Soul Winning Made Easy?

An interesting post from this blog. Comments anyone?

Feeling Sick

Well not really physically, but reading this website (which I refuse to name) makes me want to weep.

The only verse that I can think of at this point.

Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

- Romans 1:32

Oh Lord have mercy

*Edit* Some links arguing against this found here, here, here, here and here

Let Us Be Like Other Nations

'Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone.'

- Ezekiel 20:32b

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations."

- 1 Samuel 8: 4-5

Reading history, one is struck by the truth in the adage "history repeats itself". Indeed when the wise man proclaimed that there is nothing new under the sun, much apostasy and heresy in the visible church today are simply rehashes of ancient heresies.

Israel wanted to be like the other nations around them. They desired to have a human king even though they already had the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. They followed the surrounding nations in their worship of rocks and trees and brought the judgment and wrath of God upon themselves for their rebellion.

Is not the visible church doing likewise today? We will not have God to rule over us, instead He has to submit to our will, our plans, our designs. He has to change His plans according to Man's decisions lest He infringes upon Man's sovereign will. God has become a glorified genie-in-a-lamp that must give us what we want or else we would not worship Him.

Similarly in the evaluation of a church, it is no longer according to the standard set in the Bible but rather to the standards of the World. No longer do we consider whether a church is faithful in its proclamation of the Gospel or Holy Scripture. No longer do we strive for Truth and Holiness amongst the brethren nor warn men of the judgment to come. Rather, the standard of success seen in the church today is the standard set by the World. The biggest, the wealthiest, the most "happening", the most seeker-friendly church is seen as the godliest church.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

- 1 Timothy 6:3-5 (KJV)

For the church today so seeks to be like the World, to compete with it in terms of grandeur, achievements, size, entertainment, etc... Are not the churches that are lauded in Singapore today those with large memberships? Or those with exciting worship services that employ an array of multimedia, drama and dance? Or those with charismatic and personable preachers? Or those that provide a "comfortable" environment where "everyone is accepted" and there is no preaching on the "hard" topics of sin or repentance or self-denial?

Let us turn to the Lord while He is still near, lest we go the way of rebellious Israel and suffer under His Wrath.

The Supremacy of Christ

[A]nd what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

- Ephesians 1: 19-21

"There is not one square inch on planet Earth over which the Risen Christ does not say, 'Mine! And I rule it. I am supreme over it.'"

- Abraham Kuyper

The Judgement of God in the Pulpit

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

- 2 Timothy 4: 3 - 4

The Hatred of the World

I was planning on finally writing up my thoughts regarding the Gospel Invitation and God's Sovereign Grace, but certain recently past events have put that on the back burner for a while.

18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'

- John 15: 18-25

For anyone who has not been living under a rock for the past 3 weeks in Singapore, you would know of the "AWARE saga" which has been played up dramatically both in the mainstream media as well as over the internet. There is certainly no need for me to go into detail that which could be easily ascertained over the internet nor would I be commenting directly on the episode itself.

However, what is most striking and telling about this entire episode, and what I have observed over the past year or so, is the wild reaction against Christians and Christianity in general. One need only to browse the myriad of internet forums and online discussion groups for a few months to realize that topics with regards to Christianity more often then not receive more derogatory and negative comments rather than positive ones. And no doubt some of these comments are well-deserved and the issues themselves indefensible. How on earth can one justify paying a pastor half a million dollars or spending tens of millions of dollars on a souped-up church cum entertainment complex without feeling a wee bit foolish in the process. How can one justify the invitation and promotion of a "preacher" who has deviated so wildly from the Truth of God's Word that one could indict it as heretical? Is it not true, as the Apostle Paul wrote to his Jewish readers, that "The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." (Romans 2:24) Much of what professing Christianity has done in the name of Christ has brought His Name into ill-repute. Men now mock the name of Christ and hold it in derision.

But that is not the main point of this post. While I acknowledge that some of what professing Christianity does deserves the mockings of the World, the lost man will hate true Christianity, as Christ prophesied way before our time. I believe it was Paul Washer who said that the whole world would not be converted if we all lived like Jesus, rather we would all be in prison or crucified. That is because while Jesus never gave Man a cause to hate Him, Man by nature are haters and enemies of God (cf. Rom 1:30, Rom 5:10) because Man is evil while God is Holy. Man recoils at the Holiness of God, and as the Apostle Paul writes in his damning indictment of mankind called Romans chapter 1, suppresses the truth of God his creator.

Throughout human history, Man has sought to deny God His rightful place as Creator and Lord over all creation, whether by raising physical idols to debunking His existence through science and human wisdom (think evolution) and now the latest in this series, the practical denial of any absolute standard of Truth. "All is subjective!" is the mantra of post-modern Man. Who is to say what is right and what is wrong. Judge not lest ye be judged.

The true Church of Jesus Christ has always faced the hatred of the World, whether it be from outside the physical church or from those false teachers/believers within who have "crept in unnoticed" (Jude 4). Therefore it is of little surprise that people should despise Christianity for her stand on homosexuality or for morals in general. There is simply no room for compromise or toleration of a sin that the Lord has explicitly condemned. (cf. Leviticus 18:22, 20:13) Man will continue to rebel against a God who has written His Law upon their hearts (Rom 2:14-15), and apart from a gracious work of the Lord in regeneration, will continue to rebel his way into eternal Hell.

Are we called then to love and minister to homosexuals? Of course, for what then is a homosexual but a sinner in need of grace, just as the adulterer and murderer are, to break free from the bondage of sin. But the Christian who approves of a person in homosexuality as a permissible lifestyle, that is not in need of repentance, is like one who approves the viewing of pornography or dishonesty in business as acceptable.

Will we be labeled as bigots? Will we be called unloving and people who "do not follow the example of Christ's love" even by those within the visible church? Will we be called ignorant, irrelevant, archaic, etc....? Yes, of course and most definitely. Therefore my friends, let us not be surprised or disheartened, as our Lord has predicted we will suffer for bearing His Name. But He who justified us will one day glorify us in Him and indeed let us count the sufferings of this present age unworthy to be compared with the glories to come.

So let us stand firm on Christ, the Rock of our Salvation. Soli Deo Gloria

On Homosexuality and Anorexia

Just saw this news item here on AsiaOne.

SINGAPOREAN netizens are getting riled up over a dangerous Internet trend: Pro-eating disorder websites and support groups painting eating disorders as a lifestyle choice.

What I don't get is why are these people so angry about it? I mean if they can claim that homosexuality is an alternate lifestyle choice, why shouldn't this be as well? Shouldn't they at least be consistent in there position that their are no moral absolutes and everything is relative and up to the individual to decide?

Just goes to show the irrationality of Man.

A Short Post

Last undergrad exam tomorrow. Got lots of stuff I want to write on, God Willing, so I'll be back very soon.