Plumbline Faith

Simple Faith, Simple Truth, Simple Virtue

Category: Simple Faith

PROPHETIC RUBBISH — January 8, 2021

PROPHETIC RUBBISH

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It’s gotta be said: 

If you got caught up in all the “prophetic words” about Trump being re-elected in 2020 from the Elijah List of for-profit non-prophets and other self-appointed, unaccountable and attention grabbing “prophetic” crazies … 

Or you got caught up in the bizarre world of Q-Anon delusions … 

You need to humbly examine yourself, return to the Sovereign God of Scripture, embrace the simple – yet comprehensive – power and authority of His Word, and commit to healthy Christian community where you can begin to find balance in your life. 

When you do, there will be no need or desire to pursue counterfeit realities or distracting, drama laden “solutions”. 

Yes, there are real issues, and yes there are those who are authentically prophetic … 

But God is not a freak show and what you gave yourselves over to was not of Him. 

True disciples, who put their trust wholly in Him and His Word and are committed to healthy Christian community, will learn to discern the difference. 

Those who don’t, won’t. 

Repent, and get about the hard work of rebuilding the foundations in your own life and in our nation … 

Before it’s too late.

FINDING FAITH — September 19, 2018
STANDING STRONG — September 18, 2018
ACCOUNTABILITY — September 16, 2018
LORD — September 15, 2018
FOUNDATIONS — September 13, 2018

FOUNDATIONS

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What’s the ultimate standard for truth, reality and morality?

Our perceptions and sensibilities …

Or God’s written revelation and sovereign will?

Herein lies the difference between popular existential ideologies that have deceived many “Christians” …

And authentic Biblical Christianity as God Himself defines it.

CONSEQUENCES — September 12, 2018
REDEMPTION OR DESTRUCTION? — September 10, 2018

REDEMPTION OR DESTRUCTION?

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Your worse failings are redemptive if you let God use them to get your attention and bring you to repentance.

Alternatively, you can let them destroy you.

That’s why I seldom freak out when someone in our churches stumbles – many times I’ve seen it become a turning point for amazing redemptive transformation.

But whether for destruction or redemption, it’s always your choice.

That’s because spiritual health and maturity are not about perfection …

But how we deal with our imperfections.

Maybe that’s why true church as commanded in the New Testament is about participating one with another to mutually build up each other …

Rather than putting on performances.

BE THE CHURCH — September 9, 2018

BE THE CHURCH

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Few are willing to do the hard work of actually being the church.

You know, an active community of believers who encourage and minister to one another …

When they gather together and throughout their daily lives.

Many, instead, are content to let others do “church” for them …

From an elevated stage each Sunday morning.

Be exceptional!

Dare to be the church as the New Testament actually commands it …

And leave that other stuff behind.

“Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” ~ Jesus

TRUE LOVE — September 5, 2018
TRUE LOVE — September 1, 2018
SIMPLE FAITH — August 27, 2018
DISCIPLES — August 24, 2018
REDEMPTION — August 22, 2018
BOGUS — August 21, 2018

BOGUS

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God’s presence without His sovereignty …

Is an impossibility.

Which is why I’m convinced that what we call “worship” and “His presence” at many “churches” these days …

Is so bogus.

It’s just emotional manipulation, masquerading as “worship” …

To generate feelings of intensity, and calling it “God” …

During a staged performance, claiming to be “church.”

————————————

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Rom. 12:1-2

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP — August 19, 2018

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP

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There’s nothing entertaining …

About authentic worship.

Because authentic worship, as the New Testament actually defines it, means living lives of sacrificial service and reverent obedience.

Maybe this explains why real worship among many “Christians” and “churches” these days …

Is so rare.

THE REVIVAL MERRY-GO-ROUND — August 17, 2018
“WORSHIP” IDOLATRY — August 12, 2018
I AM BECAUSE HE IS — August 11, 2018
Simple Faith — August 10, 2018
THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM — August 8, 2018
CARNAL OR TRUE WORSHIP? — August 6, 2018

CARNAL OR TRUE WORSHIP?

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The me-centered, contrived intensity that many call “worship” these days …

Is an affront to God’s holiness.

In the New Testament, true worship is living lives of obeisance (humble submission) and sacrificial obedience to Him, as He mandates …

Rather than projecting our own carnality onto Him to feed our own soulish impulses.

Let’s return to the true God of Scripture with authentic worship …

As actually defined and commanded by Him.

Because when we relate to God on His terms rather than ours …

Amazing things of eternal significance will start happening in your own life and those around you.

Simple Truth — August 4, 2018

Simple Truth

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Authentic citizens of God’s Kingdom …

Are the greatest force for reforming earthly kingdoms.

History proves this time and again …

And God is not yet done with history.

If, however, you’ve not the grace to heed His call outside your own comfort zones …

Then at least don’t diss those who do.

Simple Faith — August 3, 2018
THE LIVING WORD AND HIS WRITTEN WORD — August 2, 2018

THE LIVING WORD AND HIS WRITTEN WORD

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A “relationship” with a purely subjective Jesus, apart from His plenary authority of Scripture as His written Word …

Leads to inauthentic faith.

Likewise, “truth” based on the plenary authority of Scripture without Jesus alive in us …

Also leads to an inauthentic faith.

Each extreme – born of an endless cycle of reaction to the other – chronicles two tragic trends of Church history.

Unfortunately, we still see these extremes played out today.

Authentic faith embraces the fulness of Christ:

Both His Person …

And what He has revealed in His written Word of Scripture.

Nonetheless, where my subjective perception of Him differs from His written self-disclosure, objective precepts and propositional truths of Scripture …

I must yield to Scripture.

There can be no maturity in Christ or functional communities of believers apart from these essentials.