Current Christian Heretical Teachings

Some Current Heretical Teachings in Many Christian Churches (repost):
I want to take a brief moment to introduce some of the current heretical teachings that are coming from “Christian” churches nowadays, and possible responses to them.  This is just a taste of the heresies that are out there.

An Overview of World Religions

            I want to briefly present what some of the major religions of the world believe.  (I am not covering all of them, of course.  And I am skipping things like Wicca, New Age, and Humanism.)  I studied all the major religions once when I was considering if Christianity was really the only way.  And I came out of the study believing in Jesus all the more. 

            It is important to know what other religions teach so that we can know what they are really about, have real reasons for why we don’t believe them, and understand what makes Jesus and Christianity different. 

            (This is mainly written for believers, taken from my Bible study over at https://ironsharpensironbiblestudy.blogspot.com.) 

            This is my paraphrase of things I have learned over the years and information from a world religion comparison guide called “Christianity: Cults & Religions” and from a book by Fritz Ridenour called, So What’s the Difference?

Prayer Request for My Neighbor's Salvation

On my blogs, I'm asking if you'll all say a quick prayer for my neighbor, G.  Because of all this coronavirus stuff, she's starting to see certain "end times signs" materialize, and it's making her wonder if the Bible might actually be true.  She has been open to hearing about Jesus, and we were able to have some of the first conversations ever about faith and Jesus and the Bible, standing in our yards six feet apart, of course.  And I gave her some books to read to help her understand better.

Pray that God continues to put the Gospel in her and her husband's (D.) path throughout the day and night, in various ways, that they can see and understand the truth of the Gospel and God's offer of forgiveness and eternal life through faith in Jesus and that it's the only way to be saved.  Pray that God sends heavenly angels to keep evil from interfering so that they are not blinded by the enemy's lies and distractions.  Pray that they sense God's presence and His overwhelming love for them, that they realize that He is really real and that He wants a relationship with them because He loves them.  And pray that they understand that salvation doesn't "just happen" to us, that God doesn't make the decision for us, and that we don't get to heaven by accident or default or just for being a "good person."  Pray that they realize - and soon - that they have to make the decision for themselves, that they have a responsibility to respond to God's calls, to believe and to have faith in Jesus, to reach out and accept the forgiveness and salvation He offers if they want eternal life.  Thank you.

Nancy Antoinette and Airhead AOC

Wow!  If Nancy (Antionette) Pelosi is "Let them eat ice cream," then Airhead AOC is "Let them eat ... nothing!"  

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/apr/21/nancy-pelosi-skewered-let-them-eat-cream-trump-ad/

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/aocs-idiotic-suggestion-to-boycott-economy-after-coronavirus-shows-her-ignorance-again

https://www.foxnews.com/media/aoc-boycott-work-coronavirus-shutdown

A Little Girl's Nonsensical Sign

I saw a picture online of a little girl holding up a sign.  She had a great big smile on her face, yet she was clearly too young to understand what the sign meant.  But the sign said something about how religion says that people are broken, imperfect, sinful, etc., and how science (a world without God) says that people are intelligent, beautiful, capable of great things, etc.  And then it asks us to decide which one is more harmful, obviously implying that religion is negative and damaging, while science is positive and affirming.

This sign that the little girl was holding bothered me.  Because it’s nonsense.  Because it doesn’t give an accurate picture of Christianity.  And so, in response, I want to make my own list, which I think more accurately represents Christianity and science.

Why I could never be an atheist!

“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”  (Psalm 14:1)

 “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”  (Romans 1:20)

I have gone through some hard times recently.  (This is a repost from a few years ago, not that I haven't had many hard times since then, too.)  Not only has there been a bunch of discouraging trials, but these trials have been accompanied by “spiritual droughts” of sorts.  Long, dry spiritual times, the kind that could leave you wondering if you only convinced yourself all along that there is a God.

He has been so silent, so distant ... and at a time when I needed Him to show Himself most.  My soul has ached for more than what He is giving right now.  I cry out, but hear nothing.  I pray and pray about certain things.  And ... nothing happens.

Many prayers have not been answered - prayers for things to be healed, house problems to be fixed, friends to call me back, etc.  I don’t even really want the particular answers anymore as much as I just want evidence that God is listening and cares.  Just answer something, anything, clearly and obviously so that I can know You are there!  Show me that You care!

I find myself wanting to pull back from God, to retreat into a safe, little, protective shell and tell Him, “Fine, God, I can handle it.  I don’t want anyone – even You – to care about me.  I can accept it.  I am used to it.  I’m strong enough.”

But the truth is ... I’m not.  

Is God Drawing Lines in the Sand?

(reposted from a few years ago, updated slightly)

It’s amazing and disturbing how brazen our society is in attacking everything about God and everything He created:  marriage, monogamy, sex, family, sexuality, the scientific reality of gender, morality, modesty, the value of a person, the right to life, the existence of "right and wrong," the Bible, Jesus, and Absolute Truth.  Not to mention God Himself, His very existence.

We are destroying everything associated with Him (except nature – we worship that), and then we call ourselves "progressive."

But you know what I think about it all?

"Self-Quarantine" - A Parody To Make You Smile

A parody we can all appreciate, totally made me smile:

“Self-Quarantine” (a parody of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline”)

I love seeing people make the most of this social distancing time.  That's a family that's doing it right!

(And now someone needs to change Abba's "Dancing Queen" to "Quarantine."  That would be a good one too.)

Some Interesting - and Terrifying - Articles About This Virus Pandemic

I'm not gonna say what I believe about all this (other than I totally believe something about this coronavirus pandemic isn't adding up, something's fishy, and that regardless of how it started, it will be used for political purposes, and that all the pieces for the Mark of the Beast and the One World Government are rapidly falling into place), but these are for your consideration ... (Oh, and I just have to say that considering the wide range of possible coronavirus symptoms I've read about - breathing trouble, sore throat, heart trouble, red and swollen spots on toes, blood clots, pink eye, digestive trouble, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of smell or taste, strokes, etc. - it seems possible to me that this could totally be a man-made virus.  It sounds like the result of a witch's brew, something that can only come from some skilled, man-made tinkering.  Have we ever seen natural respiratory viruses act this way!?!):

"Put a 'Made In China' Sticker On It and Call It a Day"

"What In The World Is Happening?"

ID2020 Certification Mark: ... Call for a Digital ID"

A Cell-Phone Choir Sings "It Is Well With My Soul"

I didn't think I'd be so moved by this, but I was.  Check out this cell-phone choir sing "It Is Well With My Soul" during this time of coronavirus chaos and social-distancing.  Not only is it a beautiful a cappella rendition of the song, but it's a great reminder that the church can survive times of crisis, social distancing, and isolation.  There are always ways to pull together and encourage each other, even at times like this.  

Because Church isn't a building; it's a people.  

And this song isn't just a bunch of empty words about convincing yourself you're at peace during times of great trial and heartache.  It wasn't written by someone who doesn't understand, by someone offering lame Christian platitudes or pathetic pat answers for pain.  For anyone who doesn't know the story behind this song, the tragic events that led Horatio Spafford to write it, click here.  This song was written from a heart that understands.  

We don't get to choose what our future holds or which tragedies we face in life, but we can choose how we react to them.  

We can choose to push the Lord away when we're in pain or we can choose to draw near to Him.  

We can choose despair or we can choose to have faith that He is with us through the pain and will work good out of the bad.  

We can choose to say "Everything is terrible and there's no hope" or we can choose to say "It is well with my soul."



A post of mine from years ago (edited a bit) called "Genuine Faith is Messy" (it's long and rambly, but that's the way I write):

Our Precious Lord and Savior

Our wonderful, amazing, gracious heavenly Father dearly loves all people and wants all people to be saved.  And Jesus - my beautiful, loving, precious Lord and Savior - died for everyone so that everyone has the opportunity to be saved.  No one is beyond the reach of God's amazing grace and love.  No one is unforgiveable.  No one is hopeless.  Eternal life can be yours, and all you have to do is believe. 

Titus 2:11: "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men."

John 1:29: "Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!"

1 Timothy 2:4-6: "[God our Savior] wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men..."

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

2 Peter 3:9: "... He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Romans 10:9, 13: "If you confess with your mouth that 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.... Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

This Easter, watch some of these favorite songs of mine.  This is my Jesus.  It's why I love Him so much.  And He can be your Jesus, too.  If you want Him to be.

Oh, What Love by The City Harmonic

I Am by Crowder

Hallelujah Christmas by Cloverton

Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle  (God draws everyone to Him.  He calls everyone to come out of death and into life!  Will we listen?  Will we respond?)

Secret Ambition by Michael W. Smith

And this one doesn't make me cry, but I love, love, love it!  It's about offering Jesus the only gift we can really give Him, in gratitude for what He's done for us: Ourselves!  Little Drummer Boy 

And here's the Easter sermon my family sat down to watch today, after eating homemade cinnamon rolls: The Purpose of Pain by Tony Evans (it's several years old, but a good one).  All six of us piled around the TV and watched together.  I thought it was really delightful.  Even better than going to church and scattering off to our own classes.  

(Click here for "Starting Your Own Relationship with Jesus Christ")

You know God's wrath is here when ...

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for [gods of their own imagination].  

Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.  They exchanged the truth of God for a lie ...

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.... 

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done....  Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them."  (Romans 1:18-32, emphasis is added)

This is the condition of our country right now.  (And it's not just about sexual choices, but about all the ways we rebel against God and His authority.)  

Some might say that we're in good condition right now, that we've "progressed," that we're free from old-fashioned moral constraints.  We're now free to live however we want, sleep with whomever we want, worship whomever we want, be whomever we want, kill unborn children whenever they're inconvenient, etc.  And not only are we "free" to do those things, but we celebrate others who do them too, while shaming those who hold traditional moral values.  

But the Bible shows that sometimes "freedom to do whatever you want" really just means that God has withdrawn from us and handed us over to our sins, to our hardened hearts.  

Sometimes, the freedom to do "what ought not to be done" is not progress at all; it's God's judgment against us, the due penalty for our rebellion.  

And after that comes death.

(reposted, updated, from a few years ago)

God would NEVER do that! Or would He?

God would never send a famine or economic distress to get our attention.

God would never send disease to open our eyes to our bad choices and to call us to repentance.

God would never use wars or violence to cause us to cry out to Him.

God would never use a tornado, earthquake, or tsunami to draw our hearts back to Him.

God is not like that.  He is a soft, squishy, feeble, always-lovey-dovey, ever-forgiving God who just wants us to be happy and who would never dream of punishing us or disciplining us or causing us any kind of discomfort or pain.  He’s all about giving us whatever we want and pouring out blessings and goodness on us and allowing us to live life on our own terms, because we are the center of the universe, right?  We are the lords of our own lives.  Aren’t we?  

Surely, in this day and age of rampant sexual diseases, violent wars, economic recession, famines, natural disasters, devastating consequences of our choices, etc., none of this has been allowed by God in order to open our eyes to our need for Him. 

God would never do that!

Or would He? 

Our Very Own Groundhog Day

You know that movie, Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray lives the same day over and over and over again.

Doesn't seem so unrealistic now, does it!?!

I tell ya, I'm having a hard time knowing what day it is anymore because every day feels exactly the same, same kinds of news headlines, same four walls, same people I see every day, nowhere else to go and nothing else to do but isolate ourselves at home, cook, clean, read, watch TV, and do schooling.  

And then we wake up and do it all over again.

But remember this: While you can't choose the hand you're dealt in life, you can choose how to play your cards.  So make the most of your monotonous days, lighten up as much as you can, find something new to learn or something productive to do, keep a sense of humor, and sing out loud.  Just for the heck of it!  

When you feel the least like singing is when you need to the most.  So just for fun, because no one ever said that living Groundhog's Day over and over again had to be dreary:  Don't Worry, Be Happy