Charismatic Counterfeits: Do the Modern Gifts Meet the Biblical Standard? - by Nathan Busenitz

Excerpted from here. Our comments in bold.

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This is a long, and dare we say, irrelevant sermon. 

In this excerpt Mr. Busenitz promises at least five times that he's going to apply a biblical standard. He does manage to quote a couple of tangential Scriptures, but doesn't actually give us his defense from the Bible, let alone an analysis of his theological opponents. In fact, he addresses not a single charismatic argument. 

Mr. Busenitz manages to actually quote only two Scriptures, Deuteronomy 13:1-5, and 2 Peter chapter 2 (neither appear in this excerpt). Neither Scripture adds to his position in any substantial way.

In fact, this is so frustratingly long, and so absent documentation and biblical exposition, we are going to quote just a snippet. The reader can go to the link above for the rest of it.

The reader may also wish to read our cessationism series, where we make extensive and detailed biblical arguments in favor of the continuation of the spiritual gifts.

As to the title, Mr. Busenitz is asking the wrong question. He should be asking, why doesn't the modern Church manifest the biblical standard?

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Trust the experts - Stevie Berryman

Found on FB. Our comments in bold.

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This author wants us to believe that the experts must not be questioned, and those who disagree with experts have nothing to offer because they are not experts. Further, those who are experts but disagree with other experts are "discredited," apparently because he agrees with one side and not the other.

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This prayer we do is important: Luke 11

Those Christians who have been burdened with the ministry of prayer have likely had an epiphany. They suddenly realized that prayer is something critical as a spiritual discipline. They are dedicated to pursuing God's purpose for the church in intercession. It is unfortunate that prayer is somewhat rare in a typical church, but we believe there are those in every church who know the importance of prayer. They are watchmen on the wall:

Ps. 130:6 My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Is. 52:8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.

Is. 62:6-7 I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, 7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.

Those who travail in prayer are on the front lines of battle, and often face discouragement. Prayer can be a difficult discipline. So this post is to encourage those who pursue prayer, spur others into active prayer, and to delve into some of Jesus' teachings on prayer.

It is our desire that the Church rise up to its call to prayer in these difficult times. 

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Let's look at Luke chapter 11:1-13:

The Problem of Private Schools - by Sparky Abraham

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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The author cannot make up his mind. Are private schools worse or better? Should government control schools or is indoctrination bad? 

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It’s a well-known fact that private schools perpetuate inequality. But is abolishing them the answer? (It's a well-known fact? Really?)

Our mystery begins with my hometown of Santa Barbara, California, which has some of the best public schools in the country. This isn’t just hometown pride speaking: They really are top-notch public schools. And why shouldn’t they be great? Santa Barbara is an extremely wealthy area. Residents include Oprah, Rob Lowe, Ellen Degeneres, Jeff Bridges, and Kevin Costner. The median home price hit a million dollars way back in 2004. It dipped during the recession (all the way down to $845,000) but has since recovered and is now over $1.2 million. Santa Barbara’s well-funded public schools tend to place in the top quartile of schools in California, and doubtless outperform many private schools in other towns. No one would call the schools in Santa Barbara “bad.” They are manifestly good.

What a blessing, you might think. Sure, it costs a fortune to live there, but good public schools! Free, high-quality public education is a huge asset—it’s a major determiner of property values in the first place. (Undocumented statement.)

Oh—you might think—how wonderful to be free from the private/charter/magnet/public battles, free from planning kindergarten applications at birth to set up your kid for the application for elementary school in order to put them in the best position to get into the right middle school, which is so important for getting them into a good high school, which of course is essential for admission to the right college, which will be basically required for their law school application. No need for any of that in Santa Barbara. You can just go sign ‘em up.

But here’s the mystery: Santa Barbara also has a thriving industry of private schools. (The fact that the author considers it a mystery is revealing. He cannot understand why parents would choose private education for their children. Really, the issue is that parents CHOOSE. He doesn't like their choices. Parents shouldn't have that choice. That's his real problem.)

Before you complain, try understanding Constitution - letter by William Steadman

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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Whenever a leftist tries to explain the Constitution, you can be sure he will not get it right.

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It seems that many people complaining about losing rights do not understand the rights granted by the Constitution. (First error, and we are just one sentence in. The Constitution does not grant rights, it enumerates them. The Constitution restricts government power. The preamble to the Bill of Rights:

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.

These are additional restrictive clauses, clauses that restrict government. In addition, the 9th Amendment should clear up any remaining confusion about this:

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

These rights are enumerated, not granted.)

Difficult Bible verses - Matthew 5:17-18

Mt. 5:17-18 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

This is one of those verses that seems pretty plain in meaning, but there are implications. If the Law survives to this day, we should explore how this might be, and how it might apply to Christians.

Dear Christian: STOP IT!! - by Steven Kozar

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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The reason we are considering this article today is because of the author's mix of justifiable criticism and also getting it wrong. We shall address the latter.

Further, the author makes no attempt to explain the truth in contradistinction to the false things he identifies. He doesn't reference even a single Scripture!

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There are lots of things that Christians believe that are not in the Bible. At all.

What’s the point of being a “Bible-believing Christian” if you believe a bunch of stuff that isn’t even in the Bible? And even worse, why would you believe ideas that go against what God’s Word teaches us?!

If God really wanted us to “Achieve our Dreams” and “Fulfill our Destiny,” wouldn’t the Bible clearly tell us that? Wouldn’t there be verses in the New Testament where we (the church) would be instructed to “Dream Big” or “Get out of your comfort zone” or “Follow the dream in your heart” or something like that? Did Jesus die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins, or did He die on the cross so our dreams can come true? (The idea of destiny is not unchristian, but the way some people present it may be. The Bible talks a lot about destiny and future and purpose.

Some destiny is bad:

Job 8:13 Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.

Ph. 3:19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

"Destiny" in the Greek is τέλος, ους, τό (telos), (a) an end, (b) event or issue, (c) the principal end, aim, purpose, (d) a tax... consummation (the end-goal, purpose), such as closure with all its results.

Some destiny is good. The Greek word is used in Ro. 6:22, for example:

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

"Destiny" is simply where you end up. Some have remarkable ministry in the Kingdom, while others perhaps are less profoundly destined [in the human view, of course]. But we are all created with a purpose:

Ep. 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1Co. 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” — [Isaiah 64:4] 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

Ro. 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 The idea of destiny is not controversial or wrong, though perhaps the application may be.

J.D. Hall Rips ‘The Passion of the Christ’ Sequel In Newsweek Interview -by Dustin Germain

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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It is interesting to see the manner in which the Doctrinal Police get twisted up. Mel Gibson, a man of questionable personal character, is making another movie about Jesus. The author notes the J.D. Hall objects; he apparently does not want people to be exposed to Jesus. We say this because the first movie was seen by 59,625,500 people in the US and was the seventh-highest grossing film at that time.

Apart from a somewhat minor doctrinal difference regarding Jesus' activities between His death and His resurrection, J.D. Hall is particularly piqued about the violation of the Second Commandment. We quote the last paragraph of the article:

“There may be other objections, too. J.D. Hall was among the faith leaders who pre-screened Passion. His response was mostly positive, but he says he now views artistic portrayals of Jesus as violations of the Second Commandment’s ban on the worship of “graven images.” He’s not planning to see Resurrection when it comes out. “Jesus is the most famous and interesting person who ever lived, so there will be a sizable market for Resurrection,” Hall says. “But idolatry includes Jim Caviezel playing Christ. They’re commercializing the Son of God. If Jesus returned and walked into a theater playing this movie, he’d turn over the tables of the money changers.”

So let's actually quote the Second Commandment:

Ex. 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

The Hebrew word for "idol" ("graven image") is pesel, which is quite simply an idol, an image. Despite Bible translations containing the word "idolatry," there appears to be no actual Hebrew word for it. Every occurrence of the word is simply "idol." The word encompasses the entire concept.

This is not true in the NT. While there is a Greek word for "idol" is eidólon [an image for worship, by implication a false god], there is also one for "idolatry." That is eidólolatria, which is service (worship) of an image (an idol). Here there is a distinction between having the idol itself vs. the activity of idolatry.

We say all this to bring us to the point of considering J.D. Hall's assertions.

First, Mr. Hall claims that portraying Jesus in a movie violates the Second Commandment. In order for this to be true, the image would need to be constructed for the purpose of worshiping it. So the Mel Gibson's specific intent must be for the purpose of worshiping the movie, that is, the image Christ portrayed by the actor, and the response of people watching the movie is to worship it. However, there is no evidence at all that Mr. Gibson made the movie for the purpose of his image of Jesus to be worshiped, and likewise there is no evidence that people are worshiping the first movie or will worship the second one.

"Worship" is proskuneó, I go down on my knees to, do obeisance to, worship. Portraying Jesus in a movie is not worship.

Second, Mr. Hall claims they are money changers, intending to profit from the Son of God. This is probably true, they do intend to make a profit. However, being a money changer is not synonymous with making a profit. In fact, we don't know that it is unholy or sinful to gain a profit from telling a story about Jesus. Rather, we would think that making the movie is more about honoring Jesus.

If profiting from telling the story of Jesus is sinful, then Zondervan is sinful for selling Bibles. Construction companies owned by Christians are evil for charging to build church buildings. Church staff are unholy for accepting a salary. Christian colleges are money changers for charging tuition.

As is typical for the Doctrinal Police, J.D. Hall is hyperventilating over inconsequential, tangential issues. He can identify no specific evil being perpetrated, therefore he comes off as kooky and irrelevant.

As an aside, the author does quote 1 Peter 3:18-20, but leaves out

Ep. 4:8-9 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” [Psalm 68:18] 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the depths of the earth? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

If the author is going to mock the idea that Jesus descended to the lower regions, he might want to consider all the relevant Scriptures. 

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The legality of government directives and COVID - FB Conversation

Ozie

1 hr · 

Those, who protest state stay at home laws, masks and social distancing. Probably would be the same people who would have refused to turn off their lights in 1943 London. during Germany's night time bombing raids. "This is my house". You can't tell me when I can or can not have my lights on. It's my constitutional right to leave them on. If I want to.

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• Me: There are no stay at home laws. They are directives, unevenly applied and largely ineffective.

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    Ozie: Tomato/Tomato. The implied reasoning is the same is the same. For your health and those around you.

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    Me: A directive is not a law. A directive bypasses the law and imposes the will of a single individual against the entirety of the population. That is tyranny.

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    Ozie: He was elected. Just like our president. Who also has a propensity of making decisions (felt tipped pen in hand) which effect all of us. If we all don't agree with his decisions. We all still have to except them.

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    Me: No we don't. Whenever Trump or any official, elected or not, makes decisions carrying the force of law. that is tyranny by definition. It doesn't matter if it's a noble cause or if people are being made safe or whatever the excuse is.
    
    An elected official is bound to carry out the laws of the land, not circumvent them.

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    Ozie: So you're saying you would leave your lights on. Because government can't tell you not to?

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    Me: The government can pass a law. Democracy. An individual cannot pass a law.

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Throwback Thursday: Rightly Dividing And Wrong Division - by DEBBIELYNNE KESPERT

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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It's become increasingly clear that the Doctrinal Police don't understand why they are criticized. It isn't because they have the truth. It's not about correct doctrine. It's about how they deal with people. 

The author hides behind various standards, like "sound Bible doctrine," "doctrinal purity," and "truth." These are not synonymous, and they are not excuses for bad behavior disguised as discernment. Thankfully, the author herself rarely does this, but there are plenty who do.

Particularly troubling is the idea of doctrinal purity. That is, having a set of doctrinal beliefs so finely honed that it is then possible to define the great majority of Christians as heretics. This is a tightrope walk for those who might come under the attention of the Doctrinal Police. Such a person would have their every word examined, their every doctrine micro-analyzed, and any misstep, perceived or real, would bring the big guns out against them.

This is not discernment, it is "scorched earth discernment."

The reader may wish to review our extensive examination of "discernment ministries" here.

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Former Hillsong Worship ‘Pastor’ Darlene Zschech Sells Oceanside Mansion for $4.4 Million - Pulpit and Pen

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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It is clear that the author of this article resents Ms. Zschech, apparently because she was a successful Christian musician and songwriter. Or more precisely, because she was an instrumental part of Hillsong's meteoric rise to prominence. 

Ms. Zschech has been very successful. The royalties from her songs, like the seminal worship favorite "Shout to the Lord," have undoubtedly been substantial. 

This success appears to be a sticking point with the author, but for reasons unknown. Also unknown is how much the Zschechs paid for the property, how much work they did on it, or how long they owned it. The author, however, somehow knows that the Zschechs did something wrong or unholy.  

And this is why we have made this blog post. There is nothing that can be identified as being improper or unchristian about becoming successful. There is nothing improper or unchristian about being a part of Hillsongs, even if Hillsongs has beliefs one disagrees with.

If the author could point to a single issue of character or improper behavior, that might tip the scales. But absent any documentation, the author is simply impugning a person for living in a nice house.

The reader can read some things here about this remarkable woman. Here is a partial list of songs written by her. 

"A worker deserves his wages." - Lk. 10:7 

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A word for the church in the Gallatin Valley (excerpt) - By Susan (3/18/12)

DREAM 3/18/2012

In the dream, I am with several other believers traveling in a car on back roads out in the valley on our way to an enormous church out in the fields. When we start out, we pass four men in long frocks, and the frocks have hoods. They look like Old Testament prophets. One frock is red, one lime green, and the others beige and gray. They look out of place, and I wonder what they are doing walking along these country roads.

We drive for miles and miles and miles and finally arrive at this huge building in the fields... We go inside and almost everyone is climbing in this swimming pool that is the size of a small hotel pool. There is a hose for people to rinse any mud off their feet. The pool is packed with people and everyone is splashing around in the water having fun, but there are too many people and not enough pool...

Bad worship songs: Forever (Gifford, Jobe, Johnson)

From time to to we examine the lyrics of worship songs. Our desire is not to mock or humiliate, but rather to honestly examine content with a view to calling forth a better worship expression.

With the great volume and variety of worship music available, none of us should have to settle for bad worship songs. We should be able to select hundreds or even thousands of top notch songs very easily.

What makes a song a worship song? Is it enough to contain words like God or holy? How about vaguely spiritual sounding phrases? Should Jesus be mentioned?

We think an excellent worship song should contain at least some of the following elements:

• A direct expression of adoration (God, you are...)
• A progression of ideas that culminates in a coherent story
• A focus on God, not us
• Lyrics that do not create uncertainty or cause confusion
• A certain amount of profundity
• A singable, interesting melody
• Allusions to Scripture or Scripture quotes
• Doctrinal soundness
• Not excessively metaphorical
• Not excessively repetitive
• Jesus is not your boyfriend

It's worth noting the most worship songs contain at least something good. That is, there might be a musical idea or a lyric that has merit. Such is the case with this song. There are some very good parts, like the chorus and the bridge. But on the whole, there's just not enough here to consider it a good worship song.

Video link.

Let's look at the lyrics:

Pre-trib Rapture - FB Conversation

Julia 

7 hrs · 

To all my FB friends.....if you don't believe that Revelation 13:16-17 is going to happen. Hit me up and I'll FB message you a video that shows we as a society are now being groomed for it.
It may be removed soon by the FB police. So if you want it let me know.
Scary stuff! If you don't read the Bible I suggest you start. It's very prophetic! I truly care about all of you and we are in times that we need to use extreme wisdom.
May God save many souls during this season we are in. Do not take this chip😢😡

Cathy   Oh it’s going to happen all right, but the born again Christians(the saved) will have been Raptured out way before that. The “church”( grace age believers) are gone, as Revelation is written to Israel. This is why we need to make sure all those around us are saved.

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  Julia   I'm not a pre-trib woman. It's not backed up in scripture

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  Cathy  Julia, I am totally pre-trib and very Pauline. 1 Cor. 25:51-53 and 1Thes. 4:13-18. It is backed up in scripture! In love...

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  Cathy  Julia, the end of the body of Christ on earth is a quiet rapture

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  Me   My Bible only has 16 chapters in 1 Corinthians.

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Why our Sundays should center on sermons - By Jeff Robinson

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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The author's premise is clear, but he never documents it. His argument is essentially, "This what we have done in the past, and we should keep doing it."

In addition, it grates on us to read over and over that the sermon is preaching. It is not. The sermon is teaching, a wholly different thing. 

Finally, the author never finds a Bible verse that speaks to his point. He dances around the issue as he justifies historical practice, but never actually gets to point of explaining what the Biblical model for the gathering of the saints is.
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Heavenly vision

I rarely have these kinds of experiences. Maybe twice before in my 60+ years. Certainly not like this one.

On the night of 5/4/20 I was having difficulty going to sleep. I began thinking about how I would like to teach about worship if I ever had the opportunity, and even pictured myself as standing at the pulpit. I then thought about wanting to illustrate worship in the sense of the Greek word (προσκυνέω (proskuneó), which means "I go down on my knees to, do obeisance to, worship – properly, to kiss the ground when prostrating before a superior; to worship, ready "to fall down/prostrate oneself to adore on one's knees.") As soon as I moved to my knees in my imagination, the scene changed. It took me a while, but I realized I was in the midst of a vision.

I had just entered the throne room of God.

Animals Are Pointless, And We Should Be Too - Nathan J. Robinson

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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Mr. Robinson wanders into the truth of the value of life, but never makes the connection to the unborn.
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The value of life does not depend on “productivity.”

What do ducks do all day? I have been watching some recently, (The author will refer to this sort of thing more than once. Apparently he has the time to make these observations and reflect at length, which suggests he is not employed. We would speculate that part of the reason he is writing is to justify his own life situation.)

and the answer is: not much. They float around. They eat. They quack. They poop. They waddle from pond to tree and back again. Sometimes they reproduce using their weird corkscrew genitalia. But they do very little work. Other animals are much the same. I watched some turtles the other day, sitting beside a lake. They basked in the sunshine. Then they went in the water for a bit. Then they came out again. This seemed to be their entire life.

I am not saying animals do no labor. (Oh, so they do work? Doesn't this make the author's case moot?)

Oftentimes, the struggle to survive is intense, and many are constantly exerting themselves. But once they’re fed and rested, a lot of what they do consists of standing around. Or sitting. Or wandering this way and that. (So these animals work [feed themselves], and once they've eaten they stop? Sort of like working 9-5 and going home and reading a book or going to a movie?)

Cats, as we know, mostly just sleep, and when you think about it, it’s rather incredible that millions of years of evolution have produced a creature whose main purpose is just to lie in one spot unconscious.

Animals do not seek meaning, as far as we can tell. The very concept of a meaningful life is incomprehensible to them. There is just life, and life consists of the things that need to be done and then things they just seem to like doing. But one animal is quite different: us. The human. Many humans have a very strange idea that life should consist of more than just quacking and floating. It should be “meaningful,” whatever that is. (The author admits his ignorance. He doesn't know what a meaningful life is. He doesn't even understand how people derive meaning and satisfaction at a job well done. He doesn't seem to get it that people like to work and achieve and become successful, the fruit of their labor being a reward.)

Kingdom Now, NAR Dominionist Theology Maligning the Church - By Rev. Anthony Wade

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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The author fritters away 2482 words (excluding the Mattera quotes and the Bible passage.) in a barely coherent screed. He cannot bring himself to quote a single Scripture, other than the opening Scripture. This is astonishing, considering the fact the author fancies himself as a Corrector of Heresy.

We have spent considerable time critiquing the author's other writings. It seems to us he is becoming increasingly irrational. We are praying for him that God will bring healing and order to his mind, that he might accurately discern the Word of Truth.
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