Scripture of the Day

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of; but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
2 Corinthians 7:10

Quote of the Day

What was true about liberalism yesterday is true for much of evangelicalism today.
J. Gresham Machen comments about Liberal Theology early in the last century....

Quote of the Day

"Pelagianism is the natural heresy of zealous Christians who are not interested in theology."
J.I. Packer, "'Keswick'and the Reformed Doctrine of Sanctification."

Warren's P.E.A.C.E Plan Should Scare You

I have been saying for several years now that the Purpose Driven church growth movement is herectical and Rick Warren is a false prophet, and this recent post on The Herescope only affirms my beliefs.

Read this one and note the commentary points pointing out some possible reasons for all the secrecy surrounding PEACE.

The goal that Warren said he plans on training 1 billion "foot solidiers" who will do "whatever it takes" to make the world purpose driven, SHOULD make every born-again believer run from this heresy in droves. But alas, PDL retains its evil hold on millions and Warren continues to spew his poisonous message on everything from FOX News to the Orange County Register.

Rick Warren - Is He Scary?
The Herescope

Halloween: One More Lesson on Compromise

Once again, Christianity Astray...oops I mean Christianity Today has taken us to the awesome depths of the postmodern understanding of Scripture with this sad and sickening article entitled
Why I Let My Kids Go Trick-or-Treating, by Ellie Lofaro, a columnist for Today's Christian Woman.

This article is really a lesson in just how shallow and selfish we have become, and how easy it seems to be for so many to disregard the Word of God.

In the story, Mrs. Lofaro relates an encounter with one of her peers,

"Hi, Ellie!" shouted Debbie, the PTA president. "We haven't seen you at any meetings recently. We're starting to plan for the spring fair. Let me know which booth you'd like to man. I recall you have some talent!"
I continued to burp the newborn and assured Debbie I'd attend the next meeting. Then, as I headed into the house, Debbie called out, "Hey, why aren't your kids trick-or-treating? No costume? No candy? No fun?"
I swallowed hard. She and her entourage were waiting—and wondering. Their herd of kids had run to the next house, the women had grown quiet, and for a moment, I could hear the autumn air.
"Well, we don't really celebrate Halloween. It's, ugh, a bit complicated."
They turned and walked away, but not before Debbie threw up her arms and shouted back with raw emotion, "But they're only children!"

Then she relates how her family decided that Halloween wasn't so bad after all, after her children shared their feelings:

"Please let us go trick-or-treating next year. We always play dress up and we have so many hats and costumes and wigs, so you don't have to buy any and we only want to get some candy and have fun with our friends! We know Satan is bad and we love Jesus, and I'm sure he'd walk around with us and get candy if he was here."
I wiped her wet face and held her closely. As I stroked her hair, I smiled as I pictured Jesus, as a boy, walking through Nazareth and receiving sweets from the local women during the Feast of Purim, a celebration of the Jewish people's deliverance from destruction at the hands of Haman. My thoughts were interrupted as the younger two approached the couch to show support. Jordan spoke first.
"We won't do any bad things. We'll be Christians for Halloween." Capri shuffled anxiously and said, "We weally just want a wittle candy and I'm gonna be Pooh Bear. Pooh is vewy nice."
So on October 31, 1995, the Lofaro children went trick-or-treating for the first time. They dressed as a clown, a pirate, and, of course, Pooh Bear. The innocence and wonder of childhood are too brief."

Feelings, emotions, experience and imagination took over and the commands of the Lord God take a back seat. I would ask Mrs. Lefora if while going house to house, did she and her family pass out tracts or engage some other forms of direct evangelism. Perhaps they did, and perhaps for the Lefora family trick-or-treating is merely going out getting candy while dressed in funny costumes.

But regardless, Halloween is directly contradictory to the mandates of Scripture, even if the Roman church tries to "christianize" it. Whether I have fun or not or can create a reason in my own selfish logic to justify observing it, to celebrate Halloween is sin.

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. "
Ephesians 5:11

"But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils" 1 Corinthians 10:20

Pray for Reformation

Steve Camp has a great commentary for us on how to observe Reformation Day, praying for reform.

Everybody Wants Reformation...but who is willing to let goods and kindred go?

Scripture of the Day

Romans 3:21-28

21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Luther before the Diet of Worms

"Since your most serene majesty and your high mightinesses require of me a simple, clear and direct answer, I will give one, and it is this: I can not submit my faith either to the pope or to the council, because it is as clear as noonday that they have fallen into error and even into glaring inconsistency with themselves. If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this way brought into subjection to God’s word, I neither can nor will retract anything; for it can not be right for a Christian to speak against his country. I stand here and can say no more. God help me. Amen."

Martin Luther and The 95 Theses

October 31, 1517, Dr. Martin Luther had enough, and he wrote this document of 95 points that changed the church and changed the world. In this day when it seems the church has fallen into the pit of easy-believeism and discernment is non-existent; when "christians" will accept and affirm just about anything except the inerrancy and divine inspiration of Scripture; when in mnyt churches is all about "me", where the "worship" is horizontal instead of vertical and fellowship with people takes precendence over submission and obedience to a righteous and holy God......we need a reformation that will shake us to the core.

Disputation of Doctor Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences
by Dr. Martin Luther (1517)