End Times, According to Paul

We may think to ourselves that Paul was not into end-times stuff as much as John or Peter or Daniel. By thinking this, we cut ourselves loose from the plain teaching of the New Testament that there is a judgment  after death, and that’s the final wrap. In his usual clever methods of deception, Satan uses the holy scriptures as a smoke screen for his real intents. He just wants our attention off salvation and onto something else. He assures us we are saved no matter what and that it’s time to go onto bigger and better things, like eschatology (end-times stuff). By doing this, he makes our salvation unsteady and we focus on things other than godliness in Christ Jesus. This has been proven over and over again by various sects and cults that pop up whenever a thousand years goes by, or a big meteor shower or comet shows up unexpectedly, or somebody gets a message from God.

Paul says to the Thessalonians, "Let no one deceive you in any way, for the Day of the Lord will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of sin is revealed, the son of destruction." He does not go on to speak of Hal Lindsey-type prophesies or other pop theology, but he explains very carefully that God will send upon them (those who are perishing) a deluding influence in order that they might believe what is false. We may think to ourselves that we know what 2 Thess. 2:7 means where it says "until he is taken out of the way." Pop theology says that this is the secret rapture of the church. The holy scriptures in no wise say this. This is a fabrication using wishful thinking and several scriptures relating to the visible, only, coming of Christ. That’s why the Greek text calls the second coming the "appearance" and not the "disappearance."

But let’s say you just don’t believe any of this and want to hope that you will be raptured out of here before anything bad starts to happen. On what are you placing your hope? Are you ready? Are you of those who think they are saved and yet they are so locked into this world that even if there were a rapture, the Lord himself couldn’t drag you up into the sky because you got your arms locked around the things of this world? And why do you find yourself in this fashion? Isn’t it precisely because of the doctrines you hold about the end times?

You probably find yourself absorbed in things that are totally unrelated to salvation in Jesus Christ, and yet you feel that God has called you to do them anyway. Let’s say you go around trying to sell your fellow Christians life insurance, or annuities, or legal advice, or real estate, or automobiles, or automobile insurance, or...you get the drift. You are a modern-day American Christian whose hope lies in the things of the earth and you focus others’ attention on you and your false hopes. You run the youth groups and are active in organizing all the church’s activities. You are a Sunday school teacher and the pastor lets you preach whenever he is on his vacations to Tahiti and Barbados. You can really shine.

But you hate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Oh sure, you believe in the four spiritual laws. You know that Jesus came into the world to save sinners and that God loves you. You even believe that Jesus died on the cross and that he rose again on the third day. You know all of this, but you still hate the gospel. If you really thought that you were saved by the gospel, then why are you so angry when someone presents it to you in a Biblical form that shows you that you must repent in order to be saved? That’s the gospel that Jesus Christ himself preached. No, you want to give intellectual assent to a few things that Christ did for you because he thinks so highly of you. Or, if you like the gospel so much, why do you spend a fortune making yourself comfortable here and pleasing your flesh, and then giving a pittance to the Lord’s work? You base your entire life on this misunderstanding. And in order to remove the true gospel of repentance from your mind, you think a lot about the rapture and everything that happens after you are out of here. You can be a distant observer and judge of events then, even as you are now, engrossed with holy entertainment.

Now you may say to yourself, this man is brutal and crude. He should be tender and gentle with my conscience, like Robert Schuller or Pope what’s-his-name. Let me speedily add that I trust you are not a follower of either of these men, but if you are, please reconsider your salvation. Tenderness and gentleness await those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. But, as Paul says, "If any man does not love the Lord Jesus, let him be accursed." Not all men have faith, even though they take great pains to assure themselves they do. They spend their days on theological issues that they cannot prove and that lead to doubtful disputations. They are ever anxious to tell you about some new accomplishment their church has accomplished (like winning the inner-city basketball championship). They will tell you that 500 people were saved during that conference (they have signed cards to prove it). And, they are very nice.

The end times are upon us, brethren. Of course, this has been said since the inception of the church, but it is the way it is. One or two thousand years to the Lord is like a couple of days to us. But the end could come suddenly, once the apostasy has reached its fullness. One after another of the big-name churches have fallen away. The best indicator is their acceptance of homosexuals. It starts with ordaining women, then goes to lesbians. By default, male homosexuals are also included. Mark those churches who love wickedness and have nothing to do with them. If they ask you, tell them to repent. Don’t even attend their end-times conferences or their plays or their spin-the-bottle fellowships. That’s why the end-times scriptures were given to us. So we could know when things are happening and what to do. If we can’t repent, then we are of the class: "in order that they may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness."

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. Finally, brethren, pray for us that we may spread the word of the Lord rapidly, and that it be glorified, just as it was with you. (2 Thess. 2)

Chris Simonson  4/28/2006

Are You Saved?

The question, “Are you saved,” is unlearned. If you ask a person who considers himself or herself saved no matter what, they will tell you that that are indeed saved. So, what was the point of asking them? They remain ignorant of any danger and so do you.

“Are you saved?” is a rude question because by answering it, only disputes come. It assumes that the person you are asking can give you a meaningful answer.

Let’s say the person doesn’t buy into the concept of being saved. The person whom you ask, “Are you saved", will be offended, but for the wrong reasons. They are offended not because they have been convicted of sin, but because they have been asked a question about a subject they know nothing about, makes them respond defensively (they judge themselves to be A-OK, which they aren’t) and makes you the judge of their unlearned response.

Go back to the person who thinks they are saved and answers in the affirmative. Easy-does-it Christianity says that a person is saved because they said the sinner’s prayer. This is not found in the scriptures. However, we read that we saved not because of anything we have done, but because of the grace of God. So we can come forward, get baptized, say the sinner’s prayer and the rosary a thousand times, and we will not be saved if we make that the basis of our salvation. Oh, sure, we’ll attach the name Jesus to our works system, but instead of coming to Him, we are satisfied in our works. And more dangerously, we spread the good news of our works system, whatever form it takes.
 
For instance, one of our works systems may be “witnessing” to others. We go around asking them if they are saved. When they respond in the positive, we pretend great joy and pat them on the back, knowing nothing about their belief system. When they respond in the negative, we tell them the three easy steps to heaven, just like we were told to do, and when they respond positively to that, we tell others how that the Lord saved them. Otherwise, we smile and tell them God loves them anyways. Lukewarm Christianity.

Even those who preach the good news of the kingdom correctly are not saved thereby. If they obey not the words of Jesus Christ, even though they preach them, they are worse off than if they had never known the correct path. Our works will be judged on that day when God brings every work into judgment. Our works will judge our belief system. Many will say to the Lord on that day “but didn’t we do many wonderful works in your name?” (They cannot stop patting themselves on the back), and He will say to them, “Depart from me, you workers of iniquity.” Their works systems will be considered as works of the devil himself. He will also tell them, “I never knew you.”

Does Jesus know you? Do you really know Jesus?

“And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."

“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

Chris Simonson  4/27/2006

I dreamed I stood in the court of God at the close of this age. No trial on earth before and, indeed, all the courts combined together since the beginning of the world, were not worthy of the intensity and scrutiny of this high court. There was no jury nor lawyers. Only the Judge sat and regarded every act, every cause, every argument for and against the one on trial. I discovered that it was me who was on trial. And not only me, but the entire human race was simultaneously judged, because the One judging can do such things.

As the evidence mounted, I could see that the Judge was fair in his consideration. He saw only the truth. I was justified only because of things that happened to me, not something I caused. If it had been left up to me, then I clearly saw how condemned I should be. But then I could see that, outside any self-will and apart from my disposition, I had been so influenced and enabled to do good things, that I stood the test of this ultimate trial. I saw it was purely by the mercy of the Same One who was Judge, that I had been prepared for This Day.

The bad things I had done had been paid for by the death of the One who judged. I saw that most of the ones being judged had neglected to take care of their evil lives while they had the chance. Many of those who professed to know the Judge personally were likewise condemned for their deeds of hypocrisy, for their words of judgment against themselves, and for their lack of care for others. I myself was just barely saved, but I was saved, and I was rejoicing along with the others in my Lord and Savior; but those condemned were weeping and wailing even before their punishment began.

Then I woke up.

Then I read:

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory. Before him shall be gathered all nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say to those on his right hand, "Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, and you gave me food; I was thirsty, and you gave me drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me."

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? or thirsty, and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger, and take you in? or naked, and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?"

And the King shall answer and say to them, "Of a truth I say to you, insofar as you have done it to one of the least of these my brothers, you have done it to me."

Then shall he say also to those on the left hand, "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not."

Then shall they also answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see Thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto  Thee?"

Then shall he answer them, saying, "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Matthew 25:31-46.

Chris Simonson  4/26/2006

Hell's Sloppy Gospel

This one was found in "Church Bulletin Bloopers"

"Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone
who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you."

We can easily point out the errors in this announcement. For instance, what does the phrase "Remember in prayer" mean? It has that nice touchy-feely ambiguity about it. If prayer means to ask God for something, then what in the world does "remember" have to do with anything? It is God who remembers our prayers, not us. God remembers the sick and the poor. Are we helping God remember them when we pray for them? Or what? Does this phrase mean that when our conscience stings our memory that this is the same as prayer? Anyway, that is not the major problem with this announcement.

I think the writer of the announcement meant to say, "Remember in prayer the
sick who are in our community", instead of the way it came out. But maybe I'm wrong; maybe she is correct by addressing those who are sick of their church community and want out, or don't want in. Because in the next sentence she says, "Smile at someone who is hard to love." Sure, that's what she means. Smile at someone who is sick of our community. That makes sense. Because it is real hard to love someone who doesn't care much about you, isn't it?

This is the major problem with this blooper. The writer is coming from her own
hurt and wants people to love her. So she is recommending that in order to get
people to love us we should smile at them and say some silly nothing like,
"Good Morning". I doubt seriously whether this really works, because I have been observing people in church communities for over 30 years now and see the superficial "Hellos" coming to nought. So the real blooper here isn't that someone missed a letter in the word "Hello", but that the word could have and should have been used to warn the sinner and admonish the believer.

Chris Simonson  4/25/2006

It was God's Will

Interview of the late Leavander Johnson in a boxing magazine:

BW: Did it make it sweeter having been there before and not coming home with the belt?
Leavander: You could say that, but my main concern was thanking God. Staying in the gym and staying focused is what got me there.
BW: Next up for you is Jesus Chavez. Do you have different mindset going in there now because you are the champion instead of the challenger?
Leavander: Oh yeah, I don't have to go looking for no title now and coming to take it to him. If he wants my title he is going to have to come to me. That way I can drown him and take him out in the deep water rounds and punish him.
BW: What do you think of Chavez as a fighter?
Leavander: He is a good fighter. I don't put anything past him because I know he is probably hungry, but I am the best out there right now. I just won my title and I ain't letting nobody take it!
................................................................................

Leavander Johnson, boxer, was born on December 24, 1969. He died on September 22, 2005, aged 35, after sustaining head injuries during a bout defending his lightweight champion title against Jesus Chavez.

"There'll be a lot of people who'll take pokes at boxing for this. We can be better for protecting our athletes. But this was not a situation where anyone failed Leavander Johnson," said his promoter DiBella, who knew Johnson for more than 10 years. "It was just God's will. It's a sport that's inherently dangerous."

Chris Simonson  4/24/2006

Maintain Your Salvation

It seems like a good thing, to maintain one’s salvation. But, as per popular theology, maintaining one’s salvation is impossible, if not heretical. Pop theology teaches that once a person makes that one-time connection with God, he or she is permanently saved and that is the end of that. Anything else that happens from that day forward is just icing on the cake. One cannot lose one’s salvation, period. As I said, this is popular theology.

But is it Biblical? The most often quoted verses dealing with the subject are deeply embedded in scriptures dealing with predestination, which most of the once-saved-always-saved crowd does not believe anyway. I have already dealt with some of these ideas in an article "To a King James Only Legalist." The Bible is quite clear that Jesus Christ came to save that which was lost, and that these are protected by the Father himself from further loss. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32. The means to achieve this kingdom is not ambiguous. The method by which Jesus saves is the preaching of the message, of which much is devoted against false messages and false preachers.

Those that are bound for hell usually have some sort of justification for their unbelieving hearts. They know all about the gospel or some other method of salvation, and they think they are saved, but they have other interests that interfere with devotion to God, and they make that their excuse for not serving Him. If they are Christians and know the gospel, then they will suffer more severe punishment than those who do not make such claims. So starting right there, on the subject of whether one can be a Christian and still be hell-bound, let us examine some scripture. Peter is clear when he says, "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire." 2 Peter 2:20-22.

To whom is Peter referring? They are professing Christians. They think to themselves, "Because Peter baptized me, I’m saved.." If someone doesn’t like to use the term "Christian" for these who have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then I can’t help him out with a different word. They seem to be Christians up until a certain point. If someone came up to you and asked of them, "Is so-and-so a Christian?" you would answer, absolutely, because they are so loving, or giving, or something. And yet, they return to their wallowing in the mire of the world. Some of them will even turn around and deny the name of Jesus Christ as Lord, and we could say of them, they used to be Christians. But most retain the name "Christian" on their own accord, and I am not going to get in quibbles about words.

But the writer of Hebrews is very stern also: "For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that has said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people." Hebrews 10:26-30.

Jude is not messing around either: "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not." Jude 1:3-5

There are many more such passages throughout the Bible. But let us look at Jude for an answer to our original question, "Is it Biblical to maintain one’s salvation?" Answer: "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Jude 1:20 21. Going back to Hebrews we read: "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him." Hebrews 2:1-3. And, "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." Hebrews 3:12-14.

From Hebrews 4: verse 3, "For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. verse 10, "For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. verse 11, "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. verse 16, " Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Let’s check out what Peter has to say about it. "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-11.

All of these verses are not proof texts. They are passages that can be easily verified by picking up the Bible and reading it. In all of the contexts, the warning was given about losing one’s salvation, but the method for maintaining it is also given. The method is always the same: Faith. One cannot be saved by doing something, even something as small as coming forward at the invitation, or lifting one’s pinkie while every head is bowed and eye is closed. One can only be saved by listening to the message, and responding in faith. If we began in faith, then we must maintain our salvation by faith. Paul puts it this way: "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?...Having begun in the Spirit are you now perfected by the flesh?...For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ." If one turns against Christ and counts as worthless the blood of the covenant, then he is lost. Compare this with Hebrews 6:4-8. But as verse 9 says, "But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though thus we speak in this manner." We need to tell each other these things if we are truly saved. The elect pay attention to such warnings and do not scoff at them. "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." Hebrews 4:1. One complaint against this teaching is that real Christians shouldn’t listen to it because they are eternally saved. The Pharisees who heard this also said, "Are we blind also?" Jesus said, "If you were blind, then you would have no sin, but because you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains."

Many churches preach against legalism and are themselves bound in it. They make sure you go to church and pay your tithe, then play golf or basketball afterwards. You have met your religious obligation: take the rest of the day off. Maintaining one’s faith has to do with fellowship, the kind that happens at the spiritual level. When we make up some system of works to atone for our evil unbelieving heart, the end is death. The evil unbelieving heart does not want to consider these things. It is hell bound. But may these words sink down into our hearts and may repentance be the end result. May the end of all of these things be "love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" as Paul taught.

Chris Simonson  4/21/2006

It's a Joke, Folks

There's this one about two pastors and a Scientologist. It goes like this:  A Presbyterian, a Baptist and a Scientologist faced off one day, two guys against one gal. No, there were two women spokespersons for Scientology against two pastors and the CEO of the National Mental Health Association. Actually, it was more like a phone call, no... Oh, I never tell these things right. Here, just read the joke yourself...

© St. Petersburg Times, published September 8, 2001 (note the date: three days before 9/11) CLEARWATER -- The church marquee faces a busy six-lane highway and announces Sunday's sermon: "Why Scientology Isn't a Church".

It's the title of the Rev. Raymond Guterman's message at Northwood Presbyterian
Church in Countryside. And along with the marquee, the church also promoted the
sermon this week in ads in the St. Petersburg Times. Such a public affront to
Scientology from another church is virtually unheard of in Clearwater, where
Scientology maintains its worldwide spiritual headquarters.

"I don't believe in my memory I've seen any church in Clearwater do that", said the Rev. Bill Anderson, who for 26 years has led Calvary Baptist Church, which is downtown and near Scientology's facilities.

Not surprisingly, the sermon's title caught Scientology's attention.

"What's the deal?" wondered Church of Scientology spokeswoman Pat Harney. "I called (the pastor) to find out what he meant by that statement."

Guterman, 46, Northwood's pastor for the last 12 years, was quick to tell both a
Times reporter and Harney that the sermon title is not meant to criticize Scientology. It's intended, he said, to draw attention to his new sermon series
examining the traits of a healthy church.  "I see sermon titles as a way to pique people's interest in Christianity and the church", Guterman said.

"I'm a little cutting-edge, obviously", he said.

"I'm not anti-Scientology; I'm not pro-Scientology", Guterman said. "I just don't exactly understand individually why it's called the Church of Scientology and why there would be a cross, even if it's a different cross. When I see the cross, I think of Christ. If Christ is not the center of Scientology, then why would an organization use the cross and call itself a church? I'm just wondering, but I don't really plan to say any of that Sunday."

Harney called Guterman Thursday to ask what he meant by the statement, "Why
Scientology isn't a church." She said she understood that Guterman was using the name Scientology to generate interest, adding that the pastor does not know anything about Scientology.  ?He told me it's not about Scientology.", Harney said. "He said he's using our name because we're big. That's an interesting thing."

What's important, she said, is that Guterman assured her his sermon would not be
about Scientology. "It is what it is", Harney said. "It can always be verified by going to the Sunday service."

So, does Scientology plan to send someone to listen?

"Not really", said Harney.
................................................................................

O.K. That's the first part of the joke, there's more:

Nine days later - September 17, 2001:
Copyright © The Sacramento Bee

Scientologists accused of misrepresenting selves during crisis:

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The National Mental Health Association accused the Church of
Scientology of attempting to recruit members under the guise of providing mental
health counseling after last week's terrorist attacks.

"This is a very important and sensitive time," Michael M. Faenza, president and
chief executive of the Alexandria, Va.-based NMHA said Monday. "I urge the Church of Scientology to stay out of mental health. The public needs to understand that the Scientologists are using this tragedy to recruit new members. They are not providing mental health assistance."

Scientology spokeswoman Janet Weiland said church volunteers who offered
assistance to people following last week's attacks at the Pentagon and in New York City were upfront about their affiliation. The church added in a statement issued Monday night that all of its volunteers wore bright yellow t-shirts or jackets with "Scientology Volunteer Minister" printed in 4-inch letters on them.

NMHA spokesman Mark Helmke said at least one television outlet, Fox News,
publicized a toll-free number for the church last week as one to call for people seeking mental health counseling. A Fox official in New York confirmed the number was on the screen for about two hours. A press release sent to Fox identified the number as belonging to the National Mental Health Assistance crisis hot line.

"The National Mental Health Hot Line is open and available to anyone in need of
help -- or anyone who would like to assist the victims," the release said. It made no mention of Scientology.

"Here they create a National Mental Health Assistance organization, with the
same initials as our organization's and convince one major news outlet to post
their mental health number, and what does it go to? It goes to a place where
they are trying to get people to join Scientology," said Helmke.

"It's clear they aren't trying to help people with mental health but to get them
to join their cult," he said.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
O.K., just one more part of the joke....

5 ½  years later.......April 1, 2006

It's funny that the only church in the town of Clearwater that has enough guts
to come against Scientology ended up backing down when confronted. It's funny that Scientology could get away plugging their religion at the Ground Zero crisis. It's funny that although the pastor had nothing bad to say about Scientology, the National Mental Health Association rightly called them a cult. The other churches continue to do their social gospel thing, much the same as the Church of Scientology.

And the only reason people believe in God and Christ was because it was in the
movie their "body thetans" saw 75 million years ago, said L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology (Dianetics). This is the foundational principle behind the church of Scientology. The Christian Clearwater churches remain quite silent about this.

What a joke.

Chris Simonson  4/20/2006

America's Top Psychiatrist

Dr. Steven E. Hyman, former director of The National Institute of Mental Health

The former director thinks that we were traumatized by the September 11 events. Really? In the workplace, he says, we are faced with emotions that can cause depression. And he gained his expertise by going to one of our wonderful universities, then managed one of our wonderful mental health bureaucracies, then after he quit or was fired, tells us we feel our workplaces are unsafe. Restoring people's confidence in the safety of the workplace is an immediate priority for managers.

This is a feminization of culture. Since when was this an immediate priority? During what war or during what famine or earthquake was this an immediate priority? These are the words of an effete representative of an effete organization. No wonder everyone is getting depressed! They look for help from "top psychiatrists" who tell them that they should assure their employees that no danger lurks around the corner. This is how the pastors and priests of today's American church preach to their congregation, so why shouldn't the secular culture follow suit?

In contrast to this fearful state of mind whereby denial becomes commendable, the Bible says "Be on guard. Your enemy, the devil, goes about as a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." Who cares about terrorists when you have a personal devil after your soul?

According to Dr. Hyman, "We have never been this traumatized before, so I can't say how long it will take before people start living and working with full effectiveness again." He proves that his statistics must be right because "air travel is still way down". This couldn't have anything to do with airports making it safer by traumatizing passengers with long waiting lines and threats of strip searches, could it?

See the Harvard Business Review February 2002 pg 55-60 for full article.

Chris Simonson  4/19/2006

Another Man's Servant

As created beings, we owe allegiance and service to our Creator. Because He is our Creator, we will all answer to Jesus Christ some day, not to another man. We must be careful to do good works, but we must be careful not to do them for praise from man. We must also do good even though man thinks evil of us for it. We should be slaves of God, not of man.

In our culture, it is an evil thing to be a servant or a slave. We have become convinced we are free moral agents and have been endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights. Our government is supposedly based upon this principle of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is because all men were created equal, it says somewhere. However, all men are not created equal. The statement, "all men are created equal" cannot be found in the Bible, but in the United States Declaration of Independence. The framers of these words, Jefferson and Locke, were not Christians, either.

Our culture does not follow through on the concept of created equal, anyway. We daily destroy this theory by giving the handsome, the intelligent, the agile, the skilled, the talented, the strong, the wealthy, etc., our admiration and love. To say otherwise is to show ourselves liars. Even when we show the "less fortunate" our love, we make a big show of it, thus gaining the admiration of those whom we wish to impress (including God, we think). In our ability to be self-serving, we are certainly created unequally.

Yes, all men are created by God and for God. Some are vessels unto honor, others are vessels fitted for destruction, according to the Bible. It may be popular theology that in God's eyes we are all equal, but it cannot be shown from the Bible. Most men are going to destruction, for instance. Jesus said so. Instead of getting into vain arguments as to why or how God created some vessels fitted for destruction, we should concentrate on, What is our purpose for God?

But it is easier to decide what is another man's purpose for God, and that he is not fulfilling that purpose, or that he should become our servant. This is what Jesus condemns when he says, "Judge not, lest you be judged" (Matt. 7:1). Paul says, "Therefore you have no excuse, the man who judges; because in judging another, you condemn yourself: for you, the judge, do the same things? (Romans 2:1). Let us not be fooled by those who claim to be non-judgmental, for they are the very ones who decide for us what we should be doing, how we should be doing it, and we should be doing it for them (religious leaders, in case we are a little foggy). They are like the Pharisees who with many words placed burdens upon men that they themselves would not touch with their little finger.

This is how God will judge the world: by using the words of the wicked against themselves. In one parable, servants are given the same amount of money by their Lord. At the end of the parable, one man has done nothing with the money. He says that his Lord is a harsh man and is returning the money untouched. His Lord says to him, "I will condemn you out of your own mouth, you wicked servant!...I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me!" Luke 19:22-27.

We can see that those who made the most with the investment were rewarded according to their unique abilities; we see that the man who had nothing but disdain for his Lord not only received nothing in return, but is to be slain along with those who have this attitude.

Not only this, but in Matthew's parable (Matthew 25:14-30), the amounts given to the servants vary considerably. These amounts are called "talents". If this doesn't show the varying abilities of each servant, then we must conclude that everyone is the same when they come into this world and have no unique purpose, no unique talents, no unique reward. And that's the lie propagated by those who do not want the Lord to reign over them, because they see the outer darkness coming to swallow them up (Matthew 25:30).

Jesus says to those who want to come out of the darkness, "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." Matthew 7:5. A man who judges is a hypocrite, whether or not he practices saying "Judge not!" every time he is challenged with his eternal destiny. The more times he rejects Christ's message of "Repent!" by judging others, he heaps a hotter place in hell for himself.

This is the fairness of God.

We are all servants of God, whether or not we like it. Those servants who rebel against him and join the ranks of the enemy, those who refuse to have him rule over them, will certainly pay the due penalty of sin, which is death. Those servants who came to their senses and decided to serve their Lord will be rewarded with eternal life. Either way, there is no purpose served by judging another man's servant, because we should judge ourselves, especially whether we are hindering others from serving Christ (Romans 14:13).

Chris Simonson  4/18/2006

Have you ever seen all the trash on the sides of the roads? It can be disgusting thinking about the carelessness of all the littering that caused the landscape to be defaced. California would look so clean if people would just have a little respect for where they live or pass through.

But would California be clean? Jesus accused the sanitary clergy of his day that they "filtered out a gnat only to swallow a camel." He also told them, “if you clean the inside of the cup, the outside would be clean also.”

Sure, California and her people can appear to be clean on the outside, but inside they are rotten. They do sins that trash and defile their own bodies, and make up for it with outward cleanliness. And when they rise from their perverted acts, they wipe their mouths and say, “I have done no wrong.” Their ways are the paths of death.

California will never be truly clean when it despises God’s precepts. However, the kingdom of God will be clean from all sexually immoral, idol worshipers, adulterers, male prostitutes, and homosexuals.

Matt Simonson  4/17/2006

Most men hide behind commandments, such as "Love thy neighbor as thyself", pretending to love. Thus, based upon their love quotient, they expect to be saved. Never mind that they are at only 75%, or more humbly, 33 1/3%, they feel that they are superior to others who claim to have faith. They quote James 2:18 but know not that it condemns them. James will show his faith by his works; these will tell me they love without works. They are blinded to the point where they cannot see there is a lie in their right hand.

They will not even question themselves on the point (Isaiah 44:20). This is why God gives them over to a hardened heart. (Isaiah 44:18 et al). At the preaching of the gospel, they do not have faith but immediately want to argue about love. They wish to show what experts they are in the kingdom of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. Are we one of these? Faith is the key issue. Once we have faith, we have works. But if we do not have faith, we do not have works, because as Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

This would explain why the wicked infiltrate the church under the banner of "love" but teach the church to fornicate, become idolaters (greedy), etc. This explains why God is giving them over to homosexuality, so He can perfectly condemn them. These run around howling about love, haven't you noticed, except they hate God and his holiness. These are spots in our love feasts and should be marked for what they are. Instead, the modern church honks its horns with phony sentiment. If we do not want our own faith destroyed, we must come out and be separate. And, that doesn't mean get a visa to leave the county.

It means rebuke, in love, the wickedness of the church. Remind them that faith in God is the key issue. Show them that in order to love one must be willing to have faith. Show them the hate that is easily recognized in those who claim to love, because as Jesus said, "You will know them by their fruit". If we refuse, then we will be swallowed by disbelief and our hypocrisy will eat us up.

Chris Simonson  4/14/2006

Mormons are not Christians and few professing to be Christians ARE truly Christians. A Christian puts their entire trust in Jesus Christ. They do not put their trust in a person, something they have done, nor themselves. When it comes down to it, Jesus Christ is their all in all. They wait for Him, as the virgins waited for the groom. Christians wait to be forever united with Jesus as His bride when he returns. This is why they eagerly await His arrival; planning, not to be glorified independent of Jesus Christ or uplifted beside him as His equal; but to submit to Him in everything for all time -as we now practice, knowing this reality: that Jesus Christ is King of Kings, and though some of us, if not all, are to reign as kings with Him; it is only as governors to the Almighty; whom was not formed, nor was any god formed before Him, nor will there be.

Let us worship Him in spirit therefore, not allowing any other principalities or powers to take His place in our thoughts and beliefs. Do not be fooled when they say "This muslim over here..." or "This buddhist over here believes in the same God we do." We are warned against this in the Bible that there will be many "Jesuses" in the last days. They paint portraits of Him, and wear jewelry shaped as the tree He suffered on, but do not recognize His power: that He will melt the Earth and condemn its population for disbelief. Their "Jesus" says what they want him to, and their preconceived ideals of him take precedence over who He is. He is the Word of God, yet they regard it as common, they do not care what it says, and yet by it they will be judged on that day. Christians are not those who merely align themselves with the name of Jesus. Jesus said that "not all those who call me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom." Christians love the Lord because He came to be a curse for them, and they do what He said (which is recorded in the Bible), and they prepare for His return, to put all under His feet. And all this will a Christian tell His neighbor, because he believes it, because he knows it is the truth. Otherwise it is just religiosity or churchianity and not Christianity.
 

Matt Simonson  4/13/2006

Those who entice with their false gospels preach "Peace, peace!" But there is no peace. The earth is full of violence. Men love to watch violence. But, that's not the real problem. Peace of mind is what everyone is after.

So, they go to clinics that teach them how to obtain inner peace, or if that doesn't work there are plenty of legal drugs that good, Christian doctors can prescribe. It's all the same sham. They teach them how to manipulate reality until it isn't as harsh or cruel or whatever they're trying to escape. Their techniques are largely successful, not because they really work, but because there is a sucker born every minute. Testimonial after testimonial lends credence to their gospel, but the end of those things is death. Many false prophets would arise, said Jesus. They will seem like the genuine article, but they will have no fruit. They will smile and be nice, but dead men's bones are behind them. Beware, we are told, over and over again. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." (Matt. 7:15)

The followers of false gospels not only are deceived, but they practice deceit on one another. In their gatherings, they pretend love but in reality, they are greedy for gain, and they lust after one another's wives, belongings, ministries, etc. Their activities prove them. At the cost of true fellowship, they pursue their comfort and consume their lives in satisfying their appetites. They pursue careers, lifestyles, positions, all in the name of Jesus. They are actually self-ambitious creatures and think that godliness is a means of gain. They use one another and if their friendship or marriage does not culminate in self-gain, then it is time to get a new friend or spouse.

These are not trustworthy people. They are not faithful. They smile and pretend Christian charity (they'll even make sure everyone knows they give), while their hearts seek their own betterment. ""Men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain", those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs." (from 1Timothy 6)

Jesus said, "Not those who say to me "Lord, Lord", will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." (Matthew 7:21). So having a belief system that acknowledges the Lordship of Jesus does not save. Read the rest of the passage if not convinced. Another passage: A father has two sons and asks them to work. The first says he will not work; the other professes he will. The first is remorseful for what his lips said, and he goes to work. The second trusts in his confession but does not go. "Which of the two did the will of his father?" asks Jesus. See Matthew 21:28-32 for the explanation.

Jesus said that when a man is delivered from an evil spirit, this does not mean he is saved indefinitely. It can happen that seven times worse befalls him, "and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation." (Matthew 12:43-45). Some may ask, "Lord, do you speak this only to us, or to all people?" Jesus answers, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes? But if that servant says in his heart, "My master is delaying his coming", and begins to beat the male and female servants and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers, and that servant who knew his master's will and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes." (See Luke 12:41-48). So knowing about the Lord only makes it worse for those who think this is all there is to it.

Peter said, "For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them." (2 Peter 2:20-21). "You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being lead away with the error of the wicked." (2 Peter 3:17).

The true gospel deals with the issues of life, both before and after one is "saved". If we reject the full gospel that promises deliverance until the end, then we must be given over to a false gospel, strong delusions as Jesus put it, and we have nothing but a fearful looking forward to of certain destruction. May we not be deceived and may our gospel be strong with the truth. Blessings to those who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

Chris Simonson  4/12/2006

James said, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." (James 4:17). This was in response to those who felt led to go into a new area and make a new life, but ignoring the fact that tomorrow is promised to no man. We ignore the plain command of God right where we are at and complain that we don't "feel led" to do it. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:8).

The double-minded man will have mixed feelings about the truth that leads to everlasting life. He will excitedly rejoice in parts of the truth, and appear to be orthodox in his beliefs, but eventually he falls off the teeter-totter and returns to the world and its ways. But let's just say that we have not personally seen this. That does not matter. The scripture is full of warnings and examples about this very thing. The history of the world as revealed in the Old Testament is one long unbroken story of the deceitfulness of sin destroying the best intentions of God for man. The Law and the Prophets testify freely of the unfaithfulness of men. And most of it is about the chosen nation of Israel! If the chosen ones could not endure to receive the blessing, how much less possible for the Gentiles?

The false gospels are very enticing and alluring. They can be told apart from the true by their friendship with the world. This amounts to idolatry. It results in the works of the flesh. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16).

The Faithful and True Witness is not the same as the witness who deceives or flatters. He is the One who never lies for any reason. He is not afraid of what man may speak against Him, because He has overcome the world. If we want to know love, maybe we should listen to this Witness. Let's see what He says: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, "I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing" - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." (Rev. 3:14-22). It appears here that the Faithful and True Witness does not care whether His rebuke is unsettling or upsetting. And not only that, but He claims to love when He rebukes and chastens. Maybe His modern-day disciples are more loving than He?

"You can't put them on strong meat!" bellows the false church. This goes for Christians who have been saved 30 years as well as the new believer who desperately needs to hear some truth that deals with the facts around him. How can a Christian be a Christian but have never heard the truth in 30 years? That's not the problem. These types of Christians pick churches that don't preach the entire gospel, or sometimes preach an entirely non-Biblical gospel. They are easily offended because John says they don't want to come to the light, lest their deeds are exposed. How can a true Christian be afraid of the light? "And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God." (John 3:19-21).

Case in point: How many aged Christians who apply John 3:16 to everything even read John 3:19-21?

Chris Simonson  4/11/2006

The False Gospel - Part One

The false gospel teaches us to love the world and even quotes scriptures to justify its evil desires: "Didn't God so love the world that he gave his only begotten Son?" they teach. Then they begin to preach a social gospel, a gospel that embraces the world and hopes to change it. They teach that everyone who loves the world loves God, and more importantly, everyone who hates the world hates God. They teach that every life is precious and that we must, as Christians, love that life just as it is. Doesn't God? They say. Without quoting the Old Testament, which comes solidly against such preaching, we will examine the New Testament teachings on "for God so loved the world."

The best place to start would be right in context with the passage. We are quoting John 3:16, of course. John plainly states that God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Does this mean that God loves the world or evil men just the way they are? The passage goes on to explain, "He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Condemned. Slated for destruction. God's way of dealing with the non-believer is condemnation. Let's continue: "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed?" And continuing farther: "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." (John 3:16-21, 36). That's pretty plain language. Now, why would modern-day preaching ignore these passages?

But let's not stop there. Didn't John also write 1 John 2:15 "This is very plain: 'Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.'" Or, "The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil." (John 7:7).

False preaching will give false assurance to false believers. This has been well-documented throughout history and is present today. It is well documented throughout Biblical history and prophecy. Jesus warned of it. "Believe them not." Paul knew it was coming: "They will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables." (2 Tim. 4:4). Instead of giving false assurance, our apostles give warning: "But you be watchful in all things" (2 Tim 4:5). "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and teaching, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers?" (2 Tim. 4:2-5).

These false teachers have a religious bearing, "a form of godliness", but of this sort are "those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (2 Tim. 3:5-7). They are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, unforgiving, slanderers, brutal, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." We should turn away from such people!

The marks of any false gospel is to get us into idolatry. The nation of Israel was warned against false prophets who, though correctly foretelling the future through spiritual gifts, prophesy lies and tell the people to serve a false god. (See Deuteronomy 13:1-5). The apostle John warns us, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21). Paul calls covetousness (the love of money) idolatry. Wouldn't it be in keeping with the false prophets that they would try to get their followers ensnared with covetousness?

What do these false preachers substitute for the good news of the gospel? They preach, among other things, a social gospel. This has all the form of worldly wisdom. It promises results. It quotes statistics from worldly magazines. It appeals to the hearts of the sincere but simple who want to feel as though they can love and be loved in their own righteousness. A social gospel pretends to be a program that Jesus himself taught, not by plain example or doctrine, but more subtly, in which the pictures of the Old Testament become, instead of clear teachings about faith in Christ, a list of commandments taught by the current worldly philosophy. Instead of the men of the family standing up for what is right, they are now to be more interested in what some women's magazine says about touching babies. Or keeping their wives. Jesus warned against putting worldly love above or as a substitute for the gospel.

Chris Simonson  4/10/2006

How to be Rich

Sadly, most who read this will not understand the purpose of this message. They will miss the reward that is theirs. It is there for the taking, and yet they will trade the reward for something hardly worth a manure pile.

They want to be rich in the things of this earth. They will die, clinging to the last gasp of air, knowing that it is too late to take hold of the true riches. They will learn too late that the riches they sought here were unable to help them in the last few moments of this life, and will never help them in the grave. Sadly, many of them called themselves Christians in this life and they think they did all the right Christian things. They are like the rich man who told Jesus he kept all the commandments. However, like the rich man, they did not sell their riches and give the proceeds to the poor that they might follow Christ. So they compensated for their lack of faith by going through the motions. This is sad. It is also horrifying, because they could have had the true riches available to anyone who calls upon the name of Jesus Christ in sincerity.

In order to be rich, one has to choose between the riches of this world and the riches of Christ. The riches of Christ lead us to repentance. Or do you treat with contempt the riches of his goodness and patience and his suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4). It is almost impossible for a rich man to enter heaven anyway (Matthew 19:23, Mark 10:23, Luke 18:24, three witnesses can't be wrong).

Why do men love the things of this earth instead of the things of God?

Answer: It is pleasurable. No use trying to dodge it. Although they hear the word of God and agree with its message, they go their own way and are choked with cares and pleasures of this life, bringing forth no fruit to completion (Matthew 13:22, Mark 4:19, Luke 8:14, again, three witnesses). No reason to dodge the message that they will be cut down and perish, either (Luke 13:6-9).

Please hear me, my brothers. Hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him? But you have despised the poor. Rich men oppress you, and bring you into court, don't they? Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by the which you are called?
James 2:5-7.

God wants us to be rich and make a profit. That's why he sent his Beloved Son into the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ was rich in the glory of heaven, and yet, he became poor that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). As Mary said, "He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty." Luke 1:53. The Lord is rich to everyone who calls on him (Romans 10:12). God is rich in mercy and grace and wants us to understand his work in Christ, so that our hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, that we might experience all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:2-4).

But they that long to be rich (in the things of this world) fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:9-10.

So if we want to be truly rich, we must forsake the desire to have gain. There are so many scriptures on this subject, it is amazing that the church does not preach on them. Of course, in its weakened condition in the modern, wealthy, age, it has no desire to preach against covetousness. But we are told to flee these things (1 Timothy 6:11) and get away from those who teach that gain is godliness (1 Timothy 6:5).

No, in order to obtain true riches, we must be faithful to use the riches of this world ("mammon") for the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are told by the Lord to serve God and not mammon, so that we may obtain eternal life. He says, "If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" Luke 16:11. And we will surely obtain the true riches when we are glorified with Christ! (Romans 8:17, Ephesians 2:7) But we must be willing to live a life by faith alone, and continue doing good, if we expect anything from the Lord. (Titus 3:8, Hebrews 10:38, Romans 2:7, James 1:7).

Command those that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20.

Chris Simonson  4/07/2006

How Christ should rule
(according to the socio-feminist gospel)

-- He needs to be more tolerant of my sin. Instead of "Go and sin no more", I would be much more responsive if he said to me, "I would really appreciate it if you could maybe just think about how this not only hurts me but it really hurts you too in the long run".

-- He needs to state things in a less passive-aggressive manner. When he says, "Cut off your hand and throw it away", he should say something more like, "Wouldn't you feel more comfortable without that old hand of yours?"

-- He needs to be more refined. Instead of spitting in the dirt and rubbing the resultant mud on my eyes, he should think about my views on personal hygiene.

--He should be less abrupt in his speech. I find it more acceptable when someone says to me, "Could you please let the others know that we should have everyone form little groups and find a place to sit down so we can all enjoy lunch?" instead of, "Make the men sit down".

--He should be more considerate of my personal preferences. Instead of, "We have played the flute and you didn't dance; we played funeral music and you didn't mourn", he should ask: "Maybe you like Contemporary Christian Music?"

Remember, it's not what you say, but how you say it, I heard the chorus sing ...

Chris Simonson  4/06/2006

Jesus for Sale

Lots of people are trying to sell Jesus nowadays.

Some are just trying to unload the Jesus furniture they picked up along life's way, and they want to dump it overboard because they booked passage on a sinking ship somewhere along the line. But, most men sell Jesus because there is always profit in religion. Not many are called to this profession. Instinctively, most know that the things of God are holy and not to be sold on the open market. But many, forsaking the way of righteousness and falling into the error of Balaam (who cursed Israel for profit), have decided to sell the things of God's grace in order to bilk the foolish and unlearned. Both the buyer and the seller are in error. The buyer thinks he has fulfilled an obligation toward God and is thereby acquitted of guilt; the seller thinks he is a priest.

I speak specifically of the Roman Catholic religion, but all of her daughters do the same thing. Martin Luther (the German, not the African-American social religionist whose holiday we must keep) split from the Holy Mother Church for this very reason. As he investigated their religion under his new found faith, he found their abuses all centered around selling the things of Jesus. This in turn corrupted their theology, which in turn corrupted all things to do with the church, its gospel, and its God. The modern churches, taking advantage of the Reformation's weakening Holy Mother Church, have found a lucrative market apart from her authority but under her spiritual influence.

The big problem with selling Jesus is that even though everything sounds similar to the real gospel, the end is destruction from the Lord of Hosts himself, Jesus Christ the Faithful and True Witness. God is jealous. He does not allow his Name to be profaned. Making merchandise out of the true religion, that is, Jesus Christ and him crucified, is worse than murder because it sends men to hell. Oh yes, some are saved even though they hear tainted gospels, but this is because of the election of God and not to be confused with the guilt incurred by those who practice simony. The elect of God realize sooner or later that they have been sold a tainted product and ask God for the real thing, to which request He gladly answers.

Mormons and all cults use the gullibility of men (not to say women) to develop their false gospels. Joseph Smith tells them he sought God through all the churches and found out they were all wrong, then he gets the real message straight from God and now they are the new Holy Mother Church. These are those who have jumped out of the frying pan into the fire and they deserve the hell to come. If they do not repent of their arrogance and humble themselves and quietly search out the things of God, they are the false prophets and deserve the greater damnation due to mass murderers.

There is nothing for sale in the true religion of Jesus. We must expend ourselves, first having obtained unsearchable riches in Christ. We must spend wisely and wonderfully this treasure, having full assurance that as we cast our bread upon the water, it is returning to us a hundredfold. Not having this kind of faith leads us into the love of mammon. We must make a decision: Either Jesus is for sale and can be bought for the thirty pieces; or we proclaim the treasure in Christ and offer it freely to those who cannot buy. We will all stand before this same Jesus and give an account, whether or not we believe it. We, as Christians, will be doubly condemned if we traded Jesus on the open market for whatever we could get for him. As Christians, we should know the priceless treasure and quit trying to sell it for worldly gain. Otherwise, our just reward is that reserved for hypocrites. Praise God for his wisdom and counsel which none of the princes of this world know!

Chris Simonson  4/05/2006

I Love You

We are taught in this shallow culture to say "I love you". Even we Christians have been so conditioned that when someone says to us, "I love you", our heart thrills, even if we don't think they really mean it. But where does it say in Scripture to go around telling people you love them? My Bible tells me that we shouldn't love in word, but in deed and in truth (1 John 3). 

We have songs that say, "I love you", to God. I'm not sure He's buying into it, either. Jesus told the Pharisees that Isaiah prophesied of them correctly saying, "They love to approach me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me" (Mark 7, Matt. 15). 

When one of us says to God, "I love you", but turns around and ignores another brother's need, "how does the love of God dwell in him?" says John (1 John 3. Divorced men and women take pride in saying, "I still love you,",to their ex-spouses, especially in front of the new husband or wife. I guess they think that by divorcing their spouse they fulfilled the commandment to be reconciled to the brother before they come and offer a gift at the altar. (Matt 5:23) 

Hypocrites show a face not true. Hypocrites smile, and say: "I love you."

Chris Simonson  4/04/2006

Let Your Mind Dwell On These Things. Philippians 4:8

Positive thinking
Positive confession
Positive mental attitude
Positive post-hypnotic suggestion

Positive thinkers are rampant in the church today. They are held up as "good
Christian men and women". The Bible calls them "false prophets". Negative-thinking prophets of God condemned these positive-prophets because they imparted a feeling of false peace to Israel. To find out more about this subject, read Isaiah, Jeremiah, Hosea, and all the rest.

When Jesus came to save us from our sins, did he dispense with the Old Testament?  Here's what he said, "The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and each person presses into it. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than one least stroke of the law to fail. Anyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery; and anyone who marries her that is divorced from her husband commits adultery." Luke 16:16. 

And, we know what the Bible has to say about adulterers.

The modern pastor, however, praises men for divorcing their wives. Some of the modern, loving, churches (e.g., Episcopalians) praise the men for giving up on women altogether and committing abominations between themselves (homosexuals, in case we are a little foggy). They speak of how lovely it all is. They dwell upon giving and taking in marriage (marriage counseling), and their gospel of positive mental attitude comes forth at the inevitable