“Who are you to judge? God knows my heart.”
Yes. Yes He does:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” (Jer 17:9)
Which is why, in fact, we ARE to judge …
But righteously. (Jn 7:24)
Which means wisely applying God’s external standards of what’s true, real and right…
To internally justified lies, distortions and immorality.
Reformed Theology says it’s impossible to reject God’s grace when offered …
Based on the philosophic concept that doing so would involve human autonomy against God’s sovereignty.
The flaw is that Reformed Theology does not see that there is a third option, which runs throughout Scripture.
The choice isn’t Calvinism = God’s Sovereignty …
While Arminianism = Human autonomy.
Rather, Biblical doctrine shows that God is so sovereign …
He can offer not only undeserved grace, but also the undeserved choice to reject that grace.
That’s why Scripture repeatedly says that apart from God extending His grace to us, salvation is impossible …
But there’s not a single passage in all of Scripture that says His grace is irresistible.
Denying God’s sovereign right to delegate that choice is, at its core, a denial of His sovereignty.
We are bound by the limits of our fallen nature, which makes us spiritually “dead in our trespasses and sin”.
We are not spiritually sick, but dead.
Free will, therefore, is a myth apart from God’s grace giving us the option to choose Him …
Because those who are spiritually dead have no choice in and of themselves.
Fundamentally, we have no human autonomy or ability to choose anything apart from what God has chosen to delegate and enable.
According to His sovereign will, however, He didn’t want puppets on a string …
So He gave Adam the option to choose sin and death – as He knew he would – by rejecting His rule.
Adam chose foolishly.
Christ, according to His eternal plan …
Then defeated sin and death through the Cross to give us the option to choose righteousness and life by submitting to His rule.
This is what makes God’s grace so amazing.
Choose wisely, therefore …
While you still have a choice.
Most of what we call “worship” today …
Is so contrived and manipulative as to be an affront to God.
Most, however, are so unwilling to submit their concept of “worship” to what the New Testament actually says is worship …
That they don’t even care.
Because God loves us, He offers grace without merit …
While also requiring repentance in return.
Claiming anything less on either point …
Emasculates the Gospel.
We don’t truly believe because we perceive …
But truly perceive because we believe.
The former is all about us …
As we start with ourselves, only to remain trapped in ourselves.
The latter is all about God …
Who gives faith to believe.
Only then can we repent of ourselves to become more than ourselves.
Did you know that the English word “church” does not come from the New Testament …
And is a mistranslation of the original New Testament Greek word “ekklesia”?
Instead, “church” derives from an old German word “circe,” denoting gatherings of those engaged in occult practices related to pagan gods …
From which our word “circus” also comes.
Maybe that explains why “church” today looks nothing like the New Testament concept of “ekklesia.”
In contrast, “ekklesia” referred – during the time the New Testament was written – to local governing assemblies of citizens appointed to deliberate, represent and advance the interests of the ruling king and his kingdom in their own communities.
It was a participatory assembly where everyone was actively and equally involved in their gatherings …
Rather than a staged performance by the few.
Maybe it’s time to take a second look at Scripture through the lens of the actual words originally used …
And what they actually meant when selected by the Holy Spirit for use in the New Testament.
Otherwise, we distort the orginal intent of Scripture with contrary, post-New Testament meanings.
“Christian” nihilists who promote national disdain and cultural shame in the name of Christ …
Know not Christ.
True disciples can speak truth to power …
While still giving honor where honor is due.
Don’t be deceived by cries of “unity” from those who reject God’s plenary authority of Scripture …
While then expecting conformity to a Jesus of their own creation.
There are those who manage the variables.
They talk about process.
Then there are those who change the variables.
They talk about results.
There’s the hard Gospel of Godly repentance and Kingdom surrender.
Then there’s the easy “Gospel” of personal choice and optional lifestyle …
Especially among “churches” that try to pimp God by embracing cheap grace and easy believism.
Where are the men of God these days, who preach hard truth under the conviction of the Holy Spirit?
May God deliver us from the easy “Gospel” of false hope and deceptive charm …
As we proclaim true repentance, salvation and redemption once again.
What if you actually studied the New Testament and the original, actual meanings of its original words in their original language …
Utilizing a good comprehensive lexicon that anyone can buy and use?
What if you did it a second time …
And then a third time?
And, after all that, what if you discovered that what you call a “church” or “worship” or the “tithe” or a “pastor” or so much more …
Isn’t?
What if …
Don’t confuse what seems good to you …
With God’s best for you.
The love of God is the culmination of wisdom …
But the fear of God is its beginning.
God’s into plumblines …
Not pendulums.
Some believe God is so sovereign …
That He can’t choose to allow people to reject His grace.
Which means that they’re trying to protect His sovereignty …
By denying His sovereignty.
As a result, they’ve made an idol out of their own trans-Biblical, philosophical view of “sovereignty” …
Resulting in too low a view of God and His actual sovereignty.
Nonetheless, they compound their problems by then straining to filter all the rest of God’s Word – plus all the rest of life and everyone else – through the seeve of that core absurdity.
By so doing, they’ve become the arrogant new Pharisees of our day, captive to a dry intellectual edifice of their own creation …
Built on further absurdities heaped upon absurdities.
Is it any wonder, then, that it’s nearly impossible to find the joyous, dynamic life of Christ – or vibrant, multi-gifted Christian community – among them?
Although they are our brothers and sisters in Christ …
It’s time to recognize that they are our weaker siblings, rather than giving them the prominence they presume to demand among us.
There are many “Christian” idols in our churches these days.
For example, what most churches call “worship” …
Is mostly a contrived, manipulative affront to God.
And I’m not talking about styles of music …
But about turning “worship” into a “church service” rather than living lives of reverent obedience and sacrificial service to God.
Unfortunately, those unwilling to submit to how the New Testament actually defines worship and the focus of our gatherings …
Seldom even care.
And so they’ve elevated their own notions of worship above God Himself and what His Word actually says …
Thus ensnaring many in perpetual immaturity and carnality.
Until we discard the filter of “church” as we’ve come to know it …
We will never see church as the New Testament actually shows it.
In the New Testament, you can’t find – by command, precept, or example – what many call “church” these days.
Nope, not, nada …
Just ain’t there.
Instead, you see smaller, intentional, participatory fellowships which relate together in their own home towns as part of the local Body of Christ, with throughout-the-week community.
Continue readingWhile a true encounter with God will invoke intense emotions …
Many “churches” today try to invoke intense emotions then call it a true encounter with God.
It’s not.
It’s just fleshly manipulation masquerading as “worship.”
Big difference!
Ideas have consequences, as do doctrines …
Including the bad doctrine that doctrines don’t matter.
When the “Gospel” is reduced to a “decision” without repentance …
It, and anything that promotes it, is a lie.
Including “church.”
The greatest scandal with “church” these days …
Is preaching the “Gospel” of a Jesus who wants what you want.
Beware of false dichotomies …
By which many are led astray.
True repentance …
Brings transparency.
