Romance is in the Air! Pope Francis's Visit

BRACING OURSELVES FOR A WAVE OF ROMAN MYSTIQUE! 

Puppy Love

Our new mom took on the task of raising five children after the loss of our birth mother.   Her relatives and friends became ours, including a slightly older little girl with just the right mix of freckles, hair and beautiful eyes to turn any eight year old boy’s head. I do believe I would have married that girl on the spot had it not been for the unwritten law against liking girls that all  card carrying eight year old boys must follow, along with a few other State laws.  Oh yes, and there was one problem even greater.  Our new step mom, who had an unholy fear that one of her charges would marry a Catholic ,was not going to let it happen on her watch.

I have not forgotten the passioned admonitions concerning Catholic beauties which my twin and I endured as we grew up. My mother took no prisoners.  She said we would find that they were the most beautiful, the best of friends and companions, and that they would share many of our family values. They were the good girls and the fun girls.  She also reminded us that, should we cave, we would face the prospect of raising our children as Catholics, a promise all good Catholic girls require from their suitors.  In her perception, good Catholic girls had a mystique,(a mystery or charm that does not correspond to truth) and frankly, from my young perspective, she was right. 

Whether mom was right or wrong, the fact is Rome itself does have a mystique which defies reason.  Americans are about to witness that papal aura first hand.  Millions will usher in an affable leader whose presence will be loved by most and felt by all.  In spite of a church which has been ridden by scandal both moral and fiduciary, a Vatican famous for its intrigue, and a political stance which is clearly pro Muslim and anti Israel, Rome will exude a beckoning persona which will mesmerize millions in the bask in her glow.

New Couple in the Neighborhood

Along with her followers, Rome will gladly parade with an entourage of evangelical leaders who will have a stronger crush on her than any eight year old boy encountering his first beauty.  They will openly confess their love and would, in truth, marry Rome, if their evangelical pacts and laws would allow.

Those walls which once separated Rome and evangelicalism are being systematically dismantled.  The rules are changing at a fundamental level.  This is no mere dalliance.  The scent of matrimony pervades the air. Though this forbidden love is still somewhat secret, like all true loves, it will not be repressed. 

Where They Met

The fundamental change has taken place with respect to the one underlying issue which has keep the Protestant boy and the Catholic girl apart for so long. We refer to the erosion of the doctrine of justification by faith.

No good Catholic will deny the term “justification by faith”, and no good non Catholic believer will deny it either.  The problem is that we use the same term to reflect opposite views. A Bible believing non Catholic believes that we are saved by grace through faith alone in the finished work of Christ. He takes Ephesians 2:8-10 very seriously: 

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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The non Catholic believer knows that he was justified once and for all when he came to Christ.  In fact, he points out that every Bible passage on justification speaks  of it as a one time, once and for all event. Romans 5:1:

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Those words being justified are in the aorist tense. This requires that we read it “Therefore having been justified...”

By definition, justification is the legal (forensic) act of God whereby He declares us to be righteous. Period. End of story.  God reckons righteousness to our account when we appropriate by faith what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.

By definition: Infused (or imparted) righteousness is a non biblical term which suggests that God continues to impart a transient righteousness to us on an ongoing basis, based upon our obedience. Thus, it is works based.

It is important for the Bible believer to understand that there is no such thing as infused or imparted righteousness that flows from this legal imputation of our righteousness into our being. We strive daily to be found in the practical outworking of the righteousness which is in Christ, but this, in no way, relates to our justification before God.  It is the work of the Holy Spirit who molds us in the image of the indwelling Christ. We share the righteousness of Christ practically as a result of our placement in Christ’s body. Again, this practical righteousness does not result directly from imputation. It is the result of the indwelling Christ.

Rome believes that justification began in the past and is ongoing. Justification is past, ongoing, and will consummate in the future. Try to wrap your thinking around this: Rome sees both legal and practical righteousness as being infused on an ongoing basis.  Men must continually avail themselves of the sacrifice of Christ sacramentally in order to perpetuate their ongoing legal and practical states of salvation.  In other words, in Romish math, Salvation = Grace + Works. Biblical non Catholics say Salvation = Grace alone through Faith in Christ alone. In other words, there is no math. The Catholic argues (enigmatically) that meritorious works could not justify us initially, but meritorious, or faith-works, justify us now and perpetuate our salvation.  So says Rome^1..

Meet the Matchmakers

The New Protestant Evangelicals. Evangelicals are now mashing the biblical doctrine of once for all imputation with the Catholic (Augustinian) doctrine of  ongoing  infusion and impartation. Protestant Evangelicals are actually using Rome’s logic and rhetoric! These evangelicals are not denying justification by faith, they are corrupting it through slow re-definition. 

John Piper has argued that we diminish the imputation of Christ’s righteousness when we do not see its practical outworking. In other words, what Bible believers say is forensic only, Piper says, must also be practical. The Bible says that we derive practical righteousness from indwelling Christ through the indwelling Spirit. Piper argues otherwise (as must all who would consistently argue the perseverance of the saints.). Those who do not hold Piper’s view are said to “diminish the doctrine of justification by faith!” 

And, do we really care?  Of course we do, because this plays out in our lives.  For example, this does great damage to the doctrine of assurance. Consider harm this has done to John Piper, a sincere man of God. In the context of this discussion he has stated “...why I sin against my wife the same at age sixty-two that I did at age forty-two causes me to sometimes doubt my salvation.”  Maybe, its vice versa.  Maybe his lack of assurance, brought about by his faulty doctrine of infusion is hindering the work of grace in his heart.  In any case, the idea that imputed righteousness necessitates infused righteousness is what drives the Reformed doctrine of perseverance and robs believers of being absolutely and completely sure of their relationship to Christ. Our security in Christ comes from our imputed righteousness alone, never from our practical experience (thank God!). Our awareness of that security can be clouded, but our security is impregnable.

Piper is not alone. The new theory which seeks to mash forensic and practical justification is emerging in evangelical circles. Philip Congdon (my go to source for the quotes in this article) points out the more current work of Paul Rainbow and Richard Gaffin². These men are teaching that there is an “initial justification” and a “final justification” which depends on “works of grace.”  The only remaining difference between this Reformed view and the Catholic view is the issue over priestly sacraments!  Both views are works based.

Once we mash the concepts of justification and “faith works” we have fallen under the siren song of Rome.  Both the doctrines of Lordship Salvation and Perseverance of the saints confuse legal justification with practical righteousness.

John MacArthur, another Reformed teacher has played right into the hands of Rome in his book Faith Works where he declares “Meritorious works  have nothing to do with faith, but faith works have everything to do with it.”    Works are works. If we are to believe MacArthur there are two kinds of works, meritorious works and faith works.  No serious Catholic theologian would  disagree with him.  This is what Rome has been saying all along. Lest the reader think we are putting words into John MacArthur’s mouth consider this quotation from his book Hard to Believe:

“Salvation isn’t the result of an intellectual exercise. It comes from a life lived in obedience and service to Christ...The life we live...determines our eternal destiny².

Dear reader. Believing God for your salvation is a far higher and nobler event than a mere intellectual exercise. And a life lived in obedience and service to Christ will not move you one inch closer to heaven!

Its OK to Break the Engagement!

May God save us from anyone, inside or outside the ranks of biblical Christianity, friend or foe, who would diminish the glorious doctrine of justification by faith by soiling  our own wedding dress with any kind of works - call them meritorious or faith works.  Dear friend, by definition, a mystique is a fascinating aura of mystery. Do not be lured or deceived by the siren song of Rome.  Rest assured in the finished work of Christ, and rest completely!  

Hebrews 4:10-11:

For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

^1.Other issues arise, after this, of course, as Rome claims to own the priesthood which administers the sacrifice of Christ, but the core issue is that justification is not a once for all event in Catholic thinking.  

^2. The direct quotations in this paper from Piper, Rainbow, and Gaffin and John MacArthur are all sourced and documented from the same paper by Philip F. Conglon from New Braunfels Bible Church, in John Piper’s Diminished Doctrine of Justification and Assurance is published by the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society and is available from numerous sources on the Internet. 

The Thin Yellow Line - Thoughts about how we speak to others about Christ

                        The Thin Yellow Line                 

The thin yellow line... Consider this a rumble strip!

Thoughts about how we speak to others about Christ

In an age when men sense no need of a Savior and find Christ irrelevant it is important, more than ever, that we restore the knowledge of God and His holiness in our preaching. It is both good and appropriate to use the laws of God in our evangelistic effort to show men their need of Christ. Man centered evangelistic witnessing which produces no brokenness over sin inevitably produces stony ground believers who are not truly believers at all. Our self absorbed generation needs to hear of God’s wrath in unmistakable tones (Romans 1:18, John 3:36). It makes no sense to announce that the grace of God has appeared unto all men unless we have already declared that the wrath of God is upon all (Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 3:6).  Nor are we merely speaking of God’s present state of mind.  There is a day coming when His fearful wrath will be felt by all Christ deniers (Read Revelation 15 and 16).  

There is a line however, which, when crossing, places us in more danger than crossing the thin yellow ribbon on a two lane road.  However narrow that line may seem to be, relative to the width of the whole lane, it is a line between life and death. It places a stumbling block ahead of the gospel and in doing so, perverts the pure and simple message of the gospel by obscuring it with requirements the Bible does not teach. 

When we tell men that they must sell all in order to purchase the field of salvation, or that they must deny themselves daily in order to be a believer, or that they must agonize in order to be saved, we have twisted and perverted the scriptures and the teachings of Christ in a most egregious way.  We have gone beyond using the law as a tool to expose our sin and made obedience to the law a means for securing saving grace. (We have sacramentalized the law much in the same way Roman Catholics use the elements of the Lord’s table as means of saving grace.) The doctrine of the grace of God may slay a man before giving him resurrection life, but the pure gospel makes no demands on a man who is dead in his sins other than to recognize his lost and sinful condition. It is ironic that many of the same teachers who would tell us a man who is dead in sin cannot respond to the gospel are the same ones who require that same man to go through great soul exercises before “coming to faith”! Such a soul needs simply to look unto Christ and live (Acts 16:31, Romans 10:9,10)!  The grace which teaches us to fear is the grace which relieves that fear through the finished work of Christ. 

Using the law to convince men of sin is biblical. Mixing elements of the law in a formula for salvation is as sinful and perverse as having men sign on the proverbial dotted line in order to be saved. When repentance requires an unspecified level of soul searching and agony, when accepting Christ as Lord requires some pre-salvation exercise wherein we scrutinize every area of our lives making sure we have left no unsurrendered stone unturned, we have poisoned the fountain of grace and taken upon ourselves the anathema of Galatians 1:3-9.

Our MNCL Ministry is growing!

MY NEW COVENANT LIFE 

HAS EXPANDED!

Thanks to God's goodness and your ongoing encouragement, our MNCL ministry has expanded! MY NEW COVENANT LIFE About this Study Series PHASE I In the 2014 Fall Semester, the first installment of the My New Covenant Life series was introduced.  It consists of a very personal (though challenging) study of the New Covenant.  We received numerous expressions of gratitude as the Lord used this material to help open the eyes of serious Bible lovers to the plan and program of God and the rich biblical dynamics which drive God's program in our time...                                                                       Learn more... MY NEW COVENANT LIFE About the Group Bible Study PHASE II Now ready for the 2015 Fall Semester, the  My New Covenant Life Serieshas expanded into a full blown Bible study, ideally suited for interactive, small group Bible studies.  The MNCL series follows what we call the Breadcrumbs Teaching Format, a dynamic, self teaching, system which leads the Bible student naturally, helping the Bible student discover Bible truths for himself.                                                                     Learn more... MY NEW COVENANT LIFE About the Online Bible Class PHASE III Now scheduling for the 2015 Fall Semester, the  My New Covenant Lifeseries has expanded into an online Bible class as well.  Study with one of the MNCL author/teachers in a live, environment. Enjoy the luxury of interacting with questions, fellowshipping with fellow believers, and even sharing your burdens on occasions when the Lord leads you to do so.  There are no pre-requisites for this study - and NO COSTS!                                                                     Learn more...

5 Things About the Mormon (LDS)

But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. - Gal 1:11,12

See some of the more noticeable traits in this group. See Section II.

The Mormons, known officially as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints represent the largest affiliated grouping of any religion which, while claiming to be Christian, is clearly outside of the mainstream of Christianity. It has officially declared all other Christian expressions to be apostate, and holds firmly to its claim to be the restored Church of Jesus Christ.  LDS (Latter Day Saints) sects, commonly called fundamentalists, exist in a variety of expressions and are known for embracing polygamy, an essential element of early Mormon doctrine1.  

1.) Understand Basic LDS History

Mormonism originated with Joseph Smith during the Second Great Awakening (1790-1840), a period during which America and Britain were particularly fascinated with millennial speculation2.  Joseph Smith’s testified visit of the angel Moroni (in 1820) and the discovery of the golden plates (the Book of Mormon) on the hill Cumorah in New York, set in motion the events which ultimately led the Mormons to the valley of the Great Salt Lake in 1847 under the leadership of Brigham Young3.

2.) Understand the First Principles of Mormons

Mormonism is a hybridization of pagan and Christian thought in a palpable mix.

A. Pagan thought. From the pagan, or creation based perspective, the core of LDS teaching fits the essential pattern of neo gnosticism4, though Joseph’s Smith’s teachings were not strongly associated with gnosticism until recent years5.

In this respect, Mormons are driven by the twin gnostic dynamics of enlightenment and progression. Therefore, to understand our LDS friends, it helps to have a good grip on Satan’s ultimate theology, or creation based worship. (See our article on that subject.)

1. Enlightenment. For a Mormon, enlightenment is a progressive experience which comes not only through cognitive processes, but through his mystical connection with the universe. Unlike Creator based worshipers, Mormons see matter as being eternal (albeit their view is that matter arose ex nihilo. Smith claimed that the Hebrew “barah” meant only that Elohim organized existing matter.) This is a hotly defended first principle of Mormonism. While the Mormon god, called Elohim (an elevated man), is neither omniscient nor omnipresent, he is able to communicate with men mystically. Nowhere is this more evident in LDS thought than in their reliance on the Doctrine and Covenants’ promise of an affirmative “burning in the bosom for truth seekers.”6

Remember, this notion of a universal mystical connection is at the basis of virtually all false thought and can be traced to early Babylonian, Egyptian, and Gnostic claims.

2.  Progression. No one has refined the notion of progression more dynamically than the Mormon and nothing is more important to him. Again, we have already indicated that a first principle of Satanic theology as expressed in all creation based worship is, “I will be like the most high...” Isaiah 14:14. Satan embraces progression. While Mormons use the term salvation, it connotes exaltation through progression in Mormon thought and has little or nothing to do with the biblical concept of being delivered from the penalty and power of sin in order to be glorified. Glorification, something God does for us once and for all as the end result of our election, can be seen in terms of our past, present and ultimate glorification (Romans 8:29-31). It represents our ultimate freedom from sin. Glorification for the non Mormon is in no way akin to LDS exaltation, which is a reference to the Mormon’s state in the next world.

B. Christian Hybridization. Essential to understanding Mormonism is knowing that the Book of Mormon’s cover declares it is “Another Testament of Jesus Christ.” We are told that just as the New Testament replaces the dynamics of the Old Testament, so the Book of Mormon is the fruition of New Testament teachings and effectively supersedes it. Non Mormon Bible believers would quickly point out that the New Testament fulfills and completes the Old Testament and in no way contradicts it, whereas the Book of Mormon clearly contradicts both Old and New Testaments. Non Mormons would also point out that this same book claims to have been written hundreds of years before the King James Version of the Bible but quotes its dialect perfectly.  Equally as significant, the other “authorized” scriptures of Mormonism extend the errors of that book exponentially. The only response provided by Mormons is that modern versions of the Bible were clearly corrupted or “incorrectly translated”, though no evidence has ever been presented to establish the accuracy of these claims. Anyone who has ever had an in depth biblical discussion with a Mormon has heard the words “that must not have been translated correctly.”

The issue of hybridization deepens. Because Mormon teaching begins with gnostic first principles, it must redefine virtually every Christian term in order to accommodate the gnostic first principle of progression. Its god must be progressive, its revelations must be progressive, and its view of salvation or exaltation must be seen as a consummate result of progression toward perfection. The salvation which Christ provided is thus reduced little more than making provision for men to return to the path of upward progression (though Christ serves other LDS purposes).  According to Brigham Young, had Adam not exercised his “free will” and sinned, we never would have been able to progress. The Bible, on the other hand, teaches no such thing.

3.) Understand the Millennial Aspect of Mormonism

Like Roman Catholicism and other sects, Mormonism openly declares that it is Israel and it is the absolute inheritor of her promises.  The future Millennium she prophesies relates to her and not to ethnic Israel (now represented by the Navajo, an assumption now refuted by DNA analysis).  A literal interpreter of the Bible is quick to understand that God has not replaced Israel and His Son will one day rule the world from ethnic Israel’s throne. In the interim, Christ is working through His spiritual body and temple, the church, as He continues as a light to the gentiles.
As with Catholicism, this claim to be Israel includes the right to be called Christ’s church on earth. The moment any group makes this claim to temporal authority it also insists that salvation (however defined) can only be secured through Christ’s church, i.e. their church. This, in turn, requires a priesthood.

Again, like the Roman Catholic Church, Mormon replacement theology has led to the establishment of its own priesthoods, the Aaronic (ages 12-18) and the Melchizedekan priesthoods. The latter imbues its qualified men with all the apostolic gifts and privileges and is the basis for ordering all LDS ministry at every level.

Unlike Catholicism where priests carry out their temple ministries within the confines of their church altars, Mormonism places its emphasis on earthly temples where temple work is initiated and performed exclusively. There can be no Mormonism without temples, no temples without a priesthood, and no priesthood without replacement theology.

4.) Understand the LDS Beliefs which Result from these First Principles

The disparate views between Mormonism and biblical Christianity are stunning and cover virtually every area of Bible doctrine. This will be expanded in our second article 5 Tools for Conversing with Mormons. For the sake of brevity, we confine our discussion to three critical areas.

A. The LDS view of God.  The Mormon Elohim was once a man as we are, and has a material body of flesh and bones. He resides along with his many wives near the planet (or star) Kolob. From there spirit babies are produced in order to populate the planets. The scriptures are clear that there is one God, that He is a Spirit and that He is the creator of mankind. (Is. 43:10-11; 44:6, 8; 45:5, 21-22, John 4:24, Genesis 2 and 3.) For more information, see the article 5 Things About the Trinity.

B. The LDS view of Jesus Christ. Though LDS views vary, essential Mormonism sees Jesus as the result of the physical union of Elohim and Mary. He was not virgin born and attained godhood like any other man. Prior to coming to earth, He was the elder brother of Lucifer or Satan.  The Bible asserts that Christ was in the beginning with God and was God, and that He was born of a virgin. (John 1:1-3, Matthew 1:18-21). As an aside, The LDS Journal of Discourses declares that Jesus was married to Mary and Martha because Mary called Him “lord” a word which Mormons declare can also mean husband.  The JOD also tells us that Jesus was the bridegroom at Cana and was  married there so that He would be able to “see his seed,” before He died7.

C. The LDS view of Salvation. As noted earlier, Mormons see salvation as the achievement of celestial exaltation through good works. While Mormons teach that salvation is a gift, they redefine the word gift to mean something we must earn through strict obedience to the law. The Bible offers salvation as a free gift for anyone who will place his trust in Christ. (Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 4:4-5). See our paper entitled 5 Things our Works Oriented Friends Need to Understand.
Equally important, Mormons deny the substitutionary work of Christ.  His role as Saviour merely provided us with a means to achieve our exaltation.  For a fuller understanding of the doctrine of substitution, see our paper 5 Things About the Substitutionary Work of Christ.

5.) Understand what the LDS Needs to Hear

1. He must not take the witness of men over God’s witness. Our own religious feelings must be second place to what the Bible teaches (2 Peter 1:18-20).  If the LDS scriptures were true revelations from God they would agree with the Bible. The scriptures cannot be broken.

2. He, (along with the whole human race) has enslaved himself to sin and cannot remedy this through works. (Romans 3:10, 23). Our sin separates us from God and no amount of good works can remedy this. Seeking to gain the merits of heaven through our good works only adds to our debt (Rom 4:4-9).

3. A Mormon can know he has eternal life by believing on the Son (John 3:16-18,35).  To have the Son is to have life. To deny this truth is to make God a liar (1 John 5:10-12).

4. A Mormon can become a new creation in Christ, with new life (2 Corinthians 5:17).


=====================


1.The Community of Christ, (formerly called The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), lays claim to the prophesied lineal succession of Joseph Smith, while the Salt Lake City LDS trace their history and doctrines through Brigham Young.  This brief study is devoted to the Salt Lake City Mormons only, and we will refer to them simply as LDS or Mormons.

2. Ironically, these millennial speculations were all varied expressions of replacement theology, handed down by the “church fathers.” See The History of Religion in America, by Hudson, a Scribner publication. Other American sects such as Christian Science, Seventh Day Adventism, and Watchtower, all emerged from this same era of millennial preoccupation.

3. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Latter_Day_Saint_movement

4. Seehttp://www.waltermartin.com/forums/showthread.php?2496-Are-Mormons-Gnostics

5. See also, http://gnosis.org/ahp.htm and http://usminc.org/mormonism.html for typical discussions on the subject.

6. See https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/sections-1-9/section-9-your-bosom-shall-burn-within-you?lang=eng

7. For a full discussion of this see: http://www.mrm.org/jesus-married

Additional Study Resources (Not carte blanc recommendations):
Martin, Walter. The Kingdom of the Cults. Minneapolis, Minnesota: Bethany House Publishers, 1997.

The Dangers of the Cults (DVD) by David Reagan and Ron Carlson. www.lamblion.com

5 Things About Multiple (False) Authorities

 ... And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  ...And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:   Genesis 3:3,4

Regardless of their human origins, all non biblical religious systems come about as the result of mixing authorities.  Some deny the Bible totally while others prefer to mix the truths of God’s Word with the Bible.  All share the same root problem; they embrace multiple authorities. We have already provided a basic study on the Bible and its authority (See Sec II 1 Five Things About the Inspiration of the Bible). This study is devoted to understanding the devices of Satan which we encounter when casting down the imaginations of men (2 Corinthians 10:5, 2 Corinthians 2:11).

1.) Understand the Satanic Origin of All False Authority.

We are in a battle for men’s souls against principalities, powers, and the doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1). God alone can open the eyes of men to the truth of His Word. Satan’s goal from the beginning (Genesis 3:1-13) has been to move us away from the first principles of the doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 6:1,2).  His methods have been to question and deny what God has said, to re-define what God has said, and to confuse what God has said by laying his own blend of lie and truth alongside God’s Word. It is important to hold men accountable to God’s authority. Most challenges can found in one of the three following categories.

2.) Understand Ancient, Ancestral, and Ethnic Challenges to God’s Authority .

Tradition, as an integral religious principle, can be found in different expressions at the base of Roman Catholic teaching, most first nations peoples, and other global groups. Of course, Roman Catholic traditions would vary from native Americans, for example, but they also have much in common.  Both traditions are rooted in ancient and pagan (creation based) worship practices. Both tout the values of ancient wisdom and blend it with their cultures. Both venerate the dead and both feel they can pray to the dead based upon the notion of mystical unity.

Speaking of veneration of the dead, Wikipedia notes:

The veneration of the dead, including one’s ancestors, is based on the beliefs that the dead have a continued existence, and may possess the ability to influence the fortune of the living. Some groups venerate their direct, familial ancestors; some faith communities, in particular the Catholic Church, venerate saints as intercessors with God1.

In addition, many non Catholic traditional religions are ethnically based and choose to unfairly stereotype biblical Christianity as being the “White Man’s” religion in spite of the fact that there are more non white believers in the world than white ones. God saves men from all ethnic backgrounds (John 1:12-13, Acts 17:24-31).

The Bible warns and instructs us concerning these things:

1. Oral and eyewitness tradition (even from an apostle) is inferior to the written scriptures which are our sure word of prophecy. See 2 Peter 1:15-21, Mark 7:9,13, Matthew 12:50,  Colossians 2:8.
   
2. Although ethnic groups vary, the ancient wisdom they claim to embrace is all very similar.  The Bible speaks of the wisdom of this world and warns us that the wisdom of man is foolishness with God because the world cannot know God through wisdom. Learn to use 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
   
3. Although we are to love and respect our parents, (Matthew 15:4). The Lord Jesus clearly taught that we must not let our love for father and mother hinder us from obeying Christ (Matthew 10:37). The love of God in our hearts supersedes filial love (Matthew 12:50).
   
4. When conversing with Catholics who claim belief in the Bible, the Bible verses noted above are good starting points for talking. When witnessing to traditional peoples in general, the New Tribes Mission should be one’s first “go to” resource. Given the circumstances, one may not have opportunity to fully engage their Chronological Approach to witnessing, but these teaching principles are excellent2.

In all cases, when witnessing to others caught up in traditional worship we may respect their sincerity and appeal to their openness, but never (for a minute) give credence to their spirituality. All the world is guilty before God and need the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-25).

3.) Understand Institutional and Charismatic Challenges to God’s Authority

a. Charismatic authority. Personality driven groups rise and fall faster than the sun. The tendency in men to follow leaders other than God is as old as Genesis. Most personality driven systems are led by leaders who convince their followers of their great biblical wisdom and that God has visited them in one way or another with a sacred charge or calling. These imposters share the same thing in common, they are robbing Christ of the authority which belongs only to Him. These imposters can be readily seen as they walk after their own lusts. Read and be able to use the following passages: (Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 2:16, 18,  Jude 16, 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 John 3:7).

Followers of such men should not be excused for mere innocents and gullibility. The Bible says we are tempted when we are drawn away by our own lusts (not just sexual) and enticed (James 1:14). Such followers need to be confronted regarding their own tendencies which draw them into their webs (Galatians 1:6-9).

b. Institutional authority. Roman Catholics and many sectarian groups such as LDS and Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that Christ instituted an earthly, temporal organization through which salvation must come. Each group, in turn, must claim extra-biblical proof to substantiate their claims. Again, each must claim to have a divinely inspired system for administering their “church.”  Catholics, for example, have established a non-existent New Testament priesthood, the LDS claim a separate set of visions given to their charismatic leader, Joseph Smith.  In all cases, these extra-biblical sources contradict each other and all contradict the Bible.

The church of which Christ and the apostles spoke was the “church which is His body,” formed on the day of Pentecost and joined by all who come into a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Local churches are made up of those in a given area who have been baptized by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ.  Jesus Christ alone is the Head of the Church and the Holy Spirit is its guide and each believer is a priest. While God has graciously provided overseers who lead us and teach our local churches, He has not established a temporal institution, a successive line of leaders or sacramental priests.  All of these, in one way or another, would supplant the headship of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 27, Ephesians 1:23; 4:12, Colossians 1:18). The fact that Christ would personally administer His church through His indwelling presence in individual believers (His body) was a mystery, kept secret from earlier ages (Colossians 1:24-27).

4.) Understand Rational and Pseudo Rational Challenges to God’s Authority.

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 2 Peter 2:18

Men turn away from the truth for reasons which cunningly appeal to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). This is particularly evident among systems which would confuse the listener by alluding to a large volume of “facts” and Bible quotations, generously mixed with false teaching.  This form of intellectual or rational bullying can be very convincing to the uninitiated. “This group must be right, just listen to all the deep teaching they offer!”  Many are so impressed with the package that they buy the product.

Without exception, groups which rely on great swelling words of vanity and stun us with rapid fire assertions, cannot stand the scrutiny of deliberate and careful comparisons of their message with the Bible:

1. High sounding rhetoric, and,
   
2. their non-connecting cut and paste theology, and,
   
3. their unwillingness to respect and properly define words, are quickly exposed when laid alongside of  the great themes of scripture by Bible students who make the Bible their first, last, and only authority. Do not be intimidated by high sounding words (Jeremiah 23:16, Ephesians 5:6).

5.) Understand How to Respond to False Authorities.

• Turn away from those who turn away (2 Timothy 3:1-9, Acts 18:6)
  
• Humbly approach those who are caught in their webs, considering our own selves, lest we be ensnared (2 Timothy 2:23-26).
  
• Remind your listeners that they are first accountable to the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13, Hebrews 4:12,13).
  
• Rely on the power of the Word, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and prayer (1 John 2:14, Ephesians 6:11-17).

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1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneration_of_the_dead

2. Consider getting the following resource: http://christiananswers.net/catalog/godstory-vs.html.

 

Creator Based Worship.

Helping people understand the starting points of their religion helps them understand what makes biblical Christianity unique.  Biblical Christians begin reasoning from a Creator who is entirely separate from His creation.  Without a single exception, all other worshipers see their deities as part of the creation and ultimately see us all as being connected..

(In contrast to Creation Based Worship)

 5 Things about Creator Based Worship

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. - Exodus 20:3

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. - Luke 4:8

1.) Definition of Creator Based Worship

Creator based worship begins and ends with the knowledge of God who alone is the creator of the universe.  God (as revealed in Christ) is our first principle, our starting point. God demands our worship by right of the fact that He alone is worthy of worship, by right of the fact that He created us, and by right of the redemption from sin which He alone has provided, (Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 12:31, Psalm 95:6, 1 Chronicles 16:29, Revelation 5:9-13). God’s Word (the Bible) is a record of His self revelation. We worship the Creator, not the fallen creation (Romans 8:19-23). Any other form of worship has exchanged the knowledge of God (in whole or in part) for  a brand of worship which originates from within the creation.  Romans one gives us a vivid description of this descent from the knowledge of God into creation based worship where we ultimately become our own gods.  We are to worship God alone.

Because Creator based worship begins with an unchanging God who exists outside of His creation and is separate from it, neither God nor His promises can change, although we may observe God’s program progressing in the course of history (Malachi 3:6).  Creation based worship, on the other hand, is in a state of continual evolution or change because it originates within a changing creation (Hebrews 1:10-12, James 1:17).

2.) Creator Based Worship is Exclusive, not Inclusive.

Our Creator God hates idolatry and is jealous of our worship. In our entry on the Triunity we taught what the Bible defends, God’s unity: The Bible clearly says that there is only one God and not many:  “The LORD our God is one LORD,” Deuteronomy 6:4. “For there is one God…,” I Timothy 2:5. The false gods are contrasted to the one and only true God: “You shall have no other gods before Me.”Exodus 20:3.  “Is there a God beside Me? Indeed, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” Isaiah 44:8.  “Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.”I Corinthians 8:4.

God is jealous in the sense that He expects our full love and wants us to know that all false or demon inspired  gods are unworthy of worship. Creation based worship is a counterfeit worship which robs God of the love and worship which belongs to Him alone.

Idolatry is the act of worshiping any created being or thing in place of God. The word idol means copy. All false gods are the construction of men and demons and all counterfeit God in one aspect or another.  Paul even goes as far as to say that coveting anything is an expression of idolatry (Colossians 3:5). When we place anything ahead of our love for God we are mixing creation based worship with Creator based worship.

3.) Creator Based Worship Must Meet God’s Requirements, Not Men’s Preferences.

Men cannot simply decide to worship God. They must meet God on His terms. God is a Spirit. He is not a part of the physical creation. Those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23, 24 ).Worship is an exercise of the heart, not an external ritual.  Those who worship God must come to Him through God’s prescribed way.  Jesus said “... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.  Men have been seeking to approach God on their own terms from the beginning of history. (Genesis 4:4-5).

We must not be deceived (Ephesians 4:14). Creation based worship often sets a tone of “holiness” and “humility” but it is a false, external worship which God does not recognize.  It is easy to be seduced into false worship (Colossians 2:18,23), especially in artificially created “worship atmospheres.”

4.) Creator Based Worship Fosters True Unity

Those who believe in Christ alone have precious unity and fellowship in the person of Christ.  We enjoy union with Him and one with each other.  We are all a part of the body of Christ.  Christ prayed that we would all know and experience this unity, a unity which Satan hates and continually seeks to corrupt, (John 17:22-23).

Creation based worship, when fully expressed, teaches us that we are all a part of the universe (the creation) and therefore connected. Its advocates would have us all worship the same god, just in different ways.  It further teaches that we can all strive to experience this mystical unity, to converge in harmony with each other and with the universe, and to ultimately achieve world peace and harmony. Seasoned believers know this lie will culminate in Antichrist.  This counterfeit doctrine is one way in which Satan distracts us from finding the true unity which is ours in Christ alone. True world peace will come through Christ alone.

5.) Creator Based Worship Needs No Aids of Any Sort

Throughout time God has allowed and initiated what the Bible calls testimonies (or symbols) to remind us of a spiritual truth or special event. God further designated a place in ancient times where He would meet men, (Exodus 25:16,21-25). He has also made His glory known, for example, in the tabernacle. However, God has never vested mystique or authority in those symbols and they possessed no inherent powers¹. When Israel began worshiping God through those symbols, (using them as worship aids), those artifacts were destroyed (2 Kings 18:4).

God also ordained priests and prophets as a means to speak to Him and for Him.  However, God never made such men mediums.  No man has ever been required to access God by going through another man. In the same manner, spiritually significant locations in the Bible contain no inherent mystique and offer no special access to God.

Statan’s counterfeit, creation based religion relies on both methods and mediums in order to provide a pseudo sense of spirituality.   This is particularly evident in the eastern religions and to a given extent in Rome, where the artifacts of worship abound, and priestly leaders are often required if one would have the proper blessing and access to God through a given ritual.

Men today can worship God as the result of the shed blood of Christ on the cross and His subsequent resurrection.  We can be place into Christ and enjoy the wonderful unity and fellowship which comes from Creator based worship alone (Colossians 1:20, 2 Corinthians 5:17).

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Additional Resources:  Visit: http://www.compellingtruth.org/

¹Take, for example, 2 Samuel 6:1-7.  God smote Uzzah for touching the ark.  The ark itself did not kill him.