This video addresses the pre-trib rapture that Christians say is a new teaching by Darby. He did not originate it, however.
Category Archives: Christian viewpoint
The Work of a Missionary Pastor Called to America
FTA: At the start of the formal event, Reverend Jack Stagman, a missionary pastor who came to America from South Africa and provided the “vision” for the day’s festivities, dubbed the attendees “the remnant.” He also described them as “Gideon’s 300,” a reference to the biblical account of the man God used along with 300 men, after whittling down the force from tens of thousands, to smash an enemy army that had come against God’s people.
“You’ve been called by God today, and you’re going to see the multiplication, of what he’s going to do with you guys,” added Rev. Stagman, who gave God credit for the ideas. Stagman, who is now based in Virginia, noted that for 400 years, Americans took the Gospel message to every corner of the world. Today, people like him from the “developing world” are coming to America with the Gospel message, hoping that God will continue to use the United States.
Over and over again, speakers and pastors pointed to the history of the nation and declared that America is, in fact, a Christian nation. In one of the early speeches, Rev. Craig Johnson explained how America for centuries was absolutely saturated in biblical morality, from the halls of government and education to entertainment and beyond. And yet, today, “demonic entities” and their human collaborators have turned that on its head, he said.
Dear Lord God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Sovereign over all the nations, bless the work of Your missionaries and turn America back to You. Help Your churches to repent and return to Your holy Word, to obey it and speak it without fear of man, for Your judgement comes to us first. Help Your children to seek after and to strive for holiness- to be holy as You are holy. Give us Your wisdom and strength and a deep desire to do all Your perfect will. And help us, by Your Holy Spirit, to pray for our nation’s repentance. Forgive us our grievous horrible sins against You and Your most holy laws. May we bless You as You have blessed us. Be our nation’s God and Lord once again, for then we shall be blessed. In Your compassionate mercy, and in Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. To God be the glory and praise forever, amen! \o/
A Prayer for the Nations
The Lord bless our country. Keep us in peace, we ask you and in times of congress and deliberation may there sit in the council chamber One higher than the kings of the earth, and greater than its ambassadors. Oh, that long-continued peace might happen to this poor earth, for its wounds are many. Behold, how all things languish for the lack of peace—the Lord send it.
Quicken trade and commerce, remove the complaining that is now heard in our streets. Kindly consider us in the matter of the weather, that the harvests may not be spoiled, and bless the people, O Lord. Let the people praise You, and “then shall the earth yield her increase.” The Lord grant all this, with the forgiveness of sin, the acceptance of our person, and assist us ever to live to His glory, for Jesus’s sake. Amen.
Charles Spurgeon
Be Careful You Do Not Slander!
One of the things we must be sure of in our discernment ministry is that we do not slander a fellow believer just because we don’t agree with his or her teachings or beliefs. Before we call someone out, we need to be sure we have accurate information/sources and properly interpreted scriptures. If you have a blog ministry and call people out for false teachings, leave a link for each source. And be teachable. Research why someone believes the way they do; research both for and against it. If you do debate the issue, or expose a heresy, stay gracious.
One who is slandered all of the time is John Calvin. Every time I run into the slander it is because they have been taught hyper-Calvinism. Every. Time. I am going to leave a link below so the differences can be seen. If you don’t like the doctrine of election and assurance of salvation, you won’t like Calvinism. But, at least, be sure you do not associate hyper-Calvinism with true Calvinism. I came to Calvinism after much kicking against the goads when I prayerfully was reading my daily scriptures in Romans (9:11). Yes, people say that this passage is talking about Israel’s election but if you read it carefully it is talking about all of God’s people. Are we not grafted into the olive tree? Are we not called to use Israel’s relationship to God, good and bad, as our example? Are we not Abraham’s children through faith in Christ? My free will did not survive the Fall. I found Calvinism, the doctrine of election, exalted God’s sovereign will over my “free” will in my salvation and that was quite humbling knowing what an awful person I was before Christ. I was not looking for Jesus, yet He found me that wonderful, blessed day. I know I have less than nothing to boast of before Him! Not even saying a prayer. God owes me nothing.
Romans 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth (Arminianism/free will), nor of him that runneth (RCC, works righteousness), but of God that sheweth mercy (His election, free grace).
Calvinism Is Not Hyper-Calvinism
3 Reasons John 3:16 Doesn’t Refute Calvinism
Another person who gets slandered a lot is Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Latest slander says he was a freemason. I’ve studied freemasonry for discernment purposes and never saw his name come up once. And, today, I can find no evidence that he was one even taking into account the troubling unfortunate use of freemason terms in a couple of sermons the blogger sited (I will leave the passages and links below). Hardly concrete evidence. Pastors mention Easter and Christmas but that doesn’t make them pagans. Many Freemasons were Baptists (and many are to this day) so he may have had members of his church who were involved in it. They most likely designed and built the updated Metropolitan Tabernacle in Spurgeon’s day. Remember, they are a secret society, and it is not until they reach a certain degree that hints of their heresy come out, so Spurgeon may not have known their true beliefs. If he were truly a member there would have been no secrecy about it, especially after his death. He would have been a jewel in their crown and a draw for membership. So, for now, I cannot find evidence that there is any truth in this accusation. From the blogsite:
“I pray that the members of this church may always act toward each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. I wish that among all the saints there might be a sort of spiritual Freemasonry so that whenever we might meet, we should recognize one another by the holy grip of Christian love. There are certain sacred passwords that are common to all the saints and I will defy the hypocrite or the worldling to pronounce them aright—but if he should be able to utter them with his lips—he can never really know their meaning in his heart.” (3300 – Titles Of Honor by Charles H. Spurgeon – The Metropolitan Tabernacle, April 5, 1886)
“The best builders of earth cannot be compared to the great Builder above, the eternal Architect, the everlasting Freemason who has built those many mansions where his saints shall live for ever.” (2292 – Abraham, A Pattern For Believers by Charles H. Spurgeon- The Metropolitan Tabernacle, January 22, 1893)
Charles Spurgeon – Heretical Freemason? Great conversation in this forum.
FTF: One must also consider this extremely unflattering comment that Spurgeon made regarding the influence of freemasonry:
We are ourselves acquainted with many who have been ruined by bad company, — such were C , who became a reprobate through spending his Sabbaths in excursions and amusement; F, who was led into peculation and ultimate embezzlement through his friends of the billiard table; H, who was never worth a penny-piece after he had found his heaven in the banquets of the Freemasons; and J, who went from bad to worse through the company of those who laugh at purity, and call vice pleasure. Indeed, the list is endless; and we shall be conceited to no ordinary degree if we imagine that we shall be safe where so many have fallen, never to rise again.
(The Sword and the Trowel, December, 1884)
A Bonus 😀
Uncompromising Gospel | Leonard Ravenhill
The Right Thing to Worry About
If We Don’t Know…
quotes and notes and opinions 