Saturday, July 23, 2011

Grateful vs Not

Through my friend Chrystal's site I heard of something called "Wretched Radio" hosted by Todd Friel. First I went to iTunes and downloaded samples of the show, and now I get the entire program each weekday. I don't agree with everything they promote (shock), but if nothing else, Todd and company ask and answer thought provoking questions about Christianity and other subjects. I am going to add "Wretched" to my sidebar, so have at it. In the past week he explained his reasons for not voting for Sarah Palin (who isn't even running this time) and Mitt Romney (who is but shouldn't).
He also had an interesting take on Michelle Bachman's contretemps with regard to having belonged to a church which teaches that the Pope is THE Antichrist.
Duh. That's Christianity 101, people. The Pope isn't THE Antichrist, but he does 'lead' a cultic empire that is very much against Christ. Bachman's answer when asked...well, you can go to CBS News or Todd's site to find out what is what.
You might notice that I also have a link to John MacArthur's site, Grace To You. This past week I listened to a set of his sermons which deal with "Slavery" in the Bible and in our history. Good insightful stuff.
As for the title of this post, I was just thinking that the world population can rightly be divided into two camps: Christian and evyboddy else. We are grateful to God and Praise Him for all that He is, all that He has done, and all that He will do. Evvyboddy else doesn't. They aren't grateful to God; they curse Him when they can be bothered to think of Him. That's not faith, that's not being grateful, that's not right.
You are in one of those two camps-you know which one, and so does God. Don't stay among the weeds when you can become wheat. God is funny that way: He accepts sinners into His Kingdom, changing them from death to Live. Just one more thing that I'm grateful for.

5 comments:

Doug said...

Isn't it funny that Mormons and Catholics and Seventh Day Adventists all want to wear the "Christian" button. They want 'us' to accept them as Christian brothers and sisters. Why?

Anonymous said...

To answer your query: both Catholics and Mormons believe in Jesus and in His divinity. Catholics are Trinitarians, meaning they accept Christ as being fully human and fully God. Catholics also believe in the substitutionary atonement of Christ for sin. Now, if you wish to say Catholics are not Christians because of *additional* beliefs they have that negate any orthodoxy they hold, be my guest.

You mentioned John MacArthur and slavery. I found this:

"Although slavery was carefully regulated under Mosaic law, neither the Old nor New Testaments condemns slavery as such. Social strata are recognized and even designed by God for man’s good ... Nowhere in Scripture is rebellion or revolution justified in order to gain freedom, opportunity, or economic, social, or political rights. "

http://www.gty.org/Resources/Bible+Q&A/BQ8610_Slavery-

So, he's saying that abolitionists who assisted slaves escape from their masters were doing so in contradiction to the clear moral dictates of Scripture and were thus under the just condemnation of God.

- James

Doug said...

Careful, James-your limits are showing. Rather than cull one sentence out of John MacArthur, listen to the entire series before you form an opinion.
As for Catholics and their beliefs, I stand by what the Bible says.
"6I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;
7which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
9As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!" Galatians 1:6-9
Both Catholics and Mormons and many other groups have attempted to pervert the Gospel by adding or subtracting parts of the message.
I say attempted because they have been unsuccessful.

"Catholics are Trinitarians, meaning they accept Christ as being fully human and fully God. Catholics also believe in the substitutionary atonement of Christ for sin."

Well and good. Cut out infant baptism, Mariology, purgatory, transubstantiation and then...read the Scriptures for yourself, asking God to show you the truth of the Gospel. It might help to get a non-Catholic version such as the New American Standard so as to avoid Catholic study notes.
You will find no mention of Peter being referred to as God's viceroy on earth. You will find in Timothy and Titus that a Pastor should be married. If you honestly search the Scriptures it will blow your mind and maybe, just maybe set you on the right course.
Please don't get me started on Mormons-I need to get a nap before work.

Anonymous said...

Okay, leave out the Mormons. I guess the question is: is it permissible to have SOME goofy ideas about God so long as there's a minimum set of core beliefs that exist.

- James

Doug said...

"I guess the question is: is it permissible to have SOME goofy ideas about God so long as there's a minimum set of core beliefs that exist."

According to Scripture, any belief that changes the Gospel is antichrist. Any.
It really is that simple, James.
God does the choosing as to who will be saved. Anyone who is saved is indwelt of the Holy Spirit and knows God. Anyone who is not saved will never be able to accept the Gospel as it is-they add to or take away from what the Bible clearly states.
Look at the rituals added to Catholicism. People without actual faith in God are taught that God can be approached through ritual.
They instead put their faith IN the rituals, just as the Jewish Pharisees did when Jesus walked the earth. Just as Muslims have done for 1700 years-ritual.
Just as Buddhists and Shinto practice-ritual.
Ritualized prayers are not heard, whether its the praying of a Rosary or Hail Mary full of Grace or Islamic reiteration of prayers from the Koran.
Jesus said, "7“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words."
Matthew 6:7
God isn't in manmade ritual-He can only be approached on His terms.
Please drop the idea that Doug is deciding who is or isn't a Christian. I'm just following what God has stated in His Word...and He knows who is worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, and who is not. He tells Christians to be on guard against false brethren. I take that seriously.