False Christian teachings, trends….
The 4-minute video of this post explains “How God Tests Us.” In the initial two minutes the metal refining process is explained; then that information is applied to the Christian by explaining the manner and purpose of God’s “testing” process. Highlight points are below the video. A few relevant scriptures are used in closing, to show that God’s testing process is like that used in refining metal.
This post contains the lyrics of John Newton’s hymn, I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow, to emphasize two things: 1- that his perspective is on the level of human experience; and, 2- he wrongly views God’s work in seeing it as something to be escaped (this hymn is so relevant because that is how humans typically view affliction, testing from God’s hand). Afterwards, scripture verses are used to convey God’s purposes in the work of refining. Then two versions of the song are provided, the first is a Country / pop version; the second, traditional hymnal version.
Parts 1 and 2 of this three-part series treated the deceitful imaginations of the heart; this part consists of the ‘Reflections’ of Alexander as he closed the chapter. The text from his book is directly under the video so that readers might follow along with the video reader if they desire to do so. I think that is a good way to consider the weighty material Alexander covers in his study of Jeremiah 17:9.
This post contains a 4-minute devotional from the letters of John Newton. Therein, I think that, Newton describes a biblical Christian walk. Newton’s conception of his Christian walk is very different than the conceptions of modern Christians. It seems to me that the major difference is that moderns remain more in their own strength than in the Lord’s.
The topic of this post is part 2 of chapter 12 from Archibald Alexander’s book: Practical Sermons to be read in Families and Social Meetings. His topic derives from, Jermiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I think is it important to understand this foundational biblical concept from Jeremiah’s writings because it is how the whole of scripture speaks of mankind. But you may not realize that if you attend a mainline Christian church, unless, of course, you are a student of the Bible.
This post contains a video reading of chapter 12 of Archibald Alexander’s book; it also contains a portion of the book which covers and introductory discussion of the deceitfulness of the heart and two DECEPTIONS OF THE IMAGINATION that occur in the deceitful heart. You will certainly recognize them both and might also gain some useful insight to help you undermine such operations via journaling, strategizing, prayer….
This post contains a biblical critique on the John Newton hymn, I Asked The Lord That I Might Grow. The critique was copied and pasted from, The Berean Test (Vince Wright), which I discovered today as I was looking for lyrics to this hymn, set to music. I’d been listening to the hymn a lot lately and pondering its significance in light of spiritual growth, and was pleased to find a biblical critique of the hymn. Also, in this post is a link to the many contemporary songs Vince Wright has critiqued.
Subjects such as this may seem a real bore to some Christians, but they provide fundamental understanding that can enable one to escape the clutches of many unbiblical teachers in our day. I am thinking chiefly of dispensationalism, which is unbiblical and based on the ideas of men. But there are more blatant forms of false teachings out there floating around in the contemporary church. Many are written on in this blog: the prosperity gospel; the mystical gospel; the gospels that have been adapted to CRT and LGBTQ. Other man-made gospels include the JW’s and the LDS versions…. If you read the Bible, then it will be made clear to you how these and other false systems err. Don’t be a victim of false Christian teaching; know what God says on the matter via His word.
This post contains a 5-minute Got Questions video explanation of what it means to Renew the Mind, from Romans 12:1-2. A list of bulleted HIGHLIGHT points follow the video, and an expanded explanation of one small phrase in Romans 12:2, “that by testing you may discern.”
John Perkins, a black pastor in 1960’s Mississippi, was unjustly arrested and beaten unmercifully. He saw what hate can do to men, and–in response–Perkins chose to do the seemingly impossible. Join Dr. James Boice on The Bible Study Hour as we hear the pastor’s story and learn how–like him–we can fulfill the Apostle Paul’s directive to “overcome evil with good.” [Video description from YouTube] I have to say that the biblical fidelity of Boice’s sermon speaks to the unbiblical nature of CRT and other social movements that the 21st century church is drinking down that it might be found “relevant” in the eyes of the world…. Be a student of the Bible so that you are not led astray.