Thursday, November 25, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Ten Cannots
- You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
- You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
- You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.
- You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.
- You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.
- You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.
- You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
- You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.
- You cannot build character and courage by destroying men's initiative and independence.
- And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
My Testimony of Jesus Christ
With October around the corner, I realized it’s been nearly seven years since the Lord called me His own. I wasn’t looking for him, but he found me anyways. As I reflect on the radical changes that have come about in my life since that faithful decision, I mirth at all the ways He has used one as unusual as I. He saved me once, he saves me still…
My Testimony (abridged version)
On Thursday, October 16, 2003, my eternal destiny and earthly purpose would change this night after a class with only one sincere question and one simple prayer in ways I am only now beginning to understand. When at 9:25pm that evening, I was standing at the bottom steps of the Student Union building of my University with two seemingly mundane choices before me. The first was to go outside to my car, drive 5 minute to my apartment, and sleep. The second was to walk up those set of stairs as I had done a few times before to an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship function, which had already ended but people still love to hang around and talk afterward.
Like a fool arguing aloud with myself about what I should do, go home or visit; a little voice inside me said “just go up what do you have to lose”. So I did. Once there I started talking with a really good friend named Tim, who asked me in the sincerest tone I have heard in my life, “Brad, what is keeping you from having a personal relationship with Christ?” Dumbstruck by this sincerity in voice, and not wanting to give a cheap answer, I thought about it silently to myself for many moments and then quietly replied more so to answer myself, then Tim, I said …”nothing”. So I went into another room and with Tim’s help, I prayed and accepted Christ.
Later, I got home at 11pm-ish, after having spent a few hours more talking with Tim, as I settled in for the night, I turned on the news to hear about a report of a car accident right beside my apartment, in fact the very intersection I just drove through moments before, one which had no debris or road flares or anything to suggest that an accident had happened recently. The next morning as I read the paper looking for more info about this wreck, I found an article that said the time of the accident was 9:30pm. As I stated before, it takes me 5 minutes to drive home and at 9:25 I looked at my watch deciding to go up those stairs and have life and soul forever changed, as my jaw dropped in disbelief, that same small voice I heard before, spoke to me again saying “I saved you twice last night, once from the accident as well as eternally. Brad, I am real, and I love you”.
Jesus is real and he does love you, so much that he died to save you, even when you weren't looking or asking to be saved. So, I ask you just as sincerely as it was asked of me, What is keeping YOU from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ today?
Monday, September 13, 2010
Recognizing Counterfeits Week 1: Identity Theft: God vs Satan
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the Truth, and the life. ~John 14:6
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is Truth. ~John 17:17
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is Truth. ~Psalm 119:142
God =
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth ~ Genesis 1:1
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth – Ecc. 12:1
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. ~ Isaiah 40:28
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. ~ Romans 1:25
Satan =
You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.“ ~ Isaiah 14: 13-14
Conclusion God is Creator and Satan wants to be "like the Most High". However Satan CAN'T create nor can man. ONLY God can create. To make something from nothing; only God can do that. Satan, angels, and Men can copy, manipulate, modify, change existing materials, but no one but God can Truly Create Something from nothing.
Creator vs. Counterfeit
Holy Trinity
God the Father
Jesus Christ
Holy Spirit
1 John 5:7, Matt 28:19
“Unholy trinity”
Satan, the Dragon
Antichrist , The Beast
False Prophet
Rev 12:9, Rev 16:13, Rev 20:10
Jesus vs the Antichrist. Remember the word "Anti" doesnt not always mean against or opposed to something. The word can also mean "like", a substitute for, in place of. So the Antichrist isnt just someone who is apparently and oppositional opposed to Christ, but rather is like him, pretending or masquerading as him. That is how the Bible portrays him as false would-be savior, not an obvious big bad evil hell-bent on global rule or destruction.
20 examples of counterfeits in the Bible
The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders ~ 2 Thess. 2:9
If we know the Truth and are familiar with it, just like the dollars, we'll be able to easily identify the fakes. So let us press into our mighty Creator God Jesus Christ.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me ~ Jon 14:6
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Recognizing Counterfeits Week 2: The Biblical Gospel and false gospels
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the Truth, and the life. ~John 14:6
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is Truth. ~John 17:17
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is Truth. ~Psalm 119:142
God warns many times in Scripture:
Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. ~ Acts 20:30
The greatest threats and harm to the Christian Gospel have never been from without, but from within as the Bible and History both attest too.
After Reading Paul letter to Galatians one can see the problems of what happens when a false gospel sneaks into the community. In Gal 1:6-12. Paul lays certain contrasts and facts about both kinds of Gospels:
Characteristics of a False Gospel
Characteristics of the Gospel
1.Calling to Grace in Christ
2.Of God, and pleasing to him
3.Servant of Christ
4.Preached to others
5.Received by Revelation from Christ
Quick Bios of some of the Counterfeits we'll be looking at:
Jehovah's Witnesses (or Watch Tower)- Founded in 1879 by C.T. Russell for the original purposes of preparing people for the coming of Christ, the Kingdom and end of the world.
Mormonism (or Latter Day Saints)- Founded in the 1830s by Joseph Smith and later Brigham Young, for the purpose of revealing the existence of an ancient record containing the fullness of the Gospel of Christ that had been written on 2 gold tablets and revealed to Smith by the “angel” Moroni.
Christian Science (Church of Christ, Science)- Founded by Mary Baker Eddy in 1879 for the purposes of providing healing, without medicine, by using Jesus’ teaching, prayer, and faith.
Who is Jesus Christ?
Biblical Gospel:
Jesus is the King, Lord, and Messiah (Christ). He is the First and the Last. He is the Only Begotten Son of God, the Radiance of God’s Glory, the Exact Representation of His Being, the Image of the Invisible God, the Word, and the Word was God. The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us. From the patriarchs is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised Amen.
(John 3:16, Rev 22:13, 1 Tim 6:15, Heb 1:3, Col 1:15, John 1:1,15, Rom 9:5)
Jehovah's Witnesses: Jesus was the 1st creation, Before and After the 1st Coming he was Michael the Archangel. He was sinless and virgin born, but human only, became Christ at his Baptism. (http://www.religionfacts.com/jehovahs_witnesses/beliefs.htm)
Mormonism: Jesus is the son of God, but Jesus was the firstborn spirit child of many other spirit children. Lucifer was also as a son. Both contended for the privilege of taking a body of flesh in order to become the redeemer. (Doctrine &Covenant 93:21, Book Moses 4:1-4)
Christ was begotten by an immortal father in the same way that mortal men are begotten by mortal father." (Mormon Doctrine p.547)
Christian Science: Jesus was the promised Messiah, however Jesus only “embodied the divinity of God but that he himself was not Deity” (http://christianscience.com/questions/questions-christian-science-faq/)
The Issues of Sin and Evil in the World
Biblical Gospel:
God said, "Cursed is the ground because of you [Adam]. Creation groans because its subjected to the bondage of decay and sin. Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin. One day, Jesus will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.
(Gen 3:17, Rom 8:20-22, Rom 5:12, Rev 21:4)
Jehovah's Witnesses: The disobedience of the first couple caused death to enter the world, and as a result, all human beings get sick, age, and die. This is against God's plan, which was to make the entire Earth a paradise. ("What is God's Purpose for the Earth?” www.watchtower.org)
Mormonism: Adam/Eve became mortal—just as we are—subject to sin, disease, all types of suffering, and ultimately death. But it wasn’t all bad because they could now feel great joy. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” If they hadn’t eaten the fruit, Mankind never would have been born or the world populated. (http://www.mormon.org/plan-of-happiness/ and 2 Nephi 2:25)
Christian Science: Baker said “Evil has no reality. It is neither person, place, or thing, but simply a belief, an illusion of the material sense.” (pg. 71, Science and Health with Keys to the Scriptures)
State of Humanity
Biblical Gospel:
Jesus said, “out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.” There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. Evil desires give birth to sin, sin when matured gives birth to death. The wages of sin is death. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
(Mark 7:20-23, Rom 3:10,James 1:15, Rom 6:23; 3:23)
Jehovah's Witnesses: Do not emphasize the spiritual consequences of Adam's sin on humanity nor they teach that human free will has been damaged. Rather, they expect members to strive to do God's will and remain pure in his eyes. (“God’s Servants must be Clean.” www.watchtower.org)
Mormonism: Adam’s sin had no impact on man’s ability to choose, people have complete free will to choose good or evil, to follow God or not. Children are incapable of sinning until the age of 8, when they become accountable. (http://www.mormon.org/plan-of-happiness and "Core Beliefs and Doctrines." LDS.org.)
Christian Science: Man is sick, sinful, and dying and in need of divine healing. This sin-sickness, however, is in the mind, and not material. Spirit is God, and man is His image and likeness. Therefore man is not material; he is spiritual. (S&H 468, http://www.religioustolerance.org/cr_sci.htm)
Crucified, Dead, Raised, and Ascension
Biblical Gospel:
They put Jesus to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. He didn’t let his Holy One see decay. God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen by…us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. When God raised Jesus from the dead, he seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.
(Acts 2:30; Acts 10:30, Eph 1:21)
Jehovah's Witnesses: Jesus was crucified on a stake, not a cross. While dead God destroyed his physical body. When he returned to heaven, he didn’t receive all power and authority until 1914. ("Who is Jesus Christ?“ www.watchtower.org)
Mormonism: Jesus died on a cross and rose 3 days later, ascended to heaven, but later returned to earth, this time coming to the Americas to preach the Gospel to the Indians, who were decedents of the Israelites. ("Who is Jesus Christ?" Mormon.org. Book of Mormon).
Christian Science: acknowledge that the crucifixion of Jesus and his resurrection served to uplift faith to understand eternal Life, even the allness of Soul, Spirit, and the nothingness of matter. (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures p. 496)
Salvation: The Atonement of Sin
Biblical Gospel:
You have been set free from sin, because he knew no sin became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. He reconciled all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. This Priest offered for all time one sacrifice for sins. “It is Finished!” Now we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works. The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom 6:18, 2 Cor 5:21, Col 1:20, Heb 10:12, John 19:30, Rom 5:1, Eph 2:8, Rom 6:23b)
Jehovah's Witnesses: Christ's death covers the sin of Adam. But eternal life comes not simply from faith in Jesus but from "learning about Jehovah and obeying his requirements," proving oneself to be God's loyal subject, and listening to the Kingdom message and acting on it. (http://www.watchtower.org/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_00.htm)
Mormonism: Jesus paid for sins on the cross, but some sins were not atoned for, and can only be atoned for by your own blood only (Journal of Discourses: Vol 4. p.53)
"One of the most pernicious doctrines ever advocated by man, is the doctrine of 'justification by faith alone”(Joseph F. Smith, pg. 192 of The Restoration of All Things)
“One of the most fallacious doctrines originated by Satan...that man is saved alone by the grace of God; that belief in Jesus Christ alone is all that is needed for salvation.“ (Spencer W. Kimball, pg 206, Faith and Works).
Christian Science: Salvation is achieved through progressive spiritual understanding. A person is not saved from hell – but from his or her belief in materiality; sin, sickness and death are destroyed(Science and Health, 593:20-22.)
Afterlife: (Judgment/Heaven/Hell)
Biblical Gospel:
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. They will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's only begotten Son. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.
(Heb 4:13, 1 Peter 4:5, John 3:18, Dan 12:3)
Jehovah's Witnesses: Dead are raised and judged, with one last chance to gain eternal life. There is no Hell, the wicked are annihilated. 144,000 of JW will rule in Heaven with Jesus, and the other righteous will go to a restored paradise (Eden) on Earth. ("Beliefs: God, Man, and the Future” Watchtower, July 15, 2002.)
Mormonism: Final Judgment all stand before God, Jesus, and Joseph Smith to give an account. Unrighteous who were previously in hell, get 1 last chance to repent, or face eternal damnation. Righteous go to Heaven and those took part in a special sealing ritual on earth get be come to gods too. ("What is heaven like?“"Death is another beginning”."What does the Church teach about hell?" Mormon.org)
Christian Science: There is No Final Judgment. Heaven and Hell are a state of mind. Each must choose their own path. (http://christianscience.com/questions/questions-christian-science-faq/)
My Personal Conclusions:
The Jw are nothing but False Prophets and have Failed Predictions: Examples:
1874- Coming of Christ
1878- Resurrection of Dead
1881- Time of the Gentiles was fulfilled
1914- Armageddon
1918- Christendom would be destroyed
1925- Est. of the Kingdom
1975- End of the World
Joseph Smith, Young, and other founders were either deceived spiritually or were just complete fakes who wanted to satisfy their sexual lusts; or both.
Smith: “. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet . . . " (History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 408-409).
Young: “And he that confesseth not that Jesus has come in the flesh and sent Joseph Smith with the fullness of the Gospel to this generation, is not of God, but is Antichrist," (Journal of Discourses, vol. 9, p. 312).
Christian Science is a "Doctrine of Demons” posing as New Age Gnosticism using Christian Themes