Plumbline Faith

Simple Faith, Simple Truth, Simple Virtue

SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER — December 30, 2015
SIMPLE TRUTH — December 26, 2015
PEDDLING PROPHETS — December 24, 2015
A SURE FOUNDATION — December 23, 2015

A SURE FOUNDATION

“Progressive,” “Red Letter,” “Emergent,” “Insurgence” and “Deeper Life” – oh my!

Such post-modern, existential “Christians” know not Christ.

Instead of submitting their perceptions and sensibilities about Christ to all of Scripture …

They submit all of Scripture to their own perceptions and sensibilities about Christ.

In contrast, real disciples have a vibrant relationship with the Living Word …

In submission to the authority and discipline of His written Word.

Don’t settle for anything less.

DENYING CHRIST — December 21, 2015

DENYING CHRIST

Some proclaim that “Christ is All” in an attempt to deny all of Christ.

Typically, they reject the plenary authority of Scripture as His written word …

By claiming that their personal revelation of “Christ” supersedes all of the commands, precepts, propositional truths, narratives and moral imperatives He chose to reveal there.

As a result, they are left with a false “Christ” of their own creation.

The only thing their false Jesus really is all about is them …

And their own subjective follies and sensibilities.

Be discerning …

Deceptive cults love to use pithy but misleading slogans to promote unspoken premises and hidden agendas.

TOUGH LOVE — December 20, 2015
SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY — December 19, 2015
SIMPLY FAKE — December 14, 2015

SIMPLY FAKE

Those who habitually are unable to start, sustain or successfully be part of a simple, participatory church in their own lives, home towns or anywhere else …

Often promote the published “organic church” writings of Frank Viola, Milt Rodriquez, Jon Zens and their buddies.

This is hardly surprising, because those authors and seminar speakers habitually haven’t been able to either.

Be discerning, because without authenticity …

Simple church simply doesn’t work.

VAIN TRADITIONS — December 10, 2015
COUNTERFEIT CHURCH — December 8, 2015
GOD AND LIBERTY — December 7, 2015
MOVING FORWARD — December 4, 2015
SECOND COMING — November 29, 2015
THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE … — November 28, 2015

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE …

My dad often said a prepared person is better than a prepared message.

People these days are sick of those who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk …

Often from raised podiums above us.

So make a difference – try getting down off your pedestal and being a prepared man or woman instead …

Because there is no better “sermon”.

THE TRUE PHARISEES — November 25, 2015
THE AUTHENTIC JESUS — November 24, 2015
THE LORD AND THE SWORD — November 18, 2015

THE LORD AND THE SWORD

The same Jesus who tells His disciples to individually love those who persecute us, return good for evil, turn the other cheek and forgive …

Also says, through Romans 13:3-7, that government officials bear the sword as “God’s ministers” to stop evildoers, protect the innocent and insure our common good.

It’s really not that complicated:

Let’s obey all that Christ says by sacrificially loving evildoers who harm us …

While also loving others enough to insist that government stop those same evildoers from harming anyone else.

CONNECTIONS — November 14, 2015
SPIRITUAL NARCISSISTS — November 10, 2015

SPIRITUAL NARCISSISTS

“Christian” authors, bloggers, influencers and “leaders” who dismiss Christ’s plenary authority of Scripture …

Set themselves up – through a Jesus of their own perception – as the ultimate standard.

It’s a post-modern form of narcissism …

Leading to spiritual abuse and deception.

GOD’S WAYS — November 9, 2015
TOUGH LOVE — November 7, 2015
STONED PROPHETS — November 5, 2015
BIBLICAL VS INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP — November 3, 2015

BIBLICAL VS INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP

So why the difference between the diverse, flat leadership found in relational participatory churches as taught in the New Testament …

And the monopolistic, pinnacle leadership often found in institutional churches that are rooted in post-New Testament presumptions and traditions?

There are many, but here’s an important one:

Church “leadership” and “ministry” are not about hierarchical organizational charts with titles and positions.

That has more to do with personal privilege, advantage and control …

Than humbly learning to dynamically function together as we prefer one another above ourselves in our different callings by using our diverse gifts to serve each other and submit one to another.

The former comes from the world of secular corporations.

The latter, from the heart of God.

COMPASSION OR COMPULSION? — November 2, 2015

COMPASSION OR COMPULSION?

Don’t be deceived by false claims of “compassion” by repressive “progressives.”

Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek, to give the coat off our back, and to help the poor.

But He never said to use government coercion to do it for us …

Or to force others to pay for it.

You can’t find a single instance in all of Scripture, by example or precept, where government is given authority to usurp our individual obligation …

To be our brother’s keeper.

And thus we are left with the fundamental error of repressive “progressives,” who want government to assume the burdens of compassion which they won’t bear themselves …

While compelling everyone else to pay for it.

Scripture has lots to say about the proper role and authority of civil governments.

For example, God primarily tasks civil authorities with an obligation to protect the innocent from evil doers …

So we may live peaceable lives that allow us to fulfill our own obligations to take care of ourselves and each other.

But nowhere in Scripture does God empower government to usurp our personal obligations of individual responsibility and charity.

Turn to Scripture and prove me wrong.

Otherwise, you make an idol out of government power, expecting it to do and fix what God commands of us as individuals to do and fix …

Through personal initiative and voluntary cooperation.

GOD’S WORD OR HUMAN TRADITION? — October 28, 2015

GOD’S WORD OR HUMAN TRADITION?

Nothing in the original language or context of the New Testament even remotely matches our current, prevailing concepts of …

“Church,” “pastor,” “teach,” “preach,” “tithe,” “ministry,” “communion,” “worship,” and so much more.

Which begs the question:

What do people think they’re actually doing each Sunday morning?

Is it just an edifice built on post-Biblical human traditions and contradictions …

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