Guest Voice: Paul Proctor Asks is Christianity All About Relationships?

(Source)

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” – Luke 6:26

It seems I am receiving a little extra email these days from troubled Christians who have had to give up a church, some friends and/or certain family members in order to remain faithful to God and His Word. I can tell you without hesitation that I certainly have – and on more than one occasion.

No one can lead you down the road of temptation quicker than a close friend, family member or fellow Christian. The downgrading of today’s “Church” along with society has clearly taken its toll on the brethren and is now driving many out the sanctuary doors to preserve their faith in Jesus Christ.

I heard Authority Research founder and director, Dean Gotcher, in a recent radio interview refer to the loneliness that results from the loss of such relationships as the taking up of one’s cross for Christ. When I respond to the heartbreaking email of readers who have had to leave their local church in obedience to God’s Word, I often reply with some empathetic encouragement and a link to a short piece written by A.W. Tozer titled: The Loneliness of the Christian.

For believers new to this column, I realize that the idea of sacrificing treasured relationships, even those we worship with, is probably a stark contrast to what you regularly receive from the pulpit of your local church and the lectern of your weekly Bible study class where most everything these days revolves around establishing, protecting, sustaining and maintaining relationships of all kinds, at all costs – a dangerous notion that is just not biblical.

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” – Amos 3:3

Simply put, it turns people into church worshippers who revere, embrace and obey the consensus of a congregation with a contrived unity rather than God worshippers who put His Word and Authority far and above the fellowship, opinions, theories, life experiences and personal tastes of well meaning Christians and clergy.

This Religion of Relationships has now all but taken over what is called “Christianity” and ought to be called what it really is: “Churchianity” – the worship of and faith in those who claim to be the “Body of Christ” – especially its leaders who treat their own counsel, conjecture, sermon stories and agendas as equal to or greater than the Word of God.

Those who embrace Churchianity will often respond to a rebuking scripture with: “Yeah, but…” as if to be able to trump it with some greater knowledge, wisdom, anecdote or seemingly contradicting verse from the Bible. This is the ugly arrogance of today’s humanistic spirituality and its self-serving, self-worshipping ways.

When listening to a fellow church member, teacher or preacher talk about the Christian life, how many times have you heard them cite that sacred slogan: “It’s all about relationships?”

Baloney!

It’s about repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and our loving obedience to His Word, whatever may come – a faithfulness that will cost you more relationships than it will ever garner you! Our first love and loyalty is to Him, not our fellow man. That doesn’t mean we don’t take up the towel to wash feet, serve others, sacrifice ourselves and love our neighbor – it simply means they don’t come first in our lives – Jesus Christ does. That’s why we call Him “Lord” and not the brethren.

But, when we place our hope and faith in the redeemed rather than the Redeemer and put the words of men over the Word of God, we become no better than new agers who believe that God is in everyone and in everything – worshipping the creation instead of the Creator and in doing so, make ourselves gods to be praised and exalted with reciprocating adulation and acclaim.

“They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.” – Psalm 12:2

If your Christianity isn’t costing you at least some friends and family, both inside and outside the church house, your hope and faith may have turned horizontal. If your Sunday gatherings have become flattery festivals where people are quoted and praised more than Jesus Christ, you might want to reconsider your church membership. If you have friends and family that hate God, but love you, it might be time to reexamine your witness for Christ and your commitment to Him.

“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” – Luke 21:16-17

Take a sober and discerning look around your church next Sunday and tell me what you see. If it’s all about relationships there, it may be time to hit the door and go find your cross.

“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. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” – Matthew 10:33-39

Paul Proctor’s Archive of hard hitting Articles.

Two Movies on Liberty

First up is The Most Incredible Challenge from 1965.

Synopsis: This film, narrated by Luis Van Rooten and directed by Robert Braverman, was produced by the Radio Liberty (RL) Committee, the parent organization of Radio Liberty, to publicize RL in the United States. The film features RLs production center in Munich, its news-gathering operations around the world, and its transmitter facilities in Germany, Spain, and Taiwan.

For the Licensed Amateur Radio operators that happen to read this blog; who also happen to be fans of old “Boat Anchors” as they are called, see if you spot the old Rockwell-Collins and other such gear in this piece. The place to see it really good, is at the 18:14 mark. Some really nice gear there from Amateur Radio’s greatest era. 😀

The Second is “This Is Radio Free Europe” from 1964:

Synopsis: This film, narrated by Polish broadcaster Andrzej Kzeczenowicz, gives an overview of Radio Free Europes news-gathering and audience research, its production center in Munich, and its transmission operations in Germany and Portugal. Produced by the Free Europe (RFE) Committee, the parent organization of Radio Free Europe, the film helped publicize RFE in the United States. It thus includes solicitations for contributions to the RFE Fund, successor to the Crusade for Freedom, which helped finance RFE.

Folks, I simply offer these videos with this question: Were these station employees, the political bloggers of that era? Are we now the voices of liberty? I like to think that we are the newspaper writers; the ones encouraging the dissent and the debate. Is Russia of old, just a future picture of America? Those are the questions that we must ask ourselves come 2010.

Remember my follow Americas, dissent is not, not has it ever been unpatriotic. The socialist left calls us racists, tea-baggers, rich people with attitudes; we know the truth and we will not stand by idly and allow a socialist oligarchy defeat us or the Nation and the principles in which it was founded upon.  We must fight, not with guns or weapons; this is a battle of ideas and information. The Media, except for perhaps Fox News, is basically carrying water for the establishment. We are the new fifth estate or even possibly the sixth Estate; if there was such a thing. Being in this position of the minority; we must get our collective act together. We need to, as Bloggers and Conservatives, try to stay away from the stupid and the petty. We need to distinguish ourselves from the Alex Jones Conspiracy theory crowd and stick to the mainstream news and offer a counter-view to the main stream media’s view.

I leave you with this Bible verse:

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 King James Version)

and this timeless quote from The Lord Jesus Christ himself:

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.  (John 9:1-5 KJV)

Why would we as Christians, as Conservatives want to be any different?

In Liberty,

-Pat

Blogger Fight Club

Looks like there’s a huge blog war erupting between two Bloggers.

Go here to read.

Get popcorn and plenty of Soda, this one’s gonna get real interesting.

I will just never understand why bloggers, who worked their tails off to become the huge stars that they are; turn right around and do themselves in like that. It just does not make any sense.

Ah well, at least I’m not in the line of fire. 😉

Lies, Damned Lies and more Lies

I notice in the Blogosphere today that the Liberals are accusing Conservatives of lying about the turn out in Washington D.C.

How ironic that the Socialists are crying foul about lying; seeing that their own dear leader is quite the liar himself.

Let’s review, shall we?

My that’s quite a bit of lying.

I think his nose should be growing…

Remember this little whopper of a big lie?

…and the Kool-Aid Drinkers bought it; hook, line and sinker.

So, perhaps…. Joe Wilson; was right?

Of course, the bill was changed, after Joe Wilson called the President on it. But still, are not these other lies legit? I think they are.

Exit Question: If a Republican lied like this man has, would not he be held to a higher scrutiny? But because he is a black liberal, he skates for free? Isn’t that the honest truth?

Late Night at the PB Pub Presents: Eric Burdon and the Animals

Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, shape or form intend this posting to be considered to be any sort of disrespect towards our Nation’s Military. Those guys are out there on the battlefield so that people, like Eric Burdon; can be free to express his opinions and write songs like this one.  Having said all that; I do wish this to be considered a political commentary towards our Nation’s leaders, former and current; on sending our Nation’s finest into wars that cannot be won. I also intend it to be a commentary on unjustified war. I make zero apologies for this.

Updated:A Million people attend 9/12 project protest in D.C. – Think Progress goes out of thier way to find "Offensive" signs

Well, it looks like the 9/12’ers met in Washington D.C.

If these pictures are an accurate representation of what happened up there and what is happening in America:

dcteaparty0912mkhsm

(H/T to InstaPundit –  Photo Snapped by Mary Katherine Ham)

Here’s another:

live912

(H/T Michelle Malkin, it’s a screengrab from here)

….then the Democrats are in DEEP and I do mean, DEEP doo doo come 2010 and even possibly 2012. I mean, WOW. Just WOW. 😮 😯

You can read the round up of MSM and Blogger reactions by going Here, Here, Here, and Here (whew!)

Best sign photo yet: (H/T to VodkaPundit)

racismanyway

and, there’s this very cool video that comes via JammieWearingFool:

The only objection I have to this video is this. At the part where it says, “New Boss, same as the old boss”; I would have a picture of George W. Bush, and then faded in a Picture of Obama and not Karl Marx. Because whether we want to admit it or not. Obama is just continuing the policies of Bush. The stuff that he promised to change. He has not. He is doing the same stuff.

Anyhow, it was a great protest. Even if I did sleep through most of it. 😳 😀

Update: ….and of course, Think Progress goes out of their way to find “offensive” signs and of course blame the Republicans for it. Nuance.

Update #2: Liberals accuse Michelle Malkin of faking a photo and of course, she schools the idiot bastards….again.

News from a Fundamentalist Christian Perspective

FRIDAY CHURCH NEWS NOTES
September 11, 2009, Volume 10, Issue 37

The Friday Church News Notes is designed for use in churches and is published by Way of Life Literature’s Fundamental Baptist Information Service. Unless otherwise stated, the Notes are written by David Cloud. Of necessity we quote from a wide variety of sources, but this does not imply an endorsement. For instructions on how to unsubscribe to this list or to change mailing addresses, please consult the information paragraph at the end.

DAWKINS SAYS NO REPUTABLE SCIENTIST DISPUTES EVOLUTION (Friday Church News Notes, September 11, 2009, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) – Richard Dawkins, the loud-mouthed anti-creationist, says in his recent book The Greatest Show in Earth, “Evolution is a fact. Beyond reasonable doubt, beyond serious doubt, beyond sane, informed, intelligent doubt, beyond doubt evolution is a fact. … No reputable scientist disputes it, and no unbiased reader will close the book doubting it.” Thus, according to Dawkins, if you reject evolution, you are unintelligent and your sanity should be questioned, and no reputable scientist disputes it. In our report “Scientists Who Believe the Bible,” we listed about 40 Ph.D.s who believe in biblical creation. Consider A.E. Wilder-Smith (d. 1995), who had a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry from Reading University, England, a Ph.D. in pharmacology from the University of Geneva, and a Ph.D. in pharmacological sciences from ETH, a premier science and technology university in Zurich. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Dr. Wilder-Smith was an expert on chemotherapy, pharmacology, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. Consider biophysicist Raymond Damadian, M.D., recipient of the Lemelson-MIT Achievement Award as “the man who invented the MRI scanner.” In 1989, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame, an honor he shares with Thomas Edison, Samuel Morse, and the Wright Brothers. The first MRI scanner that Dr. Damadian and his colleagues built in 1977 resides at the Smithsonian Institution. Damadian, a Bible-believing Christian who attends a Baptist church, has stated that “the highest purpose a man can find for his life is to serve the will of God.” Consider Richard Lumsden (1938-97), Ph.D., professor of parisitology and cell biology, who as dean of the graduate school at Tulane University, trained 30 Ph.D.s., published hundreds of scholarly papers, and was the winner of the highest award for parasitology. Consider Dr. Maciej Giertych, head of the Department of Genetics at the Institute of Dendrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, who has published 90 papers in scientific journals, or Dr. Brian Stone, who has won a record number of awards for excellence in engineering teaching at Australian universities, or Duane Gish, who has a Ph.D. in biochemistry and worked for many years in pharmaceutical research at Cornell University, the University of California, and the Upjohn Company, or Dr. W. R. Thompson, world-famous biologist and former Director of the Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control of Canada, or Melvin A. Cook, Ph.D. in chemistry from Yale, winner of the Nitro Nobel Gold Medal for the invention of slurry explosives, or Dr. Walter Lammerts, geneticist and famous plant breeder, or the late Dr. J.J. Duyvene De Wit, Professor of Zoology at the University of the Orange Free State, South Africa, or James Allan, who has a Ph.D. in genetics from the University of Edinburgh and was a senior lecturer in genetics at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. There are hundreds of others, but Dawkins said there is NO reputable scientist who disputes evolution, so we have already more than demonstrated his gross error, his breath-taking arrogance, his astounding ignorance, and the fact that Dawkins himself is not a reputable scientist. Of course, even if NO reputable scientist disputed evolution, this does not mean it is correct. The Bible says, “let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4), and Jesus said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes” (Matthew 11:25).

Updated:Anti-abortion activist shot dead in front of School – Obama and Liberals Silent Confirmed Motive was political

Waiting for the breakneck coverage from the Liberal Media on this. I will not hold my breath; least I turn blue and die.

State police at the Corunna post have confirmed a well-known anti-abortion activist was shot multiple times and killed this morning in front of Owosso High School.

The victim’s identity has not yet been released but the shooting occurred around 7:30 a.m., after most students were off the buses and safely inside the building, said Owosso schools transportation supervisor Jayne Campbell.

State police also confirmed that a suspect was taken into custody about 8:15 a.m. at the suspect’s home.

Owosso High School secretary Wendy Smith said the students remain in lockdown this morning and confirmed that no students were involved and all are safe with classes going on as normal. The shooting did not occur on school property, Smith said.

Meanwhile, police have completely ringed with police tape a section of North Street in front of the school.

A black car can be seen parked at the corner of North and Whitehaven streets, where a portable oxygen tank is lying in a front yard next to a large sign bearing the image of a baby and the word “Life.”

via Anti-abortion activist shot in front of Owosso High School – MLive.com.

For what it is worth; the man was 63 years old. I am glad that the suspect was caught; also there was another murder, that took place that was carried about by the same suspect. I believe it would be a bit premature to speculate whether the murder was related to his advocacy or not. So, I will speculate on this. But I will say that, if this had been an abortion doctor; it would have been front page news. I am even suprised that Fox News is not even covering it. They are too busy playing 9/11 footage over and over and over.

Others: The Jawa Report, theblogprof, JammieWearingFool, QandO, Confederate Yankee, Redhot, The Hinterland Gazette, Gateway Pundit, Pro-Life News

Update: As I suspected and as it was already reported, but now confirmed in the media. The suspect was angry with this man’s opposition to Abortion: (A HUGE H/T to HotAir.com!)

Via USA TODAY:

A 33-year-old Michigan man has been charged with murder in the shootings this morning of an anti-abortion protester outside a high school and the owner of a gravel company found dead in his office.

Harlan Drake of Owosso, near Lansing, was arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder and other gun-related crimes. Prosecutors said Drake also had planned to kill a third, unidentified person.

Longtime anti-abortion activist James Pouillon, 63, was shot multiple times from a passing car about 7:20 a.m. ET. He was protesting across the street from Owosso High School as students were arriving for classes. Witnesses, including students, provided the gunman’s license plate.

About the same time Mike Fuoss, 61, was found dead in his office at Fuoss Gravel in Owosso Township.

Drake was arrested at home about an hour later. Police said he stated he had also shot Fuoss.

“The indication is that he had ill will … a grudge against these three individuals,” said Shiawassee County Prosecutor Randy Colbry. “The defendant was offended by the manner of Mr. Pouillon’s message.”

Still waiting for that Statement from Obama condemning this murder. Still waiting for the outrage amongst the Liberals and the wall to wall coverage of the Liberal MSM. I won’t hold my breath; least I turn blue and die. 😡


Republican Congressman Joe Wilson Heckles the President

Now this is new; I have never heard of this happening ever on the Senate floor.

The Video: (H/T The Hill)

The Story via The Hill:

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) apologized Wednesday night for heckling President Barack Obama as a liar during the president’s speech to a joint session of Congress.

Wilson shouted to the president “you lie” after Obama said illegal immigrants would not benefit from health insurance coverage from the reform bill. Obama glared disgustedly in the direction the remark came from, as did Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Vice President Joe Biden.

The problem is; he was lying.

Of course, John McCain showed his true colors as a RINO:

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Democratic leaders immediately called on Wilson to apologize, and he did so in a statement that said he’d let his emotions get the better of him.

“This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the president’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill,” Wilson said.

“While I disagree with the president’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable.  I extend sincere apologies to the president for this lack of civility.”

House Democratic Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) called Wilson’s outburst “embarrassing,” while McCain said it was “totally disrespectful” and that there was “no place for it in that setting or any other.”

McCain said Wilson “should apologize for it immediately.”

Good ol’ Johnny McCain, always in lockstep with the Democrats. What more can be expect from someone who lied about his damn Vietnam experiences?

Of course, ol’ Shoeshine boy James Clyburn, has got to get his dig in:

Clyburn said South Carolina was already suffering because of Gov. Mark Sanford. “Now we got one of out Congresspeople to drive our reputation to a new low.”

Sanford has endured calls for his resignation after admitting to an affair.

Why is this all happening? Here’s why:

The incident was reminiscent of the town halls across the country that came to define Obama and the Democratic Party’s problems with healthcare during a tough August recess. Democratic senators and House members, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) were frequently heckled by constituents during the town halls, and the rowdiest events became staples of cable news.

Well, Golly gee… Let’s see, the President of the United States wants to essentially destroy one third of our economy; and he wonders why people, like Joe Wilson are angry?

But still there is a bit of historical context here:

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) said he has never witnessed such a scene in 35 years of watching presidential addresses.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Leahy said. “I talked to a number of my Republican friends on the way out who were mortified and angry that someone would do that.

“I’ve been in situations with presidents with whom I absolutely disagreed with,” said Leahy, who had a memorable exchange in 2004 on the Senate floor with Vice President Dick Cheney. After criticizing the vice president about his ties to Halliburton, Cheney used an obsenity with Leahy.

Still, Leahy said he hadn’t seen anything like a lawmaker calling the president a liar during an address to Congress.

“But nobody — nobody — ever has done anything like that,” he said. “He is the head of government for our country.”

He does have a point. It is a respect thing. Barack Obama is the President of the United States and some respect is due. Even if he is wrong.

The Politico has reported that Joe Wilson has called Rham Emmanuel and apologized. His Statement:

“This evening I let my emotions get the best of me when listening to the President’s remarks regarding the coverage of illegal immigrants in the health care bill. While I disagree with the President’s statement, my comments were inappropriate and regrettable. I extend sincere apologies to the President for this lack of civility.”

Which was the best thing for him to do. As the Democrats could and very much would try and censure the man. Just like they did Joe McCarthy who was working to prevent people like Barack Obama from ever getting to the White House in the first place.

Another startling report comes from Protein Wisdom, there are people; blacks mostly, that are threatening to kill Joe Wilson on Twitter.  This is totally disgusting and this should be investigated by the F.B.I. —- I also received several reports that Joe Wilson’s office in D.C. or somewhere was firebombed or was going to be. I hope that this is not the case. One twitter that I read said something involving Joe Wilson’s kids. Folks, that is just not funny, at all. If you have a beef with the man, fine. But leave the family out of it.

AllahPundit quips:

Update: When do Obama and Reid apologize for their month of jackassery?

Good question. When do Democrats apologize for their actions and disrespect of our Military? Good luck with that! 🙄