"The Narrow Road": Blogs By Shane Kastler

Audio To David Miller Sermons

Below is the sermon audio to the 4 sermons preached by David Miller at Heritage Baptist Church in Lake Charles, LA.  More info and sermons available at www.hbc-lakecharles.com.

Title: Ordinary Missionaries – Text: Col. 4:7-18 – By David Miller –
Date: 4.29.12

Title: The Glory of Jesus – Text: John 1:14-18 – By David Miller –
Date: 4.28.12

Title: Substitution & Satisfaction (Part 2) – Text: Isa. 53 – By David Miller – Date: 4.27.12

Title: Substitution & Satisfaction – Text: Isa. 53 – By David Miller – Date: 4.26.12

A Defense of Calvinism & A Critique of Steve James' Sermon 'Theology From a TULIP"

As a Calvinist, I have long ago ceased to be surprised by attacks upon my beliefs.  The “five points of Calvinism” also known as “the Doctrine of Grace” or “Reformed Theology” have been argued and debated for centuries.  And I certainly haven’t got the time nor desire to refute every attack I read or encounter.  But when my beliefs are misrepresented from a church in the same city as me, it seems a response is in order.

            Recently, Steve James, Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana preached a message entitled, “Theology from a Tulip” in which he criticizes Calvinism and bemoans its resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention.  Not knowing Pastor James, I can only assume that he is a godly and gracious man who has a true love for the Lord and a desire to see the Kingdom expanded.  I very much suspect this is true, but in his sermon against Calvinism he resorted to the age old practice of presenting an incorrect, caricaturized, “straw man” that he then proceeds to tear down.  Much of what he states about historic Calvinism is simply not true.  He uses several old, stale arguments that have been proven wrong time and time again.  But since the volleys were lobbed, I’ll attempt to respond to a few of them with truth, and hopefully grace; since I very much believe in both.

            For those unfamiliar with Calvinism, it is a theological belief system, taken from the Bible (not John Calvin) that is summarized with the acrostic T.U.L.I.P.  The “T” stands for Total Depravity, which states that people by nature are “dead in their sins” (Ephesians 2:1) and will not come to Christ on their own. (1 Corinthians 2:14) The “U” stands for Unconditional Election which teaches that “God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” (Ephesians 1:4). The “L” is for Limited Atonement (also known as “definite atonement” or “particular redemption”) which teaches that Christ’s death on the cross made a definite payment for the elect, rather than a hypothetical payment for all sinners. (John 10:11) The “I” stands for Irresistible Grace (also known as “overcoming grace”) which teaches that the elect will come to Christ in repentance because God will overcome their resistance to the Spirit’s drawing by granting them a new “spiritual” birth (as Jesus taught in John 3 and John 6:37 ‘all the Father gives me will come’).  And the “P” stands for Perseverance of the Saints which teaches all true believers are kept by the Spirit and will persevere unto the end. (Mark 13:13)  In other words, salvation cannot be lost if it was every truly attained; and though a Christian still fights sin, his life will be marked by holiness and an undying commitment to Christ.  For those who might like to hear more on these doctrines, I preached a 5-part series devoting an entire sermon to each point, which you can download here.

            Perhaps the most common attack on Calvinism is that it squelches evangelism, and not surprisingly this is one of the arguments Pastor James makes.  He argues that since Calvinism teaches that God chooses who will be saved, the Calvinist feels no need to evangelize.  Historically, this has not been the case.  In fact, the very soil on which Pastor James’ church stands is surrounded by Christians today, because of the Calvinistic Puritans who brought the gospel to America hundreds of years ago.  Furthermore, his denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) was founded, almost exclusively, by Calvinists.  Pastor James further states that Calvinists within the SBC have an attitude of “God will save the elect without your help.”  The great irony of this statement is that there was a man from church history who had that very phrase used against him and that man was William Carey…..who was a Calvinist.  The phrase was used by a hyper-Calvinist (one who doesn’t believe in evangelism) when Carey felt led to overseas missions.  To hear James tell it “hyper-Calvinism” is the norm today, when in all honesty “hyper-Calvinism” is extremely rare and largely unheard of.  To the contrary, Calvinism teaches a very zealous evangelism that takes the gospel to the world knowing that some will be saved because God has ordained it so.  The Apostle Paul was assured of God’s electing some to salvation when he went to the pagan city of Corinth.  Though afraid, he was reassured by a sovereign God who told him, “I have many people in this city.” (Acts 18:10)

            Pastor James states that those who lean towards Calvinism are weak in their “soul-winning” yet when you look at most major Missions movements, and many of the more evangelistic churches from church history you see that they were started and led by Calvinists.  Would anyone ever dream of accusing Charles Spurgeon of being weak on soul-winning?  The Metropolitan Tabernacle that he pastored in London was the largest church in the world during the 19^th century and he ended every sermon with an appeal for sinners to repent and come to Christ.  And Spurgeon was an adamant 5-point Calvinist.  The Great Awakening in colonial America was sparked largely through the preaching of George Whitefield, who preached the gospel with tears streaming down his face, begging the lost to repent and come to Christ.  And Whitefield was a 5-point Calvinist.  Those with even a cursory knowledge of Church History know that Jonathan Edwards’ preaching led to the conversion of many souls in colonial New England.  And Edwards was a 5-point Calvinist.  Pastor James defines a Calvinist as anyone who holds to the doctrine of election, and by using this definition, many of today’s most evangelistic preachers would be considered Calvinist including: David Platt, Francis Chan, Tim Keller, John Macarthur, John Piper, R.C. Sproul, Paul Washer, Kirk Cameron, Ray Comfort, Voddie Baucham, Mark Driscoll, and Matt Chandler.  While I may differ with some of these men on various issues, would anyone who has heard them preach or observed their ministries say they are “weak on soul-winning?”  Pastor James criticism is unjustified.  The fact is that many Christians, both Calvinist and Arminian, are shamefully weak when it comes to sharing the gospel.  To suggest that a belief in God’s sovereignty feeds that has been proven false by the facts of church history.

            I found it interesting that Pastor James attacked those Calvinists who believe they were “lucky enough” to be chosen before the foundation of the world.  Several times he used the phrase “chosen before the foundation of the world” to describe the Calvinist.  But he never mentions that the phrase actually comes from the Bible (Ephesians 1:4). He essentially seems to take the common approach that God has only ordained the “way” of salvation through Christ, but that God leaves it up to the individual to accept or reject the gospel.  Pastor James speaks of the “outward call” to be saved that a preacher makes, and the inward call of the Spirit to come to Christ.  While I certainly would agree that the outward call is to be extended to all, what do we make of the inward call?  Does God “call” all people inwardly the same way?  The obvious answer is no, based upon a verse that ironically, Pastor James cites in his message.  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30 NASB)  Pastor James correctly states that “foreknow” here means more than to simply know something. It means God ordains something.  But all of these words are linked together.  In other words ALL who are called are also justified and glorified.  Therefore this verse is either teaching universal salvation (which it’s not) or its teaching that God “calls” some people in ways that he doesn’t call others.  By His Spirit there is an “effectual call” that accomplishes what God wants it to accomplish.  The call is effectual and the grace is “irresistible.”  This whole notion Pastor James rejects.

Pastor James then spends a lot of time proving that God’s grace can and often is resisted.  But the 10 minutes he spends on this is largely wasted time, because Calvinists don’t dispute the fact that sinners resist God’s Spirit.  In fact, that’s the whole point of “Irresistible Grace” that in some cases God overcomes that resistance by granting the sinner a new nature.  Pastor James puts forth the age-old argument against Calvinists that they teach some are saved against their will while others are rejected who desire salvation.  Calvinism teaches nothing of the sort.  Rather, it teaches, as do the Scriptures, that all are invited to come to Christ, but NONE will do it because of their sin nature.  That God owes salvation to no one, but offers it to all who repent.  And since NONE WILL, God grants regeneration (‘you must be born again’ – John 3:3) to those whom He chooses, and they are saved.  This is clearly what Jesus taught when he reminded the disciples that “you did not choose me, but I chose you out of the world.” (John 15:16)

            Pastor James’ arguments against the doctrine of limited atonement follow a predictably well-worn path of using verses that speak of Christ dying for the “world.”  It was somewhat surprising that he never addressed the verses in which Christ speaks of dying for “some.”  For example, Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NASB) and “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 NASB)  These verses, at the very least, imply that Jesus died for a specific group of people (i.e. “the sheep”) and that his death was a ransom for “many” (but not all).  Pastor James never addresses these verses.  Undoubtedly because they don’t mesh with the erroneous view of Calvinism he is trying to put forth and attack.  Instead he quotes John 3:16: “For God so loved the world…” But even if it’s conceded that God loves the world, it doesn’t therefore imply that God will save all those in the world.  Indeed he doesn’t.  One has to wonder why Pastor James didn’t begin reading John 3 a few verses earlier when Jesus is explaining to the baffled Nicodemus that he cannot be saved unless the Spirit grants him a new birth.  In fact Jesus is so “Calvinistic” with Nicodemus that he tells him flatly:  “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

            The fact is that often times in scripture the word “world” is used in a general sense to mean “all the nations of the world” rather than “every individual in the world.”  In the overwhelmingly Israel-centric day in which Jesus lived it was common to see Israel as the only nation with hope for salvation.  But Revelation speaks of there being a throng in Heaven from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Rev. 5:9)  In other words there will be those saved from every nation.  There will be those saved in all the “world.”  I’ve written on “limited atonement” in the past (which you can read by clicking here).  And I’ve preached on it, addressing Bible verses on both sides of the argument as opposed to just those verses that seem to support my view (which you can listen to here).

            I don’t expect Pastor James to hold to limited atonement.  I realize that most Christians don’t.  But to simply dismiss it without even addressing the most pertinent verses only tells half of the story;  the “Arminian” half that he wants to defend.  He states that the Apostle Paul “clearly didn’t hold to limited atonement.”  While that is a very debatable statement, the Calvinist could just as easily state that Jesus DID hold to limited atonement based on the verses cited above.  My own view is that Jesus and Paul never contradicted one another because I believe all of the Scriptures are inspired by God.  I suspect Pastor James believes this as well.  If so, then all of the Scriptures must be taken into account, rather than simply the ones that seem to support our personal view.  Many of which are taken out of context to begin with.

            On the doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints, Pastor James surprisingly does an about-face and illogically refutes everything about Calvinism he had just attacked.  While Calvinism teaches that we are saved and kept completely by God’s grace.  Pastor James contends that we are saved “by our choice.” Then he attacks the Calvinist view of perseverance by saying they believe they are kept by their own doing; as though the perseverance were attributed to them.  I have never known a Calvinist (and I know many) who believes what Pastor James espouses.  To the contrary every Calvinist I have ever known (including myself) believes that our perseverance is due to the work of the Spirit in our lives who keep us until the end.

            My critique will end with what I considered the most disturbing part of Pastor James’ sermon.  Towards the end of the message, he speaks at length to the fact that God “needs” us to accomplish his evangelistic purposes.  This is very dangerous water in which to tread.  To imply that there is anything good in us that God “needs” is quite arrogant.  And to imply that there is anything "lacking" in God that must be completed by us is unfortunately… quite blasphemous.  When Paul evangelized the pagans on Mars Hill he told them clearly that “God is not served by human hands as though he needed anything.” (Acts 17:25)  I must confess that I cringed as I listened to Pastor James conclude his message by boasting of the amount of personal evangelism he does, and of the numerous mission trips he has gone on, and how he’s led the church to be so evangelistic.  While these acts of service are very commendable, it was extremely uncomfortable to listen to a man proudly “toot his own horn” - especially when he does it in the context of expounding how desperately God “needs him” to fulfill his purposes.  Undoubtedly Pastor James is a very humble man, but sadly he came across as quite puffed-up and arrogant in this regard.  To hear a politician expound his own worthiness is expected.  To hear it from a preacher in the pulpit is nauseating.

Let us be clear:  God most assuredly DOES NOT NEED anyone to accomplish His will.  But God does choose to graciously use us as instruments in his global evangelistic purposes.  When God saved Paul on the Damascus road he did not say “I need Paul” he said Paul was “my chosen instrument.”  (Acts 9:14) Far from giving us cause to boast, the fact that God uses redeemed sinners like us should be a reason for tremendous humility that He would allow us any part in His Kingdom purposes.  God could choose to save sinners by any means He wanted.  He chose to use other sinners, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, to proclaim the gospel to a perishing world.

In conclusion, I don’t expect this refutation of Pastor James’ sermon to be widely read, or even acknowledged.  But perhaps there may be some who would like to hear another take on Calvinism.  If anyone would care to put Pastor James’ opinions to the test, I would encourage them to come worship with us on a Sunday at Heritage Baptist Church (3501 Ernest St.) here in Lake Charles.  If you desire to be told God “needs” you I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed with our preaching.  But if you want to hear the truth of an overwhelmingly sovereign God who “ordains all things after the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11) ….if you want to hear of a God who is all-powerful and all-knowing…..if you want to hear of a God who owes you nothing, but grants you everything you have…..if you want to hear of the true God of the Bible who in His justice will punish all sin….but in His grace chooses to punish His own Son in the place of His sheep. Then come see us.  We meet every Sunday morning at 11 am.  Our people are warm and friendly.  Some may even be described as “humble” since after all, we joyfully believe that we are worthless, apart from the grace of God.  And rather than celebrating ourselves, we celebrate God and His grace each and every week.  We know full well, that apart from that grace we perish, but because of that grace WE LIVE!  For salvation is wholly of the Lord, as it is written: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB)

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 P.S. -- Here's the link to a sermon I preached which offers a different perspective on  Calvinism:  TITLE: The Truth of TULIP – Why Jesus Was a Calvinist – Text: Various – Date: 8.21.11

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Seeing With Your Ears?

Even children know what eyes and ears are used for.  Eyes are for seeing and ears are for hearing.  But recently I heard an interesting statement by Sinclair Ferguson , Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC, regarding how Christians are to live in the world.  The statement is this:  “Don’t see the world with your eyes, but rather see the world with your ears.”

            What is meant by this is that we don’t simply make our observations about the world’s behavior by what our seeing eyes tell us.  We make conclusions about the world’s behavior by what our God has told us in His Word.  Our lives are governed not only by what we see, but by what we hear.  We can see sinful behavior with our eyes, but we must remember what we’ve heard from God’s Word regarding right and wrong…and make our decisions in life accordingly.  In this way, we “see” the world through what we’ve heard from God with our ears.

            The world in which we live is a very sinful place.  Much confusion exists in our day about what is right and what is wrong.  Yet the Bible speaks clearly on matters of morality.  According to God, right and wrong are not up for debate, nor a vote of the people.  And the wise person will “see with his ears” and adhere to what God says is right and wrong.

            The deeper question is “do you have ears to hear?”  This was a statement Jesus frequently used in Scripture: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”  (Mark 4:9; Luke 14:35; Revelation 2:29) Most people simply ignore what the Lord says in His word.  They don’t have “ears to hear.”  But by God’s grace, we can be granted a new life in which we turn from sin and submit to Jesus Christ as Lord.  Though by nature you are a vile sinner, God has the power to give you “ears to hear” and then you can use those same new “spiritual ears” to see and make decisions in this life that honor and glorify God.

            So where do you stand today in relation to God?  Are you living your life for His glory?  Or are you letting your sinful eyes lead you into greater and greater depths of depravity?  Has the Lord given you “ears to hear” or for that matter has he given you “ears to see”?  Apart from a life of submission to God and His word; you will be constantly confused and frequently led astray by a cursed world that does not seek your good.  Turn to Christ today and be saved.  Ask God to forgive you and grant you a brand new life.  Then live each day, trusting what you’ve heard with your ears from God’s Word; applying it to what you see with your eyes, and thus learn the fine art of “seeing with your ears.”

 

Audio to My Recent Sermon Titled 'Why Jesus Came To Earth'

Below is the link to the audio from a recent sermon at Heritage Baptist Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana. 

Title: Why Jesus Came to Earth - Text: Galatians 4:4-7 - Date: 12/18/2010

Sermon From 2 Samuel 12

Below is the link to a recent sermon I preached in Lake Charles, Louisiana at Heritage Baptist Church:

Title: How Sin is Dealt With -- Text: 2 Samuel 12 -- Date: 11/14/2010

 

Truth in the Minority: A Lesson From Charles Spurgeon

(Note: This article is scheduled to appear in the Dec. 8 edition of the Linn County News.)

In the mid-1800s, Charles Haddon Spurgeon was one of the most beloved men in all of London.  He was also one of the most hated.  As pastor of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Spurgeon weekly proclaimed the gospel of Christ.  In a style unlike the mealy-mouthed ear ticklers of the day, Spurgeon thundered the truth of man’s sinfulness, the reality of eternal Hell, and the glory of redemption by faith in Christ alone.  Spurgeon refused to water down the truth of God’s choosing some for salvation by electing them before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4); and he refused to avoid the fact that men are still responsible for their sin and required to repent (Mark 1:15).  Spurgeon taught the whole counsel of God and was hated for it.  But he was also blessed for it.

            God drew multitudes to hear Spurgeon preach and many were saved.  He was loved by the people in his flock.  But he was scorned by the rest of London.  The newspapers made fun of him.  Other pastors ridiculed his theology.  The wealthy elite thought he was a simpleton.  Yet through it all Spurgeon was faithful.  Every night when he went to bed he would read the verse his wife posted on their bedroom wall: “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.” (Luke 6: 22-23) 

            In many ways, Spurgeon fought an uphill battle.  But it’s the same battle all Christians are called to wage today.  Sacrificially following Christ will never be popular in the world’s eyes because it’s not always easy.  Christ suffered and calls us to do likewise.  In the end he will not judge us by how popular we are.  He will judge us by how faithful we are.  Spurgeon poured his life out in ministry and died an exhausted man in his fifties.  A short life compared to others, but a life lived wholly for the glory of God.  His reward in eternity far outweighs his suffering all because of the gospel of Christ. 

            Have you given your life to Christ in repentant faith?  Do you see your sin for what it is and are you willing to embrace the only Savior who can save you from it?  Are you willing to be hated by the world because of your love for Christ?  Spurgeon was and today his suffering is over as he experiences eternal joy with Christ.  The same will be true for all who forsake the riches of earth and instead are willing to be hated for the sake of the Son of God.

           

Jesse Jackson Wants Obama Castrated?...Watch Out For The Hot Microphone

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.” (Luke 12:1-3 NASB)

Jesse Jackson has been caught, YET AGAIN, in a moment of public hypocrisy and been forced to downplay “off the record” statements he made about Barack Obama.

This week Jackson was caught on tape ripping Obama his “candidate” for President because Obama “talks down to black people.” Jackson went on to mumble to the man sitting next to him that he would like to “cut Barack’s nuts off.” That was a sweet thing to say, wasn’t it? I hope Obama gets soundly defeated at the polls in November, but even I don’t want to see him castrated. The incident took place on Sunday’s Fox News show “Fox & Friends” when Jackson and another panelist were talking (with hot microphones) during a break. Once Jackson found out that Bill O’Reilly was planning to air the tape, Jackson held a press conference to issue the typical “non-apology, apology.” Jackson regretted the whole incident (or more likely regretted getting caught), and gave at least partial blame to that pesky “hot microphone” that picked up his “private conversation.”

Of course Jackson is ALWAYS looking for someone else to blame for problems. In fact his beef with Obama’s “talking down to blacks” comes from some of Obama’s comments that black men need to take more responsibility for their families. Why would Jackson have a problem with that? Because Jackson claims all problems in the black community are to be blamed on other people, or other extenuating circumstances. Jackson claims that black men are in prison because police pick on them. And that black men commit crimes because there aren’t enough jobs in America, or because they don’t have enough money, or because they live in poverty, etc. etc. etc. In Jackson’s mind it’s always someone else’s fault. That way no one has to take responsibility for their own actions.

This isn’t the first time Jackson has maligned someone “privately” only to have it backfire on him. In 1984, while running for President, Jackson publicly courted New York City voters, while privately referring to the city as “Hymietown” because of its large Jewish population. Again, Jackson offered a “non-apology, apology” citing that his comments shouldn’t have been scrutinized because he said them in a “private conversation.” So I guess if someone called Jackson the “n” word, it would be OK, as long as it was in a private conversation? This seems to be Jackson’s opinion if HE is the one getting caught. Yet his vitriol comes out in mass when it’s someone else making a racially charged statement.

Jesse Jackson is a man who is notorious for flocking to the scene once he hears a TV camera click on. He craves publicity and invents problems that don’t exist so he can make a name for himself and further his career. This time it backfired on him. This time the camera was rolling, when he thought it was not. Though he publicly claims to support Obama, he privately wants him castrated.

Like many public political figures, Jesse Jackson is a two faced liar and always has been. In 1998, Jackson fathered a child with Karin Stafford, the head of his Rainbow Coalition’s Chicago office. The married Jackson, had been carrying on a longtime affair with Stafford, who gave birth to the baby girl that Jackson subsequently supported financially…AFTER... DNA tests proved he was the father. In a subsequent interview, Stafford was asked why they didn’t just get an abortion when she got pregnant. Her answer was very telling about the hypocrisy that Jackson personifies. She said that “publically” Jackson is very pro-choice….but privately, he would never condone abortion. In other words, he’s willing to throw thousands of other people’s babies under the bus to further his career…..but he would never do it to his own.

The sooner Jesse Jackson and his divisive, two faced ilk ride off into our Nation’s sunset, the better off America will be. We live in a technological age in which there is a hidden camera, and a “hot mic” around every corner. It makes life difficult for charlatans like Jesse Jackson. He has many media outlets who would have protected him. I would guess that if he had said these things on ABC, CBS, or NBC we would have never heard a word about it. But FOX nailed him. Jackson has been exposed….yet again. Maybe its time we stopped pointing cameras in his direction, and let him live in the obscurity that his lack of character deserves.

“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.” (Ephesians 5:11 NASB)

DVD Review: “The Children of Caesar: The State of American Education, Where it is Headed, & What Your Family Can Do About It!” By Voddie Baucham

  “If you hand your kids over to Caesar to educate…don’t be surprised when they grow up to be Romans.” With this provocative statement, Voddie Baucham begins his 2 part DVD series called: “The Children of Caesar: The State of American Education, Where it is Headed, & What Your Family Can Do About It!”

I’ve been aquatinted with Voddie Baucham’s ministry for over 10 years now, and would say without reservation that he is one of the most powerful voices for Biblical truth our country has. Baucham is somewhat of a rarity: He is a black, Southern Baptist pastor, who was raised by a Hindu, single teenage mother in the projects of South Central Los Angeles. The first time, he heard the gospel was his freshman year of college, where he was converted to Christ and ultimately entered the preaching ministry. He serves as Pastor of the Grace Family Baptist Church in Spring, Texas, where he lives with his wife and 4 children. They are committed homeschoolers, and strong advocates for adoption, having adopted their 2 youngest children. I would strongly encourage anyone with children (or anyone who knows a child) to watch these videos—and at least consider what Baucham says.

Another provocative statement Baucham makes is: “Whoever teaches your child will ultimately be the one who disciples them.” Where does he get such an idea you ask? Jesus Christ. “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40 NASB) A scary thought when you consider that God isn’t even allowed to be spoken of….much less taught in the public schools of today. Baucham contends that there is simply no way you can undo the influence that public schools will have over your children when they have them 5 days a week, for 6-8 hours per day.

Baucham also blows apart several myths with statistical fact. He refutes the idea that children are better off with “government certified” teachers, that homeschoolers are lacking in social abilities, and that the federal government should have any say in how you educate your children.

Citing the 10^th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” In other words, the Federal government has absolutely ZERO Constitutional right to dictate educational requirements to an American citizen. As a sidebar, the 10^th amendment flatly proves that the Federal Department of Education is Unconstitutional and should be abolished post-haste. In fact, you may remember Ronald Reagan ran for President in 1980 promising to do just that. The left-wing liberal educational establishment had a collective “freak out” and Reagan was never able to follow through. But then again, our Federal government currently does numerous things that are Unconstitutional…but too many politicians are pleased with the power to do anything about it.

Baucham states that the reason people so often wonder about the “legality” of homeschooling is because they’ve been duped into thinking they have to have the Federal government’s permission to do anything. “We’ve become a nation of sheep, instead of ‘free men.” Baucham says. We simply follow the crowd and wait for the next order from our Master (i.e., the government.)

Using Deuteronomy 6 as a model, Voddie gives an outline for how God calls us to teach our children. By showing them that all truth is God’s truth, we can teach them how everything in our life relates to God and His Glory.

Voddie Baucham is one of my favorite preachers of our day because he is willing to say things that aren’t popular even if it means he catches some flack. He makes a strong case for homeschooling because that is the system he has adopted. However, he does contend that there are other Godly educational alternatives. But what simply must be fought against is handing our most precious possessions, our children, over to an atheistic, secular state. I remember an old commercial for Rush Limbaugh’s radio show where a woman said: “First he made me mad. Then he made me think. Then…he made sense.” I hope that many will get this DVD series, and let Voddie Baucham, and more importantly the Spirit of God do the same thing.

The Bizarre & Backwards Faith of Jonah

Keeping faith in God is sometimes hard. By “faith” I don’t mean “saving faith.” If you have “saving faith” then your salvation is eternal and that “faith” will never be lost. I’m talking about a different kind of faith. The day-to-day faith that lets your heart rest easy because of your confidence in God’s ability to handle any situation in your life. THAT faith is sometimes hard to keep.

As Christians, we frequently face situations that test our faith. We face trials and we are tempted to doubt that God really knows what He is doing. I know as a Pastor, I sometimes wonder if God is using my words or not. A preacher can proclaim the gospel truth week after week; and yet watch people go out and seemingly ignore everything that was said in the sermon. It can be a struggle for any preacher, unless they constantly remind themselves that God is in control…and He is more than able to change and convict any heart. This is why the Old Testament prophet Jonah is so perplexing.

By all accounts, Jonah was a very gifted man. He was a prophet, who was inspired by God to proclaim the truth. He obviously had a high degree of spiritual knowledge that enabled him to preach. And he had a specific call from God to go to a specific group of people and proclaim repentance. But perhaps, the most amazing thing about Jonah was his faith. And ironically, he had a faith that was so backwards that it actually spurred him on to avoid God’s calling to preach to the people of Nineveh. Unlike most preachers who struggle with doubts about their effectiveness and God’s ability to save; Jonah was the exact opposite…..He KNEW God would save the Ninevites through his preaching…and he deeply resented it.

Of course, we know how the story goes with Jonah. He runs from God’s calling and ends up getting swallowed by a big fish on the high seas who promptly pukes him up on the shores of Nineveh. Concluding that he really has no choice in the matter, he preaches repentance to the Ninevites and they repent en mass. This would seem like any preacher’s dream. Thousands saved because God chose to use you to proclaim His word. Yet Jonah’s response is downright shocking! He’s angry at God for saving the scoundrels.

“But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry. He prayed to the LORD and said, ‘Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity. Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life.’ The LORD said, ‘Do you have good reason to be angry?’” (Jonah 4:1-4 NASB)

Fascinating, isn’t it? Jonah, literally, would rather die than see Nineveh saved. So what’s Jonah’s problem? God has blessed him with gifts out the wazoo….yet Jonah is lacking a vital component for the person of God, and the Apostle Paul can show us Jonah’s problem with crystal clarity. Take it away Paul…

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-2 NASB)

Jonah had it all…except love. Which means Jonah really had nothing. As Paul teaches us, all the gifts in the world are nothing, if the love is not there. We should have a love for God that is Supreme over all things in our life. And that love should spill over into a love for our fellow Christians, and that love should spill over to the lost and perishing. Jonah lacked love.

In fact, God goes on to teach Jonah a very valuable and painful lesson. God causes a tree to grow that will shelter Jonah from the hot sun. Then God takes it away, and points out to Jonah that he’s more concerned over the tree (and his own comfort)than he is the perishing masses of Nineveh. “Then the LORD said, ‘You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight . Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?’” (Jonah 4:10-11 NASB)

All Christians have gifts from God…and all Christians have a calling to share the gospel with the perishing. The question is whether or not you will use those gifts and fulfill that calling as God intends. If you hunker down and force yourself to be a witness you might become a very successful legalist. But if you walk daily with the Lord and cultivate a heart for Him, then your life will not be marked by legalism, it will be marked by love. And as Paul said, without love, “I am nothing.”

So use you God-given gifts to glorify Him, and to be a witness unto the lost. This is God’s will…..and this is love. The same kind of love that God has shown towards us.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)

Prophesy To The Corpses: A Lesson In Trusting the God of The Impossible From Ezekiel 37

I love reading the Old Testament prophets.  Not only is it spiritually edifying, but it can also be very entertaining.  God often forced the prophets to do some really strange things to symbolically speak to the people.  But make no mistake, the prophets spoke the true word of God, regardless of whether or not God’s chosen people, or the world at large listened.  The same should be true of preachers…and in fact all Christians, today.

            We are called to proclaim a message that seems very strange to many modern people.  Just like the prophets of old, we will be construed as fanatic, extremist, and narrow minded.  The world brags of how “open and affirming” they are.  But we know from Scripture that the “open and affirming” road (otherwise know as the ‘wide road’) leads to Hell.  Modern man will angrily reject such sentiments, because they want to enjoy their sin…and then gain eternal life to boot.  That simply isn’t how it works.  According to Jesus, “you must be born again.” (John 3:3) 

            The reason modern man is so messed up is because his ancient fathers were messed up.  The problem is sin, and all people are born into a state of the most dreaded curse.  We are “hard wired” sinners, who are bent that way from the womb….and no thing, nor any person can change that.  The only One who can change us….is the GOD of the Impossible. 

            Ezekiel tells us of an account between God and him, in what is called the “Valley of the Dry Bones.”  God calls Ezekiel to go out and “prophesy unto the dry bones.”  The absurdity of such a suggestion should be obvious.  He was to go the cemetery and preach the gospel to the corpses.  They’re dead.  They’re decomposed.  There’s nothing left but dry bones…..and YET, the GOD of the Impossible has a plan.

            As Ezekiel prophesies, the dry bones begin to come together.  Muscles and tendons appear, flesh appears….and then GOD grants them life.  I’ll let Ezekiel tell you about it:  “Then He said to me, Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, thus says the Lord GOD, ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.’ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.”  (Ezekiel 37:9-10 NASB)

            Of course, this just doesn’t happen.  Corpses don’t live.  Dead men don’t breathe.  Dry bones don’t live.  UNLESS…the GOD of the Impossible SAYS they do.  And if HE SAYS they do….then all the powers of the Universe cannot prevent their living.  GOD has spoken….LET all the world remain silent before Him.

            The Valley of Dry Bones is symbolic of the Spiritual condition of all people.  We are born into spiritual bondage and death.  Humans are nothing more than walking corpses.  They may be physically living….but SPIRITUALLY…they’re as dead as door nails.  Unless the God of the Impossible changes that.

            “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…But God made you alive...” (Ephesians 2:1 & 5)  If you are eternally saved today….it’s because GOD brought you from Spiritual death to Spiritual life.  You may not realize the extents of His Grace…but you are saved by Grace nonetheless.  Just as you were blessed with “physical air” to breathe.  God has given you “Spiritual air” by the Holy Spirit.  Just as you are born with “physical abilities” God has given you “Spiritual abilities” as well.  Just as you were granted physical LIFE….God has also granted you SPIRITUAL Life.  And though the world doesn’t understand….the spiritual is far greater than the physical because the spiritual will go on for eternity.  The life on earth is destined and guaranteed to end.

            In a physical sense….all people are heading for the Valley of Dry Bones. All will die, and their bodies will decay until that Judgment Day in which Christ calls us forth from the grave.  Yet, in a Spiritual sense, we don’t END in the Valley of Dry Bones, we BEGIN there.  Then God gives us life.

            The God of the Impossible does not change.  The same One who worked dramatic miracles in the Bible, still works today in any way He so chooses.  Do you have faith in the GOD of the Impossible?  You might say that you believe in Him…but do you believe in HIS POWER to do the Impossible? Do you believe in His power to change any situation or circumstance you face?  Do you believe in His ability to soften the hardest heart, change the meanest of scoundrels…and save the vilest of sinners?  If not….then you’re not really trusting…in the GOD of the Impossible. 

            When God showed Ezekiel the Valley, God asked him:  “Son of man, can these bones live?”  Ezekiel answered the only way he could have:  “O Lord GOD, You know.” (Ezekiel 37:3)  Death is not the greatest power.  Life is the greatest power.  And only God can give life to the dead.  He can do anything….and He can change anyone.  HE IS (and in the Old Testament He said ‘I AM’)…..the GOD of the Impossible.