Happy New Year!

Ok... we did the Merry Christmas thing and now it´s time to celebrate the New Year.
Many people make resolutions on New Year´s Eve or Day, because the mind likes to tie significance to starting dates. One thing that cannot be decided upon with any certainty this time of year or any time: We cannot swear an oath to God that we are going to do this or that with any guarantee of our performance.

When we fail, and we will fail, we are under a curse because the Bible says we must keep our vows.  By vowing, we are under obligation to God and His entire system of law for the rest of our lives.  If we don´t, then we are under the penalty of the law that says we must die for our wicked pretenses.

Therefore Jesus said do not vow, but rather listen to God and say "yes" or "no" to what he is telling us. Whatever more is said in the ways of religious vows is evil!  Let us remember this coming year to listen for God and humbly submit ourselves to His commandments as given by Jesus Christ.  Let us not listen to legalists who think the Law of Moses is the last word for those who are made righteous in Christ, but may be absolutely also avoid the wicked who turn the grace of our Lord into an excuse for pursuing sinful desires. 

May we rather receive grace this coming year to heed what the Spirit is telling the churches in these last days, to come out of Babylon and do not partake of her sins.  May we seek holiness with God, without which no one will see God.  May we have the proper fear of God that most modern churches disdain. May we come to our senses and get out of the hog slop and return to our Father, even the God of our Lord Jesus Christ.  If we listen to God´s Spirit via some other mechanism than reading the Bible, we´d better make sure we heard right by comparing it against the Bible. If it contradicts the Bible but we persist in obeying it, or we just think it superior to the Bible, then the coming year and the rest of eternity will be pretty bad for us.

Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. But woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

Chris Simonson - 12/31/2007

Effective Ministry Series: Part Fifteen A - Faith

Faith is believing when your eyes cannot see. Hebrews 11 begins, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

We put our hope and faith in Christ knowing that someday He will return for His Church. By faith we believe that our sins have been forgiven. By faith we walk obediently, knowing that it is possible through Him and His Holy Spirit, which he has given us. By faith we do what is right in the sight of God, knowing that this same God whom we believe in, whom has redeemed us, can also chasten us. By faith we trust God for provisions, even though we may not see them; we know that God will always provide for our needs. By faith we read His word, believing in God's holy Scriptures and by faith such are set afire within our hearts and minds; by faith we take up our cross and follow Christ.

By faith we hold unflinchingly to good doctrine: the Lordship of Christ, the resurrection of our Lord, the virgin birth of the savior, the triune God, the divine and infallible inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, the forgiveness of sins through Christ and my personal favorite (and in my opinion a paramount doctrine): "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8&9

By faith, or belief in Christ, all good works begin, knowing that it is God's power which strengthens us to do things of good report. By inspiration of the Spirit we work in various gifts and ministries to the Church and preach His Gospel to the lost, knowing that all talents, abilities and gifts have been bestowed on us by God, even our sanity, as Nebuchadnezzar demonstrated. By faith our health, our families and every provision we have is given to us by God, that there be no room for high-mindedness or boasting, save to boast in the Lord. And this lest you find yourself like a certain rich man whom prided himself in full storehouses, yet the Lord said to him: "Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?" Luke 12:20

As believers (emphasis on believers, those whom walk by Faith) we have neither room nor cause for boasting, knowing that it is God whom is at work in our hearts. May we be obedient to the calling and to the walk of Faith, remembering that even the measure of faith we now possess is a gift from God.

Steven Styles - 12/27/2007

Candle Advent

This year’s candle advent at our congregation has inspired me to write. In keeping with tradition, there were the lighting of the five candles for the five weeks leading up to Christmas. In the last service of this sort, the fifth candle was forgotten about and remained unlit. There are four things that modern-day ‘Christendom’ finds critical to it’s survival, which the first four candles represent:

The first candle, I think, should be dedicated to Fellowship. Fellowship is a very important part of a successful church: a church that is thriving and moving forth towards a secure and stimulated church-life. The more fellowship gatherings, pot-lucks, camp-outs, concerts, holiday get-togethers, sporting events, tap/t-shirt sales, bake sales, car washes and plays/theatricals, et cetera that you can possibly squeeze in, the more the church will grow towards success. You'll find less complaints and more love; this fellowshipping will connect people more will not only the church body, but it will lead to blossoming relationships. Fellowshipping will increase numbers and also facilitate the coveted attaining of the personal experience with God. 

I think Tithing should be the second candle. For, funds supply the church, allowing it to function as it should; providing a building that is both warm and cozy in the wintertime, and cool and relaxing in the summer. Tithing lets each individual church member feel as if they’ve given something to God that is near and dear to their heart. Ease and stability are the result of this generous giving; it is the people’s love of their church. Without tithing, we would not be able to execute the ministry that God has instructed us to do.

The third candle should represent the staff. This is not the staff that budded in the wilderness, per say, but it is the people who work hard in providing a loving and caring environment to the church; a friendly and comfortable matrix, full of love and cheer. Always giving a warm and timely response, even to the worst members of the church body. Never judging, pointing out sins, or Bible-bashing but loving and loving on each other; caring for the needs, even though the people are unrepentant. The staff should always smile with great joy and love at all socials and holiday occasions, encouraging even the grouchiest and grinchiest of the parish to enjoy and love each other better.

The forth candle should go to the most important and most beloved member of the church, the pastor. A successful pastor is one who loves on all his congregation; one who understands the importance of status. He fairly distributes to the needs of the church. An exceptional pastor is one who has learned to enjoy and exhilarate his flock; even though they are struggling in their flesh, he encourages them to love and love on one another. A loving and caring pastor shows tolerance to the unruly and warns the weak.

The fifth and forgotten candle represents Christ. The best way to describe this candle is to read from the Scriptures, and I just happened to pick three out: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!" (Phil. 2:6-8), "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Not with wisdom of the world, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For this message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But to us, who are being saved, it is the Power of God; for it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." (1 Corinth. 1:16), "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the jew and then the gentile. For, in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written; the just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:16)

All of the other candles are futile, for all good and just gifts, fellowship, blessings and men of Faith come from Christ alone. I observed one thing about the advent service tonight... why was not the fifth candle lit?

Has Christ been forgotten about in your congregation?

Steven Styles - Christmas Day 2007

Are You Dead Yet?

Something in us fights until the very end for its survival, and it is not good for us.  We must bear with it, however, because it isn´t going anywhere soon.  It is called sin.  We do not recognize it easily as sin, because it is so much a part of who we were before the life of Christ came into us.  Many will go to their graves with no life of Christ in them, going to the second death of complete destruction in hell, just because they mistook sin for something good or life-giving. 

The New Testament is full of warnings to those who call themselves believers in Christ, those whom we today call `Christian.´  The warnings center around the knowledge that false doctrine will lead many astray, that is, the false doctrines will lead many who once believed in Jesus Christ away from Jesus, to another Jesus that is not the Jesus Christ of the Bible.   Much of this has to do with the war that is going on between the mind of the flesh, as Paul calls it, and the mind of the Spirit.  The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, says Paul once again.

The believer loses it when he thinks that the struggle can be won by earthly means, for instance, modern psychology.  Psychology does not recognize the need for death to the flesh.  It does not recognize sayings such as "Cut off your hand and toss it away, for it is better to enter into the kingdom maimed than to go to hell whole."  We must learn to subdue the flesh, to mortify it through the Spirit, as Paul reminds us. 

No wonder modern Christianity does its best to belittle Paul.  It takes what it wants from him and throws the rest away.  Better to have not known the way of righteousness than to have known it and turned away from it, Peter says.  Those who do not understand Paul twist what he says, as they do the other scriptures, to their own destruction, Peter also says.

Both Peter and Paul tell us there is a devil that is the spiritual force behind our self-deceptions.  The only way to fight this devil is to die the death of the cross, not seeking our own ambitions, as religious as they may be, but putting to death our self-will even if it costs us careers, family, belongings, or comfort.  These are old words but true, and we will all soon be dead and then stand the judgment of God.  Better to have taken care of that while we were living, so my Bible reads.

Chris Simonson - 12/24/2007

Merry Christmas!

To be merry is to be happy and further suggests gay, cheerful, joyous, uninhibited enjoyment, according to Webster´s Dictionary. Negatively-minded doomsayers try to put a cap on this enjoyment, saying that

they are the "pleasures of sin for a season." These 'killjoys' even speak against Christmas celebrations. Without such festivities, children might grow up plain and dumb, without desire for earthly things. The vast sums of money buyers spend during the holiday season would not go into the pockets of those who sell. 

Negatively-minded naysayer´s put a damper on everything, and many books and sermons must be written against them in order to preserve the merriment.  They are to be called `legalists´ because that´s a curse word.  It doesn´t really matter what the word means, as long as they are cursed with it.  The new definition for the word legalist is more like, `people who don´t smile, hug, laugh, or spread Christmas cheer like they should.´  They don´t even like kissing under the icons. 

These party-**** quote horrible passages in the Bible at inappropriate times.  Instead of speculating about prophecies and chasing down Greek infinitives, they make social blunders by critiquing on things that to them appear to be condemned by the Bible. 

If there appears to be too much uninhibited enjoyment, they will quote some Old Testament thing like, "It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.  Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.  The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth."  Eccl. 7:2-4

The astute Casual Chapelite should riposte with, "He gave us all things richly to enjoy," and prance on in to the house of gay, cheerful, joyous celebration of the seasons and the times, with shouts of, "Merry Christmas!"

Chris Simonson - 12/21/2007

Can the Devil Read My Mind?

There is a spiritual realm and it is full of things that elude the prying minds of men. That bothers us, those of us who are aware of the invisible things that God has created. We seem to have trouble with the fact that God created the Devil, and our doctrines follow our doubts. The Devil was not a "spirit-brother" of Christ.  He was not begotten but created. Someone created him. Jesus Christ was not created, but was begotten by his Father, even God. So, essentially, the Devil was created by the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ. How this was done, I have no idea, but I don´t have to know, I just need to agree that Jesus Christ created everything, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Then I believe in the Biblical Jesus, not some Jehovah´s Witness or Mormon version.

Without getting into miasmic theologies about the origination of evil in the Devil, let it suffice to say that he is evil, but he is also under complete control of God. He thinks he is a "free moral agent," but he doesn´t know everything. Only God does. So, if the Devil is reading my mind, what difference does it make since he can´t do anything about it except as God allows? Why then fear this powerful, evil, destroyer of men when we should really fear God who not only destroys the body, but also the soul in hell?  I wonder what the Devil thinks about that...

Chris Simonson - 12/20/2007

Complexity Theories Cause Spiritual Simpletons

In rejecting the simple notion of a God who is complex beyond understanding and more intelligent than they, men use their God-given brains to remove God from their minds. One such method is to pursue theories about complex adaptive systems that produce complex systems from chaos without the need for a Designer. Many models (computer models of course) show that complexity can arise from simple, repetitive, processes. What they keep forgetting is that intelligence (man´s wisdom) is driving the whole process via very complex systems their intelligence has designed. 

The main goal of their reasoning is to prove that things evolve by themselves. They try to fool themselves that the universe and its astounding complexity evolved from a dot that blew up for no apparent reason.  Physicists continue to reveal complicated energy-matter phenomena that are extremely complicated, as they pursue a Theory of Everything.

In their search for Meaning Without Life, they become burdened by an uncontrolled heap of information that interferes with normal daily life. As they invent more and more information management systems, they also try to invent simple algorithms that make them human friendly. Now there are many attempts to get rid of complexity in our society because it is apparent we are becoming bogged down by information overload.

This is all rabbit trails and red herrings, to lead men away from the simplicity that is in Christ, the simplicity that leads to eternal life. Instead, the wisdom of men is taking them to hell in accordance with the word of the God who made all things.

The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written:

   I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head,
   I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.

So where can you find someone truly wise, truly educated, truly intelligent in this day and age? Hasn't God exposed it all as pretentious nonsense? Since the world in all its fancy wisdom never had a clue when it came to knowing God, God in his wisdom took delight in using what the world considered dumb-preaching, of all things!-to bring those who trust him into the way of salvation. 1 Corinthians 1:18-21, The Message

Chris Simonson - 12/19/2007

Secular Tail Wags Religious Dog

If 85% of Americans believe in a God, that is, a Being who made everything, then why do they allow the school systems to teach a secular (atheist) version of How the World Came to Be?  And why are they not upset that the schools teach against Biblical sexual morals, but rather teach immorality?

The answer lies in the question as posed:  Why do they teach against Biblical morality?

Worldwide, most people who believe in a God do not believe in the God of the Bible.  In America, the most popular God is the one in the Bible, so we can assume that maybe 85% of the 85%, or about 70% of the population, have Biblical themes in mind when they say they believe in God.  In other words, a majority.  But the schools, libraries, etc., insist on presenting a godless view of history and science in a unified effort to remove Christian "fundamentalism" from society. 

And there you have it:  It is "fundamentalist" Christian thought that is in the vast minority today.  The silly belief that the world was made in just a few days, the universe made on one of those days after the world was formed first, that Adam and Eve were the only humans, that Eve was formed from Adam, that the plants and animals came in the order portrayed, that a devil tempted Eve and Adam ate the fruit and condemned us all to die...this is leads to the New Testament in which Jesus reveals there is going to be a judgment and most will be destroyed in hell, that He, Jesus, is the only way to avoid the wrath of God, that He, Jesus, is the only way to God,  that He, Jesus, is the Savior who must die for our sins, that He, Jesus is coming again to judge the world by the words he has left us in the Bible, etc.

Fundamentalist Christians whine that they are not represented anymore by the wicked society around them. They don´t understand they are riding the tail of a time in which God allowed the United States of America to experience the gospel as in no other time in history, but that history must move on. 

The religious dog must persecute the true Christian. The secular authorities and the false church join together as one to do this. This has always been. The true "Christ-ones" are not of this world and deserve nothing but hate from them, so they should consider themselves "lucky" if they have anything at all.  Otherwise, they will be wagged by the whims of this world, and find themselves ashamed before God.

Chris Simonson - 12/18/2007

Biblical Evidence Supporting No Women Preachers - Part Three

About a year ago, I posted two blogs concerning no women preaching, and I stated several interesting facts from the Bible that prohibit such a thing. My goal is to show the evidence that is in the Bible and hopefully reason with some of these women preachers to stop. Here are more Scriptural proofs concernig women preachers and how God does not approve of such a thing. I truely believe America needs a wake up call, that God will not tolerate it:

#1. 2nd Timothy 3:16-17 - only through man the doctine is given, not women.

#2. 1st Corithians 4:1 - let a man not women account us as ministers,

#3. Psalm 65:4 - only men will preach in the chuch, never mentions women.

#4. Matthew 20:25-27 - high lighted in red, meaning Jesus Himself speaks, even says man is to minister, not women.

#5. Ezekeil 13:17-22 - says God sets His face against women preachers.

#6. Zachaiah 5:7-11 - says it is wickedness for a woman to build a church and preach. I get all these from the (kjv).

Samuel Gibson - 12/17/2007

Served Plain, Without Icons

Christians love coffee shops for some reason (7th Day Adventists and Mormons excepted). If Christians stopped going to Starbuck´s, they would probably be out of business tomorrow. Most Christians like to order the fancy, gooey versions of coffee.  Not only is it expensive to do so, thus showing their ability to enjoy things, but it gives them the feeling they are free-will moral agents and can be as fancy as the spirit leads them.

When it comes to the Word of God, they need all sorts of gimmicks to keep them coming back to the express-O Bible bar. They need to read allegories, anecdotes, devotionals, motivationals, etc., so they can understand what´s really going on in the spiritual world. The Bible to them, as one Christian friend put it, is plain bread and water, like prison fare. He was supposedly enjoying a table set for him that was abounding with spiritual delicacies, much like the feasts we see this time of year. I tried to get him to explain what he was talking about, but his superior intelligence or drugs kept the secret with him. I do know he is seriously reading the Gospel According to Judas Iscariot. Correct that, he is reading Gnostic interpretations of that, because it can´t be read by the uninitiated.

All Christendom is infected by such cravings of the fleshly mind. Every new sect or cult that splits off from the rest of the groups is worse than its mother. Even the ones who claim to be returning to the Bible and primitive Christianity have their little rules and rituals you must submit to before you are admitted into their fellowship.

To be free from all this stuff is why Jesus our Lord came into the world. True, we are not to use our freedom as an occasion to the flesh, but I am talking about those who are "free-will moral agents" who are actually under bondage of the weak elements of this world. They find little comfort, little enlightenment and little sustenance from reading the Bible plainly. They must seek out teachers that tickle their ears, falling into condemnation of the devil. 

They do not know the wealth behind the plainness of the Bible. It is hidden from the view of men and their Gnostic minds. It is twisted by them, mocked, and falsely portrayed. However, those who are truly Christ´s will finally submit to the words written by the apostles and prophets long ago... taken plainly, with gratitude.

Chris Simonson - 12/14/2007

Jesus is the Reason For the Season??

If we do a cursory historical research into the reason for the Christmas season, we will find what we always find at the root of all religious festivals: Irreligious cravings of the flesh. That is, if we are researching Gentile festivals; Christmas is definitely a Gentile, or heathen, practice. It is not related to the Jewish customs or God-commanded festivals as outlined in the Law of Moses. Nor is it connected to the festivals like Purim which evolved from Jewish stories. No... Christmas is rooted in winter solstice pagan rituals and festivities and given nurturing by Roman Catholic traditions. 

The modern version of Christmas is only about 150 years old. All the stuff we see about Santa Claus, Christmas trees, gifts, lights, Christmas parades, shopping for presents, Christmas cards, etc., is new and has nothing to do with the Roman Catholic tradition and certainly not any Biblical tradition. 

So why do Christians insist on saying things like, "Jesus is the reason for the season"? 

Answer:  It´s because they are not in a Muslim country, and it´s a tradition for them to say Christian things. Whether or not they know Jesus Christ, or rather are known of Him, is another question.

In the meantime, they throw Christmas parties for the anti-Christ´s who are actively dispelling belief, destroying doctrine, disavowing Jesus and  disrespecting our God and Father through their books, TV shows, magazines, schools, libraries and other communication systems. So, these Christians full of platitudes should ask themselves, "Is Jesus the reason for the season, or is it treason?"

Chris Simonson - 12/13/2007

It's Christmastime... Again

Christmas in modern times has unfortunately morphed into nothing more than an advertisement jingle for religious products and gifts. Most churches and non-profits use this season of holidays as a sort of 'clutch' to gain both members and revenue... but, mostly revenue. Often what is left out of this modern Christmas is the shell of religion, stuffed with a lie.

The World, in it's great wisdom (or lack thereof) insists on Santa Claus as the hero of Christmas; from the moment they are cognizant children of the world are taught to believe that a fat, old stranger in red will squeeze down their chimney and magically give them gifts. The younger ones believe this ardently, as if this Santa is somehow equal with Christ, beginning a lifelong habit of give-to-get thinking. "If you're good, you'll get presents from Santa! He knows when you've been bad or good..."

When these children come of age,they find out it was all a big lie, which sets in motion the penchant for rejecting belief in God, rejecting the message of Salvation, as well as fostering distrust in the parents. It is as if the devil has created the perfect scheme: force your children to believe in something that is not true in order to get what they want. When they find out Santa is not real it is logical to conclude said children will then wonder if God is real.

However, worse than all this is to raise up children in a form of Christ, but then, out of one's own fleshly ignorance of the Gospel leave them with nothing but a religious shell, which is often based upon deceit and hypocrisy. Instead of teaching the children the majesty of God, we focus on 'baby' Jesus in the manger. Through such actions the children are taught that Christmas is merely a time for church attendance, a brief moment of prayer, the lighting of candles and putting forth of tiny figurines of wise men, all in some sort of sentimental, religious roller-coaster, harking back to what we were taught as children.

As the Scripture codify, Christmas is a literal and figurative display of the majesty and mercy of God; this is the beauty of Christmas, that God Himself came into the world to walk among us and save us from all our sins. For the righteous, this time is a joyous time in remembrance of the miracle of the birth of our Lord and of His everlasting sovereignty. This year, if you choose to celebrate Christmas, remember the majesty of God and His atoning work on the Cross, that washed us of our sin.

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14

Steven Styles - 12/12/2007

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.” Read sister article

Chris Simonson - 12/11/2007

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Please bear with me a minute (2 Cor. 11:1). As we celebrate the birthday of Jesus, let us remember our own birthdays. For unless we’re made alive in Christ, we shouldn’t celebrate the day he was born, much less our own. We would be smarter to say along with Job, “Cursed be the day my mother gave me birth.”

Our natural birthdays came the day we breathed our first air. Someone put a candle on our birthday cake a year later. So it has been year after year, birthday after birthday, Christmas after Christmas. Unfortunately, the older we get the more funerals we see in between Christmases. We suspect there is a funeral waiting for us. Suicide rates go up around Christmastime. Most of us don’t want to hear this, but this is merely ignoring the real need of those around us. We want to hear an ear-tickling gospel about the baby Jesus and how we can sing carols. But the gospel of God says this: the real birthday of Christ was when he was raised from the dead (Hebrews 1:5, Romans 1:4). Celebrating Easter won’t help, however. This is yet another tradition by which we ignore obedience to God. Instead of celebrating birthdays and  holidays by lighting candles and whatnot, we should rather seek our own death.

What? According to scripture, those who seek to save their life will lose it, while those who lose their life for Christ will keep it into life eternal. Christ’s birthday came as a result of his death on a cross. Didn’t Christ say “take up your cross and follow me”? Our real birthday will be when we finally say “it is finished” here, and we physically die. In the meantime, we can know that we are being born again by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23), and we can hope in the resurrection right now (1 Peter 1:21). We can celebrate our
birth in Christ as a promise laid up for us in heaven, not an earthly glory but a heavenly (2 Peter 1:4, Colossians 1:5, 1 Corinthians 15:49). Others, who have only outward religious, cannot do this. Why would a real Christian submit himself to the weak and beggarly elements and worship at WalMart?

We affirm the flesh every time we have a birthday for it. This is not evil in itself; it’s handy to know how old we are if we use the information for the kingdom of God. It’s like, how do we celebrate Christmas? Are we repentant? Are we mindful of the poor? Are we careful in our morals? Or do we join in the world in a big celebration of it’s goods and services, putting covetousness ahead of doing good? Do we get into the spirit of things and plaster the name of Jesus onto Santa Claus? Maybe it would be better if we were never born.

But bless God that Jesus was born. It is impossible to figure out when he was born. We would be far more successful in knowing the exact instant when we were spiritually born, but that too is mpossible. We can attribute a day and an hour to our birth in Christ, but this is like trying to figure out the exact second when a tree is born. Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a seed that falls to the ground and dies. Unless it dies, it cannot produce the plant that God is looking for. Paul says we are fools if we try to figure out what the plant will be in eternity, so it seems to be foolish to try to figure out when that plant came into existence.

Our birth into the kingdom of God is a mystery. Many think they can pinpoint the date they were “born again.” Really, they are referring to a momentous, monumental moment. A moment changes eternity, but the moment is not eternity. Our birth into Christ is eternal, and occupies more than a moment. The modern microwave church wants instant eternity, based on one too many acid heads getting into the pulpit. Being born again is a phenomena that no man can pinpoint, but it happens like the wind (John 3:8). However, there is a time when we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, and we sometimes equate this with the new birth, but it is only the beginning. Some weird people and sects celebrate the day when a person “chose Christ” instead of their natural birthdays. O.K., but this is just more of the same ritualism. Regardless of whether a person experienced some spiritual phenomena when he “came to Christ,” he must continue to lay down his life for Christ or his phenomenal, monumental, momentous moment is just one more testimony against him on judgment day.

What we are in Christ is a secret of sorts, but we know that we shall be like him at his appearing. But, many believe that an important date to remember him by is his birth into this world. So, let’s say we choose December 25th. Does it make any difference? Does that help us know who we are in Christ and how to be born again of the Spirit? Does it provide nourishment wherewith we can grow
in the grace and truth of Jesus?  Are we being born of the Word of God, or are we receiving another spirit, another Jesus, another gospel? Although it is no secret that Santa Claus is not Jesus, it seems that most Christians can’t tell the difference. As we put the angel on the top of the Tannenbaum, let us remember that the devil himself comes as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

Let’s celebrate Christmas all year long by celebrating our new birth into Christ. Let us take up our cross and follow Him, our Lord and Savior. As we put another candle on our birthday cake, or another candle on our Christmas tree, or another candle on our menorah, let us remember that the days grow short in which a man can be born again into life eternal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:21-23.

Let us, therefore, celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber - not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 1 Corinthians 5:6-12.

Chris Simonson - 12/07/2007

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Almost every Christian in this country, if you ask them, will profess to be generous to a fault, or if not, they used to be until their money ran out. What they don’t know is that they are breaking this commandment of God every minute and yet remain self-justified. 

They say to themselves, “I pretty much keep the law: I do not commit adultery, I do not steal, I do not murder.” It is agreed that avoiding such things is good, and their neighbors appreciate that they do not do such things. But some sins are hidden or not so obvious. Some sins are downright devious. Greed is one of them. Are you greedy? Hardly anyone will admit to this sin. Or conversely, those that admit to greed even see it as a virtue. They twist greed to mean faith, but that is another sermon and won’t be covered here. 

The horrible thing about greed is that it leads to the other sins just mentioned above. The commandment that forbids coveting your neighbor’s wife must have adultery in view, does it not? The commandment against coveting his goods must have thievery in mind, no?And why do people murder? If you look at the root cause, it will be covetousness. You are envious or jealous and murder your neighbor. Or you murder your neighbor because he coveted your wife and stole her heart. All sorts of malice arise from covetousness.  

Maybe your definition of greed and mine do not agree. Let’s look at the American usage for the word “greedy”:  “Wanting or taking all that one can get, with no thought of others’ needs; desiring more than one needs or deserves, covetous.” When I see the average American Christian at his average pursuits, I see greed. He cares little for those that have need, but is in vain pursuit of a new house, a new car, or a new wife. He makes all the claims of Christianity but fulfills only enough to fool himself and others. He pays a tithe, he goes to church regularly, he controls his speech, he does not fornicate, he does not steal, he does not kill, and he even gives a small amount to the poor. But boy, don’t get between him and his possessions! 

One of his virtuous deeds, tithing, is part of his religious function. He has been taught and believes that by tithing, he has fulfilled his obligation to the law that says you must tithe. To him, giving and tithing are synonymous. This tract is not for those. They are already justified in their own eyes and there is no point teaching them anything. Yes, and all of you who feel confident that you are doing enough to fulfill Christ’s commandment to love, stop reading and ask God for mercy. 

The usual church wholeheartedly teaches tithing of some sort and rewards the parishioner for his actions. The more he gives, the more he is rewarded. He obtains power on the church board. He sways the sermons. He has the best parking space. He is in admiration of all. If you think this does not apply to almost every American church, then you are perhaps self-blinded, my friend. They understand that God can be manipulated by giving according to law, so they expect to profit from their covetous intentions. So by the law they break the law, as usual.  

Their testimonials center around their greed. God made them well off because of their generous tithing. It’s funny that they can’t see themselves as the ones who Christ condemned, who practice their alms so they can be seen. It’s funny that we know so much about their generosity. What’s not so funny is that God seems to be going along with their reasoning, at least far enough to let them be deceived by it. 

The religiously correct of Jesus’ day (we call them Pharisees) Jesus himself spoke against, citing covetousness as a hindrance to their belief, or even a prime motivator for their religious hypocrisy. The scribes and Pharisees, who were covetous, hated him for it. After Jesus in a parable had described our wretched condition before God, the Pharisees, “who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” 

What is it that the Pharisees heard? Jesus told them, and us, to beware of greed. He said that we would either wind up serving and loving money or serving and loving God. The unjust steward in the parable was using not his own money, but his Lord’s.  Jesus says, “Make to yourselves friends of the unrighteous mammon, so that when these fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.”  Those who are greedy hate this verse and claim it has some other interpretation than what it plainly states. 

Let’s say that we give in and admit that the verse plainly states what it states: To buy friends with money. However, these are not fair-weather friends. These are not friends you use to get ahead, or use you. These friends do not dump you when your wealth runs out. Conversely, they receive you into everlasting habitations. How did this unusual thing come about? We lost our covetousness. It was replaced by need. Jesus told us not to do good to those who could repay us, but secretly, as it were, to those in real need. This is something unusual indeed for the average American Christian. 

God praises us when we use the debt owed to Him for His glory. The money was never ours anyway. What? God praises us when we forgive the debt that they owe us, but it is really the debt they owe Him. They owe God for everything; we were merely the stewards of their debt. God does not mind it if we forgive them. “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?”

Those who are covetous do not see it this way. They think that they deserve more and more stuff. They are never satisfied with food and clothing. They must be seen of men to be “successful.” The poor just get in the way of that. Or, if they feed the poor, they make sure everyone sees them doing it, so as to accomplish the same praise of men. That’s why Jesus says, “that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination to God.” 

This is the situation in the United States of America. We have more stuff than the devil himself could carry to hell, but it is not enough. Our culture consists of buying and selling. Christianity has reduced its people to a piece of bread. They even call themselves “consumers,” for indeed, that is what they are. Everyone looks to his own needs. Even when he helps his neighbor, the Christian is hoping to get the favor in return.

These things ought not to be. As real Christians, we should look toward the needs of others and not to our own. We would be a lot happier, that’s for sure. We would have to live by faith, of course. When we come across that debtor who owes us a few bucks, we would have to forgive him the debt. We owe God for our very lives, so it is not a big thing if someone owes us.

This does not mean that church discipline is thrown out. If a brother (not a ‘sinner’) wrongs you by stealing from you or committing adultery with your wife or the list is monstrously long in America then you are supposed to bring the matter to him privately, then with one or two witnesses if he doesn’t repent, then, you know the rest. But this is not done in the church. Why? It is so they can heap up judgment on themselves for being hypocrites and pretending to love. It is driven by covetousness. However, we ourselves, once the brother has been exposed to the church, must forgive him from our heart.

Many would leave the church if they couldn’t keep up the pretense of loving God every Sunday, while they are committing adultery or worse. This explains why “Christian” husbands and wives attend churches like Calvary Chapel separately while one or both of them is in bed with the person sitting next to them. The pastors pat them on the back and assure them that they are saved no matter what, and they’ll get their money when the couple finally divorces and remarries. Of course, the pastors put up a token resistance, but they don’t really mean it, do they? It’s kind of like the real estate business: The broker can resell the same house many times and make his tidy profit. Also, the newlywed adulterous couples tend to tithe well in compensation for their sin.

Chris Simonson - 12/06/2007

Well-Behaved Women

A Book Review: "Well-behaved Women Seldom Make History", by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich, pub. Alfred A Knopf 2007

The title pretty much says what´s in store. We will find a history of women who stirred things up, the controversy surrounding them, and the progress of the women´s rights movement as a direct result.  Guess whose side the author is on? And every new book on the library shelf either supports women´s lib or it isn´t on the new book shelf. As a matter of fact, all histories that come against women´s lib have been removed from the library shelf. See for yourself, if your library receives government funding.

Ms. Ulrich tells us a little of the old history, how men used to dominate the pages of history and made women little more than interferences in their lives. Now, women are being lifted up as long-unheralded equals among men as movers and shakers of world history. Women writers now dominate historical and social comment, at least as far as the library bookshelf goes, and women are getting their fifteen minutes of fame as a result. Laurel hopes to emulate Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Virginia Woolf as a forceful influence in history and has written her own. She takes credit for the slogan "Well-behaved women rarely make history," printed on billions of T-shirts and coffee mugs, so she begins her book. 

Her mangled history follows the mangled history of the books she references. She admits to interweaving myth with fact in a curious statement, which she italicizes: "History isn´t just what happens in the past. It´s what future generations choose to make of it." (Pg. 50). This justifies her in lying about women´s accomplishments in the past. Also, it allows her a place to spring forth into the main reason she wrote the book: To support feminism. This will get her into the history books she hopes.

The best part of her book is the chapter "Slaves in the Attic," where she shows the interrelationship of the anti-slavery issue in this country and women´s liberation. The two happened concurrently, because it was the women who drove the movement, and they wanted their freedom as a reward.  The Christian church was divided over the issues, but they aren´t any more. It was Christian women who demanded suffrage, who marched around during Prohibition, who started prophesying and making themselves pastors. They were in 'slavery', you see. Quoting Ms. Ulrich again: "But like other well-behaved women they chose to obey God rather than man." pg.136. So the good behavior of public-speaking church ladies brought the stigma of bad behavior, so we now know where the author is coming from.. 

She estimates that the first wave women´s liberation movement began in 1830, with a subsequent dampening after WWII. The present second-wave began in the 1960's and gained huge momentum during the 70's. Will it keep growing into a tidal wave? She hopes so. I hope it hits its peak soon and goes back to hell where it came from.

Feminists according to Ms. Laurel should be credited with abortion rights, contraception for teenagers and gay liberation, things she feels are supported by the majority, which is probably true.  She is fond of the "feminist program of equal education, equal pay, child care, freedom from harassment and violence, etc." pg. 221. Straight from the pages of The Feminine Mystique, which see my book review. Behind it all is lesbians retelling history, the credit to whom Ms. Ulrich is not ashamed to scatter throughout the pages.

Chris Simonson - 11/05/2007

Our modern "Christmas" was invented over a short period of time during the 1800's, about 1810 to 1860, a period of fifty years. Before that, it was mostly a pagan/Christian holiday, centered around various nature worship religions. Around A.D. 350, the Catholic Church had taken care of rival religions by absorbing their rites into Catholic tradition. Christmas was a big catchall for almost all winter solstice festivals, including Roman, of course. However, the Protestants in the 1600's through the 1700's rejected the Roman holiday if not in practice, then at least in heartfelt condemnation. But the spirit of Christmas lingered on, and in time, as the Reformation lost its spirit, Christmas snuck back in. When George Washington became president of the United States of America in 1789, Christmas as we know it today did not exist.

First, Santa Claus had to be invented. Santa Claus took his lead from a Catholic bishop named St. Nicholas, who, strangely enough, attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325, not too many years before Christmas became an official Roman Catholic holiday. Santa Claus is a reinterpretation of St. Nicholas, 1800's-style. Santa comes from novels and poems written during the 1800's, namely: from Washington Irvine’s History of New York, and Clement Moore’s poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas," which we know today as "The Night Before Christmas" This was in 1821 and 1822, respectively. Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, written in 1843, sums up the whole thing. How the name "Santa Claus" was invented has been lost to history, but it is no doubt an adaptation from the Dutch name for St. Nicholas, which was Sinter Klaas.

At any rate, St. Nicholas had been venerated and idolized for over 1400 years, so it was no mere accident Santa took his spirit from the good bishop of Rome. He is a saint to the Catholics because of the following: He bailed some girls out of prostitution by paying off their father. He prowled around at night, throwing secret bags of gold, of which we know everything about. He did some outrageous miracles, like reassemble to life some boys who had been carved up, salted down and put in a pickle barrel. These stories, like other stories of saints, appear to be an early response to Mary worship. Madonna holds her diminutive child and keeps him from wandering off, while the real matters of church and state must be wrestled with by popes and bishops. Alternatively, the average Christian forced to be so by the Catholic Church, doesn’t like the stern Son of God who will judge their wild Christmas partying. Good ol’ St. Nick understands this and will even put them back together if they are diced and pickled. Besides, Mary and her child can be easily fit into little Nativity scenes and thus keep the Christian veneer on the festivities.

The Protestants knew all this and tried to get rid of Christmas, figuring if they could get rid of Christmas, they could get rid of the influence of the Catholic Church. When the Puritans took over the government in England during the 1600's, they even made Christmas illegal, but when the monarchy was restored in 1660, the Catholic Church went back to business as usual. Because the Protestant influence continued to dampen the whole spirit of Christmas, it took over 150 years for things to work themselves out. But in order to wipe out Christmas, they would have had to wipe out history and the spirit of man.

So, Christmas sprang back from ill health to new potency in the 1800's, as the Santa Claus spirit began to reshape the holiday into its magnificence we have today. Santa Claus needed some help. His spirit had been resuscitated by the Americans Washington Irving, Clement Moore and Charles Dickens, but more than a children’s story is needed to launch an industry. In the old days, when people celebrated Christmas, it was usually a rowdy affair, and not for children so much as for licentiousness. Now, Santa Claus was for the children and the gifts were for the children. Before Mary got hold of things, the pagans celebrated Christmas by giving gifts, along with their worship of gods and other spirits. Before the Industrial Revolution, Christians and pagans alike exchanged gifts of food and drink, and, seldomly, handmade gifts for useful purposes. Children were tolerated, but not celebrated. With the newfound wealth of technology, and the spirit of the age as told in story and poem, the need for Christmas became all-consuming, and consume they did.

Now, it has become fashionable to go out and buy things for presents, a spirit unheard of in ages past. Commercial Christmas presents were invented, Christmas cards were invented and Christmas trees were invented, all within a period of less than fifty years. So, today’s Christmas is about 150 years old, but going strong. Without Christmas, our whole society would collapse, because almost one-third of our retail sales occur at Christmastime.

So, our celebration of Christmas was always a part of history, given Christian trappings during the Roman Catholic days and given commercialization during the 1800's.

And, what about putting Jesus back into Christmas? Was He ever there to begin with?

Chris Simonson - 12/03/2007

A response to this article from Danny in Idaho:

"I liked your last sentence on your article about Christ mass.  It said, "And, what about putting Jesus back into Christmas? Was He ever there to begin with?"  It is sad what has happened to the body of Christ, his people.  Spurgeon put it this way, "We have no superstitious regard for times and seasons. Certainly, we do not believe in the present ecclesiastical arrangement called Christmas: first, because we do not believe in the mass at all, but abhor it, whether it be said or sung in Latin or in English; and, secondly, because we find no Scriptural warrant whatever for observing any day as the birthday of the Saviour; and, consequently, its observance is a superstition, because not of divine authority. Superstition has fixed most positively the day of our Saviour's birth, although there is no possibility of discovering when it occured. Fabricius gives a catalogue of 136 different learned opinions upon the matter; and various divines invent weighty arguments for advocating a date in every month of the year."