I just read an article about a Catholic bishop denying communion to an abortion supporting politician. God Bless the Catholic Bishop for standing for something!!!
The most remarkable thing in the article to me was the quote of a 20 year-old who said something like, "If he says he's a true Catholic who's to say he isn't?" This thinking is all too prevalent and is symptomatic of the mental disease of our day. This disease is manifested as a relativistic view of reality. As in, if you believe it, it's true for you. This has led to the absurd notion of not being able to ask children whether they are male or female because you can be whatever you believe you are. I know relativism is not true because I continue to believe people like this are not out there, but they continue to show up. They really are simply products of our educational system. We have taught them this nonsense.
There is no abbsolute truth, they will proclaim. Not even realizing that statement is a claim of absolute truth. Who indeed, can say this politician is not a Catholic? Just take the beliefs that define Catholicism and apply them to the man. If they don't apply, he's not a Catholic!! Even if saying so hurts his self-image.
We used to say if it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a DUCK!! But now we say if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck and quack likes a duck, it's whatever it calls itself. May I suggest there are pictures of ducks in bird books, as there are pictures of boys and girls in biology books and there is a picture of a Catholic in the belief system that defines Catholicism. Marriage is defined in the scriptures and in cultural history along with the fact that only the combination of a man and a woman can perpetuate life. There is reality out there which is pretty obvious even to the casual observer. However, we have demonstrated over a generation just how powerful education is. They have learned what they have been taught. Whatever you say is true for you is true. The trouble is, that is a lie!!!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Invalidating the Word of God by Tradition
I have seen some thngs very close to me in a very different light of late. First, I got a glimpse of how me and others that I know who are diligently after God could have unknowingly slid into a teaching/preaching mode that gives nothing other than ear tickling messages. It seems I hear more today than ever, "well what do they want to hear."
Now with a little different twist the passage in Mark 7:9-13 has shown me how even those with a very "spiritual" intent can be sidetracked into relying more on their traditions than God's Word. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes because they were taking that which they could help their parents with and "giving it to God." Here it's easy to imagine that these guys were so zealous to serve God that they were giving everything to Him. What could be wrong with that? Jesus said that by doing so they were actually violating God's command to honor your Father and Mother. That's what's wrong. They decided over and above the authority of the scriptures what needed to be done. And it sounded pretty doggone holy!!!
It seems to me that we may have done that in this generation in the way we present the Gospel. Now the basic intent is to get people "saved". That's good!! However, in our fervency there has been established a methodology in the evangelical presentation that makes promises and assurances to people on non-Biblical grounds. For example, if you say this sinner's prayer you will go to heaven. On what grounds can we say that? If someone is repentant and believing God, they can say most any prayer and find relationship with Jesus, but we have made it sound as though there is some kind of special sure-fire incantation that when recited God must receive you into His kingdom.
Some have attached the extra instruction that once you've said this prayer it doesn't matter what you do you're saved!! This has left a lot of people who have never repented or believed in the Lord Jesus Christ , but simply said a prayer, wandering around our society with a hope, not in Jesus, but in a well-meaning Christian's words, that they are without a doubt destined for eternal life. And, now they are immuned to most anything you actually show them from the Bible because they have already received the final word on that when they said the sinner's prayer, which is not in the Bible.
We have a tradition. It is how we get people saved! The trouble is that salvation has one who can guarantee, and He never said that anybody that wants to can say the sinner's prayer and be saved. He said anyone who comes to him won't be rejected. And He said that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws Him. With a good intent, our methods have actually made the Word of God invalid in the thinking of those who have said the prayer. Let's look for true repentance and faith. Most of the time it is pretty evident.
Now with a little different twist the passage in Mark 7:9-13 has shown me how even those with a very "spiritual" intent can be sidetracked into relying more on their traditions than God's Word. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Scribes because they were taking that which they could help their parents with and "giving it to God." Here it's easy to imagine that these guys were so zealous to serve God that they were giving everything to Him. What could be wrong with that? Jesus said that by doing so they were actually violating God's command to honor your Father and Mother. That's what's wrong. They decided over and above the authority of the scriptures what needed to be done. And it sounded pretty doggone holy!!!
It seems to me that we may have done that in this generation in the way we present the Gospel. Now the basic intent is to get people "saved". That's good!! However, in our fervency there has been established a methodology in the evangelical presentation that makes promises and assurances to people on non-Biblical grounds. For example, if you say this sinner's prayer you will go to heaven. On what grounds can we say that? If someone is repentant and believing God, they can say most any prayer and find relationship with Jesus, but we have made it sound as though there is some kind of special sure-fire incantation that when recited God must receive you into His kingdom.
Some have attached the extra instruction that once you've said this prayer it doesn't matter what you do you're saved!! This has left a lot of people who have never repented or believed in the Lord Jesus Christ , but simply said a prayer, wandering around our society with a hope, not in Jesus, but in a well-meaning Christian's words, that they are without a doubt destined for eternal life. And, now they are immuned to most anything you actually show them from the Bible because they have already received the final word on that when they said the sinner's prayer, which is not in the Bible.
We have a tradition. It is how we get people saved! The trouble is that salvation has one who can guarantee, and He never said that anybody that wants to can say the sinner's prayer and be saved. He said anyone who comes to him won't be rejected. And He said that no one can come to Him unless the Father draws Him. With a good intent, our methods have actually made the Word of God invalid in the thinking of those who have said the prayer. Let's look for true repentance and faith. Most of the time it is pretty evident.
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