A Christmas thought

Why did Jesus Come?

At this time of the year Christians remember with gratitude how our Blessed Saviour was prepared to come down from the glories of heaven and live in this sin cursed earth. So why did he come? Why would He leave his exalted position in heaven to be born in poverty and obscurity down here? I think the Lord Jesus answered this question perfectly in John chapter 10 when explaining how He is the Good Shepherd. In verse 10 of John 10 Jesus said: -

‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’

There is something obvious here that needs very little comment. He came to give us life. We were all children of Adam’s fallen race, born in sin and shapen in iniquity. The just desert of our sins was death, for the ‘wages of sin are death’. By way of contrast Jesus gives us life not death, He died on the cross that we might have life, praise his wonderful name.

However, there is something more in this statement for not only does Jesus tell us that he has come to give life but He goes on to describe it as abundant life. Are you living an abundant life?

Generally speaking the unsaved are living a substandard life, they do not live for God but rather for themselves. They see the restrictions of the Christian life in terms of God trying to spoil their fun. They do not realise that God made us and knows what is best for us; he has therefore given us guidance for living a full life in His word.

True freedom in life is to be found by living in God’s will. For example humans are generally by nature selfish and want to take rather than give, but Jesus told us that ‘it is more blessed to give than to receive.’ You really get a good feeling when you do something for someone or give a random gift and yet still human nature makes us want to grab for ourselves. All parents know that they have to teach their children to share with their siblings for it just does not come naturally to us.

To live a life of service to others in obedience to God’s word actually is an abundant life. Most people are living for material gain but if they actually sat back and analysed where they are they would have to admit that their material gain has given them no lasting happiness.

As you read this Christmas message I trust that you not only have found eternal life in Christ but also an abundant life as well.

‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.’ John 3 v36

A big thank you to all of the readers of this ‘blogspot’ for your interest in my ramblings through 2010. I want to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Blessed 2011.

Gob Bless
Maurice

Sodomite Set Up

A pair of Sodomites tried to book into a Guest House in Cornwall run by a Christian Couple knowing that the guest house had a policy of only allowing married couples the use of a double room. The guest house owners Peter and Hazelmary Bull were then sued by the sodomites who claim that their policy discriminates against them.

The case has now been heard and the Judge has reserved judgement and is likely to make a ruling early in the new year. Please pray that God will lead the Judge to vindicate the couple for taking their conscience based stand and to rule in their favour and not in favour of the Sodomites. Also pray for the Bull's that they will know God's strength as they wait on the outcome.

What a state our nation is in when people cannot even live by their own Christian values under they own roof, surely our nation is ripe for God's judgement? By the way your taxes are being used to fund the Sodomites case through the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

'Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.' Proverbs 14 v34

JLS - Just a Lewd Song

I was doing a spot of Christmas shopping with my wife tonight when my ears were accosted by the strains of the JLS song 'The Club is Alive'. This is the one where they borrow part of a line and the melody from the Famous Julie Andrews classic 'The Hills are Alive - to the sound of music'. It has to be said the Julie Andrews original was a lot more wholesome!

I had been aware of this song but had never really had a chance to listen to the lyrics before so I took the opportunity of having a good listen while I was in the shop. It will probably not surprise you to learn that the lyrics are filthy.

The basic theme of the song is about a guy going to a night club with his mates, he sees a girl that causes him to lust and he propositions her suggesting that they go to a quite corner for some sex. If you don't believe me 'google' the lyrics. Below is the chorus of the song, this is about as much of their filth I could bring myself to type.

You could be the DJ I could be the dance floor
You could get up on me (On me on me)
You could be the DJ I could be the dance floor
You could get up on me(On me, On me, on me, on me)

Now I don't know about you but without too much explanation these lyrics are clearly a euphemism for sex!

This group JLS are the heartthrobs for millions of teenage girls and many as young as 11 and 12 are listening to this filth and going to their concerts. As Christians we need to expose this garbage lest our daughters or nieces are having their young minds corrupted by the filth being poured out by the world of popular music.

The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5 v22 to 'Abstain from all appearance of evil', this stuff is clearly evil. Teach those under your influence to avoid this stuff like the plague.

30 Years & Still Dead

During his life former Beatle John Lennon had a lot to say about the Lord Jesus Christ. In a Interview in 1966 with a Journalist from London’s Evening Standard Newspaper Lennon said:-

‘Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue with that; I'm right and I will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock and roll or Christianity.’

Sadly there was not much of reaction at the time in the UK but when the quote was republished in August that same year in the American teen Magazine ‘Datebook’ there was a backlash from Christians with public burnings of Beatles Records. As a result of this reaction the Beatles had to cancel planned concerts and in fact they were never to play a commercial concert again.

In response to the outcry Lennon tried to calm the situation by claiming that his remarks were only reflecting the reality of falling Church attendance and Christian influence in the western world. Had Lennon left his comments at that I suppose one could have forgiven him, perhaps as a non-Christian he was not aware of Christ’s promise, ‘I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ Matthew 16 v18 However, his claim that the Beatles were more popular that Jesus was a blasphemous comment that said more about Lennon’s overly inflated ego than anything else. Imagine claiming to be ‘more popular that Jesus’.

No doubt Lennon had and still has devoted fans but I would imagine that as the years pass his popularity will, to borrow a phrase, ‘vanish and shrink’. You see there is one vital difference with Lennon and the Lord Jesus. 3 Days after the murder of the Lord Jesus Christ He rose in victory over the grave and now lives in the power of an endless life. By way of Contrast 30 years after the murder of John Lennon he is still dead and even though his earthly remains were cremated he will one day along with everyone else who ever lived be resurrected to stand before God in judgement. ‘And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:’ Hebrews 9 v27

On this the 30th Anniversary of John Lennon’s murder no doubt the media will make a big thing of it. There will be tribute shows on Television and Radio where he will be hailed as a great thinker and a man of peace. As Christians we should be careful not to become swept along with the nostalgia and media propaganda. We should never forget that John Lennon hated our Saviour and said as much.

While on this earth the Lord Jesus asked His disciples ‘Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?’ Matthew 16 v13 At that time the disciples, via Peter their spokesman Peter, confirmed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God. John Lennon asked a very similar question in his own mind and answered it in his book ‘A Spaniard in the Works’ where he concluded that Jesus was ‘A Garlic-eating, Stinking little yellow greasy fascist b*****d catholic Spaniard’

I have to be honest I don’t think much of someone who comes to that conclusion about the greatest person who ever walked this earth. The writer to the Hebrews quoted below came to the correct conclusion. I for one will not be buying any Lennon tribute albums.

‘Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;’ Hebrews 7 v25-26

The Unequal Yoke

‘Be ye holy; for I am holy.’ 1 Peter 1 v16

Holiness of life has always been what God has asked of His people. The word Holy really means to be separate. God of course is Holy in His very nature that means He is separate, set apart form everything and everyone that is sinful.

As a consequence he calls upon His children to lead holy lives or separate lives. In other words we should strive every day to live apart from sinful activities that would displease our heavenly father. We cannot of course do this perfectly because we are sinful beings but we must strive to be holy.

In order to get us into heaven we have had to have had the imputed righteousness (holiness) of Christ put to our account and once we are there we shall be made like Him and be in essence perfect and holy. But what of the here and now, how can we be separate.

One way that we can strive to be holy is to avoid become entangled in alliances with the world. These alliances could be in business partnerships or even alliances with churches where one of the parties is not wholly committed to the fundamentals of the faith. However, there is another alliance that we are more likely to be tempted to have that is as equally dangerous to the child of God, that is, in relationships which could lead to the marriage of a believer and an unbeliever.

When God choose the nation of Israel in the Old Testament to be His peculiar people he wanted them to be different, to be separate, to be holy. The devil sought to corrupt the Children of Israel in many ways and one of his favourite tactics was to unite them in marriages with the pagan nations around them. The Lord’s servant Nehemiah tackled this problem in his day and Chapter 13 of his book records:-

‘In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Nehemiah 13 v 23-26

Nehemiah reminded the people that bad choices in marriage had caused the wise King Solomon to sin and he warned that the same thing would happen to them. At this point you might say, well that does not apply to me, I’m not a Jew. Well, Paul the Apostle teaches the exact same principle in 2nd Corinthians chapter 6.

‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?’

Clearly Christians are not be yoked together with the unsaved. This language that Paul uses is borrowed from the Law of Moses where God had forbidden the Israelites to yoke an Ox and an Ass together unto the same plow.

‘Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.’ Deuteronomy 22 v10

If a man was to plough his field, he must use two oxen or two donkeys but he was never to yoke together an ox and a donkey. Paul borrows this principle to illustrate the truth that Christians should not yoke themselves with the unconverted.

This teaching is clear and plain for everyone to see and yet sometimes when a Christian guy or girl takes a fancy to and unsaved person of the opposite sex they shelve this principle. If challenged they will often use the excuse that they would hope to influence the person for good and lead them to Christ. The history of such relationships often shows the opposite to be true and it is usually the unsaved partner that influences the Christian to lower their standards.

Perhaps you have used this rationale to help justify your disobedience to God’s revealed will for your life. If you have think about this, what you are actually saying in effect is this, ‘I know what your word say’s God but actually I know better that you’.

God’s loves His children and knows what is best for them. In Paul’s teaching above he asks ‘what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?’ We need to realise that the unsaved around us are infidels as Paul said in Ephesians 2 concerning the unsaved they are ‘the children of disobedience:’ why would a Child of God want to be yoked with a child of the devil? This may seem harsh language but this is how God’s sees it. May we have a godly perspective in these days!

Principle or Pragmatism?

As the English nation waits to see whether or not their bid to host the 2018 World Cup succeeds or fails an interesting debate has begun on Principle v Pragmatism.

Recent newspapers articles and a BBC Panorama documentary have cast a shadow over the bid as they have called into question the integrity of some of the members of the FIFA committee who will determine success or failure for the English Football Association.

It has been interesting to listen to the debate as it has raged over the airwaves on radio phone-in shows and television studios. Essentially, there are two sides to the debate. Those who believe that, on point of principle, journalists are just right to expose wrong doing wherever it is found. Running contrary to that there are others who believe that we ought to 'park' principle, at least until the outcome of the bid is decided. Those who take this second view offer the pragmatic reasoning that a successful bid would be good for the economy not to mention the mood of the nation.

So who is right? Is principle more important or are their times when we should forget about principles for the perceived common good? These are not new questions or arguments and we all have to face situations in life where we decide what are our principles? Where are our lines in the sand? These questions can arise in Church life, in home life, in business life and not to mention in political life.

On one extreme there are stubborn people who make a principle out of all of their opinions and cannot be worked with and on the other side there are those without principle who would sell their 'proverbial granny' if it meant they could get their hands on a few more pounds.

As with all situations in life, if we need to make big decisions, if we need to decide what our principles are then we need to seek guidance in God's Word. The Bible read and illuminated with the help of God's Spirit is the best guide for all the eventualities of life.

The Lord Jesus Christ when praying for His followers asked His Heavenly Father to 'Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.' John 17 v17 How good it is to know that in an uncertain world full of untruth and deceit that we have a place we can turn to where we are sure to get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. In the previous chapter of John the Lord Jesus promised that 'when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth:' So not only do we have the Bible, the book of truth, but we have God's Spirit, the Spirit of truth to guide us in all the decisions of life. Are we employing these resources?

So back to our original question, principle or pragmatism? Well, it is not for me to decide your principles for you. You need to employ the resources mentioned above and come to decide where you will draw your lines in the sand. There are things in life where we can compromise and be flexible, however, there are times when principle is more important, even if that means that we scupper something that may be of material benefit to ourselves and others.

May God guide you as you seek truth.

Are you HAPPY?

This is the question that our government intends to ask us in the future. Prime Minister David Cameron announced yesterday that the nation will no longer measure it’s performance solely on GDP but rather in the future they want also to measure our level of ‘well being’. It seems that our Prime Minister has come to realise that increased wealth and increased happiness are not necessarily related. To be fair to the man I at least applaud him for coming to this realisation although I wonder how they hope to accurately measure it. I suppose one measure will be his majority or otherwise after the next general election.

For years the people of our nation have been labouring under the misapprehension that increased wealth means increased happiness. This has manifested itself in rampant materialism, an insatiable desire to have things. The poorest in society just think if only they could get a few pound, a nicer house, a better car or a longer holiday them they would be happy. They do not realise that those who have a nicer house, a better car and a longer holiday are just as miserable as they are.

This rampant materialism is in part responsible for the current global economic woes that our world is facing. If you listen to the media you would think it was all the fault of the banks and their irresponsible lending, however, that is only one side of the coin. What about people’s irresponsible borrowing? In a frantic desire to have more and more people spent money that they did not have, to buy things that they did not need, to impress people they did not even like. Before we go on a rant about how it is all the fault of the bankers we all need to examine the part that we played in fuelling materialism.

By way of contrast the Word of God shows us the path to true happiness. The Apostle Paul when writing to Timothy said that ‘godliness with contentment is great gain’. What a lesson that is for a world drunk on materialism. Live your life the way God wants you to and you will be content. He also said in to Timothy ‘and having food and raiment let us be therewith content.’

Many people look on the Christian life as a life of restrictions, you can’t do this, you can’t do that. However, we need to remember that God made us and knows what is best for us. A life lived for him is an abundant life, was it not Jesus who said.

‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ John 10 v10

It is difficult to explain this verse to someone who has not experienced new life in Christ but I have proved its truth in my own experience. There is a better life than the pursuit of this world’s goods and pleasures, it is a life surrendered to the will of God. Unconverted people need to come to Christ as their Saviour to gain this life and even many Christians need to remind themselves of the importance of living in God’s will for sadly many of God’s people have become caught up in the rat race of this world.

So back to the question, are you happy? Are you?

‘Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.’ Psalm 144 v15

More Filth from Rihanna

For the third week in a row the UK singles charts have been topped by the singer Rihanna with her latest song ‘Only Girl (In The World)’. It seems that everywhere you go this song is booming out at you. Whether I am in a shop, watching television or even when passing kids in the street listening to music on their phones I keep hearing this song. One wonders do the wee girls who are listening to this song realise what they are singing along to, for the lyrics of the song are nothing but filth.

With this song having such a major chunk of airtime and being so popular I decided to find out exactly what the lyrics were all about. Up to that point I was only aware of the line ‘only girl in the world’ which was whirling around my head. I happened to notice on television the other night that Rihanna was to perform this hit so I decided to watch and have a listen to the lyrics. After her performance my wife and I just looked at each other and shook our heads. It was nothing more than filth!

At that very moment in my living room I decided that I needed to ‘blog’ about this. This is not the first time I have felt compelled to ‘blog’ about Rihanna. Last June I ‘blogged’ about the corruption within popular music generally and mentioned Rihanna amongst others. I believe it is important that people understand about the music that is having such an influence on the next generation.

If you think I am overreacting and being a bit of a prude just take a look at the lyrics of this song. I am almost reluctant to type this garbage but sometimes we just have to call sin by its name and shine a light on it.

Verse 1
I want you to love me, like I’m a hot pieKeep thinkin’ of me, doin’ what you likeSo boy forget about the world cuz it’s gon’ be me and you tonightI wanna make your bed for ya, then imma make you swallow your pride

When a pop artist sings about love, they are not talking about love, as the Bible understands it, they are speaking of nothing more than Sex. In this first verse the singer invites her lover to do what he likes to her as she makes herself a bed for him.

Verse 2
Want you to take me like a thief in the nightHold me like a pillow, make me feel rightBaby I’ll tell you all my secrets that I’m keepin’, you can come insideAnd when you enter, you ain’t leavin’, be my prisoner for the night

Verse two begins with a corrupted use of some Biblical language, which refers to the Lord’s return (the song is not talking about the Lords return). In this verse she invites her lover to ‘come inside’. This of course is nothing more than a description of sexual intercourse. The next line, which makes reference to his not leaving and his being a prisoner, may be a reference to some kind of ‘bondage’.

Bridge
Take me for a rideOh baby, take me highLet me make you firstOh make it last all night

The final bridge of the song needs very little comment for the connotation of the word ‘ride’ needs no explanation.

This song from beginning to end is a song about sex. Nothing more, nothing less! It is filthy and the sad thing is that kids, some of them of primary school age, will be walking around the schoolyard today at lunchtime listening to this garbage and singing along. The question you need to ask is this, are my kids listening to this? Are my grandchildren listening to this? Are the kids in my Sunday school class or youth group listening to this?

This garbage is from the pit of hell and is designed to one thing, to corrupt, to poison and to pollute your precious children. Don’t let the devil has his way. These influences need to be removed, but not without explanation and education. Show them why it is so wrong in the light of God’s Word and do it in love, they don’t know any better; they can’t fully grasp the spiritual battle that is going on for their young hearts and minds. To conclude I think the words of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians sum up how we need to treat the garbage of this world.

‘And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.’ Ephesians 5 v 11-12

Remembering A Great Sacrifice

At this time of year in the British Nation we remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in war to ensure our democracy and freedom. We publicly express our gratitude to those who have been killed or injured in the line of duty by the wearing of a poppy. The poppy was chosen to be this symbol of remembrance because it was a common wild flower in the fields of Flanders where so many died in the 'Great War' and it's red petals remind us of the blood that was shed on our behalf.

As grateful as we are to those brave men and women who have sacrificed their lives for us there was a sacrifice of much greater worth than any ever made during war. I am talking of course about the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ on Mount Calvary.

The deaths of our brave soldiers, sailors and airmen may have purchased freedom at the time but it was only temporary. For once one evil regime was defeated another rose up somewhere else to take it's place. Even to this day our soldiers are in daily contact with Militant Islamic fundamentalists who threaten our very way of life. On the other hand the freedom won at Calvary is an eternal freedom from sin. Freedom from the power of Sin in this life, freedom from the Penalty of Sin at death and freedom from the very Presence of Sin in a Heaven where 'nothing that defileth' shall ever be found.

This great Sacrifice at Calvary also has symbols of remembrance. It is not the wearing of a poppy that reminds us of this sacrifice but rather the Bread and Wine of the Lord's Supper. Before He went to the cross the Lord Jesus instituted a remembrance feast for all believers, Matthew tells us in his gospel.

'And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.' Matthew 26 v26-28

Sadly many of God's people rarely take the time to obey their Saviour and they walk away from the table of remembrance. They forget the admonition of the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 11 where he said:-

'For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.'

I'm glad that as a nation we mark the sacrifice of others on our behalf. It is always good to remember. Most Christians that I know, are very glad to wear their poppy at this time of the year, if only they were just as glad to remember the Saviour in His own appointed way.

'this do in remembrance of me.' Luke 22 v19

Relativism

I listened, with interest, to a feature on BBC radio 5 live yesterday morning as I travelled to work. A Lesbian Church of England Priest was being interviewed because she, along with a number of other ‘couples’, was challenging the current arrangements relating to Marriage and Civil Partnerships.

Almost as an aside as part of the interview the BBC presenter Nicky Campbell asked this individual how she reconciled her Lesbian way of life with the very clear commands in Scripture against homosexuality.

The answer given was woolly to say the least. She began by saying there were a lot of things to consider when approaching this subject. In the first part of her answer she began to question the validity of Bible translations that suggested homosexuality was wrong. She asked were people consulting the correct manuscripts and were the manuscripts correctly translated.

Not content to bring God’s Word into question by textual criticism she then began to explain how the Scriptures needed to be understood in terms of the prevailing culture at the time that they were written. She suggested that the reason God was against homosexuality 4000 years ago was more to do with His desire to see a population explosion in the nation of Israel rather than any moral consideration. In other words times are different now. The world is heavily populated therefore, procreation is less important.

This type of interpretation of Scripture is known as ‘Relativism’ and this theory is very dangerous. Basically, ‘Relativism’ teaches that truth is not absolute but rather must be understood in light of the prevailing culture in any place at any time. In other words truth is relative to culture and therefore can change or truth is not absolute.

I ABSOLUTLEY REJECT THIS.

If this is how we are to approach Biblical Interpretation then we can make the Bible say all things to all men. If there is a bit we don’t like we can just say, ‘that was for Middle Eastern culture 2000 years ago but does not apply today’. This is no way to handle God’s Holy Word.

GOD SAYS WHAT HE MEANS AND HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS!!!

How often does the Scripture ring with the authoritative ‘Thus saith the LORD’? We do not decide truth … God decides truth. Let us ever understand God’s word in the plain sense in which He gave it to us.

‘Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.’ Deuteronomy 4 v2

Alcohol 'more harmful than heroin'

According to a medical study published in the Lancet alcohol is said to be more harmful than heroin. The reports co-author David Nutt, a former adviser to the last Labour government on drugs, was sacked by the then Home Secretary Alan Johnson. Mr Nutt would be one of those that argues for a more relaxed approach to drug regulations. His report on alcohol is pushing the agenda that, what we think of as elicit drugs are too highly classified. I do not agree with Professor Nutts agenda but his research is none the less very interesting.

I will be honest and say that Mr Nutts findings are not a surprise to me. His study involved 16 criteria including a drugs' effect on the users' physical and mental health, environmental damage, economic costs and social harms including crime and family adversities. The modelling exercise concluded that while heroin, crack and methylamphetamine were the most harmful drugs for individuals heroin and alcohol were equally harmful to society.

As I said, this is not surprising. Just a glance around society is evidence enough of the harm alcohol does. Close to where I work there is what is known as a 'wet hostel', a home for alcoholics. I see these poor creatures making their way each day to the Tesco's off licence to buy the cheapest Cider they can get. Last week one of my colleagues was standing beside one of these poor individuals in a post office queue when the man in question 'wet himself'. Do you think this was the life he intended for himself when he took his first drink. Go through our town centres at closing time and watch young men beat 'the tar' out of one another because they are full of alcohol. Visit the home of the widow made so by a drunk driver. Visit the home of the child or wife beaten by a drunken husband or father. Alcohol is dangerous alright.

The Bible has a lot to say about the subject. Perhaps Mr Nutt and his colleagues should read the words of Solomon when they are doing their next piece of research.

'Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.' Proverbs 23 v 29-30

The thing that I can't get my head around are Christians who promote a 'Libertarian' attitude to alcohol. It is a poison on society and an honest study of the scriptures can only bring you to that same conclusion.

'Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.' Proverbs 20 v1

A Quick thought on Halloween

As the pagan festival of Halloween approaches the shops in our towns are full of Halloween paraphernalia. It seems as each year passes this particular holiday is growing in significance. Part of this is driven by Retail Commercialism and the desire to squeeze a few more pounds out of shoppers, however, I would have some concern as to the growth in popularity of what is nothing more than lightly veiled Satanism.

When I was a kid Halloween was a false face and a packet of sparklers but it seems there is an increasingly sinister element to it in these days. It should not be forgotten that Halloween is a high day amongst witches which although are very private are non the less growing in numbers and influence in our nation.

Halloween is a wonderful marketing tool for such groups for it gives many young people a taste and an interest in the occult. We should be careful to warn the young people under our influence whether it be a Sunday School class or indeed Children within our own family situation of the dangers of the occult.

Let us ever remember the words of the Apostle Paul.

'for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?' 2 Corinthians 6 v14

Worship Leader

I was leading the singing at my Church the other night and after the meeting a visitor to our Church asked me a question that I had never been asked before. 'Are you the worship leader here?' I suppose I know what the person meant. There is a position in the contemporary church called the 'Worship Leader' and I suppose the reason I was taken by surprise was that I am not entirely comfortable with this 'job title'.

In the first instance there is no basis within New Testament Revelation to have within the church a person called a 'Worship Leader'. I read of pastors, teachers, evangelists, prophets, elders and deacons, but nowhere do I read of 'worship leaders'.

Secondly I wonder how it might be possible to lead worship. You can lead the singing, as long as you can carry a tune you can do that, you can lead in prayer, these things are all possible,but how can a person be said to lead worship.

Worship is an exercise of the heart and is intensely personal. You could be in a Church of 300 people all singing 'How Great Thou Art' but are all 300 people worshipping. First of only the saved people in the gathering can really be said to be worshiping for all acceptable worship must come the blood sprinkled way, if a person has not had the blood savingly applied then their worship will not be acceptable to God. Then we turn our attention to the remaining saved people in the meeting, could they all be said to be worshipping. Some of them may be singing out of habit but really they are thinking about what's for dinner, or what they have to do in work tomorrow. Then there are those who really are pouring out their hearts in praise and thanksgiving to God, however, this worship has not been drawn from them by some person at the front with a microphone, no, this worship is being poured out of a heart that is bursting with gratitude and adoration to our wonderful Lord.

The Lord Jesus taught the woman of Samaria this lesson in the days of His flesh, He taught her that the dead forms of religion were passing away and that a time was coming and in fact had come 'when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth:' Worship is a spiritual exercise not a physical one that can be lead, it can only be drawn from us by the Holy Spirit.

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29 v2

Saved by Grace

One of the greatest portions in the Bible is found in the second chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where he proclaims, ‘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.’ V8-9.

When speaking about salvation and commenting on these verses Evangelical Christians often use the phrase, ‘Salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone in Christ alone’.

There is a beautiful picture of this truth to be found in the conversion of one of the thieves who were crucified along with the Lord Jesus. Luke records in his Gospel: -

‘And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.’ Luke 23 v 39-43

If ever there is an example of the Grace of God in Salvation here it is. This man was incapable of doing anything to work for his own salvation. He had no opportunity to turn over a new leaf and become a better citizen, he had no opportunity to go to Church, he had no opportunity to be baptized, he had no opportunity to feed the hungry, or comfort the broken hearted, he had no time for pilgrimage or penance. He just called out to the Saviour ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.’

Repentance & Faith

The dying thief exercised these essential acts. He clearly repented, earlier in the day he too had mocked the Lord Jesus, but some how during the day he had a change of heart, perhaps it was the Saviours gracious words, ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’. Perhaps it was the events at Calvary like that unnatural darkness that shrouded the earth that day. I don’t know what changed his mind but God by his Spirit drew him and he repented. Not only did he repent but also he exercised faith in Christ. His short prayer shows us that he recognised who Christ is; he is the King of Kings. He threw his faith on Christ and cried ‘Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.’ At that very moment he found the promise of scripture to be true ‘Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved’. For just then the Saviour replied ‘Today shalt thou be with me in paradise’.

What an act of pardoning grace, it was all of grace nothing of works. This man when he got to paradise had no works to boast in, he was just a rotten criminal saved by God’s Grace. You know it’s the same for us all, anyone who is saved is saved by an act of God’s Grace based on their repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, it is nothing to do with any good work that we have or will do. We must come the same way the thief did.

‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;’ Titus 3 v5

Discerning Music

With modern media such as Youtube and Social Networking sites it is now easier than ever before for music artists to distribute their work. This is not only true for Secular musicians but creators of sacred music are also employing these methods to get their work out there as well. There is of course nothing wrong with people using modern media in this way but it results in artists having a more direct link to their market place than ever before. As a result Christian leaders are out of the loop and unaware of the musical choices of those to whom they feel a spiritual responsibility.

In the past Christian leaders were aware of what was on sale at the local Christian book store and if they had doctrinal concerns about the lyrical content of a particular artist they could warn those in their charge. However, with increasing sales of music in a virtual world this luxury is no longer available.

To combat this threat I believe it is important that young believers are taught how to discern for themselves between that which is pleasing to the Lord and therefore that which is helpful to the Saint and that which is questionable. Young believers need more than their musical tastes to be satisfied when they are making their musical choices. In Paul's letter to the Colossians he give us a wonderful Scripture that is extremely helpful is this area.

'Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.' Colossians 3 v16

This verse is extremely helpful for in it we find the Ingredients of Sacred music and the Intention of Sacred music.

INGREDIENTS
Paul says that our sacred music should be rich in the word, for he starts by saying 'let the word of Christ dwell in you richly'. If I describe a fruit cake as being rich I mean that it is jam packed full of raisins and sultanas etc. Our Sacred music should be jam packed full of Scripture. When I hear so called Christan music with little or no Scriptural language I get concerned. It should also be full of wisdom, that is good advice based on Scriptural principles, it follows that if it is rich in the word then it will naturally be wise. Please note it should not be human wisdom or opinion it should be the wisdom of God. And why is this so important? It is so important because of God's Intention for sacred music.

INTENTION
Why has God given us this wonderful gift of music and singing? Did He give it to us to brighten our days? Did He give it to us to stop us getting board when we are driving or working? No! He has given it to us to teach us. Teach us? Yes, to teach us. Is that not what Paul goes on the describe as the intention of music? 'to teach and admonish one another'. Admonish means to build up. If our sacred songs are full of the word of God and therefore full of the Wisdom of God then naturally they will teach us great Biblical truths that will help build us in our faith. Notice I did not say to make us feel happy, or appeal to our musical tastes (although they might well do so) but the primary purpose it to teach us and build us up.

In conclusion, ask yourself this question. have I chosen my Christian music because it appeals to my tastes or have I chosen it because I know it contains the ingredients that God can use to teach me and build me up? Look at your music collection, read the lyrics and ask yourself these questions. Are these song rich in God's word and wisdom? Will they teach me and build me up?

May the Lord bless you as you seek to make God honouring choices.

Pagan Britian

I was listening to an interview this morning with the newly elected leader of the British Labour Party, Ed Miliband. He was asked the 'big question' by Radio 5's Nicki Campbell, 'do you believe in God?'

His answer was sad if not unsurprising, he answered that he did not personally believe in God but went on to explain that he was a tolerant enough to accept that many people did.

This now means that the leaders of two of the big three British Political party's do not believe in the existence of their creator. Of ED Miliband, Nick Clegg and David Cameron only our present Prime Minister David Cameron actually believes there is a God. It does not say much for the judgement of those who would seek to lead our nation that they can look at creation and not believe there is a creator. I suppose they have been brain washed by evolutionary propaganda like so many of the rest of the population and they are to be pitied more than vilified.

I suppose this is just further evidence that Britain is now firmly post Christian or Pagan. How we need the Lord to move in these days by His Holy Spirit and open the blinded eyes of our fellow country men and women, all we can do is keep being faithful to Him and carry out the great commission given by our blessed Saviour.

'And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.' Mark 16 v15

What is a Saint?

As one of his final acts before leaving the UK pope Benedict has beatified Cardinal Newman the 19th Century Anglican who infamously converted to Catholicism. In case you don’t know what it means to be beatified it is simply the pope making someone a Saint.

In order to be made a Saint by the Roman Catholic Church one must first be declared after their death to have been a ‘Servant of God’, then someone latter the person will be given the description of ‘venerable’, if then a miracle can be attributed to you, you are the well on your way to Sainthood. However, one miracle is not enough, there must be a second miracle that is clearly attributed to you and then you can be declared a Saint by the pope.

The second miracle attributed to Cardinal Newman was that of a man called Jack Sullivan who suffered from severe back pain due to a vertebrae on his lower back turning inwards and squeezing on his spine. He claims that he was healed after praying to Cardinal Newman for healing. I do not know enough about Mr Sullivan’s medical case to comment on the veracity of his claims for healing but I do not this, if he was healed it was nothing to do with Cardinal Newman it was all down to God graciously touching his infirmity. Even the miracles of the Bible carried out by Elijah or Peter were really attributable to God alone. So for the pope to announce a man to be a Saint on the grounds of something attributable to God we must question Rome’s beatification process.

What does the Bible say?

That should always be our question in all matters of faith, ‘what saith the scriptures’? Who does the Bible recognise as saints? Is there some class of extremely venerable super Christians classified as Saints in Scripture or is it a general term of reference to all believers?

In his first letter to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul uses a phrase that clearly indicates that all of the people making up the Church are saints. ‘For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.’ 1 Cor 14 v33 In fact Paul uses this term Saints literally scores of times when addressing the believers in the various churches to which he is writing, here are just two examples where in his opening Salutations to the Churches to which he writes he is clearly identifying the body of Christ in it’s entirety in that location as Saints.

‘Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:’ Ephesians 1 v1

‘To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Colossians 1 v2

The term is so tied up with believers in a local church that it must refer to all believers and not some super class of Christian as Rome would teach. Jude too in his little Epistle refers to the original body of believers that received the gospel all as saints. ‘Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.’ Later (v14) in the same letter Jude refers to Christ coming in judgement with ten thousands of his saints. Now I’m not sure how many Saints Rome claims to have but I don’t believe in runs into the tens of thousands.

Finally by way of evidence can I appeal to the description that John gives in the book of the Revelation, in Chapter 14 v12 the saints are seen as a group of people who have faith in Jesus. ‘Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.’

It is clear beyond argument that when the Scripture speaks of a Saint it speaks of a believer in Christ, a Child of God, a Christian. I am a Saint and I don’t need the pope to tell me that. God tells me in His word.

Once again the pope of Rome is trying to play God. This should not surprise us from an institution that claims to have the power to forgive sins, an act that God alone can do, even the Scribes of Jesus day knew enough to know that. Yet the priest of Rome claim this power in the confessional every day.

But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.’ Mark Chapter 2 v7-12

I don't know about you but I'm sure glad Benny the Blasphemer has gone home to Rome. I trust it will a long time before his like returns to our shores again.

The Pope is a Thief

In one way I am sad because of the papal visit to my nation but in another way I am glad because it has caused me to once again focus on the Church of Rome and her doctrines and claims. So often we can become indifferent and complacent to the presence of this institution in our midst and the popes visit has given me reason to once again focus on these things.

I was reminded this morning as I listened to the media coverage of this visit of another one of the popes many titles, this one he has stolen form God Himself, I refer of course to his title ‘Holy Father’.

In the scriptures we only find this title being used once. In John chapter 17 we have what is termed the ‘High Priestly Prayer’ of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we approach John 17 we should really take our shoes off because we are standing on ‘holy ground’. This chapter is a record of the outpouring of the heart of our Saviour (the second person of the Godhead) to His Father (the first person of the Godhead). In verse 10 & 11 the Saviour utters these words.

‘And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.’

Right here in this passage the Lord Jesus refers to His Heavenly Father as ‘Holy Father’, who does the pope of Rome think he is stealing this Divine title?

Not only is it stealing for him to take this title but it is also a lie, for he in neither holy, nor a father (although with all Rome’s scandals you never know).
Holiness is an attribute that belongs to God alone, no man can be said to be holy for all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God, the scriptures call upon us to strive for holiness but we know that we can never attain it, that is why we need a Saviour to get into heaven.

With regard to the name father, has the Church of Rome forgotten what the Saviour said in Matthew 23 v 9 ‘And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.’ Even the very Priests of Rome want to be called ‘father’ in violation of this command.

How we need to pray more earnestly in these days for the masses of deluded Roman Catholics that are depending upon this system for their Salvation. We love them for Christ, our quarrel is not with them but with the system that blinds them.

Brass Necks

I can't believe what I have just heard. As I was driving home from work listening to BBC radio they were covering the popes visit to Scotland. Just before the pope arrived at Glasgow's Bellahouston Park the Strathclyde Police Pipe Band started playing 'Amazing Grace' and then a choir began to sing the great old hymn. What a cheek, what does the Roman Church know about 'Amazing Grace'?

The Catholic Church teaches that in order to be saved one needs to be a member of her institution for it is God's way of dispensing Grace to the sinner. This Grace is dispensed they teach in a number of ways. To name a few, the rite of baptising an infant dispenses grace to child and the child is born again at this point, the rite of communion where the faithful chew their wafer God to get grace and at the end of their days they receive the last rites and another bit of Grace is dispensed. The problem with this drip feed of grace is this, no one actually knows if they have enough to out weight their many sins but as luck would have it if they die with an imbalance they can have their outstanding sins purged in Purgatory. There is nothing AMAZING about that.

On the other hand the Grace of God as found in the Bible is AMAZING! God saves the repentant sinner who trusts in Christ's finished work on Calvary plus nothing. Now that's AMAZING.

'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.' Ephesians 2 v8-9

Lest we forget

It is always good to remember the past. In this part of the world people get very excited about remembering 1690 when King William of Orange defeated King James to establish the throne of Britain as a Protestant throne, on the other side of the religious fence others get very excited about remembering 1916 and the Easter rising when Ireland made it’s first attempt to gain independence from Britain.

We are not unique in this matter either, as any Texan will tell you ‘remember the Alamo and across the world most nations remember those who have fallen in the defence of their lands. When it comes to the Bible we are also encouraged to remember.

‘Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me.’ Isaiah 46 v9

The Lord Jesus himself before his death instituted that memorial feast we know as the Lord’s Supper. ‘And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.’ (1st Cor 11 v24)

So remembering is an important thing and on this day when the pope of Rome has arrived in Scotland as part of his state visit to Britain I think we should call to remembrance the terrible crimes and cruelties that the Roman Church inflicted upon Protestants during the Reformation.

Where will we start you might ask for so many were butchered, burned and drowned one would hardly know where top start. Well perhaps seeing papa is in Scotland we could just take a moment to remember Patrick Hamilton the first Martyr in Scotland.

Patrick Hamilton was of noble birth and born in Glasgow in 1504, as a teenager he studied in Paris and it was here that he first came across the teaching of Martin Luther and the doctrine of Justification by Faith. On returning to Scotland he based himself at St Andrews where he lectured in the University and took every opportunity to communicate his new found faith. His preaching drew the attention of Roman Catholic Archbishop James Beaton who ordered that the young preacher should be tried for heresy. On hearing this Hamilton fled to Germany early in 1527 but returned later that same year and resumed his preaching.

In a subtle act he was invited to a conference at St Andrews where he was afforded to opportunity to preach for a month, this was done in order to gather evidence of his so called heretical views for a trial being planned by the Romanist leaders in Scotland. At length he was summoned before a council of bishops and clergy presided over by Archbishop Beaton. He was charged in all with 13 charges 7 of which were related to doctrines that he had outlined in his only book ‘Loci Communes’. The trial of course was a sham and he was found guilty of heresy and handed over to the secular powers to be burned at the stake on the 29th February 1528

The execution took place on the same day as the trial had concluded in order to ensure no rescue attempt could be planned. He burned from noon to 6pm that afternoon and his last words were similar to those of his Saviour ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’. Sad as his death was it did light a fire in Scotland that swept the Reformation through that land and it was said by his enemies that the ‘reek of Patrick Hamilton infected all it blew on’.

Lest we forget, if Rome had her way she would do it again. Do not be sucked in by the smiley, friendly face of papa as he tours Britain this week, he heads up a system that hates Bible believers and would kill us again and in fact in some parts of the world where she dominates still is persecuting true children of God.

How we need fearless preachers like Patrick Hamilton in 2010. May the Lord raise up more like Patrick Hamilton in our day! Amen

Does the Church have a future?

This was the question under discussion on a television programme aired on Ulster Television last night at 11pm, needless to say this blogger recorded it and watched it this evening, 11pm is far too late for a 'school night'.

I was looking forward to watching the programme as I was informed that an Evangelical Preacher of my acquaintance was to take part as a member of the audience. Sadly my friend did not make it onto the programme, whether he did not get an opportunity to speak or whether he was edited out I don't know as yet but I shall find out.

That aside the programme made interesting viewing although I am not sure how representative the panel was of the Church. There was of course the representatives or Rome, with a Bishop and Roman Catholic lay person. It is not my place to judge but I would not be confident that either of them are part of the Body of Christ given that they are depending on the Church of Rome dispensing grace for their salvation rather than on the finished work of Christ at Calvary. There was a Bishop from the Anglican Communion and a (female) Presbyterian Minister representing the Established churches and a Baptist Pastor representing the Evangelicals.

With regard to the established Churches it is clear that there is a mixed multitude of the converted and unconverted, the Presbyterian lady even acknowledged this in her opening remarks. She was asked what was for her a tricky question about her moderator shaking hands with the pope. In trying to squirm through an answer she admitted that her church was very broad and had a lot of views. On that score she is right, there are certainly good men in her denomination who would appear to be soundly saved and therefore part of the visible church but there are also many liberals who deny the very doctrines of the gospel and it would be doubtful if they are saved and therefore members of Christ's church. The same can be said for all of the established churches.

I have said all of this to give weight to my view that I am not sure how representative this panel was or indeed how qualified they are to debate the future of the Church. They may all be qualified to talk about their churches/denominations but are they qualified to debate the future of Christ's Church.

Even thought the panel grappled with the issues of falling attendances and increased secularisation in society all of them seemed to be confident that the Church had a strong and vibrant future. Sad to say their optimism in the main was in themselves, for they kept talking about how they would listen more and reach out to the felt needs of their congregations and even those outside of their current sphere of influence.

I share their optimism for the future of the Church, not the church as they see but the true Church as Christ sees it. However, my optimism is not based on anything that the church is going to do, my optimism is based on what Christ has always done and will continue and as was pointed out by the lone voice of an evangelical in the audience of that programme:-

'I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' Matthew 16 v 18

The Church does not need to listen to the felt needs of people in order to reach them, the Church knows what people need. They need a Saviour! That might not be what they feel they need but that is what the Bible says they need. In order to reach them with the Saviour then we must do what the Scriptures command us.

'Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.' 2 Timothy 4 v 2

'For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.' 1 Corinthians 1 v18

Away with all the fluffy nonsense, Preach the Word!

Grand Claim

This week we see the first visit of a Roman Pontiff to the UK for three decades. Many in the Evangelical Christian community are directly opposed to such a visit and plan to protest against the Pontiff's arrival. As someone who blogged only last week about religious liberty it would be hypocritical of me to say I think his visit should be banned. However, my belief in Religious Liberty should not be confused with approval of the visit.

The fact that the Roman Pontiff is coming to my nation is a grief to my soul, I wish there was no pope, I wish there was no such system as Roman Catholicism, it is nothing more than a semi pagan religious cult that is responsible for the damnation of millions of souls.

The visit of the pope does give us opportunity to examine one of the 'Grand Claims' the pope's of Rome have been making for centuries. The pope as one of his official titles calls himself the 'Vicar of Christ'. In essence this title means that he takes the place of Christ, he of course does this by claiming to be the head of the church, this of course is the position that alone belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ, as Colossians 1 v 18 says 'He is the head of the body, the church'. For the pope to use this title he is usurping Christ and seeking to take His place.

If you don't believe what I am saying just examine the Latin root of the word 'vicar'. We are familiar with the term vicarious which means to take the place of another, the death of Christ is said to be vicarious because he died in the place of the sinner, he took their place. The word 'vicar' is essentially the same word with the same meaning, papa wants to take the place of Christ. Not only is his claim grand it is also blasphemous!

As an interesting aside there is a word from the Greek language with the same meaning as 'vicar' that word is 'anti'. Just think if the Vatican had employed Greek rather than Latin the popes title would have been 'anti-Christ'. Now before my many friends from the reformed tradition get too excited I am not saying that I believe that the pope is that man of sin spoken of in the book of Revelation but the pope is certainly an 'anti-Christ' for he seeks by his own claims and title to usurp our blessed Saviour, don't forget that the Apostle John has warned us that 'even now are there many antichrists''.

It is a sad time in the life of our nation that our Queen is welcoming this blasphemour on behalf of our nation, pray earnestly that this visit will be a PR disaster for Rome and that no more souls will be sucked into the influence of this man made religion.

Stumbling on Truth

From time to time the world unwittingly discovers a Biblical truth for itself and is often pleased with itself for doing so. I came across such an example to day as I was driving to work.

A young lady was being interviewed on BBC Radio 5 live. She had been doing some research to see if there were any health benefits derived from being kind e.g. giving gifts or doing someone a good turn. Her research indeed revealed that health benefits did in fact come out being kind.

The young lady was clearly very sincere but could have saved herself a lot of time and effort if she had just read the Bible.

'I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.' Acts 20 v35

Once again the Bible is vindicated!

Religious Liberty

Usually when I blog I have a fair idea that what I am saying would be generally accepted in Evangelical circles, but with what I am about to say I am not just sure what people will think.

A couple of recent news stories to have come out of the United States have caught my attention, first of all there was the uproar regarding the building of an Islamic centre close to the site of the September 11th attacks and then only today I have heard reports of an Evangelical Church in the US state of Florida that is planning a book burning of copies of the Koran to mark the anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the world trade centre.

In the first instance can I clarify my position on Islam. Islam is a false religion that is both repulsive in its beliefs and practices as well as the fact that is damning the souls of Millions of it's adherents to hell. It is wrong, I have no time for it, the Koran is poisonous nonsense and it grieves me to my very core that mosques and Islamic centres are springing up all over the western world, however, as a believer in religious liberty I do not believe I have any right to suppress those who want to practice Islam for themselves. As long as a Muslim obeys the laws of the land he or she should be as free as the next person to worship as they wish.

If anyone should know about religious liberty it is the people of the USA, the land of the free. The pilgrim fathers who left Europe to settle America were often motivated by a desire to practice their beliefs free from interference from others. The largest Protestant denomination in America is the Baptist denomination. Baptist history in Europe is very interesting, the Baptists were like all true believers persecuted by the Roman Catholic church to a terrible degree and sad to say the Protestant Reformers even persecuted them as well. As a result many made their way to the new world as it was termed and a nation of free and tolerant people was formed and flourished.

It seems some of our American cousins have forgotten their history and now want to do unto others as was done unto their forefathers. I understand their animosity towards a religious system that hates them and their way of life, I don't like Islam either, but, we should not adopt the approach of denying Muslims religious liberty. They might burn Union Flags, Stars and Stripes, Effigies of Western leaders and even Bibles in Islamabad, but we should not stoop to their Fascist bully tactics. We should be better than that after all we are living by a higher code.

'And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.' Luke 10 v27

'Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.' Matthew 5 v 43-45

Just think, if we actually did what the Lord Jesus said maybe we would have more success in winning these lost souls for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Blasphemy on an Industrial Scale

I have listened with sadness over the past number of years to the increasing popularisation of a phrase which so pervades our 21st Century society that even very young children are using it. The phrase that I am referring to is 'Oh My God'.

'Oh My God' seems to have become the general term used by someone who is shocked or surprised in any way. It is a phrase that I have always heard people use from time to time but not to the same extent as it is used today. I think it was brought to the fore in American sitcoms of the 90's and noughties and now it can even be heard in television programmes for older children. As a result it is now part of common parlance, even for the very young. There is even an abbreviated form on txt messages and social networking sites where people use 'omg'.

There is only one problem. It's blasphemy and in direct disobedience to the commandment of God, the one whose name is being used.

'Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.' Exodus 20 v7

Sad to say like many aspects of popular culture this phrase has infiltrated even God's own people and Christians are using the name of their God in an inappropriate and dishonouring way. Let is take a stand in these days against Blasphemy on an Industrial Scale.

'I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.' Psalm 86 v12

False Prophets

Last August on returning from my summer holidays I felt the need to blog about those 'Charlatans' who broadcast on Christian Television. On holidays I have the opportunity to look at some of these religious channels and it never ceases to amaze me that people send these 'prosperity pimps' their hard earned cash.

This year I came across an individual called Peter Popoff. This particular individual was sending out FREE 'miracle water' to whoever applied. The idea was that if you got your hands on this water and drank it or rubbed it on your body you would be healed of whatever disease you were suffering from, other knock on benefits appeared to include the immediate increase in personal wealth and general favour with God. Of course this was simply a technique Mr Popoff and his friends use to get contact details for the desperate and the gullible and no doubt in the future will contact these poor people and bleed them dry of their resources. Mr brother in law remarked as we watched Mr Popoff's appeal, 'he probably gets that water from the tap in his house'.

Mr Popoff has a colourful history and in the past was caught out wearing an earpiece which he used to receive information from his background team. He was using this personal information about people to try and convince them that God was giving him direct revelations about them. Mr Popoff is nothing but an old fashioned con artist, a grifter, a scammer, a liar of his father the devil, the father of all lies.

We read about people like Mr Popoff in the little letter of Jude. Jude warned about men who would creep into the church unawares and gives us some information on how we can spot these false prophets. One of those areas by which we will recognise these false prophets is by their desire for money, he warns in verse 11 'Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core'

Balaam to whom Jude refers was a character in the Old Testament who was hired by the Moabites to curse the Children of Israel as they were coming out of the wilderness into the promised land. Balaam knew better as God had told him he could not curse the children of Israel but he badly wanted the money that the Moabites were offering so he explained to the Moabites that he could not curse what God had blessed but suggested that instead the Moabites corrupt the Children of Israel. If we can't curse them then we will corrupt them was his counsel and sadly for Israel it worked.

Balaam was a false prophet who loved mammon more that God, he was a rent a prophet only interested in taking money and would say anything to get it. These are the same characteristics that I see in the false prophets on TV preaching a health and wealth gospel. This false gospel has no basis in Scripture. As I read my Bible I find that a Christian should expect, troubles, tribulations and trials in a world that hates God. No where in the scripture do I find that God wants me to be wealthy nor is there a promise that I will be healthy. One of the most Godly men in the Bible the Apostle Paul had a physical ailment that God refused to take from him but rather promised him that His grace would be sufficient for Paul.

These liars have chosen Mammon instead of God, don't be fooled by their lies.

'No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.' Matthew 6 v24

Should we pray for the Lord's return?

The idea of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ is a lovely one, however, I find it difficult to actively pray for Christ's return when I think of the unsaved all around me. For them the Lord's return would not be a lovely prospect but would only herald the great day of His wrath for them.

I was in Israel recently and as such spent a number of days in Jerusalem. Our guide on the trip was a lovely Messianic Jew and I have precious memories of the trip and the lessons we learned from our guide. One day while standing below the temple complex she encouraged us to 'pray for the peace of Jerusalem' as taught in Psalm 122 v6. I had always taken this verse to mean that we should pray that Jerusalem would be a peaceful place i.e. the absence of violence. Our guide taught us that this command in Psalm 122 goes much further than that, it is in fact a prayer that the Prince of Peace would come and rule from Jerusalem, then and only then will Jerusalem have real peace.

As our guide offered this teaching my mind immediately went to the Model prayer.

'Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.' Matthew 6 v10

Praying for the 'Prince of Peace to come' is just the same as praying 'Thy Kingdom come' for then and only then will God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven. As I thought about these things I began to think that perhaps we as God's people should actually actively pray that the Lord Jesus would come back again as He has promised He will. As I though about this another scripture popped into my mind.

'He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.' Revelation 22 v20

It would seem that when the Apostle John was confronted with the promise of the Lord's return, 'behold I come quickly' he could not help but say, 'even so come Lord Jesus'. Should we be saying Amen to the Apostle John's prayer? Food for thought!

But that's not the point!

I was listening to a debate on BBC radio 5 live on the way to work the other morning. They had two people from the Church of England debating the latest thorny issue of making women bishops. One was meant to be a traditionalist/conservative and the other a more liberal minded cleric (who happened to be a woman priest). In my opinion after listening to them it was a liberal and an extreme liberal.The interviewer tried hard to bring in the even thornier issue of the ordination of 'gay' bishops but neither of them were having any of it and were not for biting.

What a mess this institution is in! It is riven by splits over gay priests and women priests, there is a Evangelical wing, an Anglo-Catholic wing and a Liberal wing. Their big problem is their abandonment of the literal interpretation of the Scriptures. I mean to say how else are we to understand the Bible, God says what He means and He means what He says.

They should not be debating as to whether or not they should have women bishops, that is not the point, they should not have women clerics of any kind. I do not say this out of any sort of male chauvinism but merely out of regard for what God's word teaches. The Bible is clear on this matter, the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit told the young Pastor Timothy.

'Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve.' 1st Timothy 2 v 11-13

The letters of Paul to Timothy are often referred to as Pastoral Epistles, Paul was teaching this young preacher how to order the local Church. Why would we ever want to abandon God's order of things as revealed in His word?

Made in China

Have you ever noticed that nearly everything we lift nowadays has three little words on the bottom? ‘Made in China’. Now I have a problem with this statement and it is not anything to do with a dislike for the Chinese. I have a problem with the use of the word ‘made’.

When we really sit down and think about it, people don’t really make anything, we just rearrange things that already are there. We speak about making lunch, but really we just prepare lunch. Sometimes we hear people bemoaning the decline of the British manufacturing industry and they say, ‘Britain doesn’t make anything anymore’, the truth is we never did, we might have rearranged things but we never made anything. The metals that go into manufacturing anything come from various ores already present in the earth, the food that we eat whether it is bread or beef is just rearranged soil nutrients, that we might prepare into a loaf or a sausage but we didn’t make them. Even things that are so called man-made like polyester or plastic are made from elements already in existence in nature.

The Scientist in the lab can experiment all day on chemicals and compounds, he can observe them and arrange them, taking bits out and adding bits in, he can arrange them and rearrange them but he cannot MAKE them. Man has never made anything that is make something from nothing. No Sir, only God can do that. In his introduction to his Gospel the Apostle John speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ (who is God) said.

‘All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.’ John 1 v3

God is the true source of all created things! The Greek word translated ‘made in this verse is the word ginomai, it literally means to come into existence or begin to be. No man has ever brought anything into existence this is the act of an omnipotent God. Let’s give credit where credit is due.

‘For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:’ Colossians 1 v16

Made in China? No! Rearranged in China would be better.

Eating Rubbish

‘Don’t be eating any rubbish before your dinner you’ll ruin your appetite!’ I’m sure we can all recall our parents saying this or something similar as we grew up. Diet is of course extremely important to our physical well being and our parents were right to make sure we have a sensible and balanced diet.

Just as our physical diet is important so is our spiritual intake. I wonder what you have been feeding on recently. There is an old saying ‘you are what you eat’ and it is very true. If we fill our minds with the garbage of this world then t will have a detrimental effect on our walk with God.

One area of real concern to me is in the area of music. Many young Christians are feeding on the diet of the music of this world, they listen to it on their ipods, in their cars, in their bedrooms and I am even hearing of God’s people who are going to the concerts where the current pop artists are performing.

I don’t listen to the music of this world, but I do try to keep culturally aware of what is out there as I need to be relevant to the young people I minister to. In the past few weeks I have become increasingly alarmed by this trend of worldliness and I decided to have a closer look at what some of today’s most popular acts are singing about. I was not surprised to learn that things have not change much in the pop world in that past 40 years, they are still pumping out a message of materialism and sexual perversion. Here are a few examples.

Rihanna

I saw some pictures recently of a Rihanna concert on a Christian’s facebok page, she doesn’t wear a whole lot when she is performing (maybe it’s warm up on that stage). Here are some lyrics from her song ‘Rude boy’.

Come here rude boy, boy, can you get it up?
Come here rude boy, boy, is you big enough?
Take it, take it, baby, baby,
Take it, take it, love me, love me.
I don’t thing I need to explain to anyone what that’s all about, it’s filth.
Then she has a song called bad girl, which is a glorification of materialism. Here are some lyrics.
Shopaholic is what they call ‘em
My addiction, my prescription
Gimmie shoes and give me bags
How much you want I need ‘em bad

This encourages the sin of self gratification, which is the oldest sin in the Bible, remember Eve, she saw, she wanted and she took.

Lady GaGa

My wife was in her hairdressers recently and the lady mentioned that she had taken her daughter to see Lady Gaga. She said she regretted taking her as the show was extremely raunchy and that Lady Gaga’s language was blue. This lady who told my wife this is not a Christian and she has enough wit to see how filthy Lady Gaga is and yet I hear of Christians going to see her. What are they thinking? Her are the lyrics of Lady Gaga’s song ‘I like it rough’.

Shiny and I know it
Don’t know why you wanna blow it
Need a man who likes it rough
Likes it rough, likes it rough.

Lovely!!! She also has a very popular song called ‘Just Dance’ this song glorifies the lifestyle of going to a club and getting smashed out of your head.

I’ve had a little bit too much, much
All of the people start to rush, start to rush by
How does he twist the dance? Can’t find a drink, oh man
Where are my keys, I lost my phone phone.
What’s going on on the floor?
I love this record baby but I can’t see straight anymore
Keep, it cool, what’s the name of this club?
I can’t remember but it’s alright, alright.

Sorry Miss Gaga (cause let’s face it your no lady) it is not alright to be so out of your head that you don’t know where you are. Why would a Christian want to listen this garbage?

Girls Aloud

What, Girls aloud, what’s wrong with Girls aloud? I’m risking it here talking about Girls Aloud, the nations sweethearts with sweetheart in chief Cheryl Cole as popular as Barak Obama. Well I’m sorry to say these girls are just as bad as all the rest, they strut about their concert stages in immodest clothing and dance in a provocative manner, it’s all about the sexuality. Here are some lyrics for their hit song ‘Jump’.

Your eyes, tell me how you want me
I can feel it in your heart beat
I know you like what you see
Hold me, I’ll give you all that you need
Wrap your love around me
You’re so excited, I can feel you getting hotter, oh baby.

Another song about sex and the sad thing about it is primary school children are going around singing this filth, you have to wonder do they know what they are singing, I fear many of them do.

This little trip through the song lyrics of three of the most popular acts has just been a drop in the ocean; there are multiple examples of this kind of rubbish being pumped out over our airwaves everyday. Surely as God’s people we should be saying No. No, I won’t listen to this stuff, No, I won’t go to these concerts, No, and I will not be conformed to this world. We should be conformed to the Word not the world.

‘Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.’ Philippians 4 v8

Hated for just being there!

The Nation of Israel once again finds itself on the wrong side of international opinion and is being condemned for the actions it took earlier this week to defend it’s citizens when IDF teams boarded a flotilla of ships carrying supplies to the Hamas run Gaza strip.

To my way of thinking Israel actions were perfectly reasonable. Hamas has continued to smuggle rockets into Gaza under the banner of humanitarian aid and then fire those same rockets as Israeli citizens. Israel has the right to check these shipments to ensure that they are what they say they are. When boarding the flotilla the IDF team were carrying guns with paint balls and not live ammunition, they were only forced to use their back-up handguns as it got ugly and they came under attack. Do IDF members not have a right to defend themselves? This was a reasonable course of action by Israel and her armed forces.

But poor Israel just cannot win in the court of public opinion. There is a saying ‘you can please most of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time but you can never please all of the people all of the time.’ In the case of Israel they don’t seem to be able to please anyone any of the time. Why is this?

To understand this question we must understand that the nation of Israel is still God’s covenant people and are under His special protection, how else could they have survived as a nation through the onslaughts of Popery, Hitler and the Arab block. Satan as a hater of God hates God’s people and as Israel is God’s covenant nation he hates them with a passion. He is behind all of the world’s hatred toward the Jews and he is inciting the Arabs to try and wipe Israel out.

I have news for an Israeli hating world they are not going anywhere. God has promised them that land and there is still more of it to be occupied by them in a day yet to come. The world should remember God’s words to Abraham, them that bless thee I will bless and them that curse thee I will curse.

‘In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:’ Genesis 15 v18

Difficult to explain

For some time I have felt I should blog on the subject of election but to this point have held my counsel. I suppose my reluctance is based on the fact that I have many close friends who would not share my views on the subject and I have no desire to offend or be insensitive.

When I was younger I referred to myself as a Calvinist, I think I did so more in an effort to make it clear that I was not an Arminian rather than being a convinced Calvinist. I did not want anyone to think I belonged to the ‘lost again’ brigade, but I always struggled with the Calvinist notion of limited atonement. I could never get away from verses like, ‘He tasted death for everyman’, ‘he would have all men to be saved’ and ‘he is not willing that any should perish’. Calvinists of course have their explanations of how these verses should be understood but I am never comfortable with a system of doctrine that has to explain away clear biblical statements like these.

With a few more years behind me I have come to the conclusion that both systems of interpretation have holes in them and I believe there is a more biblical way too look at all the subjects of mans depravity, the nature of election, the scope of the atonement, God’s movings in Grace and the eternal security of believers. This short blog is in no way an attempt to answer any or all of these questions and perhaps I will pick some of these topics up in the future but for now I just want to throw out two thoughts about a verse that I think must be difficult for reformed theologians to explain.

‘Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:’ 2 Peter 1 v10

Problem.1
Why is this verse even there? If the Calvinist is correct, God has ordained by His will alone who will be saved and He sees to it that they are saved. If this is the case why on earth would we be encouraged to make our calling and election sure. The fact that this verse is in the Bible shows quite clearly shows that we have to place our faith in Christ’s finished work, as a deliberate act of our will, yes and we would never would have done it left to ourselves without the drawing of the Spirit but we still had it to do.

Problem.2

I am a great believer in taking note of the order of scripture. For example sometimes our Saviour is referred to as Jesus Christ, this emphasises His humanity, sometimes He is referred to as the Lord Jesus, this emphasises His Deity and sometimes He is referred to as Christ Jesus and here His office as Messiah is being emphasised. Notice the order in the verse, we are asked to make our calling 1st and election 2nd sure. Now if Calvinism is right surely the election comes before the calling, but that is not how the Spirit of God inspired Peter to put it. The election we are told was determined in eternity past but the effectual call is a more recent event. But Peter here suggests that it is the other way around that election follows the call.

This is where we really get down to understanding this whole debate, what is election? We have been conditioned to believe that election is to do with salvation but I’m not so sure. The Lord Jesus is described as being elect and He certainly does not need salvation, there are angels described as elect angels, but angels know nothing of salvation and the nation of Israel is described as an elect nation but we know that all Jews are not saved. So election must have more to do with God choosing individuals for a purpose, to do some task for Him.

I must admit I have not fully developed all of my views on this subject but I have reached a milestone and that is this, I do not agree with Calvin or Arminius!

Advertising Murder

While listening to Radio 5 Live on the way to work this morning I heard of a company that provides abortions called ‘Marie Stopes International’ planning to run a television advert promoting their services. This advert will first be aired on Channel 4 on the 24th May.

The fact that such an advert is to be allowed on our television screens shows just how far from God our society has departed. Many no doubt will rightly challenge the decision to allow this ad to run but I fear this is a mere skirmish compared to the real issue. The real issue is we live in a society where the murder of innocent babies is legal. It is hard to believe in a so-called civilised society that 215,975 abortions were carried out in Britain in 2008, in fact 1 in 5 pregnancies now end in abortion.

Our Nation should take note of the judgement that fell on another nation that was guilty of the blood of innocents. In the Old Testament the Children of Israel departed from the true God and began to follow the false gods of the pagan nations around them. One of those false gods was called Molech. The worshippers of Molech made a brazen image of a god with his arms out stretched. This image was then heated to be red hot and people sacrificed their babies by placing them onto the burning hot out stretched arms of the image. This was known as ‘making them pass through the fire’. The sad refrain over and over again in the Old Testament record is typified in the following quote from 2 Kings.

‘Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.’ 2 Kings 16 v2-3

The God then was called Molech, today the method has changed and so has the name of the god, it is now called convenience, but it is the same wicked spirit at work. One in five women now find the child in their womb to be inconvenient, it will encroach on their lifestyle, it will hold back their careers or it will give them stretch marks (how awful for them). What an inconvenience! So they sacrifice their unborn child to the God of Convenience.

Surely our land is ripe for the judgement of God. If the blood of righteous Abel cried out from the ground to God there must be an even greater cry from the blood of innocents butchered in our land.

‘O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.’Habakkuk 3 v2

The Fruits of Repentance

John the Baptist was a preacher who majored on repentance, on one occasion when challenging the Pharisees he said ‘bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:’ Matt 3 v8

Repentance is a neglected doctrine in the contemporary church but it is a vital doctrine if we are to preach the gospel in all of its fullness.

There is a great demonstration of repentance in action in the 3rd Chapter of the book of Jonah. The prophet Jonah delivered a message of the impending judgement hanging over Nineveh, ‘Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.’ Jonah 3 v4 This was what Jonah cried as he journeyed across the city preaching. God’s Spirit took these works and convicted the inhabitants of Nineveh and they did exactly what John the Baptist challenged the Pharisees to do, they brought forth the fruits of repentance.

A Changed Attitude

‘So the people of Nineveh believed God,’ Jonah 3v5

The people of Nineveh never had much time for the God of Israel; they were a race known for their cruelty and worshipped the pagan deity Dagon. However, on hearing the message of God’s judgment they changed their minds and for the first time they believed in the God of Israel. That is always the starting point for Salvation; we need to start agreeing with God about our sin and its consequences. We need to believe God.

A Changed Appetite

‘and proclaimed a fast’ Jonah 3v5

Like all the pagan societies of that day the people in Nineveh lived their lives in excess, drunkenness and immorality were the order of the day. Sounds a bit like 21st Century Britain. However, their turning to God changed their appetite, they proclaimed a fast, and denied themselves food. Sadly today many Christians don’t know much of self-denial. They drink the booze of this world; they indulge in premarital and extra marital sex. I was shocked recently to hear of a young Christian girl who was mocked by her so-called Christian friends because she was still a virgin

A Changed Appearance

‘put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.’ Jonah 3 v5

A returning visitor to Nineveh at this time would have noticed something different about the people; their dress had changed. No longer were they wearing their normal clothes but rather a covering of sackcloth was now their garment. Can people who look at us know that we belong to God by our appearance? I am not merely talking about modesty in dress although that is important but what about our conduct, our conversation, our whole manner of living is it Godly. Surely as God’s children we should exhibit ‘fruits meet for repentance’!