Loved this video.....kinda crazy with Christmas and I've been suffering from a bad back. Hard to sit too long at the computer, so thought this was a nice share. This may come as a big surprise to those who know me, but I dig Gospel rap :) I don't know this singer, a friend just shared it on Facebook.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas, but above all, a Christ-filled Christmas......remember the greatest gift we have been given was not under a tree, but nailed to one!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Church shopping? 35 Key Questions to Ask the Church
This is really timely for me. Whether you are searching for a Church home or a member of one already, it's important to know where they stand on key issues because many, if not MOST evangelical Churches today are apostate or on the verge of following strange doctrines.
Church shopping? 35 Key Questions to Ask the Church
If you are looking for a new church, you need to ask some very important questions of church leadership before you become a member. Here are 35 to get you started:
FOUNDATIONAL BELIEFS
1. Is the Bible the 100% true, accurate Word of God inspired by the Holy Spirit?
2. Is Jesus the Son of God and the only way to eternal life with God? Is there any way to God or eternal life other than through Jesus?
3. What does the Bible say the world will look like when Jesus returns? Do we need to gaindominion of the earth before that happens?
4. Can man, through his actions, change or alter biblical prophecy?
THEOLOGY
5. What is the doctrinal statement of the church and may I have a copy?
6. Does a person have any responsibilities to God upon accepting salvation?
7. What books other than the bible have you used to develop sermons?
8. What are your views on “Replacement Theology”?
TEACHINGS AND SERVICES
9. Is your Bible Teaching solely based on the Five Sola’s ?
10. How important is popular culture in structuring your services?
11. How do you train and equip your people to carry out the Great Commission?
12. Does your worship service include people laughing or being slain in the spirit?
13. Do you preach sermons that talk about exposing false teachers and false doctrines, or do you preach that Christians should never question anointed teachers?
14. What curricula do your children and teen programs use?
15. Are you a Willow Creek Association church?
DEPTH OF SPIRITUALITY LEADERSHIP
16. Who are some of your favorite authors? What books other than the bible have influenced your theology or teachings?
17. To whom are church leaders accountable? Has your leadership ever been questioned by members? How was it addressed?
18. What growth is more important to our church—growth in numbers or in depth of spiritual commitment of our members? (Only let them pick one, not both !!)
19. What is the most crucial issue your church has faced and how was it resolved?
20. How do you determine the spiritual growth of your members?
SOCIAL ISSUES
21. What is meant by the word “Church,” and what is its purpose?
22. What is the role of the church in social issues or politics?
23. When do you believe that life begins?
24. What are the church’s views on marriage and sexuality? Please share scriptures that confirm your beliefs.
25. How does the church feel about/handle divorce among your members?
26. What are your views on “contextualization” of the gospel? How important is being “relevant” to the community?
27. Do you believe that Christians and Muslims pray to the same God; that Yahweh and Allah are the same?
MODERN MOVEMENTS WITHIN THE CHURCH
28. What are your thoughts and the church’s stances on:
31. Contemplative Prayer and Biblical meditation
32. Word of Faith
33. The New Apostolic Reformation
Related articles
- Is the Emergent Church movement dead (or dying)? (standupforthetruth.com)
- Where Are the Christian Mentors? (standupforthetruth.com)
- John MacArthur Says Emerging Church in “Disarray and Decline” – Evidence Shows Differently (lighthousetrailsresearch.com)
- What is the Church? (defendingcontending.com)
- Spiritual Warfare Eschatology (herescope.blogspot.com)
- North American Pastors and the Church on Borrowed Time (lighthousetrailsresearch.com)
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Christian Churches To Go Underground in America?
Christian Churches To Go Underground in America?
Christian Churches To Go Underground in America?
The Christian Post published a story today titled, Christian Churches To Go Underground in America?
The article is a paraphrase of a blog by J.D. Longstreet, a 30-year veteran broadcaster and writer for Right Side News.
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I got the feeling that the Post was disdainful of the term “Real Christians,” and in fact didn’t even post J. D.’s first name or a link to the original piece.
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“Real,” as I’m sure J.D. Longstreet meant it, is simply a term used to describe one who believes that the Bible is 100 percent true and that Jesus is who He says He is.
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So I did some searching and found the real article by the author:
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Christian Churches To Go Underground in America?
Tuesday, 06 December 2011 09:30 J. D. Longstreet
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Back in 2009, I wrote a piece in which I asked if the Christian church in America was being forced to go underground. As I recently read the news that pastors were being sued for preaching that homosexuality is a sin, I saw clearly that yes, the “real” Christian church in America, in order to continue to stay true to their belief and to God, will be forced to do as the early Christians did – go underground.
At the risk of being accused of being a wild-eyed, bible-thumping, Holy Roller, I need to explain what I mean when I say “the REAL Christian Church” in America.
In the past three decades, or so, many of the mainline Christian churches have slipped away from their foundation on the Holy Scriptures and adopted more and more secular tenents and leftist, politically correct, philosophy until they have become only a shadow of the true followers of Christ. In my opinion, those denominations can no longer claim to be “Christian” churches simply because — they are not.
A few years ago, I left my own denomination, one of the mainline denominations in America, because it had chosen to forsake the tenents of the Bible and the “Good News,” the Gospel, as enunciated by the very person from whom the church had received its mission.
Allow me, please to state, flat out, that I do not hold myself to be a better Christian than any other follower of Christ. Nosiree! I am nothing more than a sinner saved by the grace of God – no more, and no less. It was a gift from a loving God. There was nothing I could have done and nothing I can ever do, which would have either bought that grace – or — made me worthy of receiving it. In the eyes of God, I believe I am just as bad as the worst murderer on death row and just as good as the Pope. Our shared commonality is that we are all sinners.
Unfortunately, many of our mainline denominations have become nothing more than social clubs with many franchises nationwide. Their pastors “preach” feel good “sermonettes” about the environment, and things like “social justice.” In my opinion, that is not the mission of a church that purports to follow Christ. In fact, Christ, Himself, spelled out the mission of the church in what we refer to as The Great Commission.
After His resurrection and shortly before he ascended to heaven, he gave his followers this mission: 18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20
That commission from Christ is the reason the church exists … period. To fulfill that mission the church MUST stand firmly upon the foundation of the Holy Scripture and the teachings of Christ. That means insisting that the standard(s) set by Christ are, and remain, the guiding force behind everything the church does. Of course, that means pastors are compelled to preach that those things the Scripture marks as sin are duly, and publicly, noted from their pulpits as SIN. If a church is reluctant to do this, or refuses to do this, then, in my opinion, that church is not a Christian church.
Today, in America, pastors are fearful of preaching the scriptures. They are fearful of pointing out man’s failings, man’s falling short of the mark. They are concerned that they will be dragged into court, and accused of slander or some form of libel because some sinner, as defined by the scriptures, has been offended or even embarrassed. It is a very real threat, especially to the evangelical church in America.
As a result those churches, which hold true to the gospel, now feel that they must consider meeting in secret for Bible classes, for worship services, or other bible centric gatherings.
The fact is, dear reader, America has deteriorated into such an ugly mess, that she has become the kind of country to which early America used to dispatch missionaries of The Gospel.
There is a clear attempt by the government (local, state, and federal) to criminalize biblical preaching and prevent thousands of churches and clergymen from practicing their faith without threat of penalty from our government.
So, yes, the Christian Church, I believe, WILL be driven underground in America, as it has been in other nations around the globe. Otherwise, it will cease to exist in this land many firmly believe was founded by Christians.
As much as it pains me to say this — America is no longer a Christian nation. At least, America’s government no longer governs by men and women who base their convictions on the Judeo-Christian code of laws and beliefs.
And very soon now, I believe, the Supreme Court of the land will be in the hands of socialists, as well, and THAT will be the end of the experiment called “America” — a nation which was to have been governed only by the voice of it’s people and their God.
The wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah could not hold a candle to the wickedness in America today.
If the true Christian church is to survive in America, it MUST go underground.
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