Post by pitbull on Sept 12, 2008 5:53:17 GMT -5
DAILY WISDOM
“A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.” [Proverbs 12:4]
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
ARE WE LIVING IN THE AGE OF CHURCH OF LAODICEA?
[Revelation 3:14-22]
Being saved for nearly 29years and being a preacher for over 16 years, I have noticed the following observations that make me believe we are actually living in the last period of the church age.
If you are bold for the Gospel [Matthew 5:15-16; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; Romans 1:16; 10:11; etc.], you are considered a fanatic.
If you “earnestly contend for the faith” [Jude 3] or “fight the good fight of faith” [1 Timothy 6:11], you are accused of stirring up trouble.
• “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” [2 Corinthians 11:4]
• “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” [Galatians 1:6-9]
• “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” [1 Timothy 4:1-3]
If you mention something from a Biblical perspective [Psalm 119; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; etc.], you are told that this is just your opinion or “interpretation”.
• “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” [2 Timothy 4:3-4]
If you lovingly warn brethren about spiritual dangers [Ezekiel 3:18-21; 1 Corinthians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:14; 1 Timothy 1:3; 6:3; etc.] especially false “ministries”, you will be charged with being condemnatory and lacking “brotherly kindness”.
• “For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.” [Jeremiah 29:8-9]
• “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” [Matthew 24:11,24]
• “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. herefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” [Acts 20:29-31]
• “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” [2 Corinthians 11: 13-15]
• “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in d**nable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their d**nation slumbereth not.” [2 Peter 2:1-3]
• “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” [1 John 4:1-3]
• “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” [Jude 4, 16, 19]
If you points out things are sinful or even just worldly [Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 8:13; Romans 12:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 2:15-16; James 4:4; etc.], you will be known as being nit-picking or faultfinding.
• “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” [Malachi 2:17]
• “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” [Matthew 24:12]
• “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” [John 3:19-20]
If you obey Biblical commandment soul winning in one fashion or another [Proverbs 11:30; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; 20:20; etc.], you are accused of forcing your beliefs on others.
• “And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.” [Acts 5:40]
If you are faithful to attending church services [Psalm 122:1; Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:24-25; etc.], you are said to be a zealot.
If you try to live a holy, separated life according to Biblical standards [Leviticus 11:44-45; 20:7, 26; Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23; 1 Peter 1:15-16; etc.], you are said to be a “holy roller” or “holier-than-thou”.
• “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” [2 Timothy 3:5]
If you teach and promote Biblical standards [Matthew 5:19; 1 Timothy 4:11; 6:2; 2 Timothy 2:2, 24; etc.], you will be slandered as a legalist.
If you practice Biblical separation [Psalm 1:1; Amos 3:3; 1 Corinthians 10:20; 2 Corinthians 6:14-17; Ephesians 5:1; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 2 John 10-11; Revelation 18:4; etc.], people will say that you are divisive.
If you practice Biblical discernment and judgment [Proverbs 14:15; Matthew 18:15-17; Acts 17:11; 1 Corinthians 2:15; 6:2-5; 14:29; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14-15; 1 John 4:1; etc.], you are said to be too critical.
The thing that is really sad is that these accusations are not made by the lost. They expect Christians to be this way. Church members, who are professing Christians, make these accusations! That is the really sad part.
RELIGIOUS AWARENESS
Confucianism
Confucianism (Chinese: 儒家; pinyin: rú jiā) is an ancient Chinese ethical and philosophical system originally developed from the teachings of the early Chinese sage and philosopher Confucius. Its focus is primarily on non-religious secular ethics, secular morality, as well as the cultivation of the civilized individual which in turn would contribute to the establishment of a civilized society or country and ultimately world peace. Confucius was the founder of the teachings of Confucianism. Confucianism is a complex system of moral, social, political, philosophical, and quasi-religious thought which has had tremendous influence on the culture and history of East Asia up to the 21st century. Some people in Europe have considered it to have been the secular "state religion" in East Asian countries because of governmental promotion of Confucian values and needs.
The cultures most strongly influenced by Confucianism include those of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam, as well as various territories settled predominantly by Chinese people.