I was in the process of writing an article about The Shack and in my research I found this article. I realized that it said the same thing I would have said concerning the book. I hope it will be an eyeopenner to those who seek to know the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
I John 4:6
The Shack: Helpful or Heretical?
A Critical Review by Norman L. Geisler and Bill Roach
The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William P. Young (Wind Blown Media, 2007, 264 pp) is a New York Times best seller with well over a million copies in print. Literally hundreds of thousands have been blessed by its message, but its message is precisely what calls for scrutiny. Responses to The Shack range from eulogy to heresy. Eugene Peterson, author of The Message predicted that The Shack “has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!” Emmy Award Winning Producer of ABC Patrick M. Roddy declares that “it is a one of a kind invitation to journey to the very heart of God. Through my tears and cheers, I have been indeed transformed by the tender mercy with which William Paul Young opened the veil that too often separated me from God and from myself.” (http://theshackbook.com/endorsements.html). People from all walks of life are raving about this book by unknown author “Willie” Young, son of a pastor/missionary, and born in Canada. He is a graduate of Warner Pacific College in Portland, Oregon.
The Background of the Book
The Shack is Christian fiction, a fast-growing genre in the contemporary Christian culture. It communicates a message in a casual, easy-to-read, non-abrasive manner. From his personal experience, Young attempts to answer some of life’s biggest questions: Who is God? Who is Jesus? What is the Trinity? What is salvation? Is Jesus the only way to Heaven? If God, then why evil? What happens after I die?
In the final section of the book titled “The Story behind THE SHACK,” he reveals that the motivation for this story comes from his own struggle to answer many of the difficult questions of life. He claims that his seminary training just did not provide answers to many of his pressing questions. Then one day in 2005, he felt God whisper in his ear that this year was going to be his year of Jubilee and restoration. Out of that experience he felt lead to write The Shack. According to Young, much of the book was formed around personal conversations he had with God, family, and friends (258-259). He tells the readers that the main character “Mack” is not a real person, but a fictional character used to communicate the message in the book. However, he admits that his children would “recognize that Mack is mostly me, that Nan is a lot like Kim, that Missy and Kate and the other characters often resemble our family members and friends” (259).
The Basic Story of the Book
The story centers on a note that Mack, the husband and father in the story, received from “Papa,” who is supposed to be God the Father. It reads, “Mackenzie, It’s been a while. I’ve missed you. I’ll be at the shack next weekend if you want to get together” (19). From this, the story moves through the personal struggles Mack has with such questions as: Why would someone send me this letter? Does God really speak through letters? How would my seminary training respond to this interaction between God and man? The story takes a turn when Mack’s son almost drowns while canoeing. During the chaos his daughter is abducted and eventually killed. This is what caused Mack to fall into what the book calls “The Great Sadness.” This time period is supposed to reflect his spiritual condition after the death of his daughter and the questions he has been asking for many years.
Grieved with the death of his daughter and the possibility that the note might be from God, Mack packs his bags and heads for the shack. The point of this journey is to suggest that his traditional teaching, Sunday prayers, hymns, and approach to Christianity were all wrong. He comes to the conclusion that “cloistered spirituality seemed to change nothing in the lives of people he knew, except maybe Nan [his wife]” (63). In spite of being an unlikely encounter with God, Young uses this fictional encounter as a vehicle for Mack’s spiritual journey and encounter at the shack.
While at the shack, Mack discovers that God is not what we expect Him to be. In fact, God the Father is a “large beaming African-American woman,” Jesus appeared to be “Middle Eastern and was dressed like a laborer, complete with tool belt and gloves,” and the Holy Spirit is named Sarayu, “a small, distinctively Asian woman.” The book identifies these three people as the Trinity (80-82). After trying to reconcile his seminary training with this new encounter with God, he concludes that what he had learned was of no help.
An Evaluation of the Book
Young’s point is clear: forget your preconceived notions about God, forget your seminary training, and realize that God chooses to appear to us in whatever form we personally need; He is like a mixed metaphor. We cannot fall back into our religious conditioning (91). The Shack attempts to present a Christian worldview through the genre of religious fiction, but just how Christian it is remains to be seen.
Problem One: A Rejection of Traditional Christianity
Beneath the surface of The Shack is a rejection of traditional Christianity (179). He claims that traditional Christianity did not solve his problem. Even Seminary training didn’t help (63). He insists that Christianity has to be revised in order to be understood, reminiscent of McClaren’s Emergent Church book titled, Everything Must Change. However, one might question whether it is Christianity that needs revision or Christians that need to be revitalized. One thing is certain; Christianity should not be rejected because it has some hypocritical representatives. To be sure, some Seminary training is bad, and even good Seminary training doesn’t help, if you don’t heed it. But the baby should not be thrown out with the bathwater. Christ established the Church and said the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Mt. 16:16-18). The Shack, as gripping as its story is, trades a church occupied with people who hear the Word of God preached for an empty shack where there is neither.
Problem Two: Experience Trumps Revelation
An underlying problem with the message of The Shack is that it uses personal experience to trump revelation. The solutions to life’s basic problems come from extra-biblical experience, not from Scripture (80-100). Non-biblical voices are given precedent over the voice of God in Scripture. These alleged “revelations” from the “Trinity” in the shack are the basis of the whole story. While biblical truth is alluded to, it is not the authoritative basis of the message. In the final analysis, it is experience that is used to interpret the Bible; it is not the Bible that is used to interpret experience. This leads to a denial of a fundamental teaching of Protestantism.
Problem Three: The Rejection of Sola Scriptura
The Shack rejects the sole authority of the Bible to determine matters of faith and practice. Rather than finding a Bible by the altar in a little old country church and getting comfort and counsel from the word of God, he is instructed to go to an empty shack in the wilderness with no Bible and get all he needs to cope with the tragedies of life from extra-biblical voices. The Shack’s author rejects what “In seminary he had been taught that God had completely stopped any overt communication with moderns, preferring to have them only listen to and follow sacred Scripture…. God’s voice had been reduced to paper…. It seemed that direct communication with God was something exclusively for the ancients…. Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book” (63).
However, the Bible clearly declares that “Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17, emphasis added). Indeed, our comfort is not found in extra-biblical revelations but is realized in that “through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom. 15:4). In short, the Bible is sufficient for faith and practice. No new truth beyond the Bible is needed for doctrine or living the Christian life. Of course, this does not mean that God cannot bring biblical principles to our minds when needed through various experiences, even tragic ones. He can and He does. Nor does it mean that God cannot guide in circumstances that help us in the application of biblical principles to our lives. He can and He does. But these experiences bring no new revelation. They are merely the occasion for God focusing our attention on the only infallible written source of His revelation, the Bible and the Bible alone. To forsake this fundamental principle is to leave Protestantism for Mysticism.
Problem Four: An Unbiblical View of the Nature and Triunity of God
In addition to an errant view of Scripture, The Shack has an unorthodox view of the Trinity. God appears as three separate persons (in three separate bodies) which seems to support Tritheism in spite of the fact that the author denies Tritheism (“We are not three gods”) and Modalism (“We are not talking about One God with three attitudes”—p. 100). Nonetheless, Young departs from the essential nature of God for a social relationship among the members of the Trinity. He wrongly stresses the plurality of God as three separate persons: God the Father appears as an “African American woman” (80); Jesus appears as a Middle Eastern worker (82). The Holy Spirit is represented as “a small, distinctively Asian woman” (82). And according to Young, the unity of God is not in one essence (nature), as the orthodox view holds. Rather, it is a social union of three separate persons. Besides the false teaching that God the Father and the Holy Spirit have physical bodies (since “God is spirit”—Jn. 4:24), the members of the Trinity are not separate persons (as The Shack portrays them); they are only distinct persons in one divine nature. Just as a triangle has three distinct corners, yet is one triangle. It is not three separate corners (for then it would not be a triangle if the corners were separated from it), Even so, God is one in essence but has three distinct (but inseparable) Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Problem Five: An Unbiblical View of Punishing Sin
Another claim is that God does not need to punish sin. He states, “At that, Papa stopped her preparations and turned toward Mack. He could see a deep sadness in her eyes. ‘I am not who you think I am, Mackenzie. I don’t need to punish people for sin. Sin is its own punishment, devouring you from the inside. It is not my purpose to punish it; it’s my joy to cure it’” (119). As welcoming as this message may be, it at best reveals a dangerously imbalanced understanding of God. For in addition to being loving and kind, God is also holy and just. Indeed, because He is just He must punish sin. The Bible explicitly says that” the soul that sins shall die” (Eze. 18:2). “I am holy, says the Lord” (Lev. 11:44). He is so holy that Habakkuk says of God, “You…are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong…” (Hab. 1:13). Romans 6:23 declares: “The wages of sin is death….” And Paul added, “‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay’ says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).
In short, The Shack presents lop-sided view of God as love but not justice. This view of a God who will not punish sin undermines the central message of Christianity—that Christ died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:1f.) and rose from the dead. Indeed, some emergent Church leaders have given a more frontal and near blasphemous attack on the sacrificial atonement of Christ, calling it a “form of cosmic child abuse—a vengeful father, punishing his son for offences he has not even committed” (Steve Chalke, The Lost Message of Jesus, 184). Such is the end of the logic that denies an awesomely holy God who cannot tolerate sin was satisfied (propitiated) on behalf of our sin (1 Jn. 2:1). For Christ paid the penalty for us, “being made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God through him” (2 Cor. 5:21), “suffering the just for the unjust that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18).
Problem Six: A False View of the Incarnation
Another area of concern is a false view of the person and work of Christ. The book states, “When we three spoke ourself into human existence as the Son of God, we became fully human. We also chose to embrace all the limitations that this entailed. Even though we have always been present in this universe, we now became flesh and blood” (98). However, this is a serious misunderstanding of the Incarnation of Christ. The whole Trinity was not incarnated. Only the Son was (Jn. 1:14), and in His case deity did not become humanity but the Second Person of the Godhead assumed a human nature in addition to His divine nature. Neither the Father nor Holy Spirit (who are pure spirit--John 4:24) became human, only the Son did.
Problem Seven: A Wrong View of the Way of Salvation
Another problem emerges in the message of The Shack. According to Young, Christ is just the “best” way to relate to the Father, not the only way (109). The “best” does not necessarily imply the only way, which then means that there may be other ways to relate to God. Such an assertion is contrary to Jesus’ claim, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes unto the Father except through me” (John14:6). He added, “He who believes in Him [Christ] is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (Jn. 3:18). Jesus is not merely the best way, but He is the only way to God. Paul declared: “There is one God and one mediator between God and Men, the Man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
Problem Eight: A Heretical View of the Father Suffering
The book also contains a classic heresy called Patripassionism (Literally: Father Suffering). Young claims that God the Father suffered along with the Son, saying, “Haven’t you seen the wounds on Papa [God the Father] too?’ I didn’t understand them. ‘How could he…?’ ‘For love. He chose the way of the cross… because of love’” (p. 165). But both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed (A.D. 325) made it very clear that it was Jesus alone who “suffered” for us on the Cross. And that He did this only through His human nature. To say otherwise is to engage in “confusing the two natures” of Christ which was explicitly condemned in the Chalcedonian Creed (A.D. 451). Suffering is a form of change, and the Bible makes it very clear that God cannot change. “I the Lord change not” (Mal. 3:6). “There is no shadow of change with Him” (Jas. 1:17). When all else changes, God “remains the same” (Heb. 1:10-12).
Problem Nine: A Denial of Hierarchy in the Godhead
The Shack also claims that there is no hierarchy in God or in human communities modeled after Him. He believes that hierarchy exists only as a result of the human struggle for power. Young writes of God: “‘Well I know that there are three of you. But you respond with such graciousness to each other. Isn’t one of you more the boss than the other two…. I have always thought of God the Father as sort of being the boss and Jesus as the one following orders, you know being obedient….’ ‘Mackenzie, we have no concept of final authority among us; only unity. We are in a circle of relationship, not a chain of command…. What you’re seeing here is relationship without any overlay of power…. Hierarchy would make no sense among us’” (121).
However, Young cites no Scripture to support this egalitarian view of God and human relations—and for good reasons since the Bible clearly affirms that there is an order of authority in the Godhead, the home, and the church. Submission and obedience are biblical terms. Jesus submitted to the Father: “O My Father,… not my will be done but yours” (Mt. 26:39). “He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death…” (Philip. 2:8). In heaven “then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Cor. 15:28). Children are to submit to their parents: Paul urged, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord…” (Eph. 6:1). Likewise, women are urged: “Wives submit to your own husband, as to the Lord” (Eph. 5:22). “The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God” (1 Cor. 11:3). Members are to “obey your leaders” (Heb. 13:17). Indeed, citizens are commanded “to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient…” (Titus 3:1).
The hierarchial order in the Godhead is the basis for all human relationships. And pure love does not eliminate this; it demands it. The Bible declares; “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments” (1 Jn. 5:3). Portraying God as a Mother, rather than a Father, reveals an underlying anti-masculinity in Young’s thought. He wrote, “Males seem to be the cause of so much of the pain in the world. They account for most of the crime and many of those are perpetrated against women…. The world, in many ways, would be a much calmer and gentler place if women ruled. There would have been far fewer children sacrificed to the gods of greed and power” (148). He does not explain how this would not be a hierarchy if women “ruled” the world.
Problem Ten: Ignoring the Crucial Role of the Church in Edifying Believers
The Shack is totally silent about the important role the community of believers plays in the life of individuals needing encouragement. In fact there is a kind of anti-church current born of a reaction to a hypocritical, legalistic, and abusive father who was a church leader (1-3). However, this is clearly contrary to the command of Scripture. A bad church should not be replaced with no church but with a better church. God gave the church “pastors and teachers, to equip the saints…for building up the body of Christ…” (Eph. 4:11-12). Paul said, “To each [one in the body] is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Cor. 12:7). Young replaces a Bible-based church in the wildwood with a Bible-less shack in the wild. Comfort in bereavement is sought in a lonely, Bible-less, empty shack in the wilderness where one is to find comfort by heeding deceptive presentations of God. At this point several scriptural exhortations about being aware of deceiving spirits come to mind (1 Tim. 4:1; 1 John 4:1; 2 Cor. 11:14). As for the need for a church, the Scriptures exhort us “not to forget the assembling together as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching” (Heb. 10:25). Without the regular meeting with a body of edifying believers, proper Christian growth is inevitably stunted.
Problem Eleven: An Inclusivistic View of Who Will be Saved
While The Shack falls short of the universalism (“All will be saved”) found in other emergent writings, it does have a wide-sweeping inclusivism whereby virtually anyone through virtually any religion can be saved apart from Christ. According to Young,, “Jesus [said]…. ‘Those who love me come from every system that exists. They are Buddhists or Mormons, Baptist, or Muslims,…and many who are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institution…. Some are bankers and bookies, Americans and Iraqis, Jews and Palestinians. I have no desire to make them Christians, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa….’ ‘Does that mean…that all roads will lead to you?’ ‘Not at all…. Most roads don’t lead anywhere. What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you’” (184).
Again, there is no biblical support for these claims. On the contrary, the Scriptures affirm that there is no salvation apart from knowing Christ. Acts 4:12 pronounces that “There is no other name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved.” 1 Tim. 2:5 insists that “There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” And Jesus said, “unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins” (Jn. 8:24). For “whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (Jn. 3:36). And “whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (Jn. 3:18).
Problem Twelve: A Wrong View of Faith and Reason
The Shack embraces an irrational view of faith. It declares: “There are times when you choose to believe something that would normally be considered absolutely irrational. It doesn’t mean that it is actually irrational, but it is surely not rational” (64). Even common sense informs us that this is no way to live the Christian life. The Bible says, “’Come now let us reason together,’ says the Lord” (Isa. 1:18:). “Give a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Pet. 3:15); “Paul…reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2). “These were more fair-minded [because] they searched the Scriptures daily…whether these things be so” (Acts 17:11). “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God” (1 Jn. 4:1, emphasis added in above quotes). Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living,” and reasonable Christians would add, “The unexamined faith is not worth having.”
Problem Thirteen: It Eliminates Knowledge of God
According to Young, God is wholly other; we can’t really know Him. He wrote: “I am God. I am who I am. And unlike you…” (96). “I am what some would say ‘holy and wholly other than you’” (97). “I am not merely the best version of you that you can think of. I am far more than that, above and beyond all that you can ask or think” (97). One basic problem with this view is that it is self-defeating. How could we know God is “wholly other”? Wholly other than what? And how can we know what God is not unless we know what He is? Totally negative knowledge of God is impossible. Further, according to the Bible, we can know what God is really like from both general and special revelation. For “Since the creation of the world his invisible attributes are clearly seen…even his eternal power and Godhead…” (Rom.1:20). As for special revelation, Jesus said, “If you had known me, you would have known my Father also” (Jn. 14:7) and “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father” (Jn. 14:6). God does speak of Himself in His written Word (2 Tim. 3:16), and when He does it tells us something about the way He really is. His words are not deceptive but descriptive.
Problem Fourteen: It Entails Divine Deception
According to The Shack, God is revealed in ways contrary to His nature. The Father is revealed as a black woman and having a body when He is neither. The reason given for this is that in love God revealed Himself in ways that would be acceptable to the recipient (who had a bad father image) but were not so. But this is case of divine deception. God is a spirit (Jn. 4:24) and He has no body (Lk. 24:39). God is never called a “Mother” in the Bible. It is deceptive to portray God’s Nature in any way that He is not, even though ones motive is loving (91-92). A lie told with a loving motive is still a lie. Of course, when God speaks to finite creatures He engages in adaptation to human limits but never in accommodation to human error. Portraying God as having a black female body is like saying storks bring babies. Young calls it a “mask” that falls away (111). But God does not have masks, and He does not masquerade. “It is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18). Paul speaks of the “God who cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). It is only the Devil, the Father of lies, who engages in appearing in forms he is not. “For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14). To be sure, there are figures of speech in Scripture, speaking of God as a rock or a hen, but they are known to be metaphorical and not literal, since there are no immaterial rocks and God does not have feathers.
Conclusion
The Shack may do well for many in engaging the current culture, but not without compromising Christian truth. The book may be psychologically helpful to many who read it, but it is doctrinally harmful to all who are exposed to it. It has a false understanding of God, the Trinity, the person and work of Christ, the nature of man, the institution of the family and marriage, and the nature of the Gospel. For those not trained in orthodox Christian doctrine, this book is very dangerous. It promises good news for the suffering but undermines the only Good News (the Gospel) about Christ suffering for us. In the final analysis it is only truth that is truly liberating. Jesus said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32). A lie may make one feel better, but only until he discovers the truth. This book falls short on many important Christian doctrines. It promises to transform people’s lives, but it lacks the transforming power of the Word of God (Heb. 4:12) and the community of believers (Heb. 10:25). In the final analysis, this book is not a Pilgrim’s Progress, but doctrinally speaking The Shack is more of a Pilgrim’s Regress.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Our Statement of Faith
Our church has been adding some new members over the
last few months. We felt the need to update our
statement of faith. So here it is!!
We praise the Lord for the McEwen family!! We will post
pictures soon!!
We believe that the Bible as contained in the Old and New Testament are directly inspired by God and are completely without error and preserved in the King James Version for the English speaking people. It’s authority is not limited to spiritual or religious themes, but includes it’s assertions in such areas as history, science and all areas of life.
• Psalm 12:6 & 7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
• Psalm 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
• Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
• II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
We believe in the one true God, existing in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. These three are coequal from all eternity, each with distinct personalities and ministries.
• Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God, (Elohlym = plural (at least three) usage of God meaning more than one in union) created the heaven and the earth.
• Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
• I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
We believe in the deity and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, His sinless life, His vicarious (took our place) atoning death upon the cross through his shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.
• John 1:1 – 3 & 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, …
• John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
• I Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
• Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
• Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
• Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
We believe in the total depravity and lost condition of man by nature and in his need of the new birth by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.
• Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
• Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
• I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
We believe from the foundations of the world that the Lambs Book of Life contained all the names of everyone that was ever conceived. When they had blasphemed against the Holy Spirit or died in their sins then there names were blotted out of the book.
• Exodus 32:32 & 33 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
• Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
• Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
We believe in justification by faith without the works of the flesh or the law. We also believe that all people that have ever been born have been given an opportunity to choose to accept or reject God’s gift of salvation.
• Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men
• Ephesians 2:8 & 9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
• Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
• I John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling presence, the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
We believe in the resurrection of the saved and the lost - the saved to the resurrection of life and the lost to the judgment of damnation.
• Revelation 20:12 – 15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
By Laws
Marriage
We believe that the institution of marriage is a covenant given by God between a man and woman only to be separated by death as recorded in the Holy Scriptures. This is God’s perfect picture of his salvation to mankind.
• Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
• Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
• Ephesians 5:21:26 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Music
We believe that the ministry of music is used as a form of worship and comfort to the church, it should never be conformed to the world or to be used as a method of bringing people to church. Music identifies with and enhances the spirituality of the flock. Proper music will always be identified with the melody as the main theme.
We further believe is that music is never neutral, but either good or evil. Music alone has more power of good and evil than the words themselves
Modesty
We believe that the scriptures teach and commands that there be a clear distinction in the area of clothing between a man and a woman.
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 22:5
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. I Timothy 2:9
Further we believe that men and women have a responsibility to dress accordingly, not to cause someone to lust and cause spiritual adultery between one another.
Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. Isaiah 47:2 & 3
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. Matthew 5:27 & 28
last few months. We felt the need to update our
statement of faith. So here it is!!
We praise the Lord for the McEwen family!! We will post
pictures soon!!
We believe that the Bible as contained in the Old and New Testament are directly inspired by God and are completely without error and preserved in the King James Version for the English speaking people. It’s authority is not limited to spiritual or religious themes, but includes it’s assertions in such areas as history, science and all areas of life.
• Psalm 12:6 & 7 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.
• Psalm 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
• Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
• II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
We believe in the one true God, existing in three persons; Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. These three are coequal from all eternity, each with distinct personalities and ministries.
• Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God, (Elohlym = plural (at least three) usage of God meaning more than one in union) created the heaven and the earth.
• Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
• I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
We believe in the deity and virgin birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, His sinless life, His vicarious (took our place) atoning death upon the cross through his shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and His personal return in power and glory.
• John 1:1 – 3 & 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, …
• John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
• I Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
• Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
• Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
• Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
We believe in the total depravity and lost condition of man by nature and in his need of the new birth by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit.
• Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
• Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
• I Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
• John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
We believe from the foundations of the world that the Lambs Book of Life contained all the names of everyone that was ever conceived. When they had blasphemed against the Holy Spirit or died in their sins then there names were blotted out of the book.
• Exodus 32:32 & 33 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
• Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.
• Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
We believe in justification by faith without the works of the flesh or the law. We also believe that all people that have ever been born have been given an opportunity to choose to accept or reject God’s gift of salvation.
• Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men
• Ephesians 2:8 & 9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
• Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
• I John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
We believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling presence, the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
We believe in the resurrection of the saved and the lost - the saved to the resurrection of life and the lost to the judgment of damnation.
• Revelation 20:12 – 15 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
By Laws
Marriage
We believe that the institution of marriage is a covenant given by God between a man and woman only to be separated by death as recorded in the Holy Scriptures. This is God’s perfect picture of his salvation to mankind.
• Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
• Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
• Ephesians 5:21:26 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Music
We believe that the ministry of music is used as a form of worship and comfort to the church, it should never be conformed to the world or to be used as a method of bringing people to church. Music identifies with and enhances the spirituality of the flock. Proper music will always be identified with the melody as the main theme.
We further believe is that music is never neutral, but either good or evil. Music alone has more power of good and evil than the words themselves
Modesty
We believe that the scriptures teach and commands that there be a clear distinction in the area of clothing between a man and a woman.
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 22:5
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. I Timothy 2:9
Further we believe that men and women have a responsibility to dress accordingly, not to cause someone to lust and cause spiritual adultery between one another.
Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. Isaiah 47:2 & 3
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. Matthew 5:27 & 28
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Christian's Responsibility To Civil Government.
In our day where government is moving away from biblical principles and their Godly
responsibility to her people, it is important that we remember our responsibility to the government as well as being a light to a lost and darkened world. May this help you to gain balance in relationship to our authorities.
This 2 part series was done by John MacArthur. He clearly teaches from the old and new testament the Christian's responsibility to civil government. Hope this will be a blessing to you and your loved ones.
Christian's responsibility to civil government part 1.
Christian's responsibility to civil government part 2.
responsibility to her people, it is important that we remember our responsibility to the government as well as being a light to a lost and darkened world. May this help you to gain balance in relationship to our authorities.
This 2 part series was done by John MacArthur. He clearly teaches from the old and new testament the Christian's responsibility to civil government. Hope this will be a blessing to you and your loved ones.
Christian's responsibility to civil government part 1.
Christian's responsibility to civil government part 2.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Please be patient...
Our Blog is Under Construction!!! We should have
it looking much better soon....
God Bless!!!
it looking much better soon....
God Bless!!!
What is this???
What is this?
Taking shape...
Ahhhh...it's a new pulpit that Sam built for
our church!!
Zack trying out the new pulpit!! Your preach it, Zack!!
Taking shape...
Ahhhh...it's a new pulpit that Sam built for
our church!!
Zack trying out the new pulpit!! Your preach it, Zack!!
Our Newest Member!!!
Our newest member is Rebekah Joy Sykes!!!
She is absolutely beautiful. We love you,
Rebekah. You are a blessing to your family
and to your church family!!!
She is absolutely beautiful. We love you,
Rebekah. You are a blessing to your family
and to your church family!!!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Beware of false prophets.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Matthew 7:15-17 KJV.
The bible is very clear that men claiming to be spiritual leaders will come in and try to deceive the brethren. In Revelation chapter 2, we are shown that the church of Ephesus was commended for testing those which say they were apostles and found them liars. What's sad is when the church fails to test the spirit of a spiritual leader. As time goes they become excepted by name and when they are finally identified as false, many of the brethren will overlook their error and defend them.
Many times I have quoted statements of spiritual leaders that indicated them as false teachers and nearly every time someone will defend them by saying "Where did you get that quote?" Or "Did you actually hear them say that?" While it is important to be accurate and not defame one another we live in a time where technology can be of great benefit.
The following clips should wake us up to the fact that we are not doing our job in exposing false prophets. But not to make it all negative, the ending clips should be an encouragement to those that love the word of God to know that there are those who will not compromise by the fear of man, but will stand on the word of God.
The first 3 clips are of Pastor Rick Warren of saddleback church in California. While this man is well known in America as the author of the books "The Purpose Driven Church and the Purpose Driven Life." And has thousands of pastors across our nation following his example as a seeker friendly church, I think we can conclude by the word of God that this man is a false prophet.
The first clip you are about to see is Rick Warren talking to a secular audience.
The second clip is where he is being interviewed about his view points concerning homosexuality. Notice that the authority pastor warren gives is not the word of God, but himself.
The next clip shows his defense of Homosexuality, where he admits he is not Anti-gay.
The sad part is that he apologizes to his "Gay Friends". What does the Bible say our true friends should be?
Our next clip is on Joel "Smiley" Osteen, who has the largest church in America. This clip shows him denying the true gospel, by saying "I don't know."
The last four clips is an example of how men of God should be when given an opportunity to defend the word of God. May you be encouraged, but beware of false teachings.
In Christ, Steve Graves
The bible is very clear that men claiming to be spiritual leaders will come in and try to deceive the brethren. In Revelation chapter 2, we are shown that the church of Ephesus was commended for testing those which say they were apostles and found them liars. What's sad is when the church fails to test the spirit of a spiritual leader. As time goes they become excepted by name and when they are finally identified as false, many of the brethren will overlook their error and defend them.
Many times I have quoted statements of spiritual leaders that indicated them as false teachers and nearly every time someone will defend them by saying "Where did you get that quote?" Or "Did you actually hear them say that?" While it is important to be accurate and not defame one another we live in a time where technology can be of great benefit.
The following clips should wake us up to the fact that we are not doing our job in exposing false prophets. But not to make it all negative, the ending clips should be an encouragement to those that love the word of God to know that there are those who will not compromise by the fear of man, but will stand on the word of God.
The first 3 clips are of Pastor Rick Warren of saddleback church in California. While this man is well known in America as the author of the books "The Purpose Driven Church and the Purpose Driven Life." And has thousands of pastors across our nation following his example as a seeker friendly church, I think we can conclude by the word of God that this man is a false prophet.
The first clip you are about to see is Rick Warren talking to a secular audience.
The second clip is where he is being interviewed about his view points concerning homosexuality. Notice that the authority pastor warren gives is not the word of God, but himself.
The next clip shows his defense of Homosexuality, where he admits he is not Anti-gay.
The sad part is that he apologizes to his "Gay Friends". What does the Bible say our true friends should be?
Our next clip is on Joel "Smiley" Osteen, who has the largest church in America. This clip shows him denying the true gospel, by saying "I don't know."
The last four clips is an example of how men of God should be when given an opportunity to defend the word of God. May you be encouraged, but beware of false teachings.
In Christ, Steve Graves
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Arminianism vs Calvinism
When it comes to the issues of Arminianism and Calvinism we come to a system of beliefs that have divided Christians for centuries. Although we have not had to deal with this in the past, recently it has reared it’s ugly head and we as a family have sensed the Lord’s prompting to search the scriptures for an answer.
Unfortunately, we have seen people we love and respect become divided over this issue. Ministries have even refused to give an answer to a belief in whether they fully support it or not.
Like in the days of the apostles when Jesus walked the earth, they asked him concerning a blind man whether he or his parents sinned that made him blind and the Lord answered, “neither …”.
In Jesus’ day, religious men had taken scripture and boxed it into doctrines that either you were this or this. When it comes to Calvinism or Arminianism, it seems we have the same problem. (Calvinism is named after John Calvin, a French theologian who lived from 1509-1564. Arminianism is named after Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian who lived from 1560-1609.)
These two are systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility in the matter of salvation.
Both systems can be summarized with five points.
Calvinism’s five points are associated with the word TULIP.
Total Depravity - Total depravity states that every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin; therefore, human beings are unable to come to God on their own accord.
Unconditional Election - The view that God elects individuals to salvation based entirely on His will alone, not on anything inherently worthy in the individual.
Limited Atonement - The belief that Jesus only died for the elect.
Irresistible Grace - When God calls a person to salvation, that person will inevitably come to salvation.
Perseverance of the saints – The concept that a person who is elected by God will persevere in faith and will not permanently deny Christ or turn away from Him.
Arminianism’s five points are:
Partial depravity – That every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin, but not to the extent that they are unable to place faith in God of their own accord.
Conditional election - Believeth that God elects individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ unto salvation, thereby on the condition that the individual chooses God.
Unlimited atonement - The belief that Jesus died for all, but that His death is not effectual until a person receives Him by faith.
Resistible grace - States that God calls all to salvation, but that many people resist and reject this call.
Conditional salvation is the view that a believer in Christ can of his/her own free will turn away from Christ and thereby lose salvation.
Both of these beliefs have elements of truth, but they also have human reasoning in them as well. We also need to look at the men behind these teachings as well. John Calvin came out of the Roman Catholic Church and brought some baggage that influenced him in some of his doctrines. Jacobus Arminius believed that Calvin’s teachings were out of balance and therefore brought forth his points as well.
Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time… it’s either Calvinism or Arminianism ... But I say unto you ….
When you look to these doctrines both have problems or inconsistencies that don’t pan out totally in scripture.
So, is there a biblical set of doctrines we should strongly consider? May God allow the following beliefs to be consistent with His word. As with the acronym of TULIP, let’s consider the following as good Bereans.
Total dependence on God –
God’s word says that man is a sinner. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God”, Romans 3:10 & 11. Romans 3:23 further states: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”, Romans 3:23
In Romans 1:20, God’s word says that the world will be without excuse. If we are going to be held accountable, and if the only way to consider God’s way is to be prompted by the Holy Spirit, then grace would have to appear to all men as the scripture teaches (Titus 2:11). God’s word also teaches that, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” This verse teaches that God gives every man an opportunity to know him. When He is rejected in the area of salvation, He gives them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1).
Unlimited atonement –
The blood that was shed on Calvary paid for the sins of the world, just as the brazen serpent that God told Moses to make was able to save all those who looked upon it. The ones that died choose to rebel by not looking. The brazen serpent was something God used for the people to look upon. It wasn’t the serpent that saved them, it was God. (Numbers 21:7-9, John 3:14 & 15, Col. 1:14)
Limitless Grace –
God’s word tells us that God is not willing that any should perish … but all come to repentance. If that is true, then all mankind will be given grace in which they will decide, as it is written “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” Titus 2:11, And he is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2:2
Independence from the World –
This means that Christians have the power to over come the world, because as it is written, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4
Preservation of the saints –
God’s word teaches that not only does He preserve His word, but He preserves us as well (Psalms 12:6 & 7). God’s word teaches that he is able to keep us once we enter the kingdom of God through salvation (John 10). Those that he rebukes and commands to depart Him, are those whom He says, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23). They were religious but lost.
Conclusion
I am fearful that most of the churches in America are lost and are listening to a watered down gospel. To those whom I know that are “Calvinists”, I believe them to be people who are tired of the compromises that effect churches nation wide and for some reason or another are getting caught up in this issue. May God bless those who seek his face and are committed to His word and His will.
In His service,
Steve Graves
www.timetracts.com
Unfortunately, we have seen people we love and respect become divided over this issue. Ministries have even refused to give an answer to a belief in whether they fully support it or not.
Like in the days of the apostles when Jesus walked the earth, they asked him concerning a blind man whether he or his parents sinned that made him blind and the Lord answered, “neither …”.
In Jesus’ day, religious men had taken scripture and boxed it into doctrines that either you were this or this. When it comes to Calvinism or Arminianism, it seems we have the same problem. (Calvinism is named after John Calvin, a French theologian who lived from 1509-1564. Arminianism is named after Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian who lived from 1560-1609.)
These two are systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God's sovereignty and man's responsibility in the matter of salvation.
Both systems can be summarized with five points.
Calvinism’s five points are associated with the word TULIP.
Total Depravity - Total depravity states that every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin; therefore, human beings are unable to come to God on their own accord.
Unconditional Election - The view that God elects individuals to salvation based entirely on His will alone, not on anything inherently worthy in the individual.
Limited Atonement - The belief that Jesus only died for the elect.
Irresistible Grace - When God calls a person to salvation, that person will inevitably come to salvation.
Perseverance of the saints – The concept that a person who is elected by God will persevere in faith and will not permanently deny Christ or turn away from Him.
Arminianism’s five points are:
Partial depravity – That every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin, but not to the extent that they are unable to place faith in God of their own accord.
Conditional election - Believeth that God elects individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ unto salvation, thereby on the condition that the individual chooses God.
Unlimited atonement - The belief that Jesus died for all, but that His death is not effectual until a person receives Him by faith.
Resistible grace - States that God calls all to salvation, but that many people resist and reject this call.
Conditional salvation is the view that a believer in Christ can of his/her own free will turn away from Christ and thereby lose salvation.
Both of these beliefs have elements of truth, but they also have human reasoning in them as well. We also need to look at the men behind these teachings as well. John Calvin came out of the Roman Catholic Church and brought some baggage that influenced him in some of his doctrines. Jacobus Arminius believed that Calvin’s teachings were out of balance and therefore brought forth his points as well.
Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time… it’s either Calvinism or Arminianism ... But I say unto you ….
When you look to these doctrines both have problems or inconsistencies that don’t pan out totally in scripture.
So, is there a biblical set of doctrines we should strongly consider? May God allow the following beliefs to be consistent with His word. As with the acronym of TULIP, let’s consider the following as good Bereans.
Total dependence on God –
God’s word says that man is a sinner. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God”, Romans 3:10 & 11. Romans 3:23 further states: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”, Romans 3:23
In Romans 1:20, God’s word says that the world will be without excuse. If we are going to be held accountable, and if the only way to consider God’s way is to be prompted by the Holy Spirit, then grace would have to appear to all men as the scripture teaches (Titus 2:11). God’s word also teaches that, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” This verse teaches that God gives every man an opportunity to know him. When He is rejected in the area of salvation, He gives them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1).
Unlimited atonement –
The blood that was shed on Calvary paid for the sins of the world, just as the brazen serpent that God told Moses to make was able to save all those who looked upon it. The ones that died choose to rebel by not looking. The brazen serpent was something God used for the people to look upon. It wasn’t the serpent that saved them, it was God. (Numbers 21:7-9, John 3:14 & 15, Col. 1:14)
Limitless Grace –
God’s word tells us that God is not willing that any should perish … but all come to repentance. If that is true, then all mankind will be given grace in which they will decide, as it is written “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,” Titus 2:11, And he is the propitiation (atonement) for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. I John 2:2
Independence from the World –
This means that Christians have the power to over come the world, because as it is written, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4
Preservation of the saints –
God’s word teaches that not only does He preserve His word, but He preserves us as well (Psalms 12:6 & 7). God’s word teaches that he is able to keep us once we enter the kingdom of God through salvation (John 10). Those that he rebukes and commands to depart Him, are those whom He says, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21-23). They were religious but lost.
Conclusion
I am fearful that most of the churches in America are lost and are listening to a watered down gospel. To those whom I know that are “Calvinists”, I believe them to be people who are tired of the compromises that effect churches nation wide and for some reason or another are getting caught up in this issue. May God bless those who seek his face and are committed to His word and His will.
In His service,
Steve Graves
www.timetracts.com
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