Life Past the 10th Grade..from Lane's Blog

Here is an interesting blog by Lane Chaplin from Lane's Blog. He is dealing with some of Pastor (CEO) Perry Noble's poor judgement and filthy mouth.




Here is an example taken from Lane'e Blog:

One of the things I deal with a on a daily basis is comments from unbelievers and immature professors of Christ. I'll usually block the abrasive unbelievers and try to at least converse with those who profess to believe but aren't clear about things and even the unbelievers who are cordial. One thing that I notice in each is a fundamental misunderstanding of their beliefs about what exactly I believe. Unfortunately, this tendency is fully functioning not only in the groups previously mentioned, but also in the professing pastors that come and comment occasionally... which brings us to the case in point. (source)

Please check out "Life past the 10th grade" for more info and some good insights from my friend Lane Chaplin.

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 is talking about marriage. NOT preaching, NOT methodology. Really?

While discussing Perry Noble and his love of the world a blogger made this statement about 2 Corinthians 6:14-17:(source)

"your 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 reference is talking about marriage. NOT preaching, NOT methodology."

2 Corinthians 6:14-17 (New American Standard Bible)

¹⁴Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

¹⁵Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

¹⁶Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said,
"I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM;
AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
¹⁷"Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord.
"AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN;
And I will welcome you.

This blogger is trying very hard to defend the carnality and worldliness of Senior Pastor Perry Noble from NewSpring Church. I'm amazed at the hoops many NewSpring defenders will jump through to defend Noble and his rebellion.

Here is a reference that might help explain this passage:

6:14-15. What hampered the Corinthians’ open, loving response, which Paul called for? (v. 13) Answer: rival suitors vied for their affections and allegiance. Though verses 14-15 are often applied to various sorts of alliances (e.g., mixed marriages, improper business associations), Paul’s primary association was probably ecclesiastical. The rival suitors were possibly pagan idolaters (cf. 1 Cor. 10:14) or more likely false apostles (cf. 2 Cor. 11:2-4). In censure or affection Paul was equally candid (cf. 6:11).

The solution to the dilemma was for the Corinthians to separate from the false apostles. Whatever may have been their own and others’ estimation of their spiritual status, Paul considered the false apostles to be unbelievers (cf. 11:13-15) from whom the Corinthians needed to separate. But Paul did not say that Christians should have no contacts whatever with unbelievers. Earlier he argued the absurdity of such a position (1 Cor. 5:9-10). But religious unbelievers might lead believers astray from “sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3), and the fact concerned Paul greatly. A believer can be rightly yoked only with Christ (Matt. 11:29-30).

To illustrate, Paul asked five rhetorical questions (2 Cor. 6:14-16), posing antitheses that reflect the wide chasm between the kingdom of Christ and the kingdom of Satan (cf. Col. 1:13). Belial (the Gr. Beliar is a spelling variation) transliterates an Old Testament word that means “worthless person.” In Greek it came to mean “a lawless person.” It was then used of Satan, the most worthless and lawless of all.

6:16. Paul’s fifth rhetorical question provided a transition to his citing several Old Testament verses. Their cumulative effect bolstered Paul’s exhortation (v. 14a). The church is the temple of God (cf. 1 Cor. 3:16) where the Spirit of God and Christ dwells (cf. Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 2:22). The promise of God to live among His people was ultimately fulfilled in Christ (Matt. 1:23).

6:17. Enjoying God’s presence requires personal holiness. Paul cited a portion of Isaiah 52:11 and Ezekiel 20:41, passages that speak of Israel’s redemption. God’s people are redeemed from pagan bondage (come out from them and be separate) in order to be clean before God (touch no unclean thing) and thus enjoy fellowship with Him (I will receive you). In Galatians Paul spoke of the bondage of those who are under the obligation of the Law (Gal. 3:13-14; 4:5; cf. 2 Cor. 3:7-9). Paul wrote to Titus that redemption implied two things: (a) deliverance “from all wickedness” and (b) a purified people who are “His very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14). Personal purity makes it possible to serve God and be received by Him.^[1]

---

^[1]Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures (2:570-571). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

ELCA, GOSPEL REDUCTIONISM, AND HOMOSEXUALITY

Reformata has another insight post about the growing attacks upon Sola Scriptura and the authority of God's Word: ELCA, GOSPEL REDUCTIONISM, AND HOMOSEXUALITY

An Evening Prayer for Sanctification and Protection

Psalm 141 (New American Standard Bible)

Psalm 141

An Evening Prayer for Sanctification and Protection.

A Psalm of David.

¹O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to You!
²May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
³Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
⁴Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,
To practice deeds of wickedness
With men who do iniquity;
And do not let me eat of their delicacies.
⁵Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me;
It is oil upon the head;
Do not let my head refuse it,
For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds.
⁶Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock,
And they hear my words, for they are pleasant.
⁷As when one plows and breaks open the earth,
Our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
⁸For my eyes are toward You, O GOD, the Lord;
In You I take refuge; do not leave me defenseless.
⁹Keep me from the jaws of the trap which they have set for me,
And from the snares of those who do iniquity.
¹⁰Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
While I pass by safely.

MARK DRISCOLL AT CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL—FAILURE

It's really sad to watch a man slide into the luke warm seeker-sensitive swamp of good intentions. Over at Reformata there is a post about Mark Discoll's visit to Robert Schuller's church. Instead of preaching the pure Gospel, Driscoll just spoke a little ear tickling encouragement. You can read about it here: Mark Driscoll at Crystal Cathedral.

ELCA AND HOMOSEXUALITY

The ELCA has fallen captive to the world. It's truly a disturbing move by the ELCA.

Ken Silva from Apprising Ministries has a blog up called "ELCA and Homosexuality" about this dive into sin.

Sola scriptura has officially been retired by the ELCA.

The Berean example in Acts 17:11

One of the most common criticism I get from fellow Christians is I spend a good deal of time talking about what is wrong with other churches and preachers. I'm often told by these people that I should spend this time trying to further the kingdom of God instead of tearing down other ministries. While this advice sounds good on the surface, making many in the seeker-sensitive movement applaud, it's not very biblical advice. The misconception is that by discussing these types of issues within the church, that I am trying to tear down another person's ministry. This is not the case nor is it my agenda. By pointing out problems within movements like the seeker-sensitive camp, shining the light of the Scriptures upon errors taught in the church, and calling people out by name is by no means tearing down these ministries. It's simply exposing problems in hopes these errors will be corrected in the future and also warning fellow Christians about the dangers of poor doctrine.

In the Scriptures, the Apostle Paul went to a group of believers in Berea. When Paul delivered the message these people were not quick to accept it as the truth. They dug deep into the Scriptures and examined what Paul said in order to verify his word as the truth.

Acts 17:10-11 (New American Standard Bible)

Paul at Berea

¹⁰The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

¹¹Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

This example encourages me to blog about dangerous teachings within the Christian faith. I cannot sit around and say nothing just because I might be perceived as tearing down the kingdom.

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (New American Standard Bible)

2 Timothy 4

"Preach the Word"

¹I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

²preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

⁴and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

The Bible tells us to reprove and rebuke errors with great patience. It does not tell us to remain silent and do nothing. In Galatians 2 we see a good example of this when Paul correcting Peter's error in public.

Galatians 2:11-14 (New American Standard Bible)

Peter (Cephas) Opposed by Paul

¹¹But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.

¹²For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.

¹³The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.

¹⁴But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, "If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

Paul did not remain silent just because Peter was in the same camp. Paul corrected Peter and contended for the faith.

Romans 16:17-20 (New American Standard Bible)

¹⁷Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

¹⁸For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

¹⁹For the report of your obedience has reached to all; therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

²⁰The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

The Berean example encourages deep study and backing our beliefs with the Scriptures. There is nothing wrong with exposing false teachers, false doctrines, and errors in the church as long as we expose these errors in truth and love.

Rob Bell and another gospel

Ken Silva from Apprising Ministries has another good article exposing heresies coming from Rob Bell.

Rob Bell and Another Gospel

I'm thankful Mr. Silva and others are working to expose heretics like Rob Bell. We cannot stick our head in the sand and pray these heretics will simply go away. We must expose these false teachers and warn people about the dangers coming from people like Rob Bell.

Minimal Morality? Just go back to the world! - Tim Conway

Watch this video in a new window

Tim Conway pretty much sums up the problem with many of the seeker-sensitive think tanks of today. Too many times emergent pastors want to flirt with the limits of sin. They are ever striving to get as close to the sin line as possible in order to reach out to the world with relevance. Many times these seeker sensitive Christians just keep moving the line farther and farther down the road until they are consumed by the love of the world.

This is a short video that sums up the attitude we should have as Christians about sin and not loving the world. Minimal Morality? Just go back to the world! - Tim Conway