June, 2009

Biblical Truth / Charismatic Issues — No Comments
10
Jun 09

A Good Teaching Time

On our way home from Wendy’s this afternoon, we (myself, Abby and Caroline) were listening to the local Christian radio station when the song “I Am A Friend of God” came on. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this song and the lyrics sufficiently reflect Biblical theology. However, this was the version performed by Philips, Craig & Dean — the popular contemporary Christian trio that has maintained a dominant place in Christian music for over a decade.

So, by now you’re thinking, “what’s the big deal?” right?? Here’s the problem, PCD are blatantly oneness. If you are reading this and do not know what the term “oneness” means, read this (it is a long read, but well worth it). In short, “oneness” reflects a denial of the historically orthodox doctrine of the Trinity as revealed in Scripture. Oneness theology is ancient modalism in the 21st century — meaning that God is not most definitely 3 in 1 and 1 in 3, but that He “appears” in the forms of Father, Son and Holy Spirit at various times. It is an ancient heresy that has plagued the church since the third century and has repeatedly been debunked.

Anyway, so PCD are “oneness pentecostals” which I define as an erroneous and heretical group. The Trinity is a core doctrine of the historic Christian faith and one cannot deny or distort it and still remain within Biblical Christianity. When I recognized that PCD was performing this song, I turned the station and Abby said, “Hey, I like that song. What’s wrong with it?” I explained to her that nothing was wrong with the song, but plenty was wrong with the singers. I told her that they deny the Trinity and she said “Well they’re just falsies!” What she meant of course was that they were “false teachers” as she has heard me use that phrase on numerous occasions.

I went on to explain to her why it is important to draw the line at certain points. There are many things that Christians can disagree on, but the Trinity is not one of them. I recently had a friend post on his Facebook “doctrine divides, but purpose unites.” To that I would respond, some doctrines are worth dividing over, and this is most certainly one of them. For a more thorough examination of PCD and their erroneous beliefs, read this.

On to the other issue of how has PCD remained so mainstream within Christian music yet hold to heretical beliefs (not only denial of the Trinity, but also that speaking in tongues is necessary for salvation). Do they sound so good that we are willing to throw down the Biblical standard of doctrinal purity just to hear them sing?? That is a question we should give some very serious thought.

Biblical Truth — No Comments
8
Jun 09

The Preaching of the Gospel: God’s Delivery Room

I have two children (8, 20 months) and I was blessed to be in the delivery room during both of their births. The event is indescribable and to truly understand it one has to experience it. There is an excitement, an electricity in the room in anticipation of what is about to happen — we will witness the entrance of a new life on planet Earth. Sometimes the experience is scary and almost violent, sometimes it is smooth and quick as in my youngest daughter’s case. (Of course, I can only speak to the experience as a man sees it, not the mother). Birth is in and of itself a special miracle. One minute, there are 3 of us in the family, the next minute, there are 4. A new life emerges from the depths of a mother’s womb and we see someone we did not see just minutes or seconds before.

The preaching of the gospel affords us as believers an opportunity to witness the greatest miracle ever to take place — the new birth. God’s delivery room may be the church sanctuary on Sunday morning, the inside of a car while listening to an audio sermon, the living room floor while reading a book, etc. Regardless of the place, wherever the preaching of the gospel is present, there is an excitement in the air causing us as believers to wonder, “who is God going to save today?”

Peter says:

23 since you have been born again, e not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through f the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

g “All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 h but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word i is the good news that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23-25, ESV)

The new birth comes through the word of God. It alone has the power to open blinded eyes and darkened hearts. This is not the same as the “talks” that are taking place in many churches on Sunday morning. This is not the 17 minute “talk” that is immediately practical, but never eternally helpful. This “word of God” is the preaching of the gospel — it is the heart of Christianity. It is “good news” because it makes it possible for lost mankind under holy wrath to be reconciled to God through the substitutionary death of His Son, His treasure, Jesus Christ.

Paul says in Romans:

13 For t “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him u of whom they have never heard? [3] And how are they to hear v without someone preaching? (Romans 10:13-14, ESV)

There is no greater experience as a Christian than to be in a service where the gospel is being preached and looking around thinking, “wow, God is going to save someone today. Today, a new name will be written down in glory.”

May we all become “preachers” of the gospel and take “God’s delivery room” with us everywhere we go!