FEEDING SHEEP OR AMUSING GOATS?

FEEDING SHEEP OR AMUSING GOATS?
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) gave the following admonition to the Church in the late 1800s. Yet, while Spurgeon died nearly 120 years ago, his words apply just as much to the Church today as they did then - perhaps even more so. The problem is not that Christians enjoy themselves (who wants to go to a boring, dry, dull church?) but that too often amusement is offered at the expense of preaching the Gospel and telling people the truth.

-Chuck Missler

Feeding Sheep... or Amusing Goats?
An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them.

From speaking out as the Puritans did, the church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.

My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church. If it is a Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). That is clear enough So it would have been if He had added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel." No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to him.

Then again, "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers .., for the work of the ministry" (Eph. 4:11-12). Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr roll.

Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all his apostles. What was the attitude of the church to the world? Ye are the salt" (Matt. 5:13), not the sugar candy---something the world will spit out not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance, "Let the dead bury their dead" (Matt. 8:22) He was in awful earnestness.

Had Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into his mission, he would have been more popular when they went back, because of the searching nature of His teaching. I do not hear him say, "Run after these people Peter and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow, something short and attractive with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it. Be quick Peter, we must get the people somehow." Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them.

In vain will the Epistles be searched to find any trace of this gospel of amusement! Their message is, "Come out, keep out, keep clean out!" Anything approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon.

After Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the church had a prayer meeting but they did not pray, "Lord grant unto thy servants that by a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these people how happy we are." If they ceased not from preaching Christ, they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution, they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). That is the only difference! Lord, clear the church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to apostolic methods.

Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired. It works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because the church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy laden who found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment has been God's link in the chain of the conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts. The need of the hour for today's ministry is believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.

Why does God allow false teaching?

Why does God allow false teaching  Copyright Rosemary Bardsley 2007

QUESTION:

‘Many of the people who follow false teaching are earnestly seeking God's purpose in their lives. What purpose does God have in allowing such deception? Does it fall on us as believers of the Truth to lovingly help these individuals see God's ultimate truth and play a part in God's eternal kingdom?’

ANSWER:

I will respond to each part of this question in turn.
[1] The statement that ‘many of these people … are earnestly seeking God’s purpose for their lives’.
This statement actually provokes compounding questions:

• Where in the Bible is earnestness or sincerity the criteria by which people are justified or condemned? The Pharisees were exceedingly earnest and sincere, but they were identified by Jesus Christ as people who did not know God. Although we do have to be sincere in our faith, the value of faith is not in its sincerity but in its object. If I put all my trust in a god that I have created with either my hands or in my head that god can do nothing for me in any ultimate sense. Sadly, it is possible to be sincerely wrong.
• At the bottom line, are we supposed to be ‘seeking God’s purpose for our lives’, or are we supposed to be seeking God himself? The idolatrous Israel to whom most of the prophets spoke, were repeatedly told to ‘seek the Lord’ as opposed to reaching out and praying to idols. It is only when we have sought and found the one true God that any seeking for his purpose can be meaningful or relevant.
• Which ‘God’ is it whose purpose they are seeking? Is it the one true God who has revealed himself in creation, in the history of Israel, in Scripture, and finally in his Son, Jesus Christ? Or, is it some ‘god concept’ that they have in their heads that is just as much a false god as the physical idols?

Summary answer:
sincerity of faith counts for nothing with God unless it is directed towards the one whom the Bible states is the only God.
[2] What purpose does God have in allowing such deception?
This is the same kind of question as ‘Why did God allow Adam to sin?’ or ‘Why did God create humans able to sin?’ or, even behind that, ‘Why did God not stop Satan deceiving the first humans?’ It is also very similar to the question: ‘Why does God allow suffering?’
These are deep and puzzling questions, which can in this life be answered only in part. The partial answers include the following biblical perspectives:

• That God created humans with freedom of will. We are not programmed ‘machines’ like the non-animate and some of the microscopic animate creation; we are not creatures of instinct like the animate creation. We are humans created in the image of a personal Triune God: we are persons, and as persons we were created with, among other things, the ability to think and to choose. God created us ‘in his image’ and ‘in his likeness’, but we do not automatically reflect his glory as the non-personal creation does; we reflect his glory only when our thoughts and choices mirror his. The one prohibition of Genesis 2:17 focuses on this choice. Here in Genesis 2:17 God puts the choice before us: on the one hand, trust and dependence on him and his word, resulting in life and continuing freedom, or, on the other hand, rejection of him and his word, resulting in death and loss of freedom.
• From Genesis 3 onwards humans have been trapped in a mindset of rejection of God and rebellion against his truth. Satan’s deceitful suggestions corrupted the knowledge of God. From this point onwards the ‘gods’ sought by humans have been gods of their own creation. Romans 1:18- 32 sums up our whole sad history of our rejection of the knowledge of God, substitution of false gods, and the associated degradation of life and morals that inevitably ensues.
• The ignorance of God that began in Genesis 3 and continues to this day, as evident in false teaching both inside and outside of the visible church, is both the automatic consequence of our rejection of God and his Word, and God’s judgment on that rejection. This ignorance, which the Bible sometimes refers to as ‘darkness’, is the result of our human choice, not God’s choice. At a fundamental level, ignorance of God, ‘darkness’, is what God actually said ‘no’ to in that prohibition of Genesis 2:17. It is what God does not allow, but what we humans chose. God outlawed it. We embraced it. This ignorance of God, this darkness, is all included in that warning ‘you will surely die’. This ignorance of God that separates us from God, is spiritual death.

God’s opposition to this darkness and ignorance is clearly evident in the Scripture, and most specifically evident in the incarnation and God’s purposes in the incarnation. Jesus Christ said:

‘This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil’ [John 3:19].
‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life’ [John 8:12].
‘I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in the darkness’ [John 12:46].

The apostles spoke in a similar way:

‘The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. … God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ’ [2 Corinthians 4:4,6].
‘ … you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord’ [Ephesians 5:8].
‘’… giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us safe in the kingdom of the Son he loves [Colossians 1:12,13].
‘This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth’ [1 John 1:5-6].

Here in the incarnation of Christ, and the salvation wrought by that incarnation, is God’s final answer about his attitude to the darkness of false gods and false teaching, and his clear purpose to rescue us from that darkness. Here is also God’s final demonstration that the darkness is not forever – that the day is coming when there will be no more darkness, but only Light: no more error, only truth.

‘The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is the lamp. … There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light’ [Revelation 21:23: 22:5].

Summary Answer:
Humans chose, and continue to choose, the darkness of ignorance and error about God, rather than the light of God’s self-revelation in his Word. The presence of false teaching is the direct result of our human choice. As long as humans reject the one true God as he has revealed himself to be, there will be darkness and error – there will be false teaching. God, in an act of indescribable grace, allows us to continue to exist, even in this darkness. In this era of darkness between Genesis 3 and Revelation 21, which is also the era of grace, we have the opportunity to be rescued from the darkness and brought into his light. For this reason God delays the day when he will destroy the darkness [ignorance, error, false teaching, and associated degradation] for ever.

Additional note:
As indicated briefly above, there is a sense in which the on-going presence of error/false teaching is the judgment of God on the persistent choice to embrace error rather than his truth. This is a deep and heavy reality alluded to in a number of places in the scripture. If you wish to look into this study these scriptures: Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:10-15; Romans 1:18-32; 2 Thessalonians 9-12.
[3] Does it fall on us as believers of the Truth to lovingly help these individuals see God's ultimate truth and play a part in God's eternal kingdom?
Yes. God has shone the light of his truth into our hearts and minds. God has rescued us from the darkness.

‘We know … that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true’ [1 John 5:20].
‘If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him. … Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father’ [John 14:7,9].

Yes. God, in his grace, delayed his destruction of the darkness until he had rescued us from it [read 2 Peter 3:3-10]. He did this by his appointed means of other human beings teaching us the truth [read Romans 10:9-15; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 2 Corinthians 5:19-20]. Because they were faithful, we now know the Light. Because they were faithful, we now know the Truth.
It is only in knowing and holding to the Truth that freedom comes.

‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’ [John 8:31,32].

It is only as those who know the truth continue to faithfully make that truth known that others also will be rescued and liberated from the darkness of error. For this reason Paul instructed Timothy:

‘And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others’ [2 Timothy 2:2].

Until Christ returns it is the responsibility of those who know him to make him known. While the opportunity for repentance and faith is still available to men, the truth must be proclaimed. Only by the truth can they be liberated from the darkness.
Yes. However, because speaking God’s truth in the context of false teaching is often confrontational, this proclamation will not always appear to be ‘loving’. It may actually appear to be unloving, discriminatory, judgemental, divisive. It will at times have the nature of Jesus’ heated and provocative debates with the Pharisees, or Paul’s forthright exposure and condemnation of the blatant errors of the false teachers who were corrupting the truth in the New Testament churches. In this opposition to error both Paul and Jesus loved the truth so much, and loved people so much, that they were willing to risk their own safety and to attract criticism in order that the truth be preserved and men rescued from error.

Summary answer
: Yes.

http://www.godswordforyou.com/answers/328

Here I come, 2010.

So.  Alot has happened since I've posted here. MK, Monica and I went to New York for a little bit.

I was asked by Patrick what was the most memorable moment that I had in New York.  There were alot of things but nothing truly stuck out to me like the time of worship we had all together in NY and bible study we had in NJ. In NY, Mike had a songbook that he clearly hasn't updated for a while since it had some worship songs from the 90s and 2000. We had a time of worship together around 3 in the morning.  Mike busted out his guitar and tried to play some strings and MK played mike's awesome and very expensive ukelele. Even though I had lost my voice due to a cold that came with me to NY, I tried to whisper the lyrics with mk and mon. I felt so at peace and I just wanted to cry! hahaha. It was truly awesome. God was faithful throughout the entire trip.  We were late to the airport, late to the train to NJ, got snowed in, flight got cancelled, MK got yelled at couple of times for videotapping, mon coughed and had sore throat, I had a fever and nearly threw up on the metro, we walked through central park at night, etc etc. God was faithful. We literally had to pray alot every moment that we had. It was truly awesome. It was great to spend time with Mike and also to see Tina, Dave, Helen and meet MK's oh so very talented family also. I guess if I had to put it into words, what this trip would be called, it would be "God is Faithful".

Next big thing that happened...
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!
That in itself should explain how wonderful it is!

Jesus Generation Conference:
After Christmas, My sister invited me to a Jesus Generation Conference at a church called Blessed International, located in Anaheim. I personally didn't want to go since it was obviously going to be about signs and wonders and health wealth when walking in glory gospel.  And I was right. The guest speakers were Jerame and Miranda Nelson.  I took notes during the whole seminar so that I can go back to scripture.

During worship, Jerame picked up a stone from the ground and claimed it to be a diamond.  He said that the diamond was one of the stones on the breastplate of the priest in the OT and it represented the tribe of Benjamin.  He also claimed that the Lord had "most" favor on Benjamin and since the diamond fell, God had favor on Blessed and wanted to work mightily during the service.
 I immediately searched through scripture.

Exodus 28
15 "Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of skilled hands. Make it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen. 16 It is to be square—a span [a] long and a span wide—and folded double. 17 Then mount four rows of precious stones on it. The first row shall be carnelian, chrysolite and beryl; 18 the second row shall be turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; 19 the third row shall be jacinth, agate and amethyst; 20 the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. [b] Mount them in gold filigree settings. 21 There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

There was no diamond. (I checked again when I got home and found out that other translations had diamond)

Next thing I wrote in my notes was: Tribe of Benjamin = diamond?

The scary thing was as Miranda spoke, she mixed in truth with the lies.  Very keen and decieving. She mentioned some scriptures in their correct context but others she did not.

She mentioned things similar to Bill Johnson saying, " Are you made untouchable when you obey the Lord? His Glory will be revealed on YOU.  If you let God arise in you, poverty will vanish.  Things have to go.  Kingdom of God is coming to earth and you have to release it.  She stated (using Shadrach, Meeshach, Abendego) that, " every form of enemy could not touch them because they had a fire inside them." " We are made to be signs of God."  He wants you to walk in good health and in prosperity.  You don't have to accept sickness.  You don't have to recieve attacks.  We must be so on fire, that we do not compromise.  You rebuke the sickness by not cursing but blessing."  If you walk in the fruits of the holy spirit, good things start happening to you.  God wants to use you as a sign and wonder."

Obviously, all this is false.  I got the gest of the message where it's about walking in holiness and attaining the fruits of the holy spirit, but clearly, there is many many many false teachings in there. Sucks for people who are sick, and they're told it's because they don't have the fire or it's cuz they have a sin or they don't have the fruits of the HS. Bill Johnson was sick this passed year from a hernia. I wonder if he thought, " Maybe it's because the glory of God left or if it's because I've sinned against the Lord... etc. It's devastating to hear people ask,  "Do I have this sickness because of a sin I've committed? or Do I not have enough faith and that's why God's choosing not to heal me? or Is it my fault that I'm still sick?"

BILL JOHNSON IS SICK!

Clearly, the story of JOB is evidence that it's not because of any of those things. It happens cuz it happens. Sometimes it's something we reap because of our actions, but it's clearly not ALWAYS because someone sinned that they're being punished.

So after the conference was over and everyone got prayed over by these two guest speakers, I told my sister how much they're twisted the word of God and how I couldn't find a correlation between diamond and tribe of benjamin and also diamond on the priestly garment. She told me to talk to them and so I asked them.

I've asked Where is it in the Bible?, Show me in the bible, Where is it? like 10x. (i'm overexaggerating)  Jerame: "That's a very good question."
Jerame could not answer me but told me to look it up online typing benjamin and diamond on google and that I probably had the wrong translation. (He was right about the wrong translation.) Miranda pushed Jerame slightly to usher him to leave the room while I was standing in front of them with my bible open.

I wished I had a tape recorder.

So to make the long story short, Diamond does not represent Tribe of Benjamin, it's Amethyst. I haven't found anything using google on the tribe of benjamin being God's favorite.

I pray for the people at Blessed International Fellowship. God please give them discernment. Help them uphold the word of God above their personal experiences.