How Do You View the Gospel?

When you hear the word gospel, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a conversation with someone you meet on the streets or you think of a tract. Maybe even different forms of evangelism come to mind, like Lifestyle, Friendship, or Open Air Preaching. But what actually does the word gospel mean?

The word gospel means good news but good news of what?

According to Dictionary.com the word carries these meanings; the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation. The story of Christ's life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the new testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Something regarded as true and implicitly believed: to take his report for gospel. A doctrine regarded as of prime importance: political gospel. Further defined as; the story of Christ's life and teachings as narrated in the Gospels

Let’s dig a little deeper now. If you had to surmise the entire Bible how would you do it? This is how I would describe it. The Bible is the progressive revelation of Jesus Christ and God’s promise of salvation.

Beginning in the New Testament this promise comes to life. Jesus Christ, God Himself in the flesh comes to Earth to bring the hope and good news of salvation to all mankind no matter a person’s race or nationality. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

So Jesus Christ while on Earth was the Gospel. He was the message of salvation. He provided the only way to Heaven, then and now. There may be many paths to Christ, but once at the foot of the cross, He is the only way to Heaven. The Gospels refer to the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Why? It’s their accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the only means of salvation for fallen mankind. It’s not the stories of each of these Apostles, but the story of redemption of man and God’s fulfillment of His promise.

In Romans 1:16 we read, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Then in Hebrews 4:12 we learn, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The gospel is the only means God has gifted to us fallen wretched sinners to bring the good news of salvation to all. The gospel is not only the Word of God, the gospel was God in the flesh. The gospel was Jesus Christ as He was the Living Word of God. This is not negated now that He rose Himself from the grave and now sits at the right hand of God.

In the Third Commandment we are told, ““You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” If to belittle the name of God, use His name as a filthy cuss word, or use His name to express excitement or surprise is a violation of this commandment, then what does it mean when we do this with His Word. Consider this, applying the previous to any part of the Bible, which is the written Word of God given to man, then that would be taking His name in vain as well. To twist scripture or use any part of the Bible or the gospel in a way that demeans the Creator’s Word, is blasphemy.

The Word of God is to be looked upon with reverence, holiness and awe. It is to be lifted up and treated with more honor and respect than anything or anyone else on Earth. We are told to love God with all of our hearts, souls, mind and strength. There is no exception clause in this. This applies to all aspects of God and His Word. The gospel is not only God’s way of salvation, but is the very Word of God, the fulfillment of His promises, the essence and very reason God came to Earth in the form of a man.

It was Spurgeon, who uttered these words. “Heart-work, carried out afterwards into life-work, —this is what the Lord wants. You may perish as well with true doctrines as with false, if you pervert the true doctrine into licentiousness. You may go to hell by the cross as surely as you may by the theatre, or by the vilest of sin. You may perish with the name of Jesus on your lips, and with a sound creed sealed on your very bosom, for "except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall lie also reap." Now, if any of you belong to either of these four classes, I think you cannot help knowing it, and, being destitute of gospel holiness, you have good cause to bewail your character, and tremble for your destiny. But, to help you still further, brethren, that man is destitute of true holiness who can look back upon his own past sin without sorrow. Oh, to think of our past lives! There were some of us who knew the Lord at fifteen years of age, but those fifteen years of unregeneracy, —we can never forget them! Others may say, "We did not know him till we were fifty or sixty." Ah, my dear brethren! You have much to weep over, but so have those of us who knew the Lord in early life. I can look back upon God's mercy with delight, but I hope I shall never be able to look back upon my sins with complacency.”

CARM.org describes the gospel this way: The gospel is the singularly most important communication of God to man. In Jesus, who is God the Son, we have the revelation of God’s love and sacrifice that saves us from God's righteous judgment upon sinners.

How Others Have Defined the Gospel

This is why the New Testament often defines the gospel as, simply, Christ. The gospel is the "gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 9:13; 10:14; Galatians 1:7; Philippians 1:27; etc.). Or, more specifically, the gospel is "the gospel of the glory of Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:4). And even more wonderfully, perhaps, Paul says that the preaching of the gospel is the preaching of "the unsearchable riches of Christ" (Ephesians 3:8). http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-is-the-christian-gospel

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, the message from God to man delivered by the very Creator Himself come to Earth in the form of a lowly man. If we can take shortcuts with the word gospel when applied to the Word of God, we then are undermining and blaspheming the very God we claim to be proclaiming.

“There is no greater message to be heard than that which we call the Gospel. But as important as that is, it is often given to massive distortions or over simplifications. People think they’re preaching the Gospel to you when they tell you, ‘you can have a purpose to your life’, or that ‘you can have meaning to your life’, or that ‘you can have a personal relationship with Jesus.’ All of those things are true, and they’re all important, but they don’t get to the heart of the Gospel.

The Gospel is called the ‘good news’ because it addresses the most serious problem that you and I have as human beings, and that problem is simply this: God is holy and He is just, and I’m not. And at the end of my life, I’m going to stand before a just and holy God, and I’ll be judged. And I’ll be judged either on the basis of my own righteousness – or lack of it – or the righteousness of another. The good news of the Gospel is that Jesus lived a life of perfect righteousness, of perfect obedience to God, not for His own well-being but for His people. He has done for me what I couldn’t possibly do for myself. But not only has He lived that life of perfect obedience, He offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to satisfy the justice and the righteousness of God.

The great misconception in our day is this: that God isn’t concerned to protect His own integrity. He’s a kind of wishy-washy deity, who just waves a wand of forgiveness over everybody. No. For God to forgive you is a very costly matter. It cost the sacrifice of His own Son. So valuable was that sacrifice that God pronounced it valuable by raising Him from the dead – so that Christ died for us, He was raised for our justification. So the Gospel is something objective. It is the message of who Jesus is and what He did. And it also has a subjective dimension. How the benefits of Jesus are subjectively appropriated to us? How do I get it? The Bible makes it clear that we are justified not by our works, not by our efforts, not by our deeds, but by faith – and by faith alone. The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him – and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.” R.C. Sproul http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-gospel/

From John MacArthur: First of all, the first key word in the divine vocabulary of the gospel of Christ is that it is the power of God. The good news about Jesus Christ has power. The word is dunamis, we get our word dynamite from it. And Paul has in mind the fact that the gospel of Christ carries with it the omnipotence of God- The all-powerful God is behind it, operative in regenerating a person.

Now through the years, most commentators have said what this means is that you have a symbolic call to evangelism here. And they borrow it from that idea, from Romans 10:15. “Blessed are the feet of those who preach the good news.” Which is a quote from Isaiah 52:7. But Romans 10:15, “And the feet of those who preach the good news,” is not a verse to explain this. In the first place, that has nothing to do with warfare. That has nothing to do with shoes. That’s just saying to the people who hear the gospel will bless the people who brought it to them. Paul is not talking about going anywhere. He’s not talking about traversing any place. He’s not talking about taking the gospel to anyone. He’s talking about standing, not going. The issue is not evangelism. The issue is taking a firm stand in a battle against the devil as he assaults our lives. It’s like 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Stand fast in the faith.” The idea here is that our feet need to be equipped to stand firmly when the attacking blows come.

What is it that can allow the believer to stand unflinching, take his stand, never slip, never slide, never fall under attack, what is it that gives us a firm footing? It is having your feet prepared with the gospel of peace...The gospel of peace. What does that mean? Well the gospel of peace is the gospel, sometimes called the gospel of Christ, it’s sometimes called the gospel of God like in Romans 1. And here it’s called the gospel of peace.

What is the gospel of peace? It is the good news that you have made peace with God. That’s essentially the theme of the opening verses of Romans 5. Look at this Romans 5 verse 1, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. What does it mean to be at peace with God? Simply it means that God is not our enemy, but God is our strength. And it takes you right back to Ephesians 6:10, “Be ye strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.” It means He’s on our side. We stand firm because we know that we are in reality invincible.

John MacArthur goes on to explain, “He (Paul) refers to the gospel as the gospel of God. He calls it the Gospel of the Blessed God. He calls it the gospel of His Son, the gospel of Christ, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He calls it the gospel of grace. He calls it the gospel of peace. He calls it the gospel of our salvation. But most wonderfully he calls it “My Gospel.” And then he extends that, and calls it “Our Gospel.”

What was his gospel? What is our gospel? What is the gospel of grace? The gospel of peace? The gospel of salvation? The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? The Gospel of the blessed God? What is it? We need to know what it is because it is that gospel which we proclaim. In familiar words to all of us, Romans chapter 1, Paul says, “I am eager to preach the gospel. I’m not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes, the Jew first, and then the Greek,” that’s chronological.

So what is it that he preached? What is it that he was eager to preach? What is it that he was obligated to preach? What is this gospel?

Looking at it negatively for a moment, you might open your Bible to Galatians chapter 1, and this is just by way of a brief introduction here. Galatians chapter 1 and verse 6 gives us a warning of the deadly danger of distorting the gospel. Galatians 1 verse 6, “I’m amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel… a different gospel.”

He says, “I am amazed.” The Greek verb there is thaumazo, it is used very often in the gospels of people marveling over the inexplicable miracles of Jesus. Paul literally finds it incredible that someone would abandon the gospel, or be drawn to a different gospel. Paul uses that word thaumazo for two realities. One of them is here, and the other one is in 2 Thessalonians 1:7 to 10, where he describes the return of Jesus Christ and what a marvel and a wonder that’s going to be when He comes in flaming fire and reeks vengeance on those who obey not the gospel.

So he holds this word pretty close to the vest, just letting it out twice. I’m amazed that you’re so quickly deserting, defecting from Him who called you. Here we’re talking about an effectual call, an internal call, a real call, and a call to salvation.

So what we’re talking about here is people who are called effectually, that is converted people who are being pulled away and seduced by another gospel. They’re being enamored. They’re being sort of mentally titillated by another gospel. And then he says in verse 7, which is really not another because there is no other gospel, only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. And then this warning, “Even if we… that plural pronoun that he likes to use when he refers to himself because it’s a more humble way to refer to yourself… we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be anathema.” Damned, devoted to destruction. Used also in 1 Corinthians 16:22, “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be damned.” So the most important truth of all truth and all truth is important, all truth matters, but the most important truth is the gospel… the gospel matters most. So we’re looking at Paul’s gospel, which is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of the blessed God, it is the gospel of peace, it is the gospel of grace, it is the gospel of salvation.

Consider This

“Worship of the living God is serious business. It is not something to be trifled with or taken lightly.” ~ R.C. Sproul

While it’s true the Christian has liberty in Christ, it doesn’t mean the Christian has the liberty to take the Word of God or God’s gospel and abuse it, belittle it, make it relevant, or use it in a play on words. The only God honoring thing a Christian can do with the gospel is share it and look at it for what it is, The Holy Word of the Living God.

When I hear the word gospel, I think of God, His promise, salvation, hope, holiness, and His Son Jesus Christ born in the flesh to bring the only means by which mankind could be saved from their sin and Hell. I hear Heaven and the eternal blessing of worshipping God our Creator in holiness set free from any sin or distractions, to spend eternity in the presence of Jesus Christ.

Christians look around and wonder what is wrong in Christendom, it starts with how we look at the very Word of God. God’s Word has never failed, it is those of us who profess Christ that have failed the very Word we claim to hold dear. We have failed in that we have not given the Word of God and His promises what it truly needs, unwavering devotion and set above anything or anyone else. In short, we have failed to keep his Word reverent instead of relevant. We have failed to keep His Word in Awe and looked upon with the utmost reverence.

There is something a Christian will never be guilty of, holding God’s Word in too much awe, reverence or looked upon with too much holiness.  Belittle the Word of God or the gospel in a way that does not honor and uplift His Word, and you have profaned His name, His Word and the Gospel of God Almighty.

What is Apocity?

A new book has been released by George Alvarado titled, “Apocity: The Greatest Omission.” This 170 page paperback released in the fall of 2013, addresses what the author believes to be the greatest pandemic within western Christianity. From the back cover, “In this book, George has not only coined a new word to identify a once nameless sin, but he also examines and boldly exposes the greatest pandemic within western Christianity. Packed with biblical references, lively illustrations, and candid refutations, Apocity: The Greatest Omission is a much needed admonition for the modern church.”

This book is written by a Christian to other Christians and addresses one of the key commands given by Jesus Christ to those that profess salvation, the verses known as “The Great Commission.” While non-Christians will not understand the unique perspective the book takes from an evangelistic view on the referenced scriptures, I think these views through the lens of evangelism will be most edifying to the Saints. The book is not a theological treatise on evangelism but a hard hitting, no nonsense; take no prisoner call to examine yourself in the light of the command of Christ to share your faith.

The book gives concise and detailed definitions of what the author defines as Apocity, The Great Omission, and Deceptive Doctrines of Apocity. Besides the author’s pointed explanation of what he defines as one of the greatest sins for Christians, you also leave the book with a feel for the author’s love of Christ, evangelism and the lost.

One portion of the book seemed to stand out to me. The author stated, “When was the last time you heard someone being hated because they were a Christian, but no one heard them profess their faith in some way? Do people just pick someone and say, “Yea, he looks like a Christian, kill’em!” In this reviewer’s opinion, this should give every Christian a moment to pause and ask themselves, “Would anyone know I’m a Christian?”

If you answer no or I don’t know, then the chapter on excuses and the gift of evangelism should be of interest to you. If you answered yes, then these chapters will better equip you to teach other Christians. This is one aspect of the book “Apocity” I found the most helpful and most encouraging. There are many books written on evangelism, but this one goes to great length to help the reader by providing solutions and suggestions to get those in their church family involved in reaching the lost.

While we can’t earn our way to Heaven or ever be good enough or do enough, the book breaks down the specifics of the Fruits of Salvation and how they apply to evangelism for a Christian. It will make you examine yourself if you’re involved in evangelism and ask some hard pointed questions. If you’re a Christian not sharing your faith it will have the effect of making you ask yourself, “Why am I not?”

So the question remains to which I leave to you the reader, is failure to share the gospel a sin? Based on the evidence presented in this book, I would have to say yes.

Apocity can be purchased at http://www.tractplanet.com/Book--Apocity-The-Greatest-Omission_p_274.html Gospel Tract Planet

A free copy of the book was supplied to write this review.

Tony Miano and Women Open-Air Preaching

Tony Miano and Women Open-Air Preaching

Brethren of the Biblical Evangelism Community, this is written specifically to you. I chose to write this in a blog post as it would be too long for a post on Facebook.

I ask you to consider and deeply think over a few things. Why is Tony’s thought process changing in regards to women involved in various aspects of street ministry? Could there perhaps be some deeper issues going on? I’ve read the postings and not once has Tony said a woman would be sinning if she open-aired preached. Not once has he even hinted he thought any woman was sinning in the way she was evangelizing.

Tony has been a respected, trusted leader, teacher, mentor and friend to most all of you. One thing many of you have loved about him was his frankness and tenacious ways of standing for Truth and defending the Faith. Do you throw all that out the window now? Could it be some feathers are ruffled at the subject hitting a little too close to home? Do you feel like Tony is telling you that for all this time you have been doing evangelism wrong? Well guess what, this is how the other side of Christianity feels when we approach them with Biblical Evangelism. They perceive it as we are attacking the way they are doing evangelism. They see it as someone thinking they know more than they do. They don’t stop and think about the amount of time, study, prayer and reading in the Bible. All they hear and see is someone saying “You’re Wrong in the way you are doing it.” Have you had resistance in getting your church or Christians friends on board in Biblical Evangelism? If so, then perhaps at this moment you know exactly how they feel. Perhaps this should be time to reflect on the perception the BE community is putting across to the Churches. Perhaps you should search yourself and the way you have approached your church and Christian friends in regards to evangelism. How has your tone and demeanor been when approaching them? Has it been an attitude of you’re wrong and I’m right?

Perhaps instead of condemning, you should be searching and asking why. Instead of slamming, accusing and you’re wrong, open up scripture and read and stuffy for yourself. When a person reaches a point where he or she thinks they know everything and are not willing to listen and discuss an issue, they need to step back and spend some time in private prayer with God. If this point arises their pride is clouding the work of the Holy Spirit. 

Do I think a woman should OAP as the term is applied to street ministry, I will tell you now. I don’t know. I’ve read what many have had to say on it from both sides. I’ve been going through scripture, reading and praying for God’s will to be revealed on the subject. The conclusion I have is, I don’t know. There is scriptural basis to support both sides. In the beginning Tony stated this is his “Opinion” to take what he says and open the word and read what God has to say for yourself. He is not throwing something together on the whim of a moment. He is spending some hard dedicated hours into searching out what God has to say on this. He is risking much for his love of not only the word of Christ but for you, his brethren that he loves so very much. Would you rather have a silent Tony on a subject God has been teaching something new to him, or one like you’ve always known, a Tony that will speak the truth on any subject no matter the cost. Do you think for a moment Tony would take such a stand on a whim and without deep consideration and deep prayer?

I will say based on some responses I’ve read, there are men and women who both would do better to remain silent and not step atop a box. The reactions at times have been, spiteful, hateful and worldly. When someone can not have what they want they either pout and complain or erupt and say things they should not. Some even seem to be more concerned with their wallets than what scripture truly has to say on the matter. I think one reason for such an uproar over this even before it is published is simple. People are scared they are wrong, not that Tony is wrong. Don’t let your pride or wallet cloud your discernment.

This was not to be an issue to divide brethren over but to further all our understanding on an issue that has long been ignored. Ignored because no one spent the dedicated time in researching the matter to the fullest and then been willing to stand on what was learned.

Tony is no different than he ever has been, the difference is you just may not like what he is saying this time. I think we all owe it Tony to at least wait and see what he discovers and comes up with.

We are to nourish and train up one another in all love, patience, kindness and understanding. Have you been doing that, well have you?

I know what many may think about me, I’m right in there with Tony and will go along with whatever he says. Nope, you’re wrong. I love Tony enough to tell him when I think he is wrong, but it would and will never be done in an open forum. Then it would be from a Bible point of view, not my own opinion. The Bible tells us to take our disagreements to the one in private. I’ve seen little being done in private in all of this. My allegiance is to God and His word first. If Tony were to ever get into any type of heretical thinking or teaching, I’d be the first to tell him. As far as his book goes, I’ve taken a wait and see approach. One can not comment on something he doesn’t have all the facts on. I guess a person could but then that wouldn’t be very biblical, now would it.

Tony on more than one occasion explained why he posted the content that he did. He was trying to make the information be such that was presented in the most precise way and would cover all the surrounding issues. Did he make a mistake by doing that? Probably, but how many times do you expect him to apologize for it? If you’re not willing to accept his apology then tell him, but in private.

If he gets a little zealous in the truths he is discovering then let it be. Don’t you get excited when the Lord blesses you by opening your eyes and hearts to something new? Don’t be so impatient, the book will come along and we all will be able to read it at some point. He has put together a very learned team to dissect his book, line by line and then a couple of other Very high learned pastors and teachers to scrutinize it. All this will be done before the book is ever available. I have no doubt these trusted men will find and point out anything that does not align with scripture.

Tony is human, Tony is excited about writing this book. Tony loves the Lord and the Bible more than any other man I’ve been around. He has done so much for so many, can’t we extend to him the same grace? Love him and help him and encourage him and most importantly pray for him. Let the book rise or fall on its own merit but don’t jump to conclusions and state he is wrong before you even know what the content is.

Brethren, we don’t have to always agree on everything to serve or Lord but we are to serve our Lord in a way that honors God. Let’s try to remember that and do it from this point forward.

Story on Torrey

"ONLY JESUS"

 

Jesus lifted up is the only atoning Savior in the universe.  He who alone was at the same time God and man, He alone can make atonement for sin; and He has made it, has made a perfect atonement, and God has accepted His atonement and testified to His acceptance of His atonement by raising Him from the dead.  

 

 The Lord Jesus actually meets our need, He actually meets every man's first, greatest, deepest, most fundamental need, and He alone. In all the universe there is no religion but Christianity that even offers an atoning Savior.  

 

Muhammadanism offers Muhammad, "The Prophet," a teacher, but not a Savior; Buddhism offers Buddha, supposedly at least a wonderful teacher, "The Light of Asia," but not an atoning Savior; Confucianism offers Confucius, a marvelous teacher far ahead of his time, but not an atoning Savior. No religion but Christianity offers an atoning Savior, an atonement of any real character.  

 

This is the radical point of difference between Christianity and every other religion in the world, yet some fool preachers are trying to eliminate from Christianity this supreme fact, its very point of radical difference from all other religions. But such an emasculated Christianity will not reach the needs of men and will not draw men. It never has and it never will. 

 

The Bible and history are at one on this. Jesus Christ offers Himself lifted up on the cross to redeem us from the curse of the law by "becoming a curse for us." "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree'" (Galatians 3:13).  Men know their need; they may  try to forget it, they may try to deny it; they may try to drown their sense of it by drink and indulgence or by wild pleasure-seeking or wild money-getting, or by listening to fake preachers in supposedly orthodox pulpits, like one who in this city declared recently that "the old sense of sin is fast disappearing," and added, "The change is for the better, not for the worse." He spoke also of "imaginary and artificial sins like 'the sin of unbelief,'" and then went on to say, "In this we agree with Christ," apparently not knowing enough about the Bible to know that Jesus Himself was the very one who said in John 16:8-9, "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me."  But in spite of all our attempts to drown or stupefy or silence our sense of sin, our consciousness of guilt before a Holy God, we all have it, and, it will not disappear.  Nothing gives the guilty conscience abiding peace but the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.  And so Christ lifted up draws all men to Him, and even wicked ministers of Satan, like the preacher I have just referred to, sometimes come to their senses and flee to the real Christ, Christ crucified, as I hope this one may. 

 

Yes, Jesus, Jesus only, Jesus lifted up on the cross, Jesus crucified for our sins, making full atonement for our sins, He and He alone meets the deepest need of us all, and so His cross draws us all men to Himself.  Happy the man or the woman who yields to that drawing. Woe be to the man or woman who resists that drawing; final gloom, despondency, and despair are their lot. Oh, how many men and women who have gotten their eyes opened to see the facts, to see their awful guilt, and who have been plunged into deepest consequent despair, have come to me, and I have pointed them to Jesus on the cross, and have shown them by God's Word all their sins laid upon Him and thus settled, and they have come to Him, and believed God's testimony about Him, that He had borne all their sins in His own body on the cross, and they have found perfect peace and boundless joy.  And that is the only way to find perfect peace and boundless joy.

 

From The Best of R.A. Torrey 

 

Keep in mind R.A. Torrey wrote this in the early 1900's. Does this not sound like what we see being perpetrated today? Within the walls of buildings that are no more a True Church than a pig stall, are filth and slop being spilled upon the eyes and ears of the deceived.

 

 I encourage you, please open the Bible and read the Word of God for yourself.

Dear Mr. Obama

Dear Mr. Obama,

Our country is facing a multitude of issues in this day both social and economical in nature. Some of these include; guns, abortion, same-sex marriage, economy, loss of jobs, inflation, rising fuel cost, etc. Needless to say our country is facing challenges today that, well is a challenge.

No two people in this country agree on how to fix everything. Each deems what affects them the most as the most important. My answer to all of the problems is simple. Take those pay increases you gave yourself and congress, take all the waste in spending, take all the money you are giving to the enemies of this country, take all of it and do the following. 
You claim to be a Christian, well I can't see into your heart, so I will take your word on it. 


What is a Christian? What is the duty of a Christian? You either have to admit the following or confess to either not knowing what a True Christian is or admit you are living the life of a Hypocrite.

The two Greatest Commands given to all mankind by the One True God of the Christian Faith are, Love God with all your heart, soul and strength and love your neighbor as yourself. You can't cherry pick what you will and will not obey in the The Word of God.

Have you ever heard of The Great Commission? In case you haven't it is in the book of Matthew. It is known as one of the gospels. It is in the first part of the New Testament. The Great Commission is a Command from Jesus Christ, who was and is the son of God and was God in the flesh. He was both fully God and fully man, He lived a perfect sinless life. He gave the Great Commission as both a blessing and as a command for all Christians to follow. With this in mind and what was stated in the first part of this article, Take all that wasted money, and use it to fund the Biblical Street Preachers throughout this country. The following will help you learn and understand what a Biblical Street Preacher is, and what this preacher would be teaching. What is a Street Preacher

Here is further evidence that Street Preachers are biblical and not only that, they are in the Christian Bible, remember it is your own words that you claim to be a Christian. Biblical Examples of Street Preaching

So to sum up dear sir, You claim to be a Christian, as such you are commanded by a higher Power, known as the One and Only True God and He is the God of the Christian Bible to help ensure the Gospel spreads. You in fact have been allowed to be in office by this same God. So, do what you have been commanded by your God, fulfill the Great Commission. This country has enough problems, so study and make sure your are not helping proliferate the spread of heresy and apostate teaching that is being infused into this land by some of those you call friend. Help fund the Biblical Street Preachers of this  land. You will find it would require far less money than what you are spending on your raises. They want to serve others and get the gospel shared. The True Street Preachers will suffer to ease the suffering of others, the Street Preachers will sacrifice so those in need will have. Mostly they are devoted to the Truth of God's Word and seeing true, hope, and change come about in the hearts, lives, souls and eternity for all.

So please help those who are helping share hope for eternity. You are prayed for Mr. Obama and any Biblical Street Preacher in this land would love a chance to share the Hope of Christ with You. All you would have to do is say yes.

With Prayers of Hope for Your Eternity,

A Handi-Able Street Preacher

P,S. If you need a list of Street Preachers to talk with, I would be happy to provide such list of ones that are sharing the True Word of God.

Gay Bible: Homophobic or Harmful

When it comes to the issue of Homosexuality i.e. Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender are you homophobic or justified in your reasons for denouncing this lifestyle?

First, what is the definition of homophobic? According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary the term homophobia means this: irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals. It is this definition we will draw our analysis from.

This issue, like many issues in our society today, carries many opinions and thoughts from both Christian and Non-Christians alike. The basis for the validity of each person’s stance pulls from a plethora of beliefs. The world pulls from psychology, trends and the fad of the day. The True Christian bases everything on the Word of God known as the Bible.

Now it is evident that even those who embrace living a life of being gay and homosexual know that God does exist. Yet, because of their love of sin and debauchery they have tried to alter the Word of God and twist and pervert it to fit into their own agenda.

From the research at CARM and their article titled Queen James Bible, The Gay Bible will substantiate what I am stating in this post.

The Queen James Bible, also known as the Gay Bible, is a new assault on biblical orthodoxy and sexual purity.  This is to be expected in a world of moral relativism.  In it, the 1769 King James Bible has been reproduced with only a very few select verses altered - the ones that relate to homosexuality.  Those verses are listed below and analyzed.  I hope you will see that the Queen James Bible is a perversion of the original text and is the result of obvious prejudices against the original Hebrew and Greek texts in order to make homosexual practices appear acceptable. 

The editors of the Gay Bible have stated the following:

"Most English Bible translations that actively condemn homosexuality have based themselves on the King James Version and have erroneously adapted its words to support their own agenda. We wanted to return to the clean source and start there."

I'm glad they acknowledge that most translations condemn homosexuality.  But, the anonymous editors of the QJV changed the translations, reinterpreted them, and made them say the opposite of what the original languages state. It says on page one of the QJV:  "The Queen James Bible is based on The King James Bible, edited to prevent homophobic misinterpretation."  Edit they did; translate they did not.

This is a modern day attempt at curing the so called “prejudice” that exisst among any who do not go along with what the world deems as OK. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 16:2 “All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.” (NASB) This also includes the way man tries to justify his or her own wants and lustful desires. In a world that teaches “If it feels good do it.” They not only embrace this ungodly lifestyle but try to get others to as well. This is part of the world’s aversion therapy to the True Word of God. In a world that once denounced the act of gay behavior and looked upon it as it truly is a shameful act that needs to be spoken against. They now teach that it is the Christian who should be disliked, is antisocial and noxious.

You will be seen as homophobic by the world if you are taking a True Biblical stance on the issue of people being gay. However, if you are taking and standing with the Word of God, then yes, you are justified in denouncing this Lifestyle and the abomination The Queen James Bible.
 

I ask you, be tolerant as you claim you are tolerant. Read the following: Jesus Saves and then ask yourself, “If I died 6 minutes from now, would I go to Heaven or Hell?”    

A Bloodless Gospel

A Bloodless Gospel: Part 1

In a recent advertisement of a Sunday evening service in one of our American cities it was stated that there would be three attractions: a newly released film, one of the top singing sensations of our day, and a rendition from the Broadway wonder Cats.  It is somewhat startling when an unusually gifted and popular preacher, or his advertising committee, thinks of the Gospel of the Son of God as having so lost its power to draw that it must be bolstered up by putting on a selection from very questionable entertainment as an additional attraction to help out our once-crucified and now glorified Savior and Lord.

 Do you think this is new? Do you think this is just going on in our time? Think again. Now read this at it appeared originally.

"In a recent advertisement of a Sunday evening service in one of our American cities it was stated that there would be three attractions: a high-class movie show, a popular gospel pianist and his wife, and a melody from the opera, "Madame Butterfly," rendered by a well-known Prima Donna.  It is somewhat startling when an unusually gifted and popular preacher, or his advertising committee, thinks of the Gospel of the Son of God as having so lost its power to draw that it must be bolstered up by putting on a selection from a very questionable opera, rendered by a professional opera singer, as an additional attraction to help out our once-crucified and now glorified Savior and Lord." This was in a sermon preached in 1922 by R.A. Torrey’s.

Torrey went on further to expound; "This advertisement set me to thinking as to what really was the great attraction to men in this day as well as in former days. At once there came to my mind the words of our text containing God's answer to this question: "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." There is nothing else that draws like the uplifted Christ. Movies may get a crowd of empty headed and empty-hearted young men and maidens, and even middle-aged folks without brains or moral earnestness, for a time, but nothing really draws and holds the men and women who are worthwhile like Jesus Christ lifted up. Nineteen centuries of Christian history prove the drawing power of Jesus when He is properly presented to men."

Now, we can add nearly one hundred more years to when this was written. In the next excerpt Torrey was speaking of the Apostates of his day. Reading this, think in terms of the known heretics and false teachers that proliferate in our Post-Modern, Seeker Sensitive, Prosperity, Hell populating, Politically Correct Society today.

"Many of their ministers have been intellectually among the most brilliant our country has ever known, but their churches even under scholarly and brilliant ministers die, die, die!  Why? Because Unitarianism presents a gospel without atoning blood, and Jesus has said and history has proven it true, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."  "Christian Science," strangely so called, for, as has been often truly said, "it is neither Christian nor scientific," draws crowds of men and women of a certain type, men and women who have or imagine that they have physical ailments, and who will follow anything, no matter how absurd, that promises them a little release from their real or imagined pains."

In today’s terms the above would be describing the Health, Wealth and Prosperity Wolves.

"It also draws crowds who wish to fancy that they have some religion without paying the price of true religion, genuine love, real self-sacrifice, and costly sympathy. But Christian Science does not draw all men, that is, all kinds and conditions and ranks of men. In fact, for the most part, it does not draw men at all, but women, and the alleged men it draws are for the most part women in trousers, and men who see an easy way to make a living by preying on the vulnerability of luckless females. No, a bloodless gospel, a gospel with a Christ but not a Christ lifted up on a cross, does not meet the universal needs of men, and so does not draw all men."

This speaks volumes on easy believeism. The false gospel blasphemy by ones such as; The Joel Osteen’s, T.D. Jakes, the Benny Hinn’s Rick Warren’s of this world. Not only them, but a vast number of Protestant preachers of all denominations that have reduced the gospel down to, say this prayer, raise your hand, walk down this aisle. You are now saved. Welcome to the family of God! Lies!!! Nothing but Lies, you hear!!!

They should proclaim, “Welcome to the fast track path to Hell!” but instead they teach “You now have a false sense of security, go live it up, eat drink be merry do unto yourself as you want to do unto yourself!” “The only thing that matters is now, happiness and self fulfillment.”

They spew venom from the pit of Hell, all the while presenting it as the answer to all of mankind’s problems. They give their itchy ear listeners a warm fuzzy feeling that will end in an eternity of wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The world’s gospel, the abomination they spread is not the True gospel of the Bible. It is a Bloodless Gospel that has no power to wash one clean from their sin and crimes against an Infinitely Holy, Righteous, God.   

"Note, the words, "Draw all men." Does "all men" mean all individuals or men of all races?  Did Jesus mean that every man and woman who lived on this earth would be drawn to Him, or did He mean that men of all races would be drawn to Him?  The context answers the question. The Greeks, as we have seen, came to one of the apostles, Philip, and said, "We would like to see Jesus," and Philip had gone and told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip had gone and told Jesus. Our Lord's ministry during His earthly life was to Jews only, and in the coming of these Greeks so soon before His death our Lord saw the sign of the coming days when by His death on the cross the barrier between Jews and Gentiles would be broken down and all nations would have their opportunity equally with the Jews, when by His atoning death on the cross men of all nations would be drawn to Him. He did not say that He would draw every individual, but all races of men, Greeks as well as Jews, Romans, Scythians, French, English, Germans, Japanese, Americans, and men of all nations. He is a universal Savior,"

"He is a universal Savior, and true Christianity is a universal religion. Mohammedanism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and all religions but Christianity, are religions of a restricted application. Christianity, with a crucified Christ as its center, is a universal religion and meets the needs of all mankind and so our Lord said, "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself."  No race has ever been found anywhere on this earth to which the Gospel did not appeal and whose deepest need the crucified Christ did not meet. Many years ago, when Charles Darwin, the eminent English scientist, came in contact with the Terre del Fuegans in their gross degradation, he publicly declared that here was a people to whom it was vain to send missionaries, as the Gospel could not do anything for them. But brave men of God went there and took the Gospel to them in the power of the Holy Spirit and demonstrated that it met the need of the Terre del Fuegans, with such great results that Charles Darwin publicly admitted his mistake and became a regular subscriber to the work."

in John 16:8-9, "When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me." 

"But in spite of all our attempts to drown or stupefy or silence our sense of sin, our consciousness of guilt before a Holy God, we all have it, and, it will not disappear.  Nothing gives the guilty conscience abiding peace but the atoning blood of Jesus Christ.  And so Christ lifted up draws all men to Him, and even wicked ministers of Satan, like the preacher I have just referred to, sometimes come to their senses and flee to the real Christ, Christ crucified, as I hope this one may.  Yes, Jesus, Jesus only, Jesus lifted up on the cross, Jesus crucified for our sins, making full atonement for our sins, He and He alone meets the deepest need of us all, and so His cross draws us all men to Himself.  Happy the man or the woman who yields to that drawing. Woe be to the man or woman who resists that drawing; final gloom, despondency, and despair are their lot."

"God demonstrates his own love for us in this: "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:6;8.  There is nothing that draws men like love. Love draws all men of every region. No love draws like the love of God. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 that verse has broken thousands of hard hearts.

Have you laid down your life for Christ? He gave His so that you may be saved. I ask you even if you "think" you are saved, please visit the following website and read what it has to say.

 Do not ask Jesus in Your Heart