I have watched with a lot of wonder and amazement as the hit count on this blog have increased. I do take advantage of a free counter that shows referring websites to this blog. What is disturbing is the number of hits for people searching google for “Where’s Todd Bentley” Where’s Bentley” etc. and my blog has found a place for those searchers because of a post I did back when Todd Bentley was at the pinnacle of his popularity and had gone missing for a few days. This was written a few weeks before anything was released about his affair with his staff person.
I assume that Todd is still hiding out somewhere waiting for the right opportunity to make his comeback as other false prophets have done historically: by name Peter Popov, William Branham, and recently Ted Haggard (who is now blaming everyone in his past for his homosexual tryst that landed him on the curb). Some do not ever go away like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Rodney Howard-Browne. Some have been accepted as true followers of Christ and are deceiving millions of people every day with their self help, prosperity preaching that caters to the egos and worldly lusts of the general public. Those being deceived have itching ears and are following a message that is as man centered as have ever been. Even the newest “prophet” on the scene that people are enamored with, Barak Obama, openly denies Christ as the only way, openly defiles and mocks the Word of God while all the while claiming to be a Christian.
These situations leave me dumbfounded as millions of people follow these, in essence, false prophets. How does a little blog like mine gets so many hits for a search engines link to my blog titled “Where’s Todd Bentley”? In my honest opinion it is because these poor lost souls are searching for a savior, a messiah that is going to fix them of what ails them, fix their bank accounts and make them prosper physically, emotionally and monetarily. They are not searching for the True Messiah, the True Savior Jesus Christ. So many people latch on to hopes in a man like Bentley, Hinn, Obama or Joel Osteen that deny the true Jesus Christ of scripture. Scripture does not say, “all roads lead to heaven” it says Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life – No one comes to the Father but by Me John 14:6. It also says that the path is narrow and many will be deceived and few will find the true path to salvation Matt 17:13-14. This narrow path is…. NARROW, not broad as many people think, “Oh well, let me bring all this baggage of my life along with me, the fornication, lying, stealing, blasphemy, partying, smoking, cussing. Jesus is my ticket He will forgive me. I can do all things because Christ will forgive me”. What? How wrong is that? The path is narrow. You cannot bring the baggage of those sins with you, they must be checked at the door and left behind, and you must travel the path of salvation by yourself. See, God saves you alone. God does not save a family or church simply because they are a part of that family or church. Salvation is a One on one with the One in which God creates a new heart in you because of His mercy and His pleasure, not for anything that you can do. All we can do is repent and believe and continue to repent and believe daily, every minute of every day.
Salvation is evidenced by the radical change in lifestyle. Out with the old, in with the new. I have heard it said “If you are what you were then you ain’t”. Not correct grammar, but correct theology. If your lifestyle continues to be one of sin, not just expressed but also in your heart, the desire to sin like always, then you really need to examine yourself to make sure you are in the faith 2 Cor. 13:5. There is a very good chance that you are not a Christian. You will be a new creation 2 Cor. 5:17, old thing will be passed away and all things will become new. That is the biblical way of saying if you are what you were then you ain’t.
If you came to this blog searching for where Todd Bentley is hiding out, I do not know. I do know that if you desire Bentley then you are looking in the wrong place and upon the wrong person for your answers. Bentley is a false prophets at it’s most obvious and if you tested every spirit as 1 John 4:1 dictates then you would discern that Bentley as well as those previously mentioned are false prophets sent by the god of this world to deceive millions as they have been doing. What you really need to be searching is scripture and spending time on your knees asking God to reveal to you true salvation and to create a new heart in you. Repent of your sins, leave them behind, don’t look back Luke 9:62, keep your eyes on Jesus instead of an earthly figure. If God saves you then He will also keep you, if He started a work in you He will finish it. You will not be partially saved from your sins, but will grow in the sanctification process, as you will become less like you and more like Him. Cry out to God right now for mercy, for His truth of salvation. Do not be deceived any longer by these worldly and corrupt men of the devil. They desire nothing but your money and your souls in hell.
My prayers go out for you that are deceived, my heart breaks for the countless souls that believe these lies. Please God open their eyes to the Truth of Your Word.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Light of the world....
Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Chandra and I just returned from a few days in Seattle Washington. To say it is a lot different than Paducah KY is a harsh understatement. Not just in the sense that it is a bigger city, has mountain peaks as scenery and millions of people, but in the sense that the spiritual atmosphere there was completely different.
Here in Paducah you can find a church in about any direction you turn, you actually don’t even have to be looking for a church (building) to find one. That is the same for about any other city I have visited, but then again I have never been that far West and out of the direct impact of the bible belt. In Seattle I did open the phone book and find a lot of listings for churches, but driving and walking the streets I found only 1 and it wasn’t in Seattle, it was in Renton just outside of Seattle.
I had already made plans to attend Mars Hill Church there, because of the sound theology (although somewhat controversial) of the pastor, Mark Driscoll. Well before the trip I had contacted Mars Hill and asked them which of the 7 campuses would be the most convenient and was decided on that the Downtown campus would be the most likely candidate. I did take a little stroll on Saturday following one of those cute little cartoonish city maps, but with great success. I found the building of the Mars Hill Downtown campus.
The service Sunday morning was winding down for the Song of Song sermon series, so it had a lot to do with husband and wife and how they should be “doing” things. It actually went right along with a course titled “Love and Respect” that Chandra and I have been attending at Oak Grove Baptist here in Paducah. I won’t go into detail of the décor or message, because I’ve gotten totally off base on what I was going to write about.
On the flight out it was daytime, very bright sky very beautiful to look out over the clouds. I always set next to a window when I fly so I can soak in Gods creation. I pray in thanks of God for allowing me to look down at what He has created. About the most spectacular sight flying in was the mountain ranges, but Mount Ranier, Mount Olympus and Mount St. Helens jutting skyward was just simply breathtaking.
Taking all of the beauty of the mountain ranges, the landscape and the marvels that we flew over during the day, I can say that they return flight had more impact on me than anything I saw in the daylight. This was only the 2nd flight I have ever been on at night, but God has been working on me a lot since that first night flight. This flight I was noticing the lights below.
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
I started thinking that as Christians we are to be salt and light to the world. My mind started to wonder around that verse and I began to see the lights differently below. They looked a lot like how Christians are in the world. You see great darkness and then see thousands of individual lights scattered throughout these dark places. Then you see thousands of lights together in places that form neighborhoods and those are on the outskirts of cities that have millions of lights. My mind was racing to equate that as the single lights are very noticeable in the darkness, they do not conform to the light, they in fact nullify the darkness. The neighborhoods I likened to groups of Christians that study together, hang out together, witness together and are there in the rough times for each other. Or even could be the Church study groups or Sunday school classes. Then you gaze out further and see the cities, the Churches. The brighter light in the darkness cast by them is because of them being grouped together. Not that one shines more than the other, but they all shine together to be a beacon in the darkness. Looking out from the plane window I could see cities plotted out across the blackness. I could also see the single lights as we were flying over them, but only for a fleeting moment. I then started to think about what connected them and that each and every one of those lights were connected by the streets. If there was a light, then there was a street, road or highway that would get you there.
My thoughts then changed to the parable of the vine and branches that Pastor Durham has been teaching on. The lights being connected to the streets were like the branches being connected to the Vine, just as Christ connects us all. All the lights that the plane flew over were in fellowship together because of the road, they were all doing what lights do – casting light into the darkness. Even the lights in Seattle are connected to the lights here in Paducah; we all have the same roadway, which is Christ. Christ connects each Christian together and when we come together we cast more light as neighborhoods, more light as Churches and then when the sun rises, that Light exposes everything. Christians can then sit back in the Light of the Son as His Light shines upon the Earth.
The light of Christ exposes all the darkness, not like our small lights that affect only our surroundings. But God has purposed us to be those lights in the darkness, to come together as friends and families to study His Word to cast more light, then to be the Church which casts off even more light, that is connected to all the other Churches to be one Church, the Bride of Christ so the Light of Christ can shine.
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 5:8 For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Friday, November 7, 2008
Biblical Discernment (or open your eyes to the truth)
I’d just like to address a dire situation in the church buildings these days, a very dangerous practice that is letting untold thousands, if not millions, of unbelievers through the doors. Some of these people are becoming leaders, deacons, nursery workers, Sunday School teachers, door greeters and even pastors. This could possibly be the most dangerous practice of the modern church age, well next to “decisional regeneration”. But then again this goes hand in hand with people making “decisions” for Christ.
The practice is in not discerning true believers from the “carnal Christians”, which are not Christians at all. These professing believers at one time made a decision, walked an isle, got baptized or any number of other modern, non-Biblical methods of “gaining salvation” instead of placing trust in Jesus Christ, repenting of their sins and actually becoming new creations in Christ. You can see alot of the unregenrated professors in the music business as they sing their songs that glorify sinful lifestyles, drinking, partying, promescuity, drugs, extramrital affairs, etc but then come out with a "gospel" CD and they are welcomed with open arms to any church that they want to step in to to sing their songs. It's not possible to have one foot in the world and the other in heaven. That is clear in the bible.
The modern “church” is more concerned with numbers, programs and putting out a false gospel messages themselves to be discerning. They willingly let hypocrites (actors) into their church buildings in search of higher attendances, higher offerings and higher carnal feelings. What happened to proving all things 1 Thess 5:21, judging professing Christians by their fruits Matt 7:20 and John 7:24? Instead these have been replaced with decision cards, slaps on the back, hand shakes and tithe envelops. No discernment of anyone or by anyone, all the while these unconverted people are gaining access to the sanctuaries and church class rooms, moving into leadership roles and enforcing these false beliefs that just because someone professes faith it should be taken as the truth. Churches are being filled with people that base their salvation on a decision, not Christ. These lost souls do not know what true Christianity is, so how can they be spreading the true gospel message? They can’t! Church leaders are letting Freemasons in leadership roles and no one sees a problem with this?
Then again this is a form of godliness, but believing a lie 2 Tim 3:1-7. They read the Word of God, but they either don’t understand it, or they just blatantly deny what it says. I would go with the first; they don’t understand it because they aren’t truly converted. How could supposed people of God be letting unbelievers into leadership roles? Or even letting them become members without anything but a signature on a card to move their membership? The bible is very clear that this would happen. Also with all of the new age, post modern junk that’s out there (all roads lead to God) it should not really be such a surprise. The TV preachers promote this, Joel Osteen denied that Christ was the only way on the Larry King show and yet he still has millions of other professing Christians buying his books, sending him money and attending his services. Have you ever watched a Osteen broadcast? I have, in hopes that I would hear something more than a pep rally meeting to make his followers feel better about themselves. Osteen doesn’t want to offend anyone, so he dodges the Truth and in doing that he denies Christ. Oprah has millions of followers and has pretty much the same message out there all roads lead to God. President elect Obama said very flippantly the same thing in a speech and then went on the mockingly tell the crowd that “people need to start reading their bibles”. I would suggest the same, but when they do and start believing the Word they will soon dismiss Obama, Oprah and Osteen for what they are – heretics, hypocrites and false converts.
Christ is the only Way. There is no way around it. All roads lead to hell unless they are through repentance and trust in Christ. God will not partially do anything, He will save a person or not. He will not save someone and then allow them to live in rebellion as “carnal Christians”, it’s not possible. An encounter with God is the most powerful thing that could ever happen to someone, that’s what the new birth is that Jesus told Nicodemus about, being born again is not just a cute little catch phrase, it is a biblical, Christian Truth. Unless you were reborn with a new spiritual nature then you are not a Christian. In being reborn spiritually your desires will change, you will love the God you hated. You will desire to know Him more, you will desire to please Him, not out of fear but out of love for your Savior. How great is that love?
Don’t rest in a decision, examine your spiritual walk and make sure it lines up with scripture. Start in 1 John, then the Gospels, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians and wherever God leads you and see if what your profession of faith means in light of the Word of God, not the words of a preacher, evangelist or your own feelings. If you continued in sin, it is a great possibility that you are not a Christian and you need to repent and turn to Christ. Put all faith in His Word and believe with all your heart that His Words are true. Find a biblical church, one that discerns between professing believers and true believers, one that preaches the Word in Truth and Righteousness. If a church uses worldly ways to draw people in, then it will have to use worldly ways to keep the people there. If God has truly saved you, then He will open your eyes to the false teachers and heretical ways of most churches. They have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God. Ask God for eyes to see and ears to hear that you might be able to discern the lies if your church spreading them. God will do it, He wants you to be in His Church, not the worlds church buildings. Don’t let traditions men keep you away from the True Word of God. He will lead you if you ask. I can highly recommend Oak Grove Baptist Church if you are in the Paducah Kentucky area and Union Baptist Church near Marion Kentucky. Other than that I have not been in any truly biblical churches in the immediate Paducah area, that’s not saying that there aren’t any, just that I haven’t been in any. I wouldn’t be apposed to visiting a church if you need an outside ear to hear. God has blessed me with an ear for the Truth and I praise Him for it. God will open your eyes too, it is simple after you have been truly converted. God will keep His own.
Repent and Trust.
The practice is in not discerning true believers from the “carnal Christians”, which are not Christians at all. These professing believers at one time made a decision, walked an isle, got baptized or any number of other modern, non-Biblical methods of “gaining salvation” instead of placing trust in Jesus Christ, repenting of their sins and actually becoming new creations in Christ. You can see alot of the unregenrated professors in the music business as they sing their songs that glorify sinful lifestyles, drinking, partying, promescuity, drugs, extramrital affairs, etc but then come out with a "gospel" CD and they are welcomed with open arms to any church that they want to step in to to sing their songs. It's not possible to have one foot in the world and the other in heaven. That is clear in the bible.
The modern “church” is more concerned with numbers, programs and putting out a false gospel messages themselves to be discerning. They willingly let hypocrites (actors) into their church buildings in search of higher attendances, higher offerings and higher carnal feelings. What happened to proving all things 1 Thess 5:21, judging professing Christians by their fruits Matt 7:20 and John 7:24? Instead these have been replaced with decision cards, slaps on the back, hand shakes and tithe envelops. No discernment of anyone or by anyone, all the while these unconverted people are gaining access to the sanctuaries and church class rooms, moving into leadership roles and enforcing these false beliefs that just because someone professes faith it should be taken as the truth. Churches are being filled with people that base their salvation on a decision, not Christ. These lost souls do not know what true Christianity is, so how can they be spreading the true gospel message? They can’t! Church leaders are letting Freemasons in leadership roles and no one sees a problem with this?
Then again this is a form of godliness, but believing a lie 2 Tim 3:1-7. They read the Word of God, but they either don’t understand it, or they just blatantly deny what it says. I would go with the first; they don’t understand it because they aren’t truly converted. How could supposed people of God be letting unbelievers into leadership roles? Or even letting them become members without anything but a signature on a card to move their membership? The bible is very clear that this would happen. Also with all of the new age, post modern junk that’s out there (all roads lead to God) it should not really be such a surprise. The TV preachers promote this, Joel Osteen denied that Christ was the only way on the Larry King show and yet he still has millions of other professing Christians buying his books, sending him money and attending his services. Have you ever watched a Osteen broadcast? I have, in hopes that I would hear something more than a pep rally meeting to make his followers feel better about themselves. Osteen doesn’t want to offend anyone, so he dodges the Truth and in doing that he denies Christ. Oprah has millions of followers and has pretty much the same message out there all roads lead to God. President elect Obama said very flippantly the same thing in a speech and then went on the mockingly tell the crowd that “people need to start reading their bibles”. I would suggest the same, but when they do and start believing the Word they will soon dismiss Obama, Oprah and Osteen for what they are – heretics, hypocrites and false converts.
Christ is the only Way. There is no way around it. All roads lead to hell unless they are through repentance and trust in Christ. God will not partially do anything, He will save a person or not. He will not save someone and then allow them to live in rebellion as “carnal Christians”, it’s not possible. An encounter with God is the most powerful thing that could ever happen to someone, that’s what the new birth is that Jesus told Nicodemus about, being born again is not just a cute little catch phrase, it is a biblical, Christian Truth. Unless you were reborn with a new spiritual nature then you are not a Christian. In being reborn spiritually your desires will change, you will love the God you hated. You will desire to know Him more, you will desire to please Him, not out of fear but out of love for your Savior. How great is that love?
Don’t rest in a decision, examine your spiritual walk and make sure it lines up with scripture. Start in 1 John, then the Gospels, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians and wherever God leads you and see if what your profession of faith means in light of the Word of God, not the words of a preacher, evangelist or your own feelings. If you continued in sin, it is a great possibility that you are not a Christian and you need to repent and turn to Christ. Put all faith in His Word and believe with all your heart that His Words are true. Find a biblical church, one that discerns between professing believers and true believers, one that preaches the Word in Truth and Righteousness. If a church uses worldly ways to draw people in, then it will have to use worldly ways to keep the people there. If God has truly saved you, then He will open your eyes to the false teachers and heretical ways of most churches. They have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God. Ask God for eyes to see and ears to hear that you might be able to discern the lies if your church spreading them. God will do it, He wants you to be in His Church, not the worlds church buildings. Don’t let traditions men keep you away from the True Word of God. He will lead you if you ask. I can highly recommend Oak Grove Baptist Church if you are in the Paducah Kentucky area and Union Baptist Church near Marion Kentucky. Other than that I have not been in any truly biblical churches in the immediate Paducah area, that’s not saying that there aren’t any, just that I haven’t been in any. I wouldn’t be apposed to visiting a church if you need an outside ear to hear. God has blessed me with an ear for the Truth and I praise Him for it. God will open your eyes too, it is simple after you have been truly converted. God will keep His own.
Repent and Trust.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Obama Declared the Next President
Well, Obama was just declared to have enough electoral votes to be the next President of the United States. I would go on a tirade and ask how people could be so deceived or how a professing Christian nation could elect a murdering baby killer to the highest office. But I wont go there. This is all in Gods plan and while I don't think Obama is the anti-christ, I do know he is an anti christ and a large step towards acceptance of the real anti christ to come.
So am I bothered? Not really. I voted for McCain after deliberating on casting my vote for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution party. It is no surprise that the majority of Americans voted for Obama. I say this because of the sinful state of this country. I believe God has finally had enough and is giving this country over to it's sins in judgement. I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet, but I do know somewhat the Word of God and His character. God can not stand sin and the blatant, revelling in sin that the USA does is very damning.
I just pray that you truly know the Lord and are not resting in a decision that you made way back when. If you are trusting in anything other that the redemptive work of Christ then you are not a Christian and will be cast into the lake of fire. If you think of salvation as being kept from going to hell for eternity only, then you are not a Christian. If you put your faith in a pastor, Sunday school teacher or a priest that declared you saved, then you are not a Christian. Please examine yourself and make sure that you have TRULY repented of your sins, turned from them to God and put your faith in His Word. That is the only way to salvation contrary to the false gospels that abound now. Christ is the Way, Truth and the Life and no one can get to the Father but by Him.
As a Christian, I can not support the choices of President Elect Obama. I will however be praying for him, as I do other lost people. I will pray for his genuine conversion which will be evidenced by his fruit. Please also pray for him. Even though you may not like him, what he does will affect you and your family. God is sovereign and Obama was elected for a reason. The hand of God was upon this as millions of people were left to be deceived by this man. All in Gods glorious work.
So am I bothered? Not really. I voted for McCain after deliberating on casting my vote for Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution party. It is no surprise that the majority of Americans voted for Obama. I say this because of the sinful state of this country. I believe God has finally had enough and is giving this country over to it's sins in judgement. I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet, but I do know somewhat the Word of God and His character. God can not stand sin and the blatant, revelling in sin that the USA does is very damning.
I just pray that you truly know the Lord and are not resting in a decision that you made way back when. If you are trusting in anything other that the redemptive work of Christ then you are not a Christian and will be cast into the lake of fire. If you think of salvation as being kept from going to hell for eternity only, then you are not a Christian. If you put your faith in a pastor, Sunday school teacher or a priest that declared you saved, then you are not a Christian. Please examine yourself and make sure that you have TRULY repented of your sins, turned from them to God and put your faith in His Word. That is the only way to salvation contrary to the false gospels that abound now. Christ is the Way, Truth and the Life and no one can get to the Father but by Him.
As a Christian, I can not support the choices of President Elect Obama. I will however be praying for him, as I do other lost people. I will pray for his genuine conversion which will be evidenced by his fruit. Please also pray for him. Even though you may not like him, what he does will affect you and your family. God is sovereign and Obama was elected for a reason. The hand of God was upon this as millions of people were left to be deceived by this man. All in Gods glorious work.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
The Great Commision As America See's It
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Have you ever bribed someone to become a Christian? Have you ever told someone “I’ll give you $1 a day as long as you follow Christ, listen to a sermon every day and read this Bible I give to you?” Would that be a draw to someone? Probably not in the depraved United States, Canada, England or any other economically “sound” country.
What if you did the same thing in a deprived nation instead of a depraved nation? Imagine the people that would be knocking you down to get that dollar bill a day. Let’s use Ethiopia as an example. This is one of the poorest countries in the World. The Per Capita income of Ethiopia is in the $90 range, meaning some people get more and some get less. So offering a person $1 a day would make that person wealthy in Ethiopia. Now what if you changed the offer, “I’ll feed you, your family, your village every day. I’ll build you houses, give you free medical and dental care, dig fresh water wells and set up schools for your people. All you have to do is listen to our message, follow what we say and accept Christ as your savior.” Does that sound familiar to anyone? Am I very far off base as to what goes on in some mission fields?
I have heard mission trip reports of how many people were fed, how many teeth pulled, how much food given out, how many people ministered to and how many people that got saved. Let me clarify something now before you read any further – I am not against missionaries, I am not against feeding the poor, I am not against treating the infirmed or pulling teeth. I believe a Christian should help out who they can, when they can. But I will put this out there – Is it biblical for confessing Christians to bribe the poor people with food, health care and shelter in order to “get decisions for Christ”?
Jesus did feed thousands on a couple occasions found in scripture (Matt. 14:13-21, John 6:1-14) and it would probably be safe to say He did even more times than these. What I see in these passages is Jesus feeding those that were following Him to hear His Word. They were not being bribed with food to come and listen. Not to say that some did not have the purpose of a free meal in mind. But the food was secondary, it was not a calling, it was not an issue. It was a freebie if you will. The draw was Christ Himself and His Word, Christ’s teachings, not bread and fish.
Once again I am not disrespecting the feeding of the starving or any other good that comes out of mission trips. What I am speaking about is motives for why people do these things. Is it to feed people, help people? Is it more selfish and about the mission persons works and to feel better about themselves. Is it about the numbers and boasting about how many people “accepted Christ” along with the bag of beans? I am sure that a lot of emotion is seen on the mission field, a lot of joy and a lot of grief. Shouldn't Christ be central to everything on the mission field? Not the human ego that thrives on “feeling good” about what they have done. But is that the answer to this dilemma? A lot of missions trips are for the sole purpose of making the missionary feel better about themselves, feel good that they “did their part and saved some souls”?
What if only 10% of those souls were the only truly converted ones? Actually, what about the other 90% that were told because they “accepted Jesus” that they were going to heaven where they would never be hungry again, where you can have whatever your hearts content, where the person’s needs are magnified above The True Reason for Heaven. God. Sure the benefits of being in heaven are great, but is that a persons motivation for going there? If so I would strongly consider doing a self-examination to see if you are really in the faith - 2 Cor 13:1-10. God is central to any truly converted life. Not the sparkles that entice the flesh, be it food, health care, fixed marriages, healed relationships, full bank accounts or a warm fuzzy feeling. All of those may be true fruits, but the Lord is the True Reason, His Glory, His Exaltation. We are but mere slaves that He bought but a great price, a true Christian is not central to their own lives, but the Master is central and is worth everything.
So what is the answer for missions trips? Like anything else the answer is God. What will bring Him more glory? What will get the message of the Cross out there more? Spending $5,000 for a missions trip per person, or sending that same $5,000 to indigenous missionaries that can use that same $5,000 to build 5 churches or feed a whole village for a year or send 10,000 bibles to China? What is the motivation is the ultimate question and answer as well? Is it self-centered or is it God centered?
What about the American mission field? What should an evangelist do in America if 90% of the “decisions” they are getting are not true conversions? This is the exact question I would submit to the large crusades, celebrations and festivals throughout the USA. If the 10% were your goal and the 90% thought they were saved but were speeding toward an eternal hell, would you change your message? Would you tell the 90% that they were damned or would you assure them that because of their decision, an emotional outpouring, after hearing you speak of how bad hell was on one extreme or how loving God is on the other extreme they “decide” to follow Christ? Jeremiah 17:9 declares that the heart is wicked above all things. We as humans are wicked and therefore it is our nature to reject God in His Holiness and righteousness. We need Him to burden us, to show us our sins, to take us to a point where we then see how deceitfully wicked we are, how much our lives were lived in hating God and how unrighteous and deserving of hell we really are. Then and only then can you look to God and plead for His forgiveness through the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross, Repent and Believe is all we can do, it is the only way to God through Christ. You can’t profess to be a Christian and live like the world (Romans 12:1-2, James 4:4, John 15:19, John 17:14) it is not possible – can a dog meow or a cat bark? Can a fish live out of water? So a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) cannot live like the world. We are birthed into the family of God out of the bondage of sin, we are His and He will keep His children faithful. God will not partially do anything; He will always finish what He starts (Phil. 1:6)
So just seek the Lord’s Word on missions. Do not jump into something with selfish motives. God does not need more missionaries to go have a feel good trip, that will make you feel good for taking beans to an outskirt area in Africa. He needs His people to take the Word of God in all Its glory to those people, without compromise, without bribery and without selfish motives. As I said before if you really want to help, send your $5000 to an indigenous or native missionary and take the vacation time you would have traveled on and go to the outskirts of your own city, or the vastest mission field of all – the American Church.
A great place to start if you would really like to help spread the Word of God would be Heart Cry Missionary Society. This is a great organization that takes the true Word of God to many places first and foremost, without compromise. I am sure there are many other missions and opportunities for you to be a part of sowing the seed of Gods Word throughout the world. Please do extensive research and commit to prayerfully seeking God's will before you send money to any of them. Make sure that the Word of God in TRUTH is the foremost to whatever group you send financial support to. If you truthfully seek Gods guidance He will direct you.
Have you ever bribed someone to become a Christian? Have you ever told someone “I’ll give you $1 a day as long as you follow Christ, listen to a sermon every day and read this Bible I give to you?” Would that be a draw to someone? Probably not in the depraved United States, Canada, England or any other economically “sound” country.
What if you did the same thing in a deprived nation instead of a depraved nation? Imagine the people that would be knocking you down to get that dollar bill a day. Let’s use Ethiopia as an example. This is one of the poorest countries in the World. The Per Capita income of Ethiopia is in the $90 range, meaning some people get more and some get less. So offering a person $1 a day would make that person wealthy in Ethiopia. Now what if you changed the offer, “I’ll feed you, your family, your village every day. I’ll build you houses, give you free medical and dental care, dig fresh water wells and set up schools for your people. All you have to do is listen to our message, follow what we say and accept Christ as your savior.” Does that sound familiar to anyone? Am I very far off base as to what goes on in some mission fields?
I have heard mission trip reports of how many people were fed, how many teeth pulled, how much food given out, how many people ministered to and how many people that got saved. Let me clarify something now before you read any further – I am not against missionaries, I am not against feeding the poor, I am not against treating the infirmed or pulling teeth. I believe a Christian should help out who they can, when they can. But I will put this out there – Is it biblical for confessing Christians to bribe the poor people with food, health care and shelter in order to “get decisions for Christ”?
Jesus did feed thousands on a couple occasions found in scripture (Matt. 14:13-21, John 6:1-14) and it would probably be safe to say He did even more times than these. What I see in these passages is Jesus feeding those that were following Him to hear His Word. They were not being bribed with food to come and listen. Not to say that some did not have the purpose of a free meal in mind. But the food was secondary, it was not a calling, it was not an issue. It was a freebie if you will. The draw was Christ Himself and His Word, Christ’s teachings, not bread and fish.
Once again I am not disrespecting the feeding of the starving or any other good that comes out of mission trips. What I am speaking about is motives for why people do these things. Is it to feed people, help people? Is it more selfish and about the mission persons works and to feel better about themselves. Is it about the numbers and boasting about how many people “accepted Christ” along with the bag of beans? I am sure that a lot of emotion is seen on the mission field, a lot of joy and a lot of grief. Shouldn't Christ be central to everything on the mission field? Not the human ego that thrives on “feeling good” about what they have done. But is that the answer to this dilemma? A lot of missions trips are for the sole purpose of making the missionary feel better about themselves, feel good that they “did their part and saved some souls”?
What if only 10% of those souls were the only truly converted ones? Actually, what about the other 90% that were told because they “accepted Jesus” that they were going to heaven where they would never be hungry again, where you can have whatever your hearts content, where the person’s needs are magnified above The True Reason for Heaven. God. Sure the benefits of being in heaven are great, but is that a persons motivation for going there? If so I would strongly consider doing a self-examination to see if you are really in the faith - 2 Cor 13:1-10. God is central to any truly converted life. Not the sparkles that entice the flesh, be it food, health care, fixed marriages, healed relationships, full bank accounts or a warm fuzzy feeling. All of those may be true fruits, but the Lord is the True Reason, His Glory, His Exaltation. We are but mere slaves that He bought but a great price, a true Christian is not central to their own lives, but the Master is central and is worth everything.
So what is the answer for missions trips? Like anything else the answer is God. What will bring Him more glory? What will get the message of the Cross out there more? Spending $5,000 for a missions trip per person, or sending that same $5,000 to indigenous missionaries that can use that same $5,000 to build 5 churches or feed a whole village for a year or send 10,000 bibles to China? What is the motivation is the ultimate question and answer as well? Is it self-centered or is it God centered?
What about the American mission field? What should an evangelist do in America if 90% of the “decisions” they are getting are not true conversions? This is the exact question I would submit to the large crusades, celebrations and festivals throughout the USA. If the 10% were your goal and the 90% thought they were saved but were speeding toward an eternal hell, would you change your message? Would you tell the 90% that they were damned or would you assure them that because of their decision, an emotional outpouring, after hearing you speak of how bad hell was on one extreme or how loving God is on the other extreme they “decide” to follow Christ? Jeremiah 17:9 declares that the heart is wicked above all things. We as humans are wicked and therefore it is our nature to reject God in His Holiness and righteousness. We need Him to burden us, to show us our sins, to take us to a point where we then see how deceitfully wicked we are, how much our lives were lived in hating God and how unrighteous and deserving of hell we really are. Then and only then can you look to God and plead for His forgiveness through the redemptive work of Christ on the Cross, Repent and Believe is all we can do, it is the only way to God through Christ. You can’t profess to be a Christian and live like the world (Romans 12:1-2, James 4:4, John 15:19, John 17:14) it is not possible – can a dog meow or a cat bark? Can a fish live out of water? So a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) cannot live like the world. We are birthed into the family of God out of the bondage of sin, we are His and He will keep His children faithful. God will not partially do anything; He will always finish what He starts (Phil. 1:6)
So just seek the Lord’s Word on missions. Do not jump into something with selfish motives. God does not need more missionaries to go have a feel good trip, that will make you feel good for taking beans to an outskirt area in Africa. He needs His people to take the Word of God in all Its glory to those people, without compromise, without bribery and without selfish motives. As I said before if you really want to help, send your $5000 to an indigenous or native missionary and take the vacation time you would have traveled on and go to the outskirts of your own city, or the vastest mission field of all – the American Church.
A great place to start if you would really like to help spread the Word of God would be Heart Cry Missionary Society. This is a great organization that takes the true Word of God to many places first and foremost, without compromise. I am sure there are many other missions and opportunities for you to be a part of sowing the seed of Gods Word throughout the world. Please do extensive research and commit to prayerfully seeking God's will before you send money to any of them. Make sure that the Word of God in TRUTH is the foremost to whatever group you send financial support to. If you truthfully seek Gods guidance He will direct you.
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