Christian persecution in Central Asia

The persecution of Baptist Christians is happening in Central Asia.

A Baptist pastor in Kazakhstan faces up to a year in prison after refusing to pay a fine equivalent to about two months’ average salary for conducting worship without government permission, the international news service Forum 18 reported Oct. 30.

Police opened a criminal case Oct. 28 against Pastor Pavel Leonov, who was fined in March following a Feb. 28 raid on his congregation in Ayagoz in the region of East Kazakhstan.

Leonov’s church is part of the Council of Churches Baptists, which has a policy of civil disobedience by refusing to pay fines imposed for meeting for worship without the compulsory state registration.

In August he told the court he could not pay the fine because he thinks he did nothing wrong and is the sole breadwinner for his wife and five children and was sentenced to 24 hours in jail.

Forum 18 says Leonov is one of more than 100 people from various faiths in Kazakhstan fined so far this year for offenses such as leading or participating in religious meetings without state permission, sharing their faith with others without being personally registered as missionaries or distributing religious literature away from licensed venues.

This Country’s policy of requiring Church’s to pay fees to have Church licenses, is nothing more than a Communist-like attempt to control what sort of religion is taught. This is nothing more than straight up persecution of Churches. Now, I know what I wrote about the gun issue in the previous posting, that is an American issue and I do believe in abiding by American laws. However, I do have an issue with Government regulations that infringe on basic human rights; whether here in America or abroad.

I ask that all my readers pray for this man and his family; that God would give this man favor in the eyes of this Government. Praying

I have always said, that Christian, and in this case Baptist; Missionaries were the true and real Christians. The difference between an typical America Christian and the missionaries abroad, is that the Missionaries actually put their faith into action. I have always said, that if I ever had it to do over again, that I would have stayed in the Baptist Church and that I would have went overseas to be a missionary. They have my respect, and I always have believed that the secret to a prosperous Church that is thriving and making a difference; is the support of missionaries. Churches that do not support them, often die very quickly, or become cesspools of false doctrine.

May the Lord Jesus Christ richly bless these Missionaries and all missionaries around the World, who are boldly proclaiming the true Gospel of Jesus Christ!

God Bless John MacArthur for standing for the truth!

I have a new respect for this man. God Bless him for being bold enough to call a spade, a spade:

The Rev. John MacArthur, influential author, pastor and seminary president, responded to critics of the three-day Strange Fire conference at his Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Calif., that many pastors believe is causing dissention among the faithful because he’s teaching that the Charismatic movement is leading people astray and dishonors the Holy Spirit.

MacArthur commented that some of his critics have said that he’s fixated on the Charismatic movement, a claim he countered by noting that in his 45 years in ministry, this was his first conference he’s held on the movement, and believes it’s come too late.

“In response to this conference, there have been some attacks, and we’ve been unable to escape them,” MacArthur said to the more than 3,000 attendees at the conference Friday night. “I just want to address those, because I do think that it’s important to answer the criticisms that have come.”

He first commented that he hosted the Strange Fire conference to help the Church, and people who believe the Bible is the word of God and that God has revealed Himself clearly and consistently and without contradiction.

“This is for the true church, so that they can discern; so that they can be protected from error; and so that they can be a source of truth for others outside the church,” he said, adding that his book, Strange Fire: The Danger of Offending the Holy Spirit With Counterfeit Worship, can withstand the most intense scrutiny, when measured against the word of God in the Bible.

via John MacArthur Responds to Critics Who Believe His Strange Fire Conference Is Divisive, Unloving.

As a former Pentecostal of 21 years, I am glad to see that this man has dared to stand against false doctrine in the body of Christ.

Get the book:

Hats off to Norman Geisler for speaking the truth and standing for the Word of God!

It is about time that one of those lousy dishrag Evangelicals stood for the truth! 😉

For the record, most of what is said below, most historical Fundamentalist Baptists would say, “Well, Duh!” 😛

Now, if we could just work on ’em about the King James Bible, and that modernistic worship garbage; and they would be alright in my book. 😀

The Story:

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Evangelical scholar and Southern Evangelical Seminary co-founder Norman Geisler spoke on the pluralistic aspect of Christianity at the school’s 20th annual Christian Apologetics conference last weekend and answered the question of whether there are several ways to God.

Religious pluralism is the belief that all religions are true and that all faith-based roads lead to heaven. Geisler focused his message on the Biblical passage of Acts 4:1, which states that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ and no one else.

“Jesus is the only way because the Bible says it to be true,” said Geisler. “Why? Because only He can bridge the gap between God and man, there’s no other way.”

He said that although it seems narrow to suggest that Jesus is the only way, the notion holds true while adding that it is logically possible, historically probable, Biblically necessary and morally justifiable that He is the only way to heaven.

“All views can’t be true because all views are opposite, this is the logical aspect. For example, Islam says we are good in nature, Christianity says we are born in sin. Islam says God is a man, Christianity says He is more than a man, He is God, all truths can’t be the same,” said Geilser.

via The Christian Post – Evangelical Scholar Norman Geisler: Is Jesus the Only Way to Heaven?.

This is what is wrong with the Church today

One of the biggest things that is wrong with the Church today is apostasy. A classic example is this below, this was written some woman who had some sort of “spiritual crisis.”:

4. Contemplative Spirituality

Okay, here’s where I get in trouble.

One of the contemporary church’s problems is its rejection of Christianity’s contemplative heritage. As vital as a rich intellectual life and the study of theology are to our faith, information alone cannot yield produce transformation. Fortunately, our tradition brims with the wisdom of contemplatives and, dare I say mystics, who wrote about the why’s and how’s of spiritual union with God.

Francis, a mystic himself, would advise the present-day church to revisit the practices and teachings of John Cassian, Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Thomas Merton, Brother Lawrence, Jean Pierre de Caussade, Simone Weil and Evelyn Underhill, among others. People are hungry not only for good biblical teaching but for rich experiential encounters with the living God. Are we ready to lay aside our prejudice against the teachings of our contemplative mothers and fathers?

via Who is the most incredible Christian ever? | Fox News.

Sorry, but the only person that I try to pattern my life after is Jesus Christ. He and he alone is the basis of my faith. Furthermore, anyone that wants to have an honest discussion about this heretical nonsense, I would recommend them to start RIGHT HERE.

If people want to know why society is on the downturn, and shootings are on the rise; this is a good place to start. Churches today do not preach the Word of God, they preach garbage and this is a good example of that.

I leave you with the Bible:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:1-15 KJV)

On Rick Warren and his son

Recently, I extended a courtesy to a well-known blogger and I hope his readers and He extend that same courtesy to me.

As for Rick Warren and his now dead son; I am simply going to say what I said on twitter and facebook, which resulted in an apostate Christian blocking me, because I was too mean:

Rick Warren dealt in a modernistic, judge not, rock and roll style of Christianity. From a Fundamentalist Baptist point of view, and according to the Word of God; he was a total and complete apostate. I happen to know that when you do this sort of thing, it catches up with you sooner of later. Look at Pharaoh in the Old Testament, Moses told him, “Let my people go” and he refused, and because of this, Pharaoh lost his firstborn son. It is the same concept. The Bible says:

If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Romans 12:18-19 KJV)

The Lord is patient with people like Rick Warren. However, sometimes the Lord does things to get people, like Warren, to pay attention. This is all a part of getting Rick Warren right with God. Now, personally, I hope that Warren does get right with God! However, if I know Warren like I do; he will never leave that apostate doctrine that he teaches in his Church.

More Bible:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:1-2 KJV)

and…:

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)

Those scriptures are basically what Rick Warren is and he will not change at all. I would like to hope that he could and I rule nothing out, Warren could very well be convicted and come back to the truth of the Word of God, leave the Southern Baptist Convention and become a real Baptist again. But, to be quite honest; I highly doubt that this will ever happen.

To some, saying that Rick Warren “had it coming” is a horrible thing to say about a man losing his son. However, in the context of the Word of God. Rick Warren DID have it coming; when you rebel against the Word of God and think that you know more the God and his Word, and you decide to rebel and create your own “user-friendly” Jesus — you pay the price. When I backslid and decided that I was no longer interested in being a Christian, because of what other people did to me or around me; I paid a terrible price for it. Friends of mine died, my personal life went to shambles and in fact, I believe this season of unemployment is a direct result of things that I have done in the past. Simply put: You reap what you sow.

….and it looks to me, like Rick Warren reaped the whirlwind.

Others: CBS News, Alan Colmes’ Liberaland, CBS Los Angeles, Balloon Juice, The Hinterland Gazette, Scared Monkeys and The Raw Story

It Begins: Evangelical Christians and the Catholic Church listed in Army training slide as extremists

This is something to put everyone on alert:

A U.S. Army training instructor listed Evangelical Christianity and Catholicism as examples of religious extremism along with Al Qaeda and Hamas during a briefing with an Army Reserve unit based in Pennsylvania, Fox News has learned.

“We find this offensive to have Evangelical Christians and the Catholic Church to be listed among known terrorist groups,” said Ron Crews, executive director of the Chaplain Alliance for Religious Liberty. “It is dishonorable for any U.S. military entity to allow this type of wrongheaded characterization.”

Material presented to soldiers at training session.

The incident occurred during an Army Reserve Equal Opportunity training brief on extremism. Topping the list is Evangelical Christianity. Other organizations listed included Catholicism, Al Qaeda, Hamas, the Ku Klux Klan, Sunni Muslims, and Nation of Islam.

The military also listed “Islamophobia” as a form of religious extremism.

via Army Labeled Evangelicals as Religious Extremists | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes.

Of course, when caught, the Army quickly raced to cover its butt:

Army spokesman George Wright told Fox News that this was an “isolated incident not condoned by the Dept. of the Army.”

“This slide was not produced by the Army and certainly does not reflect our policy or doctrine,” he said. “It was produced by an individual without anyone in the chain of command’s knowledge or permission.”

Wright said after the complaint was lodged, the presenter deleted the slide, and apologized.

“We consider the matter closed,” he said.

The incident was made public by a soldier who attended the briefing. He asked for copies of the presentation and sent them to the Chaplain Alliance.

“He considers himself an evangelical Christian and did not appreciate being classified with terrorists,” Crews told Fox News. “There was a pervasive attitude in the presentation that anything associated with religion is an extremist.”

Which is the story they always tell the public, when they do something and get caught doing it. I just wonder how long it will be, if the Lord tarries; before the United States Government will begin rounding up those who dare to read from the King James Version of the Bible and start imprisoning those Pastors who dare to preach that homosexuality is a sin and that abortion is murder. I think it will happen, before the Lord’s return myself. Why with the Anti-Defamation League — a leftist Jew-run organization; doing the bidding of the Obama Administration, it is a wonder now that Fundamentalists like myself are not in prison.

It goes without saying that we are in the last days. Things like this, are going to become more and more prevalent and will the norm eventually. As Jesus said, “Watch ye and Pray.” and that my friends, is all that we can really do. Watch and pray and be about our Father’s business; and wait for his blessed return.

Others: Atlas Shrugs, Jihad Watch and Weasel Zippers

Taking Religion out of the Military?

I have mixed feelings about this one:

“Soldiers with minority religious beliefs and atheists often feel like second-class citizens when Christianity is seemingly officially endorsed by their own base,” American Atheists president David Silverman told Fox News. “We are very happy the Pentagon and the Army decided to do the right thing.” A military spokesman told Fox News the cross was literally dismantled and will be removed from the base to be in “compliance with Army regulations and to avoid any misconception of religious favoritism or disrespect.” “After a Christian prayer, the cross was removed from the roof of the chapel,” the spokesman said. “During the removal, the cross was dismantled; however the cross was reassembled and currently awaits transportation to a larger operational base.” The military told Fox News the cross will only be brought out during Christian services and will be designated as a “non-permanent religious symbol.” Silverman said a Christian chapel on an Army base in Afghanistan could have put American troops in danger. “It inflames this Muslim versus Christian mentality,” he said. “This is not a Muslim versus Christian war — but if the Army base has a large chapel on it that has been converted to Christian-only, it sends a message that could be interpreted as hostile to Islam.” An Army spokesman said all chapels must be religiously neutral. “The primary purpose of making a chapel a neutral, multi-use facility is to accommodate the free exercise of religion for all faith groups using it,” he said. “We take the spiritual fitness of our Soldiers seriously and encourage them to practice their faith and exercise their beliefs however they choose.” Retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, of the Family Research Council, told Fox News a Christian cleansing of the military is under way. “I don’t think you can categorize it any other way,” he said. “There is a strong effort, led partially by the Administration as well as by atheist groups to destroy the identity of who we are as a nation and that means robbing us of our history.” —- Military: Crosses Removed ‘Out of Respect for Other Faiths’ | FOX News & Commentary: Todd Starnes

On one hand, I would hate to think that having Christian symbols on a battle front could be putting our Military at risk. On the other hand, I would hate to see Christianity being removed from the Military entirely. However, we are in a Muslim Nation is Afghan region; one would think that the Military would want to be respectful of those people and their culture.

It is a mixed bag, and all the more reason why we really need to get out of that Country. Our mission is done there; we killed Osama and we need to leave. We do not want to make the same mistake the Russians made there. Besides all that, Al-Qaeda has moved into other regions and is much more a threat to other interests in other parts for the world now.

So, to this Independent, the quicker we leave, the better.

Why I could never vote for Mike Huckabee, if he ran for President

Because of crass, idiotic stuff like this right here:

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee attributed the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in part to restrictions on school prayer and religious materials in the classroom.

“We ask why there is violence in our schools, but we have systematically removed God from our schools,” Huckabee said on Fox News, discussing the murder spree that took the lives of 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, CT that morning. “Should we be so surprised that schools would become a place of carnage?”

Law enforcement has released few details on the alleged gunman, but Huckabee suggested that the separation of church and state may have spurred his rampage.

“[W]e’ve made it a place where we don’t want to talk about eternity, life, what responsibility means, accountability — that we’re not just going to have be accountable to the police if they catch us, but one day we stand before, you know, a holy God in judgment,” Huckabee said. “If we don’t believe that, then we don’t fear that.”

He said those suffering from a crisis from faith should look to God in the community’s response to the violence. But he added that “Maybe we ought to let [God] in on the front end and we wouldn’t have to call him to show up when it’s all said and done at the back end.”

via Huckabee: Schools ‘A Place Of Carnage’ Because We ‘Systematically Removed God’ | TPM LiveWire.

The dude just does not use good sense. I mean, how freaking insensitive can you be?

Basically to the parents of these children’s parents, “God let your Children die, because you don’t subscribe to the same religion I do, and worship the baby Jesus like I do!”

What an asshole. This is one of the good reasons why I really do not go to Church anymore. Because of stupid people in the Church, just like this guy here.

Others: CANNONFIRE, Gawker, Plunderbund, Alan Colmes’Alan Colmes’, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES andTruthdig, more at Mediagazer »

Attention Seeking Idiot Terry Jones to protest in Dearborn, Michigan……again

I will be honest with you, I am all for the protesting against radical Islam and radical Jihad. But that is not what this man is about at all. What Terry Jones is about, is the promotion of Terry Jones and that is all he is about. I mean, burning a Koran simply is inciting a riot. But, that is not what he is doing, the story is below:

Dearborn — Controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones is scheduled to protest Wednesday outside Edsel Ford High School.

The minister plans to hold from 1-4 p.m. a demonstration against what he calls bullying by “Muslim gangs.”

Jones has grabbed national headlines for protests where he’s set afire copies of the Quran, the Islamic holy book, and his promotion of an inflammatory anti-Islamic film blamed for sparking deadly demonstrations across the Middle East.

City officials have given Jones permission to hold the protest and say the community’s police department is prepared to handle any problems that may arise during the event.

via Controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones protesting in Dearborn today – Detroit News

Now, what Pamela Geller is doing, yes, that is the real deal; but this guy, no way, he is nothing more than a provocateur. There is a big difference and the stark differences are plain as the nose on your face. I mean, when even other Christians are questioning your tactics something is really wrong. There are other ways to make your message known and this man’s way is not one of them.

Again, if this guy were a legitimate Anti-Jihadi person, I would have nothing but good to say about him. But this guy is all about self-promotion, to prop up his failing Church — which is nothing more than a two-bit cult, from what I have read. The best thing that the Islamic Community and the Christian Community can do, is ignore this two-bit attention whore and let him fade back into obscurity; where he truly belongs. There are some who try to put this guy, Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer in the same league. They are not even close, not at all. I have done my homework on this guy, and believe me; he is not even remotely in the same league.

…and that’s the facts, jack.

The message in Tim Tebow’s tweet is about the power of God

Tim Tebow the famous Christian football player sent out a tweet which had some people wondering about what he meant.

The Christian Post Reports:

Like it has been for much of Tim Tebow’s career, it was all about the numbers heading into the N.Y. Jets game against the Houston Texans on the 666th edition of Monday Night Football.

“Looking forward to giving God all the glory in tonight’s 666th Monday Night Football game. Romans 8:37-39,” Tebow tweeted Monday morning.

Once again, as has happened many times before, the sports media turned to talk of Bible scripture and faith as the result of something Tebow said or posted.

USA Today sports writer Chris Chase went so far as to use Tebow’s “666” reference to begin his article with the Bible verse Revelation 13:8. “This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666,” Chase quoted from the English Standard translation.

“I’m down with Tebow’s religious beliefs and appreciate that he uses his forum to promote them, but I’m not sure what he was going for here,” wrote Chase. “Does playing in a game number that’s identical to the mark of the beast worry him? Or is anything with the number 666 a good way to promote his faith?”

Naturally, we cannot expect these unconverted heathen to understand what Mr. Tebow was trying to convey at all. Here is the scripture that Mr. Tebow was quoting, in the actual Word of God — that is the King James Bible:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — (Romans 8:35-39 KJV)

Actually, Mr. Tebow did not quote quite enough of that scripture, he only quoted 37-39, the actually good part is from 35-39. But, I digress.

Tim Tebow was publicly declaring his faith in Jesus Christ. Which is commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible, see here:

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. — (Matthew 10:32-33 KJV)

Those are the Words of Jesus Christ, recorded by the Apostle Matthew. The Apostle Luke also recorded it in greater detail:

Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. — (Luke 12:8-10 KJV)

So, you see, The Lord was not kidding around about that sort of a thing; He meant business. Furthermore, I feel the need to expound another aspect of what Tim Tebow was trying to say in his tweet; whether he knew it or not. Let me say up front; this is where I am going to start sounding like a preacher. I will disclose this now. There was a time, when I was working on getting a degree for Ministry. I really cannot be a Pastor, because I am not married. However, I do know my way around theology a bit. I have been a saved, Born-Again Christian for 30 years. I spent 21 years in the Pentecostal movement. I was saved a Baptist at age 9, in a Baptist Church in Detroit in 1982. I left the Baptist circles in 1984, due to a school change and just started attending an Assemblies of God Church in Detroit, which recently closed after 35 years. In 2004, after many years of watching the Pentecostal movement simply change from what it was, to what it is now —- I walked away from it and went back to the Baptist faith. You see, Baptist is not a denomination, although a few denominations out there call themselves Baptist. Baptist is a way of belief and it dates back to the Apostles of Christ. I suggest reading The Trail of Blood to see what I am talking about.

Anyhow, back to what I was talking here, before I got off in the weeds. Tim Tebow was also making a another statement and that statement is this here: That Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God and is all powerful and has dominion over Heaven and Earth. Satan, on the other hand, is a already defeated foe and has limited power. Furthermore, Mr. Tebow was declaring that if you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, that you can enjoy eternal life with God forever. This is the simple truth that has been known throughout the ages, including by those who founded this Country. It is also the bedrock believe that this Nation held to for many years and because of that, this Nation enjoyed many years of abundant prosperity.

I think it goes without saying, that we really need to get back to those beliefs. Now, as a Fundamentalist Baptist; I reject the notion of a corporate Salvation or Christianity. However, I do believe that the Christian values that this Country once held, have been watered down and cast aside as old hat. I believe this happened for a large number of reasons — many of which are beyond the scope of this blog posting. I also reject the notion that this Nation will have another revival. Sadly, the days of revival are over in this Country. I believe before the rapture of the Church comes, I believe things on this earth are going to become much darker and much more evil. I know, it is a fatalist outlook, but the Word of God does bare that out.

If you want to know more, please, check out this little booklet down below:

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