Greg Stier’s warped idea about true Christianity

First of all, let me say this, this isn’t a “Christian Blog” or even a “Fundamental Baptist Blog.” It is a political one, which happens to be owned by a Fundamental Baptist Christian. Albeit, not a very good one, or one that’s active in Church at the moment. In fact, a while back, I removed all the Christian stuff from this blog. I explained it at the time here:

Here are the reasons why I have removed all that stuff. First of all, why I have removed the Christianity part of this blog is this right here: for one, I don’t believe I am even remotely qualified to sit and talk about Christianity in any sort of depth anymore. I am so far removed from the Church world anymore, that it isn’t even really funny. I am also not exactly lined up with the independent fundamental Baptist Church anymore. I have not attended one of those churches since 2006. Don’t misunderstand me I still love the King James Bible and I still am a fundamental Baptist doctrinally and only doctrinally.

I haven’t attended one of those churches in a long time and I’m not exactly enamored with the church world anymore. Some people would say that I am a backslidden Christian. I disagree. I don’t take any illegal drugs ,I do not drink, I do vape instead of smoke. But, I don’t go to church anymore. So, having that sort of section on my blog here; is kind of hypocritical in my book.

So, now that I have gotten that out of the way, I was looking at my RSS reader and I happened across an article at the Christian Post, the original is here and I felt the need to comment on it. A one Greg Stier seems to have a warped idea about Christianity and Salvation, and even Spirituality:

Traditionally, most Christian schools (in my opinion) tend to produce little legalists or hell-bent hedonists. Students either buy off on the rules of said Christian school (and begin to gauge their spirituality by adherence to the list of do’s and don’ts) or they rebel against the list and, often times, the Lord.

I experienced this personally in the small Christian high school I graduated from in the 1980’s.

My school had a lot of rules that the students were expected to keep. The guys had to have their hair super short and the girls had to have their dresses super long. Even the cheerleaders had full length skirts (but the weird double-standard was that the guys on the basketball team wore shorts that were so short they would make George Michael of Wham! fame blush.)

While these words were never said out loud it felt like they were constantly being preached, “If you keep our rules, read daily from the King James version of the Bible, memorize verses of Scripture word for word (as well as the verse references), go to church every time the doors are open, don’t have sex before you’re married and share Christ at least once a week then you’ll be holy…like us.”

I kept the rules, memorized the verses, shared the Gospel weekly, was there every time the doors were open, and just said “no” to drugs, drink and sex. My ability to adhere to the list was how I gauged my spirituality.

Down deep inside I had turned into a little legalist.

This legalism led to a consistent struggle with pride and lust in the deep dark crevices of my soul. It was a constant battle with the flesh, fueled by the aphrodisiac of legalism. As Colossians 2:23 reminds us, “Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom…but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.”

And many of my fellow Christian schoolmates didn’t even try to fake a facade. They just gave into the flesh. They cut sail and turned into hedonists. They mocked the rules. They drank and partied. They rebelled against the list as well as the Lord.

Not much has changed since the 80’s. I still believe that, for the most part, Christian schools tend to produce legalists or hedonists.

Oh, where to begin with this bunch of nonsense! First of all, I have a problem, with a so-called “Spiritual Leader” who refers to serving The Lord Jesus Christ as “gauging one’s Spirituality.” You are either Saved by the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ or you are not. There is no gauge, there is no good works versus Salvation. That is false doctrine.

Furthermore, I take offense to someone who mocks the King James Bible and those who happen to believe that it is the Word of God and mocks those who think that memorizing it, is a good idea. This man’s view of Christianity, the Bible, and Holy Living has become distorted and he is, as far as I can see it, an apostate. Now, is it the fault of that Christian School that those kids decided to rebel against the Word of God and the Lord? I think not. Is it the King James Bible’s fault that this kids decided to walk away from what they knew to be right? I think not. The truth is these kids CHOSE THEMSELVES to rebel and go their own way. Just like I did, when I backslide in 1992, after becoming bitter at a “Worship Leader” at Grace Assembly of God. I made that choice and nobody else.

Therefore, I make this statement, this man is blaming the wrong things and is attempting to promote a new, and possibly flawed way of promoting the gospel. There’s nothing new under the sun and this man’s attempt to place blame at the feet of King James believing Christians speaks of itself and him.

RIP: Jack Chick – April 13, 1924 – October 23, 2016

Please note: I am just now finding this out and, yes, it was a big shock to me. 😯 😥

Seen at Chick Publications:

Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Jack Chick passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday evening, October 23, 2016. He was 92.

We at Chick Publications all loved Jack.

We are like a family, and he was our closest relative. He loved every one of us, and we regularly got to tell him our appreciation and love for him. We got to see what kind of person he was on a daily basis —some people for over 45 years! It was very important for us to be with him before he made his final journey.

Unlike the king in the Chick tract The Fool, Jack had made every preparation for his eternal future. So we visited him to pray, to tell him we loved him, and to bless him on his way to his eternal reward.

To say that this was a huge shock for me, would be the understatement of the century. Jack gave his life for the Salvation of souls. I discovered Jack Chick’s tracts and comics as a boy at Open Door Baptist Church in Detroit, back when Larry Dennis was the Pastor. His message was always consistent; no one else can save you, only Jesus can!

Save me a spot around Throne of Grace Jack, I’ll be there to join you, one day.

Reply to John’s E-Mail

The Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlAWAPJbfyY?rel=0

Today, I received an email from a “John” asking the following:

Hello Fellow Christian,
My name is John and I have a mom who is a confessing Christian who loves to talk about the lord and give advice but she is in adultery. Me and my wife brought up the scriptures to her and pray daily but nothing. I felt moved to talk with you because I was reading one of your blogs on Pastor Charles Stanley who y mom attends his church. My question is, should we continue to keep her in our lives or cut her off? We have children and I do not want this to have an affect on their Christian life. Anything will be great. Thank You.

Now, I sent the man a reply and the email address bounced; so, I will post the reply here:

Hi John,

That’s a tough call.

First off, I would talk to YOUR Pastor and ask HIM for guidance.

Now, personally, I think that totally cutting your children off from their grandmother, is not a good idea. I would however, limit their interaction and time spent with her; and I would be always there to supervise visits.

Now, you can totally cut her off, after all the Bible does say:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. – (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)

and…:

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery – (Matthew 5:27-32 KJV)

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. – (Mark 9:43-48 KJV)
and:

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. – (Matthew 10:32-38 KJV)

—————-

Now, here is the harsh, brutally honest, cold dish rag in the face, honest truth — advice that I will give you:

If you wish to take the hard stance and stand for what you know to be right and decide to separate yourself from those, that you know to be committing sin; you had better be very prepared to deal with the fallout or consequences. No man or woman, who has decided to take harsh stance and decided to cut off all communication, fellowship and interaction like this; has had it easy. In fact, it can cause you many, many, headaches.

Now, I am not saying that you should not do it. You just should be very prepared for what the fallout might be.

I will be praying for you, that the Lord would give you Godly wisdom in this situation.

I hope sees this reply. 🙂

Guest Voice:David Cloud – In Essentials Unity

This is a reprint of an article written by Missionary David Cloud, a Fundamentalist Baptist Missionary and founder of Way of Life Literature. David Cloud’s writings and tireless research into the history of Pentecostalism and my personal doubts with its core doctrines were the reasons why I left that movement in 2004.

Here David Cloud makes a strong Biblical case for Christian separation. One of my personal gripes with the evangelical Christian movement as a whole, is an outright acceptance of Churches, who teach doctrines, which are in direct conflict with the Word of God. This article tells the truth about this sort of “Unity” among the apostate Churches. It is my pleasure to reprint this on my blog.

(Link to original article)

The evangelical philosophy is often stated by the dictum, “In essentials unity; in non-essentials liberty; in all things charity.”

Though commonly attributed to Augustine, it was apparently first stated by the 17th-century Lutheran Rupertus Meldenius (a.k.a. Peter Meiderlin).

It became the rallying cry of the Moravians, who had a wonderful missionary zeal but retained such Romanist heresies as infant baptism and an ordained priesthood and who promoted unity above the absolute truth of God’s Word for the purpose of “revival.”

The “in non-essentials liberty” principle was adopted by the fundamentalist movement of the 20th century. Fundamentalism focused on a unity built around “the fundamentals of the faith” while downplaying “minor issues.” The pragmatic objective was to create the largest possible united front against theological modernism and for evangelism and world missions.

“Historic fundamentalism has always been characterized by a core of biblical, historic, orthodox doctrines. … Most fundamentalists would be content with terms like ‘major doctrines’ or ‘cardinal doctrines’ to describe their consensus. … [T]here are other doctrinal distinctives that some may claim for themselves as fundamentalists. But to make these beliefs articles of fundamentalist faith would cut the movement’s channel more narrowly than history will allow” (Rolland McCune, Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal, Fall 1996).

Continue reading “Guest Voice:David Cloud – In Essentials Unity” →

Another good reason why I cannot stand Ted Cruz

I wrote about this yesterday. However, I believe it goes without saying that Ted Cruz and his Dad have no place in American politics at all.

In April, Rafael Cruz, the father of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), spoke to the tea party of Hood County, which is southwest of Fort Worth, and made a bold declaration: The United States is a “Christian nation.” The septuagenarian businessman turned evangelical pastor did not choose to use the more inclusive formulation “Judeo-Christian nation.” Insisting that the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution “were signed on the knees of the framers” and were a “divine revelation from God,” he went on to say, “yet our president has the gall to tell us that this is not a Christian nation…The United States of America was formed to honor the word of God.” Seven months earlier, Rafael Cruz, speaking to the North Texas Tea Party on behalf of his son, who was then running for Senate, called President Barack Obama an “outright Marxist” who “seeks to destroy all concept of God,” and he urged the crowd to send Obama “back to Kenya.”

via WATCH: Ted Cruz’s Dad Calls US a “Christian Nation,” Says Obama Should Go “Back to Kenya” | Mother Jones.

I do not want this man or his son anywhere near the White House at all. He does not speak for this paleoconservative at all. Do not misunderstand me here; I am all for the defense of Christian moral values and such. However, this guys beliefs are similar to those of the friends of Rick Perry, who happen to believe that apostate doctrine of “Kingdom Now” theology. Which is a very highly mistaken belief that somehow or another that Christians are on some sort of “God mandate” to occupy the Government until Christ comes back for his Church. It is the whole “God and Country” movement, taken to another level.

The reason for this is because historically, Christians did not believe in such things. Allow me to quote from a book called “The trail of blood” by James Milton Carroll:

24. Some serious questions have many times been asked concerning the Baptists: Would they, as a denomination, have accepted from any nation or state an offer of “establishment” if such nation or state had freely made them such an offer? And, would they, in case they had accepted such an offer, have become persecutors of others like Catholics or Episcopals, or Lutherans or Presbyterians, or Congregationalists? Probably a little consideration of such questions now would not be amiss. Have the Baptists, as a fact, ever had such an opportunity?

Is it not recorded in history, that on one occasion, the King of the Netherlands (the Netherlands at that time embracing Norway and Sweden, Belgium, Holland, and Denmark) had under serious consideration the question of having an established religion? Their kingdom at that period was surrounded on almost all sides by nations or governments with established religions–religions supported by the Civil Government.

It is stated that the King of Holland appointed a committee to examine into the claims of all existing churches or denominations to see which had the best claim to be the New Testament Church. The committee reported back that the Baptists were the best representatives of New Testament teachings. Then the King offered to make the Baptist “the established” church or denomination of his kingdom. The Baptists kindly thanked him but declined, stating that it was contrary to their fundamental convictions and principles.

But this was not the only opportunity they ever had of having their denomination the established religion of a people. They certainly had that opportunity when Rhode Island Colony was founded. And to have persecuted others–that would have been an impossibility if they were to continue being Baptists. They were the original advocates of “Religious Liberty.” That really is one of the fundamental articles of their religious faith. They believed in the absolute separation of church and state.

This is the proper way that true believers should be, to leave the business of politics of this fallen world to the people that want to run it. We believers should be about our Father’s business. We Christians have a right to vote; and we should vote our beliefs; what we should NOT do, is make disrespectful statements about the President and try occupy this Government. It all comes down to that thing, that many Christians seem to forget about; our Christian testimony.

This is why I had an issue with the whole “God and Country” movement of the 1980’s and this is why I have such an issue with the “Kingdom Now” types. This is because it is an unholy alliance between believers and non believers.

In closing, this is what the Bible says about all that:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 KJV)

The round up of blogger reaction to this story is found here at Memeorandum.

Update: Fixed a rather bad typo and omission of words. Whoops. What I get for blogging before my mug of coffee is done. 😛

May The Lord Jesus Christ Bless and Keep John McTernan

For not forsaking the old paths and having the courage to speak the truth, even in the face of criticism from those who supposedly preach tolerance, except when it clashes with their worldviews.

Something that I can relate to, and I am sure Dr. McTernan can too:

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. (John 15:18-25 KJV)

May the Lord Jesus hold John McTernan in the palm of his hand, during this time of adversity. Praying

Update: The best thing we, as believers, can do for John, is buy his books:

More Books By John P. McTernan

Confirmed: Jerry Falwell was a flaming hypocrite, when it came to Biblical separation

First of all, what you have to understand is that, as a Christian, I am a Fundamentalist Baptist, of the David Cloud stripe. (He is not my Pastor or guru or anything like that, I simply agree with about 99% of his writings.) For all intents and purposes, this here, can be considered my Statement of Faith.

I have for many years held the belief, that Jerry Falwell was a not a true-blue Fundamentalist Baptist, but rather a “go along to get along” soft evangelical that would sell a Fundamentalist up the river for the cause of political and religious unity. This posting in the Christian Post about a book that has come out, confirms what I suspected for years:

WASHINGTON – Michael Sean Winters, a biographer of the late Jerry Falwell, said that the controversial preacher and Christian Right leader helped remove the stigma conservative Protestants had working alongside Roman Catholics and Mormons for common political goals.

Winters, author of God’s Right Hand: How Jerry Falwell Made God a Republican and Baptized the American Right, was a guest speaker at an event Monday that carried the same title as his book. The event was sponsored by the Center for American Progress and the People For the American Way Foundation (PFAWF).

“He dispensed with this idea that you could not be yoked with nonbelievers or non-fundamentalists,” said Winters to The Christian Post.

“[Falwell] was very proud of the fact that even in the early years of the Moral Majority it was 30 percent conservative Roman Catholic.

[……]

At the discussion-based presentation, Winters talked to those gathered about how one of the amiable qualities of Falwell was his “capacity for friendship.”

“He has this incredible capacity for friendship, which extended to people who were not like-minded,” said Winters.

Winters noted as examples that Falwell’s friendships included people like Ted Kennedy, a liberal political figure, and Larry Flynt, a pornographer who fought Falwell in the courts over issues of defamation and libel.

“Every time he was in Los Angeles, Jerry Falwell would always visit Larry Flynt,” said Winters.

“When Falwell died, Flynt wrote this very moving tribute in the L.A. Times how ‘we agreed on nothing but he was my friend.'”

This above proves what I pretty much knew about Jerry Falwell. To be fair; I should point out that this was not always the case with Falwell. At one time, Falwell did preach the hardcore Fundamentalist stance on Biblical separation at one time. However, as Falwell became involved with politics, he toned down his message of separation. This was because Falwell knew that his hardcore stance on Biblical separation would not be popular with the Republican Party establishment. I also feel the need to point out that Jerry Falwell was a dishonest snake; I say this because of his baldfaced lies that he told to then-Pastor Jim Bakker, when he had his troubles with his Ministry. Falwell simply wanted the television network and nothing else. When Falwell saw that he could not get said network, he pushed that ministry into bankruptcy and washed his hands of it.

Continue reading “Confirmed: Jerry Falwell was a flaming hypocrite, when it came to Biblical separation” →

On My Desk: Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity

It just arrived today…

The only difference between the one pictured above and mine, is mine is brown. Pictured above is the fourth Edition and mine is the fifth Edition.

You can click here to read more about it.

This is possibly the best $25.00 that I have ever spent in my life. I highly recommend one of these to anyone that studies the Word of God, Loves the King James Bible and is a Fundamental Baptist or someone who just believes the Word of God.

Disclosure: I was NOT compensated by David W. Cloud to write this entry. I bought this Product out of my own money and therefore I felt the need to blog about it.