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.

At the mercy of God

It has been a pretty hard couple of weeks, and the two tests plus thesis presentation did not really help matters either. I have come to realize how easy it is for me to turn to pleasures other than God whenever things seem to heat up or stress begins to build up. In my insanity I would turn away from the Spring of Life and turn to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh, which are really no pleasures at all. For no sooner does it enter in that it turns to rot and one is left with an utter sense of despair. Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. It was during this past week that I came across this verse in 2 Timothy;

"God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."

- 2 Timothy 2: 25b - 26

After reading this verse, the one thing that has been in my mind the past few days is this: I am at the mercy of God.

Firstly, it is amazing what the Apostle Paul writes here. So often we think of repentance as something we do, which it is. But very rarely will you hear anyone say or preach that repentance, nay, our entire process of salvation is ordained, purposed and carried out by God Himself. One could say the role of a man in salvation is essentially zero other than as an eternally grateful recipient.

Which leads me to my second and titular point, that Paul could write, inspired by the Holy Spirit, that it essentially God's prerogative to grant mercy and grace as He sees fit. Here then is the only true Free Will in the entire universe. For if God may grant a person repentance, it stands to reason that the opposite also holds true, that God may not grant a person repentance nor let him come to him senses, thus allowing him to store up for himself the Wrath that will be poured out on that Last Day for all eternity. And this great realization, that I am at His mercy, and that at His pleasure He may and is able to throw both my body and soul into Hell, causes me to tremble before the One who sits on that throne. For I know that God would be entirely Just in condemning me to an eternity in darkness for even the smallest sin that I have ever done and I have given no reason whatsoever for Him to show His Mercy and Grace to me.

"What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy."

- Romans 9: 14-16

Oh how evil are the depths of Man's heart. How loathsome is he in the sight of the Holy One. Yet that He should redeem for Himself a people and grant unto us a privilege of which the likes no other being in creation could boast of. For let us never forget of those angels which fell with Satan and of whom no pardon was given or offered at all.

And yet that I should take the grace of God so often in vain and treat His mercy as some small thing. How quick am I to forget the goodness that He has shown to me, and like the children of Israel, turn aside to other "gods" and set my mind on things of the flesh. It is and has always been my constant struggle to have the faith to look in the mirror of God's Word and believe that God would save a wretch like me, who is so easily amused and satisfied by what the World offers.

You are at the mercy of God, should that not cause you to tremble?

The Lonliness of a Christian

The loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because within his circle of friends there are so few who share his inner experiences he is forced to walk alone. The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding caused them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way.

The man who has passed on into the divine presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. A certain amount of social fellowship will of course be his as he mingles with religious persons in the regular activities of the church, but true spiritual fellowship will be hard to find. But he should not expect things to be otherwise. After all, he is a stranger and a pilgrim, and the journey he takes is not on his feet but in his heart. He walks with God in the garden of his own soul - and who but God can walk there with him?

He is of another spirit from the multitudes that tread the courts of the Lord's house. He has seen that of which they have only heard, and he walks among them somewhat as Zacharias walked after his return from the altar when the people whispered, "He has seen a vision" (see Luke 1:22).

The truly spiritual man is indeed something of an oddity. He lives not for himself but to promote the interests of Another. He seeks to persuade people to give all to his Lord and asks no portion or share for himself. He delights not to be honored but to see his Savior glorified in the eyes of men. His joy is to see his Lord promoted and himself neglected. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens.

He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces (see Psalm 45:8), and finding few or none he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart. It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. "Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me" (Psalm 27:10).

His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else. He learns in inner solitude what he could not have learned in the crowd - that Christ is All in all, that He is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, that in Him we have and possess life's summum bonum.

Two things remain to be said. One, that the lonely man of whom we speak is not a haughty man, nor is he the holier-than-thou, austere saint so bitterly satirized in popular literature. He is likely to feel that he is the least of all men and is sure to blame himself for his very loneliness. He wants to share his feelings with others and to open his heart to some like-minded soul who will understand him, but the spiritual climate around him does not encourage it, so he remains silent and tells his griefs to God alone.

The second thing is that the lonely saint is not the withdrawn man who hardens himself against human suffering and spends his days contemplating the heavens. Just the opposite is true. His loneliness makes him sympathetic to the approach of the brokenhearted and the fallen and the sin-bruised. Because he is detached from the world he is all the more able to help it.

- A .W. Tozer

HT: Call it Grace

R. C. Sproul and Al Mohler on Seeker-Sensitive Methodology

A must-watch for many Singaporean Christians ignorant of the dangers of the Seeker-Sensitive methodology.

"...It's a strategy of unbelief. The 'minister' wants to grow his church, the 'minister' wants to see success, and so he's looking for all these programs and all these techniques to get people to come in... But he never goes over the bridge and gets to the Word. If you want a power in your Church, be an expository preacher; preach the Word because that's where the Spirit is. Isn't that God's strategy? If we believe God's strategy, we're going to preach the Word."

- R.C. Sproul

HT: LaneCh

Quote of the Day

Equally pitiable is the hand religion of the day, when young "converts" are put to teaching a Sunday school class, urged to "speak" in the open air, or take up "personal work." How many thousands of beardless youths and young girls are now engaged in what is called "winning souls for Christ," when their own souls are spiritually starved! They may "memorize" two or three verses of Scripture a day, but that does not mean their souls are being fed. How many are giving their evenings to helping in some "mission," when they need to be spending the time in "the secret of the Most High"! And how many bewildered souls are using the major part of the Lord’s day in rushing from one meeting to another instead of seeking from God that which will fortify them against the temptations of the week! Oh, the tragedy of this hand "Christianity."

How subtle the Devil is! Under the guise of promoting growth in "the knowledge of the Lord," he gets people to attend a ceaseless round of meetings, or to read an almost endless number of religious periodicals and books; or under the pretence of "honoring the Lord" by all this so-called "service" he induces the one or the other to neglect the great task which God has set before us: "keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23). Ah, it is far easier to speak to others than it is constantly to use and improve all holy means and duties to preserve the soul from sin, and maintain it in sweet and free communion with God. It is far easier to spend an hour reading a sensational article upon "the signs of the times" than it is to spend an hour in agonizing before God for purifying and rectifying grace!

- A. W. Pink

HT: Call It Grace

Running Out of Time

Less than 2 weeks to FYP submission, and I've still not finished my first draft :X.

Starting to hit the panic button.

Sigh............

Because of Your Love

Because of Your Love - Tim Hughes

This is how I know what love is, this is how I know I'm free,
This is how I know salvation: Jesus came and died for me
This is why I come to worship, this is why i lift my hands
This is why I know surrender
Everything I Am

chorus:
Because of Your Love; there's dancing in my heart
Because of your grace I am free
Because of your faithfulness
There's a song that must be sung
And I will sing, I will sing because of You

I will dance, I will dance, because of You
I will dance, because of You

This is why there's joy within me
this is why my spirit sings:
Jesus your my great adventure
You're my everything


You came to save the world
To save the world, to save the world
Your love can change the world
Can change the world, can change the world

On Relationships

The real beauty of a woman is Christ in her.

I know this is a topic that seems to pop up ever so often on this blog, and I would be a liar to say that it is not something that I have contemplated on at great length in recent months. I also do know that I know exceedingly little of what it really means biblically to be in a relationship, and by extension, marriage.

One of the thing that does bother me though, especially in this modern day consumer culture that has infiltrated the church more pervasively than many realize, is the often lack of passion for God. I pray that I am not being hypocritical or arrogant in this aspect, but this is a very grave issue. Oh there is sometimes a passion for the things of God, but rarely will one hear a person declare, "I do not desire for ministry, I do not desire for accolades or status. I desire Him and Him alone, even at the cost of ministry or comfort or status."

What has this got to do with relationships? Much in every way. To find a woman who has set her mind on spiritual things in SG is already hard enough as it is. To find one whom is God-besot, with a desire for Christ motivated by His sacrifice on the Cross and for His Glory, is rarer than the rarest metal on Earth. Do I seek a perfect woman? No, no. For I know that I myself fall short on so many counts. But I pray that God would be gracious to grant me a person who is a fellow bond-servant and slave in Christ. For what else matters? Does beauty or wealth or intelligence matter in light of eternity? Do not all these things pass away with time? Yet the Beauty of Christ in her never fades, but becomes more magnificent with every step taken as eternity draws nearer.

On Salvation

Why should person come to the cross?
Why should a person embrace death, with Christ?
Why should a person be willing to go in identification down to the cross and into the tomb and up again?
I'll tell you why!
Because it's the only way that God can get glory out of a human being.

-Paris Reidhead
1919 - 1992

Why God Deserves to Be Glorified Above All Else

Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said:

“ Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,
The power and the glory,
The victory and the majesty;
For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours;
Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,
And You are exalted as head over all.

Both riches and honor come from You,
And You reign over all.
In Your hand is power and might;
In Your hand it is to make great
And to give strength to all.

“Now therefore, our God,
We thank You
And praise Your glorious name.

- 1 Chronicles 29: 10 - 13

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight

- Colossians 1: 15 - 22

And no, it is not a by-product of anything.



Proclaim the Glory of the Lord - Steve Green

Proclaim the glory of the Lord
Let every tongue confess He reigns
Lift up His name in praises forever
Proclaim the glory of the Lord
Make known His mighty deeds to all
Take up the call, let every nation know

Chorus:
He is our Messiah, our Savior and our King
Let all our voices join as one
And fill the earth with singing
Glory to our God
His greatness we applaud
Let every race on every shore
Proclaim the glory of the Lord

Proclaim the glory of the Lord
Give honor to the Prince of Peace
For if we cease the stones will start shouting
Proclaim the glory of the Lord
With hands uplifted let us raise
Immortal praise to Him who reigns on high

Nick is

struggling for Joy even in the midst of hopelessness.

Oh Lord you are Sovereign, may you do what seems good to you.

Life Verses

Two verses that I resolve to keep the rest of my life.

"For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, ..."
- Romans 3:23

But,

"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead,..."
- 2 Timothy 2:8a

Soli Deo Gloria

Psalm 145

I had wanted to write a rather lengthy post, but I think this Psalm speaks for itself. What I highlighted in bold is something that I believe is lacking amongst us older Christians as we interact and train and mingle with those who are younger.

1 I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts.
5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.
6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.
7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
9 The LORD is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
And Your saints shall bless You.
11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
And talk of Your power,
12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholds all who fall,
And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
Gracious in all His works.
18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
20 The LORD preserves all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,
And all flesh shall bless His holy name
Forever and ever.

- Psalm 145 (Emphasis mine)

There is so much beauty and knowledge in the Word of God that we would probably never ever be able to discover all there is within it. How much more then will we never be able to comprehend the fullness of God throughout all eternity, even that which is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ.