A Nation of Heretics and Revolutionary Truth Tellers

We are "a nation of Osteens and Obamas." So begins one of the most honest and thoughtful op-ed's I've read in some time.  Ross Douthat, a New York Times Op-ed Columnist, writes about how we got there in his book "Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics," and while I don't entirely agree with his analysis of how we got here, I do agree with his analysis of our situation.  We have become a nation where the only orthodoxy is to believe whatever you feel is right.

Far from what is always predicted, we haven't become a nation of atheists. Instead, we've become a nation that believes in a God that is all about you.  God exists to bless us and help us in calamity, but never calls us to repent or challenges our sin.   This "all-about-us-god" wants you to prosper, feel okay about yourself and your life whether you're in sin or not, and never feel like he is grieved.  To this "god" you can never do wrong.  And this is the "god" that many Americans are referring to when they mention "God" in the public square.  

We'd be wrong to think that only people who aren't Christians believe in this God. This epidemic is infecting churches across the nation. In our attempt to gather larger crowds of people, we've cut out the challenging words of Jesus in the Gospels, especially the ones that would contradict our society.  We've remade Jesus into a guru who loves everyone but challenges no one.  There is no longer any need for the good news of Jesus' death and resurrection because we barely mention any sin that we need to be saved from. And as the church moves from the message of the Gospel, true life in God becomes rare.  Ungodliness grows while we sleep unaware and we begin to become a people who call evil, good and good, evil.  

Friends, before it's too late, we must change course.  We must become a people dedicated to a higher cause than our own good.  We must find the biblical Jesus who challenges sin and offers tremendous forgiveness and empowerment to walk free of it.  We must sound an alarm among Christians about the great dangers that are going unquestioned in the church so that we can again become the city on a hill Jesus spoke about.  That will only come as we understand God's heart for ourselves, others, and our nation.

We believe that God has given us an amazing tool--called the Bible--to do this.  But we must be the people willing to accept what it says and live by its precepts.  We must be a people willing to abide by this message no matter how subversive it is to our modern culture--hence the name of this site: Subversive Truth.  We honestly believe the truth is more powerful than the lies our culture is believing. But make no mistake about it, it will challenge the current civic religion of our time. George Orwell famously wrote that "[i]n a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." Our society is entering such a time. We are recruiting you and others to join us in the revolutionary act of declaring the truth from the Bible. Will you join us on this journey to dig deep into God's word and live and abide by what he has to say?  Will you stand with us and proclaim the truth that overturns the lies around every corner?  Stick around...there is more truth to come.

Originally posted by me at Subversivetruth.com 

Inconvenient Faith

There are many formerly professing Christians who have left the faith because it was inconvenient.  I think everyone knows someone like this.  At one time they believed that Jesus was God and through Him they had received eternal salvation.  Today they live their lives as any non Christian does and possibly even preach that there is no God.  It is inconvenient to live the life of a Christian.  It forces us to make choices that can be counter to society and to our own desires.

In today's world, it is not only common, but encouraged for two people who are dating to have sex.  Sex is seen as something pleasurable to be enjoyed with no consequences, and it is best to see if you are sexually compatible before you marry.  Many of us grew up in families where premarital sex was discouraged and called a sin.  Our parents, the church and society taught sexual abstinence, and we believed it was best to abstain. 

Today, if you're at work and during the break you let it slip that you think sex before marriage is wrong, people around your table might start to laugh and make fun of you.  They call you a virgin and ridicule your puritanical thinking.  They think you're some kind of prude who needs to move out of the 19th century and start living in the 21st.  Being called a Virgin is an insult? Being prudent is somehow wrong? In today's world, yes it is.

Many people find themselves in this type of situation and must make a decision to stand on what they believe or change their belief.  They must decide if they will stand for what they believe is right, or do they need to compromise their life?  Too often people will compromise.  The pleasures of life will cause our beliefs to change.

Even if they believe that something is wrong, they will move at least partially in the direction which opposes what they had previously trusted to be true.  Over time not only will they change their actions, but their hearts will follow.  Life will change what we believe, if what we believe is fragile with no firm foundation.   It is too inconvenient to stand for our faith without an anchor to hold onto.

Society pressures everyone to conform to the accepted norm.  The moral standards of those around us will have an effect upon us if we do not have anything solid to anchor our faith in.  We cannot simply believe in God, or what the Bible teaches, because our parents taught us to believe them.  Even basing our faith on what is taught in Sunday School or at Church is not firm enough.  Any teacher, no matter how good and charismatic they might be, is not solid enough to base your faith on.  There is no foundation to plant yourself on, which will be able to weather the storms of society crashing down upon you, except Jesus Christ.

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11

We must let Jesus be the foundation of what we believe.  He is the truth upon which we can depend upon.  The world is at war against the truth of God and we must decide now before the battle begins who we will stand with.  You will never stand alone as a Christian against the world.  Jesus is always right beside you to encourage, strengthen and comfort you.  Whoever is on the Lord's side will not find a comfortable life but they will find a relationship with God that is closer then any on earth.  They will find a life that is full and rewarding.  A life with a purpose that is bigger than themselves.  Inconvenient? Yes, but its a life worth living.

Photo Credit: The Miracle often lies Outside our Comfort zone. by BK

Christian Rebels

My daughter Christy and her husband Travis are rebels.  When they first met they went to a prayer group with other students their age. If it turned out they were the only ones present,  they would not pray together but leave.

When they started to go out together they would not kiss, cuddle, hold hands, or even touch.  They very much wanted to but they chose not to so that they would never go too far.  They would go to the home of an older couple who chaperoned them so they could talk, read and enjoy each others company.  The couple told us how they would sit as close to each other as possible and gaze into each other’s eyes without touching.

Their relationship became stronger over time, but they still wouldn’t touch.  When walking down the street together Travis would not hold her hand, but instead held onto the purse she was carrying.  One time the two of them were sitting outside on a cement step not touching, but gazing into each others eyes.  A guy walked by and rolled his eyes.  “Get a room!”  They laughed because that is what they were trying not to do.

The day they became engaged, they celebrated by holding hands for the day.  The day they got married was the first time they kissed.  These two people are true rebels.  They revolted against the modern accepted belief that a couple should have a physical relationship before marriage.  They rebelled against society norms. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines a rebel as: “opposing or taking arms against a government or ruler.”

At one time what they did would have been seen as normal and accepted and anyone who lived and taught that premarital sex was acceptable would have been seen as counter to the culture of Judeo-Christian ethics.  Today the Bible-believing Christian is the minority and out of date.  We are the ones who are seen as going against the accepted beliefs of the nation.  We are not taking up arms or blowing things up, but we are in opposition of what is acceptable in today’s world.

Our nation sees same sex marriages as acceptable and the gay lifestyle is encouraged in our schools.  Killing an unborn child is encouraged if it makes life easier. Marriages are no longer seen as commitments, but as something to be cast aside whenever you want.  Even Christian marriages have no better divorce rate than non-Christian marriages. Witchcraft is simply another religion right along side any Protestant or Catholic Church.  Gambling is merely another form of entertainment and getting drunk is a normal thing to do when out with friends. Isaiah 5:20a says, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!“

We are a nation governed by a morality that is turned upside down.  We no longer are one nation under God, but one nation under self.  Whatever we want to do, we do it.  We no longer fear God and obey His word. Who is the ruler in the definition of a rebel (opposing or taking arms against a government or ruler)?  From our nation’s point of view Christians are the rebels because they are battling against the ruler of this world (Satan). From God’s point of view, most people in this nation, including many Christians, are rebelling against Him.  He is the true ruler of the universe.  He is King of Heaven and Earth.

Satan started a revolution against God and brought man into the revolution with him.  Adam gave him dominion over the earth, but soon Jesus, the rightful king, will return to take it all back again and cast Satan into the bottomless pit.  Anyone who follows the rebel leader Satan is a traitor against the rightful ruler of the universe.  We must rebel against the occupational government of Satan and place Jesus on the throne of this world and the throne of our lives.

Christians are seen by the US Government as potential terrorists.  The military sees Christians as religious extremists.  The United States seems to feel more threatened by true Christians than by Muslims.  Christians are some of the most patriotic citizens in this country, but spiritually we are a threat.  This is not a physical war but a spiritual one.  Satan will try to silence us any way he can.

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12

- See more at: http://www.subversivetruth.com/christian-rebels/#sthash.yGEhSkGM.dpuf

Freedom in a World Without God

This is a good post about how many are deceived to think freedom comes when there is no God.
Click here to read this insightful post

The Cult of Mike Bickle and IHOP?

I have posted twice on the subject of Mike Bickle and International House of Prayer being a cult. Somehow I missed writing about the article which started this all off. I messed up but now I will answer it as well. To see that article go HERE.

1. Cultic Origins and Goals.
   1. Author says, IHOP began when a man named Augustine told Mike Bickle about hearing an audible voice for Mike and his congregation “I am inviting you to raise up a work that will touch the ends of the earth. I have invited many people to do this thing and many people have said yes, but very few have done my will.” Since many cults started with God telling people a special message this must be a cult as well. The goal of IHOP is to bring on the great tribulation and Mike Bickle proposes that the end time church defeats Gods Enemies.
      1. The examples of cults hearing from God all are cases of not being true to the Scripture. Hearing God is nothing new. Your pastor heard the call of God to the ministry. An audible voice is unusual but God can speak to us anyway He desires. He is at work in the world. The problem is not how God spoke but was what He said Biblical. I saw nothing counter to the scripture in what was God's message.
      2. I listened to what Mike actually said in a teaching about Revelations. From his teaching Mike believes that God will bring about the judgments as a result of the prayers of the church. God brings the tribulation not the Christians, but at the behest of the prayers of believers. He never says that IHOP people praying or even people praying as IHOP prays. I do think Mike is right saying that Christians do not pray as they should and hopefully he is right that Christians are changing in their prayers from just for salvation and being blessed to crying out for the lord, in the world and in their lives. The author is saying things Mike Bickle does not say. Some quotes from Mike Bickle on this subject:

1. The prayers of all the saints during the tribulation will release the trumpet judgments
   
2. The prayers of the martyrs in heaven will also be used to release God’s end-time judgments
   
3. Jesus returns in answer to global concerts of prayer offered by the Church with a bridal identity. Every church will have a spirit of prayer in the End Times or they will cease to exist.
   
4. Jesus will not release the seal judgments until the bowls of prayer around the throne are full. In other words, the end-time Church will be mature in prayer BEFORE the final 3½ years.
   
5. Yes, Mike does believe The Church goes through the tribulation but that does not make him a cult.
   
6. Mike believes that the Church will have victory over the Anti-Christ but that does not mean they won't die or will kill the Anti-Christ. Not turning from Christ to follow the Anti-Christ is victory.
   

2. The Power of Emotionalism, Mysticism nad Gnosticism.
   1. Author says, IHOP practices contemplative pray. This is relaxing and letting youself find the presence of God within.
      1. This is basically what Andrew Murray calls “Waiting on the Lord” It is meditating on Christ and letting Him talk to you. Unless you don't believe a still small voice from God can talk to you, there should not be a problem.
   2. Author believes IHOP claims hidden knowledge by way of prophecies, visions and dreams. Too many people in IHOP rely upon experiences.
      1. Nothing hidden about this at IHOP. They simply believe that God works today through Prophecy, visions and dreams. You can agree or not but that does not make it a cult. Charismatic churches would agree with that. I do agree that people should not depend upon these kind of experiences and IHOP would agree as well which is why they have a teachings, school and internships to ground a person in scripture.
3. The IHOP Dilemma.
   1. Is IHOP full of false prophets or true prophets?
      1. It is true that there are some false prophecies given by people who are training at IHOP but any prophecy given must align with scripture and people are told that if given a prophecy to test the spirit. Is it biblical? Is this the only person saying this? If it is then do not trust it unless others agree with it.
4. A Sampling of the Prophecies
   1. Author gives examples of prophecies given.
      1. Back to point one. God speaks today and can speak anyway He wants. Nothing counter to the Bible here.
5. The Denigration of the Bible and Sola Scriptura.
   1. Author claims IHOP does not see scripture as the revealed will of God and the only necessary thing for faith and practice of Christianity. For example when making a decision they do not use only the Bible but also as God for revelation concerning the decision.
      1. HOW HORRIBLE! Yes they do pray for God's guidance when making a decision.
6. Indexed as a Cult by Multiple Ministries
   1. Short list of 6 ministries that believe IHOP is a cult
      1. So if I have 6 ministries that believe my church is a cult does that make it so? I can find a list of ministries that do not believe IHOP is a cult but to be honest that does not prove is it not a Cult.

In conclusion, the author does not believe God is alive and working in the world today in a powerful way by actually speaking to people through prophesy, visions and dreams. If he did then I don’t think he would have a problem with IHOP.

Many people do not think God is working in this way. That miracles and prophecy are all in the past. If that is so then God does not lead us or speak in a still small voice. Your prayers are heard by God but He does not work in the world today except through natural means. Miracles will never occur. God is powerless.

If that is true then why are the two witnesses in Revelation 11 able to do miracles and prophecy? Miracles, prophecy and healings happened in the past and will in the future. Why do we think that God does not still work powerfully today?

Read more on this subject from previous post.

Is IHOP a Cult?

Mike Bickle is not a Cultist.

To see for yourself what IHOP and Mike Bickle believe.  Check out these pages.

Statement of faith

Affirmations and Denials 

Mike Bickle is Not a Cultist

This time I am looking at another post about International House of Prayer (IHOP) being a cult. To read the first post I published about IHOP being a cult go to here. I will look at what this second post has to say about the theology at IHOP. Click here to read the blog I am talking about in this post.

1. Mike Bickle believes that the Church brings about the great tribulation. The church looses the judgments upon the world. It also claims that Mike “obviously refers to people who have adopted his movement” when talking about the people who pray during the tribulation for the judgments of God to come.
   1. I listened to what Mike actually said in a teaching about Revelations. From his teaching Mike believes that God will bring about the judgments as a result of the prayers of the church. God brings the tribulation not the Christians, but at the behest of the prayers of believers. He never says that IHOP people praying or even people praying as IHOP prays. I do think Mike is right saying that Christians do not pray as they should and hopefully he is right that Christians are changing in their prayers from just for salvation and being blessed to crying out for the lord, in the world and in their lives. The author is saying things Mike Bickle does not say. Some quotes from Mike Bickle on this subject:
      1. The prayers of all the saints during the tribulation will release the trumpet judgments
      2. The prayers of the martyrs in heaven will also be used to release God’s end-time judgments
      3. Jesus returns in answer to global concerts of prayer offered by the Church with a bridal identity. Every church will have a spirit of prayer in the End Times or they will cease to exist.
      4. Jesus will not release the seal judgments until the bowls of prayer around the throne are full. In other words, the end-time Church will be mature in prayer BEFORE the final 3½ years.
      5. Yes, Mike does believe The Church goes through the tribulation but that does not make him a cult.
      6. Mike believes that the Church will have victory over the Anti-Christ but that does not mean they won't die or will kill the Anti-Christ. Not turning from Christ to follow the Anti-Christ is victory.

2. Mike teaches that there will be a great end time revival from Matthew 24 but the author sees no evidence of this in the chapter.
   1. Since Mike believes that Christians will be in the 7 year tribulation we can find these verses to support that there is a great mentioned in Mathew 24.
      1. Matthew 24: 14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
      2. Matthew 24:30-31, “Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.“
   2. Is Mike right about the Church going through the tribulation? I don't know. I don't think so but I know I can be wrong. Either way that does not make him a cultist.
3. Mike Bickle allegorizes scripture wrongly. Specifically the 10 virgins is given as an example.

1. The author does not agree with Mike Bickle on the meaning of these stories which Jesus tells. They disagree and I disagree with Mike on some of it but either way this is not a cultist issue. It is simply a Christian issue of interpretation.
3. In the section Deeper Life Pietism the Author claims that there is not an “elite” christian but Mike Bickle says there is. Such as in the 10 virgins where the wise 5 virgins are Christians who have a close relationship with Jesus and the foolish virgins are Christians who do not have a close relationship. The author says the elite minded leaders of IHOP are imagining “passion for Jesus” along the lines of sensual intimacy that they have ascended into an elite class that will make them like Moses and able to call down plagues on the world.
   1. Yes, it is true that Mike Bickle wants everyone to have an intimate relationship with Jesus, but it is a spiritual intimacy and not a physical or sensual intimacy. Is there an elite Christian? Is Billy Graham an elite Christian? I would say he is an outstanding Christian because of his relationship with the Lord Jesus. If you agree with the definition of elite being “a select part of a group that is superior to the rest in terms of ability or qualities,“ then I would say Billy Graham is elite. I wish we all were elite and if we had an intimate relationship with Christ as we should, we would all be in that same category. Will that make us able to call down plagues? Only if we have a close enough relationship with Christ to hear Him tell us to call it down. Isn't that what intimacy is? Being close enough to someone to hear them and serve them? I never found anywhere where Mike said we would call down the plagues in Revelations but  our prayers would move God to send the plagues. Mike Bickle does not say people have to be with IHOP to be intimate with Jesus.
4. The Marriage supper of the lamb section the author says Mike Bickle cannot know exactly what the Marriage supper means. He than goes on to tell about what we do know about it in relation to the Last Supper.
   1. The author did not say what wrong teaching Mike Bickle had but even if Mike Bickle was wrong in his interpretation of the marriage supper, that does not make him a cultist, only a Christian who is wrong on a minor point.
5. Author's conclusion is he is right and Mike Bickle is wrong.
   1. Mike's stand is totally Christian and many people have twisted (accidentally or on purpose I do not know) what he has said. All Christians have disagreements but that does not make them cultist. A cult leader teaches that Jesus was not the only way to salvation.  The Bible is not the ultimate and inerrant word of God. They add to the scriptures because they do not see it as the final authority. IHOP does believe Jesus is God, salvation is through him alone and the Bible is inerrant and the final authority.  Here are some places to see what Mike Bickle and IHOP does believe. Read for yourself and decide.
      1. Statement of Faith
      2. Affirmations and Denials 
      3. Teaching on Revelations
         

Is IHOP a Cult?

A friend of mine posted about International House of Prayer (IHOP) being a cult. I have been there and know people who have interned there and taken courses there. I am not an expert but from what I have seen and learned about them I do not believe they are a cult. There were two post from blogs given to show it was a cult. The first one I will discuss is “Why I believe IHOP is a Cult” from the blog THE GOSPEL MASQUERADE. I would copy and paste parts of it here but since I do not have the author's permission I can not do that. So please take a look at the post as I take each point.

The author was an intern at IHOP. Interns are there for 3 or 6 months to prepare individuals in serving the Lord. They have college level training and gain practical experience. The six month internship presently costs $4900. There are other options for internship but this one is the most expensive. See here for details. (This is for your info not to get you to become an intern.)

1. The author says that a IHOP is a cult because it controls its members' behavior. She complains that as an intern she was restricted in where she could go (unless she got verbal permission), the hours required to be at prayer room, classes and attending services at night.
   1. When signing up for internship, she knew what the requirements were and didn't have to apply for internship. She could have left at any time if she so wanted. Compared to some colleges (such as Bob Jones University which once had two sidewalks with one for boys and one for girls) these restrictions were not that bad. Also it is very wise of IHOP to restrict where people go since it is not in a safe area of town.
2. Cults have destructive ethical double standards. The author complains that interns were punished when they broke rules and didn't like being required to participate in sharing personal struggles and questions. They were required to keep a journal and turn it in weekly to a leader.
   1. IHOP has to have rules and breaking rules will have consequences. The journal keeping is a good practice and letting leaders see what you wrote so they can help you and pray for you should not be a problem. HOWEVER, I do think they were wrong to pray for someone from things in the journal when other are around.
3. Destructive Cults have two basic purposes: recruiting and fund-raising The author did not like being pressured to recruit new interns. At conferences internship was promoted. She also did not like having to pay $4500 for 6 month intership.
   1.  As an intern she would be a great person to tells others what it is like so of course they wanted her to tell others about it.  That is pretty much normal.  The intern shares a fully furnished apartment for 6 months with 5 other girls. The upkeep and utilities come out of that tuition. She attends college level courses and is trained in Bible study, prayer, witnessing, and other Christian activities and gains practical experience in their use. $4500 is not a bad price and I am not sure where you could go to get that kind of training for less..

4. Destructive cults appear innovation and exclusive. The leader, Mike Bickle, refered to us and them when talking about the people in IHOP verses people not in IHOP. Those in IHOP were cutting edge and ahead of the church in something new.
   1. They are cutting edge when it comes to some things. They were one of the first to have 24/7 prayer year around. They make disciples of people and not just bring them to Christ. Compared to almost every church I know, they are ahead of them.

5. Destructive cults are authoritarian. Friends of the author were concerned about theology and the model of everything at IHOP. (never says what theology) Mike Bickle says, “This is how we do things here. This is how IHOP is. It's not for everyone.” IHOP has its own culture and you had to assimilate that culture. If you had problems with the culture you were told you just were not a good fit for it.
   1. The author was definitely not a good fit. We have different cultures everywhere. Each church is a different culture and we all look for a church culture we fit into. The IHOP culture was not a good culture for the author.

6. Destructive cults have self appointed messianic persons claming to have a special mission in life. The author was required to listen to a 12 hour history IHOP. Prophetic words were spoken about Mike Bickle leading the next big thing God was doing. Mike was to lead a movement that would change the nature and expression of Christianity on Earth. Mike's mission was to capture the hearts of young people. This teaching put Mike on a pedestal and he has a “Messianic-like” following. If Mike says a book is good, all copies of that book would sell out. Mike is charismatic and people are drawn to him and follow him blindly. IHOP calls on young people, who do not think the church or their parents understand them, to come to IHOP where people are understanding. Some people who go to IHOP never want to leave.
   1. A pastor of a church is almost always held up on a pedestal. They were called by God to preach and lead that church. Mike Bickle is in the same boat. He is held up on a pedestal because he was called by God to lead IHOP. In both cases we should not hold anyone up as better then us but only with a different calling. However, that is often not how it turns out. God has called Mike to lead IHOP. He is charismatic and he does desire to capture the hearts of young people for Christ. Young people are often troubled and feel like outsiders in their families and churches. So what is wrong with calling on them to come to IHOP and train to serve God. Yes, it is true that some people might go and become afraid of going back to their previous home culture but that can be true of anything such as becoming so attached to your job you could never leave it.

7. Cult leader centers veneration upon himself.
   1. Just because people hold Mike up on a peristalsis does not mean he wants them to. Does a pastor want it? They are there to simply serve God and the Church.

8. Cult leaders tend to be determined, domineering and charsimatic.
   1. Mike Bickle is determined, domineering at times and charismatic. If that makes him a cult leader then we have a few million cults in our land.

Through out this blog post the author talks about what happened to her and how hard it was on her. She saw Mike Bickle as a charismatic, popular leader and IHOP as a culture which she did not fit into. Not once did she ever say what was taught which was counter to scripture. I admit some things at IHOP might not be as they should be but it is not a cult. This blog only shows how one person could not handle internship at IHOP. They could have left at anytime but decided not to. She was free the whole time to accept being a part of IHOP and or not. 

God in My Huge Box

I find that I so often put God into a box.  I look at that box and I say to myself, “WOW! I really serve a big God.”  I look at other people’s God and the box they have Him in is always smaller (yeah I get delusional at times).

Not long ago I was reading about how Jesus has gone away to prepare a place for us in John 14:2 where it says “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”  I got to thinking about what does it say in the Greek about my fathers “house” and “mansions”. I got out my Strong’s Concordance and found pretty much what I expected.

“House” is a family dwelling and “mansion” is a residence.  So in God’s house we get a room to live in.  That really didn’t seem that great.  Nothing much to be excited about.  If I was a good little Christian boy I might even get a few rooms to live in.

I looked at the verse and asked God about it.  I didn’t really see much in this verse that God could tell me about but hey, maybe God was smarter then I was and could shine a small light on something new.  This is approximately how my conversation went with that still small voice:

God: Where is my house?

Me: In Heaven.  Its beautiful there with a huge throne room, lightning and thunder, angels everywhere and people worshipping you.

God: Where is my house?

Me: Oh! You mean inside me?

God: Where is my house?

A confused me: Um….what do you mean?

God: Where do I live?

Me: Well, you’re in my heart. (quiet) You’re in Heaven. (quiet) You’re um….everywhere.

God: Where is everywhere?

Me being dumb: Well, its everywhere. (quiet) You live here and in Heaven.  I guess you fill the whole Universe and every other dimension there is.

God: I live in all of existence and in all of time.  My house is far more then a simple building of wood or stone.  The place that is being prepared for you is far greater then a room or mansion.

Me in wonder: The universe is your home and you have a place for each Christian someplace in your universe.  Wow! You mean like I will get a world or maybe even a solar system in the Milky way as my own place to live in?  That is so cool Lord.

God: You think small, child.

Me stunned: But… Lord that’s huge.  How could you…?

Then it hit me.  God reminded me of a You Tube video I once saw (video here) which showed two pictures that the Hubble telescope had taken.  The pictures took 10 and 11 days each with the telescope pointing into a dark patch of space.  What they found were thousands of galaxies with millions of stars in each one.  There must be billions of galaxies out there.  Could each one of them be a residence that Jesus is preparing for us?

I don’t know for sure that this is what God has prepared for us.  I do know that we think to small when it comes to God.  I would not put it past him to have a galaxy for each of us, but with a God as big and as great as ours, He could prepare a whole universe for us if He wanted.  I did learn one thing for sure.  Don’t limit what God can do for you.

Photo Credit: God in box on shelf by Stan Connell

Is Baptism needed for Salvation?

If baptism is not needed for salvation then why does the Bible command us to be baptized?  It’s a good question, so lets take a look at some scriptures concerning baptism and salvation.

Acts 22:16 is the account of where Ananias tells Saul (later to be called Paul), “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Notice how there is an “and” between “baptized” and “wash away thy sins”, but there is no “and” found between “wash away thy sins” and “Calling on the name of the lord?  The “and” separates “baptized” from the “washed away thy sins,” but does not separate “washed away thy sins” from “calling on the name of the Lord.”  To have your sins washed away you need to call upon the name of the lord.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

Paul retells the gospel which he had preached to the Corinthian Church by which they were saved, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” That is the gospel.  That is the key to how the Christians in Corinth were saved.  Paul did not preach the need for baptism to be saved but only that they receive what Jesus had done for them.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:17a “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:…” Baptism is not part of the gospel.  It is separate and does not save.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Jesus’ death and resurrection for the sins of the world.

Acts 2:38 says, “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” This is probably one of the best verses to support baptism for salvation.  Before we go into this verse, lets see what Peter said before this in Acts 2:21 “and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Also in Acts 3:19a, when preaching his sermon from Solomon's portico in the Temple, he says “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out…” Again no mention of needing to be baptized.

If Peter believes you need to be baptized to be saved why doesn’t he always say so? Why would he say you need to be baptized in one verse but not say it in the others?  To answer that we need to go to the Greek. 

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  We are going to look at that little word “for” which in the Greek is “gar”.  Gar has many translations.  It is used for assigning a reason (used in arguments, explanations and intensification).  Another word that gar can be translated as is “because”  That little word changes everything.  Repent and be baptized because your sins are gone.

Peter in Acts 10 went to see Cornelius in Cæsarea. Verses 44 to 48 reads, “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

Order of actions is: 1. Peter spoke. 2. The Holy Spirit came to those who heard Peter’s words. 3. They were baptized. The baptism was the result of God’s work within them. They were Christian believes who the Holy Spirit had come and dwelt within them and then they were baptized.  We are all to be baptized (outward expression) because our sins are forgiven, (an inward work)  It was true then and it is true today.

In the previous post “History of Baptism” I told how Baptism was done in the times of Jesus.  If baptism was required for salvation then we would have to do it right and that is how Jesus was baptized.  Where you baptized in living water (stream, river or ocean) or in a mikvah (large container of water which came from a natural source such as rain)?  Where you touched when baptized (which can prevent water from reaching all your skin)?  In fact in those times anyone who was baptized was naked.  Were you wearing anything at the time of your baptism?  If you don’t meet these requirements then you were not truly baptized properly.  Does that mean your not saved?

Going under the waters are figurative for dying,  just as Jesus died. Coming out of the water is figurative to rebirth and resurrection just as Jesus was raised from the dead.  To say that a person must reenact the death and resurrection of Jesus for salvation is to add something we must do to be saved.  It is no longer a gift but something we must earn by being baptized.  Just before Jesus died he said “It is finished” It was the exact words used by merchants when a debt was paid.  It meant “Paid in full”

To say baptism is needed to be saved, is to say his death on the cross was not sufficient.  You still have to do something else to add to the work of God. 

I will say no more but I pray that you will read this and pray about it.  I can not change your mind even if I should write a thousand pages.  The only one who can show you what is true is the Holy Spirit.  Pray and ask Him to show you what is true.  I have searched this subject thoroughly for hours, not just to win some foolish argument but) to find out what the truth is. If I was wrong I would have been praising God to have found out something new about Him and His word.  The truth that I found is this: “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.” Ephesians 2: 8-9

Previous post on the subject of baptism: Salvation by Faith Alone–Scripture and History of Baptism

Photo Credit: The Power of the Blood of Jesus Christ by Unlocking TheBible

History of Baptism

Is baptism a requirement for salvation?  Acts 2:38 says “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

In order to fully understand what baptism is to Peter we need to go back to what Baptism meant to the Jews of his time.  The Jewish term for baptism is “Tevilah”.  Tivilah is a ritual bathing (totally immersion) within living water such as a stream or using a mikvah (a specially constructed ritual bath which required to hold at least 120 gallons of water and came from a natural source such as rain.  The water for a mikvah could not come from a well or cistern.

Tevilah is required when someone converts to Judaism.  When the person was baptized he would walk down into the water and crouch down under it so that he was totally covered.  That way no contact with the person overseeing the baptism prevented the water from reaching their whole body.

John the Baptist (Yochanan ha Matbil)  would preach to the crowds for repentance of their sins.  People were convicted and came down to express their change of heart by baptism.  To show that they were converted to a new way of life they would immerse themselves under the water.  John would not do the actual immersion himself, but oversaw their Baptism. John would make sure that the ritual was done properly and that the person completely immersed himself under the water.

Baptism was the outward action of the person to show, in a spiritual ritual, what had occurred within their heart.  A person who converted to Judaism believed that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the one true God and the old testament was God’s word.  They gave themselves to God so that they might worship, serve and know Him.  The Tevilah was simply the ritual to show that he was now dead to serving his previous gods and was now alive to serve the one true God.

The word we translate as Baptism literally means “ total immersion”.  It refers to something being immersed into another substance so that it might take on the attributes of that substance.  It is like immersing a cloth into a dye so that the cloth can take up the color of the dye.

When Tevilah takes place it is done in living water (moving water).  Jesus uses the term living water when he speaks in John 7: 37-38 “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!  Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)”

When we are baptized we are performing a ritual to express what has happened with us in the spiritual realm.  We are buried in Christ.  We are no longer living as our old sinful self but our sins are removed from us by the blood of Jesus Christ. We are immersed in living water (the Holy Spirit) who permeates our being and now lives within us.  We are raised alive in a new birth with God indwelling inside us.

Now that I have spoken on what Baptism is I will say more on its relation to Salvation in my next post.

Photo Credit: River baptism in New Bern by Jaaziel

Salvation by Faith Alone–Scripture

I met someone on Facebook who I wanted to get to know better.  He knew his scriptures so I asked what he believed.  He told me that concerning salvation he believed you must believe and be baptized.  “But i'm not willing to teach faith alone I'm not willing to stake my soul or anyone i teach soul on faith alone.”

To answer him I told him I would write in this blog why I believe in faith alone for salvation.  This will take at least a couple of post. In this post I will share some of the scriptures which support salvation coming by faith in Jesus Christ and how nothing we do can add to the salvation of our souls.

^{“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.”  Ephesians 2:8-9}

^{“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1}

^{“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28}

^{“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24}

^{“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16}

^{“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:9}  

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:6

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;” Titus 3:5

If you want to find more verses on salvation by faith, there are many more you can read.  Galatians 3:1-29 and Romans 4: 1-25 are some larger portions of Scriptures on the subject.   I will say more in my next post, but how can I say anything more powerful than what God says in his own word?

Photo Credit: “For by Grace…” by Sharon

Today Ukraine, Tomorrow Israel.

Russia is about to invade Ukraine.  People thought that the Russian Bear from the cold war era was weak and declawed.  If that was the case then how could the Bible Prophecy be fulfilled about Gog (Russian leader) and Magog (Russia) coming down to invade Israel?  Until now, people thought Russia was not a geo-political treat in the world any more. 

Russia has to hold onto its only warm water port of Sevastopol which is in Crimea, Ukraine.  With out the port they will lose their standing as a world power.  Their Navy would be crippled with only ports that are open in warm weather.  They have almost no choice but to either take the Ukraine or trust to the people of Ukraine allowing them to keep the port.

This does not seem like something prophetic but it is an essential step in drawing Russia down into an attack of Israel.  The world will undoubtedly put  economic sanctions on Russia for their actions in the Ukraine.  Russia can not afford such economic stress upon their economy.  To help, Russia will need some economically rich area to lift their financial hardships.  The richest country in the middle east is Israel.  They have food, industry, and are even wealthy with oil now.

Yes, Israel has an estimated 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas off its coast.  Russia has tried to make a deal with Israel over the natural gas field.  Russia wants that gas.  Israel is now self sufficient and who knows how much more might be found.  Israel is a multi faceted prize to anyone who can take it.

If economic sanctions are placed upon Russia, they might see the only way to survive as going after Israel.  No one will stop them from going into Ukraine.  Who would stop them from taking Israel?  Europe would not try to stop Russia from invading Israel.  The United States has shown in the last few years that it has no back bone and while other nations are increasing their military, the U.S. is cutting theirs. The Obama administration has distanced us from supporting of Israel and instead has supported the Arabs.  No nation will stand between Russia and Israel. 

“Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:” Ezekiel 39:1

The whole story of Russia coming down to invade Israel is found in Ezekiel 38-39.  You will find it very interesting.

Am I right?  Is this the next step in Bible prophecy that is about to occur?  We will have to watch and see.