Christianity taking over the planet?

WND/Virtueonline ^ | 2005 | WND/

[TommyDale]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1399839/posts

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I think it is nice that you are defending him. As I've said before, I haven't read the book myself. I just posted a link to an interesting perspective. I think NO MAN is above criticism. But I can believe what you say that he would never KNOWINGLY do anything unbiblical. I think the points about the missing doctrine are solid, if true. I think the points about his motive are weak. Who can know?

The critique I posted didn't completely slam him, by the way.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I'm going to read it more thoroughly, but I think there are some valid points in there. If I remember correctly though, she did not fail to emphasize holiness. And when she said God was to do the work, not us, it meant He did the work THROUGH us. And this book is all about AFTER you accept Christ, so there is no lack of faith first. And no absence of the doctrine of sin and the need repentance. But still, there may be some truth to some of the criticism. It's been too long for me to say.

[Quix]

Thanks.

I agree--no one is above scrutiny and the truth.

[Quix]

Thanks. Computer is much better.

Strongly agree about the carping about something worthy celebration.

Sheesh.

God's best to you.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Okay, well I am not convinced this Henry person is a reliable source. I get the sense that Henry was motivated to disprove something. It sure comes across that way.

The article overall distorts the book (I remember it well enough to say). Smith never said you would be happy because things were grand. You'd have trials. But she was teaching how to be happy through trials, how to understand that God has something to teach you through them. When you recognize that, when your faith is in God alone, you can be happy under all circumstances -- as Paul said that he was content with much or little, to die or live, in jail or free....

Smith, in her book, talked of difficulties she had, like the lady that drove her crazy until she realized God wanted to use the lady to teach her patience. She also talked about difficulties concerning sin. She never claimed to be perfect.

This book was just about changing the Christian's attitude and outlook. Happiness in this context would be better described as Christian joy, which is a fruit of the Spirit. We aren't supposed to run around being miserable, are we?

The Universalism and mysticism stuff in the Henry book is weird and totally contrary to the Smith book I read.

[CyberAnt]

Thanks for the link - I had not seen that.

This is why Islam has taken over in the jails - they recruit these killers and make use of their rage. Good grief.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

She also read the Bible to him. I think that's significant. If you insert the missing elements, it sounds like the book can be a good tool. Clearly the man was confronting his sin.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Grace is only amazing when you realize what a wretch you are. The cross happened because of sin. We can't skip that part.

We are told to take up our cross, deny ourselves, turn from sin....many will say "Lord, Lord" who do not know Him. How can we tell who knows Him? If they keep His commandments. You know the verses. God still hates sin, and repentance is fundamental to the gospel. We aren't saved by works, but part of believing is believing what God says about sin. A "broken and contrite heart" he will not ignore. That theme is consistent -- OT & NT.

[Just another Joe]

How about this?

What We Believe

1. THE BIBLE: We believe the entire Bible, all 66 books of the combined Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are inerrant in the original writings. Through the providence of God, the Word of God has been protected and preserved, and is the only infallible and authoritative rule of faith and practice (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

2. GOD: We believe that there is only one true, living sovereign, holy, and eternally existent God. He exists in three co-equal persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - each being a distinct person and with a distinct function, but all of one essence and all possessing the same nature, perfection, and attributes. The triune God is the creator and sustainer of all things, the source of all truth, and is worthy of worship, confidence, and obedience (Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Genesis 1:31).

3. JESUS CHRIST: We believe that Jesus Christ is God. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, performed many miracles, shed His blood on the cross as a vicarious substitute, was buried, bodily resurrected, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will return literally, visibly, and personally in glory and power (John 1:1-3, 14; Matthew 1:18-25; Philippians 2:5-9; Colossians 1:15; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:11).

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe that the Holy Spirit is God, co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. He is the chief convictor of sin, the chief agent of regeneration and sanctification. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer and empowers every believer to live a godly life (John 14:16-19; 16:7-15; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 8:9, 11; Titus 3:5).

5. MANKIND: We believe that in the beginning God created mankind in His image, and is not in any sense the product of evolution. Mankind was originally created with the ability to live perfectly for God's glory (Genesis 1:17, 31).

6. SIN: We believe that Adam, the first man, sinned by willful disobedience. This act of open rebellion resulted in the fall of all mankind, therefore, all people have sinned and lost their ability to live for the glory of God. Mankind's fall has incurred both physical and spiritual death on all until there is forgiveness and salvation by the grace of God (Genesis 3:1-24; Romans 3:10-23; 5:12-21; 6:23).

7. SALVATION: We believe the salvation of lost and sinful mankind is a free gift of God's grace apart from human works, based solely upon Christ's vicarious and atoning death, effected by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, and received only through faith in the person and finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-10; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

8. ETERNAL SECURITY: We believe that since God gives us eternal life through Christ, the believer is secure in that salvation forever. Our salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the efforts of the believer (John 10:29-30; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 1 John 5:11-13).

9. THE CHURCH: We believe that the church is the body of Christ and the family of God. It is made up of saved and baptized believers, who regularly join together on the Lord's Day for worship, fellowship, and ministry (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Hebrews 10:25).

10. EVANGELISM: We believe that it is the responsibility and privilege of every Christian to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ and to seek to make growing disciples (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

11. ETERNITY: We believe man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or in union with God through salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally with God is heaven. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence (John 3:16; 2:25; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15).

12. BAPTISM AND LORD'S SUPPER: Jesus instructed His followers to remember His death and resurrection. He gave the church two visible symbols (called "ordinances") as reminders. These two ordinances are baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism by immersion is an act of obedient identification with Jesus as Lord. It serves as an outward sign of conscious confession of repentance and faith. The Lord's Supper is an ongoing symbol remembering our Lord's death, burial, resurrection, and promised return (Matthew 26:26-29; 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-32).

[Quix]

i STRONGLY AGREE. THX.

[Quix]

I much agree about him confronting hi ssin--probably amongst his last heavy duty chances at such.

[TommyDale]

Baptist? I take exception with #8, but I won't tell you that it is wrong. Let's just say that my was is safer. I wouldn't want to risk eternity based on that interpretation of eternal security.

[Just another Joe]

I take exception with #8, but I won't tell you that it is wrong.

The eternal part or the works part?

[TommyDale]

The eternal security part. Just my opinion...

[TommyDale]

Here is mine:

Articles of Faith

Article One
We believe there is but one living and true God everlasting, of infinite power, wisdom and goodness; Maker and Preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in the unity of this Godhead there are three Persons of one substance of eternal being, and equal in holiness, justice, wisdom, power, and dignity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.

Article Two
We believe that the Son, who is the Word of the Father, the very and eternal God, of one substance with the Father, took man's nature in the womb of the blessed virgin; so that two whole and perfect natures, that is to say, the Godhead and the manhood were joined together in one Person, never to be divided, whereof is one Christ, very God and perfect man, who actually suffered, was crucified, dead, and buried, to reconcile the Father to us, and to make atonement, not only for our actual guilt, but also for original sin.

Article Three
We believe that Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again His body, with all things appertaining to the perfections of man's nature, and ascended into heaven and there sits until He shall return to judge all men at the last day.

Article Four
We believe the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the Father and the Son, is of one substance, majesty and glory with the Father and the Son, very and eternal God.

Article Five
We believe in the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, known as the Bible, composed of sixty-six books and divided into two departments, Old and New Testaments. We believe the Bible is the Word of God, the full and complete revelation of the plan and history of redemption.

Article Six
We believe that eternal life with God in heaven is a portion of the reward of the finally righteous; and that everlasting banishment from the presence of the Lord and unending torture in hell are the wages of the persistently wicked (Matthew 25:46; Psalm 9:17; Revelation 21:7-8).

Article Seven
We believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the remission of sins that are past, for the regeneration of penitent sinners, and for salvation from sin and from sinning (Romans 3:25; 1 John 3:5-10; Ephesians 2:1-10).

Article Eight
We believe, teach, and firmly maintain the scriptural doctrine of justification by faith alone (Romans 5:1).

Article Nine
We believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood for the complete cleansing of the justified believer from all indwelling sin and from its pollution, subsequent to regeneration (1 John 1:7-9).

Article Ten
We believe in sanctification. While sanctification is initiated in regeneration and consummated in glorification, we believe that it includes a definite, instantaneous work of grace achieved by faith subsequent to regeneration (Acts 26:18; 1 John 1:9). Sanctification delivers from the power and dominion of sin. It is followed by life-long growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:16; 2 Peter 3:18).

Article Eleven
We believe that the pentecostal baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire is obtainable by a definite act of appropriating faith on the part of the fully cleansed believer, and the initial evidence of the reception of this experience is speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:5; 2:14, 8-17; 10:44-46; 19:6).

Article Twelve
We believe in divine healing as in the atonement (Isaiah 53:4-5; Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 16:14-18; James 5:14-16; Exodus 15:26).

Article Thirteen
We believe in the imminent, personal, premillennial second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 3:1-4; Matthew 24:29-44), and love and wait for His appearing (2 Timothy 4:8).

Article Fourteen
We believe it is the responsibility of every believer to dedicate his life to carrying out the work of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Acts 1:8).

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

Blue, I just finished reading post #88, and I want to include Tommy Dale in this, too.

I have read both of Rick Warren's books, and I have read the criticisms of it, both here and on other threads, and in other material.

---

No probelm; I've read the "Purpose Driven Life", and studied it with a small group at church. He wanders off the track in a number of places, but no more so than many other books of the same type. It's neither "great" nor "doorway to hell", and no doubt represents Warren's best effort.

As you say, if it helps several people along the way, fine. I've got Oswald Chambers on my shelf too, and read it many years ago. Like most "devotional" books, it has its good points and its howlers.

Lately, I just read Scripture, systematically (at least once a year through) and topically (as specific issues come up) with good technical references at hand to facilitate memory of cross-references and keep a journal of questions, observations, and "parking lot" list of action items.

It's very hard to find study materials that beat that approach. I haven't seen worthy substitutes for several years (other than some sermon series from currently preaching pastors, who seem to be digging in much as I describe above - - - they are my "small group").

[norge]

I read a broad cross-section of books, including Swindoll, F.B.Meyer, Phil Yancey, Beth Moore, etc.

I use the NLT in my reading. Standing by are my old Scofield KJV, the NKJV, the NIV, The Message and Wuest's Greek Translation of the NT.

I have recently completed reading the Old Testament through chronologically. What a fulfilling experience! It places the Psalms in their proper context, and especially adds context to Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel combined with the two Kings and Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah.

Since I journal extensively, and according to subject matter, it seems we are on much the same path.