Theology Matters . . . It Always Matters By Dr Al Mohler

Ideas drive history. Any significant conflict comes down, however eventually, to ideas, beliefs, and convictions. Take that analysis to the next level and it becomes clear that the most significant human conflicts we encounter are the most significantly tied to ideas -- and to beliefs about God. In other words, theology matters.

This is especially clear when the conflict between Islam and the West comes into view. The deeply and inescapably theological character of this collision should be apparent to all. Those most ardently determined to ignore this dimension are those who are convinced that the West has now entered a secular and post-theological age in which basic convictions and belief about God no longer matter.

This conveniently, but dangerously, ignores the obvious -- that the West is based upon a certain understanding of order, rationality, human dignity, and human responsibility that emerged out of the Christian worldview, informed by both the Old and New Testaments. Rival civilizations are based in different belief systems that produce very different understandings and moral actions. Students in most American high schools study the stories of those understood to be champions of freedom. Students in far too many madrassas throughout much of the Islamic world are taught to celebrate martyrs to Islam -- even teenage suicide bombers.

In his new book, Faith, Reason, and the War Against Jihadism, George Weigel takes theology seriously as he considers the threat of jihadism. A Distinguished Fellow of Washington's Ethics and Public Policy Center, Weigel is a prominent Catholic intellectual and commentator. Here is the central thrust of his analysis:

How men and women think about God--or don't think about God--has a great deal to do with how they envision the just society, and how they determine the appropriate means by which to build that society. This means taking theology seriously--which includes taking seriously others' concepts of God's nature and purposes, and their commitments to the beliefs arising from those concepts--as well as the theologies that have shaped the civilization of the West. If we have not learned this over the past five years, one wonders if we have learned anything.

Well, one does wonder if we have learned anything. This quality of analysis is virtually missing from most public conversation -- which is why Faith, Reason, and the War Against Jihadism is so important.

Weigel also notices the different way Muslims and Westerners view history. He sees theology at work there as well:

Despite the supersessionist claims that some Christians have made throughout history vis-à-vis Judaism, no orthodox Christian holds that God's self-revelation in Christ negates God's self-revelation in the history of the People of Israel. Islam, by contrast, takes a radically supersessionist view of both Judaism and Christianity, claiming that the final revelation to Muhammad de facto trumps, by way of supersession, any prior revelatory value (so to speak) that might be found in the Hebrew Bible or the Christian New Testament.

But Islam and the Christianity-formed West also produced very different theological anthropologies:

Islamic theological anthropology also helps explain Islam's traditional division of the human world into the "House of Islam," the "God-hallowed realm" that embodies God's purposes on earth, and the "House of War," which is composed of all those who have not yet submitted to Allah and his Prophet. From there, it is but a short step to the Muslim conviction that, as Bernard Lewis writes, "The Islamic state [is] the only truly legitimate power on earth and the Islamic community the sole repository of truth and enlightenment, surrounded on all sides by an outer darkness of barbarism and unbelief."

Weigel also gives the jihadists their due; they are acting in ways that, given their own belief system, make sense. Calling them crazy or irrational does not help. Their actions -- including suicide bombings and other forms of terrorism -- make sense to them:

It is thus a great folly to think that jihadism and the terrorism it underwrites can be understood in terms drawn primarily from the patois of the therapeutic society, as if jihadist terrorism were some Levantine form of psychiatric aberration. Within their own theological frame of reference and the reading of history it warrants, jihadists are not crazy. They make, to themselves, a terrible kind of sense.

Faith, Reason, and the War Against Jihadism clarifies what so many observers confuse. Theology matters . . . it always matters.

True Faith Perseveres By John MacArthur

Today’s post continues the discussion from last week on the perseverance of the saints.

It is crucial to understand what the biblical doctrine of perseverance does not mean. It does not mean that people who “accept Christ” can then live any way they please without fear of hell. The expression “eternal security” is sometimes used in this sense, as is “once saved, always saved.” R. T. Kendall, arguing for the latter phrase, defines its meaning thus:
Whoever once truly believes that Jesus was raised from the dead, and confesses that Jesus is Lord, will go to heaven when he dies. But I will not stop there. Such a person will go to heaven when he dies no matter what work (or lack of work) may accompany such faith. (Once Saved, Always Saved, p. 19)
Kendall also writes, “I hope no one will take this as an attack on the Westminster Confession. It is not that” (p. 22).
But it is precisely that! Kendall expressly argues against Westminster’s assertion that faith cannot fail. He believes faith is best characterized as a single look: “one need only see the Sin Bearer once to be saved” (p. 23). This is a full-scale assault against the doctrine of perseverance affirmed in the Westminster Confession. Worse, it subverts Scripture itself. Unfortunately, it is a view that has come to be widely believed by Christians today.
John Murray, noting this trend a half-century ago, defended the expression “perseverance of the saints”:
It is not in the best interests of the doctrine involved to substitute the designation, “The Security of the Believer,” not because the latter is wrong in itself but because the other formula is much more carefully and inclusively framed. . . . It is not true that the believer is secure however much he may fall into sin and unfaithfulness. Why is this not true? It is not true because it sets up an impossible combination. It is true that a believer sins; he may fall into grievous sin and backslide for lengthy periods. But it is also true that a believer cannot abandon himself to sin; he cannot come under the dominion of sin; he cannot be guilty of certain kinds of unfaithfulness. The truth is that the faith of Jesus Christ is always respective of the life of holiness and fidelity. And so it is never proper to think of a believer irrespective of the fruits in faith and holiness. To say that a believer is secure whatever may be the extent of his addiction to sin in his subsequent life is to abstract faith in Christ from its very definition and it ministers to that abuse which turns the grace of God into lasciviousness. The doctrine of perseverance is the doctrine that believers persevere. . . . It is not at all that they will be saved irrespective of the their perseverance or their continuance, but that they will assuredly persevere. Consequently the security that is theirs is inseparable from their perseverance. Is this not what Jesus said? “He than endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”
Let us not then take refuge in our sloth or encouragement in our lust from the abused doctrine of the security of the believer. But let us appreciate the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints and recognize that we may entertain the faith of our security in Christ only as we persevere in faith and holiness to the end. (Redemption Accomplished and Applied, 154-55)
Any doctrine of eternal security that leaves out perseverance distorts the doctrine of salvation itself. Heaven without holiness ignores the whole purpose for which God chose and redeemed His people:
God elected us for this very purpose. “He chose us in him [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph. 1:4). We were predestinated to be conformed to the image of Christ in all His spotless purity (Rom. 8:29). This divine choice makes it certain that we shall be like Him when He appears (1 John 3:2). From this fact, John deduces that everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as Christ is pure (1 John 3:3). His use of the word “everyone” makes it quite certain that those who do not purify themselves will not see Christ, nor be like Him. By their lack of holiness they prove that they were not so predestinated. The apostle thus deals a crushing blow to Antinomianism. (Richard Alderson, No Holiness, No Heaven!, p. 88)
God’s own holiness thus requires perseverance. “God’s grace insures our persevering`but this does not make it any less our persevering.” Believers cannot acquire “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” unless they “press on toward the goal” (Phil 3:14). But as they “work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil 2:12), they find that “it is God who is at work in [them], both to will and work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

Our Primary Concern By John MacArthur

With the nation focused on political primaries, we thought a post on politics might be appropriate – a reminder to all of us as to what our primary concern ought to be.
We can’t protect or expand the cause of Christ by human political and social activism, no matter how great or sincere the efforts. Ours is a spiritual battle waged against worldly ideologies and dogmas arrayed against God, and we achieve victory over them only with the weapon of Scripture. The apostle Paul writes: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:3-5).
We must reject all that is ungodly and false and never compromise God’s standards of righteousness. We can do that in part by desiring the improvement of society’s moral standards and by approving of measures that would conform government more toward righteousness. We do grieve over the rampant indecency, vulgarity, lack of courtesy and respect for others, deceitfulness, self-indulgent materialism, and violence that is corroding society. But in our efforts to support what is good and wholesome, reject what is evil and corrupt, and make a profoundly positive impact on our culture, we must use God’s methods and maintain scriptural priorities.
God is not calling us to wage a culture war that would seek to transform our countries into “Christian nations.” To devote all, or even most, of our time, energy, money, and strategy to putting a façade of morality on the world or over our governmental and political institutions is to badly misunderstand our roles as Christians in a spiritually lost world.
God has above all else called the church to bring sinful people to salvation through Jesus Christ. Even as the apostle Paul described his mission to unbelievers, so it is the primary task of all Christians to reach out to the lost “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me [Christ]” (Acts 26:18; cf. Ex. 19:6; 1 Pet. 2:5, 9).
If we do not evangelize the lost and make disciples of new converts, nothing else we do for people—no matter how beneficial it seems—is of any eternal consequence. Whether a person is an atheist or a theist, a criminal or a model citizen, sexually promiscuous and perverse or strictly moral and virtuous, a greedy materialist or a gracious philanthropist—if he does not have a saving relationship to Christ, he is going to hell. It makes no difference if an unsaved person is for or against abortion, a political liberal or a conservative, a prostitute or a police officer, he will spend eternity apart from God unless he repents and believes the gospel.
When the church takes a stance that emphasizes political activism and social moralizing, it always diverts energy and resources away from evangelization. Such an antagonistic position toward the established secular culture invariably leads believers to feel hostile not only to unsaved government leaders with whom they disagree, but also antagonistic toward the unsaved residents of that culture—neighbors and fellow citizens they ought to love, pray for, and share the gospel with. To me it is unthinkable that we become enemies of the very people we seek to win to Christ, our potential brothers and sisters in the Lord.
Author John Seel pens words that apply in principle to Christians everywhere and summarize well the believer’s perspective on political involvement:
A politicized faith not only blurs our priorities, but weakens our loyalties. Our primary citizenship is not on earth but in heaven. … Though few evangelicals would deny this truth in theory, the language of our spiritual citizenship frequently gets wrapped in the red, white and blue. Rather than acting as resident aliens of a heavenly kingdom, too often we sound [and act] like resident apologists for a Christian America. … Unless we reject the false reliance on the illusion of Christian America, evangelicalism will continue to distort the gospel and thwart a genuine biblical identity…..
American evangelicalism is now covered by layers and layers of historically shaped attitudes that obscure our original biblical core. (The Evangelical Pulpit [Grand Rapids: Baker, 1993], 106-7)
By means of faithful preaching and godly living, believers are to be the conscience of whatever nation they reside in. You can confront the culture not with the political and social activism of man’s wisdom, but with the spiritual power of God’s Word. Using temporal methods to promote legislative and judicial change, and resorting to external efforts of lobbying and intimidation to achieve some sort of “Christian morality” in society is not our calling—and has no eternal value. Only the gospel rescues sinners from sin, death, and hell.

Lititz Grace Chose To Ignore Meeting Over Doctrine. By Rev Charles J Paul

Dear Scott Distler,

Concerning the last email I sent you on January 8, 2008, which you can see, below, let me get right to the point.

I find it appalling that one Pastor sends another Pastor an email wishing to discuss doctrine –Holy Scripture- and it is ignored; in this specific case, I got no response.

I have heard from some people that attend your church and who have seen this open email I sent you that they, too, want to see a doctrinal change for the better take place at Lititz Grace. But what is even more sad, Scott, is another true statement that I will make now. Even though you may continue to ignore my emails, you know that the following is true: If you had received and email from Rick Warren or Bill Hybels, you and your staff would have responded with open arms immediately.

Since you have chosen to ignore me, I do hereby at this time publicly declare that you and your staff apparently do not take seriously the doctrines of Holy Scripture. From you lack of response, it is clear that you are not interested in a God-driven church, but merely a corporate driven church.

I am letting you know that I will publicly continue to warn people of the dangers of the theology taught at Lititz Grace, but please know that I will continue to pray for you and your staff. If our Lord should so move on your heart, my offer to meet with you over Holy Scripture will still be available to you and your staff.

Sincerely,

Rev. Charles Paul

THE TIME IS NOW......... By Rev. Charles J. Paul

As you can see by the posting below You call this church?. and so many others. The statement is true. Very True in fact. The EVANGELICAL CHURCH IS FIGHTING FOR IT'S VERY LIFE.

I am asking all true Christians who want to see True Reform come again to the Church. To stand with us here at Truth Matters as together we make a bold stand for the Truth of God's Holy Word.

Please take the time and contact us today http://www.truthmattersinc.org/

You Call This Church?!

Ladies and Gentlemen, the video that you are about to see was the opener for a service at Buckhead Church. The song that the 'ministers' of Buckhead chose to open their "church service" is called "Ladies & Gentlemen" by the secular band Saliva. Click Here to See just how "Christian" the band Saliva is. Also, here is a sample of the lyrics for this song.
Ladies and gentlemen please Would you bring your attention to me?For a feast for your eyes to seeAn explosion of catastrophe
Like nothing you’ve ever seen beforeWatch closely as I open this doorYour jaws will be on the floorAfter this you’ll be begging for more
Welcome to the showPlease come insideLadies and gentlemen
BoomDo you want it?Boom Do you need it?BoomLet me hear itLadies and gentlemen
Ladies and gentlemen good eveningYou’ve seen that seeing is believingYour ears and your eyes will be bleedingPlease check to see if you’re still breathing
Why are these 'pastors' bringing this garbage INTO the church? This doesn't glorify or exalt Jesus Christ.

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOD4Acl6lew&eurl=http://www.alittleleaven.com/2008/01/you-call-this-c.html

More importantly, Pastor Jeff Henderson preached an 'evangelistic' sermon after this performance that boiled down to the statement that "Jesus came for the real you, not the fake you." Apparently, Jesus came to earth to solve the problem of 'inauthenticity'. Henderson's solution to this 'problem' is synergism. Think about it. His solution makes your salvation based upon you, your decision and your actions. Ironically, after listening to the sermon 3 times, we're still not sure what Pastor Henderson was teaching we are being saved from.

John MacArthur on Moralism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo8KDHmuhrE&eurl=http://www.irishcalvinist.com/?p=1146

Built to the Master's Plan By Dr John Macarthur

I realize I may be demonstrating little more than a firm grasp of the obvious when I tell you the contemporary church is looking more and more like a large corporation. Even church leaders are bearing a closer resemblance to CEOs and corporate executives than to humble, tender shepherds. Sadly, the good news –that a sinner can find forgiveness for sins before a holy God by placing his trust in and committing his whole life to Jesus Christ –is eclipsed by "success"-oriented programs and an interest in the bottom line. As a result, many churches have become nothing more than entertainment centers, employing devices that effectively draw people into the church, but are inept to truly minister to them once they come.
God never intended the church to be like that. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, "I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it." Notice the Lord's one condition to that great promise: "I will build My church" (emphasis added). Christ's guarantee is valid only when He builds the church His way. When you follow His blueprint, you can be sure that He is doing the work through you and that nothing, not even the gates of hell, can stop Him.
So, what's the blueprint? A logical place to start is at the beginning with the first church–the church at Jerusalem. It began on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit filled 120 believers who had gathered for a prayer meeting. The Lord added 3,000 souls later that same day (Acts 2:41). Those fledgling believers didn't know anything about building a church. They had no precedent; they didn't have a book on the church; they didn’t even have the New Testament. Yet it was built Jesus' way, and as such it's the model for the church today.
Back to the Blueprint: Bible Study, Fellowship, and Prayer
Acts 2:42 gives the blueprint they followed: "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Those are the vital elements that make up the actual function and life of the church –and all of that in just one verse!
Here's an obvious starting point: A church built to the Master's plan will begin with the right raw material –a saved congregation. Verse 41 identifies the church as being made up of "those who had received [Peter's] word," and "were continually devoting themselves." The church at Jerusalem was filled with true Christians –those who continually adhered to apostolic teaching.
If the church is to be built Christ's way, it will be redeemed and therefore empowered by the Holy Spirit. An unsaved membership, devoid of the Holy Spirit, has no capacity to overcome self will, personal agendas, and the love of sin. Only believers have divine power to put those things off and so manifest the Spirit of God.
While the early church didn't have a New Testament, they had God's Word in the form of the "apostles' teaching." The church at Jerusalem was committed to receiving that Word. Doctrine is the basis of the church–you can't live out what you don't know or understand. That's why Paul instructed Timothy to "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine" (2 Tim. 4:2-3). That time has come. If your church isn't teaching the truth straight from the Bible, how will you recognize error when it comes? How will you grow? Don't ever allow anyone to stand in the pulpit who isn't committed to leading the congregation through a deep, penetrating study of God's Word.
The central focus of the early church's fellowship was the breaking of bread–the Lord's Table. It was the most fitting symbol of their fellowship since it reminded them of the basis for their unity–salvation in Christ and adherence to apostolic doctrine. If you share those things as common ground with other believers, then the Lord's table–communion–is the most appropriate symbol of your fellowship too.
We eat and drink in remembrance of Christ's self-sacrificing love that took Him to the cross. In your fellowship, make it your habit to practice the same kind of love Christ demonstrated toward you. Practically speaking, you can always give your life to those God brings across your path. Do you habitually pray for fellow believers? Are you encouraging them, edifying them, meeting their physical needs? Do you love them enough to confront them when they are sinning? Those are the marks of true Christian fellowship.
Acts 2:42 says the believers continually devoted themselves to prayer. Sadly, the same devotion to prayer is often neglected today. Churches can pack pews by offering entertainment, but when a prayer meeting is held, only a faithful few trickle in. The early Christians remembered the Lord’s promise: "If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:14). As they demonstrated dependence on the Lord, the results (Acts 2:43-47) were astounding.
Built to Scale: Wonder, Love, and Joy
What happens when true believers remain under biblical teaching, in a spiritual fellowship, and in devotion to prayer? Acts 2:43 says, "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe." "Awe," the Greek word for fear, speaks of a sense of reverence. It is reserved for special times when people are struck with wonder because of something divine or powerful that defies human explanation.
Your church ought to be able to instill awe in your community. That first church certainly did. Verse 43 says everyone was in awe of them because "many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles." Though the miracles and wonders of the apostolic times are no longer necessary now that God's Word is complete, God's power remains on display. What could be more miraculous than giving life to people who are dead in sin? He heals people of their hurts, puts broken homes back together, and brings people out of the bondage of sin to Christ. In short, He transforms lives. When the church follows God's design, He will do marvelous and powerful things in individual lives before a watching world.
The early church was full of love –they "had all things in common" (v. 44). There was ownership in the early church– believers didn't live in a commune –but no one owned anything to the exclusion of someone who had a need. The Greek verbs in verse 46 translated "began selling" and "were sharing" show that they were continually selling and sharing their resources as needed. That kind of sacrificial love is the result of the Lord's work in obedient believers who follow His blueprint.
The Lord blesses those who labor according to His plan. First, He fills the obedient church with gladness (v. 46) and praise (v. 47). How can you not be happy when you see God at work in your midst? How can you keep from rejoicing when you watch God use your church to make an eternal impact in the world? Second, He adds to their number. Acts 2:47 concludes by saying that "the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."
I want to see the church grow, and I know you share that desire. My prayer is that we will let God build the church His way as we await our Lord's return. If you want to make the most of your church, just follow the blueprint, and encourage your church leaders to do the same.

What's Wrong with "User Friendly"? by John MacArthur

Recently, the 11th edition of the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary was published. The reprint included 10,000 new words– words that will bring us all up to date. Words like "phat" (excellent), "dead presidents" (paper currency), and "McJob" (low paying, dead-end job) are among the entries that will finally help us communicate with our teenagers.
How did those words make it into the updated dictionary? There is one criterion: usage. A word qualifies for the new edition based on how widespread its usage has become. While I can't imagine how phat, McJob, and dead presidents will find a place in America's pulpits (e.g., The love of dead presidents is the root of all kinds of evil?), there is one phrase borrowed from the computer industry that has spread into mainstream usage in the church– it's impact has been monumental.
"User-friendly" was first used to describe software and hardware that is easy for the novice to operate. Applied to the church, it describes churches that offer a decidedly benign and non-challenging ministry model. In practice, it has become an excuse for importing worldly amusements into the church in an attempt to attract non-Christian "seekers" or the "unchurched" by appealing to their fleshly interests. The obvious fallout of this preoccupation with the unbelievers is a corresponding neglect of true believers and their spiritual needs.
If you want to know how user-friendly a church has become, the emphasis, or de-emphasis, on biblical preaching is the yardstick. A church that buys into the new paradigm sidelines provocative and convicting sermons for music, skits, or videos– less confrontational mediums for conveying the message. Even when there is a sermon, it is frequently psychological and motivational rather than biblical. Above all, entertainment value and user-friendliness are paramount.
I once read through a stack of newspaper and magazine articles that highlight a common thread in the user-friendly phenomenon. These observations from newspaper clippings describe the preaching in user-friendly churches:
• "There is no fire and brimstone here... Just practical, witty messages." • "Services at [the church featured in the article] have an informal feeling. You won't hear people threatened with hell or referred to as sinners. The goal is to make them feel welcome, not drive them away." • "As with all clergymen [this pastor's] answer is God– but he slips Him in at the end, and even then doesn't get heavy. No ranting, no raving. No fire, no brimstone. He doesn't even use the H-word. Call it Light Gospel. It has the same salvation as the Old Time Religion, but with a third less guilt." • "The sermons are relevant, upbeat, and best of all, short. You won't hear a lot of preaching about sin and damnation, and hell fire. Preaching here doesn't sound like preaching. It is sophisticated, urbane, and friendly talk. It breaks all the stereotypes." • "[The pastor] is preaching a very upbeat message... It's a salvationist message, but the idea is not so much being saved from the fires of hell. Rather, it's being saved from meaninglessness and aimlessness in this life. It's more of a soft-sell."
So the new rules may be summed like this: Be clever, informal, positive, brief, friendly, and never, never use the H-word.
The pastors and leaders in the church-growth movement certainly wouldn't portray their own ministries in that way. In fact, they would probably laud their success in drawing people into the church without compromising the message. But they fail to understand that by decentralizing the Scripture and avoiding hard truths, they are compromising. "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels" (Luke 9:26, emphasis added). If the design is to make the seeker comfortable, isn't that rather incompatible with the Bible's own emphasis on sin, judgment, hell, and several other important topics?
The gospel message is a confrontational message. When you remove the confrontation–or soften, downplay, or bring it in through the back door– you have compromised the message. The modern pulpit is weak, not for a lack of witty messages, but because men fear to speak the hard truths of God's Word powerfully and with conviction.
The church is certainly not suffering from an overabundance of forthright preachers; rather, it seems glutted with men pleasers (cf. Gal. 1:10). But, as it was in the early church, when men are faithful to preach God's Word with boldness, God will give the increase. "And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching... then fear came upon every soul... and the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:42, 43, 47).
When a sinner wanders into the church and sits through skits, mimes, interpretive dances, and the like, and yet never hears a clear, convicting message about his dangerous and tenuous spiritual situation– that he is a depraved sinner headed for an eternal fire because he is a daily offense to a holy God– how can that be called successful? You could achieve the same level of success by sending a cancer patient to receive treatment from a group of children playing doctor. A sinner must understand the imminent danger he is in if he is ever to look to the Savior.
C. H. Spurgeon, facing a similar mindset in his day, once said:
'I fear there are some who preach with the view of amusing men, and as long as people can be gathered in crowds, and their ears can be tickled, and they can retire pleased with what they have heard, the orator is content, and folds his hands, and goes back self-satisfied. But Paul did not lay himself out to please the public and collect the crowd. If he did not save them he felt that it was of no avail to interest them. Unless the truth had pierced their hearts, affected their lives, and made new men of them, Paul would have gone home crying, "Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"...
Now observe, brethren, if I, or you, or any of us, or all of us, shall have spent our lives merely in amusing men, or educating men, or moralizing men, when we shall come to give our account at the last great day we shall be in a very sorry condition, and we shall have but a very sorry record to render; for of what avail will it be to a man to be educated when he comes to be damned? Of what service will it be to him to have been amused when the trumpet sounds, and heaven and earth are shaking, and the pit opens wide her jaws of fire and swallows up the soul unsaved? Of what avail even to have moralized a man if still he is on the left hand of the judge, and if still, "Depart, ye cursed," shall be his portion?'" ["Soul Saving Our One Business," The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Vol. 25 (London: Passmore and Alabaster, 1879), 674-76.]
That is precisely my concern about today’s pragmatic church-growth trend. The strategy focuses on attracting and keeping the unchurched. For what? To entertain them? To get them to attend church meetings regularly? Merely "churching" the unchurched accomplishes nothing of eternal value. That is where their strategy seems to end.
What's worse is when seeker-focused churches baptize the masses with their watered-down gospel, assuring them that positive decisions, feelings, or affirmations about Christ equal genuine conversion. There are now multitudes who are not authentic Christians identifying with the church. The church is literally invaded with the world's values, the world's interests, and the world's citizens. It isn't an invasion prompted by overt hostility; people are simply responding to a survey that came in the mail. Ironically, Satan isn't sowing the tares; church leaders are.
As you set your strategy for church ministry, you dare not overlook the primary means of church growth: the straightforward, Christ-centered proclamation of the unadulterated Word of God. If you trade the Word for amusements or gimmicks, you will not only find that you have no effective means to reach people with the truth of Christ, but you will find yourself working against the Lord Himself.

James S. Says Lititz Has An Opportunity to Re- Direct Their Church

This is NOT isolated to Lititz Grace and LCBC. Lancaster county has been blessed with many good sound churches. When Warren's book came out so many churches went right to the PD book and used it in place of sound Bible teaching. It seems that many pastors in this area got excited about growing their church because like I said, this is in "many" churches in the Lancaster area.I have been saddened about this for along time. I have family in several of these churches. If I bring this subject up to them they turn on me and accuse me of lies?

This really has me excited. Pastor Scott not only has the opportunity to re-direct his church to be God-centered once again, but whether he knows it or not, he could also be involved with Truth Matters Inc. to go public with this whole issue and could possibly be a part of true "reformation" in many other churches in this area! I'm praying and I'm excited. Thank you Truth Matters inc. and Truth Matters.

James S.

6 comments posted from J&J Bible Ministries on the open letter sent to Lititz Grace

Raymond said...
This is very refreshing to see an effort like this to reach out to pastors of "seeker" churches.Although I applaud Mr. Paul, I would be surprised if Mr. Distler or any seeker pastor sits down with their elders to discuss this with you.If Mr. Paul knows the Scripture well from a reformed view, he will make any seeker pastor run circles which looks bad in front of his elders.I'd be interested to know if Mr. Paul is reading this...what percentage of pastors you contact are willing to sit down with their elders and talk to you.My guess is that although some pastors may have some contact with you, only a handful, if any at all, will actually allow you to speak with their elders.You see, I'm a refuge of the seeker movement. These pastors can easily sell their mission and philosophy to their elders behind closed doors.But as I stated earlier, get them in an open discussion and it makes them look foolish.Please keep the readers here updated.My guess is that this pastor will have some sort of contact you but will not allow you to have an open, honest discussion in front of elders. Take that to the bank.However, if this man is an honest, humble man of God, he will allow this open forum and take a careful look at his own theology to make sure what he is doing is Biblical.God bless you Mr. Paul and Truth Matters.Bring reformation to the church.In conclusion I would like to say I completely agree that the "church" in America is fighting for her life.In Him,Raymond
January 9, 2008 7:18:00 AM EST

reformed Questions said...
I agree. Please Mr. Distler, think about this. Its not about numbers and entertainment of people. Its about being faithful to God. How good it would be to see your flock love worship not because of the music or catchy programs, but because they love God and his word.
January 9, 2008 8:42:00 AM EST

Anonymous said...
I'm sure this Pastor from Lititz thinks what he is doing is completely Biblical. If this is the case, there is absolutely no reason to turn these people away. If this open forum is turned down it is because like all other seeker pastors, they do not want to be exposed. And once you pull out the Scripture in its context and you understand the suffiency of Scripture, there is absolutely no reason to compromise with worldly, entertaining things. I went to the littz website and briefly watched their sunday morning worship. He stated his teachings will be based on 8 words. I hope one of those words is "fear". We must fear God. And if you honestly fear God in a Biblical manner, it's impossible to do the things of Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, and others.
January 9, 2008 11:57:00 AM EST

Anonymous said...
Lets all pray that God's will be done. I am a concerned member of this church. Our pastor without question loves the Lord and has a great passion for the lost. I think this great passion gets in the way of some of his decisions. Please pastor sit down and at least discuss this issue. We need you and want you to do what brings glory to God. Rick
January 9, 2008 12:04:00 PM EST

Anonymous said...
I am concerned about Lititz too. I have not said anything directly to Scott. I guess I should. Scott meets with the pastors from lancaster county bible church once in a while. I don't think I'd want to get any ideas from them. I am not a fan at all of Rick Warren or Bill Hybels. I pray this open discussion does occur. My friends say the message has not changed but it has. If you bring in a lot of unsaved people as we are trying to do and do these fun things, most will come back. If you teach the true Gospel, most will not come back. I'm afraid our church is in fact growing rapidly, but the true church is not growing much at all. The true church is the only number that counts.
January 9, 2008 1:43:00 PM EST

Anonymous said...
I will leave Grace if it becomes like Lancaster County Bible Church. It's on the fence. Which way will it go? That is the question. I hope this forum will help. Thank you for your blog. I have learned a lot in the short amount of time I've been reading it.
January 9, 2008 1:48:00 PM EST

Lititz Grace Asked To Meet Over Doctrine

The following email has been sent to Lititz Grace and their Senior Pastor and staff over the misuse of Holy Scripture.

I ask you that you pray for this upcoming meeting and for God to soften their hearts and open their minds to His Truth.



Dear Scott Distler,

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Charles Paul, Sr. Minister of Preaching and Teaching of Truth Matters, Inc., located in Morgantown, PA.

It has come to my attention, after some intensive investigation, that you have a very large ministry that communicates a message to about 2,000 or more people each week. It is precisely that message I wish to speak to you about. I am including two video clips that have come across my desk; the first is about a McWorship series you apparently will be preaching, and the second about a Christmas presentation you already presented last month.

1) McWorship: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pdFeoA_QUo&eurl=http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2008/01/mcworship-at-lititz-grace-church.html

2) Christmas skit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnzKVLlNQHY&eurl=http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2008/01/mcworship-at-lititz-grace-church.html

I have two immediate concerns: 1) You are reaching a large number of people this week, and 2) it is fairly apparent you are presenting a very “seeker-friendly” message each week; one that is interpreted by emotion rather than letting the text of Scripture interpret itself.

With all of this said, I would like to ask for a personal meeting between myself, my Executive Minister, you and your staff. At this meeting, I would love for you and your staff to present your doctrinal positions on Salvation, Sin, Preaching and Worship.

What I am asking for, Mr. Distler, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is for this meeting to be an open, honest, doctrinal, symposium where the four points listed above will be presented from two viewpoints- yours being more of a seeker friendly version, and mine being a more reformed version.

I would like us to look at the doctrines of Grace together:

1) Sola Scriptura, which we will see the sole source of divine revelation and authority alone to be Scripture.

2) Solus Christus, in which we will see that our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. We will also see that man in his dead state of sin cannot in any way choose or accept Jesus Christ as his Savior.

3) Sola Gratia, in which we will see unwarranted confidence in human ability is a product of fallen nature. We will also see that in salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by His Grace alone. It is therefore the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin. Therefore, from all of Holy Scripture we must deny that salvation is in any sense a human work: human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Therefore, Mr. Distler, it is very vital –if you truly care for the people that attend your church- that you will take a good look at your methods, techniques and strategies through the eyes of Holy Scripture.

4) Sola Fide, in which we see justification is by Grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. This is the article by which the church stands or falls. And just because a church may have thousands of people attending each week, it does not mean that it is standing and firmly planted upon the unmovable rock of Jesus Christ. That is why we will discuss that justification is by Grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. In justification, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God’s perfect justice.

5) Soli Deo Gloria, in which we see wherever in the church Biblical authority has been lost, Christ has been displaced, the Gospel has been distorted, or faith has been perverted. The loss of God’s centrality in the life of today’s church is, very sadly, much too common. God does not exist to satisfy human ambitions, cravings, the appetite for consumption, or our own, private spiritual interests. So when we meet together we will see that salvation is of God and has been accomplish by God. It is for God’s glory, and that we must glorify Him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, Corem Deo, under the authority of God and for His glory alone. So, you can see, Mr. Distler, that by Holy Scripture we must deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment. If we neglect either law or Gospel in our preaching, self-improvement, self-esteem, or self fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the Gospel.

In conclusion, I wholehearted believe that the evangelical church is fighting for her very life. The faithfulness of the evangelical church in the past contrasts sharply with its unfaithfulness in the present. The evangelical world is losing its Biblical fidelity, moral compass and missionary zeal.

I am earnestly calling you to accept our offer to meet, to Biblically discuss these urgent matters that have been presented to you today. I am including my phone and direct extension (215-243-8243, ext. 101), along with my Executive Minister’s direct extension (215-243-8243, ext. 102), and our website (http://www.truthmattersinc.org/ ) so that you can easily contact us. I look forward to hearing from you in this very urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Rev. Charles Paul

How Did You Come Up With THAT Interpretation?! By Jim B. Of Old Truth

I've never seen the bible twisted that badly before. It was about five years ago when I read a local newspaper article about the Metropolitan ("Christian homosexual") church in my city. The church was implying that all of the things in the bible that seem to oppose homosexuality are just a big misunderstanding. A page on their website took each of the scriptures apart one at a time, and assigned their own creative meanings. They essentially played the bible like a musical instrument, making it sound any way they wanted. That was the first time it ever hit me that it's possible to make the scriptures say almost anything you want them to say, with a little bit of twisting and self-deception. But how is that even possible?
It underscores the danger there is in not approaching the text of scripture with, as Martin Luther said, great humility. Otherwise we may easily impose upon it our own wants and wishes, rather than allowing it to speak to us.
As far as that church goes, a few years later I saw another article about their beloved pastor (as it's people referred to him); he had died of AIDS, and apparently the church disbanded.
Last weekend I was reading from one of DA Carson's books, which brought back memories for me of one verse that this church twisted badly. Take a look at what Carson says in this excerpt, and then we'll discuss what would make somebody interpret the bible this way:
The Metropolitan Community Church, a gay denomination found in many metropolitan areas, has published a number of pamphlets popularizing the view put forward in a few books that the Bible does not condemn homosexuality per se, but only "promiscuous" homosexuality. If a pair of gays choose to enter into a faithful, monogamous relationship, the Bible says nothing against them. One such piece of literature says:
"There are a few passages in the Bible that have been said to condemn gay sexual acts. Currently there is much debate about these passages. Some Christians believe these passages condemn all homosexual behavior. But a growing number of Bible experts are convinced these passages condemn only certain sexual acts that are idolatrous or abusive."
Note the slanted language: "some Christians believe" such and such, but "a growing number of Bible experts" believe what the pamphlet endorses. The list of cited authorities does not breed confidence. Nor are the relative numbers across the history of the church cited. Instead, "some Christians" are pitted against "a growing number of Bible experts". As for technical exegesis, a good place for anyone to begin, if in doubt as to what the Bible says on these points, is a learned article by D.F. Wright [title: "Homosexuals or prostitutes"].-- How Long O Lord, Reflections on Suffering and Evil
My intent isn't necessarily to talk about homosexuality, though I'm not opposed to that discussion in the comments as well. It is after all, a topic of growing importance due to the acceptance of it within some segments of the Emerging Church as being something other than a sin. The primary question I have though, is how did somebody come up with that interpretation of the bible? It could be that someone set out to deviously deceive people, knowing full well that the bible doesn't really mean what they are saying. Some of the language that Carson cites is pretty deceptive sounding, perhaps even deliberately manipulative. It's the kind of stuff that many denominations are made of. People approach the text WANTING it to say something, or, NOT wanting it to say something. That, then, becomes the priority. The bible is subsequently made to bend around those personal WANTs. It's sin; when we do this to the bible, that's the reason behind it.
Approaching scripture "with an idol" (as the video calls it), is not always as easily diagnosed as the example above however. Some other common interpretative idols include:
Hell. Some people can't allow it to be in THEIR bible; they have to bend the scriptures to make it temporary, non-existent, or even 'beneficial'.
Women Pastors. God is not a bigot some will argue, so the bible must be brought up to 21st century American standards.
Charismatic 'Gifts'. I'm going to make some angry by even suggesting this one, but I can tell you as an ex-charismatic that "personal experience" can influence you to interpret scripture in a way that will support whatever experience. (The 'experience' can become the idol.)
Election. Some will say it just doesn't seem "fair", and won't tolerate the concept in their bible. Some like Billy Graham will go so far as to say that people in distant lands where the Gospel is not available can still be saved. These are the kinds of things that people believe when they demand that the bible be "fair" by human standards, rather than allowing God's standards of what is just.
And there are many many more issues like that. I'm confident that the answers to so many of today's hot button topics CAN be known (even by doubting Emergents!). But if we're not careful, humble, and in prayer, we might find our own idols influencing our interpretation of the scriptures, just like the video described. The result then becomes - we end up changing the bible rather than the bible changing us.

quote of R.C. Sproul

"One of the most dangerous things you can do as a Christian is to determine your theology by your experience"

A Simple Explanation Of Monergism by John Hendryx

This post is from J&J Bible Ministries.

Monergism simply means that it is God who gives ears to hear and eyes to see. It is God alone who gives illumination and understanding of His word that we might believe; It is God who raises us from the dead, who circumcises the heart; unplugs our ears; It is God alone who can give us a new sense that we may, at last, have the moral capacity to behold His beauty and unsurpassed excellency. The apostle John recorded Jesus saying to Nicodemus that we naturally love darkness, hate the light and WILL NOT come into the light (John 3:19, 20). And since our hardened resistance to God is thus seated in our affections, only God, by His grace, can lovingly change, overcome and disarm our rebellious disposition. The natural man, apart from the quickening work of the Holy Spirit, will not come to Christ on his own since he is at enmity with God and cannot understand spiritual things. Shining a light into a blind man's eyes will not enable his to see, since, as we all know, sight requires new eyes or some restoration of his visual faculty. Likewise, reading or hearing the word of God itself cannot elicit saving faith in the reader (or hearer) unless the Spirit first "germinates" the seed of the word in the heart, so to speak, which then infallibly gives rise to our faith and union with Christ. Like unto Lydia whom "the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul," (Acts 16:14) He must also give all His people spiritual life and understanding if their hearts are to be open and thus turn (respond) to Christ in faith.Shining a light into a blind man's eyes will not enable him to see, for sight first requires healthy eyes or some restoration of his visual faculty. Likewise, reading or hearing the word of God itself cannot elicit saving faith in the reader (or hearer) unless the Spirit first "germinates" the seed of the word in the heart, which then infallibly gives rise to our faith and union with Christ. The problem here is not with the Word or God's Law but with man's prideful heart. As an example of how the Spirit uses the means of the spoken word to disarm closed hearts, the Book of Acts records the work of the Holy Spirit during the preaching of the apostles and, in one instance, states that "the Lord opened her [Lydia's] heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul," (Acts 16:14). The Spirit must likewise give all His people spiritual life and understanding if their hearts are to be opened and thus respond to Christ in faith.DefinitionThe Century Dictionary's definition of monergism may be helpful:"In theology, [monergism is] the doctrine that the Holy Spirit is the only efficient agent in regeneration [the new birth] - that the human will possesses no inclination to holiness until regenerated [born again], and therefore cannot cooperate in regeneration."EtymologyThe word "monergism" consists of two main parts. The Greek prefix "mono" signifies "one", "single", or "alone" while the suffix "ergon" means "to work". Taken together it means "the work of one".Very simply, then, monergism is the doctrine that our new birth (or "quickening") is the work of God, the Holy Spirit alone, with no contribution of man, since the natural man, of himself, has no desire for God and cannot understand spiritual things (1 Cor 2:14, Rom 3:11,12; Rom 8:7; John 3:19, 20). Man remains resistant to all outward callings of the gospel until the Spirit comes to disarm us, call us inwardly and implant in us new holy affections for God. Our faith comes about only as the immediate result of the Spirit working faith in us in the hearing of the proclamation of the word. But just as God does not force us to see against our will when He gives us physical eyes, so God does not force us to believe against our will when giving us spiritual eyes. God gives the gift of sight and we willingly exercise it.ApplicationMonergism strips us of all hope to ourselves, reveals our spiritual bankruptcy apart from Christ, and thus leads us to give all glory to God alone for our salvation. As long as we think we contributed something, even a little bit (like good intentions) then we still think deep down that God saves us for something good he sees in us over our neighbor. But this is clearly not the case. Only Jesus makes us to differ from anyone else. We are all sinners and can boast in nothing before God, including the desire for faith in Christ (Phil 1:29, Eph 2:8, 2 Tim 2:25). For why do we have faith and not our neighbor? Please consider that. Did we make better use of God's grace than he did? Were we smarter? More sensitive? Do some naturally love God? The answer is 'no' to all of the above. It is God's grace in Christ that makes us to differ from our neighbor and God's grace alone that gave rise to our faith, not because we were better or had more insight. No other element but Jesus mercy alone.When the Spirit enables us to see that we fail to live up to God's holy law, man will utterly despair of himself. Then, as C.H. Spurgeon said:"... the Holy Spirit comes and shows the sinner the cross of Christ, gives him eyes anointed with heavenly eye-salve, and says, "Look to yonder cross. That Man died to save sinners; you feel you are a sinner; He died to save you." And then the Holy Spirit enables the heart to believe, and come to Christ."To conclude, "...no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord', except by the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3) . ...who is the deposit guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5). Thus it should become plain to us that not everyone receives this redemptive blessing from Christ. God bestows it mercifully on whom He will according to His sovereign good pleasure (Rom 9:15-18; Eph 1:4, 5). The rest will continue in their willful rebellion, making choices according to their natural desires and thus receive the wrath of God's justice. That is why it is called "mercy" - not getting what we deserve. If God were obligated to give it to all men then, by definition, it would not longer be mercy. This should not surprise us ... what should surprise us is God's amazing love, that He would save a sinner like me at all.

Q&A With Dr R.C Sproul

There are so many different interpretations of what the Bible is saying. How do I know which one is right?


That’s a problem that plagues all of us. There are some theoretical things we can say about it, but I’d rather spend time on the practical. The Roman Catholic Church believes that one function of the church is to be the authorized interpreter of Scripture. They believe that not only do we have an infallible Bible but we also have an infallible interpretation of the Bible. That somewhat ameliorates the problem, although it doesn’t eliminate it altogether. You still have those of us who have to interpret the infallible interpretations of the Bible. Sooner or later it gets down to those of us who are not infallible to sort it out. We have this dilemma because there are hosts of differences in interpretations of what the popes say and of what the church councils say, just as there are hosts of different interpretations of what the Bible says. Some people almost despair, saying that “if the theologians can’t agree on this, how am I, a simple Christian, going to be able to understand who’s telling me the truth?” We find these same differences of opinion in medicine. One doctor says you need an operation, and the other doctor says you don’t. How will I find out which doctor is telling me the truth? I’m betting my life on which doctor I trust at this point. It’s troublesome to have experts differ on important matters, and these matters of biblical interpretation are far more important than whether or not I need my appendix out. What do you do when you have a case like that with variant opinions rendered by physicians? You go to a third physician. You try to investigate, try to look at their credentials to see who has the best training, who’s the most reliable doctor; then you listen to the case that the doctor presents for his position and judge which you are persuaded is more cogent. I’d say the same thing goes with differences of biblical interpretations. The first thing I want to know is, Who’s giving the interpretation? Is he educated? I turn on the television and see all kinds of teaching going on from television preachers who, quite frankly, simply are not trained in technical theology or biblical studies. They don’t have the academic qualifications. I know that people without academic qualifications can have a sound interpretation of the Bible, but they’re not as likely to be as accurate as those who have spent years and years of careful research and disciplined training in order to deal with the difficult matters of biblical interpretation. The Bible is an open book for everybody, and everybody has a fair shot of coming up with whatever they want to find in it. We’ve got to see the credentials of the teachers. Not only that, but we don’t want to rely on just one person’s opinion. That’s why when it comes to a biblical interpretation, I often counsel people to check as many sound sources as they can and then not just contemporary sources, but the great minds, the recognized minds of Christian history. It’s amazing to me the tremendous amount of agreement there is among Augustine, Aquinas, Anselm, Luther, Calvin, and Edwards—the recognized titans of church history. I always consult those because they’re the best. If you want to know something, go to the pros.

Learning Self-Discipline by John MacArthur

For many years, I have had the privilege of knowing the renowned classical guitarist Christopher Parkening. By the time he was thirty, he had become a master of his instrument. But such mastery did not come easily or cheaply. While other children played and participated in sports, he spent several hours a day practicing the guitar. The result of that self-disciplined commitment is proficiency on his instrument that few can match.

Self-discipline is important in any endeavor of life. It's best defined as the ability to regulate one's conduct by principle and sound judgment, rather than by impulse, desire, or social custom. Biblically, self-discipline may be summarized in one word: obedience. To exercise self-discipline is to avoid evil by staying within the bounds of God's law.
I'm grateful for my parents, coaches, professors, and the others who helped me develop self-discipline in my own life. People who have the ability to concentrate, focus on their goals, and consistently stay within their priorities tend to succeed. Whether in academics, the arts, or athletics, success generally comes to the self-disciplined.

Since self-discipline is so important, how do you develop it? How can parents help their children develop it? Here are some practical tips that I've found helpful:

Start with small things. Clean your room at home or your desk at work. Train yourself to put things where they belong when they are out of place. Make the old adage "A place for everything and everything in its place" your motto. After you've cleaned your room or desk, extend that discipline of neatness to the rest of your house and workplace. Get yourself to the point where orderliness matters. Learn how to keep your environment clean and clear so you can function without a myriad of distractions. Such neatness will further develop self-discipline by forcing you to make decisions about what is important and what is not.
Learning self-discipline in the little things of life prepares the way for big successes. On the other hand, those who are undisciplined in small matters will likely be undisciplined in more important issues. In the words of Solomon, it is the little foxes that ruin the vineyards (Song of Sol. 2:15). And when it comes to a person's integrity and credibility, there are no small issues.
A famous rhyme, based on the defeat of King Richard III of England at the battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, illustrates the importance of concentrating on small details: For want of a nail, a shoe was lost,For want of a shoe, a horse was lost,For want of a horse, a battle was lost,For want of a battle, a kingdom was lost,And all for want of a horseshoe nail.

Get yourself organized. Make a schedule, however detailed or general you are comfortable with, and stick to it. Have a to-do list of things you need to accomplish. Using a daily planning book or a personal information manager program on your computer would be helpful. But get organized, even if all you do is jot down appointments and to-do items on a piece of scrap paper. The simple reality is that if you don't control your time, everything (and everyone) else will.

Don't constantly seek to be entertained. When you have free time, do things that are productive instead of merely entertaining. Read a good book, listen to classical music, take a walk, or have a conversation with someone. In other words, learn to entertain yourself with things that are challenging, stimulating, and creative. Things that are of no value except to entertain you make a very small contribution to your well-being.

Be on time. If you're supposed to be somewhere at a specific time, be there on time. The apostle Paul listed proper use of time as a mark of true spiritual wisdom: "Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:15-16). Being punctual marks a life that is organized. It reveals a person whose desires, activities, and responsibilities are under control. Being on time also acknowledges the importance of other people and the value of their time.

Keep your word. "Undertake not what you cannot perform," a young George Washington exhorted himself, "but be careful to keep your promise." If you say you're going to do something, do it—when you said you would do it and how you said you would do it. When you make commitments, see them through. That calls for the discipline to properly evaluate whether you have the time and capability to do something. And once you've made the commitment, self-discipline will enable you to keep it.

Do the most difficult tasks first. Most people do just the opposite, spending their time doing the easier, low priority tasks. But when they run out of time (and energy), the difficult, high-priority tasks are left undone.
Finish what you start. Some people's lives are a sad litany of unfinished projects. In the words of poet John Greenleaf Whittier, For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: "It might have been!"

If you start something, finish it. Therein lies an important key to developing self-discipline.
Accept correction. Correction helps you develop self-discipline by showing you what you need to avoid. Thus, it should not be rejected, but accepted gladly. Solomon wrote "Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days" (Prov. 19:20); and "He whose ear listens to the life giving reproof will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding" (Prov. 15:31-32).

Practice self-denial. Learn to say no to your feelings and impulses. Occasionally deny yourself pleasures that are perfectly legitimate for you to enjoy. Skip dessert after a meal. Drink a glass of iced tea instead of having that banana split that you love. Don't eat that doughnut that caught your eye. Refraining from those things will remind your body who is in charge.

Welcome responsibility. Volunteer to do things that need to be done. That will force you to have your life organized enough to have the time for such projects.


These practical suggestions may not seem to involve any deep spiritual principles. Yet you cannot split your life into the secular and the spiritual. Instead you must live every aspect of your life to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). And self-discipline cultivated in the seemingly mundane things of life will spill over into the spiritual realm.

Practical Steps for Personal Evangelism By Jesse Johnson

* Jesse serves as the Pastor of Local Outreach at Grace Community Church. He also teaches Evangelism at The Master’s Seminary.
Perhaps you are one of the many who does not find evangelism easy or natural. Here are some practical steps to take to help your evangelism be more effective:


Live a Transformed Life (Rom 12:1)
The most eloquent and fluent Gospel presentation is muted if unbelievers identify you by patterns of sin in your life. The more holy and the more set apart our lives are, the more powerful our evangelism generally will be. In fact, the consistent testimony of a changed life is one of the more compelling proofs of the truth of the Gospel (Rom 12:1).
Pray Relentlessly
I have seen in my own life that in times where I am not praying for evangelistic opportunities, I have a hard time identifying them. However, the more I pray and ask God to open opportunities for evangelism, the more opportunities I seem to have. Prayer is not only answered by God bringing more non-believers into our lives, but is also answered by God allowing us see the opportunities that are already present. A sign of godliness is earnest prayer for the lost (Rom 10:1).
Start the Conversation
Because of your love and compassion for your neighbors and co-workers, develop a relationship with them. Get to know their names, their interests, their joys and their trials. Ask them questions, and listen to the answers. I am always surprised about how many Christians don’t even know the names of their neighbors. It is not likely that your neighbor will randomly knock on your door and ask what he must do to be saved. Instead, start the conversations with them, and watch how God may develop relationships that lead to the Gospel being proclaimed.
Explain the Gospel
In the course of your relationships with friends and neighbors, talk about spiritual things. Ask questions in a loving way, and be prepared to explain what you believe, and why it is different from their beliefs. Explain why you have an eternal hope. Explain who God is, that he is holy and that he is the creator. Explain why man is sinful and in need of a savior. Explain how Christ is that savior and how his death and resurrection can restore us to a right relationship with God. And finally, tell them what a saving response looks like by challenging them to count the cost, deny themselves, and become a follower of Christ.
Don’t be discouraged
The worst-case scenario in evangelism is that people reject the Gospel. They do this because they are spiritually dead and blind to the things of God (Eph 2:1). The evangelist has an impossible task, one for which it seems we are completely insufficient (2 Cor 3:5-6). But we rely on God who can bring the dead to life, and we are faithful with the opportunities that God gives us, trusting him with the results.

Questions 29-30 from the Westminster Shorter Catechism. For your Family Devotion today.

Q29: How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A29: We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us [1] by his Holy Spirit.[2]
1. John 1:122. Titus 3:5-6

Q30: How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

A30: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us,[1] and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.[2]
1. Eph. 2:82. Eph. 3:173. I Cor. 1:9

Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 1

What is your only comfort in life and in death?

A- That I am not my own,1 but belong— body and soul, in life and in death—2 to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. 3 He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,4 and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.5 He also watches over me in such a way6 that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven:7 in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.8 Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life9 and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.10 (1 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Rom. 14:7-9;3 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14;4 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2;5 John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11;6 John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5;7 Matt. 10:29-