An Examination of Biblical Precepts Involved in Issues at Hand |
Starting Over, The
First Message (Introduction to Ten Commandment Study)
Added Note: Romans 7:1-6.
Interesting Letter-Response.
(1st Commandment, 4 Commandment, YHWH
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Calvinism in China Today
Powerball Winner Says He's Cursed
The following is the first message used at "Providence Baptist Church" of Moorefield after our "commissioning" service. Our messages can now be heard/ downloaded at sermonaudio.com
Exodus 20
I want to start our "church" with the very basics of the Christian life. The first question of the catechism is:
1 Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. (1 Co 10:31, Ps 73:25,26)
My goal is to teach us how to glorify God by doing what is pleasing to him.
Lord willing, I plan to do a lengthy series on the Ten Commandments, and their practical application for our "age of grace." Sadly, every time I go over the lessons, I see more that we should cover. We will break from the study as the need arises. (These lessons will be posted at http://www.sermonaudio.com.)
Among other material, I have used two books. First, the best book on the subject of the Law in print today is R.J. Rushdoony's Institutes of Biblical Law. It is a massive work, and well worth the time to study it. If you are interested in any of Ross House Books, I can provide the book at a good discount.
Second, The Law Unsealed; or a practical Exposition on the Ten commandments, by James Durham. Published in 1802. With introductions by John Owen and William Jenkyn. Jenkyn dated his words 1765. It is interesting that Mr. Durham complains abut the decay of religion in his day. He points out that genuine religion changes the hearts and lives of men. Neither Mr. Jenkyn nor we see much of a change in the dress and actions of Christians today. The vast majority of Christians dress and act like the world around them.
We will read the 119th Psalm a portion at a time. I want you to see the joys and blessings of knowing and doing the pleasure of God as revealed in his Law-Word.
God's law, the Ten Commandments, was given by Divine Revelation. It is a treaty between God and man.
Let me open with the 5 general points as offered by R.J. Rushdoony:
1) Law always originates in religion. Law reflects what men believe is basically right and wrong in their societies. Law is religious. Law defines the morality, justice, &c., of any society. We see this fact in action withthe Muslim nations. Their definition of right and wrong are far from any Christian definition. The religion of humanism, man-centered, has replaced Christianity.
2) In any society, the source of law is the god of that society. When this nation saw the Commandments as the source of law, then God was our God. But now we are seeing the courts and both state and federal "lawmakers" claiming the power to make or break laws. Mr. Bush now claims the power to make and break laws, which is creating a conflict with Congress. They are both claiming to be god, and they look to the courts to determine which one will be god at any particular time. Thus, rather than Mr. Bush or Congress looking to Scripture to settle disputes, the "Supreme Court" made of 9 men has become the ultimate god of America
Then we have "democracy," in which the voice of the people is considered to be the proper law.
All of these efforts are attempts to overthrow our God, as the three branches of government each attempt to be the god of society. Psalms 2 describes the efforts of ungodly men.
Isaiah 33:22 For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.
James 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
3) Any change in the laws of a society is a change in religion. As we see our laws change from common law, Biblical Law, to man-centered, humanistic law, we are seeing a change in religion. Humanism is now the official religion of America, as it is of every nation in the world.
4) Religion cannot be removed from a society. Churches can be removed, but religion cannot. Every society has its idea of justice, and that idea will be determined by its religion, be it the Christian religion, Mohammedan religion, or humanistic religion.
We do not have to look far to see the state, the courts, the President and the Congress attacking the Biblical law system, as they rush headlong to remove all vestige of Christianity from our society. And sadly, the vast majority of Christians are supporting the enemy in that war. They join with the enemy by saying, "We are under Grace, not under Law."
My goal in my minute area of the world is to do what I can to call Christians back to obedience to God's Law, for only there can we have any hope of again having a Christian society.
5) There can be no toleration in any law system for another religion. Various churches of a particular religion can be tolerated. Example: American's religion is now humanism, so various man-centered churches can be tolerated, regardless of what name they go under — Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Church of Christ, &c. In fact, the state will even encourage and support these man-centered churches. But take a stand for Biblical law and truth and Christ, and see what happens.
Thus, the state cannot tolerate any other religion, or law system. To do so is to tolerate revolution, or the overthrow of the state.
This was the cause of the persecution of the early church.
Acts 17:7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
These early Christians were following the law as established by Moses and applied by Christ. Thus, they were followers of God as seen in King Jesus rather than recognizing the civil ruler as their god.
Rome saw the obedient Christians as changing Rome from its false gods to the One True God. Muslim nations are very harsh against Christians, for they know that obedient Christians will change their nations from Muslim to Christian.
In other words, having a Christian President will change nothing in America. But having obedient individual Christians who seek to please God will make this a Christian nation.
We see, therefore, that the laws of a society change with the faith of the society. If the faith is Christian, the laws will be Christian. However, if the faith is Humanistic, then the laws will be Humanistic, as we now have. The belief of the people will determine the laws instituted by the state. Hence, we see the importance of the government education systems in the state's war against Biblical Christianity. Through the education system, the state reeducates the young people contrary to Christianity. As the beliefs of the upcoming generation is molded by the ungodly education system into what pleases the ungodly, laws change to reflect that ungodly belief.
The change in the faith of this generation brought about by the education system is evident in situations such as the perception of Sodomy changing from wickedness to simply an "alternate lifestyle." Thanks to Christian support of Sodomy and Evolution through the state education system, both evils have gained a firm legal foothold. Even the government schools are now mandating sex education that presents Sodomy as not only an acceptable lifestyle, but at times as a preferred lifestyle. In the mean time, Christianity is expunged from the education system, with the support of the Christian community.
Because of the emphasis on Sodomite acceptance in the education system, no doubt the "Hate Crimes Prevention act of 2007" will be passed. The Christian Faith of the people has been effectively changed through the education system.
Criminalizing Christianity: Sweden's Hate Speech Law
by Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. August 4, 2004
"In Europe people are starting to be jailed for saying what they think." Those words were spoken by Vladimir Palko, the Slovak Interior Minister, in a strongly worded protest to the Swedish ambassador to Slovakia. The minister's comments represented outrage over the jailing of a Christian pastor for preaching against homosexuality. The arrest of this pastor in Sweden is only a foretaste of what is to come, if homosexual advocates and their ideology gain traction in the United States and other nations. ...
(http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/august2004/060804criminalizingchristianity.htm)
Christians are losing their jobs here in the US for speaking against Sodomy. How long before Pastors are jailed, and the man who served 30 days in Sweden? (See The New American, April 2, 2007.)
However, it was this nation's basis in Biblical Law that made possible our tremendous progress in industry and culture.
Note that "morality" teaching without the Christian God is money wasted (Don't tell Gothard):
$1bn ‘don't have sex' campaign a flop as research shows teenagers ignore lessons (http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2058066,00.html)
Christianity was tolerant of other religions, and look what happened. However, the wicked know better. Now that they are in power, they will not tolerate another religion.
Now, Paul tells us the purpose of the law — that is, the Ten Commandments.
Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
First, everyone is under the law, for the law applies to the whole world. (Isaiah 24:5.)
Second, the purpose of the law is to give the knowledge of sin.
The knowledge of sin comes from the law, for where there is no law, there is no sin and guilt before God, Romans 3:19. Furthermore, with no righteous standard (law), there is no need for the substitutionary payment of Christ to fulfill the requirements of the law. His death was to pay the penalty for failing the law's righteous requirements.
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
Third, it follows that the law will stop every mouth that seeks to justify itself.
We know who the Covenant-Law is given to by who is judged by its righteous standards. Isaiah 5:24, 25, tells us that Israel was devoured by her enemies because she ignored the law of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Fourth, the law makes the whole world guilty before God.
In Jeremiah 25:25-29, the Lord points to his judgment against his own people to prove that he will judge all the inhabitants of the whole earth according to his law. The Lord's judgment will go from nation to nation as a great whirlwind. Finally, in vv. 29, 32, the Lord calls for a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth.
In Jeremiah 11:2, we are told the reason for the curse against all mankind is because they have violated the law, the Ten Commandments (note v. 3, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant...).
All of Isaiah 24 describes God's judgment against the inhabitants of the earth, and the reason for that judgment, vs. 1-6. Vs. 5 & 21, give the reason for the whole earth, including pagans, being devoured: they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant... Note that the heathen are not judged because they are not of God's people, but because they have transgressed the laws of God (this does not contradict John 3:18, 36 in any way).
In Isaiah 13:1 - 23:8, the Lord makes it abundantly clear that every nation under the sun was/is included within the Covenant-Law of God. Isaiah 13:11 (And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible), is the Lord's promises to punish the world (marg. Bab. empire) for its evil, and the rest of the passage describes His punishment promised in v. 11 (see also Jeremiah 25:29ff, &c. V. 29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.).
In Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God, and Jeremiah 18:7-10, the Lord specifically says that any nation removing God's law from public policy will be destroyed (actually, they self-destruct, Jer 13:22, &c.). Hosea 13:9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
Jeremiah 50 tells us that God destroyed Babylon because she violated the Covenant-Law, sinned against the Lord. V. 14 Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.
The Lord clearly tells us that His curse is against all who violate His Covenant-Law. Not only is his curse against His people (Old Testament Israel and the New Testament Elect, Deut 28, 29), but God applies the curse to all nations of the world. Every nation that forgets God and breaks the Covenant-Law of His Ten Commandments will be judged accordingly as covenant breakers.
Malachi concludes the Old Testament by summing up the covenant relationship between the Creator and all of His creation. Moreover, Paul repeats Malachi's words in Romans 2:6-16.
Finally, Psalms 139 tells us that God's Covenant-Law reaches every atom of His creation. V. 7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
Consequently, the Covenant-Law covers all mankind, the inhabitants of the earth. Though man tries to hide in his religion, &c., he has no place to hide; no place to escape from God's Law of the Covenant, for it is as total as is God's creation, Isaiah 24:18. The wrath of God is upon the world today because it has forsaken His Law of the Covenant, viz. the Ten Commandments. (Look at the unusual weather!)
Fifth, the law proves all men's guilt before God, and shows their complete inability to live a righteous life, pleasing to God. Therefore, a proper understanding of the law not only shows us what pleases God, but it shows us the need for a mediator between God and man, which is Christ Jesus our Lord.
Paul tells us that the law of God is written in the heart of every man, though it is corrupted by sin. He also tells us that it is through the law that every mouth is stopped, and the whole world becomes guilty before God. Romans 3.
It is the law that shows us our need of God's mercy and grace, and of a Mediator, not only in salvation and redemption, but in our daily walk.
The obvious reason why so many preachers avoid the Commandments is because they do not want to make themselves and their people feel guilty. If there is a salvation message from the pulpit, it generally is based in working up the emotions rather than "painting" the sinner into a corner with the law of God, so that his only "escape" is through Christ.
After God spoke the Ten Commandments to the people at the Mount, they said,
Exodus 20:18 ¶ And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
These people saw a manifestation of the holiness and glory of God, and it frightened them. So they asked for a mediator, Moses. When we see the holiness, righteousness and glory of God, we also will realize the need of our mediator, Christ Jesus. Hebrews 12:18-26
Studying the law will enable us to see our condition, and see our need of Christ.
Legalism and Christian Liberty is covered in Chapters 19 and 21 of the London Baptist Confession. I dealt with these two chapters in a past Examiner.
Exodus is the central passage of the whole of Scripture. It is the summation of the will and holiness of God; it contains the law without which no man can know his mind nor his holiness. Without the Commandments, we cannot know the sinfulness of man nor the mercy and forgiveness of God through Jesus Christ. The Commandments reveal God's character, and tell us how to please God in his holiness. (Leviticus 20:7, 1 Peter 1:15, 16.)
Israel obviously had a limited knowledge of the law and the sacrifices before Exodus 20, but in Exodus 20, the Lord clearly reveals his holiness and will for man. The 10 commandments are properly called "The Ten Words" of God.
Conclusion: Without the law, there is no conviction of sin, for sin is the transgression of the law. And without the conviction of sin, there is no salvation. Thus, without the law, there is no need of the Redeemer. Is this not the reason so many professed Christians are not saved?
Until Christian parents deal with sin and get their children out of the government schools where their belief system is being changed, and pastors get back to teaching God's people God's laws and their practical applications, there is no hope of any kind of return to Christianity in society. The choice is ours: God's curse or God's blessings.
First, Paul tells us that the issue is the Law's dominion over an individual. That is, the Law has a legal claim over the individual's soul, which is death and hell, just as marriage gives the husband legal claim over his wife. Thus, if she would marry another while her husband is alive, she is an adulteress. (We will teach on the scriptural view of divorce sometime in the future.)
Second, if the husband dies, then the husband's claim over his wife is broken, and she can remarry without being an adulteress. Note that the law did not change. Rather, the woman's relationship to the law changed. She is now free from the law of adultery. However, she is not free from the law of fornication, or murder, or theft.
Third, the law is an indictment of death and hell against the unsaved. Redemptive faith in Christ frees us from that indictment of death. The believer is now dead in Christ to the indictment of sin, and is alive in Christ to walk in newness of life.
Fourth, as with the freedom of the widow from the law concerning adultery, the believer is now a "widow" from the law concerning death. We are now free to marry another, Jesus Christ, and the purpose is that we should bring forth fruit unto God. V. 4.
Fifth, we are not free from the law any more than the widow was freed from the law. The moral law did not die, freeing the widow from all responsibility. Rather, simply her relationship to the law changed. She changed from being a married woman under the adultery law, to being a widow free from the adultery law. Now she is free to be married to another, but she is not free to live with a man without marriage.
And thus with the believer. Through faith in the redemptive death and resurrection of Christ for our sins, we are free from the law of sin and death, and can now be married to another, Jesus Christ. The law is still binding, for it did not change. Rather, our relationship to the law changed to where we are no longer under its indictment of death. Instead, we are now under new life in Christ, so that we can serve him in newness of spirit.
Romans 8 continues the thought by telling us that the believer is free from the indictment of death under the law, and that the purpose of Christ's atoning work is to restore man to a position of law-keeping, or covenant-keeping instead of covenant-breaking. His work enables us to keep the law by freeing us from the law of sin and death that seeks to control our members.
What to do.... What to do....
by Nancy Levant
The stage has been set for Martial Law. Many Executive Orders have defined and guaranteed absolute dictatorial powers of Martial Law (refer to all orders gathered into Executive Order 12919). Practicing for this declaration has been an on-going process for several decades, with the paramilitary face in full view since 9-11. .....
http://www.newswithviews.com/Levant/nancy89.htm
Hello
In reference to the 10 commandment: Or why the world is in the mess it is in to day....
lst. commandment; No other Gods. Do you not worship other gods when you celebrate a pagan holiday, such as christmas, easter, haloween, and new years? Also when you call on the names of Jehovah and Jesus, Names made up in the 1600's instead of using his Hebrew name of YHWH????
4th. commandment, Are we not disobedent [sic] when we observe the 1st. day of the week), as the sabbath instead of the 7th.. sabbath changed in 310 AD by Constatine, and pope at that time
Are you not disobedient when you baptise according to catholic doctrine (425 AD) baptiseing in titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost instead of in the name of YAH AS yah-Shua commanded??? If the Son inherited his father's name, would they both have the same name, and not different names such as Jehovah and Jesus???
Did not YHWH promise a good government if we keep his commandments, and a bad government (such as we have today) if we don't keep his commandments and serve Him?? Obedience is better than sacrifice....
...
Pro.18:10 Malachi 3:16
Answer
April 4, 2007
Dear Mr. ...
I received your letter, reproduced above, some time ago, but our time restraint prohibited answering it until now. Though your concerns appear to be based upon what you have heard and not on your study, I will, regardless, address your points:
First, Christmas, &c.
Writing in 1675, James Durham tells us that at one time, exchanging gifts on New Years day was a common practice. It was a heathen custom, and dedicated to the devil-god, Janus. Christians who observed it were excommunicated. Law unsealed, p. 83, 84. During that time of history, the church declared a fast to be kept on New Years day to bewail the heathenish practices, and those practices included sports and lewd idolatrous practices.
(New Years day has been taken over by heathenish practices, particularly sports and drunkenness – football and partying. Thanksgiving, a religious holiday, has been changed into a day given to the pagan worship of sports.)
Halloween is as pagan as it can be. It is from Rome's attempt to "Christianize" a pagan holiday. However, the pagans paganized the Christians with their "holiday. We should celebrate "Reformation Day," as a religious holiday on October 31 in remembrance of the Reformation. "Reformation Day" is celebrated today particularly by Lutheran and Reformed church communities. It is a civic holiday in Slovenia (since the Reformation contributed to its cultural development profoundly, although Slovenians are mainly Roman Catholics) and in the German states of Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Thuringia.
If any day should be remembered by Christians, even above Christmas and "Easter," it should be Reformation Day, in remembrance of Martin Luther's October 31, 1517 posting of the 95 Theses on the Castle Church door at Wittenberg. That posting ushered in the modern age which we have enjoyed for 5 centuries, but is quickly coming to an end.
Christmas is certainly a pagan holiday, and even more pagan than when it started; we are nowhere asked to celebrate Christ's birth. No doubt, most Christians have been swept up in the pagan holidays of Christmas, Easter, Halloween and New Years Day.
Second, let me mention the facts concerning the name of Jesus:
"Names made up in the 1600's..."
Matthew 1:21, And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name JESUS, for he shall save his people from their sins. (1599 Geneva Bible. Copies of this new addition are available from us.)
Though the 1599 Geneva Bible shows the lack of knowledge of history, or even deceitfulness, of those who make the above claim, "made up in the 1600s," let me give some more facts about the name.
Jesus Christ
(Please note: I had to reformat my HD, and the fonts do not work properly, so I cannot reproduce the proper Greek and Hebrew words in my DTP program.)
(Ijhsou~v Cristo>v, Ijhou~v oJ Cristo>v; sometimes by Paul in the reverse order "Christ Jesus"), the ordinary designation of the incarnate Son of God and Savior of mankind. This double designation is not, like Simon Peter, John Mark, Joses Barnabas, composed of a name and a surname, but, like John the Baptist, Simon Magus, Bar-Jesus Elymas, of a proper name and an official title. JESUS was our Lord's proper name, just as Peter, James, and John were the proper names of three of his disciples. To distinguish our Lord from others bearing the name, he was termed Jesus of Nazareth (John 18:7, etc., strictly Jesus the Nazarene, Ijhsou~v oJ Nazwrai~ov), and Jesus the son of Joseph (John 6:42, etc.).
I. Import of the name. - There can be no doubt that Jesus is the Greek form of a Hebrew name, which had been borne by two illustrious individuals in former periods of the Jewish history - the successor of Moses and introducer of Israel into the promised land (Exodus 24:13), and the high priest who, along with Zerubbabel (Zechariah 3:1), took so active a part in the reestablishment of the civil and religious polity of the Jews on their return from the Babylonish captivity. Its original and full form is Jehoshua (Numbers 13:16). By contraction it became Joshua, or Jeshua; and when transferred into Greek, by taking the termination characteristic of that language, it assumed the form Jesus. It is thus that the names of the illustrious individuals referred to are uniformly written in the Sept., and the first of them is twice mentioned in the New Testament by this name (Acts 7:45; Heb. 4:8).
The original name of Joshua was Hoshea ([ve/h, saving), as appears in Numbers 13:8, 16, which was changed by Moses into Jehoshua ([ivu/hy], Jehovah is his salvation), as appears in Numbers 12:16; 1 Chronicles 7:27, being elsewhere Anglicized "Joshua." After the exile he is called by the abridged form of this name, Jeshua ([Wvye, id.), whence the Greek name Ijhsou~v, by which this is always represented in the Sept. This last Heb. form differs little from the abstract noun from the same root, h[;Wvy], yeshuah', deliverance, and seems to have been understood as equivalent in import (Matthew 1:22 comp. Ecclesiastes 46:1). The "name of Jesus" (Philippians 2:10) is not the name Jesus, but "the name above every name" (ver. 9); i.e. the supreme dignity and authority with which the Father has invested Jesus Christ as the reward of his disinterested exertions in the cause of the divine glory and human happiness; and the bowing ejn tw~| ojno>mati Ijhsou~ is obviously not an external mark of homage when the name Jesus is pronounced, but the inward sense of awe and submission to him who is raised to a station so exalted.
The conferring of this name on our Lord was not the result of accident, or of the ordinary course of things, but was the effect of a direct divine order (Luke 1:31; 2:21), as indicative of his saving function (Matthew 1:21). Like the other name Immanuel (q.v.), it does not necessarily import the divine character of the wearer. This, however, clearly results from the attributes given in the same connection, and is plainly taught in numerous passages (see especially Romans 1:3, 4; 9:5). for the import and application of the name CHRIST, SEE MESSIAH. (Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. By Rev. John McClintock and James Strong.)
Matthew 1:21, Thou shalt call his name Jesus. (kalesiev to onoma autou ihsoun). The rabbis named six whose names were given before birth: "Isaac, Ishmael, Moses, Solomon, Josiah, and the name of the Messiah, whom may the Holy One, blessed be His name, bring in our day." The angel puts it up to Joseph as the putative father to name the child. "Jesus is the same as Joshua, a contraction of Jehoshuah, {Nu 13:16 1Ch 7:27} signifying in Hebrew, `Jehovah is helper,' or `Help of Jehovah'" (Broadus). So Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua Heb 4:8. He is another Joshua to lead the true people of God into the Promised Land. The name itself was common enough as Josephus shows. Jehovah is Salvation as seen in Joshua for the Hebrews and in Jesus for all believers. "The meaning of the name, therefore, finds expression in the title Saviour applied to our Lord" {Lu 1:47 2:11 Joh 4:42} (Vincent). He will save (swsei) his people from their sins and so be their Saviour (swthr). He will be prophet, priest, and king, but "Saviour" sums it all up in one word. The explanation is carried out in the promise, "for he is the one who (autov) will save (swsei with a play on the name Jesus) his people from their sins." Paul will later explain that by the covenant people, the children of promise, God means the spiritual Israel, all who believe whether Jews or Gentiles. This wonderful word touches the very heart of the mission and message of the Messiah. Jesus himself will show that the kingdom of heaven includes all those and only those who have the reign of God in their hearts and lives. (Robertson's NT Word Pictures.)
Jesus is the Greek form of the Old Testament Joshua, or Jehoshua, Jehovah is his salvation. The name Jesus was no accident, but was the result of a direct diving order. See Matthew 1:21. Nor is his name, Jesus, a recent invention, but is actually from the time of Joshua.
His name JESUS. The name Jesus is the same as Saviour. It is derived from the verb signifying to save. In Hebrew it is the same as Joshua. In two places in the New Testament it is used where it means Joshua, the leader of the Jews into Canaan, and in our translation the name Joshua should have been retained, Ac 7:45 Heb 4:8. It was a very common name among the Jews. (Albert Barnes)
Third, "baptiseing in titles of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost instead of in the name of YAH AS yah-Shua commanded???"
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
All the nations (panta ta eynh). Not just the Jews scattered among the Gentiles, but the Gentiles themselves in every land. And not by making Jews of them, though this point is not made plain here. It will take time for the disciples to grow into this Magna Charta of the missionary propaganda. But here is the world program of the Risen Christ and it should not be forgotten by those who seek to foreshorten it all by saying that Jesus expected his second coming to be very soon, even within the lifetime of those who heard. He did promise to come, but he has never named the date. Meanwhile we are to be ready for his coming at any time and to look for it joyfully. But we are to leave that to the Father and push on the campaign for world conquest. This program includes making disciples or learners (mayhteusate) such as they were themselves. That means evangelism in the fullest sense and not merely revival meetings. Baptism in (eiv, not into) the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in the name of the Trinity. Objection is raised to this language in the mouth of Jesus as too theological and as not a genuine part of the Gospel of Matthew for the same reason. See Mt 11:27, where Jesus speaks of the Father and the Son as here. But it is all to no purpose. There is a chapter devoted to this subject in my The Christ of the Logia in which the genuineness of these words is proven. The name of Jesus is the essential part of it as is shown in the Acts. Triune immersion is not taught as the Greek Church holds and practices, baptism in the name of the Father, then of the Son, then of the Holy Spirit. The use of name (onoma) here is a common one in the Septuagint and the papyri for power or authority. For the use of eiv with onoma in the sense here employed, not meaning into, see Mt 10:41 cf. Mt 12:41). (Robertson's NT Word Pictures.)
II. He commands them to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: but among the Jews they baptized only in the name of Jesus; which we have observed before, from Ac 2:38,8:16,19:5. For this reason, that thus the baptizers might assert, and the baptized confess, Jesus to be the true Messias; which was chiefly controverted by the Jews.
III. Among the Jews, the controversy was about the true Messiah; among the Gentiles, about the true God; it was, therefore, proper among the Jews to baptize in the name of Jesus, that he might be vindicated to be the true Messias: among the Gentiles, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, that they might be hereby instructed in the doctrine of the true God. Hear this, O Arian and Socinian!
IV. The Jews baptized proselytes into the name of the Father, that is, into the profession of God, whom they called by the name of Father. The apostles baptize the Jews into the name of Jesus, the Son: and the Gentiles, into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Lightfoot works, vol. ii. p. 274.)
Thus, the Jews were baptized only in the name of Jesus, for they had to confess that Jesus was the true Messiah. However, the charge given in Matthew was to all nations, so Gentiles were baptized in the name of the Tri-Une God.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
No doubt, someone needed to instruct not only John, but Paul and Peter that the Father and the Son were the same person, for, according to some theologians, they had it all wrong as they identified more than one in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am certainly thankful that there are theologians who have obtained to a higher level than John, Paul and Peter. They probably should be busy editing Scripture to remove the references to the Tri-Une God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (See also, 1 Corinthians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2, Philippians 1:2, Colossians 1:2, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 1 Timothy 1:2, 2 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, Philemon 1:3, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Peter 1:2, 2 John 1:3.)
As for the Jewish/Hebrew Sabbath and the Christian Sabbath, see my booklet on The Fourth Commandment.
Obviously, the problem today is the theology that has removed the Commandments from the thoughts and actions of modern Christians. God has certainly given us "leaders" after the hearts of the people, and will continue to do so until hearts are turned back to him. Isaiah 24:2, Jeremiah 23:33. Though Deuteronomy 28 & 29 are being fulfilled right before our eyes, the vast majority of Christians refuse to acknowledge that God's hand is against our fluffy brand of Christianity.
By His Sovereign Grace Alone,
Pastor Ovid Need
Another Letter
Dear Brother Need,
Thank you for the DVD and your thoughtful note. The quotation from Robert E. Lee and your comments were timely for me. I finished reading "Death of the Church Victorious" last Lord's Day and appreciate what I learned from you through it. You and your loved ones remain in my daily prayers. Oh, I thoroughly appreciate the blessing that the Online Bible is for me. Now I am just creeping through the Bible, but with vastly improved understanding.
...that in all things He might have the preeminence.
Robert Gairing, Stevensville MI
The latest version of Online Bible available from us: $40 post paid.
Brother Need,
Thank you! for the Biblical Examiner. I have attached a little something to help you. Please read the attached foreword by .... What is your understanding of what it says? Will you please address this principle doctrine of "The Lordship/Headship of Christ over His church" in your paper.
I believe the restoration of Christ as the Lord/Head over His church, in practice, is the only thing that can and will save the reconstructed South and the reconstructed pulpits of the South and the reconstructed pastors/preaches of the South.
Thank you. Ken
My answer to him was that many of those promoting the "Lordship" of Christ over his church do not get past the "church/state entanglement." The problem is NOT that entanglement. Rather, the problem is the entanglement of the pastors and the people with the world. Far too often, my experience has been that those who preach the "Lordship" of Christ over the church do not preach the "Lordship" of Christ over themselves nor over the people of the church. They teach that the Old Testament law and its implications are not for God's people today. Or though they might not reject the Old Testament, they fail to teach God's laws and their implications to their people.
Dealing with the church/state entanglements will solve nothing if the Christian/world entanglement is not dealt with. The Word of God clearly states that the problem is that sin is not being defined to the people as a violation of God's law. The people are entangled with the world with lust, covetousness, pride, fraud, theft, lies, immodesty, hatred, bitterness, anger, backbiting, worshiping other gods (Molech worship, statist education), &c, and preachers are refusing to deal with those sins in terms of God's Commandments.
There can be no "reconstruction" in the pulpits without "reconstruction" in terms of God's law in the pews. See Isaiah 24:2, Hosea 4:9, 1 John 3:4.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Need,
I stumbled upon your web site while looking for "feminine clothing" and I think what you are offering to single Christians is wonderful. I don't agree with all of your view points, but that is not what I am writing about and I appreciate you reiterating the fact that that will not hinder using your service. I would like to consider recommending your matchmaking ministry to a dear friend of mine. I was wondering about how your ministry has grown. How do you get the word out? Approx. how many Christian male applicants do you have? My concern is just that this would be a profitable use of her time and money and getting her hopes up. I realize this would or would not be successful according to God's plan for her, but I want to be prudent in my recommendation, as well. On what basis would you turn down helping and applicant? I see great need in this area of Christian singles connecting. In our smaller-sized church in this post-Christian society, there are few if any young men suitable for her consideration. Thank your for your time and may God bless and guide you in your ministries.
In Christian love, Kim Witter
Dear Kim:
Thank you so much for the contact. The "marriage" situation among young people in small churches has been heavy on our minds, which was the reason for our attempting this ministry. Though we should advertise, we have been unable to determine where best to place our very limited funds, so "the word" has gotten out by word of mouth or folks finding the site as you did.
We turned down one young lady who seemed to be a strongly confirmed Roman Catholic, and another young man who, after we accepted his application, contacted us every few days with new requests for a prospective wife. His was a case where we felt he should have face to face contact with a prospective wife.
We have been involved in this ministry now for a couple of years. We have found, as your friend has, that fathers have failed and are failing to train their sons to be proper husbands and fathers. My growing up is a prime example of what we are finding.
My father, a lay pastor, worked in the building trades. He and his brother had a welding and fabricating business after the war and his brother got out of the Navy. My dad was a welder before everyone could weld, and, before and during the war, built the steel mills and oil refineries that are now being torn down, and sold to China for scrap. His goal for me was to follow him into the trades, which I wanted to do.
He made every effort at his disposal to teach my younger brother and me to work, including having to purchase our own school supplies from the time we were old enough to deliver papers. He had the money to purchase those things for us, but he wanted us to learn to work.
However, he never made any effort to tell instruct either my brother (14 months younger) or me in the importance of marriage and rearing a godly family. He did, however, stress to us the importance of having a good job, but the income was consumed upon my own lusts.
Here is what we have found as we have watched the situation closely:
First, sports has become the god of even the Christian community. Thus, many times fathers emphasize sports to their sons while the mothers emphasize Proverbs 31 to their daughters. The fathers are attempting to live their lives again through their sons??
Second, of course, the fathers' must work and earn a living for their families, so they emphasize a "good" [godless, we should say, for it is in the government education system] education for their sons, while the mothers emphasize Proverbs 31 to their daughters; this is in the families that want their daughters to fulfill their Biblical mandate as found Titus 2:5, which now seem few and far between. Sadly, few young women in our churches have been instructed in their Biblical role. Rather, they are being encouraged to get a good "secular" education, so they can enter the work force. Then they become "secular," that is, without God.
So, the problem goes both ways. We have encountered some young ladies who have also become so settled in their "careers" that though we give them a good contact, when things start to get serious, they back out.
Third, the sons get their education or move straight into their occupation, and now marriage is far from their thoughts. They enjoy the single life with no responsibility and enjoy having the money to pursue their desires. They have not been taught their responsibility to marry, and raise a godly family for the Lord with as many children as the Lord provides. Isaiah 58:2, 61:4.
Fourth, many times, Christian young men go to college to prepare for their life's work, while the godly young ladies stay home, training to be a Proverbs 31 wife, which college cannot provide. However, while at college, the young men are snared by the worldly, career minded young women who are looking for husbands. They meet Proverbs 2:16ff., Proverbs 5 women, even at "Christian" colleges, and they marry. The result is an abundance of home-trained Proverbs 31 women and no men to appreciate them.
Fifth, the young men get so settled in their "occupation" that marriage is far from their minds. They find their fulfillment in their occupations. Moreover, some have not the character to follow through on commitments, so they should be avoided.
Moreover, we have noticed a serious dearth of Christian young men who have been trained in the importance of marriage and rearing a godly family. Generally, they are self-centered, with no desire to have anyone interfere with their lives.
We do praise the Lord, however, that there are those who recognize the problem, including parents in the home education movement, and who have and are working to correct it. They are training up daughters to be Proverbs 31 wives, and sons who will be worthy of Proverbs 31 wives.
We are facing sad times, as the god of mammon or of sports has become the center of attention even in what should be considered sound, Bible believing churches.
Though we accept applications, it is the Lord who must bring the right ones in at the right time. We do return applications and funds to those whom we have had for over a year, and have done so in some cases.
May God in his mercy open the eyes of young men, and women, to the importance of a godly marriage and of raising a godly family.
This Examiner is quite late, for good reason. In fact, this may need to be the Spring and Summer issue. We will see how the Lord provides.
In March, we moved from Front Royal VA, to the Parker-Moorefield WV area, with the intent of starting a Baptist Church. With 3 other families and several single people, we have been meeting for a Saturday evening Bible Study since the first of the year. It was an hour over here from Front Royal, straight across US 55. We have moved into the Potomac River Valley, though we are on a mountain. I should say that we are in the Potomac River Watershed area.
We started Sunday morning meetings the first of April, and had our "commissioning" service Saturday evening, April 14th. Having had a burden for this area of WV, the pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Harrisonburg, Lloyd Sprinkle, encouraged us to start a work here. There are no Bible believing nor teaching churches in this vast area. The churches are Charismatic, have women pastors, run by women, and/or have accepted the "Gay Agenda."
At present, we are meeting in the home of one of the church members for the midweek Bible Study (moved from Saturday to mid-week), and in our home for the Sunday meeting, with a covered dish lunch and fellowship every other Sunday afternoon (except on special Sundays). When we have enough people to justify renting a location, we plan to meet in Moorefield WV, which is the largest community (county seat) in this area. (They actually have three gas stations, and two stop lights.)
Though our house is at 2141 North River Rd, Baker WV, 26801, the church address is Providence Baptist Church, PO Box 786, Moorefield WV, 26836. The Baker address will be for the Examiner, and for our personal address, while the Moorefield address will be for the church. The Baker PO is quite small, and I much rather use a small PO for the Examiner mailing. (The only thing in Baker is a medical clinic, volunteer fire department and a combination gas station, small convenience store, nice hunting supply store, all in one room, and the small PO attached to the building.)
Our house is at about 2800 feet elevation. After we moved in, every one who has come by has told us this is the coldest and windiest place in Hardy County, and the snow closes the road right in front of our hosue. We believe it. For about the first two weeks we were here, the wind was unbelievably strong, steady at about 40 mph, and gusting up to 60 mph, with the temperatures from 20-35 degrees. We heat with wood, and the wind created such a draft in the stove that we could not get the fire hot enough to allow the catalytic burner to work. The temperature in our mountain location is 5-10 degrees cooler than either Baker or Moorefield, which are both in valleys.
We are 9 miles West of Baker and 4 miles East of Moorefield, and 2 miles off of the new 4 lane "Robert Byrd Pork Project", Corridor "H", or the new US 55. There is a lot of discussion about how to connect the "Pork Project" with I 66, which will give a straight 90 minute shot into DC. This is MUCH closer to the DC fiat money machine than what I would like to be, but this is what the Lord opened for us. Though Corridor "H" is not yet connected to I 66, the plan is to do so, making this an escape route from DC (when the chickens come home to roost – that is, our stupid foreign policy finally drives our one time friends to repay us for all the "kindness" we have done for them).
I do not like the idea of moving out of VA and giving up the best address in the US, "Stonewall Jackson Hwy," but we did. However, this border county, Hardy County, has strong Southern feelings, so I guess we can tolerate it here.
This was written by a liberal from "Newsweek"
The right to bear arms means more than its literal words imply: it means a way of life and thinking, involving independence, protection of land, and suspicion of federal—or all government—authority. Virginia is as close to the ground zero of that thinking as there is. It's a way of life in Virginia, and much of America. And it isn't going to change anytime soon. ... (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18161645/site/newsweek/)
The deer are a major problem here. Unless one has a mean dog to keep them away, we hear that it is impossible to grow a garden or ornamental flowers and shrubs (there are a few exceptions with plants the deer will not bother). It is not uncommon to look out our front or back door and see a herd of many deer in an open field, all on "No Hunting" property. Wild turkeys are quite common here, as are foxes, coyotes and even black bears in some areas. (Progressive Insurance Company imported coyotes from the west here to reduce the deer population that is causing so many car-deer accidents. [One takes his life in his hands if he rides a motorcycle here after dark.] Typical government non-sense: Rather than lengthen the hunting season or allowing more killing by hunters, they bring in coyotes. How dumb can they be?)
Though the valleys around the rivers have some good land for farming, once you get out of the valleys, rocks take over, where the only thing that can be raised is cattle. (There seems to be just enough soil to hold the rocks together here at our house.) However, hardwood is abundant, and is harvested for firewood, decorative fence posts, and mulch. The mulch (and split firewood) is packaged, and shipped out by the semi load.
Large poultry houses are also very common, with Pilgrim's Pride the primary business. They have a very large processing house and a large poultry feed mill in Moorefield. There are also several cabinet factories, for the supply of hard wood is abundant.
I started a driving job of three days and two nights every other week which went to the Richmond, then to the Virginia Beach area, and then down into NC. It was three day and two nights on the road. Then on alternate weeks, the route was only two days, permitting me to be home every night. It was an excellent "part time" job that I enjoyed. However, on the trip of Feb 7-9, I began feeling stressed as I left Charlotte NC early on the 9th. The feeling is not unusual, but what was unusual was that it lasted. It was still with me when I got to Roanoke Va, so I returned to the VA Hospital south of Roanoke. They kept me there until I was able to take a stress test, the 14th. The stress test did not show up anything, so they discharged me.
Admittedly, I am paranoid since my first heart attack in October, `99. Counting that heart cath and the "roto rooter," I have had 4 heart caths (twice were for stents), and have been in the emergency room more than a few times for symptoms that amounted to nothing. Hard physical activity does not bother me. It was, evidently, the stress of the time table on the driving job, the stress of moving, and then the stress of a CMA meeting in Lynchburg VA the next day, Saturday.
This last diagnoses was simply "stress," so I changed some things. I was reminded once again that life is short, and can be over in an instant. Whatever time that is left must be invested where it will earn the best return for the Kingdom of God.
So, I had to quit that job. Moreover, moving from the Winchester area, I had to resign from all areas of responsibility with CMA, where I was the president of that forming CMA chapter.
We believe God wants us to work for Him in passing along the things Bettie and I have learned in the "School of Hard Knocks." He has opened a door of opportunity in the Parker-Moorefield area of WV. We will also do Bible conferences as Divine Providence permits.
We had a three day conference in Chicago with the pastor, Hector Crespo, who went with us to Peru as a translator. He had said that he wanted us to come up to his church for a meeting, and I told him, "Whenever he wanted." Well, the time came.
Though it was a 650 mile drive each way, it was a wonderful meeting, and well worth the effort. We enjoyed the people very much. It was a Mexican church, and the people were very nice. Pastor Crespo translated for the messages.
We were there for a wedding, and had the privilege of presenting the charge to the bride and groom. Their situation was typical of the Spanish Pastor Crespo is working among. The woman had 5 children by various men. She and the man had been living together. They both got saved, and Christ reformed their lives. Though none of the children belonged to the man, he was willing to take on the responsibility for them, and they were married. That was the second marriage with like circumstances within about a month for Bro. Hector.
The true gospel works reformation in lives nves of individuals. There will be no "reformation" in America without this kind of reformation in the churches.
How would you handle this?
A lady in the church got saved, and she and her boyfriend want to get married. They have a child together. However, the boyfriend, father of their child, is married, but his wife left him, and went back to Mexico with another man. If he cannot find his wife, how can he make things right with the woman he is now living with? How would you advise in the situation? Pray for Pastor Hector Crespo that he will have unusual wisdom from above as he faces such challenges.
Bro Hector's church has many instances of dramatic reformation in the lives of those who have trusted Christ under his ministry. God raises up men for their time and place, and we found Bro. Hector very well qualified for the work God has given him there in Chicago. He and his people were certainly an encouragement to us.
Seeing the power of the gospel at work in that Chicago Mexican community greatly encouraged us — their Romanist background gives them respect for the gospel, so they are easier to talk to than Americans. Moreover, when they respond to the gospel, they change accordingly. It was indeed a joy to be with him and his people. We look forward to the Lord permitting us to return.
We attended Bettie's 40th graduation reunion from a "Christian" college. We were both saddened at the total emphasis on young women being in a career, and the total ignoring of God's ordained place for women. Parents, do you want your daughters' faith in God's word and plan for their lives destroyed? Send them to a "Christian" college.
I also spoke at a Bible Conference in Sparta, NC, May 10-12. (I told the people here when we talked of forming a new work that I would want the freedom to speak elsewhere. They agreed, as long as I had someone to take the services.)
After my last message at Sparta, Joel Saripalli approached me. Bro Joel is a native of and is a missionary in India. About 20 years ago, he married a young lady from England whom he met in Bible college. They now have 4 sons. (See his article in this issue.)
His 71 year old father was saved in India under a Baptist Mid Missions missionary, received a Bible college education in the US, and returned to India as a missionary. Joel was saved about 25 years ago, and came to the US for his education. He graduated from a Baptist college in TX, and returned to India with his wife to work in his father's mission.
The Lord prospered Joel's work greatly. In his 16 years of missionary efforts in his native country, the Lord has used him to establish 15 churches in some of the most pagan areas in India where the gospel has never been spoken. The government forbids entrance into many of those areas because of the danger involved from the people. Those areas are not followers of any religion, except extremely dark spiritism. (Human sacrifice is still practiced by some.) The Lord has allowed him to establish 2 churches in those dark areas, which are now under the care of local pastors from those areas. He has trained 20 local men to pastor. The Lord also blessed him with a Christian TV ministry on a Hindu TV channel. (How the Lord supplied that ministry is an amazing story in itself.)
A few years ago, Joel came out of Dispensationalism and into Sovereign Grace. His departure from dispensationalism caused a "falling out" between them. This in turn caused his father to write Joel's supporting churches and sponsoring church. The result was his support being completely dorpped. I checked with the sending pastor, and he told me that though they loved the Saripalli family, they had to let him go because of his departure.
(Bro. Joel told us the story behind the hymn, "I have decided to follow Jesus." It was written by a very wealthy Indian prince. When he converted to Christianity, he was stripped of his wealth and "kicked" out of his home. As he walked away from the glorious palace that had been his, he did not look back.)
One of the issues that brought Joel out of dispensationalism was his questioning of the dispensational teaching of Matthew 24. What he had been taught just did not correspond with what he was reading from Scripture. That question about Matthew 24 led him to research the dating of the Book of the Revelation. In his research, he encountered my post at biblicalexaminer.org establishing the early dating of the book. When he read it, he expressed a desire to meet me, though he did not see how that might be possible.
After being ostracized by those holding the dispensational faith, he came to Sparta, knowing that was a non-dispensational meeting. Then he met me.
After he learned that we had started a new church in WV, he asked if we would consider being his sending, or sponsoring, church.
We invited him to introduce himself and his ministry May 20, 2007 to our small group. Our men decided that it would be a privilege to sponsor him and the ministry God has used him to establish in India.
He is an independent Baptist missionary, not under any board. But he also knows he cannot be independent from a local church. So, Providence Baptist Church of Mooresfield is now his sponsoring church.
My wife and I took him to Providence Baptist Church in Harrisonburg VA, and introduced him to Pastor Sprinkle. Bro. Sprinkle was impressed with the ministry God has raised up in India, just as we were. He let him speak and present his work Sunday night, May 20, 2007. After hearing what God is doing in India through Bro. Joel, the people of the church also became quite supportive of what God is doing there.
Bro. Joel must return to India, and renew his visa, this time for a year. Since "9-11" the restrictions on visas, particularly for a man like Bro. Joel, have increased dramatically. (But the requirements are looser for illegals – a free-pass for them.) Bro. Sprinkle, whose church has existed for 45 years, is helping him in that very restrictive area. Bro. Joel wants to return to the US with his family for a year, taking them with him as he seeks support for this unusual Indian ministry God has raised up. An Indian converted under his ministry in 1995 in India was transferred to DC by his job. Bro. Joel contacted and visited him, and hopes to settle in the area while here. The DC Indian community, which is quite large, has asked Bro. Joel to organize a church for them while he is here. It would be associated with The Providence Baptist Church of Moorefield. Bro. Joel's goal is to raise support, so he can return to India.
Bro. Joel's article is in this issue of the Examiner. (We put it off until we could get this article.) Please read it, and seriously pray about and consider supporting him. As many of you know, Sovereign Grace (defined as Reformed and Calvinistic) ministries are few and far between even here in the States, let alone on the mission field. If you are Sovereign Grace, or if you would simply like to see the gospel preached in India, please consider this ministry. As you will see in his article, you will get more missionary "bang for the buck" than any other endeavor I know of through.
We have posted his explanation of the ministry he did here and the message he preached at sermonaudio.com.
He can be contacted, and supported, through us. Let me urge you to contact and encourage him: joelsaripalli@msn.com.
When we started the WV church, I told the folks I would like to attend "Ministry Opportunities" – speaking engagements and events like Rolling Thunder. They agreed, as long as I had someone to take the services. Bro. Joel, who was still in DC, took the May 28 service, so Christina and I rode to Rolling Thunder. The event started 20 years ago in memory of Viet Nam POWs & MIAs. The "powers that be" do not like to be reminded that they abandoned many thousands of GI's in Viet Nam, but Rolling Thunder is hard to ignore. However, they do mannage to ignore its call for accountability.
The ministry opportunities are astounding. There were in excess of 400,000 bikes there, and most had 2 passengers. (It looked like a "Harley" event, but wasn't.) We formed up in the Pentagon parking lots. After riding to Warrenton, VA the day before, and spending the night with Karl and Patsie Heltibridle (Northern Virginia CMA [Christian Motorcyclist Association] representative), we arrived at the Pentagon parking lot at 5:30 AM to set up the CMA "control center." The parade started at noon. (DC blocks off Constitution Ave and around to the Viet Nam "Wall." Thousands of spectators turn out to watch the better than four hour long parade of motorcycles.) Various CMA chapters from NC and VA set up tents for appropriate ministries, such as water, coffee, snacks, women's ministries, first-aid, prayer, &c. Here is a "captive" audience that starts coming in at 5:30 AM to when the last bikes pull out for the parade, about 4:00 PM. Tens of thousands of tracts were passed out, multitude of prayers offered at the request of "bikers," first-aid for heat exhaustion offered, and the name of Christ constantly kept before the riders. (Hundereds of CMA "colors" were visible throughout the crowd — yellow rockers with "Christian Motorcyclist Association" & "Riding for the Son" printed in them.) Because of the aid CMA gives at events like this, it is very well known and respected among "bikers." It is not uncommon for event organizers to request CMA presence at their events. In fact, Rolling Thunder requested the Northern Virginia CMA chapter to meet with them to plan how to best serve the needs of the hundreds of thousands of "bikers" who would be there. It was certainly an unusual ministry opportunity to the "biker" community, although Rolling Thunder is not a "biker" event. It is a POW/MIA memorial event.
What little time we might have left must be used to further the Kingdom of God, and try to better equip his people for the work of the ministry.
I still keep up the photo image business (ww2color.com) as well as the Examiner and writing, for I can do these from home at my leisure, where the only stress of deadlines are those I place on myself. (Though we are quite distant from any community, we do have DSL, provided by our small co-op telecommunications company. Much faster than dial-up, it is slow by broadband standards, 435 kbps.)
There are so many opportunities for the Kingdom Work, and the time is so short. We must examine our priorities to please our Lord.
Please pray with us that He will supply our needs. We are starting out debt free, and by his grace will remain that way. Pray with us that Divine Providence will place us in contact with the right people, people who want to learn and do the Word of God.
If you would like to help support our efforts in establishing a work in this area, gifts can be sent to the Providence Baptist Church address in Moorefield. Correspondence about or for Bro Joel Saripalli can be sent to us, as well as support. (His e mail, joelsaripalli@msn.com) He has a 10 minute video that is played on the computer if you are interested.
We are digitizing about everything we do here, and uploading the messages to sermonaudio.com. <http://www.sermonaudio.com/providence>You can find them there.
Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
I have put together two new booklets: "The Fourth Commandment", and "Arminianism vs Calvinism." A lady in my SS class in Linden ask about the difference between Calvinism and Arminianism, so I did some research. Of course, I am known as the "Overkill Kid," but it is difficult to overkill when dealing with Scripture. I give people more than they want, but I don't see how I can do any less.
Here is an e mail I received. I sent him the proof he asked for by posting the "Arminianism" booklet on the web. He has refused to answer though I asked him several times what he did with the proof.
Dear Sirs,
From reading your web site it appears you need help in understanding The Bible! Who taught Calvinism before Calvin? NO ONE! If I am wrong send me the proof. Polycarp and the early church did not. You are following a man who had a fellow Christian burned at the stake, this is a historical fact. I know you think you are right and you may even be saved. But if you trust anything other than the Blood Of Christ to get you to heaven you will not make it. No offence intended only trying to help.
Tony Montgomery
I am not trying to convince him, nor anyone for that matter, to become a "Calvinist." It is the Lord who must teach each of us the things he would have us know and follow. However, from his failure to respond, he implies he is only repeating what others have said, and he is not willing to think for himself. "My mind is made up (for me by others), so don't confuse me with the facts."
Someone from the mailing list challenged me on The Fourth Commandment, telling me I was not right with God for not meeting on the true Sabbath, so I did the other small booklet.
Another challenged me on the name of Jesus. Evidently, he was "Christian Identity." His letter and my answer are included in this mailing.
Another man I met quoted Scripture to prove his "new" point, and loudly condemned others who did not "believe the Scriptures" as he did. But when I pointed out to him that Scripture required a hard money economy, he violently disagreed, saying that a paper economy, as we have now, is better.
We live in a strange "Christian" world. No wonder the Evolutionists, and pagans, are taking over public policy. We rebuke the evolutionists for ignoring the many facts that support Biblical Creation, yet "Christians" ignore facts also when those facts go contrary to what they are determined to believe. What we want to believe will determine what we believe. Our rejection of the truth has brought God's judgment upon us, as we are getting exactly what we are asking for — judgment.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. And John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Rejecting the truth of thy word must result in bondage. Obviously, the freedom spoken of there is the freedom from the bondage of sin. But Biblical history shows that rejection of the truth also results in physical bondage. God has raised up some men who have enjoyed and continue to enjoy placing us in bondage.
Pastor Ovid Need
Providence Baptist Church.
PO Box 786, Moorefield WV
I Told You So
May 21, 2007
I told you so. The two Republican debates (MSNBC and FOX [Faux] News) and the fallout proves my point exactly. It is truly remarkable to see the vicious attacks against Congressman Ron Paul by his own party. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, an apparent relative of Elmer Fudd, stated the day after the FOX {Faux} debate that Ron Paul not only shouldn't be allowed to participate in future debates, but he shouldn't be allowed in the GOP!...... http://www.newswithviews.com/Devvy/kidd272.htm
by Devvy
The Ron Paul Rebellion
This is not simply a clash between "left" and "right," or between "liberal" and "conservative." We may be approaching a major dust-up between those who want freedom and those who want power, between those who believe society must be aggressively centralized and those who wish to see power dispersed. We may see a struggle between those who want policies that allow the common man to live as he sees fit if he isn't bothering anyone else, and a cadre of oligarchs who view the world as theirs, and who see themselves as unaccountable. The Republican National Committee......
http://www.newswithviews.com/Yates/steven26.htm
by Professor Steven Yates
Mental Health, Education & Social Control, Part 34
There was also almost $27 million for suicide prevention including mental health screenings under TeenScreen, a program which I have previously mentioned has serious problems. TeenScreen was developed by Columbia University and is promoted by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI). One of TeenScreen's main problems is that it has an 84% false identification rate. So why is it pushed so vigorously by NAMI? It's because of the tremendous amount of money given NAMI by Big Pharma, with Eli Lilly contributing $2.87 million...... http://www.newswithviews.com/Cuddy/dennis101.htm
by Dennis Cuddy, Ph.D
Last Stand for American Sovereignty
Those concerned about our national sovereignty had better figure out a way to get some media attention on this subject rather quickly because we are losing our sovereignty on many fronts. From the North American Union to the Law of the Sea Treaty to the illegal alien amnesty bill, America as we know it is fading fast. The sad irony is that all of this is happening under the auspices of a supposed conservative Republican President...... http://www.newswithviews.com/Kincaid/cliff152.htm
by Cliff Kincaid
You Can & Will Stop America's Suicide
McCain and Kennedy gave us the 1986 amnesty. Kennedy said in 1986, "This amnesty will give citizenship to only 1.3 million illegal aliens. We will secure the borders henceforth. We will never again bring forth an amnesty bill like this." It turned out to be 3.4 million. He did nothing to protect our borders. Again in 2007, Kennedy and McCain commit the same treason against our country again...... http://www.newswithviews.com/Wooldridge/frosty260.htm
by Frosty Wooldridge
Missionary Joel Saripalli
May 21, 2007
Dear Bro. Ovid Need
Greetings to you and your church in the Most Beloved Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was a blessing indeed for me to get acquainted with you during the Conference in Sparta. It was the first time I attended the Conference. I came from India on the 21st of March 2007. By God's grace, there are a few men in our ministry who are taking care of the churches in my absence. My wife and children are still in India, presently.
Due to the sudden fallout of the dispensational churches that had thus far supported our work, I had to come to the U.S. abruptly in order to see if any other churches or pastors who were like-minded would be willing to associate themselves and succor our ongoing work in India. Thus, when I found out that there was a Conference being held in Sparta, I prayerfully planned to attend it, looking to God that He would open new doors for us, for vain is the help of man. And I believe that it was by His grace, I was allowed to meet you and share the burden with you.
There is only one word that describes who and what I am today – GRACE. I Corinthians 15:10. Let me briefly recap my testimony. In a land that is as Pagan as it can get, I was born into a Christian family by the Grace of God. I think about 4 generations ago, during the British Rule in India, my forefathers converted to the Church of England faith. So, my father was born and raised an Anglican in his beliefs. In the 1950's an American missionary, of the Baptist Mid-Missions, by the name of J.T. Midyett, was ministering in our city – Hyderabad, India. One of the many people he witnessed to was my father and that was in 1959. Through his influence and witness, my father was saved and after four years, renounced his Anglican faith and their sprinkling baptism, and was Scripturally baptized.
Thereafter, my father was mentored by Bro. J.T. Midyett to continue the work that he had started in India, since India closed its doors to outside missionaries in 1970. My father later brought his family to the U.S. in 1977 and was training at the Independent Baptist College, in Dallas, Texas. In 1979, the Lord touched my life with the Gospel. At the age of 13, I realized that God loved me and that He had given His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for my sins. Thus, I placed my faith and trust in the atoning work of Christ on the cross.
I returned with my father and family to India and was involved in his work to the best of my ability. In 1986, the Lord impressed a deep burden on my heart to proclaim His good news in India. I had come to the same college in the U.S. where my father studied in order to get a degree in Bible Studies. I graduated in 1991 after having completed my studies in two colleges. I received a B.A. in Bible Studies from the Independent Baptist College and a B.A. in Communications from the Dallas Baptist University. The Southridge Baptist Temple in Mansfield, Texas later ordained me.
In 1991, the Lord also, by His immense grace brought a wonderful young lady into my life and she consented to being my wife. Thus, Gaynor and I were married in that same year and returned to India as missionaries, where we have been serving the Lord for the past 16 years. Thus far we have been operating under the Authority of the East Side Baptist Church in Vernon, Texas.
My wife is from Manchester, England and she was led to the Lord in 1976 by a Baptist missionary from America by the name of Frank Swartz. Bro. Swartz' daughter was my colleague in Bible college and she introduced my wife to me. Of course, it was God's hand leading us through it all. The kind of work that we have been involved in over the past 16 years has been briefly presented in the CD that I had given you.
I have read the Articles of Faith that you had forwarded and am very much in agreement with the aspects of Salvation, Doctrine of Scriptures, Way of Life, Church, Authority, etc. I probably see a few things differently, Eschatologically. But, I pray that you would be patient with me in those areas. I think the words of the lovely Hymn, "Blessed Assurance," would more rightly describe my Eschatological position. "Blessed Assurance; Jesus IS mine. O what a FORETASTE of Glory Divine. HEIR of Salvation, Purchase of God; Born of His Spirit, washed in His Blood. This IS my story, this IS my song. Praising my Savior all the day long."
Through the Scriptures the Lord has taught me that, all that we need in order to be Saved and live a Godly life is presently available to the believer. It is our responsibility that we "PUT ON CHRIST" as Paul instructs in Romans 13:10-14: "Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."
This is the essence of all Eschatology. By God's Resurrecting Power, we must awake to righteousness and put on Christ and walk in honesty, as the children of Light. In doing so, it would be profitable for us to dispense with our "escape" theories concerning the responsibilities, which God has placed upon us in order to reach our Nation and Generation. I have yet to learn many things and by God's grace, I aim to do so.
At this point, kindly allow me to diverge and share a few details about the Ministry that we have been doing in India. Our work mainly concentrates on the rural areas and involves; Evangelizing, Church Planting, Training of National Preachers/Pastors, Translating and Publishing of Scriptures and other books for the spreading of the Gospel, a TV ministry that allows us to broadcast the Gospel on a Hindu TV Channel every Sunday morning which reaches over 7 million people, Helping widows and orphans, and working for the expansion of the Kingdom of God.
We have thus far, by the grace of God, been able to establish 15 New Testament Congregations and some of them in the most remote areas of India. Our work is mainly in and around the state of Andhra Pradesh. We live in a city called Hyderabad, which is my birthplace. Hyderabad has a population of over 10 million. We have been able to start a church in this city and from this "main" church, we reach out to many other places surrounding us. We travel as far north and north east of Hyderabad as 700 miles. We have taken the Gospel into our neighbouring state called Chattisgarh, which is a very antagonistic place, as far as the Gospel is concerned.
India needs special prayers that God would use us and others like us in order to break down certain barriers, which hinder the countrymen from fully comprehending the love of God for their soul. Indians often confuse Christianity with Western Civilization. To them, Christianity is identical with the West, and our country coming out from under the rule of the British has often connected Christianity with Westernization. Isn't it ironic that Mahatma Gandhi once said, "When I read about Christ, I want to be like Him, but when I see a Christian, I want no part of Him." Sadly, Christian Missionaries from the West have often "Westernized" our people, more than "Christianizing" them. This may be part of the reason why India closed its doors to outside (foreign) missionaries in the 1970's. May God help us to be instrumental in showing them that Christianity is about Christ and Him alone, and not about any Civilization or Culture.
We praise God that we as natives are still enabled by Him to proclaim His Word. However, even we are being restricted in many ways. For example, the "anti-conversion" laws that were recently passed have given an "upper hand" for certain militant factions among the Hindus, in order to attack Christian workers, at will. Let me briefly share a few incidents:
On January 23, 1999 an Australian Missionary by the name of Graham Steins, was working in India as a Medical Worker. He and his two sons, Philip (10) and Timothy (8) were burnt alive, when the vehicle in which they were sleeping was set on fire. Mrs. Steins and her daughter still live in India, working among the lepers. Mrs. Steins has forgiven the criminals after they were apprehended. There is a book called "Burnt Alive" which details this incident. It is indeed a graphic reality of the love of God for the Indian people.
It is also frequently the case where Christian workers and preachers get "prank" phone calls, where a person in a very persuasive manner asks them to come and pray for their "sick" father or mother or someone else. However, upon reaching the place, the Christian worker(s) is abducted and slain. Only the body parts are found after several months, tied up in a burlap sack, in some lake or river.
Added to this are the killings of Gujarat and Karimnagar and many other incidents, which are the main reasons why the rural areas of India are mostly untouched by the Gospel. Simply put - The risk is too high.
The penalty for converting a person from his religion is based upon that person's caste. If from a higher caste, the Christian worker is imprisoned for 5 years and penalized around $ 5,000. If from a lower caste, it would be around 3 years in jail and $ 3,000 as fine. So legally and socially, the spreading of the Gospel is somehow being constrained.
Above and beyond these obstructions, the reaching of tribals presents its own dangers. We work around an area famously known as "The Arku Valley," where there are thousands of tribes still living in "the dark ages." They are very savage and steeped in spiritism. Over the past couple of years, at least four "Pentecostal preachers" that I know of, had ventured into these tribal settlements and tried to reach them. They were killed in only a matter of a few months. I have been told that this was done through Voodoo and some other potions that the young men were forced to drink.
The tribes of this area have a ritual in which, every year around harvest time (April/May) they must perform a human sacrifice in order to appease their goddess. They kill a person, mingle his blood in a big vessel along with rice broth, then they dip several meters of cotton drapes in the broth and cut them into hundreds of pieces and send them to all of the families, which they tie to the corner posts of their farm lands in hope of a good harvest.
There is much to be said regarding the dangers and experiences that entail this place but thanks be to God for His mercy toward this pagan land. But, by the grace of God, He has in due time opened the doors for us to go up to these mountains and proclaim the Good News of our Lord to these people. A man from these mountains somehow happened to see our TV program and got my phone number. In January of 2006, he came and met me and shared how that he would like to have us come and share the Gospel with his people. Our church prayed about the matter and after 2 months, that is in March, we set off to these areas. The men who I've been training also assisted me and 10 of us went together as a team.
God took care of the language problem in that although I did not know their language, they were able to understand and speak my language (i.e. Telugu). God had opened a great and effectual door. To make a long story short, over the past 6 months, we have seen over a hundred people profess Christ and we baptized over 45 people thus far and have started two congregations among these tribes. The young man that invited me there was the first to get saved and follow the Lord in baptism. He has also shown a great desire to shepherd the others in his area. Presently, he and two other men are overseeing the new believers and leading their worship services.
Another point of interest is that in 1991, while I was preparing a few new believers for baptism, I was reinforcing to them that baptism was not salvific, but that faith must precede baptism. In order to share the truth of this aspect with them, I wanted to read from Acts 8:37. The passage where the Eunuch asks Philip to baptize him. In Acts 8:37 Philip said to him, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest; and the Eunuch replied, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," after which they both went down into the water and Philip baptized him. As I read this passage, I noticed that the translation that they were using did not have this verse. As it is the case with most, if not all of the modern translations. Acts 8:37 is completely taken out from these "Bibles." This gave me a deep desire to translate a Bible based on the proper text that was behind the King James, which by the grace of God I was able to do, by putting together a team of 8 others to check through the work. In 2001, that translation was published by the Trinitarian Bible Society of London, England.
Our TV program has also been a great blessing from God. It is very unusual to be able to proclaim the Gospel over a Hindu channel. Many women, who are behind closed doors, which we could not reach otherwise, are able to hear the Word where they are. The response has been overwhelming. The TV station has informed us that the present number of viewers is over 7 million.
This is indeed a great and needful work of the Lord and we are inviting others to join with us (prayerfully and financially) in our efforts to continue this ministry in India. Do kindly pray for us and consider our petition, for the Glory of God. Thanking you in anticipation of a favorable and speedy reply.
Sincerely, Joel Saripalli
Note:
"I probably see a few things differently, Eschatologically." I must admit that no one sees things as I do, or even as you do, for no doubt wisdom will die with us! Over the years, I have learned to be patient and tolerant, looking past minor differences and looking at the major agreements. I doubt there is anyone on this mailing list that sees things as I do, but we agree on enough we can work together. No doubt there are areas of disagreement between Joel and I, but he is peaching a non-dispensational gospel of our Lord that requires work to expand His kingdom here and now in areas no one else is reaching. The Lord is abundantly blessing his efforts as he organizes New Testament Churches in pagan areas of India.
Baptism – not as many as make professions: Remember, Baptism is a public confession of Christ as Lord and Saviour. Thus, Baptism in places like India can easily mean serious persecution and even death. It certainly means separation from one's family if the family is Muslim or Hindu. How many here in the US will be baptized when it means serious persecution and maybe death to be identified as a Christian? Conversions and Baptism in India are far different than in the US at this time, in the sense that there is a heavy physical cost involved to follow Christ.
Language – though Bro. Joel speaks 6 languages, there are over 60 in India, and hundreds of dialects.
Here is an update page where we will post contacts from him.
Bro. Need
A textbook surprise...
From: colonel@37thtexas.org
When my mother was in the hospital recently I had the opportunity to visit with some of the nurses and nurses' aides while my mother napped.
One of these young Black aides had her "African-American History" book with her to get some study time in during the lulls. Since much of what the 37th researches has to do with Black history I asked her if I could borrow the book for little while.
Specifically, I turned to the Index and checked for the word "Jamestown" since I knew that virtually every other history book I had found being used in the school system terms the first Africans brought to Jamestown in 1619 as "slaves."
Much to my surprise the book contained the accurate history of the origins of American slavery in Jamestown taken with little editorial changes from the following:
Virginia, Guide to The Old Dominion, WPA Writers' Program, OxfordUniversity Press, NY, 1940, p. 378
"In 1650 there were only 300 negroes in Virginia, about one percent of the population. They weren't slaves any more than the approximately 4,000 white indentured servants working out their loans for passage money to Virginia, and who were granted 50 acres each when freed from their indentures, so they could raise their own tobacco.
Slavery was established in 1654 when Anthony Johnson, NorthamptonCounty, convinced the court that he was entitled to the lifetime services of John Casor, a negro. This was the first judicial approval of life servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
But who was Anthony Johnson, winner of this epoch-making decision? Anthony Johnson was a negro himself, one of the original 20 brought to Jamestown (1619) and ‘sold' to the colonists. By 1623 he had earned his freedom and by 1651, was prosperous enough to import five ‘servants' of his own, for which he received a grant of 250 acres as ‘headrights.'
Anthony Johnson ought to be in a ‘Book of Firsts.' As the most ambitious of the first 20, he could have been the first negro to set foot on Virginia soil. He was Virginia's first free negro and first to establish a negro community, first negro landowner, first negro slave owner and as the first, white or black, to secure slave status for a servant, he was actually the founder of slavery in Virginia.
A remarkable man."
Consider how odd it is that mainstream history books in the school system teach that the first Africans in Jamestown were slaves while the "Black History" book tells the truth.
YOS,
Col. Kelley
"The End and the Way - We must never lose sight of the main object of the war, and of the means by which that object can be attained...This war is prosecuted for the maintenance of the Union and of the indivisible nationality of the United States. It is not, as foreigners suppose, a war for tariffs, or on account of slavery. The United states Government has no other object in view than the assertion of its authority over the whole of its dominion, and the practical refutation of the subversive doctrines of secession and State sovereignty." - Harper's Weekly, December 21, 1861
(Forwarded by Herb Evans.)
If it Walks Like a Duck.....
If you are still voting the party line, then you are the problem. The Communists run the schools, media, universities, seminaries, labor unions, and the government. When you put them in power you hand them your own noose. They are not "progressives," they are Communists. Let's start calling them what they are. Communism is not dead. The Communists run America. How do I know? Look at how they walk, watch what they do, and listen to what they say. They told us what they were going to do...... http://www.newswithviews.com/Daubenmire/dave71.htm
by Coach Dave Daubenmire
A Polemical Essay Against Public Education
By Pastor Larry White
"The woman…" With that statement Adam began the long history of illegitimate excuses. His wife quickly followed in his steps, and the propensity of fallen men to excuse rather than acknowledge and repent of their sin has been firmly entrenched ever since.
For every sin there is an excuse. For every well-loved sin there are multiple excuses. Excuses for sins come in all shapes and sizes and vary in their seeming plausibility. Such illegitimate excuses, however, have one thing in common: they cannot withstand the scrutiny of Scripture and sound reason.
It is the purpose of this [article] to show the erroneous nature of the excuses that Christians use for educating their children in the public schools.
Whenever a well-entrenched sin is under scrutiny it is the habit of those who practice the sin to charge their critics with majoring on the minors: "This is such a minor issue." "Do you have to pick issue with such insignificant things?" "Aren't there far more serious things with which to concern yourself?" Unfortunately, it is common for Christians (albeit some of them well-meaning) to major on minors. This fact, however, should not entice us to shrink back when faced with such an accusation. The Scriptures assign no small place to the training of children. We read over and again such commands as:
"…that thou may tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son…"1
"Teach them to your children and your grandchildren…"2
"You shall teach them diligently to your children…"3
"My son, hear the instruction of thy father…"4
"Fathers do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."5
These Scriptures and scores of others, along with an honest appraisal of history cause us to echo the sentiments of the renowned Augustus Toplady: "Hardly anything can be of more important consequence to individuals, to families, and to society at large, than the wise and virtuous education of young people."6 Where and how the church educates and trains the next generation is no minor issue! It is incumbent upon us to consider some of the common reasons that Christian's propound for endorsing public education.
The first excuse that we will scrutinize is one that is often asserted today: "The Bible does not condemn public education or command Christian education." There are many issues in contemporary culture that are neither specifically condemned nor commanded by Scripture,7 yet they are clearly addressed with general principles meant to be applied to every culture.8 One needn't search too far for Scriptural injunctions that condemn public education and mandate Christian education.
Public Education Condemned by Colossians 3:9
"Do not lie to one another… Colossians 3:9
As we look at Colossians 3:9, we are struck by its simplicity and clarity: Do not lie to one another.9 By means of a few questions, it will become clear how this verse relates to the issue of public education. When Paul commanded the Colossians (and all Christians) not to lie to one another, did he condemn lying to children? Should this command be understood to condemn a parent lying to his children? The obvious and unavoidable answer is yes. Therefore, we assert, based on Col. 3:9, that it is a sin for a parent to lie to his children.
We then must ask, does a parent who is commanded by God not to lie to his children have the freedom to entrust his children's training/education (in part or whole) to someone who is predisposed to lie to them? The obvious and unavoidable answer is no. There is no difference (regarding the sinfulness of the act) between lying to our children and entrusting them to someone whom we know will lie to them. Based on Col. 3:9 we assert that it is sinful for a parent to entrust the training/education of his children to someone whom he knows will lie to them.
It is further affirmed that lying is common in the public education system and is, more often than not, necessitated by the humanistic presuppositions upon which the system rests. Consider the following truths:
Physical Sciences
The universe, including the earth, planets, and stars, was created in six literal days by a personal God.10
Man is a special creation of the same God who created the physical universe. Man is unique in dignity, being made in the image of God.11
The so-called laws of nature are in fact the present works of the personal creator God.12
(History, Government, Economics, Sociology)
The meaning of history is to be found in God's plan of redemption.13 History is the unfolding of God's eternal decree to bring a people to eternal life by means of the work of Christ. Therefore, the central person in all of history is the Lord Jesus Christ.14
Government is ordained by God and its authority is derived from Divine commission.15
All governments are not equally good. Governments that protect the persons and private property of their citizens are good. Governments that do not are bad.16 It is evil for a government to consent to the destruction of innocent life.17 It is evil for a government to provide for the slothful.18 It is evil for a government to sanction, or protect by law, sexual perversion.19 [It is wicked for the government to inflate the monetary supply, and to make matters worse, to tax the "Captial gains" of the inflated money. Ed.]
Man in his natural state is depraved and prone to all manner of evil. Man's fundamental problem is spiritual; it is not environmental.20
Sexual relations that occur outside of the marriage relationship (between one man and one woman) are sinful.21
God has made man, male and female. They have been made with distinct roles. Their God-given roles are to govern their unique responsibilities within the home, church, and society.22
To teach other than what the Bible teaches on these subjects is to lie. Also, to suggest that ultimate truth on these subjects is not obtainable is to lie as well.
Concerning each of the above topics, and many more, the public school lies. They lie purposefully and continually. Those who entrust their child to the public school system are knowingly entrusting their children to liars and thus are guilty of sin.
To lie is a sin.
For a parent to lie to his children is a sin.
For a parent to entrust his children's education to those who will lie to them is sin.
The public school system lies in its teaching of biology, anthropology, sociology, economics, government, sexuality…
[How many "Christian" schools teach honest history concerning, say, Abraham Lincoln, or the war for Southern Independence? If they do not, they are lying to their students. Ed.]
Therefore, the Christian who entrusts his children's education to the public school system is sinning!
Christian Education Mandated by Deuteronomy 6:6-9
"And these commands, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." – Deuteronomy 6:6-9
To understand how Deut. 6:6-9 applies to the issue of public education, we must again ask a number of questions. God commands His people to talk of His commandments with their children when they sit in their homes, when they walk by the way… Should we infer from this verse that God's people are free to disregard his commands when they stand "in their homes" and when they drive "along the way", seeing that the text only says "when you sit in your home" and "when you walk by the way?" Clearly such a wooden interpretation of the text entirely misses the point.23 Implied in Deut. 6:6-9 is the necessity of making God's Law/Word the ever-present context of all of our children's training.
God's Law/Word must be the authoritative and comprehensive focal point of all our children's instruction when we stand as well as when we sit with them in our homes; when we drive and when we walk with them. God's word must provide the framework for all instruction.
The Theocentric24 child training commanded in Deut. 6 is further established in the New Testament in II Corinthians 10 wherein we are commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.25 Thus, as a father nurtures his children in the discipline and admonition of the Lord he is bound to make God and His word the center of all education and training.
The parent who instructs his children on the topic of sexuality without reference to God's word and authority is in disobedience to Deut. 6. Likewise, the parent who instructs his children on the topic of history, sociology, origins, law, government, economics, etc. without reference to God's Word and its authority on such subjects is in disobedience to Deut. 6.
Furthermore, if Christians are bound by Deut. 6:6-9 to couch all of their children's training in the context of God and His word, so they are bound to delegate their children's training only to those who will maintain a Theocentric pattern of education. To educate a child by means of public education is a violation of Deut. 6:6-9 and is therefore a sin. Gods Word clearly condemns public education, and clearly mandates Christian (Theocentric) education.
Though the material presented so far is sufficient to show the sinfulness of public education, the author recognizes the unwillingness of many in our day to submit to sound biblical reasoning, and will therefore discuss other common excuses given for utilizing public education.
When confronted with criticism regarding the educational training of their children, many respond with the often-heard phrase, "But my children attend a ‘good' school and have ‘good' teachers." What exactly does saying that a certain school is good, or that certain teachers are good, mean?26 What is the context of good? Is it moral goodness, ethical goodness, structural goodness? [Christian goodness? Ed.]
When such an assertion is made, there are many fundamental presuppositions being assumed. What is the purpose of education? What are the appropriate subjects? Is the moral quality of the teacher of any significance? Christian parents who seek to salve their conscience with the claim of "good" public schools must be challenged with regard to their presuppositions and the worldview within which they speak.
Are the questions of whether a certain school is "good" undertaken from a biblical perspective or from a secular and humanistic one? The assertion (or even the fact) that a public school is good when judged from within the secular/humanist worldview (i.e. it produces good humanists) should be of no consequence to a Christian.
As those who are seeking to have their minds renewed by God's word as well as endeavoring to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, we must endeavor to use words such as "good" in a manner congruent with Biblical truth. Something cannot rightly be said to be good when God's word says, or implies, that it is bad.27
The chief part of both wisdom and knowledge is the fear of the Lord.28 Can a teacher or a school that lacks the fear of the Lord be said to be good? Unconverted men by nature hate the true God.29 They hate Jesus Christ30 who is God incarnate. Can a school that is operated in accordance with the philosophies of God-haters31 be said to be a "good" environment in which to educate Christian children?
According to the Lord Jesus anyone who is not for Him is against Him and whoever does not gather with Him scatters.32 Thus all schools that are not consciously/professedly for Christ are against Him. Those schools and teachers that do not seek to work together with Christ ("gather") are in fact endeavoring to scatter His work.33 Can a school or a teacher that is against Christ and seeks to scatter His work be said to be a "good" school?
The public school system is staffed and directed overwhelmingly by those who are yet of the world.34 In addition to hating God and seeking to scatter the work of Christ, they by nature hate Christians.35
When the Spirit of God regenerates a man he becomes a new creation. Old things pass away. One thing that passes away is his former citizenship. He is delivered from his spiritual, philosophical, and emotional bondage to the world. He spends the rest of his earthly life endeavoring practically to separate himself from the philosophy and lusts of the world. In light of these truths, can an educational establishment founded on and propagating the philosophy of the world be considered to be a good environment for a Christian or a Christian's children?36
At this point the defense that "my children's public school is a ‘good' public school" should be understood to be a statement that clearly does not use the word "good" in a biblical or truthful manner. If the statement was spoken honestly one might say, "In the opinion of God's enemies and those who seek to scatter Christ's work, such and such a school is a ‘good' school."
Can the Majority Be Wrong?
The age-old saying that "there is safety in numbers" is surely comforting, but seldom should be. Many comfort themselves today, regarding the education of their children, with the fact that the vast majority of professing Christians educate their children in the same manner as they themselves do. A brief review of history should assure us that a position's popularity (even within the church) is never a proof of its legitimacy. Scripture is replete with controversies wherein the majority practiced and defended an unbiblical position, while the truth of God was practiced and defended by a small minority.37 Moses often stood against the whole people of Israel by himself or with a few others and maintained the truth of God against a majority of professing believers.38 Two thousand years of church history (marked by men like Athanasius, Gottschalk, Luther, Calvin, Whitefield, Nettleton, Spurgeon, and Lloyd-Jones) only further establish the truth that error is often defended or accepted to be true by the majority, while the minority is actually in possession of the truth.
It is often the case that the majority position (though it be wrong) is bolstered by the presence of those reputed to be religious leaders. A thorough knowledge of Scripture should cause us to take little solace in this. The majority is often wrong because they have followed leaders who are wrong.39
The fact that the overwhelming majority of Christians, many serious and sincere Christians and many respected pastors and teachers, utilize the public school system for the training of their children should be of little comfort. Our fundamental and final consideration must be: what do the Scriptures say?
It should go without saying that our duty to nurture our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord disallows leading them into temptation. Knowing that we are to pray for ourselves, that we be not led into temptation40, and that we are to make no provision for the flesh41 (so far as it would fulfill it's own lusts), we must understand that we are duty-bound to avoid those circumstances wherein we are likely to fall into temptation.
Based upon our duty not to lead ourselves into temptation, we are able and obligated to infer that we have a duty not to lead our children into temptation.42 When we recognize what each public school is at it's core, and what our children are by nature, we should understand that the public schools are a place of great temptation for our children. If our children are unregenerate, then they possess a heart of stone that is in rebellion against God. Foolishness is bound up in their heart. If they have been regenerated (born again) then their hearts are new and directed toward God. However, they still possess within them a principle of corruption/rebellion called their flesh. It wars against the desires of their renewed inner man.43 Parental training involves the subjugating (by discipline and nurture) of the child's rebellion.44 A loving parent must seek to develop within his child a knowledge of his own (the child's) indwelling sin. The parent also must help the child understand the necessity of subduing the desires of his flesh.45 For those who live according to the flesh will not inherit eternal life.46
In our quest to help our children subdue their fleshly desires it is necessary, not only that they, but also that we, make no provision for their flesh.47 Willingly placing our children in an environment where their flesh is tempted and provoked to sin is not only careless but also sinful. The humanistic philosophy that permeates the government school system constantly tempts its students to think anthropocentrically,48 to judge things without reference to the law of God, and to believe lies. This godless, humanistic agenda has innate attractiveness to our children; it appeals to their most basic desires if they are unregenerate. If they are regenerate, their flesh still has an essential affinity to such thinking. To immerse them in such an environment is so reckless that it may appropriately be called abusive. The Christian who entrusts his children to the public school system is, without question, putting them in the place of dangerous temptation – a sin of no small consequence.49
Many Christians excuse their sin with the response, "But my children are being trained to withstand the temptations of humanist philosophy." Unfortunately, what training is being done to equip the church's children to withstand the sirens of humanism is extremely ineffective, producing a retention failure rate (with children) of nearly 85% for the church. Effective training, which would inoculate our children from the wiles of humanism, demands much more time than the vast majority of parents are willing to give. Also, it requires a degree of serious study on the part of the parents; this unfortunately is generally missing in our day.
Furthermore, it may very well be impossible to train younger children (up to age twelve or so) to withstand humanistic philosophies. Their intellectual development variously limits a broadly logical understanding of the doctrines wherein humanism and Christianity differ. Nor are they able to discern humanistic doctrines that are being advanced covertly.
Don't Be Deceived
Much has been said in the last generation regarding peer pressure. From all quarters, young people are encouraged to withstand the onslaught of negative peer pressure. Those who exhort children in such a way are obviously providing a valuable service. Encouragement to stand against the pressure, and ultimately to avoid the company, of those who use drugs or practice vandalism etc., is predicated on the well-observed fact that the company we keep has a profound effect on us. We become like those with whom we associate. Scripture substantiates such an observation: 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, "Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.'"
What non-Christians recognize with reference to external behavior, Christians need to recognize with reference to issues of the heart. Companionship with those who outwardly practice destructive or illegal behavior is dangerous. Much greater, however, are the dangers to those who make fools their companions: Proverbs 13:20 "the companion of fools will be destroyed… According to God, a fool is someone who says in his heart "NO God."50
In light of the Biblical definition of a fool, we must conclude that the public school system is populated and administered overwhelmingly by fools. Thus, anyone who places his children in a public school, places them in the path of destruction. "Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits.'"51
A common excuse for sending our children into the world's educational establishment is that of outreach – "My children are in the public school system as missionaries and evangelists."
Such a statement usually has little substance. One need only ask a few questions to peel off the veneer of such an assertion. Are you sure your child has been born again? If not, then he is not fit to be useful in ministry at this time. Does your child evidence the maturity and blameless character necessary for one who is being sent into a hostile mission field?52 Is your child able to clearly present the gospel?53 Is your practice of sending your children into the camp of the humanists (i.e. the public school system) as a "missionary" accompanied by a serious endeavor to evangelize as a lifestyle? That is, do you and your child regularly distribute tracts to students and teachers? Do you invite students and teachers to your home to preach the gospel to them? Do you make regular use of venues, other than the public schools, to evangelize, such as parks, grocery stores, and malls? Answering "no" to the above questions makes the assertion, that children fulfill an evangelistic obligation in the public schools, hollow; nothing more than phony religious verbiage.
Parents who are marked by an evangelistic lifestyle give the child-missionary position some credibility. At least there is an obvious consistency between their words and practice. Such consistency, however, does not legitimize their behavior. If a behavior is sinful, as the utilization of the public schools is, then it does not become legitimate simply because we intend to perform a pious act while engaged in it.
Would God approve marrying an unbeliever if our goal were to win the spouse to Christ? Would cheating on our taxes be legitimate if we intended to give most or all of the money to God's work? Though pragmatic behavior is common among professing Christians, it is nonetheless inconsistent with God's word, which requires that both our means and our ends be conformable to Scriptures.
Godly Product of Public Schools
In this ongoing argument, the finger of "proof" is often pointed at godly individuals who are the "product" of the public school system. Christian supporters of secular education suppose that the existence of individuals who are presently esteemed as godly, though previously educated in the public school system, is proof that anti-Christian education is appropriate for Christians. This position is easily assailable on a number of fronts:
First, the general principle may be quickly reduced to absurdity. If we affirm that the previous activities of an individual are acceptable simply because he is godly, then we must affirm the general principle in the life of a righteous man, such as Lot. Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, moved to Sodom, offered his daughters to Sodomites, and impregnated his daughters (all of this without specified condemnation in Scripture) and yet, in the New Testament, he is reckoned a righteous man. Without a doubt, no Christian would attempt to hold Lot's behavior up for imitation. Righteous men can be guilty of having committed numerous and gross errors; such things that merit censure and not imitation. Present godliness does not sanctify past sin.
Second, while a man may be esteemed to be godly, there are yet patterns/habits of sin in his life. The secondary causes of these sins are often not readily discernable, so it is impossible to know that a godless education is not at the root of some of a godly man's shortcomings.54
Third, many Biblical figures, such as Moses and Daniel have been held out as proof that children can be educated by non-Christians and still thrive. Again, such an argument adds little credence to the position that favors public education. Moses, Daniel, and others like them, were educated in a non-Christian environment not as a matter of choice, but as those who had been given over to the enemies of God as part of God's chastening of the nation of Israel.
Fourth, our behavior is to be shaped by didactic passages of Scripture (when available) and not narrative. To take direction from narrative portions of Scripture when there are clear didactic passages to the contrary is a seriously flawed approach to the Christian life. It is an approach that can be used to legitimize even the most ungodly behavior.
Lastly, if the examples of Moses and Daniel are to be utilized, then they ought not to be appropriated to merely offer support for contemporary public education. They stand as proof that children can be educated in an overtly religious environment that is antithetical to Christianity and still thrive. If this is true, then it must be legitimate for Christians to educate their children in an Islamic school or a Hindu school; even a school based wholly on New Age philosophy. Thusly used, the examples of Moses and Daniel "prove" too much.
"Our circumstances would not allow us to remove our children from public school." Such a statement is another common response to the present topic, and is bolstered by numerous seemingly supportive excuses: "We could never afford Christian school, and we don't have the time to homeschool." "My wife's disposition is not suited to homeschooling." "Our children are adamantly opposed to the idea." Such verbiage is vain, and belies a fundamental flaw in its adherents thinking. It is God's Word that is to light our path, not our children's desires or our wife's temperament. Scripture determines right living, not circumstances.
While there may be numerous other excuses for entrusting the training of covenant children to Christ's enemies, the author is unaware of them. He is confident, however, that the above-mentioned arguments (based on Col. 3 and Deut. 6) are unassailable, and make public education a non-option for Christians.
Much has been said in recent years regarding the quality of our political leaders. Christians (both laymen and leaders) charge political office-holders with myriad offenses. Lying, stealing, and sexual immorality are just a few of the accusations leveled at many of our state and federal representatives. Many say that our leaders are guilty of grossly neglecting our national security, and hence our future. It is asserted that many in the political arena appear to be asleep (or even worse, seditious) with regard to terrorism, border control, and U.N. assaults on our sovereignty. Many well-known Christian ministries have raised their voices to call attention to this alarming situation and those upon whom the onus falls. The energy spent in such endeavors is surely not wasted, for certainly, those leaders who jeoize the health and safety of our nation need to be exposed and called to account for their actions. Much more serious, however, is the ignorance (or possible ecclesiastical sedition) of evangelical pastors.
Called to refute those who oppose sound doctrine,55 the majority of pastors stand by passively as the littlest sheep of their congregations are daily led away to be indoctrinated by a system that on all points opposes sound doctrine. One of the primary responsibilities of an elder or pastor is the protection of the sheep. Ferocious wolves from without and heretics from within threaten the spiritual health of the church. Church leadership is responsible to guard the sheep from, and warn them of, those who are a threat.56
The vast majority of evangelical pastors, rather than decrying the dangers of the anti-Christian public school establishment, play the part of dumb dogs that cannot bark. Rather than exhorting and rebuking with all authority,57 contemporary church leadership cheerleads as their enemies indoctrinate the next generation.
For a pastor to idly observe the willful squandering of the church's heritage is to grossly neglect it. However, many today surpass this level of failure. Ferocious wolves no longer need to sneak into the church to steal our children because the church, with pastoral approval, willingly hands its children over to the ferocious wolves.
Without a doubt, the application of the term ferocious wolves to public school teachers and administrators will seem inappropriate to many, yet we know by our Lord's teaching that such wolves dress in sheep's clothing. Their likeness to wolves is not in their outer appearance, but in their inner disposition, their intent being to bring spiritual harm to their victims. Such intent may be well reasoned as in the case of a self-conscious, evangelistic humanist or it might be less conscious, but still very real, being the product of innate hatred toward God.58 As stated earlier, teachers, administrators, and producers of curriculum that are not consciously for Christ are, in Jesus' words, against him and set on scattering His work.59
A pastor who does not exhort and rebuke with all authority, commanding60 the people of His flock to remove their children from the schools of Christ's enemies and to give their children a Theocentric education is guilty of great sin. A good shepherd will protect the sheep even at the expense of his own life, whereas the hireling does not really care for the sheep and thus leaves them to the wolves.61 It should be no wonder that so many false doctrines have permeated the church in the last generation. Our ecclesiastical gatekeepers (i.e. pastors, elders, deacons) have by-and-large failed to shepherd. Those who, out of fear or ignorance, fail to protect the church's children from such an obvious peril cannot be expected to protect the church in general from the myriad errors presently assailing it.
The material that has been covered so far, and its conclusions (i.e. that public education is sinful and that parents must be instructed by their pastors to remove their children from the government schools) undoubtedly will leave some Christians crying, "Foul! What has happened to Christian liberty?"
Indeed, all Christians ought to cherish the freedom that is theirs in Christ. We ought to take every precaution to see that we are not brought into spiritual bondage by the commandments of men. On the other hand, we must not use the truth of Christian liberty as an instrument to indulge our flesh.62 In accord with Christian liberty, we have the freedom (both ability and permission) to choose between numerous options, when all are scripturally legitimate. We never have the freedom to choose a course of action that is contrary to Scripture.63 We have no freedom to:
Indoctrinate our children in an anti-Christian institution.
To give our children over to bad company (the companionship of fools).
To lead our children into temptation.
Thus, we have no freedom to educate our children in the public school system.
The condemnation of public education as sinful is not an infringement of Christian liberty. Rather, it is a necessary deduction of scriptural study. To plead the right of Christian liberty on this issue is to turn liberty into license.
[See Chapter 21 of the The London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689. Ed.]
A Good Thing Gone Bad?
Some assume that the modern public schools have taken the wrong direction only in the last generation or so. This is not the case. It has often been said, "If we could only go back to the way it was in the 1950's then things would be okay." Such thinking evidences a profound ignorance of Scripture and history.
The 1950's (or 40's, 30's, 20's, etc) were not the good old days educationally because the public schools were not Theocentric. Theologically speaking, the public school movement was never a good thing. They never presupposed the Scriptures as the ultimate, authoritative source of truth, nor God's glory and His redemptive plan as man's chief concern.64 The ultimate goal of public education in the U.S has always been that of social engineering.65 A selection from one advocate of the public school movement will have to suffice here. Consider the words of the father of modern education, John Dewey:
"I BELIEVE THAT
–the teacher is engaged, not simply in the training of individuals, but in the formation of the proper social life.
–every teacher should realize the dignity of his calling; that he is a social servant set apart for the maintenance of proper social order and the securing of the right social growth.
–in this way the teacher is always the prophet of the true God and the usherer in of the true kingdom of God."66
The god to whom Mr. Dewey refers is not the true and living God revealed in the Bible. Dr. Dewey, in fact, was adamantly opposed to Biblical Christianity.67 He viewed the public school system as a tool to de-Christianize the populace of the U.S. Dewey's disciples and his predecessors have always been as wise as serpents regarding the speed at which they "usher in the true kingdom of God." Always mindful of the potential of a Christian backlash, they have slowly, yet methodically and relentlessly, advanced the religion of humanism (Dewey's "true kingdom of God"). Just as the proverbial frog sits passively in the kettle as he is scalded to death, so the church's children sit passively as they are slowly conformed to this world; baptized and confirmed into the kingdom of man by the prophets of humanism. They are casualties in Humanism's long war against Christ and His church.
Parting Thoughts
For those who are willing to open their eyes, there is no question as to the goals of the public education system. For those who are willing to think Biblically, there is no question as to their duty. For those who are willing to honestly assess history, the significance of this issue cannot be missed.
"Therefore, come out from among them and be separate"
2 Corinthians 6:17
1 Ex. 10:2. 2 Deut. 4:9. 3 Deut. 6:7. 4 Prov. 1:8, 10, 15; 2:1; 3:1 etc. 5 Eph. 6:4. 6 Works of Augustus Toplady, p. 485. 7 Internet pornography, abortion, and illicit drugs for example. 8 "What is condemned directly in principle in Scripture we may condemn today…we must apply the truth of Scripture to life today: otherwise we are not true to our trust…commands in terms of one culture must be translated into our culture." – Bernard Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, pp 179-180, 189 Also, "the whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture." – Westminster Confession of Faith 1.6 This assertion is necessitated by II Tim. 3:16-17. 9 Lying is condemned throughout Scripture: Lev. 19:11, Ex. 20:16, Prov. 16:17, Eph. 4:25, Re. 21:8. The only legitimate exception to this law is when a lie is told to save a life: Ex. 1:19, I Sam. 16:2, 2 Kings 6:19, James 2:25. 10 Gen 1, Ex. 20:11. 11 Gen 1:27. 12 Job. 38-39, Matt. 10:29-30, Heb. 1:3. 13 Eph. 1:9-10. 14 Eph. 3:9-11. 15 Rom. 13:1. 16 Rom. 13:3-4. 17 Ps. 82:3-4. 18 2 Thess. 3:10. 19 Is. 5:20. 20 Gen. 6:5, Gen. 8:21, Jer. 13:23, Jer. 17:9, Rom. 3:10-18. 21 See Lev. 18. 22 Eph. 5:22-23, Titus 1:5-9, Titus 2:1-5, I Tim. 2:8-15, etc. 23 The question to answer is this: Does Deut 6 teach that there are just four specific times that we are to talk of God's commands and four specific places that they are to be written for our remembrance, or does Deut. 6 teach that God's Word is to permeate every aspect of our lives? We affirm the latter. 24 Theos = God, Centric = centered: Theocentric = God-centered. 25 2 Cor. 10:5. 26 The author does not deny the fact that many sincere Christians serve in the public schools. He also recognizes that they have many opportunities to minister in the name of Christ. This, however, does not make any public school "good." 27 It is a sin to call something "good" that God says is bad. Is. 5:20. 28 Prov. 1:7, 9:10. 29 Rom. 8:7-8. 30 John 7:7. 31 The author again states that he acknowledges the presence of sincere Christian teachers and administrators and that many non-Christian teachers are honest, committed people (relatively speaking). They are "good" when compared to people who are overtly evil. This, however, does not change the fact that they are, in God's sight, (i.e. truthfully) morally corrupt and at enmity with God. 32 Matt. 12:30. 33 Many readers will have a problem admitting that their child's teacher, or school, or textbooks, are against Christ. What the reader must do is believe God's word over and against the amiable dispositions and testimonies of God's enemies (i.e. those in the educational establishment). 34 The term "world" is used to denote man in his fallen and rebellious condition. 1 John 2:15. 35 John 15:18-19, John 17:14. 36 If a Buddhist, Muslim, or Hindu were converted and consequently came to Christ by faith, would it be appropriate for them to continue to educate their children in the philosophy of their former system? Surely not! Why then is it thought appropriate for those converted out of humanism to leave their children behind in the humanists' institutions for indoctrination. 37 Consider the following circumstances involving the: Levites (Ex. 32:25-28), Caleb (Num. 13:30-31), Caleb and Joshua (Num. 14:1-7), Phineas (Num. 25:6-8), Samuel (I Sam. 8:19-20), Micaiah (I Kings 22:6-18), Ezra (Ezra 9-10), Isaiah (Is. 6:8-13, 30:8-11), Jeremiah (Jer. 5:30-31), Jesus (Matt. 27:23), Stephen (Acts 6:8-12), Paul (Gal. 2:11-13). In each situation the majority was in error. 38 Ex. 14:10-12, 16:2-3, 17:3. 39 Consider Ex. 5:21, Num. 16:1-3, I Kings 22:6-18, Matt. 23:13-29, Gal. 2:11-13. 40 Matt. 6:13. 41 Rom. 13:14. 42 (Matt. 7:12) As we would not desire to be led into temptation, so we ought not to lead others into temptation. 43 Gal. 5:17, Rom. 7:23. 44 Prov. 22:15, Prov. 29:15, Eph. 6:4. 45 Our responsibility entails faith, prayer, study and also the subduing, by spiritual battle, our carnal impulses. Col. 3:5-8. 46 Rom. 8:13. The author acknowledges that the righteousness that brings salvation is imputed to the believer through the instrument of faith. This does not however negate the believers responsibility to subdue his flesh. 47 Rom. 13:14. 48 In a man-centered manner. 49 Luke 17:1-2. 50 "Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.'" (The "there is" in the text is supplied by the translators and unfortunately leaves the reader with the impression that certain men have no knowledge of God in their hearts. Rom. 1:19 tells us that the knowledge of God is evident within all men because God has showed it to them. Translating Ps. 14:1 as "the fool has said in his heart, No God!" does no injustice to the Hebrew text and gives us a true and understandable assertion that does not contradict Rom. 1:19. The fool says, "No God! I will not acknowledge you as you really are, I will not submit to your law, I will not think as you would have me think, I will not act as you would have me act, I will rule my own life!" In a word, autonomy! 51 For those who think that their children are strong enough to withstand the pressure of their peers consider the many who succumbed to evil peer pressure: Lot (Gen. 19), Aaron (Ex. 32), Gideon and his household (Judg. 8:22-27), and Israel (Num. 25, I Kings 11:4, Jer. 50:6). See also Acts 6:12, 13:49-50, 17:13 and Gal. 2:13, 3:1. 52 It would seem necessary that those who are being utilized as evangelists and missionaries should, at the very least, be able to adorn the gospel by their faithfulness, just as slaves are exhorted to do in order to minister to their masters (Titus 2:9-12). 53 In addition to a clear understanding of the gospel and an ability to present it, it would be expected that a missionary or evangelist have a clear conception of the philosophies of the unbelievers which he hopes to engage, the weaknesses of such philosophies, and the scriptures that condemn them. 54 A godly Christian may struggle with depression, anger, spiritual lethargy, and varying degrees of carnality. Such struggles may very well be the product of having been trained by a system that is in rebellion to God–a system that does not recognize ultimate truth, standards, or purpose. Public school proponents would need to have much more knowledge than God has made available to us to state with any sort of authority that any individual has not been adversely affected by the humanist schools. 55 Titus 1:9. 56 Acts 20:28-31. 57 Titus 2:15. 58 Many public school teachers and administrators, when judged by a standard of relative human goodness, are not rightly reckoned ferocious wolves. They are amiable, benevolent, and concerned for the student's welfare. But this is only when judged with reference to other human beings who are not as blessed with the benefits of common grace. When judged with reference to the standard of all truth, they are, as the next sentence states again, against Christ and seeking to scatter His work. 59 Matt. 12:30. 60 Though authoritative preaching is in serious decline in our day, it is nonetheless a biblical imperative. Paul often commanded his hearers to obey: I Thess. 4:11 and 2 Thess. 3:4, 6, 10, 12. Paul also instructed the young pastors Timothy and Titus to command with authority: Titus 2:15 and 1 Tim. 4:11. This is not to suggest that the pastor is not to exhort, beseech, implore, nurture and instruct. But ultimately, the pastor must be prepared and willing to present the Scriptural injunctions with reference to Theo-centric child training and lying as commands against public education. The issue of a child's educational environment (atmosphere, instructors, peers, curriculum) is of such fundamental importance to his healthy development that the neglect of preaching and teaching on the topic is unbelievable. By neglecting this issue, many pastors are holding back much that would be helpful (contra Acts 20:20) and have avoided declaring to their hearers the whole counsel of God (contra Acts 20:27). Are these pastors hired by those with itching ears who will not endure sound doctrine? Are they those who speak smooth things rather than right things? This is undoubtedly the case in many circumstances. Others, of course, may simply be cases of gross ignorance. 61 John 10:11-13. 62 Gal. 5:13. 63 To violate Scripture in the name of Christian freedom is to use our liberty as a cloak for vice. (Contra 1 Peter 2:16) 64 Though there have always been individual teachers who presuppose these truths, the leaders and the shepherds of the movement never have. 65 The reader is referred to R. J. Rushdoony's book The Messianic Character of American Education for a thorough treatment of this point. To see how the social engineering agenda has taken full bloom the reader is referred to The Harsh Truth About Public Education by Bruce N. Short. 66 John Dewey, "My pedagogic creed." Quoted in The Messianic Character of Christian Education, Rousas J. Rushdoony. 67 "It is impossible to ignore the fact that historic Christianity has been committed to a separation of sheep and goats; the saved and the lost; the elect and the mass…I cannot understand how any realization of the democratic ideal as a vital moral and spiritual ideal in human affairs is possible without surrender of the conception of the basic division to which supernatural Christianity is committed." – Dr. John Dewey, A Common Faith pp 83-84
* To request copies or offer thoughtful commentary, you may contact Pastor Larry White:
By e-mail: sovereigngracebaptistchurch@gmail.com or by phone: 315-678-2337
Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday May 8, 2007
Sunday past in the evening I served as Moderator for the Ordination committee for a younger pastor newly called to a church here in the home area. After questioning and assuring that we were not as Spurgeon remarked, "Laying empty hands on an empty head," we proceeded to the Auditorium for the celebration ceremony and then to the fellowship hall for a wonderful meal, which is the hall mark of all Baptist meetings.
While talking in between bites, a fellow pastor began to tell me his story. And a very interesting story it is.
Seems John Sandiford served at the local Federal Penitentiary for a number of years as the Officer in charge of the now defunct Farm Program. John is retired and pastors a thriving church in the area. I mentioned that volunteer chaplain Gene Woodcox has become a friend through his being a blessing to me while I was serving in the opposite of Officer in charge at the Camp.
Pastor Sandiford told me that one of the men assigned to his detail had a great ministry while serving time in the prison. With a tear in his eye he said this brother, long released from prison still calls him. And amazingly John said this man was the man the Lord used to cause him to come to Christ!! I cannot find adequate words to tell how big a miracle this is. This happened almost 30 years ago.
I am telling you this story because so many people insist on God using people who meet their definition of "holiness." This false definition may include anything from, "Not of my group to not of my color." The outstanding Christian witness in this story is black and during the time frame of 30 years ago white officers would not have all that much to do with black prisoners. Actually officers in any era are to remain aloof from their charges. Yet the gospel of Jesus Christ knows no bounds, even the Apostle Paul took great encouragement while in prison that the "The gospel is not bound."
We talked and I told John of Frances, one of our longtime members who had sent me a card with a little note. The card showed an old stone castle or prison, with cobblestone on a courtyard, and through the cobblestone, one, lonely rose was growing. The note on the card stated:
"Bloom where you are planted."
Pastor John was planted as a Corrections Officer in the BOP and Christ bloomed in his heart. A prisoner, bloomed where he was planted and now, many others are saved and hopefully blooming where they are planted!
So, how about you? We know from the Bible, history and personal experience that prison, circumstances; even the grave cannot keep the gospel down. Therefore we have no right to get so down as to refuse to let our light shine for Jesus. Even in a dark place. Especially in a dark place or time.
Larry Lilly Copyright 2007 Use with credit
Brave New Schools
District gags 14-year-olds after ‘gay' indoctrination ‘Confidentiality' promise requires students ‘not to tell their parents'
March 13, 2007, By Bob Unruh.
Deerfield, Ill., High School, where officials required students to attend a "gay" indoctrination seminar
Officials at Deerfield High School in Deerfield, Ill., have ordered their 14-year-old freshman class into a "gay" indoctrination seminar, after having them sign a confidentiality agreement promising not to tell their parents. ... 2007 WorldNetDaily.com
By Tony Lambert
Tony Lambert is the Director of Research of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship International, formerly the China Inland Mission.
‘As we were studying the Heidelberg Catechism and the Westminster Confession of Faith, the police burst in and started to interrogate us.' In January this year, Chinese house-church Christians in Beijing were raided twice by the police as they were holding their normal Sunday activities. ‘The Ark' fellowship is a group of young Christian professionals, including lawyers and professors, typical of many such fellowships which have mushroomed in recent years in the Chinese capital (a recent internal government document claimed there were about three thousand unregistered house-churches in Beijing alone).
The experience of this group in Beijing is a stark reminder that the rediscovery of the Reformed faith by Chinese Christians today is no armchair exercise. It is in the noble tradition of the Covenanters, the Huguenots and the Puritans, and indeed of Calvin himself, who had to flee his native France, and who spent much of his ministry exhorting and training preachers of the gospel in the teeth of persecution.
The Chinese church has had much experience of persecution over the last half century. Christians have suffered for their faith, and for many years (1966—79) all the churches were closed. Scriptures were confiscated and destroyed. Today there are over fifty thousand legal places of Protestant worship under close Communist Party supervision and many more unregistered and therefore illegal) house-churches. Over forty million Bibles have been printed legally within the country and many million more quietly taken in to satisfy the insatiable thirst for God's Word.
Biblical Christianity has not only survived but flourished. Apart from some leaders in the State-recognized church, Christians at the grass-roots have a deep love for the Bible and a Christ-centred faith which is warmly evangelical.
But, many would ask, how far is that faith Calvinistic? In general, the Christianity of both the house-churches and the State-controlled ‘Three-Self" churches is evangelical, even fundamentalist. The great majority of believers have never even heard of Calvinism or Arminianism. Yet their doctrinal beliefs and spiritual experience are often very similar to Calvinism, and they provide a seed-bed in which the Reformed faith can flourish.
The absolute acceptance of the Bible as the ultimate authority and a love for the preached Word are marks of Chinese Christianity which are everywhere apparent. In most churches (whether ‘Three-Self' or house-church) it is quite common for the sermon to last an hour. Recently I timed the preaching of Samuel Lamb, the well-known house-church leader in the southern city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton). He held his congregation spell-bound for one hour and forty minutes! Here is a man who suffered as a slave-labourer in a coal mine for many years, yet he is now preaching God's Word three times a week to over two thousand people.
Chinese Christianity is strongly ethical and practical in a way which would rejoice the heart of any Puritan. Holiness of life and practical Christian witness are constantly stressed. The downside is that sometimes there is a tendency to legalism. In a society in which atheistic materialism is still the nominal State ideology but, in practice, where Buddhism, Daoism (or Taoism), and folk superstition are rampant, Christians are not afraid to stand out as different.
Most believers have a strong sense of the sovereignty of God and have no difficulty in accepting the supernatural. Many Christians correspond with those who work in gospel radio stations such as Far East Broadcasting Company. It has been noticeable over the years how many refer, in passing in their letters, to ‘when God elected me' or when the Lord chose me'.
The experience of persecution, which continues sporadically even today, has put iron into the souls of many Chinese believers. They take their faith seriously, and worship is intensely reverent. They have little time for such fads as prosperity theology. Extreme charismatic theology has made inroads, particularly in rural areas, but, I would argue, does not represent the mainstream which is conservative in both faith and practice.
This does not, of course, mean that all Chinese Christians are ‘card-carrying Calvinists', but rather that their knowledge of the Scriptures is such that they have come to a vigorous faith which in many cases approximates to the Reformed faith. The growth of heresies and cults (such as ‘Eastern Lightning', which promotes a female Messiah!) makes many Christians intensely aware of their need for deeper biblical and doctrinal training.
As I have visited believers all over the country over the past quarter century, I have been struck by their commitment and zeal. In more recent years I have come across encouraging evidence that there is a hunger for sound doctrine which is leading many younger, educated believers in particular to a conscious commitment to the Reformed faith.
A couple of years ago I found myself browsing in the Christian bookshop run by the main State church in a large Chinese city. The young manager came over and told me: ‘I'm a Calvinist! We believe in justification by faith!' Over the last eight years some of the top leaders of the State church have run a campaign to downgrade justification by faith, the full authority of the Bible and the centrality of the atonement. However, this young man stated: ‘We have no time for Bishop Ding and his false theology. His books are very bad. Here's a book in Chinese about Martin Luther –that's the kind of theology we like here!' I would add that this man's father was a well-respected pastor who had suffered greatly for his faith during the Mao era.
He then showed me a mammoth four-volume set of Reformed theology including works by Calvin, Berkhof, Boettner, Spurgeon, Bunyan etc., all translated into modern Chinese. Each volume has about 900 pages. All this had been printed quite legally within China (although with a small print-run of only 5,000 sets) and was selling for only 150 RMB (about $20 US).
Even so, it was far too expensive for most rural Christians who may be earning only 200 RMB a month. However, it was encouraging to see this kind of Reformed material available for those in the cities who could afford it.
The doctrine of the final perseverance of the saints (or, as it is sometimes stated, ‘once saved, always saved') continues to be debated vigorously across China. In 1986 three of the largest house-church networks, based in Henan (which now claim millions of members), initiated discussion on the subject but broke up without any resolution. In 1995 discussions were resumed and went on for three years, resulting in a joint house-church confession of faith which was issued in 1998. In this confession many of the main house-church networks agreed that:
We oppose the view that we can sin that grace may abound (antinomianism), the view that one can fall away and needs to be saved many times, and the view that one can be saved by keeping the Law of God.
In south-east China the debate has been particularly keen. Wenzhou is known as ‘the Jerusalem of China' and, even according to the government, has seven-hundred thousand adult Protestants (ten per cent of the population) and over two thousand churches. Much Reformed theological literature has been spread by the Reformation Translation Fellowship and the ministry of Stephen Tong, a popular Taiwanese Reformed pastor. Many younger house-church pastors in this region have come to a fully Calvinistic position, and have challenged the rather unformed Arminianism of some of the older preachers. They insist that true believers are eternally secure.
Thousands of young Chinese intellectuals are being saved overseas in North America and Europe, where, in some cases, they have been influenced by Reformed theology. They then return to leadership positions in their own country. The role of Reformed literature, and more recently, Reformed websites has also made a significant impact. I hope to look at the Reformed literature available in Chinese and the ways this can be expanded in a second article. In the meantime, I hope this article is an eye-opener to enable you to see the encouraging ways God is at work. China is well on the way to having a larger community of evangelical believers than any other country in the world, including the United States. Sound biblical and Reformed theology is imperative to ensure that this church continues to grow healthily and makes a significant contribution to the ongoing task of global evangelism.
From "The Banner of Truth" booklet, August-September 2006 issue. P. 25-28.
ABC News
Jack Whittaker Won $315 Million, Lost Friends, Family and the ‘Shining Star' of His Life
By MARTIN BASHIR and SARA HOLMBERG
April 6, 2007 — - On Christmas morning in 2002, Jack Whittaker woke up to perhaps the biggest gift imaginable. Whittaker had won the Powerball lottery jackpot — a whopping $315 million.
"I got sick at my stomach, and I just was [at] a loss for words and advice," Whittaker said. "You know, I was really searching for advice, and it's, like, Christmas Day."
It was a made-for-TV Christmas story, and Whittaker's hardworking family became celebrities overnight. Whittaker's wife, Jewel, and their granddaughter Brandi Bragg would appear on no fewer than eight television shows. But as Whittaker celebrated his good fortune, he had no way of knowing that he was embarking on a journey that would lead to tragedy and the loss of everything he held dear.
‘No Control for Greed'
Whittaker now says that he regrets winning the lottery.
"Since I won the lottery, I think there is no control for greed," he said. "I think if you have something, there's always someone else that wants it. I wish I'd torn that ticket up." ...
Whittaker believes that money isn't what makes people happy — family is.
"Family is what is dear," he said. "I don't know where it'll end. But you know, I just don't like Jack Whittaker. I don't like the hard heart I've got. I don't like what I've become."
Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3012631&page=1
THE REAL BACKBONE
OF AMERICA'S DICTATORSHIP
If you want to understand big corruption, you've got to follow money. I could end this article with that said, however, and following a day researching the power of money, I am filled to brimming with thoughts on money and the attainment of power alone.
First, let me say this: if you are a parent and you haven't found Dr. Dennis Cuddy's series titled Mental Health, Education, and Social Control, you are clueless about your child's social, political, mental, and physical entrapment and vulnerability. For the sake of your children, read this series TODAY. I will post the link at the end of this article.
In brief, the implementation of universal mental health screening in schools, which is currently operating in our school system, is a public_private partnership deal between the federal government and the pharmaceutical industry. It is a money scam. If you read Dr. Cuddy's series, you will clearly follow the money trail from pharma to Fed and back. How do American parents stop this insidious, unconscionable attack upon our children? You break the money trail.
Pull you children out of the public school system immediately. Every excuse that you claim for not homeschooling your children is crap. Never again support a school levy. If you are devoted to your public school system, you are a complicit player in the destruction of your child's psyche, health, future, and your country. All your excuses are null and void. You want to see "universal" mental health screening go away? Make good and sure that every public school stands empty at the beginning of the school year. You want to see the globalist_Socialist indoctrination of your children cease and desist? Don't allow them to be indoctrinated by the excuses you give for not homeschooling. Any parent can homeschool a child, and any parent who sends their children into a pubic school building is an enemy of freedom. ...
Next, sell your large houses immediately. Get rid of them and pay off every single debt that you have. Owe nothing to creditors and lenders – nothing. ...
By Nancy Levant, April 17, 2007
http://www.newswithviews.com/Levant/nancy84.htm
Subject: AGENTS: BUSH FIRINGS OBSTRUCTED SEX RING PROBE
AGENTS: BUSH FIRINGS OBSTRUCTED SEX RING PROBE
TomFlocco.com
Foggo sex ring probe linked to forged Iraq dossier, Israeli espionage, convicted lobbyist Abramoff
According to U.S. intelligence sources, President Bush obstructed justice last December when he had senior advisor Karl Rove and White House Counsel Harriet Miers instruct Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez to fire eight U.S. attorneys who were among several others conducting ongoing public corruption and secret national security grand jury investigations connected to an espionage–linked prostitution / pedophile sex ring operating at the Washington Ritz-Carlton and other DC hotels, whose clients included U.S. senators and congressmen, elite Washington news reporters and high government officials—some of whom were named by an intelligence insider. ... http://www.tomflocco.com/
Biology Teacher Fired
for Referring to Bible
The Associated Press, Tue, Mar. 20 2007 02:57 PM ET
SISTERS, Ore. (AP) - During his eight days as a part-time high school biology teacher, Kris Helphinstine included Biblical references in material he provided to students and gave a PowerPoint presentation that made links between evolution, Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood.
That was enough for the Sisters School Board, which fired the teacher Monday night for deviating from the curriculum on the theory of evolution. ...
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070320/26427_Biology_Teacher_Fired_for_Referring_to_Bible.htm
George W. Bush
is GOP's Bill Clinton
Then again, perhaps George Bush knows something we don't know. Writing for World Net Daily, Dr. Jerry Corsi reports that President Bush has just signed a Presidential Directive that would give the President dictatorial powers should he decide to declare a "national emergency."......
http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/baldwin372.htm
by Pastor Chuck Baldwin
The Kakistocracy Exposes Its Hand
The publication of National Security Presidential Directive 51 (Homeland Security Presidential Directive 20) on 9 May 2007, now available on the White House's web site, represents another major stage in the devolution of the United States from a constitutional republic to a Caesaristic police state. Inadvertently, though, it exposes the primary danger to the continuation of its own power that the Establishment now fears. As well, it emphasizes the impossibility of any succor for the American people from the present "two" major poylitical parties......
http://www.newswithviews.com/Vieira/edwin55.htm
by Edward Vieira, Ph.D., JD. Posted, May 28, 07