Thursday, December 29, 2011

The LDS Church (Mormon) has a document, which is a part of their inspired Scripture called "The Articles of Faith." Every Mormon knows these articles and knows that they are a summary of what they believe...or at least what they want the rest of the world to know they believe (you'll find nothing about their secret (they say "sacred") stuff such as the Temple Ceremony, and a few other things).

I thought it would be interesting to compare the 13 articles against Biblical Christianity and see if the LDS church passes the test for being called Christian. After the comparison, you will plainly see they fail the test MISERABLY!

In America, you have the right to believe any religious tenets you wish. I grant them this. But it really gets my dander up when they say they want to be considered as Christians when their doctrines are as far apart from Christianity as Earth is from Pluto (the planet, not the dog).

Let's take a look at the comparison:

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. This statement does not affirm the three persons of the Godhead as one God (the Trinity).

Response: The Bible teaches that not only is the Father God, the Son is God also (Ex. 3: 14 c.f. Jn. 8: 58, 59) and the Holy Spirit is God as well (Acts 5: 3, 4). Jehovah (YHVH) and Elohim and one and the same (Dt. 6: 4 (Heb.)).

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

Response: Adam's sin was passed on to all humanity. Humans are under condemnation for his sin (Rom. 5: 12).

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

Response: The LDS definition of "saved" (resurrected to face judgment) is not the definition of the Bible (saved from the wrath to come (Mt. 3: 7; Lk. 3: 7; I Th. 1: 10). In Biblical Christianity, salvation is not according to obedience to laws and ordinances but by grace through faith in Jesus (Eph. 2: 8, 9; Rom. 4: 4, 5).

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Response: Baptism, a work of righteousness, is not part of the Gospel nor salvation, nor does it remit sins (I Cor. 1: 17: Tit. 3: 5). The Holy Spirit is given in many incidents in the Bible without the laying on of hands (Acts 2: 4; 10: 44; 11: 15).

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

Response: Many men in the Bible were called of God without hands being laid on them (Noah, Moses, Gideon, Samuel, all twelve of Jesus' apostles, plus many others). The Mormon authority to preach and administer ordinances (the Melchizedek priesthood) does not exist in actuality since Jesus Christ holds the priesthood and it cannot be passed to anyone else (Heb. 7: 24 KJV "unchangeable" = Gr.: "aparabatos" = "untransferable").


6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

Response: While pastors, evangelists and teachers exist in Biblical Christianity today, prophets (Old Testament) and apostles (New Testament) were the foundation of the church. The foundation has been laid. No one lays the foundation to a building twice (Eph. 2: 19, 20). Interestingly, the LDS do not use the term "pastor," but rather "bishop" when referring to the leader of the local congregation.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

Response: Why isn't anything resembling the "gift of tongues" and the "interpretation of tongues" practiced today in the LDS church. These gifts are practiced today by Pentecostals and Charismatics (which number over 500,000,000). If these miraculous gifts exist in the LDS church, why is there a school to academically learn foreign languages at the Missionary Training Center at Brigham Young University?

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

Response: The use of the term "as far as it is translated correctly" implies there are errors in the Bible (c.f. Prov. 30: 5; Mt. 24: 35; Mk. 13: 31; Lk. 21: 33). It is also apparently a "loophole" when LDS doctrine contradicts the Bible and also means the Bible is inferior to LDS Scripture. It is impossible to academically determine if the Book of Mormon was translated correctly since the original language document is not available. The Book of Abraham text is not translated correctedly from the source document of Egyptian hieroglyphics. Also, there are no additions to the Bible allowed (Dt. 4: 2; 12: 32; 2 Cor. 11: 4; Prov. 30: 6).

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

Response: Not all that is claimed to be revealed from God is actually from God. It must must not contradict God's already known revelation, the Holy Bible.

10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

Response: America is nowhere mentioned in Bible prophecy and Christ's return will be in modern-day Israel (Zech. 14 : 2-4; Joel 3: 1-2: 14-16; Eze 43: 7). Isaiah 9: 7 reveals that Christ will sit on David's throne which has never been anywhere but Israel. The earth will not be "renewed," but recreated (Rev. 21: 1).

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

Response: If this is true, why did Joseph Smith claim he was told by God that all Christian churches and creeds were false and all who professed their faith in these churches were corrupt (Joseph Smith -- Hist. 1: 19)? Why does the LDS church consider themselves "the only true church" (Boyd K. Packer, 1985 (Packer is currently the president of the church's twelve apostles and in line to be the next Prophet of the church)? If I wish to join the LDS church, why will they not consider my Christian baptism to be valid?

12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

Response: LDS church records show that both church leaders and members in Utah continued to practice polygamy, against United States law, after the state joined the U.S. in 1896.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Response: There are LDS leaders and church members who are familiar with the doctrine called "lying for the Lord." Mormon Historian and former BYU professor D. Michael Quinn called the use of deception by LDS church leaders, "theocratic ethics." (The Mormon Hierarchy: Origins of Power, p. 112) It is a recognized fact that Joseph Smith lied about polygamy to protect himself or the church; which was an extension of himself.

In our country, the LDS church has the right to believe whatever they please. They can believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster or anything else for that matter. That's not the issue here. The issue is simple: STOP CALLING YOURSELF CHRISTIAN WHEN YOU DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS CHRISTIANS BELIEVE!!

Ciao for now,

Dave

Monday, November 28, 2011

The 12 Signs of a true church?

I have just viewed a YouTube video that attempts to explain why the LDS (Mormon) church is the only true church. (By the way, you can view it for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCTZVh3l3ZA. The video, most likely posted by an LDS zealot (it claims not to speak officially for the church itself), lists the 12 reasons by which we will know the "true church." After viewing this video, I quickly realized the LDS church fails ON ALL 12 COUNTS!!! Let's look at them:

1. The LDS Church has a prophet and twelve apostles, as did the Savior's ancient church.

As we turn to the Bible (which the Mormons claim they believe), we find in Ephesians 2:20 that the church was built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. That foundation was laid 2,000 years ago. After the foundation of a house or other building is laid, you don't lay another one. Christian (not Mormon) churches today were indeed built on a foundation of apostles and prophets, but we don't need to lay the foundation again.

2. LDS priesthood holders can trace their authority directly to Jesus Christ.

The problem here is that no man (sorry, ladies) in the LDS church holds the Melchiszedek priesthood. Hebrews 7: 21-25 is very clear when it says that Jesus holds the priesthood forever and it cannot transferred to another person. Verse 24 uses the Greek word "aparabatos" to describe Jesus' priesthood. That word (used only once in Scripture) means "incapable of being transferred." It cannot mean anything else.

3. The LDS Church is guided by continuous revelation through its prophet, as was the New Testament church.

Jesus told us specifically that ALL Old Testament-style prophets (which the LDS claim to have) ended with John the Baptist (Matthew 11: 3 - note the word "all"). The writer of Hebrews in chapter 1, verse 1 tells us clearly that although God did speak before through prophets, He now speaks only through Jesus Christ (Christ's word, of course, is the Bible).

4. The LDS Church understands and teaches the biblical doctrine that God and Jesus are separate and distinct divine beings, who communicate with each other, who are aware of each other's existance, and who work in perfect harmony with each other.

Biblical? This is IN NO WAY a Bible doctrine. This doctrine NEVER existed in the Christian church. No one ever heard of it until the Mormons came along in the early 19th Century. Matthew closes his gospel by quoting Jesus' commandment to baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Mt. 28: 19). "Name" NOT "names." There is ONE God who reveals himself in three persons. This is the God of the Bible.

5. The LDS Church affirms that the Savior was literally resurrected, and that he lives today.

This goes nowhere to prove the LDS is the only true church. Almost every Christian church believes this (of course, the "Savior" the LDS believe in is not the Jesus of the Bible. The Mormon Jesus was a created being. The Biblical Jesus is eternal and created all things (Colossians 1:16)).

6. The LDS Church obeys the law of tithing.

There is no "law of tithing." All Old Testament laws were nailed to the cross and fulfilled in Christ (Col. 2: 14; Romans 10: 4). Many Christians go well beyond "tithing" when it comes to giving to the Lord.

7. The LDS Church possesses the additional scripture prophesied of in the Bible.

The only thing in the Bible the LDS can REMOTELY point to as a "proof-text" for additional scripture is Ezekiel 37: 16, 19, the stick of Judah and the stick of Ephraim. If you read this portion of the Bible IN CONTEXT, you find Ezekiel is prophesying about Israel becoming a consolidated nation again. The word "stick" is never used in the Bible as a type of anything written, and especially not scripture. Actually, the Bible has strick warnings about anyone making additions (Deuteronomy 4: 2; 12: 32; Proverbs 30: 5, 6, et. al.).

8. The LDS Church is a missionary church, as was the Savior's ancient church.

This proves absolutely nothing. Almost every church has missionaries.

9. The LDS Church has a lay local clegy. Leaders are not salaried.

This an amazing smoke screen. Yes, no one in the local ward receives a paycheck, but the leaders of the church are the HIGHEST paid clergy on earth. I once worked for the Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (now known as Deseret Management Corporation -- parent corporation of major insurance, banking and broadcasting companies, to name a few). Their board members just happen to be the First Presidency and the 12 apostles of the LDS church. Having "been there," can tell you the dividends they receive are every bit as high as those of the board of General Motors or Microsoft.

10. The LDS Church teaches that baptism is essential for salvation. As did the ancient church and Prophets.

The "ancient church and Prophets" as well as the Bible do NOT teach that baptism is essential for salvation . There is no Scripture (or even concept) in the Bible that teaches, "he who is not baptized is damned." Titus 3:5 says, "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his own mercy has he saved us, by the washing of regeneration (new birth -- NOT baptism)...." (see also Galatians 2: 21; Ephesians 2: 8,9, et. al.)

11. The LDS Church teaches that our thoughts and actions play a role in our salvation.
Conversely, the Bible teaches that our thoughts are evil and what separates us from God (Jeremiah 17: 9); and our actions are incapable of obtaining salvation (see #10 above).

12. The LDS Church can answer the three great questions of life: "Where did I come from?" "Why am I here?" "Where am I going after death?"

Almost all Christians churches, in fact just about every religion, address these questions, so this statement provides no proof the Mormon church is the true church. In fact, the Bible actually has completely different answers to these questions from LDS doctrine.

A. Where did I come from? LDS: A pre-existance in which our station in this life was determined by how valiantly we fought in a war in heaven. Bible: Life begins at conception. God first knew us in the womb (mentioned 23 times in the Bible).
B. Why am I here? LDS: To work your way to exaltation. Bible: To glorify God.
C. Where am I going after death? LDS: To one of three heavens, depending on which one you earned in this life. Bible: Eternal life in Heaven with God or eternal death in Hell without Him, based on grace through faith and God's mercy.

Like I said at the outset, the LDS church fails on ALL 12 precepts. The real problem here is that when it comes to eternal things, the Mormons have asked the wrong question. It is not "which church is true," but rather "which plan of salvation is true." The Mormon plan of salvation is a complicated religious system involving good works and exalting yourself to godhood (if you're a guy...again, sorry ladies). The Biblical plan of salvation is recognizing that you are lost in your sins (Rom. 3:23), you need to be saved from God's wrath toward sin to come (Mt. 3: 7; Luke 3: 7; I Thessalonians 1: 10), you are under the penalty of death (Rom. 6: 23a), you can only be saved by the GIFT of eternal life through Christ (Rom. 6: 23b) and you must personally receive Christ (John 1: 12).

The question is not "which church is right," but rather which Savior is right. And that's the Biblcal Jesus, the second person of the Godhead, the very God Himself.

Ciao for now,
Dave

Monday, November 21, 2011

Joseph Smith, Jr.'s Non-Prophet Organization

Without looking anything up, I can -- off the top of my head -- think of about 20 reasons right off the bat to stay away from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their doctrines are loaded with heresy and what they believe contradicts the Bible at just about every turn. That being said, I would rank the failed prophecies of their founder and first "prophet," Joseph Smith, Jr. as number two on the list (number one is the fact the LDS/Mormons don't even believe the same God that the Bible presents -- but that's a subject for a future post).

The failed prophecies are so blatent that their apologists have to do an enormous amount of backpeddling to attempt to explain them away, which they really don't. So, let's look at a few of these prophecies and see if Joseph is what the LDS claim him to be: "Prophet, Seer and Revelator."


#1. THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
In History of the Church, Vol. 2, Pg. 182 (1835) Joseph is chronicled as saying (under the inspiration of the "Holy Ghost" and through a vision), ".... . . it was the will of God that they should be ordained to the ministry and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, for the coming of the Lord, which was nigh — even fifty six years should wind up the scene...." Do the math. Fifty-six and 1,835 equals 1891. The problem is, Jesus didn't return in 1891. Joe missed it by at least 120 years -- and that's if Jesus were to come back today! Not only did Joseph ignore Christ's words about no one know the time of his return (Mk. 13:32), but he also falsely predicted the time of the return.

#2 THE OVERTHROW OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
In History of the Church, Vol. 5, page 394 (1943) Joseph "prophesied": "I prophecy in the name of the Lord God of Israel, unless the United States redress the wrongs committed upon the Saints in the state of Missouri and punish the crimes committed by her officers that in a few years the government will be utterly overthrown and wasted, and there will not be so much as a potsherd left for their wickedness in permitting the murder of men, women and children, and the wholesale plunder and extermination of thousands of her citizens to go unpunished...." Oops! The United States Government did not redress any of the wrongs committed against the Mormons in Missouri, and now over 168 years later, the U.S. Government is still around (or at least I still have to file my 1040 each year).

Prophecy #3 CONGRESS TO BE BROKEN UP AS A GOVERNMENT
Before his untimely death, Joseph prophetically wrote, "While discussing the petition to Congress, I prophesied, by virtue of the holy Priesthood vested in me, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that, if Congress will not hear our petition and grant us protection, they shall be broken up as a government, and God shall damn them, and there shall be nothing left of them — not even a grease spot." (Millennial Star, Vol. 22, p. 455. See also History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 116, though when this prediction was incorporated into the official history, Mormon Church leaders decided to leave out the "grease spot" part.) Well, the petition was not heard nor was protection granted (Deseret News, Vol. 1, p. 59). Yet, Congress was never broken up and continues to function (after a fashion) to this day. It is interesting that the compilers of History of the Church, added an editorial note in an attempt to soften or explain this prophecy. They state that: "This prediction doubtless has reference to the party in power; to the ‘government’ considered as the administration;" (note, p. 116). According to the note in History of the Church, this means the Democratic Party, which was in control at the time. However, the prediction is that "Congress shall be broken up as a government" and Congress is made up of representatives from both parties. The Saints were making an appeal to the General Government, not to the Democratic Party, a point made by a summary statement in the left margin beside this prophecy as it is recorded in History of the Church.

Joseph later tried to cover his tracks (following a failed prophecy concerning the copyrighting of the Book of Mormon in Canada) by saying that "Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of men: and some revelations are of the devil." - AN ADDRESS TO ALL BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, David Whitmer, 1887 (Whitmer was directly quoting Joseph).

This is absolute baloney of the worst kind! The true test for a prophet of God is found in the Bible. Deuteronomy 18: 21,22 tells us, "And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him." Joseph only needed to miss one to be a false prophet, but the truth is -- HE MISSED A BUNCH!

There are dozens of other failed "prophecies" that space does not allow me to go into, but if you are really interested, go to our new website nextstepoutreach.org and click on any of the resource links. You'll find some websites with really interesting information about Smith's failed prophecies on the time of the building of the last temple, finding treasure in Salem, Massachusetts, The European military intervention of the U.S. Civil War...and people who live on the moon (they are about six feet tall, dress like Quakers and live to be around 1000 years old).

Before I close this post, let me emphasize, as I have before, it is not my desire or the desire of Next Step Outreach to hurt Mormons or put them down. We love them. Otherwise we wouldn't be trying to get them to see the truth of the real Jesus, the real Bible and the real God. Without these, they are headed toward an eternity separated from God, in a place which is known in the Bible as Hell!

It's the Mormons we love. It's the heresy we hate.

In Jesus,
Dave

Monday, October 31, 2011

Announcing Next Step Outreach!

After 39 years of "informal" ministry, Claudia and I have (after considerable prayer) have decided to make our efforts "formal." We have begun "Next Step Outreach," a ministry directed at educating the Body of Christ about cults and pseudo-Christian religions, particularly Mormonism.

In January of 1972, the Lord started me on this journey which involved mostly been lecturing in churches and on college campuses about the differences between Mormonism and Biblical Christianity. And believe me the differences are enough for most believers (especially me) to consider Mormonism outside the realm of orthodox Christian doctrine. Over the years, Claudia and I have witnessed to Latter-day Saints including many missionaries, and we've also assisted those wishing to leave the Mormon religion to get out, out spiritually, out literally and out legally. But until now, this ministry had no name, no incorporation, no website and no formal organization.

But now with the ground-breaking of the newest LDS temple just over 25 miles from our home...and with two Mormons running for President of the United States (Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman), there has grown a tremendous interest and curiosity in the Mormon religion. Christians are basically uninformed on the dangers of this organization, and tens of thousands are sucked in every year and held in the grip of an organization that can bring neither truth nor eternal life to those who sincerely seek God.

Most new Mormons are those who are born into the religion and baptized as children. However adults are being converted at the rate of 150 per day...meaning that somewhere around the world people are being baptized in to the LDS church at the rate of one every 9.6 minutes. The tragic thing is that the vast majority of them had membership in a Christian church before they were proselytized (research shows about 60% of these were Baptists).

Pastors are becoming alarmed at these numbers. That's why we are here to bring information to churches on Mormonism and the incredible pull it has on potential converts.

Also, although 100,000 people leave the LDS church every three years, only about one-third become born-again Christians. Again, we are here to try to correct that trend, seeking out disaffected Mormons and lead them to Christ. With all that in mind, four weeks ago I resigned my pastorate at Christ the Rock International Church to go into full-time ministry in outreach to Mormons.

The Lord has provided us (albeit with heavy financial expense) a weekly radio show on 50,000 watt WHIM 1080 AM in Miami, Florida. We'll be on the air talking about Mormonism (and occasionally other non-Christian religions) every Tuesday at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. We'll have experts on the subject and former cult members as guests, and you can call and talk to them. If you're not in the South Florida area, you can still listen to the live stream at 1080theanswer.com, and you can call on the toll-free number we'll give on the air.

Check out our new website at www.nextstepoutreach.org. We also can be reached at our email address nextstepoutreach@email.com or by writing Next Step Outreach, 102 NE 2nd Street, Boca Raton, FL 33432.

And please, PRAY for us. This is an uphill battle. The LDS have over 50,000 missionaries in the field whose only purpose is to win converts into this pernicious organization. There are less than 100 ministries we know of that are called by God to counter this religion. Pray for laborers. Pray for a vast harvest of souls.

Ciao for now,

Dave

Monday, July 25, 2011

I'm Getting Really Frustrated Here!

When I started this blog back up a couple of months ago I mentioned it was going to be it an outlet for spiritual frustration. Well, it's finally happened. My level of frustration is starting to go off the scale. So let me vent:

For almost 40 years I (along with my wife Claudia since we married in 1987) have operated an outreach ministry to people who are lost in pseudo-Christian and other religious cults. As a Christian, it really hurts me to see people who have (for whatever reason) wound up in organizations that claim to have God's truth, but plainly twist (or even ignore) God's Word, the Bible. One of the most important things in the Apostle Paul's ministry was his continual striving against false doctrine. And I stand against these groups who distort or pervert the Bible with every fiber of my being.

But, now I'm seeing a new and highly disturbing (and even frightening) trend within the Body of Christ itself. We now have Christians who have taken to the Internet, cable television, books, CDs, DVDs and other media in a deliberate attempt to destroy their brother's unique relationship with Christ, attempting to win them into their own camp.

At this point, perhaps I should make an effort to define who and who isn't in the Christian community, otherwise referred to as the "Body of Christ." I prefer the National Association of Evangelicals definition above all I have seen. Based on Holy Scripture, the NAE lists four points of doctrine that tell us what true Christians should believe. They are:

1. The doctrine of the Holy Trinity...Father, Son and Holy Spirit
2. The doctrine of the Inerrancy of the Holy Scriptures
3. The doctrine of Salvation by grace alone by faith alone through Christ alone.
4. The doctrine of the certain return of Christ at the end of the age.

Perhaps points 2 and 3 would be similar to what is known as the "Five Solas." At any rate, anything beyond these four comes under Augustine's heading of "non-essentials" in which we are allowed liberty in our beliefs.

However, here I return to the shocking trend I have seen over the last several years as Christians attack Christians, and the hatred I have seen spewed of late simply because a brother won't get on the same page in his "secondary" beliefs with another brother.

Having been a member of, or having ministered in, a host of various churches in my life and ministry (Methodist, Baptist, Assemblies of God, Calvary Chapel, Reformed, New Wave, you name it), I think I'm in a somewhat unique position the make these observations. And I do not like what I see. The Baptists are sniping at the Lutherans. The Nazarenes are firing shots at the Pentecostals, and the Charismatics are after everybody. Please people! Listen to Rodney King! Why can't we all just get along? How do you think Jesus feels to see his followers in-fighting like this? I'm sure He's disgusted to the max.

What disturbs me the most is something that happened over 15 years ago, and although I did not think much of it at the time, I'm now convinced it's as dangerous as trying to set off a stick of dynamite in your own hand. I'm referring to the "Cambridge Declaration of 1996."

The Cambridge Declaration appears (at first look) to be a fine document, outlining Biblical doctrine without compromise (and yes, the 5 solas are included). But look deeper. What does it really say? Here's a quote from page 2, under the heading of "Thesis One: Sola Scriptura." It says, "We deny...that personal spiritual experience can ever be a vehicle of revelation." When I read that, I was flabbergasted! And anyone with half a brain in his head realizes by reading these words that they are intended as direct slap in the face of every Pentecostal and Charismatic on the face of the earth (they take on the Catholics in another part of the Declaration, but that is a topic for another time)!

Think a minute about what they are saying. If personal spiritual experience is not a vehicle of revelation, everyone in the Bible from Abraham to the Apostle John had no basis for writing Scripture under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit! Think about it again. ALL that God tells anyone is done through the revelation of personal experience. Are those who signed off on the Cambridge Declaration saying God has never impressed something upon them? Has He never moved them in prayer to learn something of the direction God has for their life? Of course not. For example, when a pastor (who approves of the Cambridge) says something like, "I feel that God would have me begin a new sermon series on Repentance," you have to ask, "how does he know that?" He knows that because (I hope) God told him! In his life, personal spiritual experience has become a vehicle of God's revelation to him.

What really bothers me is the many well known (mostly Reformed) pastors, preachers, lecturers and authors that put their seal of approval on this document. These are men I admired and believed in, but now I'm not so sure (Do names like Alistair Begg, Michael S. Horton, Albert Mohler, R. C. Sproul, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Sinclair Ferguson, John MacArthur, John Piper and Derek Thomas ring a bell?). I've honored these men, read with enthusiasm their works and also gone to their conferences. Now I'm beginning to wonder.

The Cambridge document is quick to point out that any "revelation" that doesn't line up with the Bible is a false one, and on that score I'm in TOTAL agreement. The Bible is the rule, the plumb line, the final authority in all matters of doctrine. But, when you take the supernatural out of it (i.e. "personal spiritual experience and a vehicle for revelation'), you have reduced Christianity to nothing more than an academic dialog.

Being a white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant (WASP), I don't believe I had ever experienced being hurt for being part of a particular group until now. Yes, I am a Charismatic. And yes, I'll feel hurt by what my Christian brothers (albeit from 15 years ago) are saying about my non-essential beliefs. If they want to try to convince me of their position, they're a little late. I've seen too many signs, miracles and wonders performed by God to convince me otherwise. And they've all lined up with Scripture, at least the ones I've witnessed.

A wise man once said, "The man with the experience is never at the mercy of the man with an argument." And never have I felt that truth more than now. I have trouble believing that the 500,000,000 currently living Christians who have experienced the Charismatic Experience have gotten something from the devil. Not when it glorifies Our Lord Jesus Christ so thoroughly.

Am I shooting back at the supporters of the document and doing the very thing I am accusing them of doing? No! Understand me. I'm only saying to ALL my brothers and sisters in Christ -- STOP IT!! Stop the fighting over secondary doctrine. Stop hurting one another and get on with the business of the Kingdom and go out and win the lost!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

A new direction and an outlet for spiritual frustration

Doubting that anybody reads this site, I'm probably only blogging to myself right now, but hopefully that will change via social media (Facebook, etc.).

I haven't blogged in a long while, but I think that may change also. If for no other reason that the fact that I need an outlet for my spiritual frustration.

Between my church (the model of which has been rapidly shifting), my interaction with other Christians and also my job at Christian radio station WHIM (1080 AM, 50,000 watts) in Miami, my brain (and I suspect my spirit, too) is constantly being bombarded with "teachings" from just about every faction in the body of Christ that exists today: Reform Theology, Third-wave Charismata, Fundamentalism, you name it!

Fortunately (I suppose), none of this spiritual strafing has caused me to change my position on the things I believe (with one fairly minor exception, which I'll talk about in another post), but it has left my mind and soul somewhat exhausted from the invasion. And sometimes I have to play my doctrinal beliefs "close to the vest," because of having to work with ministries all over the Christian spectrum. I don't think that even my pastor knows EXACTLY what I believe on every Biblical subject (although I'm sure at least one believer does, and that's my wife). Lately, I feel like I'm waking a fine line between being "Mr. Sanguine" with everyone, and 'holding fast to what I believe without wavering."

A second area of frustration is the fact that I am a preacher and I don't have a real, physical place to preach. Yes, I am a leader in my local church and "lead" a Sunday morning Bible study group, but the interactive format calls for the folks in the group sharing, and very little, if any, preaching. from me.

For both those reasons (the "bombardment" and the lack of a real preaching venue) I'll be venting here soon (if I'm not already doing it). That venting will take the form of discussion on what I believe God has shown me doctrinally, and why. I hope I get enough folks coming here that will comment on all of this (in itself a form of interacting group sharing).

If no one shows up, at least (thanks to this blog) I'll have a pulpit to pound. Hopefully, that will relieve most of the frustration. In the meantime, pray for me. I need it!