds again. We do ourselves a great disservice by ignoring the works of the saints that have gone before us. At one time, it was common knowledge as parishioners of all faiths were catechized. If your church does not catechize, suggest one; if one still does not happen find a catechism class to join just for your own edification. You don't have to leave your church, just study with someone who is willing and learned, and a good teacher of church history.

Dear Reader, I encourage you to read the early creeds, so that you also may defend your faith.

The Necessity of Apologetics

"The church doesn't need apologists," is a statement I hear on occasion. It is often followed with statements such as, "Christians only need to be aware of the Truth in order to defend it." It is a strange hermeneutic. Reformed tradition uses a historic hermeneutic: First, foremost, and final say is Holy Scripture; second is philosophy, as we have been given a mind we are to use it; third, scientific reason, as limited as it is; lastly, experience.

January 31, 2009 we attended an event at Westminster Presbyterian Church in San Jose, California. While this congregation struggles to teach its members the historic hermeneutic, they called in Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon to fly in from Philadelphia to speak for a little over one hour. The Saturday previous Pam Byers from Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco was a speaker at Westminster Presbyterian church. I was not in attendance to hear Ms. Byers' arguments.

Dr. Gagnon has done his homework on the issue of homosexuality and the Holy Scriptures. In his limited time at Westminster, he presented a very Biblical view. In his presentation, he used sources from outside Scripture. Even the self-labeled homosexual experts agreed with the Biblical assessment of homosexuality presented by Dr. Gagnon. Included in his evidence were also original source writings from ancient Greek and Roman writers and philosophers that do away with those who have not yet caught up with academia in their stance on this topic within the PC(USA).

I witnessed a proper use of Biblical knowledge and study; philisophical sources; scientific; and experience. It was all packaged in a truncated version of Dr. Gagnon's four hour presentation. Apologists and apologetics are needed within the body of Christ; they help us identify the antiChrists amongst us.

Freedom!

For Freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5

The yoke of slavery is The Law. Christians are no longer under that yoke. We have been set free in Christ. All of our sins, past, present, and future, have been forgiven. Do we really believe that?

Many are quick to quote the law to us, when we admit to our falling into sin; they then become an accuser of the brethren, and judaizers. They have just perverted the Gospel.

Receive the forgiveness already paid for you by our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves you.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ~ Ephesians 1

Living as a Moderate Calvinist

Finding myself in the orthodoxy of moderate Calvinism, I seem to run into predominantly hyper Calvinists online. What I have noticed is that they are so driven by theology and logic, that there is no room for mystery in God. God gives us what we need to know for our salvation. He does not tell us everything about Himself.

Today, it was hinted by two such Hyper Calvinists that I am an Arminian because I believe God has two wills; a secret will and a revealed will. His revealed will is what is revealed through His Word; the secret will is not shown to us. If that is Arminian theology I stand in good company: Jonathan Edwards; John MacArthur; Robert Gonzalez; Iain Murray; Thomas Watson; Andrew Gray; George Whitfield; Charles Spurgeon; and many others.

These hyper Calvinists look up to former saints like Charles Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers. I wonder if they have read what Mr. Spurgeon spoke from the pulpit on God's two wills? Here is part of Mr. Spurgeon's sermon called "Sovereign Grace and Man's Responsibility" based on Romans 10:20-21:

'I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. But to Israel he saith, all day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.'

"Lost sinners who sit under the sound of the gospel are not lost for the want of the most affectionate invitation. God says he stretches out his hands... What did He wish them to come for? Why, to be saved! 'No,' says one, 'it was for temporal mercies.' Not so, my friend; the verse before is concerning spiritual mercies, and so is this one, for they refer to the same thing. Now, was God sincere in his offer? God forgive the man who dares to say He was not. God is undoubtedly sincere in every act He did. He sent his prophets, He entreated the people of Israel to lay hold on spiritual things, but they would not, and though he stretched out his hands all the day long, yet they were a 'disobedient and gainsaying people' and would not have His love."

He Reigns

When one looks at the news on television, in the newspaper, on various and sundry blogs, there seems to be a lot of reasons for worry. The stock market, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sharia Law gaining more ground, U.S. Presidential elections, and persecution of fellow Christians; all look scary to us. We may lose lots of money, we may be embroiled in more wars, we may find ourselves being dominated by Islam. Are these things worthy of our worry?

As believers we can rest in the peace we have with God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. God is sovereign and He rules providentially. Rest and trust in Him.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4


Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5

The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all. ~ Psalm 103

The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. ~ Proverbs 21