Wicked Mockers

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ²but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. ³That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers.

⁴Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. ⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. ⁶For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction." - Psalm 1

That was the very first Psalm. Six verses, but is says a lot about the world we live in. Especially Hollywood.

If you open up your favorite search engine and type in the name C'ynthia,' you will find that the #1 result is Cynthia Erivo. Have you heard about her? You probably have seen all of the Hollywood hype about the movie Wicked. Well, she was the witch. And if that wasn't bad enough, it's about to get even worse.

God clearly detests witches and sorcery, but why stop there? This August the actress is playing Jesus in a remake of Jesus Christ Superstar. That's right. A woman pretending to be Jesus.

"In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." - 2 Peter 3:3

Well Peter . . . these surely must be the last days then. 

This latest scoffing of our Lord sickens me. It should disgust every confessing Christian on the planet.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction." - Galatians 6:7-8

John The Baptist spoke about Jesus when he said, "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” - Matthew 3:12

Well, surely the Lord is coming soon with this latest blasphemous offering mocking Him.

And then there's this from the "queer" (her word, not mine) actress and "woman of faith":

"I have a deep belief that God makes people as they’re meant to be. The rules for themselves that people put upon others have nothing to do with me and my faith. I can’t allow narrow thinking that some Christians or Catholics have of what faith is to affect how vast I think faith can be. Faith is so big - so much bigger than set rules. As time changes, we are also meant to change. If me loving someone makes you upset, then we have to refocus. I think the main rule that we’re all supposed to follow is to love one another as you would love yourself. That’s it. That’s the big overarching thing. Am I making space to care for other people, be kind to other people, be as good to other people as I would have other people be to me? If those are the things I’m following, then I think I’m following my faith."

You're following YOUR faith alright. Not the one set forth by God in the Bible. Yes, she has PART of "the first and greatest commandment" right. But what about the very first part?

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength."

Part of 'loving God' is obeying His commandments, not editing them to syit our own desires. And she is WAY off track in that regard. We must pray for her and also for every lost soul who blasphemes God with their choices. Come, Lord Jesus!!

Circles

I had heard about them before but had never really encountered them until a few weeks ago. It was kind of scary to actually hear someone telling about this "wonderful illustration" as if it were fact. As I listened I began to get a little uneasy inside because "Kingdom Circles" are not only contrary to God's Word, Kingdom Circles are both blasphemous and heretical. First a few definitions.

heresy - a "belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine."

blasphemy - "the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk."

The following video will show you what Kingdom Circles are. After you watch it, let's talk about what the video said. And what it DIDN'T say.

Kingdom Circles

As Christians we have certain fundamental beliefs. Anything statements made outside of those beliefs and proclaimed to be true (but aren't) is called heresy. Anything that diminishes God and who He is, is called blasphemy.

The diagram above shows The Kingdom of God (KOG) as a circle. Outside of the circle, they say, are both Christians and Muslims. This is blasphemy. Why? There is nothing in all of creation that is outside the Kingdom of God. ALL things are under God's control.

"8 Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." - Hebrews 2:8-10

The heretical part of Kingdom Circles is this. The circle maker will tell us that we spend too much time getting Muslims, Hindus and all other faiths to covert to Christianity. All these other faiths really have to do is find their own way to God. The circle maker really needs to read the following verse and let it sink in.

"6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

That seems clear enough. No one can get to heaven, no one have eternal life, no one can "know God" unless they first . . . become . . . a Christian!

"8 For by grace you have been saved through faith." - Ephesians 2:8

Faith in whom? Faith in Christ!

Kingdom Circles are a false teaching. Beware when someone begins drawing circles. They may be teaching something outside of Christianity and therefore should be dismissed for what it is - a lie.

How Do You Know That Christianity Is The One True Worldview? - Ravi Zacharias

Anger

There's not much that makes me angry anymore. Not since I made Jesus Lord of my life anyway. I get frustrated to be sure. Just turn on the news and you'll probably get frustrated too! Anger is a different emotion all together.

I remember punching Jimmy Fosbinder in the face once back in sixth grade. Does that count? Nah. That was just stupid kid stuff. The anger was okay to feel. I had been wronged. But the punching someone in the face part . . . yeah, that was stupid.

I'm really a pretty easy going guy . . . I guess. Although there have been a few times, since I have become a believer, that I have gotten a little mad at someone. Twice in eight years. That's not too bad is it?

Anger is an emotion. It's not one of the more politically correct, user-friendly emotions out there but it IS an emotion, given to us by God.

Most people think anger is bad but I'm not one of them. Like I said, anger is simply an emotion. What we DO with that anger . . . well, that's another story.

I don't know about you but I DO take some comfort in knowing that God Himself gets angry.

"9 The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command." - 1 Kings 11:9-10

Like Father, like Son . . .

"4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts," - Mark 3:4-5

As I was scrolling down through the posts on Facebook recently, I saw a post by one of my friends. After reading it and thinking about it I decided I didn't like his words very much and I began to get a little upset. I'll let you read it and see if you don't feel the same way.

"Every time I listen to Jeremy Camp's "Jesus Saves" song, I sing along but replace "saves" with "shaves" so while the song plays I keep having this image of clean shaven Jesus...he's got such a little baby face in my mind."

Some might say, "That's not so bad, Bob." I would reply with this. Is the post indignant? Is it irreverent? I think it is. To further explain where I am going with this I would like to offer you a word definition from the 1828 Webster Dictionary and I would like you to consider . . . Does this word fit the Facebook post?

BLAS''PHEMY, n. An indignity offered to God by words or writing; reproachful, contemptuous or irreverent words uttered impiously against Jehovah. Blasphemy is an injury offered to God, by denying that which is due and belonging to him, or attributing to him that which is not agreeable to his nature.

In Hebrew culture, when one is in mourning for the sins they have committed, they were to do the following:

"Therefore in that day the Lord God of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing, to shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth." - Isaiah 22:12

I don't think Jesus would have ever shaved his head or beard in mourning for his sins . . . because He never committed any!! I know my friend probably wasn't thinking about what he was typing. I have made similar mistakes with the pen. But my friend is a youth pastor and really should watch what he says. Little pitchers have big ears.

This world, this country, has lost it's fear of God. It has turned it's back on the very God who created us in the first place. Scroll down through the Facebook posts and look at all of the OMG's. It has become a way of life . . . acceptable practice to use the name of the Lord, our God, in vain (3rd commandment). Even as a curse word! The only time we should be using the name Jesus Christ is when we are reading, praying, worshipping or evangelizing.

I know we live in America, where we have freedom of speech, but having that freedom does not excuse us from using it to the detriment of others, especially our God and King, Jesus. He deserves the highest amount of respect we can muster, and then, WAY more than even our tiny brains can offer. To use him as a punch-line of sorts disgusts me.

And so I will leave you with a description of Jesus. Not the baby-faced Jesus, or the pristine Jesus with the curly hair that hangs on a cross in so many of our churches today. Remember, He was beaten and bruised and He was, and is, a God who gets angry.

"11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords." - Revelation 19:11-16

That's my Jesus.

I get upset when people talk about God in demeaning ways. I get angry when people, and churches, put words in His mouth or "interpret" scriptures to line up with some political agenda. God's Word is God's Word.

"2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you." - Deuteronomy 4:2

We as a people need to show more respect for the God of the Universe. We need to get to the point where we tremble at the very mention of His Holy name. I encourage you to take a step today to correct someone when you hear them use the name of God in vain. Loving talk to someone who is making fun of our King. Our God is a very loving, patient God but He does get angry from time to time. We, as His children, must NEVER give Him a reason to do so.

Sissified, needy Jesus by Voddie Baucham

Blasphemy

I was still a little upset yesterday morning so I decided to wait before posting this story. Wouldn't want to be too quick to speak (James 1:19). This past Sunday I witnessed something very disturbing and, dare I say, blasphemous. And it occurred in church. That's right . . . IN church!

 

Blasphemy is defined as . . . n. An indignity offered to God by words or writing; reproachful, contemptuous or irreverent words uttered impiously against Jehovah.

I heard some words and read some writing that broke my heart, not to mention a few of the Ten Commandments. I was offended by how the God I worship was portrayed. I became a bit angry, but mostly incredibly disgusted that God's Words were being twisted and misused. I think that qualifies as blasphemy, at least in MY book. You be the judge.

My wife grew up attending this very small Methodist church in Milwaukee. I love small churches. Everybody knows everyone else. They support each other in love. They are a part of each others lives. They pray for one another and those prayers carry weight because they are usually praying for someone they really know and love. This church was no different.

I was raised in a Methodist church. My grandparents were Methodists in Michigan. My parents were members of a Methodist church in Iowa. I got my first Bible from a Methodist church. My wife and I were married in a Methodist church by two Methodist pastors one very hot summer day a long time ago . . . coming up on 36 years now. There is a lot of love in that small Methodist church in Milwaukee. But recently something has changed. What changed was the greater Methodist church itself and their policies. So what happened?

Well, going into this Sunday's Mothers Day service I already knew a few things about the changes in the Methodist church in recent years. From what I have observed at this small church in Milwaukee, Methodist churches have just as many female pastors as they do male pastors. From watching the news, I also have come to know that Methodist churches are "gay affirming" churches. That means the Methodist church condones sexual sin. Somehow that seems wrong to me. It's not good to anger God from what I read in the Bible. Bad things begin to happen . . . kind of like now.

The Methodist church of today has become what is known today as "progressive." No longer is the word "liberal" used these days. Today it's "progressive." In my opinion, "progressives" in the church have been anything BUT progressive. And although I heard the name of Jesus on Sunday, I began to wonder just who this Jesus was they were talking about. He's certainly was not the one I have read about in the Bible.

After I sat down in the pew I started going through the bulletin. That's Standard Operating Procedure for me. Gotta find out what's going on! The first thing I noticed was a portion of the service labeled "A Time for Stillness and Centering." Uh-oh. Google "Centering Prayer" sometime and read all about the dangers of THAT practice.

Everything else on the front page of the bulletin looked normal. Then I turned the page and arrived at the Prayer of Confession. Oh my goodness. It began like this . . .

"O Beloved Mother-Father God, . . ."

Mother??? What about "Our FATHER, who art in heaven? Now we're praying to MOTHER God? Continue with the rest of the prayer . . .

". . . help us today to recognize that true wisdom begins when we accept this world, each other, and ourselves as we truly are and not just as we might wish us to be."

Really? "True wisdom begins when we accept this world?" Has anybody in the Methodist church read Romans 12:2 lately?

"2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2 (ESV)

This prayer really got me upset and . . . the service hadn't even started yet!!

We sang an opening hymn - number 2236 - "Gather Us In." The hymn was found in the second of three hymnals they had there. That's a lot of hymns - over 3,000 of them! Gotta have variety I guess. Anyway, the last line of verse one went like this. "we shall arise at the sound of our name." OUR name? I pray that was just a typo. I think it was supposed to be YOUR name. Freudian? Mmm . . . Let's move on.

Then came the "Words of Welcome" and Carol, the pastor, came out with these welcoming words, "Today there is no right or wrong, you are among friends." No right or wrong? Cool! That sounds very welcoming. It is also very wrong. There is ALWAYS right and wrong and this service was beginning to lean more towards the WRONG side, not to mention the left.

There was a brief children's message when Carol sat down with some kids up front and told a story about when Jesus "left us." You remember, the story of the crucifixion. Carol needs to read Deuteronomy 31:6 for some truth in story telling. Tell it like it is! People are murdered every day in Milwaukee. These kids see it on the news, or worse yet, in real life. They don't need to be protected from the truth. Jesus was beaten, whipped, spat upon, crucified, died and was buried. Although Jesus ascended to heaven, He never "left us." Jesus promised us he would NEVER "leave us."

"6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

. . . . sigh. There were a few other things that bothered me - The Message Bible being used for scripture (The Message is one man's interpretation. It is NOT a translation). Words like "inclusion" and "acceptance" were used. Never did I hear the word "sin" during the service.

Another thing . . . I had noticed the bread and wine goblet on a table up front when I came in. It looked like we were going to take communion. That was fine . . . up until the point where I decided this pastor was preaching about some other god than the one I always worship. And apparently, soon, I was going to be expected to take communion to this god of theirs. I began to pray, "God, I don't think I can do this. They are preaching a gospel different from yours. God what should I do? This doesn't feel right, God."

My friends, I am 60 years old and I have always enjoyed the privilege of taking the elements of communion. The bread and the wine represent my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died for me on the cross. It is always an honor to participate. However, this past Sunday, I took a pass. When the nice lady offered the bread to me I looked her in the eyes and said, "No, thank you." and I began to pray. I prayed to the point of shedding tears, tears for this once wonderful little church.

My wife's family goes to that church. I am familiar with many of the names and the faces in the pews. However, I will never be attending there again. Not unless some things get changed. That is a VERY sad thing. I truly fear for them. We need to pray for their church and for their pastor and for the Methodist church in general. We must lift up our brothers and sisters in prayer, wherever sheep are being led astray in this world.

But there is hope. All is not darkness. There is still an opportunity for repentance and for forgiveness. I hope and pray this pastor either repents or is removed from the pulpit. Something has to change. And there is ALWAYS hope . . .

"14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14

One final story before I close. After we got back from church, I was preparing the grill in the back yard for a family cookout. My father-in-law came outside and asked me a question. "So, what is your opinion of our pastor?"

"Honestly?" I asked. I then proceeded to tell him everything I just told you. At the end of my little speech, which was probably a lot longer than he was expecting, he asked, "So, what do you think we should do?"

"Well," I said, "I'd start looking for a new pastor . . . tomorrow." Sadly, their small church must "accept" whoever their bishop sends them. But God can do great things if they would only ask. There is ALWAYS hope.

There is only one "truth" and that truth does not come from man. It does not come from a denomination. It comes from God. It is revealed to us in His written Word. God's Holy Spirit convicts us when something "doesn't feel right" and I was feeling MAJORLY convicted on Sunday. We should listen to God's Holy Spirit when He leads us. We should listen to God's son, Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life. And we should listen to OUR FATHER, God, who is never wrong and He always, ALWAYS speaks the truth.

"31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:32