Monday, July 14, 2008

The Boy, The Cocoon, and The Ole' Preacher


The Boy, The Cocoon, and The Ole' Preacher
Brad Reiches
Jul 14 2008 11:08AM

Evangelizing the Church
in the Age of Delusion



Monday, July 14,  2008
A GodThoughts Classic! 
Evangelizing the Church in the Age of Delusion        

"The Boy, the Cocoon & the Ole' Preacher"*

"My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord."
Isaiah 55:8

The ole' preacher gently held the delicate creature in the palm of his hand.  "What is it?" asked the lad.  "It's called a cocoon," explained the preacher.  "It's one of God's marvelous mysteries.  In time, this cocoon will yield a magnificent butterfly."  "Can I have it?" asked the boy.  Well, yes you can, young man...under one condition," the preacher pondered.  "Anything," said the boy.  "Anything!"

"Well," the caring old man began to instruct.  "You may have this wondrous cocoon as long as you promise not to help the butterfly once it begins its escape.  Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE may you help it."  "Oh, I promise," assured the boy.  "I PROMISE!"

So the boy took the cocoon home and waited.  And he waited and waited  Soon, he watched as the miracle of life began to unfold.  The butterfly began his quest,  but the youngster was torn.  As he watched the butterfly's struggle, he couldn't help but be tempted to offer some assistance.  Indeed, the temptation was too great, and he gently pulled the cocoon apart.  The butterfly escaped and began its ascend to freedom, damp wings and all, but soon plummeted to the earth and died.

"In the day of prosperity be happy,
but in the day of adversity consider;
the Lord has made the one as well as the other."
Ecclesiastes 7:14

Horrified, the stricken boy picked up the fallen creature and returned it to the ole' preacher.  Immediately, the man discerned what had happened.  "You helped the butterfly escape didn't you?"  Weeping, the heartbroken lad acknowledged, "Yes I did, sir."  The ole' preacher placed his arms firmly around the young boy's shoulders and gently explained to him that his sincere, but misguided care for the butterfly had stripped it of its only opportunity to build the strength necessary for survival.

"He who gives an answer before he hears,
it is folly and shame to him."
Proverbs 18:13

The struggle that had been perceived a curse was, in truth...a blessing in disguise.

*Adapted from an unknown author.


Friday, July 4, 2008

Deadly Delusions in Today's Church: The Delusion of Grace 4


Deadly Delusions in Today's Church: The Delusion of Grace 4
Brad Reiches
Jul 4 2008 02:59PM



GodThoughtsWired! 
Friday, Happy 4th of July, 2008
    
  "Deadly Delusions in Today's Church"

EVANGELIZING THE CHURCH IN THE ERA OF DELUSION

"They did not receive the love of the truth...
For this reason God will send upon them a
deluding influence so that they will believe
what is false..."
2 Thessalonians 2:10-11

#2.  The Delusion of Grace - part 4

The Bible clearly teaches us that God has given us His grace to lead us to the obedience of faith (see Romans 1:5; 16:26).  Additionally,  God was keenly aware that "Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many" (Matthew 24:11,24). 

While I praise the Lord for the shepherds of God's flock who still acknowledge and stand firm on the actual directives of God's word, it continues to burden me greatly, those pastors who refuse to see the "our part" of biblical Christianity.  I honestly don't see how it can be missed...

Biblical grace NEVER excuses sin!

Indeed, it was the "apostle of grace" who concluded, "Do we then nullify the Law through faith?  MAY IT NEVER BE!  On the contrary, we establish the Law" (bold and caps mine).

And, uhh, hmmm...who was it?  Oh, I think His name was Jesus that said, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17).

Brothers and sisters, the Bible says,

"Certain persons have crept in unnoticed...
ungodly persons who turn the grace
of our God into licentiousness..."
Jude 4

Do you see it?  The "grace" that excuses sin is ungodliness.  The "grace" that makes sin anything less than that which God hates, because it produces death in the children He so desparately loves is what the Bible calls...

A doctrine of demons.
 1 Timothy 4:1

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Deadly Delusions in Today's Church: The Delusion of Grace 3


Deadly Delusions in Today's Church: The Delusion of Grace 3
Brad Reiches
Jul 3 2008 11:32AM



GodThoughtsWired! 
Thursday, July 3, 2008

  "Deadly Delusions in Today's Church"

EVANGELIZING THE CHURCH IN THE ERA OF DELUSION

#2.  The Delusion of Grace - part 3
"They did not receive the love of the truth...
For this reason God will send upon them a
deluding influence so that they will believe
what is false..."
2 Thessalonians 2:10-11

So here is the now infamous statement within its actual context,

"For sin shall not be master over you, for you are
no longer under law, but under grace.
What then?  Shall we sin because we are no longer
under law but under grace?  May it never be!"
-Romans 6:14-15 (bold mine)

Dear brothers and sisters, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD...

Grace is the power that keeps us from sin,
never the excuse for sinning.

"We have received grace...to bring about the obedience of faith" (Romans 1:5).  Do you see it?  Under the Law we were slaves to the Law because "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  But now that "we are no longer under law but under grace" we have the empowering presence of God, by His indwelling Holy Spirit, to:

"Walk by the Spirit and you will not
carry out the desire of the flesh."
Galatians 5:16

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). 

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Deadly Delusions in Today's Church: The Delusion of Grace 2


Deadly Delusions in Today's Church: The Delusion of Grace 2
Brad Reiches
Jul 2 2008 10:48AM



   


GodThoughts Wired! 
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

  "Deadly Delusions in Today's Church"

EVANGELIZING THE CHURCH IN THE ERA OF DELUSION

"They did not receive the love of the truth...
For this reason God will send upon them a
deluding influence so that they will believe
what is false..."
2 Thessalonians 2:10-11

#2.  The Delusion of Grace - part 2

You hear it EVERYWHERE!  On the radio, television, talk shows and Christian periodicals.  I've heard it THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of times over the past decade!  Virtually anytime somebody talks about "obedience," or "repentance" or "the wages of sin," it's the same response:

"We are no longer under law but under grace."

And everytime I've heard, I mean, EVERY SINGLE TIME I'VE HEARD IT!, it is used in precisely the way that the Bible warns against!  I'm tellin' ya', the scripture passage that says, "We are no longer under law but under grace" (Romans 6:14,15), has got to be the most misinterpreted and abused Bible reference in the history of mankind!

"What exactly do you mean, pastor Brad?"  Oh, I'm so glad you asked.

First of all, the statement, "We are no longer under law but under grace," is found in two places only, as previously described (see Romans 6:14,15).  The context is irrefuteably clear:

When the Bible says "We are no longer
under law but under grace" it is
warning that "grace" is never
to be used as an excuse for sin.

And yet, everytime time I hear it used, I mean, EVERY SINGLE TIME!, it is used for that very thing...AN EXCUSE FOR SIN.  On the rare occaision that a preacher is talking about "holiness," and/or "righteousness" and/or "obedience," invariably someone will refute the teaching by declaring "We are no longer under law but under grace."

And Christian talk show hosts are NOTORIOUS for such antics!  Time and time and TIME AGAIN!  I hear some "seeker-sensitive talking head" mangle the scripture by taking out of context the statement "We are no longer under law but under grace," and insodoing tragically fulfill the scripture which says they,

"...Will mislead many."
-see Matthew 24:11,24