The Pursuit of Unhappiness

The New York Times recently published an article looking at two studies done by the University of Pennsylvania and by Princeton; both studies showed the same results, that women today are far unhappier than they were 30-40 years ago. They cited the reason as mainly being that woman today do 'different kind of work' than they did back then, namely paid positions now verses caring for the home. I suppose the feminist movement in the seventies had it all wrong. Feminists encouraged young women to leave the 'oppressive' male and go find themselves a career and work 'equally' with men. With this new demanding career, the woman have, unbeknownst to themselves, taken on all the stresses formerly shouldered by men... and found they don't like it.

This is just pure observation, but over the years I have had ample opportunity to see how women function when working together in a professional environment; reacting to the higher-than-normal stress levels, the women seem to work poorly together; gossip, backbiting and distrust are fostered, creating even more stress. The devil, through the age-old enticement of the unattainable fruit, has deceived the woman again; just as in the garden, where the woman was deceived, and the man knew but sinned anyway, women have believed the enormous lie that they can 'have it all' and still 'be free' from family obligations and marital responsibility. Now, they find themselves even more bound up in angst and even more weighed down by their sins than ever before. Having piled it on themselves willingly, there appears to be no end in sight.

If they would have put their trust in Christ, these same women would have peace, contentment and joy in the Lord. Instead, running from what they view as 'oppression', they have put their trust in evil men whom prey on weak-willed women loaded down with sins, and have oppressed themselves with unhappiness. However, it is not too late; one must only call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for deliverance from the fatal condition of sin and death, for, tomorrow is promised to no one.

Steven - 9/28/2007

Recently, one of my relatives after reading a portion of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", a sermon by Jonathan Edwards, referred to the Gospel as "hate speech." The phrase "Hate Speech" has become a popular phrase to attempt to legitimize the homosexual movement and to show hateful contempt towards Christians.

According to Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, the phrase "Hate Speech" is defined thusly: "a controversial term for speech intended to degrade, incite violence or prejudicial action against a particular group of people". Webster’s Online Dictionary defines "hate" as "intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury; extreme dislike or antipathy; loathing; an object of hatred".

This cultural buzz phrase has been hijacked from it’s original meaning of hateful speech that incites violence, i.e. pre-holocaust speeches where one man provoked an entire nation to think hatefully of the Jews, resulting in violence, mass-murder, mayhem and the extreme inhuman treatment of human beings.

About 20 years ago, the homosexual movement began to embrace this particular phrase; at first it was presented with the aim of including their defiled acts of perversion into society under the guise of "anti-discrimination", using the "Hammer of Bigotry" illegitimately upon those whom disagreed; it has been one of the largest factors that pushes the "gay agenda" today. Phrases like this helped persuade many mindless sympathizers into becoming progenies of the "gay movement", so much so that legislation has even been passed here in California, such as Senate Bill 1234, which expanded the hate crime statutes to include "perceived" violations of a person’s race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc.

That fact is that "hate speech" and "hate crimes" are going to be one of the many tools used by the homosexuals, the perverted and the haters of Christ against born-again, fundamental Christians whom preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which they loathe and despise.

It is fascinating to me that they can use the phrase "hate speech" when referring to the Gospel, when in their own definition the phrase means to incite by speech violence or speech which results in violence, when true Christians are known for their advocation of peace and are forbidden by God against taking vengeance on anyone, but are commanded at the end of each of the four Gospels to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all nations.

Thus is the crux of the issue with "hate speech": it is not the "hate" these wicked people are concerned with (or else they simultaneously condemn themselves for hating Christians), it is the speech they don’t like. The Gospel, when preached, warns of sin and the coming Judgment for all those whom reject Jesus Christ as Lord and for those whom preach a false 'jesus'.

In America, and, specifically here in California, the sodomites and those men whom tend to justify their evils have made every attempt to condemn Christians and the Gospel through spurious legal means and corrupt, evil legislators.

If one truly wants to see Hate just go down to the Castro District in San Francisco and begin to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and watch how the homosexuals encircle you, blowing whistles and screaming profanity at you, threatening you with bodily harm; I have been a eye-witness to this on numerous occasions, and save for the police, which quickly dispersed the crowds, those wicked and defiled men would have, through hate, killed us... for peacefully preaching the Gospel.

Steven - 9/25/2007

Pastors Taking Guidance from Sheep: The Anti-Sermon

In today's management environment spawned by behavioral adaptation theories and democratic ideologies, pastors don't stand a chance. They must take their cue from the bleating of the sheep (to the trained ear it  sounds like howling of wolves). If the pastors do well, they surround themselves with well-paying Sunday sermon listeners only too anxious to support God and his ministers. If the pastor does not pay heed to the way the wind is blowing, someone will show him the way (or the door out).

Today's pastors listen to the Holy Spirit via votes and Vogue. For instance, a few Sundays ago, when the regular pastor was on vacation, our youth pastor filled in for him by expounding on an article he found in a woman's magazine. The article had lots of statistics about  raising children and the lack of nurturing environments, mostly due to absentee fathers, overbearing fathers, or non-paying ex-husbands. The pastor attempted to draw a connection between the article and the gospel.  All he succeeded in doing was preaching a social gospel and might as well have been Susan B. Anthony in the flesh. I looked around to see if any of the men were buying into this. They were, staring straight ahead with no eye movement, while the women smiled knowingly and nodded appreciatively.

The pastor of this church has to continually hedge his bets by stating time and time again that he is not preaching against anyone or anything; he just loves us all. He must get a lot of mail from someone to keep him thus in line. If he has trouble preaching the message of the gospel to believers, what would happen if he were in a hostile crowd? He prefers, he says, the New American Standard Bible, but teaches from the NIV because that is the Bible most voted for (a show of hands on a Sunday morning). 

Anyway, these are just peripheral subjects. The main problem is that the pastor has to tailor his programs and his preaching to keep the crowd coming back. If he loses them, then he won't be able to have a large body count, or they will fall into the clutches of other, nicer churches. I am assured there are several other churches in the area that feel the same way and get a little nervous when the well-to-do choose another fold. Isn't that the real game? The only time when pastors are concerned about "church-hopping" is when the lambs hop out of their church. They don't mind it so much when the lamb chops drop their way.

Almost all of today's preaching is predicated on the principle of return on an investment. The sheep cannot be sheared unless they stick around, can they? The trick is to preach to them in such a way as to be convincingly scriptural, but assuring them that they have nothing to fear as long as they keep coming back. This is called "drawing men to Christ." Paradoxically, the pastor becomes the mouthpiece for the flock's opinion and tastes, instead of their leader. They cover this up by insisting over and over again that, they, too, are just sheep. But watch when the tithes don't come in: Their canines begin to show. 

Commentary on Psalms 9:9-20

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."

When we are born into this world, we are born also with a sinful nature. Sin oppresess us; if that wasn't bad enough, other men with sin and evil hearts also work to oppress. The devil and his minions continually oppress. Like a terminal caner, sin gets worse and worse as people live longer; the hearts of men move further and futher from God. But the Lord, the Redeemer of all mankind, our Savior has become a place of refuge, a stronghold from which to withdraw to forever from the oppression of sin.

"And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."

The name which is above all names is that of our Lord, Jesus Christ, in whom we put our trust. By this name the World was framed; the Universe was made for His glory and death itself could not hold Him.

Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted."

The Lord of Hosts, the God of all Creation, shall sit and judge the entire World, past, present and future; his obedient witnesses which go out and preach teh Gospel of Jesus Christ will stand as a testimony against the Wicked. For, every time you heard the Gospel preached and harded your heart, that will be remembered on that Day. "...vengance is mine, sayeth the Lord. I will recompense." The just God will make right every injustice and those him believe upon Him will be accepted to everlasting life in the Kingdom of God; those whom reject Him with be uttely destroyed in everlasting death.

"Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death,"

God, or Lord and Savior, will be merciful to the righteous, the redeemed and the co-heirs with Him. The righteous will not taste damnation but thay shall be saved in the refuge of Jesus Christ.
"that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation."

The redeemed Church will rejoice on that Day, where there will be no more weeping or crying or sin of any kind.

"The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid their own foot has been caught."

The wicked will be sunk into the depths of Hell, and cast in the Lake of Fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for all Eternity. There will not be one drop of relief for their sufferings.
"The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands."

On that Day, the wicked will not escape the judgement of the Lord, for everything has been recorded; throughout the anals of human history all mankind will have to given an account of their evils.

"The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God."

After being warned over and over of the coming Judgment, as well as being told of the only Savior for their soul, the wicked turn their backs to the only refuge from Death, rejecting Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and ultimate Judge.

"For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever."

Those whom were rich and had everything in this life and yet did not know Christ will have nothing in Eternity but unbearable torture. But, for the righteous, they shall be remembered and given riches beyond measure and peace and joy beyond human understanding.

"Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men!"

On that Day, every nation, every tribe, every creed and every single person will bow their knee, and confess with their tongue that Jesus is Lord; and then, He will judge the nations.

"And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding."

Steven - 9/21/2007

"Oh my goodness..."

Said the murderess,
"He´s going to think
I meant to do that."
She also said I love him still.
Please don´t be so mean,
She said to him.
Relax and enjoy life.
Then oops the shotgun
Aimed at his skull
Sort of went off
And he choked to death
On his own blood.
She will be attending church
To compensate for
The cold blooded Christianity
She calls love.
What about the rest
Of all those abused wives
Who hope for justice?
Just divorce the bum
Instead of killing him,
They say with love.
Jesus said,
Those who hate
Have killed already
And judgment waits for them.

Chris Simonson - 9/19/2007

Interview with the Devil

Me:  What if it was true?
D:  What if it weren´t?  You couldn´t tell anyway.
Me: If you aren´t the devil, then am I just imagining the whole interview thing?
D:  That´s up to you to prove.  I´m just here to help you find answers.
Me:  I´m confused, though.
D:  Just think positively.  If it weren´t for me, you wouldn´t examine your belief system. 
Me:  I thought you were just a psychological defect in my brain.  Are you real or aren´t you?
D:  What difference does it make?  You are questioning your basic beliefs and that´s good.
Me:  Do you do this to non-Christians also?
D:  That´s privileged information.  On a need-to-know basis and you don´t need to know.
Me:  You think you can stop me from finding out?
D:  Don´t try or I´ll give you something to think about!
Me:  Now you´re scaring me.
D:  That´s my job.
Me:  But I can just ignore you because you´re a figment of my imagination.
D:  Just try.
Me:  Then it must be true.
D:  What?
Me:  You are afraid I´ll be sure.
D:  What difference does it make?  You can´t tell if He is real or not, anyway.
Me:  That´s where faith comes in.  Thanks for the help.
D:  I hate you.
Me:  Feeling´s mutual. 
D:  So what are you going to do?  Sit around and philosophize with me some more?
Me:  NO.  I´m calling on the Name to get rid of you.  Father, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver me from the Evil One.

Interview over. Thank You, Lord!

Chris Simonson - 9/18/2007

Smile and Be Damned

Try to picture demons struggling against angels. Now picture them wearing smiles all the while. That´s messed up. The same goes for human beings who must struggle against principalities and powers in high places. Smiles just don´t cut it with God.

But modern Christianity is all smiles. We are to smile and hug and `love the wicked into the kingdom.´ When human love (the love of this world) supplants the love of God as shown in the gospel of Jesus Christ, there follows every evil work: Fornication, adultery and homosexuality can´t help but creep in because all that `love´tends to get hormones going. The apostate churches cover this up (lie) with smiles and more `love,´ even hating those who expose the leaven that leavens the whole lump. 

Proof: Every time the wickedness of this world is brought to light in these churches, they give you so many seconds to get out or they call the cops. If they followed Biblical order, they would allow the men to get up in the services and prophesy. Those in the congregation who are spiritual are then to judge what was said. Instead, the little pope calls for his muscleheads to throw out the `disruptors.´ Instead, his chosen charismatic women (and feminized men) prophesy nice things to keep up religious appearances. The Old Testament and New both warn us against false prophets who tell the people what they want to hear. 

If one desires to be deceived by these ministers of the devil (2 Cor. 11:15) don´t question their authority; let them assure you of your salvation (for a price). This way, you will remain an adulterer, homosexual, fornicator, thief, liar, drunkard, etc., and expect to be raptured any minute. Oh, and be sure to smile.

Chris Simonson - 9/17/2007

Sodomites Blessed with pseudo-holy Water

Capital Christian Center for many years was the largest church building & congregation in Sacramento, California; it was built in mid-1980's, a steel and concrete compound comprising a school, gymnasium, sanctuary, wedding chapel, as well as annex outbuildings and vast amounts of landscaping. It is strategically positioned along a major freeway right on the edge of the city of Sacramento. The building's distinct portico extends roughly five stories into the air and is emblazoned with a huge, gold cross that is visible for miles, protruding out of the ground like a visually-deafening tombstone. On a side note, back when the center was being built, it was reported that the huge cross decoration accidentally fell down it's face prior to being installed.

CCC has become a local monument of Modern Christendom, targeted by atheist panhandlers and scores of Christians alike, many seeking the latest Christian fads and religious pop-culture. It is affiliated with the Assembly of God denomination. Over the years, following the tradition of modern christendom, Biblical doctrines and Scripture study have become scarce, replaced with anecdotes, stories and Christian rock, most often sounding like a 'religious' Marylin Manson. Within CCC's opulent halls, Biblical hermeneutics are for the most part watered down to luke-warm, and Christ and his Lordship have all but been thrown out.

In June 2007, Jason Harper, outreach pastor of CCC, and other members of said congregation, passed out water bottles to sodomites as they paraded their defiled sin in public. The labels on said water bottles bore the insignia of CCC and the words "love people from where you are".

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;" Romans 1:18

The Scriptures go on to say that people whom commit the sin of homosexuality have been given over, their consciences having been seared as with a hot iron.

"And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in [their] knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;" Romans 1:27-28

The very fact that they commit the sin of sodomy shows they will not retain God in their minds, so God gave them over to lust and defilement. These congregations which call themselves 'christian', having Statements of Faith that they present before witnesses showing they have been charged before God to hold to good Biblical hermeneutics, have left fundamental Biblical teaching of the Scripture, instead running to aid the wicked in doing evil.

These people will not go to the streets to preach the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, to save the souls of the lost, BUT they will gladly go to a sodomite parade and with smiles give out water bottles and invite them to come among themselves, and make them twice the child of hell.

As if this was not enough, this James Harper of the congregation in question recently made the following statement to local news media: "We believe that people belong here even if they don't believe here,". He went on with grandiloquence that 'everyone' was welcome at CCC. This is kind of like a banker telling convicts that they can walk into the bank vault and partake at will; not only is the idea ludicrous, it defies the Holy Scriptures.

"Don't be fooled by those who say such things, for "bad company corrupts good character." Come to your senses and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don't even know God." 1 Corinthians 15:33&34

The idea that 'everyone is welcome' among believers, along with telling sodomites that 'god loves you just the way you are', is false; if this was true, God would not have poured His wrath upon His beloved son, whom was without sin, as the sacrificial lamb given to cleanse our wickedness. These divisive precepts are incendiary, rotten to the core and a stench which floated up out of the bowels of Hell itself. Such doctrines teach that one may sin and sin (and vile sin at that) but its ok 'cause Grace will 'abound', however, this the Scriptures absolutely forbid: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" Romans 6:1&2

This is just another doctrine of a pseudo-christian hybrid religion, which throws out the fundamentals of Biblical Christianity, all the while appearing to have the attributes of love, when, in reality, it is based upon and thrives on hatred of God and His word, as well as The Church.

Many false prophets and false teachers whom spread these heretical teachings have overlook this Scripture (among many others): "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Cornithians 6:9-10

Recently, an Christian named Luke Otterstad and a fellow believer walked into CCC and sat in the service; they both wore t shirts saying "sodomy and hatred are sin, Christ can set you free " as well as 1 corinthian 6:9-10. Pastor Jason Harper came up to them and reportedly said: "you have 63 seconds to leave, or I am calling the police.' Luke was then threatened, by some CCC security personnel, with bodily harm if he didn't exit the compound immediately. The loving and caring pastor Harper then followed them out to the parking lot and spent several minutes arguing his point that Luke and the other man were being 'disruptive' and oddly kept pointing out that everyone was welcome there (except Luke). The conversation was caught on video and is up on YouTube (click following link): Watch the YouTube Video

Jesus said: "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." Matthew 24:11&12

Many false prophets and false teachers show hatred towards the Brethren and for God's Church, seeking to make gain of them; if no gain is to be had, or their riches are threatened, then they will give you a loving 63 seconds to leave.

"If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?' 1 John 4:20

Steven - 9/13/2007

The Story of Abigail

For the sisters who want to serve Christ:

David and his men are temporarily out of everything, including homes, family and food. A wealthy man named Nabal tells David to take a hike when he asks for some provisions for his struggling men.

He says, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays that break away each man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men I don´t even know where they´re from?"

David takes four hundred fighting men and they head out to Nabal´s place to kill him and all his men.

Enter one Abigail. This is a woman´s woman. How she wound up as Nabal´s wife we can only guess. Maybe it was an only option. The relationship must have built up Abigail´s character, because she is a woman of God.

Long story short, she is able to put together a pretty large supply train in short order because her household obeys their mistress willingly. None of them could talk to Nabal and no one told him. So she is a women´s libber? No, she is a humble servant of God. She stops David with all humility. When she meets him, she falls on her face before him and asks forgiveness! 

This is what she said: "Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be, but please let your handmaid speak in your audience, and hear the words of your handmaid... I pray thee, forgive the trespass of your handmaid, for the LORD will certainly make my lord a sure house, because my lord fights the battles of the LORD, and evil has not been found in you all your days... when the LORD shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember your handmaid." (from 1 Samuel 25)

This is just part of her speech. If a woman reads the whole thing and feels her husband is more like Nabal than David, she is more like Jezebel than Abigail.

My encouragement to the sisters: Listen to Abigail and become like her. Stop teaching your husbands about Deborah the judge of Israel. You will have more honor than any Jezebel ever thought of having, plus all the other blessings of our Lord Jesus.

Chris Simonson - 9/11/2007

Christian Divorce

(aka "How a woman can plan for the inevitable divorce in her Christian life")

First, make sure you do not trust in Christ, but in yourself. Your Christian friends and family will help you in this, but mostly pay attention to the world.

Second, never trust your husband. Putting trust in him will probably lead to you losing most of everything in the inevitable divorce.

Third, do not become a stay-at-home mom. When the inevitable divorce happens, you will need to take care of yourself. The alimony and the child support are never enough.

Fourth, learn the Biblical verses that deal with husbands and how they are to treat their wives. You will need these when you begin to push him away from you.

Fifth, get support from your local church. Play the victim, etc. You may need a pastor or `counselor´ to take out resistance from your husband. This can be very effective.

Sixth, listen to your inner being, your woman´s intuition. By all means, refer to this as the Holy Spirit, and then your divorce from your husband will be complete. There is nothing like self-fulfilling prophecies to make one feel fulfilled.

Seventh, do not admit you have done any of this.

Now that your conscience has been seared, you can go to church and speak in tongues, pray out loud, become a pastor, anything. The world is at your feet.

Chris Simonson - 9/10/2007

Preaching the Gospel at the California State Fair 2007

Over the summer, we preached the Gospel in Downtown Sacramento at 7th & K street, as well as traveling to various festivals throughout Northern California, wrapping up at the State Fair for four days. This is now the 5th year we have preached the Gospel at the State Fair, at Cal Expo, Sacramento; every year, the Lord seems to bless us.

It is always an awesome and blessed honor to serve our Lord by preaching the Gospel, to be called out of the thousands to present His Good News to the world. Brother Dave came out with us again this year for two days and played Gospel music and worship one day for over 7 hours; when we thought his voice would give out, he just kept on praising the Lord. Brother Wally and Brother Chris did some open-air preaching. We passed out nearly 1,000 copies of the Gospel of John, 20 New Testament Bibles and around 10,000 Gospel tracts.

We were not the only ones out there doing ministry: also present were some professing brethren from Immanuel Baptist Church, which is located in downtown Sacramento on 1424 24th Street. A group from another congregation was passing out Ray Comfort Million-dollar-bills with the tiny, fine-print Gospel.

Although people have different views on how to properly present the Gospel, the buck stops with the Scriptures. "that with all boldness they may speak thy word", "and they spake the word of God with boldness"- Acts 4, "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." Eph. 3, "in nothing I shall be ashamed, but [that] with all boldness, as always" - Philipians 1, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness", Hebrews 10, "that we may have boldness "- 1 John.

As with all humans, we suffer with our flesh; even the redeemed struggle against it. We all have a tendency to counter-act the Gospel with our own thoughts, our own wisdom and our own methods. Such are often motivated by financial loss or gain. Sometimes this fleshly nature can be ashamed of the very Gospel we claim to believe in and by adding our own wisdom in the mix, the Gospel is watered down. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinth. 1:18

Though many Brethren have engineered numerous, inventive ways of presenting the Gospel, there is nothing like being freed to be bold in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If there was one important mission that we accomplished out there at the State Fair it was this: we made sure that those whom walked by our booth knew that we were boldly and openly preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I ask you to pray for us, that we would be bold for the Gospel and unashamed. Please keep these Brothers and their families in prayer: Larry, Tom, Chris, Matt, Wally,

Steven & Dave. Also please pray for Brother Katta in India whom is working hard to preach the Gospel; pray for his wife, his children and the orphan children they take care of. Please pray for those whom received the literature, that the seed may fall on good soil.

As we wrap up another summer, I wonder if we do enough to serve our Lord and Savior, being that we owe everything to Him for all that He has done; but, by the grace of God go I.

Steven - 9/06/2007

The Antithesis of Grace

The seeker-sensitive movement and most 'progressive' modern congregations would unequivocally agree with such opinions as these, regarding preaching the Gospel: ‘Don’t warn them about Hell, or the wrath of God’, ‘Just let your light shine’, etc. However, these sentiments smack in the face of Biblical hermeneutics, reformers such as Martin Luther, great preachers like Spurgeon and Jonathan Edwards, whom stress warning the lost of Hell as an essential component of Grace through Faith.

This newer, overbearing doctrine is but a slice of modern church corruption; no personal offense intended, but I feel these seeker-sensitive teachings are schismatic and have been one of the chief offenders of causing corruption in the Body of Christ, thus making gain of the sheep. It turns the Grace of our Lord Jesus into lasciviousness, telling the lost that they can come to Christ via taking the term "saved" and disconnecting it from the eternal wrath of God that will be poured on them if they reject Christ, the only way of salvation; this in turn creates ‘churches’ full of false converts, whom are ready and willing to pay tithes, like buying indulgences. This is the antithesis of Grace.

Let's face it, the thing that the lost hate to hear the most is the fact that God will judge them one day for their wickedness, and will throw them away from Him into eternal darkness; what the modern false church has done is try to convince the lost that ‘God loves you just the way you are’, as if God would want pigs in the Holy of Holies. These assertions imply that God, instead of pouring His wrath out on the lost did it to his Son so now God’s wrath is really no big deal, misapplying the Scripture of “God’s kindness leads us towards repentance’, overlooking the fact that God’s kindness is what stopped Him from casting us all into hell as wicked and unprofitable sinners. But, for the righteous, mercy triumphs over judgment, and we rejoice in His grace, knowing the depths of the punishments we were saved from.

When we warn people of Hell, we know that God’s wrath is terrible, but by believing in Christ as Lord, the only way of salvation, we can be spared God’s wrath and judgment, and be made sons and co-heirs with Christ in the Kingdom of God for all eternity. For us, through Christ, crushing brought healing, but for the wicked crushing brings death. Why would anyone forbid warning the lost of an eternal death so horrible and terrible, leading them instead into modern religion, thus denying them the Way of Salvation. What then have these supposed converts been saved from?

As Jesus our Lord said: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Matt 23:15

Steven - 9/05/2007

Let Him Be Accursed

Paul wrote that we should bless, and not curse, our persecutors (Ro. 12:14 et al). Jesus said that, too. And yet, Paul says, "if any one preaches to you a gospel that is different from that which you received, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:9). And again, "if any one does not love the Lord, let him be accursed" (1 Cor. 16:22).

This is no relapse on Paul’s part. Many today might accuse him of being a Pharisee, as they accuse anyone who gets between them and their gelatin jesus, but they in their ignorance don’t know that Paul was indeed a Pharisee, but one converted from phony religion to actual service for God. In his service for God, he was persecuted more than any of us will ever be. Did he curse them? No, he brought them the blessed gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s why they were persecuting him. In today’s perverted Christianity, we pat the wicked on the back and tell them God loves them just the way they are. This is, to the jaded religionists who pretend love, the same as blessing our enemy. They suffer no persecution as a result, and are opposed to the religion of Paul, the converted Pharisee.

These are the people of whom Paul speaks when he says, "if any one preaches to you a gospel that is different from that which you received, Let him be accursed." These are the ones who love a different jesus than the One presented by Paul. But, as Paul says, "if any one does not love the Lord, Let him be accursed." Jesus, who had to put up with the Pharisees who prided themselves in their outward show of love but inwardly hated him and his God, much as do the Casual Christians of this age, offended them as we must offend the hypocrites in the church today. His disciples were bothered by this, and came to him and said, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be plucked up. Leave them alone; they are blind leaders. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit."

Jesus was discussing outward religion as practiced by the Pharisees. They did not love their mothers or their fathers, thus breaking the commandment. They did not love those who were less fortunate, figuring them to be accursed by God anyway. They did not love, but were experts in pretending great love for God. They knew how to say good, solid prayers. They knew how to walk around looking real religious-like. The fad in those days was to look real somber and real stern. The fad today is to look like fools and jesters. Or we mix them up, depending on who we think is watching. A video clip of Clinton, when he was the president of this great nation, showed him laughing and joking at a funeral procession (for his best friend), until he realized he was being filmed, at which moment he became very somber and sad, and that’s the way we must play it when we are hypocrites.

There is a pit waiting for the blind leaders and their blind followers. They say (highly offended) to Jesus, "Are we also blind?" Jesus says, "If you were blind, then you would have no guilt. But because you say you see, your guilt remains." Let them alone, Jesus says. Let them be accursed, Paul says. These are the folks who teach at our universities and those whom they have taught. They are experts at religion. They fancy themselves theologians. They know exactly how to interpret the Greek as translated "accursed" in all Bibles, so that it doesn’t mean "accursed" when they get through. These are the ones who persecute the true believers in Christ, what with their two-cent credentials given to them by man for a certain tuition.

We who are true Christians should bless them when they persecute us, but let us not for one minute forget they are accursed. Because they have a degree, or because they own better stuff than we own, have big churches and admiration from their followers, and are well-spoken of in the media, let us not fret, because evil comes of that. Let us not try to cover it up or make it better. Let us not get wrapped up in trying to fix something that God is not fixing, or punish something that only God can punish. No, let us on the other hand adopt this little dictum: Let them be accursed.

Chris Simonson - 9/04/2007

Let Depression Do Its Work

Dear soul, when you first came to Christ, he showed you his love. This love is ten thousand times greater than any earthly love. We said to Him, "I will follow you anywhere", because his love is worth everything we have. And then, the experience faded. Welcome back, world.

But our God still loves us, even though time and trials seemed to have separated us for a while. We have an account of the delirious love between a man and a woman in the Song of Solomon. But it is more than that. It is a poetic description of our Lord's love toward us and ours toward him. It is inspired, not the vain ramblings of Shakespeare or Milton. Some who read it find offense, but the Jews kept it in the canon, and so have the Christians. There's a reason for this.

There are a few passages of note to the depressed.:  1) By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city found me: to whom I said, Saw ye him whom my soul loveth? 3:1-3  Again,  2) I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love. 5:5-8. And finally 3)  Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned (disdained). 6:6-7.

This is passionate stuff, not for the weak in heart. The soul is exercised with great longing, great loss, and great love.  But the cost is tremendous. The flesh, once happy and satisfied, is now called into question. Will this satisfy the groom? No. He desires a godly seed. Therefore, we join him in his suffering. Jesus, who did no sin, nevertheless learned obedience by the things he suffered. Are we greater than he?

God is much pleased when we have joy in righteousness. But what when we have joy in the things of this earth? The false church will beat us because that is their job. They have no way of knowing who the beloved of God is. They think we are loose cannons, hoodlums, and feel that by burning us at the stake they are preserving the purity of the church. Jesus said this would happen. And yet, if we are the elect of God (and we have to be the elect or all of the words of love do nothing but cause us to continue in our sin unabated) this works to our good. And indeed, all those who live godly in Jesus Christ will suffer persecution. However, if we shrink back, his soul will have no pleasure in us. But we are not those who shrink back to perdition, but go on to the saving of the soul. That's why I say, let depression do its work. Let us be chastened. Before we were afflicted we went astray. If God did not afflict us (or allow us to be afflicted), then we would certainly backslide. But he comes after us and won't let us wallow in our sins. 

This feels very depressing to the flesh, but afterwards it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness. Many (most) will reject this and go some other way to relieve themselves of the chastening of the Lord. These are those who go to destruction.  Yes, we have to fear this God and then our depression will flee away and the sun will shine on us as we stand before God having no righteousness that we can call our own, but the righteousness which is by faith in Christ.

In the meantime our Lord says, "Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense. Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee." Song of Solomon 4:6-7. And Paul says, "Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."  2 Timothy 2:19

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; - 2 Corinthians 1:8-10.

Chris Simonson - 9/03/2007