Author Archives: traditionalbaptistchurch

Beware of Death Pastors

A death Pastor is any one who tells you that you can commit suicide and not go to hell.

1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

To commit suicide is to murder oneself. Regarding the murdering of others, we know that murder is wrong because it is to destroy men and women who are made in the image of God. Cain was the first to murder and he did so because he hated his brother. When we commit suicide, in which we murder ourself, we are destroying our own bearing of the image of God. It is to hate that very core of self that reflects God’s image and it is to utterly reject what God has given to us. How can anyone walk into heaven having just rejected their own bearing of the image of God?

Jarrid Wilson has written, ‘Stop telling people that suicide leads to hell.’ He said that in order to be saved all that matters is that we have believed in Jesus. Yet, how can we say that we believe in Jesus if we ultimately reject the image of God that is the basis of our very life? It is “believing” in Jesus on our own selfish terms, not faithfully abiding in the image that He created for us to do our believing in. Do not be deceived by death Pastors.

Sadly, on September 9th, 2019, Jarrid committed suicide, leaving a widow and two fatherless sons. Jarrid was an associate pastor at a large Christian church. The next day the senior pastor Greg Laurie, of the same church, posted that Jarrid had gone to be with the Lord.

Suicide is without a doubt one of the most troubling issues of our time, with ever increasing numbers of people seeking relief from crippling depression and ongoing hurt. Is the solution to tell people that they have gone to be with the Lord?

While it is outrageous that any pastor should ignore or diminish the reality of depression, it is even more serious for any pastor to say that someone who commits suicide is now in heaven. The death Pastor promotes suicide, even for himself.

It is obvious that there is tremendous pressure to not say what is upsetting and everyone is running recklessly toward immediate comfort, but at what cost? To assert that we can take our own life and yet have assurance of salvation is to advance death as a remedy from relief.

We must beware of death Pastors who diminish the reality of hell and who indirectly promote suicide. Those contemplating suicide most often do so to escape the desperate situation that they are in. If the death Pastor is right, that God is gracious and all that matters is that I have believed in Jesus, then it would be better to destroy myself and go to heaven instead of all of this suffering. If the death Pastors are right then relief can be obtained without delay, but if the death Pastors are wrong then there is only judgment and eternal punishment.

What we need are Pastors who do not fear men and who will declare with authority, “If you commit suicide you will perish!”

I am deeply troubled by Jarrid’s selfish act in which he has himself extinguished the image of God that was entrusted to him, especially for the sake those who are left behind and who may follow his example. Jarrid has made suicide to have the last word, despite all of his words while clothed with God’s image.

I am sure many would object and say that I just don’t rightly appreciate the pain he was in. Hear what Paul the apostle wrote regarding his own struggles.

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 

Those who commit suicide cannot comfort us in our affliction because they have bailed out of the difficulties of life in the hope of immediate relief. This was not an option for Paul. Paul was not a death Pastor.

The solution for anyone contemplating suicide is repentance and faith. Jesus is the answer and He loves and cares for you.

1 John 4:15,16 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

When you are in the lowest depths of depression the real difficulty is in believing that God’s love for you is real. I want you to know that His love for you is real and it is powerful. As with Paul, He can help you in any situation. Repent of your contemplation of self murder and believe in Jesus who died for you so that you might live.

The Loss of the True Church Service

One of the things that I find most disturbing regarding Evangelical churches today is that they are consumed with what the world thinks about the church service and how they are perceived by the world. There is one thing that is omitted and replaced by a thousand lesser concerns.

The typical church service is about relevance and how it is presenting itself before the world. What is important in so many churches is what comes across to the world.

The consequence of this is the loss of the true church service. We simply cannot have both the true church service and also be concerned for what the world thinks. What has happened is simply a repeat of Satan’s age old strategy of attacking what should be protected for the people of God.

Psalm 74:2-10 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; and this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt. Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; the enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting places; they have set up their own standards for signs. It seems as if one had lifted up his axe in a forest of trees. And now all its carved work they smash with hatchet and hammers. They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your name. They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, nor is there any among us who knows how long. How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and the enemy spurn Your name forever?

Our churches are being burned down! Spiritually and physically. Spiritually, by the wicked coming in with all of their own ways of doing worship, in which what should be there is now removed, even as flames remove what is good. Physically, in that as traditional churches are closing down they are being destroyed and the land used for other purposes.

What I mean by the true church service is a simple service that is not cumbered with things that take away from worship that is according to the Spirit [John 4:23,24]. The world would have us worship God according to the flesh. This is demonstrated in churches with everything from idols to entertaining music.

The one thing that must never be omitted and must be the only thing that we are about is the true worship of God! The true church service is not about looking toward the congregation, but toward God. Indeed, we are all to be focused on the Lord and not focused on how those among us may be feeling or perceiving what we are about. Mary was right to be focused on Jesus, though her sister Martha perceived that there were more important things she should have been focused on [Luke 10:38-42].

The common objection is that the church will not be relevant and people will not attend.

If we are wanting to compete with sporting events and theatrical attractions then we will be as relevant as they are.

If we do have great numbers, but do not have the Lord, is that not the worse possible thing? It is better to have a few worshippers and yet that blessing that only He can bring. Truly, the problem is that we don’t know what it is like to know the presence of God and we are enslaved to an outward sense of the meeting. We are governed by a secular way of thinking and do not know that peaceful spiritual way of thinking that is just about meeting with Jesus.

Leaders who are influencing the church with this sort of thinking are tools in the hands of Satan who would love to reduce Christian worship to Baal worship.

Jeremiah 5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?

What the world needs is the Lord, not more of the world. What will truly impact the lost is something they cannot find anywhere else. To be at the feet of Jesus with a solemnity, a seriousness, a power, in which the Holy Spirit speaks the living Word of God to us, is what we are losing.

True Christianity

It is imperative that we ask the question, “What is true Christianity?”

The reason it is so important is because a false view of Christianity will necessarily mean that we are not saved. This is my concern for you, for myself, and for everyone. Paul had the same concern and he did not address it casually [Galatians 1:6-9]. I think his comments to Timothy are very important.

1 Timothy 4:16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

It mattered to Paul what Timothy was believing and what he was teaching simply because it was necessary to ‘ensure salvation.’

Colossians 2:4 I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

In Colossians Paul again expresses such a concern for what was being understood by the people of God. Notice that in Colossians chapter two he explains that the wealth of true Christianity ‘comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ [Col. 2:2-3].

True Christianity is only found in Jesus

But that is not all that Paul says in Colossians. His concern is for a full and right understanding about Jesus and how He saves us. There are many who profess to follow Jesus but Paul says that they are enemies of Christ [Paul’s Warnings].

Consider and take to heart what Paul furthermore says regarding true Christianity.

Colossians 2:6,7 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

True Christianity is only found in Jesus, but the following must also be understood: in the same way that we became a Christian, so we are to walk.

True Christianity is only found in Jesus, from beginning to end, meaning, that it is only found in our Conversion that we then walk in

There is no Christianity without Jesus, but what does that mean? That means that in order to be saved we have ‘received Christ Jesus as Lord,’ in which it can be said that we are ‘firmly rooted’ in Him. Many profess a faith in Jesus but then they hold to a form of “Christianity” that denies its power [2 Timothy 3:5] and they subscribe to a “Christianity” according to the flesh [Phil. 3:3,18].

Paul says that true Christianity is that we walk in the same manner as we received Christ Jesus as Lord. He explains that this is by the means of faith, which is everywhere emphasized in the Scriptures [some examples]. In Galatians, Paul shows that by means of ‘hearing with faith’ we became saved and that with the same ‘hearing with faith’ we are to walk. It is this emphasis on faith in Christ from beginning to end that makes for true Christianity.

Galatians 3:1-5 You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain? So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

Notice that Paul says that we received the Spirit, which is salvation, by hearing with faith and that the Lord provides us with the Spirit and works miracles in us (e.g. ongoing sanctification) by the same hearing with faith.

Yes, Jesus is true Christianity and without Him there can be no true religion, but the concern that is so pervasive in Paul’s writings is in understanding that true Christianity is that we walk in the same manner as we became Christians, by the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

There is a pervasive problem in Evangelical Churches that is nothing more than a repeat of the problem that Paul the apostle addressed in his epistles.

To understand what true Christianity is, read my book, Take Up Your Cross: Our Only Power to Live and Walk by the Spirit.

 

 

The Hypocrisy of Calvinism

The Reformed Faith is a proud faith. Those who hold to the position of Calvinism have a spirit of arrogance, cloaked in a pseudo-humility. Pride is commonly found among false doctrines, but it is especially particular to Calvinism. The error of Calvinism’s partiality based upon indifference (i.e., Unconditional Election) engenders pride.

They make no denial or excuse for it. They are unashamed in saying so and make it a matter of emphasis. They wholeheartedly assert that their doctrine is that which alone glorifies God. There is the clear demonstration of pride when there is disdain for those who are counted simple in their soteriology and especially when there is anger against those who would say that Jesus weeps over the lost [Matthew 23:37].

This is hypocrisy. Those who make much of saying that their view honors God need to reflect on Jesus’ words. Read this text from Mark 7:1-13.

The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’

Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

There is much in this passage that exposes the hypocrisy of Calvinism. Just as the Pharisees thought they were the ones who were honoring God, so the Calvinist thinks likewise.

It is important to understand the hypocrisy that our Lord is addressing. It is not what is most commonly thought of as hypocrisy. What is most commonly considered hypocrisy is when someone says that something should be done by all, but then they do not do so.

This is not the hypocrisy that Jesus has in mind.

The Pharisees were not telling people to wash their hands and then were secretly eating with unwashed hands! On the contrary, they were meticulous about the washing of hands before eating.

Their hypocrisy was this, they were misrepresenting themselves by misrepresenting God’s truth.

Jesus was exposing their lie, that they were clean before God because they washed their hands before they ate. This is a particularly vile hypocrisy because it is about twisting God’s holy truth and using it for the purpose of self-glorification. Notice that such an arrogance necessarily includes the wrong spirit that has disdain and anger for those not considered to be similarly honoring God.

It is shocking to see what Calvinists are doing with their own misrepresentation of God’s holy truth, namely His love for all of His image bearers. Ironically, while the Calvinist claims to be the one who is honoring God, he is really about honoring himself!

They say that they honor God but their heart is far away from God. They do not know what spirit they are of. Like the Pharisees in this passage they construct a doctrine in which they invalidate God’s Word, so that the heart of God is opposed by their wrong use of God’s Word. God’s heart is that children should care for their needy parents in their old age, but the Pharisees constructed a doctrine that undermines the burden of God’s heart.

The Calvinist has similarily constructed a doctrine that undermines the burden of God’s heart for the lost, by disguising it as that which alone honors God. This deluding influence is so pervasive and powerful that even the most well known Scripture verse is invalidated by Calvinists.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

They are masters of reconstruction in which they rip out of God’s Word His immeasurable love for all mankind and replace it with a view that then makes them indispensable to obtaining the “truth”. It is a fearful thing to do as the Pharisees have done in invalidating God’s Word, so that men will follow them and glorify them.

 

 

I have written a book entitled Recanting Calvinism, which provides numerous counter arguments to the Reformed position. My most recent book Take Up Your Cross: Our Only Power to Live and Walk by the Spirit is a fruition of coming out of Calvinism. I heartily commend both books to you!