'It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak' (2 Cor 4:13).
Come share my thoughts and experiences surrounding the greatest mission we have in life as Christians.
I look forward to reading your comments!
posted by Ryan @ 5:37 p.m.
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Three Things To Avoid When Witnessing:
posted by Ryan @ 10:37 p.m.
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Kirk Cameron and Ray Comfort appeared in an interview on Nightline tonight, March 17, 2006. If you would like to read the transcript or watch video clips of the interview, click here.1Pe 2:6-8 NET. For it says in scripture, "Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame." (7) So you who believe see his value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, (8) and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
1Co 1:20-25 NET. Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish? (21) For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. (22) For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, (23) but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. (24) But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
posted by Ryan @ 9:57 p.m.
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I understand this, first, in this sense: be separate unto Christ. These men were to leave their pursuits; they were to leave their companions; they were, in fact, to quit the world, that their one business might be, in their Master's name, to be fishers of men. We are not all called to leave our daily business, or to quit our families. That might be rather running away from the fishery than working at it in God's name. But we are called most distinctly to come out from among the ungodly, and to be separate, and not to touch the unclean thing. We cannot be fishers of men if we remain among men in the same element with them. Fish will not be fishers. The sinner will not convert the sinner. The ungodly man will not convert the ungodly man; and, what is more to the point, the worldly Christian will not convert the world. If you are of the world, no doubt the world will love its own; but you cannot save the world. If you are dark, and belong to the kingdom of darkness, you cannot remove the darkness. If you march with the armies of the wicked one, you cannot defeat them. I believe that one reason why the church of God at this present moment has so little influence over the world is because the world has so much influence over the church. Nowadays we hear Nonconformists pleading that they may do this and they may do that—things which their Puritan forefathers would rather have died at the stake than have tolerated. They plead that they may live like worldlings, and my sad answer to them, when they crave for this liberty, is, "Do it if you dare. It may not do you much hurt, for you are so bad already. Your cravings show how rotten your hearts are. If you have a hungering after such dog's meat, go, dogs, and eat the garbage. Worldly amusements are fit food for mere pretenders and hypocrites. If you were God's children you would loathe the very thought of the world's evil joys, and your question would not be, 'How far may we be like the world?' but your one cry would be, 'How far can we get away from the world? How much can we come out from it?'"
posted by Ryan @ 10:53 p.m.
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Why could not even a Mother Teresa get to heaven by good works? Because we're all sinners; and because once we have broken one of God's commandments, we "(are) guilty of all" (James 2:10); and "by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight" (Romans 3:20). Keeping the law perfectly from now on could never make up for having already broken it. For God to grant salvation by any other means than faith in Christ alone would be an insult to the One whom the Father insisted had to endure his wrath as the sacrifice for sin. Furthermore, God would be breaking His own code of justice and going back on His Word. No, even God Himself could not save earth's most notable "saint". Christ's blood avails only for repentant sinners.
Oswald Chambers warned lest, in our zeal to get to people to accept the gospel, we manufacture a gospel acceptable to people and produce "converts" who are not saved. Today's most popular perversion is the "positive" gospel which is designed to offend no one with truth.
One of the most popular televangelists in the USA, for example, has said that it is demeaning to call anyone a sinner and that Christ died to restore human dignity and self-esteem. He claims to win many to Christ with that seductive message – but such a gospel does not save sinners.Evangelistic appeals are often made to "come to Christ" for the wrong reasons: in order to be healthy, happy, successful, to restore a marriage, or to handle stress. Others preach a gospel that is so diluted or perverted that it deceives many into thinking they are saved. No fraud could be worse, for the consequences are eternal!
posted by Ryan @ 1:06 a.m.
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Over the years that I have shared my concerns about contemporary evangelism, I have been careful never to name names. However, many have guessed that on occasion I have been referring to the incredibly popular tract The Four Spiritual Laws, penned by the late Dr. Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ. More than a billion copies have been distributed in all the major languages of the world, and his approach has become the model for the modern gospel presentation.
In July 2002, Kirk and I were invited to Orlando, Florida, to join Dr. Bright at his home for breakfast. After breakfast, we sat down in his living room and heard this warm, humble, sincere man of God (then eighty-one) confess that he had been in error. Let me use his own words from his book Heaven or Hell - Your Ultimate Choice (published the same year) to tell you what he said to us:
"In his approximately 42 months of public ministry, there are 33 recorded instances of Jesus speaking about hell. No doubt He warned of hell thousands of times. The Bible refers to hell a total of 167 times. I wonder with what frequency this eternal subject is found in today's pulpits. I confess I have failed in my ministry to declare the reality of hell as often as I have the love of God and the benefits of a personal relationship with Christ. But Jesus spent more of His time warning His listeners of the impending judgement of hell than of speaking of the joys of heaven....I have never felt the need to focus on telling people about hell. However, as a result of a steady decline in morals and spiritual vitality in today's culture and a growing indifference to the afterlife, I have come to realize the need for greater discussion of hell....I have thus come to see that silence, or even benign neglect on these subjects, is disobedience on my part. To be silent on the eternal destinations of souls is to be like a sentry failing to warn his fellow soldiers of impending attack." [Bill Bright, Heaven or Hell - Your Ultimate Choice (Orlando, Fla.: New Life Publications, 2002), 32, 48]
Dr. Bright even took the time to use the Law lawfully, by quoting every one of the Ten Commandments, then expounding the Law by saying, "Breaking these commandments will take us to hell without the intervening grace and mercy of Jesus Christ." [Ibid., 37] By admitting that "benign neglect on these subjects is disobedience on my part," Dr. Bright revealed his honest humility and his genuine love of the truth.
Please, follow Dr. Bright's example and examine your evangelism methods in light of God's Word. At stake is the eternal salvation of millions of people. You don't have to throw away The Four Spiritual Laws. Simply make four important changes. First, don't tell sinners that Jesus will improve their lives with a wonderful plan. Second, don't make the unbiblical mistake of giving the cure before you've convinced them of the disease. Third, take the time to follow in the way of the Master by "opening up" (or explaining) the Ten Commandments. And fourth, faithfully remember to include the terrible realities of Judgement Day and hell.
posted by Ryan @ 5:14 p.m.
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Dear Brother Ray,
I have been a pastor for 25 years. I always thought I was doing a reasonably good job. Kind of like the folks that tell you they consider themselves "good people." I had tried to preach, what I thought, was the whole counsel of God. I prayed, over the years, with many people to accept Jesus and make Him Lord of their lives.
My wife Judy and I moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico about six years ago to plant a church. Shortly after arriving I was convicted that something was horribly wrong with my ministry. I read the scriptures and prayed earnestly that God would show me what was wrong. The feeling continued to grow and I became depressed and moody. I asked Judy to pray for me and explained my problem. I didn't know if this was the Holy Spirit convicting or Satan attacking. She prayed that God would reveal the cause of my depression and make Himself clear as He revealed any problem with my ministry for Him.
That night I had the most terrifying, realistic, blood chilling nightmare any man has ever had. I am a Vietnam veteran and I know a little about nightmares. Nothing in my experience has ever come close, nor do I ever want it to, to the horror of that night!
I dreamed that it was judgment day and I was standing right next to the throne of God. I noticed that to my left and my right were pastors as far as I could see. I thought this was odd that the Lord would reserve this front row space for pastors only.
I looked out across a space of only a few yards and there were millions, maybe billions, of people, yet I could see each one of their eyes staring at me. As I studied this group I noticed that I knew many of them from times at the alter or ones who had sat under my teaching. I was pleased to see that they had made it to heaven, but confused because they didn't look happy. They looked very angry and hateful.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, "Away, I never knew you." I was suddenly frightened that what I was seeing was those who "thought" that they were saved. Then I saw all of them pointing a finger at each of us pastors and together, in one voice that shook my soul, "WE SAT IN YOUR CHURCH AND THOUGHT WE WERE SAVED. WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US WE WERE LOST?"
Tears were pouring down my face and the faces of all of those pastors. I watched as one by one those people were cast into hell. One and then another, and another, and another......., until they were all gone. I died inside as each one screamed in agony and gnashed their teeth, cursing us as they went into the lake of fire.
Then I was looking into the face of Jesus and He said to me, "Is this the part where I'm suppose to say, ' Well done my good and faithful servant?" I woke up with a scream and my heart pounding and I was begging Jesus to forgive me.
I died a million deaths that night. Since that night I have done two things on a daily bases. I do everything I can to preach the law before grace in the hope that conviction of sin will bring a sinner to true salvation. The other thing that I do is pray for every person I have ever preached to asking God to repair any damage I have done. I also never believe anyone when they tell me they are saved. It is my duty to challenge them and search out the solidness of their salvation.
Your ministry and material has been a great blessing to me. I am learning to be more effective and confident as I teach others how to share their faith by using the Law. I have seen several people saved, who thought they were saved, as I have used The Way of The Master material to teach them evangelism.
I do want to hear those words, "Well done my good and faithful servant", and thanks to you and your team I have a better chance of hearing them. Thank you! I just wanted to let you know, some pastors are waking up to the truth. The desire of my heart is to please God. I pray that my days of being a man pleaser are over along with the nightmares. I also pray that God will use me to bring other pastors into the truth of the Gospel message so that they will not have to face the nightmare that I did.
Blessings,
Steve Kreins
First Church of God
Waco, Texas
posted by Ryan @ 4:49 p.m.
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God gave the law for one specific purpose. He gave the law to be a mirror. And when I look in the Ten Commandments and read them, and understand them, it shows me how far short I've come. But the law cannot forgive, the law cannot save, the law cannot cleanse me from my sins. I believe before this week is over I shall prove to you night after night that every one of us in this audience has broken every commandment.
You say, "But, Billy, I've never killed anybody. Doesn't the Lord say, 'Thou shalt not murder'?" Yes, Jesus, interpreting that passage, said, "If you've ever hated anybody, you have broken my commandments" [see 1 John 3:15]. Under that comes prejudice, and bigotry, and malice, and contempt.
A Christian leader wrote another Christian leader the other day, and I've got a copy of the letter. He said, "I hold you in utter contempt." You look up the word "contempt" in the dictionary; and it means "I have hatred, I have malice for you."
Jesus said, "Any man who hates his brother is going to hell" [see Matthew 5:22]. I didn't say it; Jesus said it. So we've broken that commandment.
You say, "But, Billy, I've never stolen anything." Haven't you? Did you ever cheat on your income tax, even a little bit? Did you ever cheat in school? You've broken every commandment.
You say, "But I've never committed adultery." Haven't you? Jesus said, "If you've ever had lust in your heart, you've committed adultery" [see Matthew 5:28].
We've all sinned and come short of the glory of God [see Romans 3:23]. You're a sinner, and I'm a sinner. We've all broken God's law, and the law was to show us that we're sinners. I see that I'm wrong, that I'm a sinner. But the law cannot correct; it cannot save. Because salvation came through Christ.
And then the law was given for something else. It becomes a schoolmaster [see Galatians 3:24]. It becomes an usher to drive me to the cross of Christ.
I read those commandments and say, "My God, I haven't kept them. My God, I'm a sinner." And then I hear the thunder from Sinai, and I see the lightning. I hear the judgment of God's thunder and wrath. I hear that the wages of the broken law is sin, and that sin bringeth forth death [see James 1:15]. And I know that every man who breaks that law is lost. And immediately I say, "How can I be saved?"
I find the answer in the grace, and mercy, and the love of God at the cross of Calvary where Christ died and shed His blood for my sins. No one will ever be saved apart from the cross.
posted by Ryan @ 4:16 p.m.
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posted by Ryan @ 11:02 p.m.
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Dear friends, after much research, and experience addressing the subject, I was compelled to write the following article. I believe it is a timely word and hope it will be a blessing to you.
THE POST-MODERN SCARE
Reaching a post-modern world without post-modern methods
By Rev. Chris Curry
This is the new buzz word among evangelicals, “post-modernism." It has developed a certain shock value as its usage has picked up momentum over the past couple years. This term has come up so often, I’m convinced it’s Satan’s latest weapon in his attempts to stifle the churches evangelistic potential. It’s a spiritual stop sign, calculated to threaten the attempts of traditional soul-winning evangelists. Just hearing the term can bring fatigue and discouragement to any Christian who has allowed it to threaten them.
I believe in every age the church will be tempted to question the effectiveness of biblical evangelism based on an erroneous assumption that “modern society” cannot respond to “traditional dogma." I also believe the only way to approach a “post-modern” society is to intensify the message we preach. When the philosophers and spin doctors of this age try to push us back, the answer is not to retreat, but to push harder against their resistance!
Sadly, many have allowed post-modern come-backs such as "I don’t believe the bible" to scare them away from the battle field. When an unbeliever says "I don’t believe the Bible," what else were we expecting? Did we set out to convert them because we thought they already believed it?? Of course they don’t believe it, that’s why we’ve been called to preach and persuade them. And all the more reason to get out there! It makes no sense whatsoever to withdraw and find “other methods” simply because they don’t bow at the utterance of our first efforts. Jesus likened soul-winning to fishing because it requires patience and persistence to get them into the boat. The gospel was the power of God unto salvation in every age, and it is still the power of God unto salvation today… period! If people are not seeing its effectiveness in society, it's only because they are not preaching it in society. Either we believe God and do it His way, or we do like the children of Israel and wander around in confusion while questioning God's directives.
I believe it's a result of confusion that some are now suggesting we need "a new kind of Christianity," a new approach to reach this hardened society. Their message is laced with suggestions that we should tone down our declarations of truth in a world that has abandoned absolutes. Did they ever stop to think that society’s relativistic, post-modern mentality is a direct result of the churches neglect of duty in the first place? Replacing gospel truth with relational demonstrations of kindness and charity is partly what got us here in the first place. So how will repeating the mistake make things any better? Though I whole-heartedly believe we must show the love of Christ through authentic acts of kindness, we must never abandon the preaching of truth in the process. The two must go hand-in-hand.
Unfortunately, some have decided to simply reach out with good works while leaving any offensive gospel preaching in the dust. The trend is to offer inclusive acceptance rather than be forthright. By doing so, we risk losing converts by seeking the friendship and approval of the 'post-modern minded." We tuck truth under the table for fear we’ll scare them off, but in the end we do them more harm than good. We might have them in our church, but does God have them in His Kingdom?
One of our greatest examples of Christian charity is the salvation army. But listen to the words of William Booth, “Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you ‘go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin.’ Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there.” Obviously, he was not referring to just feeding the poor. How would such utterances be received by the church today? No doubt, William Booth faced a society much like ours. He did not bow to the threatenings of a callous and base-minded society by changing the method of reaching them. If we are going to reach this post-modern world, we must do it the same way Jesus instructed us to do it 2000 years ago... preach the gospel! It was Jesus who said, "unless ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." By today's standards, Jesus would be considered a radical for saying such things. So while we follow His example of charity, let us follow His admonition to preach the gospel in its entirety. To deviate from the blue-print is to build a crooked house on sinking sand.
The current “Post-modern” scare is no doubt the latest goliath in a sequence of hurdles faced by the church and her soul-winning efforts. The term has caused many to retreat and re-think their evangelism strategy, or in some cases, abandon evangelism altogether. Once again we find ourselves questioning the churches relevance and effectiveness in society. It’s another one of Satan’s greatest wiles for those who have a habit of letting their mind get in the way of their faith. He loves to get us questioning whether or not the bible and all its ancient gospel terminology can harness enough power to bring this giant down.
So we go around the mountain one more time…. abandoning the battle-field, hiding in our tents, thinking up ways to conquer this giant without having to make any fatal sacrifice. Some say we should befriend the giant and develop a relationship with him, perhaps over time he’ll come to like us and refrain from hurting us. Some say we should study the giants way of thinking and adapt accordingly by relating to him with a kinder, gentler, more tolerant approach, offering charity, and wooing him with promises of blessing in exchange for joining our army. We’ll do anything as long as we can avoid a confrontation with this mighty beast. Certainly, a loving God wouldn’t expect us to put ourselves in harms way by actually attacking him!! Oh brother, God wouldn’t want you to get insulted and have your feelings hurt would He?? Didn’t all that radical soul-saving gospel preaching die out with Jonathan Edwards? Isn’t this the age of peace and prosperity, political correctness, and tolerance? Would God actually expect His children to preach the whole gospel, warning sinners of their way, using the law to bring consciousness of guilt, and mentioning hell to inform sinners of God’s justice? Can’t we get ridiculed for that? Wouldn’t that bring discomfort and persecution our way?? God forbid!
I suppose if I were David’s brothers I might do the same. I’d rather have a barbeque with goliath than challenge him in battle with my sling shot. That’s what I see some churches doing today. We’ve put down our sling-shots and invited the giant to lunch, thinking that by befriending him we can win him over. All the while criticizing those who continue to use such archaic methods as preaching or witnessing. And likewise, David was spurned by his brothers and the armies of Israel for his child-like faith. They mocked and criticized him for his bravery. They were enraged at him for fear his methods would bring the wrath of this beast upon them. The church today fears persecution and therefore disassociates itself with “radical fundamentalists” who dare to bring these words of Christ into reality, “If the world hated me, it will hate you also… if they persecuted me, they will persecute you.”
David had no need of their approval. He had God’s approval and trusted God’s ability. He did it God’s way. And so must we if we truly want to see this nation saved.
Let us stop courting the giant with charitable gestures! Do it God’s way! Put down your philosophers books and pick up your Bibles, then GO, and preach the gospel, warn them of the coming judgment and awaken their conscience by the law which is a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ. Preach the truth in all its glory, for it's truth that sets men free!
Therefore, knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.
--2 Corinthians 5:11
posted by Ryan @ 10:41 p.m.
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Spong was not prepared by the church of his youth to answer the questions thrown at him by modern society. When he went to university, he was challenged to defend a faith he was never taught to defend. Naturally, like the raw recruit ordered to defend a hill against a well-trained and heavily armed enemy with a weapon he was never taught how to use, Spong capitulated. Having done so, he feels cheated by his church and disappointed by his literal faith, and now seeks to challenge and destroy both.
In this sense, a study of Spong's life and work should be mandatory reading for Christian pastors and parents. It is a testimony to the failure of our churches to instruct their children and young people in the defence of the faith and the Bible. If we fail in our duty to enable our young people always to be ready to give an adequate explanation for the faith that is in them (1 Peter 3:15) we may well be responsible for raising up a future generation of Spongs.
posted by Ryan @ 7:54 p.m.
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Jonathan Sarfati, whom I have come to respect, published this excellent response to Spong's work here. If you want to see a very solid yet winsome defense of the "Fundamental" Christian Faith both through scriptural support and through other secular sources (refuting several of Spong's claims), I highly recommend reading this article.
Always allow challenges to your faith to drive you deeper into the word of God. You will never be disappointed if you seek God for His wisdom, and He promises to give it to us without finding fault to all those who ask with faith (James 1:5-6).
posted by Ryan @ 3:51 p.m.
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My life took a sharp turn in August of 2004 when I let God's law magnify the grace of the cross of Christ to my heart. I began to realize why I was unable to obey Jesus' commandments. Until this point, I was still ultimately living for myself despite my profession of faith. Luke 7:47 has become real to me, and I have fallen in love with Jesus Christ and now give Him everything that I am and that I have. Since then, I have discovered God's heart in seeking and saving the lost, His call to discipleship, and the necessity of standing for truth and against error. PLEASE NOTE: I have moved several of my blogs to an independent website (http://strivetoenter.com/) and no longer maintain my blogger blogs.
