Dealing with Other Christians

It appears as one reads through the Pauline epistles that the apostle Paul had the same problems with Christians in his day as we do in ours. Much of 1st Corinthians deals with "troublemakers" who are only interested in causing problems or profiting themselves in the eyes of others rather than exalting the Saviour and esteeming others better than themselves.

Paul plainly dealt with such people in chapter three:

3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9 For we are labourers together with God:

Here Paul speaks of those who are carnal and instead of following Christ with the spirit of meekness and kindness, they are guilty of envy, strife, and divisions as they all follow a man instead of God. (Do I really need to go any further with this? That kinda looks like the Fundamentalist movment of today, doesn't it? As it's full of its many camps, groups, Bible Schools, fellowships, man worship, etc.)

But notice what Paul says about himself. He doesn't exalt himself or his group. He asks, "Who is Paul?" (And in Eph. 3:8, he answers this by saying he's "...less than the least of all saints.)

Paul didn't have a high opinon of himself. Nor did he care about "man worship" or the constant "bickering" of Christians amongst themselves. (I've often wondered if he was against all that because it was so prevelant in the circles he ran with before he was saved, you know, when he was a Pharisee!).

No, Paul only wanted Jesus Christ to be glorified and preached.

So how do you, as a Christian, deal with other Christians? Are you compassionate, careful to encourage, and exhort them? Or are you like the Pharisees, who sought only to attack and ridicule Jesus?

Sadly, in the modern Fundamentalist movement, there is very little compassion, exhortation, encouragement, and charity. Instead, we find a bunch of pompous macho men who live only to "attack" others within their own ranks, hoping to catch them in their words and make them look stupid in the eyes of others. But where is the Christian spirit in this?

When dealing with other Christians, the Bible tells us plainly how we should act. Below are a few verses for those who have forgotten:

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.

Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

1 Cor. 16:14 Let all your things be done with charity.

Eph. 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Col. 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.

Col. 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

1 Tim. 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Titus 2:2 That the aged men be sover, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

I could list hundreds of even more verses, but this list should be a good start to convict the heart of many a modern "Fighting Fundamentalist" who has strayed from the Pauline Epistles and the true Christian doctrine of "speaking the truth in love," and "exhorting" others, rather than "extorting" them, and ridiculing them only to make themselves feel good.

Where's the love? Where's the charity?" Where's the kindness in modern Christian circles? Sadly, it's often not there.

What the world needs are more TRUE CHRISTIANS, who will stand for the truth, and earnestly "contend" for the faith, but will do so with the right attitude and the right heart, not attacking in the flesh, but contending in the spirit.

I mention all this, as I recently tried to get on a "Fundamentalist" Forum internet board. As I read through some of the discussions, I quickly found they turned into heated debates. I finally had to get out of that site completely, as those who claimed to be Christians were attacking each other so vehemently, that they were not only name-calling, but even cussing one another out. Where is this in the Bible? It's not there. These so-called brethern (God knoweth if they are saved or not, as they are showing forth a carnal nature rather than a spiritual one) were not dealing with each other they way that the Bible instructs us to. They were only interested in their own opinions, and they were willing to fight tooth and nail to make themselves look right. In short, they were Funny-mental-ists!

What's needed today are more TRUE CHRISTIANS, who practice discernment but also are able to deal with others in a cool, considerate, and compassionate fashion. If a man is a heretic or believes wrong, it's not my job to "Slam him" and "shut him up." I'm only supposed to give him the truth and show him he's wrong. If he doesn't want to hear it, it's not my place to call him names, scream at him, cuss him out, or put him down. I am only responsible to God for whether I told him the truth or not, and I should make sure to open the scriptures and show him the verses. If he rejects it, I reject him. But I don't go into attack mode and allow my flesh to take over, for this is exactly what the Devil wants. It makes me out to be the bad guy, and my testimony is shot. If only modern Fundamentalists would think about this and react in the same way.

Sadly, it appears they will not. They are just like those that Paul mentions, who are following a MAN or a MOVEMENT, and they are more interested in defending themselves and their own viewpoints rather than the Bible's. They believe they are right because they have the "majority" behind them, and they will never allow themselves to entertain the thought that it's possible that the majority might be wrong. Because they have numbers, they feel they can attack and then hide behind their cohorts. But they never seem to realize that this exactly what the Apostle Paul was against. He wanted unity in the body of Christ. And the only way to acheive it was to stop the man worship and stop the carnal practice of dividing the flock of God. In order to have unity in the body of Christ, we must sit down around the word of God and go verse by verse and we must believe what we read. We cannot take verses out of context, or twist them for our own fleshy reasons or monetary gain. We must accept what they say and follow THEM rather than follow MAN.

In dealing with other Christians, let us always remember that being in the flesh will always lead to CARNAL attacks. Rather we should deal with other Christians as spiritually as possible. We should practice the fruits of the spirit, and with meekness and longsuffering encourage and exhort one another. And if we so do, then we can join hands and be about the Lord's business together, rather than apart.

The Greatest Tool of the Devil

Probably the greatest tool the Devil has in his arsenal is his ability to pit people against each other. Satan is a master at making people hate one another, and he's had over 6000 years to perfect his strategy of instilling so much hatred in people's hearts that it leads to physical violence, and if he's lucky: quarrels, fist fights, skirmishes and even outright war.

Satan enjoys sowing seeds of discord among men, to the point that in anger he lashes out at others with unbridled restraint, and hurts or even kills others he doesn't like, or agree with. (See Cain and Abel for case in Point.)

Sadly, the Devil doesn't have to do much, as men are sinners by nature, and thereby easily manipulated to do wrong. But Satan knows just how to harden a man’s heart and use man’s anger for his glory.

The Devil’s desire is for men to get their eyes off God and on the things of the world. Once he sees their hearts are full of lust for the things they see around them, he seeks to get them to look not at themselves, but at others, with a great desire to have what everyone else does.

also loves for men to get their eyes off themselves and onto others, for it's much easier to see the faults of others rather than your own shortcomings. Eventually, men become accustomed to looking only at the evil in others and never focus on the evil in themselves, making them think they are righteous and everyone else is not. And this too leads to confrontation as self-righteous people usually are vocal when they see others do things in ways they think should not be done.

One of Satan's favorite methods is to use man’s pride. He loves to compel men to compare themselves, which inevitable leads to them thinking they are better than everyone else, and often leads to them no longer treating others equally and cordially, rather making them snobs, unfriendly, and cold towards others.

The Devil loves to force men to live together in tight quarters or in city ghettos, where they can be in each others way and became hostile towards one another. (As the old saying goes, "Familiarity breads contempt.") And he loves for them to backbite, ridicule, and poke fun at each other until bitterness breeds in their hearts, dividing the group and pitting one side against another. Usually this is when hostilities and clouds of war form as inevitably one side provokes another into a fight.

And usually one group forces another group into submission as serfs, servants, or vassals.

Over time, this forced subjugation breeds feelings of anger, bitterness, and hatred stir in the hearts of men as they look upon those above them as harsh taskmasters who take advantage of them and their labour.

The devil loves carnage, and he enjoys seeing people devour one another. So much does he thrive on the suffering of others, that it appears his only comfort in Hell will be in watching those he's damned there with him burn in agony at his side.

Satan loves to use man's pride to provoke hostility. Whether it be through social class, education, looks, or position, the devil deceives men into thinking they deserve something. This leads to them thinking they are more valuable then others and therefore entitled to more. This always leads to sin, as the "elite" or "entitled" will take whatever means neccesary for them to get what they feel should be theirs, even take what they want from others, leaving them with nothing.

This ties in well to the modern system of "Communism," which uses class warfare to turn different classes of people against each other so that revolution might ensue and governments be toppled, opening the way for Satan's man to take control.

Once in power, the Devil loves to use propoganda to make all people believe the way he wants them to. He greatly prospers from the mob rule mentality, or turning the crowds against the innocent to murder them cruelly without compassion (as the Jews did to Jesus in screaming Crucify him, Crucify him!)

And once he has the majority on his side, gains great pleasure by using fear and intimidation, to squelch any opposition to his diabolical agenda, even using his agents to capture and torture those who expose his evil plans (like the agents of the Spanish Inquisition, or Hitler's Gestapo, or the Russian KGB).

While enthroned Satan uses his power to cruelly torture, savagely murder, and painfully execute those he hates. (See the holocaust of the Jews in WW II, or Stalin's mass murder of his own people in WW II).

Sadly, it's not Satan who does all this himself. No, he has his minions working for him, and he uses men to carry out his persecution on others. It is they who do the dirty work, without conscience, oftentimes cruelly and savagely murdering others without guilt or remorse.

Yes, Satan's greatest tool is to simply coach man to follow their own carnal fleshly desires, until they become so wicked, so vile, so depraved, that they can willingly engage in the most outrageous and ungodly practices without thinking before hand of the consequences.

Bat Christian?

My friend sent me this, and I've got to say I have mixed emotions about so-called "Christian Films" or "Christian Movies," especially when they take the things of the world and try to copy them. It's almost like you are taking the world and trying to Christianize it. But isn't that just as bad as the world trying to make the church wordly? Either way, the things of the world mix with the things of Christianity. But, shouldn't those things be separate? Is not the church commanded to be separate from the world and to be holy?

That's why when my friend sent me the following video, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Should Christians make parodies of wordly videos? What's next? The "Christian Academy Awards?" I can just see it now. Instead of an "Oscar" they'll be giving out "Joshua" statutes. And instead of church, Christians will go to "Theaters" on Sundays, with the offering being taken out front at the ticket window. Where will it stop???

Anyway, let me know what you think. Click on the following link and go down to where the video is for "Bat Christian." It's fifteen minutes long. And you'll either laugh, or cry, or both, like I did.

http://ricksarticles.blogspot.com/2011/01/batchristian.html

The Seven Pillars of A Christian Life

I heard a great message at Church today in which the Pastor showed what he called the seven pillars of a Christian life, and the importance of all Christians practicing these seven pillars, otherwise they will fall. His text was from 2 Peter 1:5-8:

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

And, I'm sure you can discern from the passage exactly what those seven pillars are that we should add to our faith. They are:

1. virtue

2. knowledge

3. temperance

4. patience

5. godliness

6. brotherly kindness

7. brotherly charity

VIRTUE

The Pastor then said each Christian should learn these things in order. And, as we started looking at each one, I suddenly realized I didn't really know what virtue was. I mean, I used it in sentences before, and I've read the word in the Bible, especially when it speaks of a virtuous woman. But if someone asked me to define the word, I wouldn't know how to define it. So I looked it up in the Webster's 1828 dictionary when I got home. I found it means:

1. Strength

2. Bravery; valor.

3. Moral Goodness The practice of moral duties and the abstaining from vice, or a conformity of life and conversation to the moral law. In this sense, virtue may be, and in many instances must be distinguished from RELIGION. The practice of moral duties merely from motives of conveniences, or from complusion, or from regard to reputation, is VIRTUE, as distinct from religion. The practice of moral duties from sincere love to God and his laws, is virtue... Virtue is nothing but voluntary obedience to truth.

As I thought on this, I gleaned a great truth. Religion is doing something for God because you are COMPELLED to do so, while virtue is doing right because you want to. What a great difference!

How sad to me in our day there are so few Christians there are out there in modern Fundamentalism who have true virtue. Many of them are instead religious, as they might serve God, but they do so because their Pastors force them to, or compel them to, browbeating them time and again for their lack of service for God. Whatever happened to just serving God because you love Him, and not because you are presssured to do so?

So many preachers nowdays have to visit people in their congregation every week, because if they don't they won't come to church. They have to lay guilt trips on their congregation to do visitation or soul winning, because if they don't, then the people won't do so. They have to start programs in which the congregation can earn stuff for each visitor they bring to church, because if they don't, they won't invite others.

The problem is a lack of virtue in the congregation. And the Pastor is too blind to see it. If only he would preach the Bible, preach Christ crucified, and preach the compassion of Jesus, then the congregation could do those things because they WANT TO, not because they are guilt tripped into doing them because they HAVE TO! If only people had a "want to" in themselves, then we could see real revival in America!

How sad there is such a lack of virtue in Christianity today.

KNOWLEDGE

Next, the scriptures speak of "knowledge." We know that this is learning the scriptures after one is saved so they might grow in grace (2 Peter 3:18). But in modern Christianity today we see very little sound bible doctrine being preached and taught from the pulpit, and very little growth in the lives of those we call "converts."

I believe it's because many pastors use "Christian psychology" or modern made up programs of man like the "Purpose Driven" programs. Instead of just teaching verse by verse from the Bible (which is the best way), Pastors often jump around from passage to passage pulling what they want from the scriptures to prove their own points, rather than letting God himself make the point he wants others to get from the context of His word.

Surely, we live in a time of spiritual drought, in which truth lieth in the streets, and people are spiritually anemic. Sure we have many who claim to be "Bible Believers" but very few are actually "Bible Readers." And even fewer still are "Bible Knowers" and "Bible Doers."

If only people would get in the book, and learn it and practice it, my how times would change!

TEMPERANCE

Temperance is our third pillar, and I must admit, I had to look that one up too. It basically means "self-control." I've heard it preached that temperance has to do with the way metal is tempered or heated to make it stronger, and how God often must put us through trials and tribulations to teach us how to deal with things we can't always control without exploding in anger and giving ourselves over to hatred, filthy communications (cussing), and brawling. It's all so we can learn to control ourselves in adversity.

But do modern Christians have temperance? Thankfully many do, but how often do you hear of a man who falls into sin? How often do you see those who name the name of Christ fall into adultery, or some other grevious sin? It's all too common. Their lack of self-control prove they haven't grown in the faith.

PATIENCE

This brings us to our fourth pillar--patience. This is something very few Christians truly have today, nor do they want. I've even heard preachers say things like, "That's one thing you should never pray for, because if you do, God will make you wait to get it!"

But how many today truly practice patience? How many are "longsuffering" with others and able to simply place things in God's hands without trying to fix things themselves? My, what a mess we can make of things when we impatienly do things our way instead of God's way!

Without patience, it's easy to run around like a dead chickenswith their head cut off toiling in the service of the Lord, but doing so in the flesh, not in the Spirit of God. Sure, you can claim, "I'm doing something for God!" But even the Pharisees said the same! It's easy to DO something. But it's harder to first PRAY and then DO, because that takes patience.

Are you a GO AND DO Christian, or are you a PRAY, WAIT, and then GO DO TRUSTING GOD Christian?

The old saying is "Patience is a virtue." We should be patient, waiting on God as we pray and then go and do for Him, never rash and zealously doing something for God without first asking God to bless it!

GODLINESS

Godliness is our fifth pillar, and boy is it an important one. The word shows up in the scriptures only in the New Testament and is mentioned fifteen times. Godliness is living a holy, peaceable and honest life (1 Tim. 2:2) full of good works (1 Tim. 2:10), excercising yourself spiritually by being profitable to God (1 Tim. 4:7,8) consenting to sound doctrine and departing from strife, pride, envy, railings, disputings, and evil surmisings (1 Tim. 6:3-5). It is further fleeing foolish and hurtful lusts and sinful desires, instead following love, patience, meekness (1 Tim. 6:5-11), while acknowledging the truth (Titus. 1:1). For there be many who may hold a "form of godliness" but they deny the truth and the power therefore (See a list of such people in 2 Tim. 2:1-7).

Godliness is wanting to be more like God and to live your life trying to please God. Are all Christians like this today? Most certainly not! There are many who might act godly outwardly and around others, but if you were to follow them home, or see them outside of Church, they are just as worldly, fleshly, and carnal as they can be. They are modern day Pharisees who appear righteous before men, but inwardly are ravenous wolves! God help us! We need more godly Christians in our churches, pulpits, schools, political offices, and secular job force.

BROTHERLY LOVE AND BROTHERLY CHARITY

The next two pillars both are two words long each, and the first word of each is "brotherly." They are brotherly kindness and brotherly charity.

Why did the Holy Ghost use the word brotherly twice? I believe, like in many parts of the scripture, when God uses the same word twice there is a reason for it, and usually it is because it's so important, God chose to tell it to us more than once. It wasn't God being redundant it was for us to remember what he said!

Brotherly kindness and brotherly charity almost sound like the same thing, don't they? So what is the difference between kindness and charity? For you can be kind to someone without being charitable, and you can give charity to someone without being kind. So what's the difference?

Kindness in Webster's 1828 Dictionary is described as: "good will," "hospitality," or "an act of benevolence." And, the word Kind in Webster's is defined as: "Disposed to do good to others, and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; having tenderness or goodness of nature...Proceeding from the tenderness or goodness of heart."

In other words kindess, or benevolence, is the opposite of "violence." It's doing good towards and simply being nice to others who are also Christians (hence the word brotherly), compassionately and caringly as you help those in need.

Does this sound like modern Christianity to you? Are Christians nice to each other all the time practicing acts of goodness one to another? If you say yes, then you must not have been saved for a long time. My old Pastor used to say, "The people who will hurt you the most when you are saved are other Christians!" And, boy have I found that true.

Backbiting, gossip, bitterness of heart, church splits, threatenings, and more are common in Christian circles today, and it's only getting worse. Where is the love? It is a fallen pillar.

What's worse is the great lack of Christian Charity. Webster's defines charity as "...liberality to the poor, consisting in almsgiving or benefactions, or in gratuitous services to relieve them in distress. Alms...any act of kindness."

Charity, then, is more than just being nice. It's giving to those other brothers in need. It's helping those Christians who can't help themselves, and lending a hand to those who need a leg up.

Does this sound like how modern Christians help other Christians? Not on your life! Instead, many churches are more focused on giving to missions than to helping those saints within their own church. Now don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with giving to missions. We should encourage the spread of the Gospel. But how can we care more about lost souls than we do about the souls that are already in the church?

I can't tell you how many empty church buildings I've been invited to preach in. There are far less numbers in Fundamentalits churches than ten, twenty, and even thirty years ago. Why is this?

From what I've seen, the reason most often that people who claim to be Christians are out of church is because instead of finding charity from others in a time of need, they are criticized for not being as rich or as strong or as full of faith as others in the congregation. Because of this, they leave the church because they are not helped, only hindered by self-concieted Christians who only care about themselves. Their attitude is "I got mine, now you go get yours and leave me alone!"

Where is the love? It used to be Christian character was so strong that it dictated to the world how they should behave. People worldwide in the Victorian Era prided themselves on being civil, charitable, and courageous. But today the church has adopted the world's attitude of "Me first, you next, maybe!"

I remember, and it wasn't that long ago, when a member of the church was suffering financial difficulties, other members would anonymously buy him groceries and leave them on his door step. But now it's hard to find Christians with that same spirit of charity. Why is this? Could it be because modern day Pharisees have entered the ranks are are only interested in what they can get from others rather than what they can give?

SUMMARY

In closing, let me say that the message I heard that Pastor preach today really led me to thinking, and really showed me some things that I need to do in my life to strengthen those pillars so that I will not "fall" as the Apostle Peter says.

However, it also exposed to me the reason that modern Fundamentalist Christianity today is so powerless amid an evil and ungodly world. It has given heed to the world, and has chosen wordliness over godliness. It's lack of virtue has lead to it becoming a political, religious system which tries to control men, rather than encourage men to serve God of a pure heart. Rather than teach sound Bible doctrine, it seeks to replace it with tradition and the programs of men. Rather than being temperant and patience, it has become so anxious to appear godly, it does all it can for God in the flesh, without first seeking God's face and striving to serve Him in the power of God. Because of its carnality, the church has turned from true kindness and charity to strife, envying, backbiting, and attacking one another. Their pillars have fallen, and rather than rebuild, they are tearing them down even further.

The Pastor said it well when he said: "The world is getting darker, and did you know that the darker it gets the brighter a light is? We are the light of the world, and the only light this dark world will ever see!" But he then added sadly, "But as the world is getting darker, I fear that the church is getting dimmer. It's because they have allowed the pillars to fall. We need to set them up again!"

Do I really need to say anymore? How is your Christian life? How are your pillars?

As the Pastor said, "Heads bowed and eyes closed..."

The Truth About Accusers

I had a friend in Bible School who told me he had a theory in which he believed, and I quote, "When someone accuses someone of something, it's usually because they are guilty of that same thing themselves."

I've often thought of this, and over the years I've found this to be so very true. People who are quick to jump on your case and lamblast you over something often do so because they themselves are indeed guilty of the very same thing! Time and again I've seen this pattern, and time and again it has held true.

A good example in our day is the political attitude in America. The left often claim the problem with America is the right, who they make out to be the bad guys and the "fanatical" ones that they claim are full of "hate" and "intolerance." But when you take an objective look at the left, their writers, their heroes, and their leaders, you will find time and again that it is THEY who most often are guilty of spewing hatred, threatening violence, encouraging civil unrest, and even promoting revolution.

Yet, when you point this out, you are automatically labeled an intolerant "dissenter" or an inciter of "civil unrest." It's almost as if they can do no wrong, and the right is wrong just for existing. But who is the real hatemonger? It's the left!

As I look at the concept of the evil ones accusing the just of what they themselves are guilty of, I see the pattern repeating itself time and again. And I can't help but automatically think to myself, "If so and so is accused of something, he's probably innocent and those accusing him are indeed the guilty ones."

As I study more, I continually find that all throughout history it seems time and again those who were on the right were constantly labelled as the bad guys by the left, and often eradicated because they would not waiver on what they believed.

The case of Jesus Christ is a prime example. The Pharisees, who tried to appear innocent and righteous in the eyes of man, where the scourage of the earth using religion to steal from widows and milk people of their earnings. When Jesus appeared, the sinless Lamb of God, they had nothing good to say about Him. Instead, they accused him of everything under the sun. They even charged him with the outrageous sin of blasphemy, when they themselves were the blasphemers who rejected Jesus and eventually crucified Him.

As I see the pattern time and again, I think to myself, there must be a reason for all this. I'm no psychologist (nor do I want to be), but I believe there is something to all this. There must be an explanation of why those who do wrong want to blame others instead of take the blame themselves. (You know, kind of like Cain did with Abel).

I guess the reason is that people just don't want to be found out. I'm sure that Bible verses like, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23), must scare them horribly. Deep down in their psyche, they must know what they are doing is not right. But rather than expose themselves and turn from their evil ways, they know it's just easier to place the blame on others, thinking the accusation against someone else would get the eyes of them and on the accused.

Maybe it makes them feel better to pass the blame to others so they don't feel bad themselves for what they have done or said. Or maybe they just enjoy making others feel bad, and it makes them feel empowered. Or maybe they secretly want others to be just as bad as they are, because that would make them think they aren't that bad because everyone is just like themselves.

Whatever the reason might be, history, the bible, and experience prove that time and again when someone accuses you of something, it's almost certain that the reason they are doing so is because THEY THEMSELVES are guilty of the very same thing!

Because of this, I've made it a point to do my best to never blame anyone for anything. That is, if a man or woman sins, I just try to leave that between them and God. I don't call them or write them a letter and tell them they are guilty of this and that. If they are, they know it already. They don't need me to remind them. They probably think of it over and over every day and it bothers them greatly.

They do not need someone riding them and reminding them of their wickedness, for this usually turns them off and makes them angry, hateful, and spiteful. What they do need is someone who can tell them how to get rid of that sin. That's what is so great preaching the Gospel! It's not so much about accusing someone personally of a certain sin. It's about spreading the wonderful Biblical truth that God died for all their sins. Let them fill in the blank of which sin they want to accuse themselves of.

As a preacher, I've learned that preaching against sin is important. And, I try to do that. But I also don't accuse others of their sins personally face to face. That's what a Pharisee would do. Instead, I try to preach against sin, and hopeful they themselves will come to the conclusion that what they are doing is sin and they'll be convicted. And hopefully, they will come to that conclusion from the SCRIPTURES, and not from man's personal accusation.

With that stated, I'll close by saying that I have been personally accused many times of things by other Christians. Or maybe I should say, "those who call themselves Christians." And I can say that when someone accuses you of being guilty of something, it really hurts. That is at first. But if you can pray, read the scriptures, and take a long look at yourself and see that what they accuse you of is not true, then it's great to know their accusations don't have a leg to stand on. And every day that goes by, it's great to know that they are the bad guys, for they have LIED about you. And eventually, it will come out that what they accused you of is probably what they themselves are guilty of themselves! And if you'll just give it time, they will expose themselves for what they really are!

As Jesus said to the Pharisees, "Let him that hath no sin cast the first stone!"

That means we shouldn't be throwing any stones, because we ourselves are all sinners. We should be looking at ourselves, instead of looking at others and trying to get into their business and trying to straighten them out. Instead, we should pray for them, and ask God to show them their sins. Further, we should pray that God would convict them of their sins, and that they would get right.

THE SIN OF BOASTING

There is one sin in the Bible that you will probably not hear much about. That is the sin of BOASTING. The reason you'll not hear a Preacher cry against it, is because so many ministers today are guilty of this henious transgression.

Modern Fundamentalism is full of ministers who brag upon themselves and others within their ranks, each one esteeming the other and exalting them within their group. They have made man more worthy of praise than God, as they continually boast of their ministries just like Jehu in the Old Testament, encouraging others to "come and see their zeal for the Lord." But is it right to brag upon ourselves? What does the Bible say about it?

The sin of bragging is dealt with in the scriptures time and again. In the Bible, the word "brag" does not appear. Instead, the scriptures use the words "boast" and "boasting." And, for a person to boast of himself is something God frowns upon. Just look at the two following passages of scripture in which God speaks about sins and sinners. Notice how "boasters" are listed along with the wickedest of men.

2 Tim. 3:1-5

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, BOASTERS, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Rom. 1: 28-32

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, BOASTERS, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Notice in the first passage it speaks about the last days, in which I believe we now live. They are perilous times, in which men love themselves more than others. This "love of man" or "humanism" is the root reason we see so much bragging today.

In the second passage, we find a list of ungodly sins, and we find the word "proud" comes just before the word "boaster." I'm sure you would agree that a man who boasts about himself is a conceited person who is full of pride. Futher, he is someone who thinks more of himself than others. This is a sin, and something that God hates. In fact, in Philippians 1:3, we are commanded not to be haughty and highminded, rather: ...in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

Even though the Bible clearly proves "boasting" or "bragging" upon one's self is a SIN, modern Fundamentalism has become nothing more than a "Bragger's Club," in which many ministers and laymen are given over completely to bragging upon their "numbers" within their congregation or within their denominational affiliation.

As I study the scriptures, I see time and again that this is something God hates. For he wishes people to trust Him and brag upon Him, rather than bragging upon themselves and their own strength. One case in point will suffice to prove this. In 1 Chronicles 21:1, we read of King David, and how Satan provoked David to want to number Israel, so he could boast of his army. Even Joab, David's evil captain of the guard was against this, but he obeyed. What happened? God got so angry with David's wanting to "number" his host, that God came to him and told him that he was going to judge David and take out his wrath on Israel. David responds in vs 17, "...Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed..."

God doesn't want us to brag upon our numbers and how many we are. He wants us to focus on Him and how great He is!

James chapter four and verses 15-16 even tell us: "For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil."

Did you catch that? To boast of your own strength and rejoice in your boastings is EVIL!

Yet modern Fundamentalists do just that, rejoicing in their movements, their numbers, and their small kingdoms which they have built. They have become nothing less than modern day Pharisees who continually brag upon themselves, their ministries, their programs, etc. But, what's wrong with just simply bragging on Jesus, and boasting about what He's done?

If the apostle Paul were here today, I'm sure he'd be sickened by what he would see in modern Christianity, in which people are busy boasting of themselves rather than bragging on Jesus.

Let's look at an example of how Paul spoke to others about "boasting" in 2 Cor. 10. And as you read this passage, notice how many times he uses the word "boast" and how he makes it a point to not boast of himself and his numbers, rather to simply glorify God.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ:

15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,

16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Clearly, the sin of man boasting about himself is not something the apostle Paul was guilty of. But compare that with how "Christians" act today, especially Modern Fundamentalists who brag upon their movements and boast about their ministries and what they are doing for God. They almost sound exactly like the Pharisees of old, who bragged about their positions and power, while they chose not to humble themselves before Jesus Christ and honor Him by giving Him all the glory.

So conceited were the Pharisees that they almost exalted themselves to godhood, thinking they could do not wrong. And what happened? When God did show up, they thought they knew better than he did, and even ridiculed Him, and eventually crucified Him.

Just look at the arrogance and pride of the Pharisees as they speak to Jesus in John chapter 8:

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.

41 Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication;

48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?

The Pharisees bragged about being of a certain seed and of having Abraham as their Father (Man worship). But in their conceited self-righteous pride, they had the audacity to accuse Jesus of being a bastard and demon possessed. How could they do such a thing? It was because they for so long had bragged upon themselves, who they were, and where they came from, that they couldn't come to accept they could be wrong. Bragging or Boasting on one's self, or one's movement, leads to them being puffed up with PRIDE, something which keeps people from humbling themselves before God.

Interestingly enough, in the same passage, God says they are of their father the Devil (in vs 44). And how odd, that in Job chapter 41 and verse 34 we are told that Leviathan (or Satan) is the KING over all the children of Pride.

The sin of boasting, then, is not only a damnable sin which not only exalts sinners and downgrades the Saviour, but it is a sin which can also lead people to denying Christ just as the Pharisees of old!

Is it no wonder that God used the apostle Paul to pen these amazing words about salvation in Ephesians 2:8,9:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST.

According to the Bible, we are not to boast, period. We should rather brag on Jesus. For boasting oftentimes leads us to thinking we are something we are not. It makes us think we are better than others or more important. And it can even lead a person to HELL, if he is so used to bragging upon himself that he thinks he is good enough to get to heaven without Jesus Christ.

That leads us to this important question: "Are you a bragger?"

If you are guilty of boasting on your denomination, or your own good works, or something you've done for God, why not repent right now? By repent I mean, "Feel sorry for it, and humble yourself before God." Boasting oftentimes exalts us, and downgrades Jesus. Why would you want to do that? Why not say with John the Baptist, HE must increase and I must decrease!

What's wrong with instead of saying, "I did such and such for God..." Why not say, "God's done such and such with me!" Give God the glory! Stop stealing it for yourself! Don't be a modern day Pharisee!

God's not interested in your works or your boastings. If you brag about yourself or what you are doing, even if it's done for God, He could care less!!! All God wants is for us to brag on Him, and if we boast, let us boast about what he's done for us, not what we are doing for him. For only He is worthy of praise and honor (Rev. 4:11).

The Sin of Cross dressing

Probably the most hated thing for ministers to preach against today is the sin of women wearing pants. Women who do so are oftentimes angered to hear preaching like this and usually nag their husbands, and sometimes even give their preachers an earful. Because the world does it, and because many women so often have worn pants all their lives, they can't see anything wrong with it. And when a preacher preaches against it, it makes them furious, claiming the preacher has gone to "meddling" instead of simply preaching the Bible. But is this so? Is a preacher just trying to shove off his own convictions on the females of his congregation when he preaches this, or is he indeed preaching the Bible? Let's look at the verses and then the arguments against it and I ask you to search your self and see what you believe about the issue.

My wife and I have our own convictions on the subject, and I'll tell you from the get-go what we believe. We don't believe in wearing each other's clothes! My wife doesn't wear my slacks, and I don't wear her dresses. She has a conviction against wearing pants, blue jeans, shorts, suits, etc. And I have a conviction against wearing dresses, skirts, kilts, blouses, etc. These are our own personal convictions.

And I'll further state we don't try to push our convictions on anyone (like the Pharisees did). However, we do believe in pointing out the Bible verses we use to prove why we believe what we do, and we encourage people to pray about it after they've seen the verses and do what they know is right to please God. If a woman can wear pants and think it's pleasing to God, then let her do it. If a guy can wear a dress and he thinks this pleases God, then more power to him. Our only desire is to show them the scriptures and then pray they will make a decision based upon what GOD says about the issue.

Many Christians don't know there is a verse in the Bible that deals with this issue. Oftentimes preachers preach against women wearing pants, but they don't back it up with scripture. When they do, they usually use verses that are taken out of context, or oftentimes are stretched to the desired goal of the preacher.

The main verse in dealing with cross dressing found in Deuteronomy 22:5. It states:

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Because this verse is found in the Old Testament, many are quick to say, "Oh, that's written only to the Jews way back when under the law and it's not applicable to us today."

But is that the case? Of course we aren't under the law. In other words, we don't have to keep the law to be saved or stay saved.

However, look at that verse again. Notice it says it's an "abomination" to God for a man to wear that which pertains to a woman and vice versa.

Have you ever done a study on things in the Bible that God calls an abomination? You really should. For they are not only an abomination to God in the Old Testament, but they are still an abomination to God today. Just because we are under grace and not under the law doesn't mean it's not an abomination to God anymore.

Using this arguement, I could say the following, "Well, homosexuality was called an abomination to God in the Old Testament, but we are under grace, so it's okay today, and we as Christians should practice it!"

If I said that, I'm sure Christians would attack me vehemently and say, "NO! It's still wrong today!"

Well wait a minute? Then if that's wrong, because the Bible called it an abomination, then wouldn't women wearing pants be wrong as well?

Suddenly there is a great silence...

You see, you can't make an arguement like "Oh, that's just Old Testament law" and then say wearing pants is okay, unless you logically follow through with that argument and make all the things God said were an abomination to Him okay as well. And boy are there a lot of abominations in the Old Testament.

For my wife and I, we both don't want to be guilty of partaking in something God said was abominable. That's why for us personally we don't do cross-dressing. I don't wear dresses and she doesn't wear pants. That's our own personal conviction we've formed after reading the scriptures.

What we don't understand is when Christians hear this and know this that they can say, "Well, I don't care. So what if it's an abomination to God. I like my pants, and I'm going to wear them!"

How does this please the Lord? Shouldn't a women want to please God? And shouldn't a man want to do so as well? Doesn't a Christian woman's want to wear pants after she's heard and understood this show her rebellion against God and his word?

I'll let you answer that question for yourself. Once again, we aren't pushing our convictions on anyone. I'm not saying, like some crazy Fundamentalists do, "If a woman wears pants, she'll go to HELL!" That's ridiculous. However, I do point out the scriptures and the whole "abomination" thing and then look at how Christians respond to it. For me, we can't cross dress. My wife and I just feel we'd be dishonoring God if we did so. So how do others, who've heard the truth, continue doing so and it doesn't bother them at all?

Then the question becomes, "Well, is it a sin?" I'll neither say yea or nay. All I'll say is for me and my wife it is. While for others it might not be.

But one good thing about my wife wearing dresses only is that people notice her and see she's different. I can't tell you how many times we've been approached by people asking if we were Christians. Why did they say that? It was because of how we were dressed.

Wouldn't other Christian women get a chance to witness as well if they only wore dresses? But not doing so, are they robbing God of opportunites to witness for Christ?

I'll stop there. There are many more things I could say. But that's a lot for you to chew on. All I can say is, "I'm not going to wear dresses and my wife is not going to wear pants, and we like it that way! And we feel we are pleasing God! And it's been a great opportunity to witness for Jesus Christ, as people see our convictions and know we are different!"

Confusing Gospel Tracts

My wife and I went to Chick-Fil-A for a free sandwich the other day, and while there I went to the men's room. As I walked in, I noticed a gospel tract on the cork bulletin-board, and I took it down to read it. It was simply one small piece of paper printed on the front with nothing on the back. What it said was:

"The Bible says in Romans 10:9, "That if thou (you) shalt confess with they mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine hart that God hat raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, thou (you) shalt be saved!"

It's that simple! If you will believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, then say this prayer--just say, "God I believe in my heart that Jesus died, shed His blood, and arose from the dead. Jesus, come into my heart and give me eternal life. I now confess that Jesus is my LORD! Thank you, Father for saving me!"

Next, find a local Bible-Believing church and attend regularly. And study God's Word--Get a Children's Bible Story Book, read through it several times. It will give you an overview of the whole Bible from cover to cover. I did it.

You will fail and make mistakes, but DON'T QUIT! Simply ask Jesus to forgive you when you fail, and He will! He is not a hard taskmaster; He is tender, loving and full of mercy. He knows who you are and loves you very much."

Several things were troubling to me in this tract. As I read tracts, I like to try to read them through the eyes of a lost guy, thinking as he does, and wondering what he would think if he read this. And what I saw was this tract could very easily confuse a sinner into thinking that "saying the prayer" outloud alone vocally would be all that's needed for him to do to save himself. Where is the "believe in the heart" in this?

As I looked further, I found in the prayer itself it said: "God, I believe in my heart that Jesus died, shed His blood, and arose from the dead." This was good. And you might be asking: If that's true, then isn't a guy saved? Isn't that all's that necessary, just believing! I say, "YES!" Believing is all that's needed to be saved.

However, what if the sinner prays that prayer from the mouth, with no belief from the heart. In other words, he "repeats" the prayer but doesn't believe in Christ when he does so. Isn't he still lost? Sadly, he is. For prayer and repeating words, save no one. FAITH is what saves.

Next, the tract instructs the sinner to say: "Jesus, come into my heart and give me eternal life." But, where is this found in the Bible? This is the modern new age gospel that has its roots in the Unitarian/Universalist movement. (Which started the "ask Jesus into your Heart" stuff).

The Bible clearly teaches if a man believes, then Jesus does enter in. Why then would a man try to command God to come in to him when God already promised He would at the very moment the sinner believes? Doesn't make much sense.

Later down in the tract is the worst part. It says "You will fail...simply ask Jesus to forgive you..."

If I read my Bible right, and I believe I do, when a person is saved, they are forgiven of all sins: PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE. When then would a person ask God to forgive him after he's saved? Does that mean God didn't forgive him before?

No, the Bible speaks about confessing your sins to God, not for forgiveness, as a true believer already has that, rather for fellowship. When we sin as Christians, we should confess our sins to God alone, and tell Him we are sorry. This is not so we don't go to Hell. It's so that God will not chastize us here on earth. In other words, it's for Him to be merciful to us here. (Prov. 28:13)

Can someone be saved reading this Gospel tract? Sure. If a guy has had a seed planted before and wants to be saved, he can get saved reading this tract. I'm not saying he couldn't. But I am saying the wording of this tract is quite confusing. Why do people write tracts that are so confusing? For a man who knows nothing and simply reads this can end up praying and then trusting his PRAYER. He then can just beg God for forgiveness everytime he sins thereafter, and what has he become? Nothing more than a lost religious person.

Where's the blood in this tract? And where is FAITH alone IN THE BLOOD in this tract? It's not there. Sure it mentions the blood, but it doesn't instruct the sinner to trust the blood atonement alone for salvation.

This tract looks to me like a compilation of all the various methods or instructions that many are preaching today for a sinner to get saved. It's like the tract is trying to cover all the bases, so Christians who read the tract will like it, each one seeing what they want to see. In the tract we find salvation is by:

1. PRAYING THE PRAYER

2. ASKING JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR HEART

3. CONFESSING THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD

4. ASKING JESUS TO FORGIVE YOU YOUR SINS

And more. To me, this is an "eccumenical" tract, and who ever put it out would do much better to simply quote 1 Cor. 15:1-4 and other verses and then point sinners to Christ through FAITH ALONE in His SHED BLOOD.

To those who claim I'm "straining at gnats" let me give a brief testimony. Before I was saved, I read tracts like this all the time. Mostly, I read Chick Tracts. I "prayed the prayer" over conservatively 1500 times from age 13 to age 18. Never once was I saved. The tracts were confusing me. They told me I had to pray, and I was trusting my prayer to save me. The fact that I had to pray it again and again showed I wasn't saved.

I'm not the only one that this happened to. My wife went through the very same thing. And many others we've spoken to and heard from. This is a real problem today in Modern Christianity. Untold millions are confused by Gospel tracts instructing them to DO something rather than simply believing upon what Jesus has already DONE for them.

If this is true, that means there are countless millions of people who think they are Christians but they are utterly lost. Instead of modern ministers addressing the problem and seeking to see them saved, they gloss over the issue, often times just calling it a problem of "semantics." They just don't want to think that so many could be lost and on their way to Hell. But what if they are?

I believe there is nothing of any greater value to God in this universe than the human soul. It is so precious and dear to Him, that he died on the cross to save it. With this in mind, shouldn't we take a look at this problem? Shouldn't souls be as precious to us as they are to God?

A clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and a plain pointing of sinners to Christ crucified in their place for their sins should absolve all confusion. Preaching the Blood alone for salvation and man's faith in it (Rom. 3:25) completely obliterates all confusion, for as the old Hymn states, "There is power in the Blood!"

With this in mind, let me just show one more tract that I recently was sent in the mail from a famous Tract printing organization that I believe is very confusing, which proves my point that instead of CLARIFYING SALVATION, modern Christians are CONFUSING SINNERS.

The tract is entitled, "I'm a Pretty Good Person." And on the front cover it continues, "I would never hurt anybody. I am honest. I love and care for my family. Surely I will go to Heaven when I die."

Now identify yourself with a lost sinner. When you read that, you might be thinking, "Yep, that pretty much describes me!"

To add to confusion the tract continues on the next page, "It is true; most people are pretty good."

Thankfully, the tract goes on to quote Romans 3:10 and 23, proving Biblically man is not good, but inheritantly evil and in need of salvation.

But as the tract continues, it reads, "You must believe that Jesus died for you." This is great! But it doesn't stop there. The tract continues on the back page with the following:

"...Ask Him (God) to save you and take you to Heaven when you die...Please call on Him today...What a tragedy it would be for a good person like you to die and go to hell."

What??? First it instructs a sinner to ASK God to save them and take them to heaven (instead of simply TRUST him to do so by Faith), and then it calls the sinner a "good person." Weird? I thought it earlier quoted that there was NONE GOOD, no not ONE!

Finally, it ends with the following prayer: "Dear Jesus, I realize I am a sinner and you paid for my sin on the cross. Please forgive me, save my soul from hell, and take me to Heaven when I die. Thank you, Lord, for saving me. Amen."

Notice it doesn't say, "Lord, I trust you and your finished work on the cross." Or "Jesus, I accept by faith your shed blood as sufficient to wash my sins away."

Why not???

It further instructs the sinner to say, "Please." Will God save someone who is sincere, and who begs him nicely for salvation apart from BELIEVING in his Atoning work? Not on your life!

What a confusing tract. It confuses a sinner from the get go, by making him think he is good, then telling him that according to the Bible he isn't, but then in the end stating he is. What??? Am I the only one who sees a problem here?

Then, instead of instructing a sinner to simply BELIEVE upon the finished work of Christ -- i.e. His Shed Blood -- it instructs the sinner to only realize (rather than believe) Jesus died for his sins and then beg Him for forgiveness.

You might say I'm a stickler for things like this and I'm being too critical. But am I? The Devil specializes in deceiving people and he'll use anything he can to damn souls to Hell, even confusing Gospel Tracts!

Why not print Gospel tracts like they did back in the 1800s when they didn't instruct a sinner to do or pray anything? What's wrong with simply ending with, "Trust the blood to be saved or reject it and go to Hell!" Why do they "pressure" a sinner to do something. (By the way, the only thing a man can do that's not a work is believe!)

This is why my wife and I print our own tracts. We can't in good conscience pass out tracts that can and often do confuse sinners. I pray if you are passing out tracts, you'll make sure to pass out good ones with a clear and concise plan of salvation pointing sinners to salvation through God's method--through His blood atonement. For souls are at stake. And if you are Christian, some day you will give account to God. Are you prepared? Do you feel the tracts you use clearly present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a non-confusing manner? If not, then get some good tracts, or else do what we are doing, print your own.

Chivalry is not dead!

I had a great experience yesterday as my wife and daughter and I went to Lowe's. As I walked around the store looking for supplies, I happened upon a Preacher (more specifically an Indpendent Baptist Pastor) that I knew. He and I had written to each other in the past, and quite frankly I don't agree with the man, who preaches so hard on the subject of Repentance, without defining what it means Biblically, that he almost makes it a work of salvation that someone must do before they believe.

But even though we don't see eye to eye on everything, I was surprised the man walked right up to me and said, "Bro. Breaker, how are you?"

He then put out his hand to shake mine! We then talked for a few minutes, and had a great time of fellowship.

What a contrast to the other "Christian" the other day who just walked by and wouldn't even speak to me, much less shake my hand!

I guess that just goes to show you Chivalry is not dead! If only all Christians could be so cordial as this Pastor was. And although I don't agree with him in everything, I have a new found respect for the man for stopping to shake my hand and speak with me. This is how Christian love should be.