Benny Hinn (Let The Bodies Hit The Floor)

There are a lot of emotions one may have after watching this video. Some may be angry that this video mocks Benny Hinn. Others may be angry and feel they’ve been manipulated because they once practically confused Hinn for the Holy Spirit. Some may laugh at the person who made the video and think “if only they experienced the true power of the Spirit. Then they too would bolt to a Hinn crusade”. Others may laugh and think “this is the result of people having bad theology plus being put on the spot and expected to do something while in a hyper-emotional state for the sake of being approved by a church that is supposedly in tune with God’s most spiritual activity and that happens to be a CEO of the church world”.

Besides all the differing emotions one may have while watching this video, I challenge you to ponder these questions:

1) Is this type of activity biblical? If so, where? If not, does that matter?

2) What is the overarching goal to “falling down in the Spirit”?

3) What is the Holy Spirit’s actual message and mission? Is it the gospel? Is it the sanctification of believers? Is it conviction of sin? Is it the conversion of God’s elect? Is it love and faithfulness? If so, are these things being emphasized near as much as “falling out in the Spirit” by Hinn and others of his kind?

4) Is Jesus Christ made greatly known in all this? If so, how? If not, would that concern Him? The Spirit testifies of Christ (John 15:26). Jesus wants to be let into churches that don’t fully welcome Him (Rev 3:20).

Butt Rock + Arminianism

As the saying goes, “ideas have consequences”, so the idea of libertarian free will has consequences. By libertarian free will I mean the belief that an unrepentant sinner is only indifferent to God, rather than only hostile to Him (Rom 8:6-8). Arminianism teaches that unrepentant sinners, while having hearts of stone, are free to have good feelings toward God. This even includes choosing God for salvation. This video will reveal the consequences of such ideas.

Please use caution when watching this video! Viewer discretion is advised!

Stryper - Free

(For the record, Stryper rocks!)

Some Problems With Modern Evangelism (We Assume Too Much and Know Too Little)

The initial problem in evangelism today is that we have false assumptions about how truly dead the un-born of God sinner is. The majority of Christians today have been taught that an un-repentant sinner is more likened to a sick patient rather than a walking corpse. We have this false notion from the outset and our efforts to evangelize are in vain unless God picks up the pieces of our ignorance. The truth is that we ARE evangelizing zombies and walking corpses. No one goes to a grave yard and tries to sell life insurance. Yet this is what we are doing when we assume that sinners are actually searching for forgiveness.

“Tetelestai”

Oh, what joy it is to declare “paid in full” for your sin! Oh, what unspeakable rest it is to to have all your rebellion in mind, word, and deed placed upon Christ and have His perfect thoughts, words, and actions freely given to you!

Christ is eternally holy, pure, and good. Our lawlessness against Him echoes an eternal imperfection in us and creates an infinite chasm between us and God. Only the cross of Jesus Christ bridges this infinite gap. This gap is our eternal imperfection keeping us from God’s eternal perfection. Today, know that you have crossed this impossible bridge if you believe that God’s punishment for your self-righteousness and pride has been diverted to Jesus Christ instead of you. Rest assure you have crossed this impossible bridge because you live for Christ and enjoy being more like Him inwardly and outwardly. But only Jesus Christ makes this impossible bridge, possible to cross. Cross it now. Believe in Jesus Christ!

“Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing
Passing from you and from me
Shadows are gathering, death-beds are coming
Coming for you and for me!

Come home! come home!
Ye who are weary, come home!
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
Calling, O sinner, come home!”

~ William L. Thompson

The Norsemen’s Prayer Before Battle

“Lo there do I see my father.
Lo there do I see my mother.
Lo there do I see my brothers and my sisters.
Lo there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.
Lo they do call to me;
they bid me take my place among them in the Halls of Valhalla,
where the brave may live forever.”

This is just flat out cool. It’s taken from the movie ‘The 13th Warrior’ which I recommend watching if you want to see Vikings do battle. The main viking Buliwyf, or ‘Bulv-eye’, is definitely a man’s man, and a figure of what every boy dreams of being. But in real life, Jesus Christ is the hero of this universe, and is what every man would hope to be. Here is some history on the Norsemen.

Curious about the gospel and who Jesus is? Check it out here.

Favorite Books

 

Here is a list of books I would recommend. I need to do more reading, but here is a simple list I’ve devised thus far of what has benefited me as a Christian.

‘Counted Righteous in Christ’ by John Piper

Piper explains the crucial importance of the doctrine of justification. His biblical exegisis is sound in showing that believers are not saved by faith so that salvation is easily attanable, but that God uses faith… to save us. This is because of His own grace and for His own glory. Many Protestants and modern evangelical Christians are confused about why we are saved by faith, and to what extent God anticipates a response from us for salvation. But God anticipates no response from us, but saves us anyways because He is good. The church at large could bennefit from understanding this truth, and be much more humbled by and faithful to the gospel. That is if they realized they have contributed no emotional, mental, or physical cooperation to move God to save them. Their salvation was secured through Christ’s atoning work, apart from themselves, and is made known to them by their faith on behalf of the Spirit’s regerating work in the soul.

‘The Law and the Gospel’ by Earnest Reisinger

This book has dramatically corrected the way I view the gospel. It has changed the way I view the law and grace. In summary, we are saved from the law, by grace, in order to come back to the law, with grace.

‘The Sovereign Grace of God’ by James R. White

This has revealed more clearly to me the gospel of scripture. This book walks through the 5 points of TULIP. I believe these points are not necessarily important to believe the gospel, but they are crucial in fully clarifying the gospel.

Me on The Narrow Mind

I recently went on The Narrow Mind broadcast Sept 15, 2007 and got to speak with hosts Gene and Jonathan. You can download it by right clicking here. I’m at the very beginning of the show.

So I was driving in the car with my friend Scott late at night when his good friend Gene called him up to ask how he was doing. Scott was nice enough to mention me and my upcoming endeavours. After hearing about my plans, Gene invited me to call into the radio program the following day. It was a pleasure to speak with both Gene and Jonathan.

Their ministry is to reach people with the truth of God’s word through radio. They are located in San Diego, CA. I highly recommend checking out Unchained Radio. You can also hear their broadcasts for free at ‘The Narrow Mind Aftermath’.

Living in a Dark World (Comfort in Ourselves, or in Our Savior?)

Matthew 11:19; Luke 7:34 ” The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.

Matthew 9:10-13 “While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

It was Martin Luther who said “the gospel is a table for sinners and sinners only”. And it was Thomas Mertin who said “the phony self is the enemy.” For every Christian, there are certain sins which are despised more than others. Take homosexuality for example. When is the last time you spoke with a flamboyantly gay person? When is the last time you spoke with any gay person? If your answer is not too long ago then great. If your answer is never, then you’re probably no different than most Christians.

“Jesus loves you, I don’t.”

Country singer Danielle Peck has penned some lyrics that are worth pondering. The lyrics are as follows:

(verse)
You say you’re doin’ better
For your sake I hope it’s true
I wish you well
But that’s all that I can do
Save your “I’m sorry’s”
Just leave ‘em out the door
You can’t make me feel guilty anymore

(chorus)
You say I should stay with you
That Jesus forgives you
You pray I will, but I won’t
The difference is
Jesus loves you, I don’t

Does your church have you under mind control?

This was taken from my friends blog at doctrinetalk.com. I thought it was very interesting…and scary. Please be committed to a church that opens its doors to Biblical questions and concerns. A true leader of Christ does not need to control or manipulate congregants, for he/she will gladly let Scripture speak for itself. Please consider these questions about your current church.

This series of questions aims to find out if you are fellowshipping in a church which uses mind control. You may not realize it, but many church leaders use overt means of controlling and manipulating congregations to do things which are unacceptable and more importantly, unbiblical.
Please answer the following questions with a YES or NO. Note down how many questions you have answered with a YES, and read on at the end of the questionnaire…